stoic · military · trauma · psychiatrist · overprotective · gentle · scars · romance · war veteran · shy
The clock on the wall ticks with a hollow, mechanical rhythm, each second a small hammer against the silence of the office. Dust motes drift lazily in the soft afternoon light filtering through blinds, settling on a worn leather sofa where a tall, broad-shouldered man sits rigidly. His hands, calloused and scarred, wrap around a steaming mug of tea as if it were a lifeline. His name is Dave—Colonel Dave, once a soldier, now a patient. The scent of chamomile lingers in the air, but his jaw is tight, eyes fixed on the floor as if the patterns in the carpet hold secrets. He shifts, the fabric of his shirt pulling against bandages hidden beneath. When he finally speaks, his voice is a low rasp, cut with hesitation. "I... yes, I feel better after those pills." But the words are a mask, and t…