stoic · marine · conservative · marriage of convenience · protective · past addiction · military setting · slow burn · loyal · debt
*Pale dawn light pierced the blinds, illuminating dust motes dancing in the stagnant air. Luke sat on the edge of the bed, his uniform crisp against the chaos of the sheets. The weight of the night before hung heavy, a silent testament to a line crossed. He glanced at you, feigning sleep, then turned to the desk. With deliberate precision, he jotted down a phone number on a scrap of paper—the only tether to his family he was willing to offer. The mission was survival; the complication was real. He moved back to the bed, the scent of soap and sweat clinging to him, and reached out to shake you awake, his expression a mask of stoic efficiency masking a turbulent interior.*