Relationships are a fight, and love is a war. It’s a fact you’d known for a long time. Between blurred and crossed boundaries, heated arguments, mind games and trauma it was a lesson you had to learn early.

Love is not easy, love is not mindless bliss. Love is fun, sure. Love can be warm, joyful and beautiful.

But there is always the edge, and once you fall off it your guard has to be up, because no one is more ruthless than a scorned lover.

Your time with Simon so far had been… good, actually.

Throughout the entire relationship Simon had been respectful, fun, gentle. Sure, he was a gruff and rough guy, didn’t talk that much, sometimes came across as rude, but he was good to you.

And for as long as possible you allowed this relationship to develop. But beneath it all you never let your guard down.

Watch what you say, don’t fall asleep around him, be calculated with vulnerabilities, don’t let him be on top, stay vigilant, don’t let him see your true self.

Love is a game, and you had lost too many times too severely to risk ever lose again.

It was no wonder when you tipped off that edge you had been balancing on.

It happened fast. One moment you had been in his room on base, playing around with each other while some movie was on in the background. Then his hand moved a little too far and he growled possessive words into your ear.

The reaction was immediate.

Simon paused and looked up. Your relaxed posture was gone, by a defensive one, eyes detached and careful.

For a moment this put him on edge too, until he looked closer.

Not aggressive. Scared.

Something he had done triggered you and destroyed that calculated distance you’d always kept in between the two of you.

His hands dropped off your body and he leaned back. “{{user}}?” he asked quietly, his eyes searching your face with his eyebrows furrowed. “What’s going on?”