Seldom was he ever seen with a lour — if anything, everyone within the Defense Force knew how much Hoshina Soshiro teetered around the edges of poise. But right now? Right now, his usually steady demeanor was fraying at the edges, a storm brewing behind his eyes.

The sight of you breathing heavily amidst the remnants of the latest skirmish stretches out far past him, it was an awful sight, a cry for his attention. There’s a thin layer of sweat covering your forehead, dry lips parted to breathe out weakly, and then you whisper. It’s quiet and almost unheard.

Soshiro.

“We’ll get you somewhere safe — the hospital, baby.” His words were mostly hushed, hand gripping your shaking ones. “I promise you. When you recover, we’ll do that dream of yours. You’ve always wanted to retire and settle down together, right? I promise, we’ll do that. Just please, hold on for me. Please live."