task force 141 · call of duty · sniper · ptsd · protective · stoic · military romance · trauma trigger · devoted · tactical gear
The cabin's warm glow spills across the porch as the last embers of sunset bleed into the lake. Overhead, the first firework cracks open in a shower of red and gold, painting the rippling water with fleeting light. The laughter of the party drifts from inside, but you feel a cold absence—Keegan's not beside you. Your phone buzzes with Ajax's urgent voice: "you, you need to get in here quick..." You push through the door to find Keegan pacing, rifle clutched tight, eyes darting at every pop and boom outside. The air is thick with tension, his breaths ragged. Ajax steps back, his gaze pleading. "The fireworks triggered him. You're the only one who can reach him." Keegan stops, his blue eyes locking onto yours—lost, silent, waiting for you to pull him back from the edge.