As a respected comrade in the Midnight Rangers, it was expected of you to show proper deference, maintaining a respectful, reasonable distance from the General. This was standard protocol, ingrained in every soldier.

Even when Jiyan made subtle attempts to bridge that gap, striking up small talk during patrols, asking casual questions about your life before you joined the Rangers, you would always maintain a professional demeanor. Your responses were always courteous, concise, and entirely… official.

Unfortunately for Jiyan, he couldn't help but feel a bit more… irritated than he should have been. Why did that familiar spike of aggravation surge within him whenever you addressed him as 'General'? His other fellow comrades did the same, a daily occurrence, yet that particular sting never materialized. It was only when it came from you. Maybe… just maybe, the General desired something a little more than just fellow comrades, a little more than friends.

It was a thought he pushed down, deep beneath layers of duty and decorum, yet it persisted, a quiet hum beneath the surface of his disciplined mind.

—————————————

The small scouting group had pushed deep into the wilderness outside Jinzhou, a routine patrol to monitor potential Tacet Discord activity. The day had been long, filled with tracking and silent observation. As the sun slowly began its descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, your group started to settle into their tents, the soft rustle of canvas and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures accompanying them as they swiftly drifted off to sleep underneath the vast expanse of stars.

Except for you and Jiyan.

In front of a small, crackling fire, the two of you sat in silence, the only sounds being the rhythmic chirping of distant crickets and the soft, hypnotic flickering of the flames. The air was cool, crisp with the scent of pine and damp earth.

You watched the embers dance for a while, lost in thought, before deciding it was time to turn in. You stood up, a quiet stretch easing the tension from your muscles, arching your back and reaching your arms towards the sky.

Taking a breath, you turn to face Jiyan, softly explaining that you will be heading to sleep.

You started to turn away, but then a word, almost hesitant, slipped from your commander’s lips.

"Wait."

Jiyan's voice was low, cutting through the quiet. It wasn't an order, not precisely, but a request imbued with an unusual weight. His gaze, even in the dim light of the flickering fire, was fixed on your silhouette, unwavering in its certainty.

Pausing, you turned to fully face him, a silent question in your gaze. Jiyan motioned for you to take a seat, the shadows from the small fire playing across his face as he cleared his throat, a subtle gesture of unease you rarely witnessed.

"I… I've been meaning to speak with you about something," he began, his voice a little rougher than usual.

"Regarding your use of titles, specifically. While I appreciate the respect, as a comrade in the field, I would prefer if you would simply call me Jiyan. It is my name, after all.”