#;!ic.

The reason is due to memories… maybe, that’s what he tells himself, at least. The warmer the weather, the harder the flashbacks of that room in Afghanistan hit him. Like a ton of bricks, winding him, and knocking him onto his back… leaving him out of breath and staring up at the ceiling.

No, no —— when had he fainted? Blacking out isn’t usually something you remembered happening, but with a slight tilt to the left of his head, eyes quickly found the window that wasn't far above his current location. The sun had gone done. It was just a little after 3pm.

Lack of nutrition, perhaps, maybe dehydration. . . he just hadn't felt hungry, sleep wasn't an absolute must, either, it was a wonder he managed to get any, actually.

               Not much was said to that, simply because Kaz’s jaw was beginning to clench and his anger was getting the better of him. Normally, bad language was never exampled by the second-in-command, but this was a different situation.

        With his hands already balled into tight fists, knuckles turning white from the sheer force of just how hard he was squeezing, he couldn’t help but to let it through.

                         “ —— Go fuck yourself… ”

                The Huskies are home tonight——despite their fur, fit for such cold conditions, Miller worries and those dogs mean everything to him. He wouldn’t risk something happening just because he’s lonely… that’s the walk is for, bundling up in his warmest clothes, and walking the dimly lit path near the house.

                 It’s not even a Winter month, yet it’s eternally snowing in this part of Alaska; there’s no complaints, the cold is welcoming. The glistening white blankets on the ground, sparkling when the moon shines down. Blue hues connect then, glancing from his feet to the outstretched path before him.

                 Only then, had he realized the excessive sound of footfalls behind him… an added crunch to the ones his own boots were causing. It wasn’t uncommon for others to be here this time of night, so as he took a step to the side, to offer more room, and not even bothering to look back. After a moment or two, the noises only increased, doubling in volume and number… However, it caught him by surprise when nobody passed him.

                  Turning to look… blonde brows furrowed above narrowed eyes. What? There was nobody there. So what had he just heard…? Was it his own feet?  “ … Is anyone there——? ” Silence. Just the sound of a gentle breeze through evergreen, shifting branches, needles, and snow. Maybe he didn’t even want an answer in return.

                    Miller’s immediate thought rested upon a particular memory, one he wasn’t quite fond of, honestly, and attempted to bury as best he could. Gaze lingered on the ground… there was no other imprints there but his own——had he had been hearing things? Was he beginning to lose his mind? Inhaling a shaking breath, a plume of white air passed through soft lips.

                Confusion didn’t even begin to explain what was coursing through his mind at the moment——gun-metal blue hues darted, almost frightened, across the proximity of the deck. It was clear that there were eyes on him… the voice he was picking up through the particular channel of his radio, thankfully one Boss wasn’t also tied to.

                             “ You’re avoiding my questions. ”

                 For a reason, clearly… maybe this was just a distraction from something else, a way to get him riled up before the final blow came and Mother Base was bombed via air drop or something.