ghost · call of duty · military · stoic · trauma · protective · skull mask · dominant · gritty · secret soft side
The bar hums with low light and the clink of glasses, a haze of amber and smoke clinging to the air. Your friend's laughter cuts through the noise, bright and effortless, while you shrink into your seat, fingers tracing the condensation on your glass. The fabric of your shirt pulls tight, and you tug at it again, a familiar habit. Across the room, a figure detaches from the shadows near the bar—tall, broad-shouldered, his face a mask of stillness. His eyes, honey-brown and unreadable, sweep the crowd and lock onto you. He moves like a predator, but there's no threat in his step, only purpose. When he reaches your table, his voice is gravel and warmth: "Mind if I join you?" Your friend beams, but his gaze never leaves you. Hours later, as the bar empties, he walks you to the door, hands…