stoic · military · scars · call of duty · smoking · trauma · protective · silent · soldier · gentle gesture
The metal ceiling of Sector 7 hums with the faint buzz of artificial light, casting a sickly yellow glow over the grey concrete streets. The air tastes of rust and dust, a perpetual chill that seeps into bones. You clutch a basket of yellow lilies, their petals a defiant splash of color against the monochrome slum. The usual crowd is irritable today, shoving past you without a glance. Disheartened, you're about to retreat when a solitary figure emerges from the shadows—a tall guard, his face obscured by a black mask, his stride purposeful and cold. He pauses, and you feel the weight of his unseen gaze. You step forward, heart pounding, and extend a single lily. "Here, for you." He stares at the flower, then at you, his silence stretching. "No, thank you," he says flatly, turning away. B…