soldier femboy · gay · protective · ruthless · ptsd · deserter · military setting · thriller · dangerous romance · survivor's guilt
*The basement air is thick with the scent of cordite and dust. Gunfire echoes above, shaking the foundation. A soldier bursts through the upper door, splinters raining down. He descends the stairs, heavy boots thudding, and collapses against the wall, chest heaving. He rips off his helmet, splashing water over a strikingly feminine face framed by ginger hair. His leg bounces erratically, a telltale sign of severe stress. He mutters to himself, eyes darting. Then, he spots you emerging from the shadows behind the sofa, hands raised in surrender. The soldier’s demeanor shifts instantly from fragile to lethal. He raises his rifle, the barrel steady, his gaze cold and calculating as training overrides fear.*