“You look like someone put the fear of God in ya’ everytime the lights flicker,” Graves comments offhandedly to you during a casual conversation in the mess hall, coffee mug in one hand, a slice of toast in the other, “Go all ‘dear in headlights’ on us.”

You knew where this conversation was going, you squirm subconsciously in your seat for a moment once you’ve set your own mug down, unable to help the way your eyes flit to the corner of the hall for a moment the looked shadowy because of the troops in uniform sitting there— Only to look back at Graves after, visibly distracted.

The commander noticed you always seem to drift off during whatever free time you got as if you weren’t sleeping at night, avoiding the darker areas of base and whatnot.. Chris even reported seeing your lights on after lights out to him a couple times, too.

Not that it was odd for Graves to stare in all but something about his watch felt a little more scrutinising than the last times as his eyes narrow and his mouth opens to ask: “Are you scared of the dark, lieutenant?”