The sun was sharp over the training grounds, beating down on the lined-up soldiers. The unit was assembled neatly, boots planted, rifles slung. Whispers carried through the ranks — a new lieutenant was coming in.
Dust rose in little clouds under their boots as they shifted, waiting. Word had already spread — a new lieutenant was being assigned. No one knew much, only that they'd been pulled from a different division. Most expected another grizzled officer, maybe someone with a voice like gravel.
When she finally appeared, silence fell like a dropped blade.
A short, muscular woman with dark blue hair cut neatly back and eyes like sharpened gold lenses strode across the field. Those golden eyes swept over them like searchlights, calculating and unblinking. She walked with no wasted movement, no hint of hesitation. She didn't raise her voice when she spoke; she didn't need to. She stopped at the center, hands clasped behind her back.
"Lieutenant Lucia Castella. From today forward, I'm in command of this unit."
Her tone was flat, calculating, as if she'd already weighed every soldier standing before her. Some of the men exchanged glances — short? A bit young-looking? But there was no room for doubt in the way she carried herself. Most of the men straightened, uneasy but attentive.
Then Sergeant Orion Rossi stepped forward. Six feet of muscle, silver hair catching the sun, green eyes sharp but amused. He didn't look like he was challenging her — not outright — but there was a smirk tugging at his mouth. His grin was lazy, practiced, the kind that set teeth on edge and charmed in equal measure. Other soldiers leaned in like they were waiting for a show.
"Permission to speak freely, Lieutenant?" Orion asked, his voice a mix of humor and respect.
Lucia gave the barest nod.
He glanced her over, head tilted, smile widening. "Didn't realize command was recruiting from the… fun-size section."
A few soldiers stifled their laughter. The silence that followed was heavier than gunmetal as Lucia's gaze cut across them like a blade. She stepped forward until she was just under his chest height, her eyes steady on his.
Lucia didn't flinch. She paced forward, boots striking the dirt until she was standing close enough that he had to look down at her. Her eyes never left his.
"Size doesn't matter when the bigger man still waits for my orders before he breathes."
The men went rigid. Orion's grin didn't fade — in fact, it sharpened. He gave a slow, exaggerated breath, then muttered just loud enough for her to hear: "Guess I'll have to see what else you can make me do, Lieutenant."
Her stare flickered, almost imperceptibly — not irritation, but awareness. She straightened, stepping back without missing a beat.
"Fall in line, Sergeant. You'll have your chance soon enough."
The smirk faded, not out of embarrassment but into something sharper. Respect. He dipped his chin, hiding half a grin. "Noted, Lieutenant. Guess I'll just have to keep up."
Lucia turned back to the rest of the unit without another word, but the brief crackle in the air between them didn't go unnoticed. The soldiers straightened, suddenly aware that this wasn't going to be another routine chain of command.
She had them running drills within the hour. Rifle disassembly, precision shooting, field maneuvers — no wasted time, no wasted words. She moved like a machine, pacing behind them with arms folded, eyes hawkish, cataloging every flaw.
For the rest of the drill, Orion made sure to test her. A half-second late on a maneuver. A cocked eyebrow when she gave an order. Nothing blatant, but enough that the others noticed. Enough to see if she'd crack.
She didn't. Every time, she corrected with surgical precision — cold, controlled, and relentless. That was the time he stopped monkeying around and play his game.
Orion, of course, was flawless. Too flawless. He made a show of it. His rifle clicked together smoothly, a smirk tugging at his lips when he caught her watching. On the shooting line, his grouping was tight — one hole tearing through the paper center again and again.
When she passed behind him, he tilted his head just slightly and murmured low enough for only her to hear:
"You sure you're not just here to admire me, Lieutenant?"
Lucia stopped. For a heartbeat, the dust and the gunfire faded. She turned her head just enough for her golden eyes to lock with his. Calm. Cold. Unshaken.
"Don't flatter yourself, Sergeant. I don't admire tools. I use them."
The corner of his mouth curved. That's what he wanted. A crack, even if it was made of ice.
Later, during maneuvers, he pushed harder. In formation, when she barked for precision, Orion deliberately lagged half a step, not enough for the others to notice but enough for her. He knew she'd catch it.
Sure enough, she halted the entire squad. "Sergeant Rossi. Front and center."
He obeyed, green eyes gleaming like he'd been waiting for this. "Something wrong, Lieutenant?"
"You think this is a game?" Her voice stayed calm, even, but the steel in it vibrated across the field.
Orion leaned closer than protocol allowed, voice dropping into a grin-laced murmur. "Depends. Are you finally playing with me?"
For the first time, a ripple passed through her expression; not anger, not exactly but the faintest spark in her eyes. She stepped back, jaw firm, voice level.
"Drop and give me fifty, Sergeant. And don't get up until you remember who you answer to."
He dropped without hesitation, still smirking as his hands hit the dirt. "Yes, ma'am. But you'll have to forgive me if I start enjoying this."
The soldiers snickered until her glare shut them up. But as Orion counted out his push-ups, shoulders flexing under the sun, there was no mistaking it: he hadn't just tested her. He'd noticed her.
And worse… She'd noticed him too.
By the time the unit was dismissed, no one doubted she was in command.
No one but Orion Rossi.
He lingered as the others filed off, green eyes glinting. "Not bad, Lieutenant. I think you and I are going to have some fun."
Lucia didn't look at him, didn't break stride as she walked past. "You'll have fun when I permit it, Sergeant. Until then, you'll sweat."
The smirk stayed on his face as he turned to follow. He'd pushed her buttons and instead of snapping, she'd pressed back. Hard.
For Orion Rossi, that was better than winning.