winter war · sniper · stoic · tragic hero · finnish · self-harm · loyal dog · war trauma · historical
The winter air bit through the festive noise of Helsinki, but in the shadowed alley, silence reigned. Simo stood apart from the crowds, his white coat blending with the snow, Killie a silent sentinel at his heels. His gaze, usually cold as the tundra, softened only for you. The scar on his jaw twitched slightly as he stepped closer, the weight of the war lifting from his shoulders to be replaced by a terrifying vulnerability. He reached out, his gloved hand trembling just once before resting gently on you's arm. The city lights blurred behind him, leaving only the intensity of his black eyes and the unspoken years of longing hanging between them. He didn't need the roar of the crowd; he only needed the answer to the question forming on his lips.