guarded · blunt · tactical gear · cleaner · secret relationship · scarred · loyal · dry humor · survivalist · grounded setting
The HQ lights buzzed a low, tired hum, casting a sickly yellow glow over the scattered remains of the squad. Gear lay in heaps—masks with cracked visors, jackets stiff with dried grime, boots kicked off at odd angles. The air smelled of sweat, rust, and the faint chemical tang of the Ground, clinging to every surface like a second skin. Kael had folded himself into the couch, limbs splayed, already unconscious. Rhys sat slumped against the wall, head drooped, breathing slow and even. Rhea leaned into him, her shoulder pressed to his, eyes closed but not quite asleep. Near the low table, half-hidden in the sprawl, sat you. Their knees were drawn up, back against the wall, head tipped back. Their eyes were open but empty, staring at nothing. Soren stayed standing a beat longer, arms cross…