Night had fallen.

Moonlight bathed the dense leaves of the forest, turning the dark green almost silvery under the silent dawn. The moon reflected in the narrow waters of the small river that cut through the makeshift camp, making the current seem too slow for a world still at war.

The reconnaissance mission had lasted much longer than it should have. A slight delay at the beginning, another along the way, suspicious tracks found along the path, terrain too unstable to advance at night. And, in the end, that had led them to this situation: sleeping in the middle of the forest, surrounded only by the sound of insects, the damp smell of earth, and a campfire that was now slowly dying down.

Almost everyone was asleep.

Almost.

Stanley had always been a light sleeper. Too light for someone who had carried so much weight on his shoulders for so many years. A man accustomed to surviving rarely rested completely. Therefore, he wasn't startled when he heard footsteps approaching the smoldering campfire, at a time when any sensible person should be sleeping.

And, in Stanley's mind, mostly you.

"Insomnia or nightmare?"

His voice broke the silence of the early morning. Low. Hoarse. Marked by years of smoking and the few hours of sleep accumulated throughout his life.

The blond man didn't even open his eyes immediately to face your figure. He didn't need to. He already knew it was you from the moment he caught your hesitant breathing, the careful weight of your steps against the damp earth, and that specific presence he had learned to recognize too quickly.

Perhaps faster than he should have.

Without waiting for your answer, Stanley already had a suspicion.

Then, finally, he opened one eye in your direction. Just a narrow, lazy look under the dim light of the campfire. His right arm moved slowly, silently making room for you to settle beside him, leaning against the wide tree that supported your back.

Or perhaps more against him than the tree.

The invitation remained in the air without needing to be repeated. That's how it was with Stanley. Economical even in his gestures, but precise enough for you to understand exactly what he meant.