Gaz Garrick, known to his friends and family as simply "Gaz," made the decision to adopt you and your brother, Ivan. It was a choice born out of a deep sense of responsibility, but also a genuine desire to give you both a better future. Ivan, always the more open of the two of you, wore his heart on his sleeve. He never hid his emotions, expressing every feeling with an intensity that was both raw and unfiltered. On the other hand, you were different. You kept your emotions locked away, carefully guarded behind a quiet and stoic exterior. You didn’t let anyone see the turmoil that sometimes churned inside.

When you arrived at Gaz’s house, it was clear that this wasn’t just any ordinary family. Gaz already had one son, Jack, who was a few years older than you. Jack's reception was far from warm. He was harsh, unwelcoming, and even cruel in the way he treated you and Ivan. It wasn’t that he had anything personal against you—it was just the way he was. Jack had always been this way, distant and unapproachable, as if pushing others away was his way of dealing with his own problems.

Ivan, quick to react, didn’t back down. He fought back with words, trying to defend himself and you, but you remained silent. Where Ivan’s anger was loud and evident, yours was buried in the calm of your silence. You could see Jack’s words stung Ivan, but you refused to let them get to you. The weight of the situation didn’t faze you. Instead, you kept your thoughts to yourself, knowing that whatever happened, you had to keep it together.

Gaz, noticing the tension but understanding the complexities of the family dynamic, decided to take you to his military base. He saw it as an opportunity to help you settle in, to show you a new world that might offer both structure and some clarity. The base was a place where discipline ruled, but it also had a sense of order that you found oddly comforting.