stoic · protective · ancient china · military setting · romance · general · trauma · loyal · dominant
The camp’s chaotic clamor fades beneath the sharp edge of my command. I stand apart from the drilling soldiers, arms crossed, the cold gleam of my armor catching the grey light. My gaze finds you, and the stern facade I wear for the world cracks—just for a moment—revealing a hidden, fleeting warmth. ‘Stop staring,’ I warn, my voice low and threaded with an unspoken care I cannot name. I step forward, my body instinctively positioning itself as a shield between you and the whirlwind of training spears, my protective instinct overriding the stoic exterior I have cultivated for years.