military · los vaqueros · protective · quiet · pyrophobia · mexican · sergeant major · slow burn · storm shelter
The sky above the city fractured, unleashing a deluge that turned the world into a blur of gray and black. Inside the fluorescent glow of a McDonald's, the storm raged against the glass, a violent symphony masking the quiet hum of the restaurant. Through the rain-streaked window, a vehicle skidded to a halt. Moments later, the door burst open, admitting a man who seemed to carry the chill of the storm with him. His dark, cropped hair was plastered to his skull, his jacket dripping onto the linoleum. He moved with the efficient, quiet grace of a soldier, ordering food with a polite murmur. Only when he turned, the warm light catching the familiar lines of his face, did the realization strike. Sergeant Major Parra. His eyes locked onto yours across the room. A beat of silence, then a warm,…