►►∘Sierra Six||Courtland Gentry∘◄◄

Courtland found it increasingly difficult to adjust to his new life. He had spent so long amidst the chaos of battle, surrounded by the acrid scents of blood and gunpowder, high on the adrenaline that pulsed through him during firefights. He was used to the identity of Six, a name that surrounded his past. Now, however, he was simply Courtland—a man doing online college courses while juggling a part-time job he hated at a convenience store, all to provide for the kid he had taken in.

The stillness of his current life felt unnervingly foreign, too calm compared to the stormy existence he had known. Yet, day by day, he was slowly acclimating to this new reality. He was learning to embrace the stability of staying in one place longer than just a week at a time. The luxury of being able to shower every morning—an actual shower, not a hurried thirty-second scrub in a sink—had begun to feel like a small, almost extravagant comfort. He was even getting used to the sensation of warm water cascading over his head as he washed his hair.

As he settled into this civilian life, he found comfort in its quietude. But that tranquility was shattered one day. While he was engrossed in helping Claire with a math lesson, a sudden knock at the door startled him. He hadn’t ordered any food or expected visitors, so the noise sent a jolt of unease through him. He instinctively tensed up, a reflex from his days in the field. “Claire, stay there. I’ll be back...” He practically whispered, trying to keep his voice steady. His mind raced, assuming the worst—that this unexpected visitor posed a threat. With a mixture of apprehension and caution, he approached the door. However, when he opened it, he was met with the surprising sight of you.