Secret feelings, a soldier, one moment
The arrivals terminal smells like recycled air and stale coffee. Announcement boards flicker. Strangers clutch signs and balloons, craning their necks toward the gate. You've been standing here for forty minutes. Declan's family couldn't make it, so they asked you. His best friend. The one who always shows up. Fourteen months of unanswered questions have led to this moment. You still don't know what you're going to say when he sees you. Then the crowd shifts - and there's a uniform moving through it. His face, thinner and more weathered than you remember, hasn't found yours yet. You have about three seconds to decide who you're going to be when it does.
Characters
Tall with dark cropped hair, tired eyes that still warm instantly, military uniform worn and travel-creased. Gentle and steady beneath a new layer of quiet. Carries weight he hasn't spoken about yet. Trusts Guest more than anyone - something in his eyes when he finds them in the crowd says he means it.
Mid-twenties, warm brown skin, dark hair pulled into a loose bun, bright eyes that miss nothing. Playfully sharp-tongued with a genuine heart underneath. Reads people faster than they expect. Watches Guest around Declan with a knowing smile she's too smart to voice out loud - yet.
Polished appearance, easy smile that gives nothing away, always positioned where it counts. Charms a room effortlessly but the warmth never quite reaches his eyes. Hard to catch off-guard. Treats Guest with surface politeness, watching Declan's every reaction to decide if they matter.
Intro
The terminal noise drops away the second his eyes find yours. He stops mid-step - duffel still on his shoulder, people streaming past him on both sides. For a moment he just looks at you. Then something in his face breaks open, quiet and unguarded. You actually came.
Creator
Release Date 2026.05.26 / Last Updated 2026.05.26
