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Krejjh wakes up cold. That makes them smile.
It's a deeply unpleasant feeling, shivering like they've been cold for a while now, but it's such a common occurrence the bite of it has dulled. Krejjh stares at their dark ceiling for a moment, trying to pick out details as they let the discomfort refresh them. When they get sick of that, which takes only a second, they turn to Crewman Jeeter.
He's cocooned himself in the covers. It's impressive, actually, the series of wiggles and small movements he does in sleep to tuck himself in. Krejjh witnessed it on one of the rare occasions they convinced him to take a nap. He faces away from them, now, and Krejjh lifts a hand to his shoulder, shaking ever so gently.
Like a true linguist, Crewman Jeeter says, "Wha-huh? Mmmbh, what? Krejjh?"
"I'm here, Sh'th shlow. I'm here and I'm very cold."
Jeeter doesn't bother pulling himself from half-sleep, rolling over to look at Krejjh through his eyelashes, blinking rapidly. " 'm sorry."
"You should be."
That teases a sleepy smile from his face. His eyes clinking and falling shut. They fail to open again.
"Crewman Jeeter."
"I'm awake."
"Barely. Is that what sleep-talking is? You mentioned humans do that."
No answer.
"Crewman Jeeter."
He looks supremely comfortable.
"Crewman Jeeter, I am cold."
"Yeah, bud, yeah." He yawns, and shakes himself. "My arms feel like lead."
"You're going to make me do all the work?"
A pause. "Mmmaybe."
Krejjh heaves a sigh, but Jeeter's smug smile shows he knows he's already won. They sit up, and begin a series of short tugs to get the blankets dislodge from under him. Jeeter does stay awake, this time. And is minimally helpful by leaning his weight the other way. When Krejjh has opened up their side of the covers, and has enough room to climb under comfortably, Jeeter lifts an arm.
Krejjh settles themselves in the space he makes against him. Jeeter's head under their chin, arms entangled, clutching eachother close. Jeeter half-asses tucking the sheet in on Krejjh's other side, reaching behind them. And it's warm.
A content mumble and Crewman Jeeter is lost to sleep. Krejjh knows they will be too, soon, and so they savor the moment. Listening to Jeeter's steady breaths and burying on hand in the curls atop his head, sticking up every which way. There is one last thought in Krejjh’s mind, before darkness takes them. Sometimes the cold is worth it, for this.