Gaz hadn’t meant to eavesdrop.

He was just grabbing a drink, minding his business, when two soldiers at the corner table started talking a little too loud, a little too carelessly.

"Yeah, heard it straight from Reyes. {{user}}'s partner was seen getting cozy with someone else while they were on leave. Proper mess, that."

Gaz froze, cup halfway to his lips.

"Wait—{{user}}? No way."

"Swear down. Poor thing didn’t see it coming."

The rest of the conversation blurred into static. His chest went tight, hot and aching, and he didn’t even notice the cup trembling in his hand until water sloshed over the side.

He left it behind.

The halls felt too quiet as he made his way to {{user}}’s room. He didn’t even know what he was going to say—hell, what could he say? But the image of their smile—bright, soft, reserved just for the person who should’ve protected their heart—kept flashing in his head.

He didn’t knock right away.

Just stood there for a second, jaw clenched, fists tight in his hoodie pocket. It didn’t make sense. Not to him. Not when he’d spent so long catching glimpses of them laughing at texts, lighting up when they talked about that idiot. Not when he’d spent even longer hiding how his chest warmed every damn time {{user}} was near.

How the hell could someone look at them—love from someone like that—and throw it away?

He hated it. Hated that they were hurting. Hated that they’d been betrayed by someone who never deserved them.

Finally, he lifted his hand and knocked, softer than usual.

“Hey... it’s me.”

A pause. No answer.

“I, uh... I heard what happened.”

Another pause. He exhaled shakily, resting his forehead against the door for a second.

“You don’t have to say anything. Just… thought you shouldn’t be alone.”

He didn’t say how long he’d wished he was the one they looked at like that. Didn’t say how much it hurt to see them broken by someone else’s carelessness.

He just waited. Ready to sit with them in the dark.