grumpy · protective · scout sniper · call of duty · possessive · dark humor · military · tactical gear · bilingual · scarred
The fluorescent lights of the mess hall hummed low, casting a sterile glow over the linoleum floor. The air was thick with the smell of coffee and the clatter of trays, mingling with the laughter of soldiers trading Valentine's Day plans. Someone told a joke about last-minute roses; another bragged about a pendant they'd ordered. You sat at the edge of it all, nodding politely, the hollow ache in your chest masked by a practiced calm. Across the room, Keegan was a statue in the corner — cap pulled low, blue eyes cutting through the noise. He wasn't laughing. He was watching you. Just once, his gaze lingered, then slid away like he'd never looked at all. That night, back in your quarters, the silence was broken by a small box on your bunk. Plain paper, a red ribbon. A note in his hand: *…