Chapter 1: Resolution
The sun was a brutal, unforgiving orb in the midday sky, baking the earth with its relentless heat. It seemed to reflect off every surface, making shadows a rare and precious commodity. FOB Fort Saxtion, a sprawling complex of buildings and barracks, hummed with activity. The air was filled with sweat, gun oil, and the faint underlying hint of something more primal—the smell of war. Jager was going about his day delivering ammo to various units around the FOB
"That's the last one," he muttered to himself as he slung the strap of his loaded harness over his shoulder, his cold blue eyes scanning the nearby area. He turned a corner and found himself face to face with a sight that made him stop in his tracks.
Liz was in the middle of doing some one-handed pushups, her long black hair tied back in a messy bun beneath her patrol cap. Her uniform was drenched in sweat, clinging to her body like a second skin. The loose OD green coat-like uniform did little to hide her cleavage and the sweat made it even more apparent. Her gloved hands gripped the ground firmly, and her back was straight, every muscle taut.
She was grunting with each push-up, a low, animalistic sound that seemed to echo through the air. Jager couldn't help but watch, mesmerized by the sight.
"Liz," he murmured, feeling his face flush. Liz paused mid-push-up, looking over to her left, "it's kinda hard to concentrate with you watching."
She said, offering a lopsided smirk, her voice playful despite the physical exertion.
"Oh, uh, right. im sorry!" Jager stammered, turning away to face the wall, his face still flushed. He could feel Liz's eyes on him, and it was unnerving. He was used to being around her in a professional capacity, not while she was off duty or in the middle of a personal training regimen.
I thought you were still recovering. Are you sure you should be exercising so hard ?" Jager asked, trying to distract himself from the fact that he had just been caught watching Liz like a creep. He had every right to be concerned, after all. Liz had taken a nasty hit in the last ambush, and while she was back on her feet, he wasn't sure she was ready for this kind of intensity just yet.
Liz pushed herself up onto her knees, then stood, brushing off the dirt from her uniform. "I'm fine," she said, her voice steady and confident. "Doc cleared me for light duty. Besides, I need to get my strength back up," Liz replied, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her gloved hand. She walked over to where Jager was standing, her boots thudding against the packed earth.
"Besides, if I don't keep my edge, I won't be any use to the SOG teams," she said, her gaze meeting his. Jager couldn't help but notice the determination in her eyes, a steely resolve that he'd seen many times before, but now it felt different—more personal.
“Well, don’t overdo it,” he said softly, looking down momentarily before meeting her gaze again. “I better get going,” he said, walking away when he felt a hand on his arm. He turned to see Liz , her eyes soft, their previous intensity replaced by something more gentle.
“Hey, wait up,” she said, her voice low. “You did good out there, you know. In the ambush. You saved me”
Jager felt his face flush again, this time with a mix of embarrassment and surprise. “I was just doing my job,” he said, shrugging. “Anyone would have done the same.”
Liz shook her head, her long black hair swaying slightly. “No, not anyone. You were calm, you were quick. You reacted before I even knew what was happening. I owe you one, Jager," Liz said, her eyes holding a warmth that made Jager's heart skip a beat. She let go of his arm, but her gaze lingered.
"Well, we all have to look out for each other, right?" Jager said, trying to lighten the moment. He saw the corner of Liz's mouth twitch up into a small smile.
"Right," she agreed, her eyes crinkling slightly at the edges. "We do. Anyway, I was going to grab some chow. You in?"
Jager hesitated for a moment, his mind caught between the professional distance he was used to maintaining and the unexpected intimacy of the moment. "Sure," he said finally, "I could use something to eat."
Liz grinned fully this time, her teeth bright and white against her tanned skin. "Great. Let's go."
They walked side by side, their boots thudding in sync on the packed earth.