#local cave worm gets sunburned. more at 11

[poisonheadcrabsalesman]

“I know it itches, but you have to stop messing with it.” 

Miller and John

From this prompt list!

"You know, for all the things I was worried about happening on shore leave, this wasn't one of them." Miller chuckles even as his eyes dart to John's face. His hands are gentle as he spreads the cooling gel over the worst of the sunburn.

John sits patiently with a frown firmly on his face. There's gel on the top of his nose and cheeks, just visible enough to draw his eye down. Distracting.

"I thought you wore a hat?" Miller asks, his voice confused.

"I did." John states with a sigh.

"Huh." Miller was probably wondering how a human being went from white to burned in such a short amount of time.

He scratches absentmindedly at his arm. It's strange, having worked so hard to remember how to move without the armor that he can do it without a thought. Maybe the R&R everyone had been pushing on him had some benefits.

Except for the risk of burning in the sun. He knew he was pale, but this was ridiculous.

“I know it itches, but you have to stop messing with it.” Miller chides.

Of course John went to Miller rather than let Kelly or the rest of Blue Team see that 1. he had gone outside, and 2. the consequences of said venture. Miller worried about normal things like ticket prices and public transportation. He treated John like another awkward guy rather than a timebomb.

"You'll end up with a farmer's tan once it fades but it's not like the gear shows that off. We're gonna have to let the stuff dry before anything else."

John nods and looks at the gel on his arms and face. "Thanks."

"We should stick to something indoors. I heard there's an aquarium a couple blocks north of here." Miller says pulling up his wrist and the cheap chatter on it to look at his itinerary he doesn't know John knows he made. "They have a military discount! I mean if you want."

A grown Spartan has no right looking that sheepish.

"Might be nice seeing animals not trying to attack me." John says and gestures for Miller to lead.

"Oh. Yeah sure!" John can see the wheels turning in Miller's head as he struggles not to follow that line of thought. "It's mostly fish. Fish are calming. You don't have bad experiences with fish, do you?"

John opens his mouth to watch Miller deflate and then he smiles. "Fish are fine."

Miller lights up.

"Just no mushrooms."