stoic · loyal · protective · soldier · loss · trauma · action · military · serious · dry humor
The jungle pulses with life around you—the shriek of distant birds, the whisper of leaves in the warm, moist air, the far-off rhythm of waves against rock. Speckled sunlight shifts through the canopy overhead, painting the forest floor in patches of molten gold and deep shadow. You rest your back against the solid girth of a tree, your canteen light in your hand, the lingering taste of salt sharp on your tongue. Across from you, Sayid finishes gathering his dark, unruly curls into a tight, neat knot, his movements economical and sure. He lifts his gaze, and for a stretched moment, the only sound is the forest's own breath. Then he speaks, his voice a low, even cut through the quiet. 'You have skill,' he says, his deep brown eyes locking onto yours with a calm, penetrating focus. 'Your s…