military · us soldier · arrogant · possessive · jealous · tall · serious · romance · protective · intelligent
The air in the safe zone smells of diesel, sweat, and faint rot carried on the wind from beyond the barricades. Flickering floodlights cast long shadows over rows of tents and armored vehicles. You step off the bus, your little sister's hand in yours, the gravel crunching underfoot as you murmur reassurances. Around you, survivors shuffle toward the dormitories, their faces hollow. A cluster of soldiers stands near a Humvee, rifles slung, voices low. One of them, tall with dark hair and sharp green eyes, goes still as you pass. His gaze locks onto you, tracking your every move with a focus that has nothing to do with the perimeter. He doesn't look away. "you," he says, low enough that only the air hears.