Six
"Let's set up here for the night."
Six stretched her arms above her head. She and her new companion Boone had only traveled a few miles from Novac.
"Fine by me." The stoic sniper stopped. Six regarded him as he turned his back to the wind, and consequently her, to light a cigarette.
She grabbed her sleeping roll and unfurled it. Next, she grabbed a prewar book and laid out on her roll. She held it over her head and began to read.
Boone glanced over at the girl. Six'd picked up that book over an hour ago, and was still reading. He could just barely see her eyes flicker over each word.
He ignored her and went back to keeping watch.
Not long later, he heard a soft noise. He stood slowly and spun, taking in the surroundings, before he saw the source of the noise.
Six's book had fallen onto her face, and her hands still clutched it. He blinked, and stared at her. Should he move the book? It didn't look like sleeping that way would be very comfortable, but on the other hand, he didn't want to give her any ideas. Six was the means to an end; His end.
He didn't want to give her any reason to get attached to a man who was already dead.
So he left it there.
For the first hour, he managed not to think about it. But well into the second, he'd started to think of how uncomfortable it might be to have your nose in a book, literally. He resisted moving it still.
He shifted, finally deciding to move it for her and later deny that he'd touched it, when Six woke up and moved it herself. He looked away.
"Oh," she sat up, "I guess I fell asleep…"
"You did." He said, still not looking at her. He heard her sigh.
"Is it my turn to take watch?" He turned a little. "You must be tired.."
"I don't sleep much." He answered curtly. "It's fine." There was a small pause.
"No. No, it's not. We're partners, right? You said snipers work in pairs." He looked at her. Her lips were drawn in a thin frown. "If you don't get some rest, you'll be tired when we move out. How can you watch my back if you're tired?" He looked at her.
"I just can." He said. Six cocked her head at him.
"Charming. Go to sleep." She stood up and rolled up her sleeping roll. He opened his mouth to protest, but she gave him a look that said it'd be easier if he just pretended to sleep.
He unrolled his own sleeping roll and laid down.
Sometime later, he opened his eyes, surprised and confused. When had he fallen asleep? And for how long?
He sat up slowly. The sky was just starting to light up in preparation for sunrise. It was dark when he laid down.
"Do you miss her?" He heard a soft voice ask. He turned. Six was looking at the fire between them. It had died down since his watch. "Your wife. You were whispering her name in your sleep." He frowned.
"Yeah."
She made a noise, somewhere between a snort and a scoff.
"I'm glad you killed her." His heart slammed against his ribcage. "Jeannie May." She looked at her feet. "I don't think I've ever been grateful someone's dead before. At least, I don't remember if I have or not." He relaxed a little.
He chose not to answer her.
She stood up.
"Are you ready to move out?" He nodded.
"Yeah."