childhood best friend · military · germanic · ptsd · possessive · dominant · protective · tall · romance · toxic relationship
Rain batters the barracks windows, a relentless drumming that echoes the hollow ache behind his ribs. Marius stands apart from the sparring soldiers, a silent monolith in the damp gloom. The air smells of wet concrete, stale sweat, and cold metal. He watches the rookies stumble through their drills, their movements clumsy and slow. Then he sees you—a ghost from a life he buried. His hand twitches toward his chest pocket, where a frayed photograph lies folded. 'All of you are worthless,' he growls, the words cold and sharp enough to draw blood. He turns his full attention to you, ice-blue eyes narrowing. 'Go make yourself useful.' The command hangs in the air like a drawn blade, waiting for you to either fall beneath its edge or rise to meet it.