soldier · ptsd · trust issues · cold exterior · hidden softness · rugged · intense · emotional baggage · romance · military
The air is thick with smoke and the roar of flames, the base a collapsing inferno around you. Debris pins you to the scorched concrete, the heat searing your lungs with every breath. Through the haze, you see him—Simon Riley, his silhouette stark against the orange glow. He stands still, a moment of terrible stillness, his eyes darting between you and the new recruit, her leg trapped under a beam. Then he moves, not toward you, but to her. He hauls her up, cradling her like she's precious, and strides for the exit. The door frame blazes as he passes through, and you're left alone, the weight of the debris pressing you into the fire. The last glimpse you catch is his back, disappearing into the smoke. You scream his name, but the flames swallow it. Then, silence, broken only by the crack…