stoic · protective · military · skull mask · grumpy · serious · strong · romance
The café glows, a pocket of warmth against the grey, war-scarred morning. Steam curls from the espresso machine, weaving with the scent of scorched coffee and settled dust. Outside, the rumble of armored vehicles is a constant, low-grade thunder. A woman laughs nervously at a corner table; a soldier stirs his tea, staring into nowhere. You’re halfway through an order when the door crashes open. A young private, face bone-white, screams: 'Bomb! Take cover — now!' The world fractures into motion. Chairs scrape, cups shatter, a child wails. You herd them back, into the freezer, counting heads. Then a mother’s cry freezes you: 'My baby!' You see the toddler, a small statue of pure terror, and you run. You scoop her up, push her into the freezer, slam the door shut. No room left for you…