Rudo has a bit of a habit that he just can’t kick, he always falls asleep during car rides, it doesn’t matter weather it’s before or after a mission, weather it’s Enjin or gris (preferably Gris) driving, who he’s next to or where they are, he just can’t seem to help himself. There’s something so comforting about it to him, it’s complicated, knowing where everyone is, the dull hum of tires on ground, the gentle rumbling against his body, all a perfectly crafted lullaby to sink him into deep, unrelenting sleep.

Well It’s not necessarily bad, so to speak but it’s embarrassing, when he means he can’t help it- he really can’t help it, he cannot, for the life of him stay awake. Last time he was in the car he fell asleep right on zankas shoulder and didn’t hear the end of it for about a week afterwards, enjin seems to have made it his life’s one true mission to inform the entire base that he sleeps like a puppy, and riyo has started calling him over by whistling to him like a dog.

It’s like any usual after mission car ride, Enjin is driving like a maniac and playing his old man music, Follo, riyo, and zanka are engaged in what can only be described as the world’s most intense game of I-spy, Gris is trying and failing to stay sane, and Rudo is fighting as hard as he possibly can to not fall asleep.

Five minutes, five minutes in the car is all it takes, before he’s out like a light, slumped to the side, neck bent in a way that looks like a guaranteed ache when he wakes up, head lolling back, kind of sleep. His cheek is smushed right up to your shoulder, gloved hands clutching your arm tight to his chest like a barnacle as his soft (and frankly adorable) snores sound between the muted tunes from the cars archaic speaker.

He’s so close like this, each silent puff of his exhale leaving a trace of warm breath against the underside of your jaw, if you yank your arm from his grasp he’ll surely wake up, so you can’t do much but just put up with it for now, well- this isn’t the worst thing to happen? at least the car isn’t actively crashing or something.

As if whatever god out there has heard your optimistic thinking and personally taken it upon themselves to punish you for it, Enjin glances up at the rear view mirror.

“D’aaawwww…look at you twooo”

you find yourself wishing that the car was crashing.

Your plan of “being quiet so nobody notices” has gone completely out of the window, enjins tone turns to that of exaggerated wistfulness.

“Ahh…young love, am I right gris?”

enjin takes a hand off the wheel to nudge at Gris with his elbow in an admittedly dangerous manner, Gris chooses not to engage, although you swear you can see the corners of his mouth turn upwards. somewhere from behind you riyo whispers something to follo who whispers something to zanka that makes all three of them let out poorly muffled snickers.

Rudo just mumbles something in his sleep and nuzzles closer into your shoulder, completely oblivious to your plight. It’s gonna be a long drive.