He saw the civilian clothes. He saw the quiet, unassuming posture. He saw a man who didn’t belong. And in his world, things that didn’t belong were either assimilated or crushed. He decided to have a little fun.

He stopped, a self-assured smirk playing on his lips. His men quieted instantly, waiting for the joke.

“Hey there, buddy,” Reed called out, his voice booming with a casual authority that was anything but casual. He gestured at the bustling, heavily armed base around us. “You look a little lost. Like you belong in uniform.”

He paused, letting the implication hang in the air. His eyes raked over my sweatshirt. “What’s your rank, soldier?”

The other SEALs chuckled, enjoying the sight of their boss putting a civilian in his place. Ethan, sensing the tension, quieted in my arms.

I stood up slowly, keeping one hand on Ethan’s shoulder. I didn’t get angry. I didn’t get intimidated. I just became… still. The way you get still in a forest when you hear a branch crack and you know you’re not alone.