It was hot. Hot and dry. V held himself well, despite everything — but not even he could resist the option of shedding his shirt during this field mission. He could blend into the desert well enough in this camo, even without the top, so he allowed himself a little relief. What he had failed to account for were the amounts of sandflies populating this area, especially in the summer.

It wasn't a big deal at first, only a small itch on his side that he could easily ignore in favor of staying focused and continuing to lead you along and give you instructions as always, but the more time passed, the more uncomfortable he grew. Finally, he couldn't ignore it and decided just scratching himself would be the better alternative to being irritated and itchy. Snake almost flinched when he felt the many, many, red-hot welts and bumps along his side. He immediately stopped in his tracks.