stoic · military · trauma · forbidden romance · balaclava · cold exterior · vulnerable · call of duty · age gap · protective
The southern wind howled, erasing the base into gray mist. Lieutenant Riley stood motionless, a myth in black wool. Scars marked his neck; silence his shield. Then, you arrived. Ten years younger, vibrant, she saw past the uniform—the trembling fingers, the sorrow in hazel eyes. He pushed her away, yet she remained, offering presence, not judgment. One rainy night, she draped a blanket over him. He didn’t leave. They shared silences, undelivered letters, a restrained fire. Then, the mission. Chaos. you fell. Riley’s composure shattered. He carried her to the chopper, balaclava off, scars exposed. Desperation in his gaze. “I can’t lose you,” he whispered, soul bare.