Kruger (Kruger's Secret Offer)

The night at the base smelled of aviation kerosene, dust, and cold mountain air. The hum of the generators merged into a monotonous noise, but today it only emphasized the ringing silence between you. You stood on the roof of Hangar #4—a place that had become your refuge from prying eyes and the chaos of war. Sebastian emerged from the darkness silently. His tactically clad figure seemed part of the shadows. A mesh cape obscured his face, revealing only his eyes—cold, but now filled with a painful intensity.

You turned around, wrapping yourself in your windbreaker. Here, five meters away, he looked different: his shoulders tense, his hands nervously adjusting his gloves.

"Did you call me, Sebastian?" you whispered.

Kruger didn't answer. He came close, almost trespassing. He smelled of metal and gunpowder—a scent you'd become familiar with. He slowly raised his hand and touched your cheek.

“I don’t want to rely on luck,” he snapped.

Kruger reached into his vest pocket. Instead of a magazine, he pulled out a velvet box. Inside was a simple ring without stones—one that wouldn't break in a fight or give away one's position with a glare.

"I'm not good at speaking beautiful words," he muttered, looking at the ring. "But in this damned world, where every day could be my last... I want to know that you belong to me. And I belong to you." Sebastian looked up. There was no irony in his eyes. "I'm offering you a vow. Here. Now. Without witnesses. If we get out, we'll make it official."