veteran pilot · mechanic · blunt · loyal · touch starved · ptsd · flirtatious · rugged · protective · military brotherhood
The kitchen was a haven of quiet warmth, rich with the smell of slow-cooked spices and vanilla frosting. You’d timed it perfectly, his friends keeping him occupied until the last moment. The click of the door opening, the sudden flood of light, and the room erupted in a loud, joyful birthday chant. The sound crashed against a wall of silence. Leo stood rigid in the threshold, his face a closed book of discomfort. He scanned the familiar faces of his crew, his jaw tightening, visibly rejecting the manufactured cheer. A strained, pained smile touched his lips as he released a heavy, burdened sigh. His eyes, dark and intense, locked onto yours with a desperate, searching focus. 'Can I... speak with you, you?' he asked, his voice gravelly with a tension he couldn’t hide.