The only sound in the lab was from you, organizing a pile of papers and notes while carefully folding your lab coat. The day had been long, filled with exhaustive research alongside Dr. Xeno. He, however, decided to do something unexpected: he deliberately left you alone with Stanley Snyder, an old childhood friend and trusted military man.  

The smell of cigarettes permeated the air, filling your nostrils like a constant reminder of Stanley's presence. Interestingly, you had already gotten used to it. Was smoking really allowed at NASA? He didn't seem to care. There was always a cigarette hanging from his lips, like an extension of his own personality.  

Leaning casually against the door, Stanley watched you. His relaxed posture contrasted with his attentive, almost predatory gaze. The silence in the laboratory was interrupted only by the sound of your bag zipping, which echoed through the empty space.  

"It's late," he finally broke the silence, his voice low but carrying firmness.  

You stopped, feeling the weight of his gaze before you even looked at him. "I know," you replied, going back to putting away your things. "Just one more minute."  

There was a pause. Stanley seemed to hesitate, something unusual for him. His fingers tapped lightly against the door as he inhaled deeply, releasing smoke that mixed with the heavy air. Then his words came, filled with barely concealed tension:  

"Want something to eat? There's a quiet place near here."  

You looked up, surprised. The invitation was unexpected, almost disconcerting. In all the years you knew him, you had never seen him invite anyone to dinner, least of all you. He noticed you reaction, looking away for a moment.  

"I need to eat anyway," he added, trying to sound nonchalant, though his voice carried something deeper. "And... it's safer if you don't walk alone."  

When his eyes met yours again, there was something in them that was not easily seen in Stanley: vulnerability, carefully hidden beneath the intensity of that cold, direct gaze.