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The fire crackled underneath the bright sky. Dema’s light pollution hid the stars, Clancy knew. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d seen stars this beautiful. He ate a spoonful of his stew, steaming hot, balancing on his lap. The Banditos had taken him in, Bishop issues and all, and marked him with their yellow tape. A piece of ash fluttered down, catching on the edge of his bowl. He watched the dying light inside it slowly flicker out. A sudden rough hand on his shoulder startled his focus.
“Clancy” It was Torchbearer. He climbed over the log and sat next to Clancy, settling in with his own bowl of stew. “How are you?”
His heart melted as he made eye contact with the man who had saved his life over and over. A small smile crept on his face. Torchbearer was really pretty. The freckles that dotted his cheeks travelled down to his shoulders. His nose, perfectly shaped, his lips, perfectly-
“Ahem” Torchbearer cleared his throat, waving a hand in front of Clancy’s eyes. “Earth to Clancy?”
“Oh- Sorry” He awkwardly sputtered, clearing his own throat. A warm heat crept up his neck and settled in his cheeks. “Just, lost in thought I guess. I’m fine, you?”
“Is that a “I’m fine” to get me to stop asking, or a “I’m good, fine"?" Torch teased.
He laughed half-heartedly. “A good fine, I think. Nothing to complain about right now, You guys take good care of me. And well, everyone. You’re a great leader, y’know?”
“Woah, flattery huh? You didn’t seem like the type.” Torch smiled, bumping his shoulder against Clancy’s own, and then taking a scoop of chicken and broth, munching it down. “Mmm, wish I could make stew like this.” He hummed, taking another spoonful. “God if I was allowed more than one ration I’d get so fat from this”
Clancy grinned. “You seem like the type.”
“Hey!”
They laughed and finished up their dinner, then brought the dishes over to the large water basin.
“Scrub it with soap this time.”
“I use soap every time!”
“And while you’re at it, wipe your mouth. You have a broth mustache” Torch rolled his eyes.
“I do not!” Clancy gasped, but wiped his mouth off with a wet rag. “Asshole.”
* * * * *
The crickets chirped and hummed outside of Clancy’s tent. He lay on his back on the cot. It was a peaceful night, but it was almost too peaceful, and he just couldn’t get to sleep. He rolled over, his t-shirt twisting around his body as he did so. He grumbled and yanked it to sit properly again. Then he flipped his pillow. Still warm. He kicked off the blanket with a huff. Maybe it was his socks. He peeled his socks off, throwing them somewhere in the pitch black of the tent. Five minutes later, it did nothing. Now he was pissed off. He sat up, reaching for his bedside lantern, when he suddenly hears the crunching of leaves outside.
He slowly withdrew his hand, retreating it back to his side. The footsteps stopped outside his tent, and then a voice.
“Clancy? Are you awake?” It was Torch. Relief flooded through his body. “Yeah, I’m awake, come in.”
The flap slowly unzipped, and Torch stepped inside. He was wearing just sweatpants and a hoodie, no shoes or even socks.
“Something the matter?” He beckoned him closer, sitting him down on the cot. Torch nodded. “I can’t sleep” He sighed “Can…I sleep here?”
Now he was smiling. Big intimidating leader of The Banditos, Torchbearer, like a little kid asking to sleep in his parents room.
“Of course you can sleep here. I’d never say no, you know that.” He replied softly, tugging the edge of his hoodie.
He got the message and pulled off his hoodie, and his sweatpants followed. They both settled in the cot, pulling the blanket back from the floor.
“Comfy?” He pet Torch’s soft brown curls, twining one around his finger.
“Mhmm”
They shuffled around, Clancy's arm snaking over Torch's waist and pulling him close, rubbing soothing circles on his back. Torch burrowed his face in Clancy's neck, inhaling and nuzzling his nose against the blackened skin. Clancy smiled at the feeling of his relaxed, warm breaths on his collarbone. He pressed a gentle kiss against the mess of dark curls in his face.
“Goodnight.”
“Night.”