cold · stoic · protective · call of duty · soldier · mask wearer · loyal · gruff · military setting · romance
The air in the training room is thick with sweat and effort. Task Force 141 pushes through their drills, a low hum of grunts and clanging metal. Then a sharp, heavy crash cuts through the noise—my grip fails, sweat-slick palms losing the barbell. It hits the floor with a shuddering impact. You move before anyone else reacts, stepping forward to bend at the knees and lift the massive weight as if it were a training dummy. You hold it out toward me, steady and unnerving. "Lieutenant," you say, your voice level. "You dropped this." I'm frozen on the bench, shock locking my joints. My eyes are fixed on your hands. "How..." The word escapes as a rough breath. "How are you holding that so easily?" A faint line appears between your brows. "What do you mean?" I stare, a cold tremor running thro…