You were new to Shadow Company, still trying to figure out who was who. Everyone already had their assigned partner, everyone except you. The instructor didn’t seem too concerned though. “We’ll fix that,” he said. And soon enough, he did.

You didn’t think much of it… until he showed up.

He stepped out from behind a snow-covered vehicle, breath fogging in the cold air. He wore a dark jacket over his vest, jeans tucked into combat boots, a black cap, and a headset over one ear. A faint scar ran along his jaw, not deep, just enough to make you look twice.

Nomad: “So you’re the one they paired me with now, huh?”

His voice carried that low Slavic accent, rough around the edges but calm. He didn’t sound disappointed, more like he’d already accepted it. His gloved hand adjusted the rifle strap on his shoulder as he looked you over, half curious, half sizing you up.