12 CASE FILE NO. 1

IT WAS COLD OUT but Elliot still decided to stay outside with his warm mug that was filled with hot coffee.

The soldiers were instructed by their sergeant to wake up at four so they could start training at five. Elliot got up way too early so no one hasn't woken up yet.

It was snowing. Not the perfect weather to go out and train, but it helped their endurance. And during an actual battle, the weather wouldn't be kind and considerate.

Elliot sat on the deck just outside their barracks. He took a sip of his coffee and looked at the falling snow. He imagined it as small clouds falling one by one until nothing was left for the sky. He wanted to touch it, but he didn't have gloves on. He didn't want to freeze the hands that he was trying to warm up.

He was looking at a distance, enjoying the silence. But his silence was disrupted when he heard the door of the barracks open behind him. He didn't even turn his head to look. He waited until the stranger sat beside him.

Elliot glanced at his side and saw a man who he was very familiar with, Kristopher. Kris had brown hair, a very pale skin, and a small structure that wasn't fit for a soldier. But he was kind, and he had honor. He had more guts compared to soldiers twice his size.

Kris smiled at Elliot and grabbed the mug from his grasps without even asking for permission. He smiled again and took a sip before handing it back to the owner.

"You're up early." The young man said as Elliot took the mug from Kris's hand.

"I should be saying the same thing," Elliot answered back, drinking from his coffee first before handing it back to the man beside him.

Kris smiled and took the mug once again, but this time with Elliot's permission.

"Can't sleep." He simply answered him, warming his hand with the mug.

"Have the others been teasing you again? Have they been bullying you?" Elliot asked out of the blue without looking back at him. And even without looking, he knew that Kris's smiling face vanished. Kris hated discussing this type of topic, especially with him.

"Bullying? We're not in high school El. They're just playing around." Kris managed to say, his shaking voice contradicting what he was saying.

Elliot finally looked back at Kris and told him, "I've known you since middle school Kris. I know you're not the type of person to fight back. I don't even know why you want to be a soldier."

"I wanted to be a detective. You're the one who wanted to be a soldier." Kris said instead. He wanted to change the topic, and Elliot knew exactly what he was trying to do.

"I didn't tell you to fucking follow me." He told him while flicking Kris's nose, which made Kris chuckle.

"Who would take care of the ever so serious Mr. Elliot Huxley if I didn't?" Kris asked with a soft voice so no one could hear it.

Elliot finally smiled and moved close. Kris was surprised at the sudden action that he suddenly spilled the coffee on his hand. He cursed and accidentally let the mug go. Thankfully the ground was covered in snow. The fall didn't break the mug.

"S-sorry," Kris said, reaching out to grab the mug. But Elliot immediately stopped him.

"How clumsy." Elliot teased before taking Kris's hand that got burned by the hot coffee.

Elliot kissed the red mark before looking back at the person sitting beside him. Kris was flustered, and his face was almost tomato red. His heart was beating fast too, and he was afraid that if Elliot decided to move closer, he'd be able to hear it.

"You know that I'll protect you no matter what right?" Elliot asked, reaching out to touch the side of Kris's mouth. He wiped off the powder, revealing the dark spot that Kris tried to hide. His hold on Kris's hand tightened, and his gaze immediately changed.

Kris looked away, but Elliot grabbed his chin and forcefully made Kris look back at him again.

His body was covered in bruises, but he tried his best to hide it from Elliot. He was a fool to think he could hide anything from him. Especially from him.

Elliot looked straight in his eyes. Kris gulped as Elliot continued, "Now tell me...who were you playing around with again?"