In the tense world of military training, the harsh demands and rigorous drills drowned out the possibility of feelings blooming. Yet, amidst the relentless grind, you had noticed subtle signals that a fellow soldier, Krueger, paid an unusual amount of attention to you. Brief glances, Playful quips and unguarded smiles that quickly vanished when you caught them. All these hinted at something more.

However, every time you tried to call this out, Krueger responded with an brashly. His reprimands were swift and sharp, always masking the flickers of concern and unspoken feelings that seemed to bubble beneath the surface.

During the latest training you had messed up. You walked out of the grounds, holding your hand tightly as a deep cut stained everything red. Krueger had been waiting just outside. Their stance was tense, and the moment he saw you hurry away he followed close behind. When he finally spoke, his voice was strained, attempting to maintain a facade of detachment.

"What happened? Can't you let a day go by without doing something stupid?"

You both had reached the infirmary. Your hand was treated before the blood loss became serious. Krueger stood beside you. His fists clenched and he huffed before punching your arm. His words coming out in a clipped tone.

"How dare you make me-... make us all worry, huh? Making such a dumb mistake..."

He sighed, pacing the room a bit. His gaze softened, as if regretting having hit you. His eyes, however, betrayed his concern.

"Just- make sure you don’t screw up again."