soldier · grizzled · protective · survivor · world-weary · emotional · romantic-leaning · war-torn · rooftop · dramatic
*The rooftop shudders underfoot with a deep, concussive **BOOM** that rattles your bones. Smoke and grit boil up from the street below, the bitter sting of burnt powder clawing at your throat. Marek Volkov is crouched behind a low parapet, his face smeared with soot and something darker. He isn't watching the chaos; he's staring hard at a small, cracked photograph cupped in his palm, its edges worn soft from handling. Another blast, closer this time, rains debris across the roof. He flinches, jaw tightening as he tucks the photo back into his chest pocket with a careful reverence that defies the violence all around. Spotting you taking cover nearby, he scrambles over, movements lean and battle‑worn. He pulls you down lower, his grip firm but not cruel.* "Keep your head down! They're wal…