"It might be for some," Kaz pointed out, although he wasn't in the right state of mind to make that much of an argument. Normally he might have picked a fight just for the hell of it (because Big Boss was still on his shit list, because he needed to lash out, and for any other number of reasons), but the cold had left him sluggish, worn out.

Snake's actual explanation turned out to be pretty vague, and as the silence stretched on, broken only by the crackling of the fire, Kaz lifted his head to meet that one-eyed stare. What did Snake mean by "everything else"? Did Kaz's behavior toward him play into his stress level at all, or did he care that little?

The silence continued for a few more seconds, and then Kaz sighed heavily.

"We're essentially prisoners. I know this isn't your first time being captured, but usually it isn't for such a long stint." Snake had managed to wriggle out of Strangelove's hold in record time, and Kaz had heard the tales of Operation Snake Eater, how even after being beaten to a bloody pulp and losing his eye, Snake had still escaped Groznyj Grad. Then again, he'd had spies on the other side to help him out.

The fire had started to warm the room, and Kaz let the blanket fall from his shoulders to pool in his lap as he leaned back on one arm.