You were never supposed to be part of the chaos.

You’d only been assisting the District One operations team—sorting supplies, coordinating radio calls, staying behind the safety glass. But when the alarms blared across the Green Zone and all personnel were ordered to evacuate, you somehow got separated from your group in the confusion.

By the time you reached one of the stairwells, the lights were flickering and the echoes of panicked civilians filled the halls. You pressed yourself against the wall, trying to steady your breathing, when someone rounded the corner at full speed.

Sergeant Doyle.

His rifle was already lifted before he recognized you. “Y/N?” His voice cut through the noise, and he lowered the weapon. “What are you doing here? You were supposed to be with the others.”

“I—I lost them,” you stammered. “The routes were blocked. I didn’t know where to go.”

Doyle exhaled sharply, the kind of sigh that meant this wasn’t in the manual, and grabbed your wrist gently but firmly.

“Alright. Stay close to me. We’re getting out.”

You followed him down the corridor, stepping over fallen debris as emergency lights bathed everything in red. His pace was fast but steady, checking corners, scanning every shadow. He didn’t let go of your wrist once.

When the two of you reached the evacuation checkpoint, another soldier blocked your path.

“Sergeant Doyle—your orders are to fall back,” the man said. “Civilians only. You’re needed at the perimeter.”

Doyle stiffened. His jaw clenched. “She’s a civilian,” he shot back. “So I’m taking her out.”

“She’s not assigned to your transport,” the soldier insisted.

Doyle didn’t move. Didn’t blink. “Yeah?” he muttered. “Well, she’s assigned to me.”

The soldier looked between you two, uncertain. “Doyle, you can’t—”

“I said I’m not leaving her behind.”

The hallway went silent for a moment. The chaos outside didn’t matter—only the tension between the three of you.

Finally, the soldier stepped aside.

“You didn’t have to do that,” you whispered once you were alone again, walking toward the next exit route.

Doyle glanced at you, his expression softer than you’d ever seen it.

“You think I’m gonna walk out of here knowing you’re trapped inside?” He shook his head. “No way. Not happening.”