ashley has small, almost instinctive protective habits now. she doesn’t even realize it anymore, but she oftentimes puts herself in the position of shielding others – they aren’t weird or possessive habits (bc No), just minor, unnoticable things that have become ingrained over the last few years of assuming threats wherever you go. it comes out in the way she’ll be the first to enter the room, last one to leave, or the way she’ll sit on the open side at a table, covering the other person. she rarely walks in front of the group anymore – not abdicating the responsibility of leadership, but taking up the rear to ensure everyone else is covered. on missions, she tends to draw attention to herself by simply being Who She Is, thus taking fire off her squadmates.