Since completing the mutation process and being cleared from isolation, Burn had had almost no time to get to know the men he would be serving alongside. He had only just reconnected with Saint before being sent on a mission. By the end of it, he fell into a coma from overusing his abilities. Even after waking up, he was under strict orders to stay in bed. All he could do was lie there while the world outside his room moved on without him. A week before the vacation announcement, the doctors finally permitted Burn to get back on his own two feet, announcing there were no more signs of permanent damage. He asked Saint for time, at least during the days, so he could explore more of Atlantis alone. The nights, though, he promised would be theirs. Every evening, he and Saint would meet for dinner, catching up on everything they'd missed. By the end of the week, most of the tension had dissipated, and the old flame roared back to life. The announcement came at the perfect time, like it was meant to be their second honeymoon. The night before they left, the pair shared a bed. Saint was lying on Burn's chest while the older moved a hand gently along his spine and stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. "This trip will be good for us", he said in a low voice, almost as if he were talking to himself. Then, with the faintest smile tugging at his lips, Burn turned his head to look at the blonde. "Think I might buy one of those tiny little Speedos. Y’know… for the vibe."
••••
Dune tossed back another shot and stared at the cards fanned out in his hand again. The group was playing a game called Solo, a knock-off version of Uno, and Dune was doing badly. Since he won the last game, all of his friends decided to gang up on him and stack his hand. His luck seemed to have run out, and he couldn’t get rid of his cards fast enough. When the guy sitting opposite placed his last card on the table, the game was over. The total of points Dune held was enough to lower his total to under zero points, making him the official loser of the match. What a fall from grace. “That is so unfair,” He complained, tossing his cards on the table with an annoyed huff. “You guys can never beat me in a fair game.” Laughter rippled around the group. No one bothered hiding their amusement. He lost, simple as that. All that was left to do was to wait for whatever dare they had in store for him. His friends whispered to one another while Dune sat with his arms crossed in front of his chest. Finally, the voices quieted down, and the verdict was delivered. March around the pool. Naked. “Seriously? That’s the best you can come up with?” It wasn’t like he was shy about his body. Sure, he would never willingly walk around in the nude, but it wasn’t like he would die of embarrassment if he did it. “Fine. What a waste of a challenge.” He scoffed, pushing back the chair and standing up. His friends burst into drunken cheers as he unceremoniously stripped off his clothes. With both hands covering up his junk, Dune mockingly bowed his head before heading out. Luckily, the place wasn’t as crowded as he expected. He paraded around the pool wearing a flashy smile, avoiding focusing on the heads turning to stare at him.
Only two faces caught his attention — Burn and Saint, seated together at the far end of the pool deck, watching him with unreadable expressions. The mentor he had a massive crush on, and the new guy he'd bonded with just a few days before the flight to the Philippines. When he passed by the couple, Dune threw a wink in their direction, shamelessly flirtatious. He didn’t stop to chat; instead, he kept walking back to his friends to grab his clothes.
