The second spacecraft touched down with a soft thud beside the first, its metal frame hissing slightly as the hatch opened. Almost immediately, Eren leapt down with a loud whoop, the heels of his boots kicking up dust as he landed on the dirt road.
"So how long do you think we'll be deployed here?" he asked loudly, stretching his arms above his head until his back popped. The sunlight spilled over his face, eyes closed as he tilted his head upward to bask in the warmth. "Not bad. Earth's got a nice sun. Warm. Dry. I like it."
Varon stepped down behind him more quietly, his boots making less noise as he descended. He didn't say a word. His eyes, calm and unreadable, settled on Eren's animated face for a long moment. The look wasn't one of annoyance or amusement—just that same steady, watchful expression that made it impossible to tell what he was really thinking.
