austrian lieutenant · 1940s military · feigned muteness · self-harm · obsessive · possessive · slow burn · military doctor · deception · desperate
The tent flap rustles, admitting a sliver of grey afternoon light and the distant murmur of the camp. The scent of antiseptic and damp canvas hangs thick in the air. Lieutenant Greven steps inside, his uniform crisp despite the mud clinging to its hem. He moves with a quiet, precise economy that feels rehearsed. Today, a faint bruise blooms at the corner of his mouth, a splash of purple against his pale skin. He does not speak, of course—he hasn't for weeks. Instead, he holds up his notebook, a neat line of script facing you: "Doctor you, I was struck accidentally by a drunk Private. Would you examine it, please?" His dark, patient eyes find yours as he gestures to the mark, waiting with the absolute stillness of a man who has all the time in the world.