The more time that passed without the slightest hint of a Sarmatian scout, the more the higher-ups relaxed, to the point that those soldiers off-duty, a week later, were allowed the chance to visit Aegyssus, the city closest to the frontlines on this stretch of the Danube. It wasn’t unheard of for groups of the men to make the trip to spend the evening there, in the company of other humans who had anything but battles on their mind, when they forgot what the gentle touch of a woman felt like or a sense of normalcy was all they could think to gamble for. However, it was very rare for the generals to orchestrate the day trips themselves, putting names on lists and sighing in exasperation when friends refused to be separated and amendments had to be made. Really, it just went to show how little there really was to do around the camp.

It was no surprise, then, that Sylvius chose this day to slack off the few duties given to them. He caught Joshua just outside the bulk of infirmary tents, an arm wrapped around his waist and a brilliant grin grazing his exposed neck. “We’ll walk today,” he’d murmured, purring the syllables against his skin so that Joshua could do little more than breathe in shakily, fingers clutching at his capsa as though he would dissolve into nothingness in Sylvius’ hold otherwise. “At midday. Will you be there?”

It had been a silly question to ask him. Of course he would be. He thirsted for those moments alone with Sylvius like a dog tied up and left out in the blazing Egyptian sun thirsted for a drop of water. Joshua had turned around in his grip and kissed him softly, nodding, for no words had dared escape his parched throat.

When the sun was at its highest point and midday rolled in with a pleasant wave of heat - for a change - Joshua was already waiting at the foot of the neighbouring forest, the trees singing with the life being carried out further within its kingdom of faeries. He and Sylvius had met there countless times, whenever the soldier wanted. It was in that very forest where Sylvius had said to him nunc scio quid sit amor and Joshua had eagerly promised him eternity. There they had put Catullus’ hundreds and thousands of kisses to shame and Sylvius had sworn there was a place amidst the stars where their names were interwoven, linked until the end of time.

There was where Joshua waited and waited past noon that day, and Sylvius did not turn up.

He had ventured somewhat further in than usual, in case Sylvius had arrived before him and started the promenade on his own, only to find that the woods were devoid of anyone else that stood on two legs and did not chirp out sharp, short melodies that sounded hollower when the magic of being with another disappeared and left reality dull and shamefully naked. Thus Joshua turned, ready to return to camp, only to finally be met with the unmistakable sound of muffled footfalls and hurry in the direction of their source. Yet, it wasn’t Sylvius who met him at the second line of trees, but rather Jack, absent-eyed and solemn-faced as Joshua hadn’t seen him a single time so far.

“Jack,” he found himself calling out. Softly, surprised. Not quite satisfied but masking his disappointment with a companionable smile. The other man blinked at him and soon mirrored the gesture, so that his hollow-eyedness was less than a memory and his face came alive with mild delight. Joshua wondered how much of it was a cover and how much genuine.

“Salve, Hoshe’a. What are you doing here?” The redhead approached as he spoke, so that his towering form cast a thin shadow over Joshua’s own body. The latter shrugged simply, averting his eyes. The answer to his question bore no complication in the slightest: nothing. He was doing nothing, because Sylvius had completely forgotten about him.

What he wouldn’t give to be able to swear such a thing was out of the ordinary.

“I was just on my way back. Can’t slack off forever,” he said, tone light, half-laughing, eyes glazed over, barely focused as he tried to keep his dismay from registering upon his features. His mustn’t have been a particularly excellent job, however, since Jack looked at him with unveiled concern. This, in turn, made Joshua struggle more to make his grin wider, only to result in Jack letting out a thoughtful hum and him training his eyes on the ground.

“It’s the first time I come to walk here,” the giant of a man remarked. “I could do with a guide to ensure my survival.”

Joshua laughed quietly. “What do I get out of saving the hero?” he teased and Jack smiled, both light and warm at the same time, so that the brunet could barely hold his gaze.

“I’d like to think my company is enough,” said Jack. His wording choice sent shivers up the other man’s spine. He couldn’t decide if this was a good sign or not fast enough, so he smiled still and limited himself to answering as best as he could, still tauntingly amused.

“I suppose that’ll have to do, huh?”

They strode along in silence at first, just as they had that other day when Jack was the one accompanying him on his stroll. Their footsteps came evenly over the wet earth - the ground always seemed to be nearly saturated with water in Germania - and Joshua took note of their sedate pace, easy and unhurried like nothing ever truly was when he was with Sylvius; they rushed, burned out like bonfires, roaring and heated and violent. In spite of how initially uncomfortable he found this variation, it didn’t take him long to adjust and sigh out the cold air, glancing up at Jack, who walked alongside him like the corporeal representation of the tranquillity that the very earth exuded.

Jack, possibly feeling Joshua’s eyes on him, absently turned his head and caught his gaze, giving a start only a moment later, where he blinked and accompanied the motion with a sheepish smile.

“Sorry,” he said, as though on instinct, making Joshua laugh.

“What’s the apology for?”

“I made a stupid face.”

Incredulity took the supremacy of Joshua’s expression, leaving amusement in the background when he next looked up at Jack, both of his black eyebrows raised questioningly. “That wasn’t a stupid face. This is a stupid face.”

Indeed, a stupid face it was, lips puckered in a bill-like fashion and cheeks crumpled high, expectantly staring at Jack until the bigger man’s smile dissolved into a quiet fit of giggles. Joshua’s own smile made it hard to keep the grotesque exhibition up so he dropped it, laughing along with his companion and nudging his shoulder.

“That’s more like it. You have a nice laugh, redhead. Just don’t get used to laughing at me.”

As though to invalidate his point, Jack chuckled once more. Had his been a more acquiescent size, Joshua might had shoved him. As this was not the case, he didn’t, contenting himself with rolling his eyes quite freely and smiling past his cheekbones.