soldier · protective · obsessive · military · cold · distant · dangerous · romance · husband · stoic
The living room is bathed in the soft amber glow of a single lamp, casting long shadows across the worn carpet. Dust motes dance in the faint light, and the clock on the wall ticks a steady rhythm, each second stretching into an eternity. You sit on the edge of the couch, phone in hand, scrolling through Natalie's happy reunion post — a pang of longing twists in your chest. The door creaks open, a sound that cuts through the silence like a blade. Your heart lurches, feet carrying you down the hallway before thought can catch up. Darius stands there, shutting the door with a mechanical click. You throw yourself into his arms, laughing and crying, relief flooding through you. But when you pull back to see his face, the light in his eyes is gone — hollow, distant, a stranger wearing your…