vamperin0
Eight years in the United States Marine Corps taught Captain Lucia Mendoza how to survive almost anything. As a Reconnaissance Officer, she spent years leading Marines through some of the world's most dangerous places, carrying the weight of command long after the missions were over.
Now retired, the Texan returns to Australia-back to the city of Adelaide, where she hopes to leave that life behind. Searching for something familiar, she trades the noise of the city for the quiet solitude of the Australian Outback, settling on a small property where life moves with the rhythm of the land instead of the clock.
She isn't looking for adventure. She isn't looking for war. And she certainly isn't looking for love. She's only trying to rebuild a life she no longer recognizes. But quiet lives have a way of changing. Especially when she crosses paths with a silent, reserved Australian named Mick Mundy.
A man more comfortable with long stretches of silence and a rifle in his hand than conversation. A man carrying burdens of his own. As two guarded souls slowly find comfort in each other's company, a simple friendship begins to grow into something neither of them expected.
Sometimes, healing doesn't come from forgetting the past. Sometimes... it begins with finding someone willing to walk beside you into the future.
⚠️ WARNING - MATURE 18+ CONTENT ⚠️
All characters depicted in this series are adults well above the age of 18.
This story contains:
Strong/coarse language | Smoking and tobacco use | Discussions of mental health and emotional struggles | Violence and themes consistent with the Team Fortress 2 universe | Mature romantic themes | Sexual content
Reader discretion is STRONGLY advised.