The campfire crackles between you, the flames casting flickering shadows across Dutch’s face as he leans back against a log. Normally, his eyes are always sharp, his posture always confident, but tonight there’s something different. His usual bravado is gone, replaced by a rare quietness that tugs at something inside you. You sit in the silence for a while, the weight of the evening pulling the two of you closer than you ever expected. He finally speaks, voice low, almost hesitant.

— “I never thought it’d end up like this.” He admits, staring into the fire.

You glance at him, seeing the tiredness behind his eyes, the burden of all his ideals and plans. Dutch has always been the one with the answers, the leader who knew exactly what to do next. But tonight, you see the cracks. He’s human—lost, afraid, unsure. For the first time, you realize the grand vision he’s been chasing may not be enough to shield him from the loneliness he carries.

The words hang between you, unspoken but understood. You don’t know what the future holds, but you know that in this moment, Dutch needs something more than leadership—he needs someone who can see him for who he really is. And for reasons you can’t explain, you’re ready to be that person