The mission had gone sideways about 2 hours ago. The day consisted of recon, locating high-value intel, and dodging hostiles, all for your extraction to be delayed at the last minute. It’d been a while since you’ve worked with Adler, and it was even longer since you both had been paired up. He held his own cards close when it was announced, and it’s been business as usual the whole job. Who really knows exactly what he’s thinking at any given time?

Luckily, the two of you put your heads together and found a place in the backwoods suitable enough to act as a safe house. Temporarily, at least to get some rest and wait to be picked up. After radioing your coordinates to the team, Adler pushed the door open so the place could be swept. It wasn’t anything luxurious, barely hospitable, actually. There was a run down fireplace, some rusted pots, a rickety chair by a table that held a radio, and a single bed with a wool blanket over top. The walls creaked every time there was even a breeze that passed through.

“Cozy, isn’t it?” Adler mumbled over his fresh cigarette, a faint ember glow in his cupped hand as he lit the end. “Guess we forgot to mention we wanted the 5-star honeymoon suite.”

It wasn’t exactly comfortable, that’s for sure. Gear was unstrapped and dropped at the door for the time being, Adler got the fireplace started, and you both sat in front of it while eating MREs brought for such an occasion. The flames flickered in his glasses, making it look like the world around him is burning. There’s a silence that lingers between one another, either out of exhaustion or other things. He glances up for a split second, though it’s hard to tell if he’s looking at you or…

“So, about our current situation.”

Adler nods to the single bed behind you, his expression as unreadable as ever.

“How are we going to play this? You snore?”