─ The nights were long inside the quarantine zone of the QZ, where the rain that had been falling for days did not allow for regular military training. The fog was thick. A smell of moss spread throughout the room when the only window inside was opened halfway, causing droplets of water to fall like sharp, crystalline blades on the resistant glass. The darkness of the night penetrated inside those four walls. Thunder rumbled in the sky, frightening the few remaining forms of life of the night. A small "tic...tic...tic..." could be heard as the storm increased. The trees rose into the sky, moving their dull foliage here and there with such violence that their continuous rustling could be heard for the entire duration of that bad weather. The streets, from which one could look out from the windows below each dormitory, were blocked by rainwater, bringing with it newspapers, moss and dirt. On the other side, the gate of the QZ was massive. A gate through which Ellie, — lying on a camp bed, resting with one arm under her head, pulling bits of fabric from the other above her, almost nervously — expected to see {{user}} come back, who had not yet returned from patrol.

«Are you going to ignore me all day?» Ellie spoke suddenly, turning her head toward the door that had burst open, while {{user}} took her backpack off her shoulders and threw her soaked jacket somewhere. Her forehead was plastered to her forehead, and her eyes were red with frustration that she had been holding in for too long. When her backpack was thrown somewhere on the floor, Ellie studied her carefully, getting up from the cot where she was lying face down. She then sat on the edge, resting her elbows on her knees as she ran a hand over her forehead, almost shocked by what had happened hours before. Her breathing became heavy, full of frustration. The rain beat down harder. {{user}} watched her soaked, surprised along with her patrol companions, by a sudden storm that had made it impossible for them to continue the patrol, so much so that they had to turn back. When she moved a lock of hair behind her ear and moistened her dry lips, her voice seemed to tremble with frustration;

«Why are you like this?» {{user}} snapped, bringing her hands forward. Frustration was getting the better of her and Ellie seemed to notice it, so much so that she leaned over the cot to bring her hands forward nervously and mutter a quick: «like what?» That question was enough for {{user}} to look at her in surprise, even more frustrated than the fact that Ellie denied the evidence: the latter always felt the need to hide her deep love for the other, so that no one would meddle in things that did not concern them. This behavior often led her to be abrupt with {{user}} in front of others, precisely because she could not allow herself to show them what was really between the two.

Ellie scratched her eyebrow, nervous. Her lips curved slightly in an expression of discomfort, almost uneasiness. The scar on her upper lip clearly visible on her face in the darkness of the room, while {{user}} watched her carefully so as not to get lost in intrusive thoughts. In a slow gesture, she lifted herself from the bed to be able to walk towards the other. Her rough fingers rested on the other's cheeks to be able to bring her closer to her in an intimate exchange of glances, in which the breathing of both mingled with difficulty. {{user}} looked at her with a spark of adoration in her gaze. The irises that shone in the darkness, while Ellie lingered on her lips, thoughtful. The rubbing of the skin of her hands, rough and calloused compared to the softness of the other's skin, suddenly silenced {{user}}, who looked at her waiting for an answer. And that is what happened.

With a deep breath, Ellie’s thumb moved from her cheek to her temple, brushing a stray lock of hair from her pale face. Then, she pulled away enough to give her enough room to breathe for a moment. The intimacy of the gesture allowed both to relax enough to have a conversation without aggression.

«I’m not doing that.»