Feral Daydreams 🎀

Uniformed Hearts (🍋)

It was a calm night, the stillness broken only by the distant hoot of an owl, the chirping of crickets, and the whisper of the wind through the trees. Sebastian sat on his balcony, cigarette in hand, seeking solace in the quiet. Each drag of his cigarette was a futile attempt to ease the tension weighing on him. His gaze was dull, lost in the tranquil beauty of the night.

A soft, calm voice broke the silence behind him. "Hey."

Sebastian recognized the voice immediately-it was Tancred, his temporary roommate for the night. Their military training stations were sharing the same hotel, and Tancred belonged to the other group.

"Hey," Sebastian replied, his voice carrying the same weariness he felt. Tancred approached, leaning casually against the balcony railing, his eyes also drawn to the peaceful night sky. Sebastian glanced at him briefly-Tancred was still in his military uniform, his light skin contrasting with the night. He was slender, with a messy blonde middle part and a small ponytail, his hazel eyes reflecting the starlight.

Sebastian returned his focus to the night, inhaling deeply from his cigarette before exhaling slowly. "What brings you out here?" he asked, his tone flat but not unkind.

For a moment, Tancred was silent, as if considering his response. "I don't know," he finally said, his voice as smooth and calm as before. "I guess I needed some fresh air."

"Mmh," Sebastian murmured in quiet understanding, both men falling into a comfortable silence as they watched the stars.

After a while, Tancred spoke again, breaking the stillness. "So, how was your day?" He glanced at Sebastian, curious.

"Pretty shit," Sebastian replied bluntly, his tone reflecting the roughness of his day.

"I see," Tancred nodded, accepting the answer without pressing for details. They lapsed into silence once more, the night enveloping them in its calm.

"And yours?" Sebastian asked, his voice softer now, almost as an afterthought.

"It was fine, I guess," Tancred replied with a shrug. "Just the usual routine, nothing special." His words were nonchalant, but there was a hint of something deeper beneath the surface.

Sebastian took another drag from his cigarette, tapping it lightly to drop the ashes. As he did, Tancred found himself quietly admiring Sebastian's rugged handsomeness, the way his sharp features were softened by the gentle glow of the moonlight. There was a quiet strength in Sebastian's presence, a magnetism that Tancred couldn't ignore, even in the stillness of the night.

Sebastian noticed Tancred's gaze but didn't react, instead taking another slow drag of his cigarette. The night was peaceful, the kind of quiet that allowed thoughts to settle, to drift without urgency. The crickets' song seemed to harmonize with the gentle rustling of leaves, a natural lullaby that filled the silence between them.

"You smoke often?" Tancred asked, breaking the quiet once more, his voice still calm, almost soothing.

Sebastian exhaled a cloud of smoke, watching it disappear into the night. "More often than I should," he admitted, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Helps with the stress."

Tancred nodded, his eyes returning to the starry sky. "I get that," he said softly, his tone suggesting a deeper understanding. He didn't push for more, respecting the unspoken boundaries they both seemed to have. The silence that followed was comfortable, as if both men found a shared solace in it.

Minutes passed, and the cigarette in Sebastian's hand burned low. He flicked the remaining ashes into the wind, watching them scatter before turning his attention fully to Tancred. "You don't seem like the type to need a break," Sebastian observed, a hint of curiosity lacing his words.