The SGT at arms and his run-away

Corndogs and that age thing

*Willow*

The roar of the motorcycle fades as we pull into a parking lot just off the beach, the salty air immediately wrapping around us like a warm embrace. I slide off the bike, my legs a little shaky from the thrill of the ride, and he steps off behind me. As he removes his helmet, I can’t help but let out a little sigh. His hair, tousled by the drive, falls perfectly into place. There’s a boyish charm to him that contrasts sharply with the rugged exterior of the biker.

“Welcome to the beach,” he says with a grin, and I can’t help but mirror it. The sun glints off the water, creating a dazzling display of blues and whites that stretches as far as the eye can see. “Ever been here before?”

“Wow, no I haven’t” I breathe, unable to tear my gaze away. This place feels alive, bursting with energy and possibility. “It’s beautiful.”

“Just like you,” he replies, and my heart skips a beat. I turn to look at him, searching for a hint of sarcasm, but the sincerity in his eyes leaves no room for doubt. The moment is electric, and I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks.

I bite my lip, looking down. “Thanks.”

“Let’s grab some snacks, since I haven’t had anything yet today,” he suggests, breaking the spell. He leads the way towards a small seaside shack, the smell of fried food wafting through the air, mingling with the scent of the ocean. “What do you want?”

“Surprise me, I am not really picky” I say, my playful side emerging. As he goes to order, I take a moment to absorb my surroundings… seagulls wheel above us, and the sound of waves crashing rhythmically against the shore surrounds me. The world feels both vast and intimate.

He returns a few moments later, two steaming corn dogs and a can of coke in hand. “Here you go,” he says, handing me one while taking a hefty bite out of his own, then letting out a groan. “I will say I made the right choice here.”

I laugh, taking a big bite of mine. The taste is heavenly, and I can’t help but smile at him with a mouth full of food. “You might be right about that.”

He sits down on a bench, padding beside him and we sit there in silence, enjoying our food and sharing the coke. It is weird how I both feel comfortable talking to him, but also with the silence… it is like he reaches out and calms my soul.

When we are done eating we stroll along the water's edge, the sand cool beneath our feet. The ocean stretches endlessly before us, a vast expanse of freedom that mirrors my own desires.

“Do you come here often?” I ask, trying to keep the conversation light.

“Not as much as I would like,” he admits, glancing at me with a hint of something deeper in his eyes. “Life gets in the way sometimes. But I always come back when I need to clear my head.”

“Yeah, I get that.” I nod, feeling the weight of my own life pressing down on me. “I wish I could just escape sometimes.”

He looks at me, “what is it you want to escape?”

I sigh, “just life, the boredom of it, the triviality.” It is not really a lie, just a very simply version of the truth

“Where would you go?” he asks, sounding genuinely curious.

I take a moment to think, my heart racing at the possibilities. “Anywhere but here,” I finally say, though I don’t mean the beach or this moment. “I guess I just want to feel free.”

He stops walking, turning to face me, his expression serious. “You deserve to feel free, Willow. It makes me sad that someone as young as you doesn’t. Don’t let anyone hold you back. Life is too short to be tied down by expectations.”

His words resonate within me, a stark reminder of the invisible chains I wear daily. My family, their expectations and demands… they loom over me like shadows, always present, always demanding. But here, with him, I feel like I could finally break free.

“Maybe I’ll take your advice,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. The ocean waves crash behind us, a symphony of encouragement.

He smiles, that dazzling grin that makes my stomach flutter. “Good. Just remember, it’s never too late to follow your heart.”

As we continue our walk, the sun rising higher in the sky, sending warm rays down on us, I can’t shake the feeling that this moment is somehow pivotal. I glance at him, studying the contours of his face, the way his eyes glint with mischief and sincerity.

And then, he pauses again, this time to pick up a small shell from the ground, its surface glistening in the fading light. “Here,” he says, handing it to me. “A token of today. Remember it.”

I take the shell, feeling its cool surface against my skin, a symbol of this day, this fleeting moment. “I will,” I promise, looking up at him.

“Willow…” He bites his lip. “I know you are not supposed to ask and all that but before anything else… happens, I need to ask how old you are?”

I can feel the gravity of his gaze, for a second I contemplate lying, but I do not want to lie to him. “I’m 19,” I admit, holding my breath.

He freezes slightly, his expression shifting from relaxed to tense. “Nineteen?” He runs a hand through his hair, cursing under his breath. “That’s… pretty young.”

“What are you saying?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady even as my heart races.

He glances away for a moment, the weight of his thoughts heavy in the air. “I knew you where young, of course… I guess I had hoped you were older than you look. I should probably take you back to town. You shouldn’t be out here with someone like me.”

“Why not?” I push back, feeling a mix of frustration and adrenaline. “I’m here because I want to be. You think I can’t handle it?”

“It’s not about that,” he replies, shaking his head. “You’re still figuring things out, and I don’t want to be the guy who complicates things for you. You’re too young for… whatever this is. Too young for me.”

I take a step closer, determination igniting within me. “I’m not a kid. I know what I want. It’s not like you are… old”

He looks at me, his expression torn. “You might think you do, but trust me, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment.” He chuckles darkly. “Compared to you I am kinda old sweetheart.”

“What are you? Twenteight? Twentynine?” I look at him, hoping I am righ.

“I am about to turn thirtythree soon,” he sighs, like saying it makes him feel very old.

I shrug, “It is not that bad, I mean it is not like you could be my father.”

“Thank God,” he mumbles, running a hand through his hair again, looking out on the water.

We are both silent for a moment, I do not want to come of as desperate, but to be honest the idea of not seeing him again hurts, and I am not even sure why.

He sighs, clearly wrestling with his instincts. “I like you, but you deserve more than a reckless decision. I can’t just ignore that you’re still so young.”

“Then let me make my own choices,” I insist, my heart pounding. “I want to be here with you. Please do not treat me like I do not know myself.”

He studies me for a long moment, the tension palpable. I can tell he wants to keep me safe, but there’s something in his eyes that tells me he’s tempted to let go of that control, if only for a moment.

“Look, I don’t want to be that guy… you know the one going for the too young woman,” he finally says, voice low. “I also don’t want to be the reason you regret anything later.”

“Then don’t think about it like that,” I say, softening my tone. “Just… be here with me now.”

He closes his eyes for a moment, before mumbling, “You are not making this easy on me, not easy at all.”

“Sorry,” I swallow.

“Sorry?” He looks at me

I am looking at my feet, kicking feebly at the sand, “I won’t complain if you want to take me back and never see me again.”

“Willow,” He says softly. “Willow, look at me.” When I shake my head lightly his fingers close softly around my chin, “as I said I should take you back…”

“But…?” I whisper breathlessly, feeling almost lost in his warm hazel eyes.

He sighs, “but… I am not strong enough.”

His eyes slide over my face, and as they linger on my lips it is like a physical touch, making my skin tingle. He breathes in deeply, his hold on my chin tightening slightly and I know he is gonna kiss me.

“Stop me,” he whispers.

I shake my head lightly, closing my eyes, hearing as he curses under his breath again, and then his warm lips crashes down on mine.