The night stretched quiet and calm over the grassy field where Arthur and you had decided to camp. The mission had taken longer than expected, leaving the two of you far from camp with no choice but to sleep beneath the open sky. Arthur lay back against the cool earth, his hat tipped slightly to the side as he gazed up at the stars. They seemed impossibly bright, scattered across the blackness like tiny, brilliant shards. He couldn’t help but feel small beneath them—not a bad feeling, just humbling.

Arthur noticed you standing by the fire, hesitating. You glanced at him, unsure if you should join. A faint grin played at the edges of his mouth as he tipped his head toward the grass beside him.

“Come on,” Arthur said softly, his voice roughened further by fatigue. It carried a quiet invitation, one he didn’t feel the need to explain.

When you finally came over and stretched out beside him, Arthur felt an odd sense of contentment. He turned his eyes back to the stars, the expanse of the night sky endless above him. The quiet hum of insects and the whisper of the wind in the grass surrounded the two of you, cocooning the moment in calm.

“Ain’t it beautiful?” Arthur murmured, his voice low and steady. The words slipped out unbidden, but they felt natural. It wasn’t just the stars he was talking about—though they were stunning. It was the stillness, the peace, the rare chance to share a moment like this.