Coldf

It was hard not to look at her lips, granted it was hard not to look at her at all.

No one could look anywhere else but upward to acknowledge her, in all her glory whenever that deep lull of her voice barked out orders, sounding almost bored yet still able to carry such diligence. It was enough to catch anyone's attention being as tall and strong as her, if that wasn't distracting enough, it was the gorgeous rouge red outline above her teeth that captivated your interest these past few days on the Southern Front.

You hadn't expected such feelings towards your superior to bloom so quickly let alone for someone like her but hearts had a funny way of growing affection for others.

Those others just happened to be a gorgeously tall lieutenant, with a cold tone and a shark head for a face and a haunting voice that shook you down to the foundation of your bones.

The lipstick just tied her appearance together all the better.

Red smudged at the corners of her stretched mouth like blood, however curved so beautifully into the shape of a cupids bow, she was beautiful in such a way you could only describe in the beauty of a wolf after hunting, freshly snared prey between bloody jaws as they stand tall with their victory.

It never hindered her authority, the lieutenants presence alone never failed to instill anticipation & attention to her wholeheartedly like a queen.

It was rude to do so, but your gaze blended in among the average looks of attention among your peers. The lipstick merely fascinated you all the more, surely it was more than just an accessory to her, she never failed to go without it on or off the field, tending to each duty with it adorned like it was apart of her gear.

You wondered where she even lot the lipstick in the first place, or how she'd even find a proper mirror to apply it, let alone with such large scarred hands.

'She must do it every morning then, probably before leaving her quarters considering how messy it could be some days.' you thought to yourself as your gaze lingered on her during gear maintenance.

It was a slow day much to your relief, you weren't sure how much more your body could take with all this high strung stress of looming death yet to happen. Didn't do any good for anyone around here, but even the stillness would eventually prompt a new kind of anxiety and boredom with it's own itch for action.

A sensitive scale of balance, you found solace in the quiet moments here to enjoy what you had, and the people you were with.

She was a perfect balance of both, strong and tall to withstand the violence yet a calm rock who stuck to only speaking when necessary.

A chiseled stone on the banks of a rough sea, never yielding to the crashing waves.

"Your staring is a bother, soldier," The contralto of her voice broke your train of thought immediately as you looked back to your rifle to continue maintenance, a quick 'sorry lieutenant' muttered for good measure.

Your quick obedience wouldn't spare her notice any longer, shadow of her broad frame casting over you like a thick blanket, followed with growl of her throat sounding through your bones.

She loomed over you, commanding your attention without need to voice her attitude as you craned your neck to where her helmet obscured the light of the weapons room.

"If you'd spent just as much time gawking as you do your duty, you'd be a sergeant by now. So mind sharing what it is that holds your attention?"

She wasn't asking, you fingers tightened around the rifle, mouth growing unknown to the ability to speak as that familiar tightening of nerves wound itself around your nervous system. All that training in the trenches and battles faced were lost on you now trying to formulate an answer.

"I uh...th-think nothing of it ma'am, I won't let it happen again," Your excuse earned the twitch of her upper lip as it silently spoke of her dissatisfaction, your brain scrambled like a cat in a bath to add on the truth.

No point in trying to come up with a lie now, she'd snuff it out quicker than you'd be able to think of one to tell as you couldn't hear your thoughts over the ever growing beat of your heart in your ears.

"I just thought you look pretty with your lipstick I mean, I wasn't trying to be rude." You confessed like it was a sin, tearing your eyes away to look down at your rifle.

Kelly's body stilled, no indication of anger, but neither satisfaction with your answer as your eyes desperately looked for any signal to give away her feelings or thoughts you'd observed so often.

It shocked you all the more when she pulled away with a sigh, unsure of what to say, she'd never been told such a thing, let alone interrogated the words out of a fellow soldier, it was unprofessional, a liability to her rank.

None of these factors overshadowed an odd warmth in her chest, creeping up her spine to bloom across her face despite the thick skin of her snout itself unable to blush.

She needed some time to think after a declaration like that, stepping away with calculated steps and turning to leave, but not without giving you an answer to your clear confusion.

"Thank you...now get back to work, after that move onto laundry."

You nodded carefully, unsure of what else was an appropriate response to that interaction, once she left, you tried to regulate your thundering heart, preying your fingers off the barrel of the rifle to fufill her request.

Unsure of what to do after your chores were done, or tomorrow...

Kelly had your confession echoing around in her head for a week, nothing to bother her but thoughts on the interaction and her countless responsibilities.

Such a simple phrase shouldn't have this effect on her, she was far past the times of her youth to be hung up on a simple compliment.

There was no lie in your words, no signal of humiliation at play in the interaction, your teeth were fighting a frightened chatter the whole way through, you thought what you spoke genuinely. It only befuddled her more, the words played again followed with the image of your face.

Pretty? She hadn't felt like that for years now, even before everything happened, her vanity wasn't upheld as much as she witnessed some soldiers try to maintain. Always clinging to softly curved skin like trying to sculpt themselves to what they used to be, or a sick replica of it, there was no point.

They had all been changed for better or for worse.

This was not insecurity, simply adaption to war, mutilation was inevitable, beauty was temporary regardless of setting.

She didn't hold the same thoughts anymore when she'd awaken to the thought of you in those early mornings before duty called, resting her elbow on the rickety table in her office, shakily painting on the same brush strokes as your expression came to mind, making her curse as it once again became smudged.

Maybe that was the final straw, the days of your words haunting her thoughts coupled with the object of your words causing her unnecessary strife, she caved one morning calling you into her office.

You were trustworthy above all else, a steady hand with a rifle too so she had no hesitation in your ability to perform, it was the act of asking that would be the biggest struggle.

It was far too early for anyone to bother you two, your stood still trying to rub the sleep from your eyes and regain some composure in her presence, you hadn't seen her much this past week, it worried you immensely now standing in her office.

The look of her without the lipstick was an odd one, but you spoke none of it upon noticing faint red streaks where she'd clearly wiped it away.

"Is this because of what I said?" You finally gained the courage to ask.

"No, it's not that, you answered my question truthfully," Kelly was exhausted that much was certain, wanting over with these thoughts of vanity and your opinion as she fiddled with the tube of half empty lipstick.

Which caught your attention like the glint of an enemy's scope as Kelly watched your brain put two and two together.

"You have a steadier hand than me, and seeing you know how I normally do it...I entrust you will do a good job."

Entrusting was an understatement, the delicate atmosphere was nearly as confusing as the sleepy fog still hanging above your head as you stepped forward to her outstretched hand holding the tube of lipstick.

You sat down across from her, delicately uncapping the lipstick to admire the shape like an artist would use a brush.

Smoothed over from use, slight scratches from her rough skin, but just at a good enough angle to get the right shape.

It was thrilling in a sense, to be so close and so trusted, your hands were more than gentle as she leaned down to make the fcanvas of her shark-like face cooperative with the work at hand.

You couldn't see it as we, probably for the best otherwise it would have worsened your nerves, but she never took your eyes off you, soaking in the softness you exuded. Fingers brushing over corners to smooth the red into place, following the present stains of her last attempt to paint them herself, your attention to her paid off immensely.

Eyes never faltering in that gaze of fascination, drawing down to replicate the curve of her signature cupids bow.

It surprised her in a way, the warm feeling filling up her chest up to her neck, bubbling over where your hand steadied her, chin.

But before she could savor the moment, you'd finished applying it.

"And...there, all done." You smiled pleased at the replica you'd constructed for her, it was a gentle and soft moment between you two.

Her hand found it's mark encompassing your wrist and half your arm before you were able to retreat your hand. The sound of her leather gloves making your veins pump loudly beneath her hold, the tension of the room bearing down on you as she spoke.

"You will speak of this to no one."

A shiver rolled down your spine yet the command held no threat, instead prompting the slightest smile to reach your lips.

"Why would I wanna share this with anyone but you?"

And with your words your gaze betrayed you once more, looking at the dip of red that outlined her lips, followed by a soft laugh from her teeth.

"Your a strange little thing." Was all she said before pulling away with a smile.