A moment in the woods

Ghost and König had entered into a thrupple, and though it seemed like a good idea to start, now they were feeling the strain of jealousy, especially Ghost. Ghost had gone to get breakfast for his two lovers, and when he returned, he saw them making love without him. His jaw tensed and he looked on with jealous anger. "I see you decided to start without me." Konig looked at him, and blushed red. "Hey, just calm down, it's not like that."

Night had well fallen by the time Ghost's careful footsteps brought them back to safe haven. Crickets serenaded the deepening dusk as he carried her petite form against his chest in tender protection.

Beside them Konig guided little Luna's meandering path with gentle words, cerulean gaze fond as it swept between his makeshift family.

Within the car, Esta sighed content as Ghost lay her down upon well-worn blankets, leaning to press a whispered "Sleep well, precious cargo" against her temple before stepping back.

Konig murmured soft German terms of endearment, tucking stray blanket corners with care. Then to his lover, tender blue meeting searching hazel, "Dinner?"

Ghost traced Esta's slumbering features once more before nodding, stealing one last private moment of thankfulness for this gift they'd somehow been granted.

Peace, and love - small marvels, yet enough.

Ghost stepped away from the makeshift bed and dog-eared blankets, amber eyes meeting Konig's gaze in silent understanding.

"Aye, dinner. Sounds good to me." He glanced back at Esta as she dozed, exhaling a slow breath of admiring gratitude.

"Though truth be told, my appetite is sated in other ways already today." Ghost offered a lopsided grin, voice low with teasing promise.

Konig's answering chuckle held warm understanding. "As is mine... yet I confess, food also warms my heart."

With a tender pet to Luna's glossy fur, he made his way towards the trunk, procuring fragrant packages and necessary accoutrements with practiced ease to prepare their nourishing meal. Ghost busied himself with gathering firewood, lost in thoughts of gratitude for these small blessings that they'd found against all odds.

By the time they were ready to eat, the campfire illuminated warm hues as it licked around steaming pans of sustenance. The aroma of seasoned meats mingled with forest scents as they shared laughter, stories, and perhaps more teasing between mouthfuls of delicious bites.

In the warm embrace of firelight, Ghost settled beside Konig with uncharacteristic ease, gaze never leaving the sleeping form of the woman who balanced them so well.

"She's... somethin' else entirely," he murmured, as if speaking aloud might shatter the moment's beauty.

Konig nodded solemnly. "Schatz pushes us to new places within ourselves - to greater heights than we could reach alone."

Luminous eyes traced the gentle curves of her face, delighted by every flicker and curve of dreaming expression. He leaned a little closer, almost conspiratorially. "Have you noticed how light stars shine brighter in their company, as if in response?"

Ghost snorted gently, affection bordering on indulgence. "Sounds like some romantic poetry," he teased, though his own eyes were warm. "But I can't say it ain't true."

Konig chuckled, shoulders shaking with silent laughter. "Perhaps. But poetry or not, it has a certain... truth to it." Lifting a hand, he traced the long-closed scar along Ghost's cheekbone. "Just as you contain your own shining, even through scars."

Chin tilting in clear affection, Ghost leaned into the touch just a bit. "Careful there, colonel. Might start thinking you actually need me or something," he grinned, crinkling his expressive eyes.

Konig chuckled, his own gaze softening. "Oh, mein liebchen. Never doubt that I knew that from the start."

Oh, so now I'm your liebchen, huh?" Ghost shot a teasing smirk at Konig, though warmth nestled in the light of his gaze. "Should I be flattered, or start worrying about my status?"

Beside them, Esta stirred softly in her sleep, shifting just enough to curl into herself on the edge of twilight dreams. Without a word the men's gazes met, silent, before Konig's hand dropped from its gentle perch on Ghost's face with a smile.

"You always have been," he murmured, rueful and sweet in equal measure. "Sometimes it just takes the heart a while to acknowledge what the soul already knows."

Between them the fire crackled intimate, whispering warmth to bind them tighter together in shared knowledge and whispered truths; small-emerald flames blurred boundaries that the two men had never spoken of out loud.

Konig leaned towards Ghost, his head bowing before he paused, almost as if he were going to reverse himself, and then kissed Ghost on the mouth, slightly off-center, with a gentleness that seemed nearly impossible. Though brief, the action spoke of the small part of himself that still harbored something specific for Ghost, something they both intrinsically knew was destined to remain organically unrequited.

Ghost's breath caught in his throat, surprised and yet not surprised all at once by Konig's kiss. For a moment his mind and heart were in a standstill, stunned by the contrasting emotions that warred within him.

But then Konig pulled back, expression open and soulful as if to acknowledge them both, it was clear to Ghost that regardless of past or present, the two had always had a deep bond that transcended dating or friendship.

For a moment more they simply looked at each other, eyes holding everything unsaid between them. Then Ghost let out a deep breath, his voice rough around the edges, "You always had a way with words, K."

A corner of Konig's mouth quirked up wickedly, his gaze alight with humor. "And you always knew how to make me blush, G," he replied, and pushed himself up to his feet. "Come on, lazybones. We best hit our beds before we get too comfortable."

Reluctantly pushing himself up from the fire, Ghost's pulse still racing as he willed himself to be calm, true to his nature. Drawing a steadying breath, he glanced once at Esta, thanking whatever might listen for the gift of this moment.

"I'll take last watch," he murmured as they made their way to the car, not pressing the issue. "I could use some time to think anyway."

Konig nodded sagely, knowing his brother-in-arms well enough not to expect much else. As they settled in for the night, surrounded once more by the thick scent of forest earth, Ghost found himself letting the many wild thoughts and emotions twist together and unwind,