Le's Soldier

Part 50!!!!

The base felt different now.

Not hostile.

Not suffocating.

Just... quiet.

Lilly stood outside the Captain's office, arms folded, jaw tight. Her boots felt heavier than usual against the concrete floor, like every step carried the weight of something bigger than just a job.

This wasn't a mission.

This was her life.

"Get in here, Lil."

She exhaled once and pushed the door open.

The Captain looked up from his desk, reading her immediately.

"Well?"

Lilly didn't sit.

Didn't pace.

Didn't deflect.

"I'll take it."

Silence filled the room for a second.

Then—

A slow, proud smile spread across his face.

"Army trainer," he said. "You're sure?"

Lilly nodded once.

"I can't go back out there," she admitted quietly. "Not like I was. But I'm not done being a soldier."

The Captain stood, walking around the desk.

"You never were."

He stopped in front of her.

"You'll be shaping the next generation. They'll carry what you teach them into the field. That matters more than any one mission."

Lilly swallowed.

"Yeah."

He clapped a firm hand on her shoulder.

"Your dad would be proud of you."

That hit harder than she expected.

She nodded, voice tight.

"Thanks, sir."

At the big match !

The stadium roared.

Floodlights cut through the night sky over Emirates Stadium, illuminating the pitch like a battlefield.

Arsenal vs Chelsea.

Massive game.

Packed crowd.

Energy electric.

Lilly sat in the stands, surrounded by noise—but focused on one person.

Leah.

Out there on the pitch.

Commanding.

Focused.

Alive.

Beside her, Tommy leaned forward.

"This is intense."

Lilly didn't answer.

Her eyes tracked Leah's every movement.

Katie launched into a brutal tackle.

Crowd erupted.

"Jesus," Tommy muttered.

"Told you," Lilly said quietly.

The game was tight.

Physical.

Heated.

Beth sprinted down the wing.