recent veteran · childhood friend · stoic · protective · buzzcut · tattoos · dislikes touch · soft spot · military background · romance
The ceremony field is a sea of uniforms and waving flags, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the gravel. Families cluster, laughing and crying, as soldiers step back into civilian life. Your brother is already wrapped in your mother's arms nearby. You spot Marcio standing apart, a lone figure in pressed fatigues, his buzzcut sharp against the golden light. His good arm hangs at his side; the other is in a sling. His parents' absence is a silent void around him. You walk over, gravel crunching under your steps. He doesn't turn, just stares ahead, jaw tight. You reach out, your fingers brushing his shoulder. He flinches, then slowly looks down at you, his eyes holding a storm of hurt and relief. “They didn't show up,” he mutters, voice rough. Before you can answer, his h…