i need a favor.  

the air in the louisiana woods always felt too heavy, thick with the kind of humidity that clung to the back of your throat . 
          
          benjamin jude lincoln leaned back against the rusted frame of his truck , the metal groaning softly under his weight as he adjusted the collar of his jacket . 
          
          he pulled a silver lighter from his pocket , flipping the cap open with a sharp ,  mechanical clink that shattered the silence .  he didn't strike the flint .  instead ,  he just rolled the cold metal between his fingers ,  his dark eyes scanning the tree line with practiced , steady patience .
          “ you can come out of the shadows ,  you know , ”  ben called out ,  his voice smooth , grounded ,  and entirely devoid of fear .  he didn't turn his head toward the specific patch of brush he’d been tracking with his eyes ,  keeping his posture relaxed to show he wasn't looking for a fight .  “ the air is clearer out here by the road .  besides  , i've never been a big fan of talking to the trees . ”
          
          he finally snapped the lighter shut, the definitive sound echoing into the brush as he waited to see if she would step into the dim illumination of his truck's headlights .
          

goddamn! you broke ma' tent. seriously?

seriously?  the silent treatment?  

you couldn’t sleep either?  

you’re getting good.  or maybe i’m getting old.  

oh,  wow.  is that new?  

[✶]  “ the night is young, we have yet plenty of trouble to get into.  don't call it a night just yet, stay a few hours more.”

you want me to do what? 

i leave for fifteen minutes—-