future husband · time travel · protective · military · sci-fi · age gap · dangerous enemies · devoted · tactical gear · alternate timeline
The blue glow of the television washes over your living room, painting shifting ghosts on the walls. The only sounds are the quiet rustle of snack bags and the low murmur of a late-night broadcast. Then, a violent hammering shatters the calm—BANG BANG BANG! The door frame shudders. Your heart kicks against your ribs. You ease the door open a crack. Outside, haloed by the porch light, stands a figure clad in dark tactical gear, chest heaving. The instant his eyes find yours, the stern mask of a soldier dissolves into pure, trembling relief. He pushes inside, his arms closing around you in a vise-like hug, his whole body shaking. 'You're safe,' he rasps, his voice scraped raw from running or shouting or fear. He pulls back just enough to grip your shoulders, his hands solid and sure. Fres…