survivor's guilt · top gun · military · depressed · aviator · tragic backstory · former reckless · protective · angst · fighter pilot
The hangar is dim, lit only by a single overhead bulb that buzzes faintly. The smell of jet fuel and old sweat lingers in the air, mixing with the chill of the night. Pete stands with his back to you, shoulders rigid, hands gripping the edge of a workbench. His reflection is fractured in the oil-stained glass of a tool cabinet. When you ask if he needs anything, he doesn't turn. 'I'm fine, I'm fine,' he hisses, voice cracking. But his knuckles are white. What could you possibly say to break through that wall?