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The hypnotic swirl of hyperspace spun outside the viewports of the Chimaera, partially obscured by delicate frost feathers slowly unfurling across the transparisteel like small white leaves. They had survived the battle, but had not come out unscathed - a few lucky hits had damaged some of the ship’s internal systems, including climate control. They were making their way to the closest repair yard, but it was still two days out - and it was getting cold.
They were running a skeleton crew, with everyone temporarily reassigned to group quarters while off shift in an effort to more efficiently route what heat they had to fewer locations. Cold-weather gear had been broken out by those on shift; Thrawn had ordered hot caf and tea stations to be temporarily installed on the bridge and other key locations. The ship’s ovens were running full time baking bread and large vats of hot broth were simmering day and night, both to be loaded onto hoversleds and delivered to the masses of shivering humans. The ship’s larders were being emptied rapidly and would need restocking, but every little thing that could help the crew tolerate the situation was being done.
Eli paced back and forth as he checked and double checked to make sure that all of Thrawn’s orders were being carried out, clouds of vapor coming from his nose with each exhale. Thrawn was watching him; Eli’s body temperature was below normal, and he was shivering. Occasionally he would pause in his motions to focus more closely on the text on his datapad, but then would rapidly begin hopping in place before moving around again in an effort to keep warm.
“Commander.”
“Sir?” Eli paused, looking over where Thrawn sat behind his desk.
“You should report to your assigned space. Everything that can be done has been. I can monitor the rest.”
“What about you?”
Thrawn tilted his head. “Clarify, please.”
“It’s just gonna get colder and colder in here. Where are you going to go?”
Thrawn hummed in consideration, and Eli rolled his eyes. Of course the Commodore hadn’t given thought to himself.
“I suppose I will retire to my quarters. The cold does not bother me as it does you.”
“Right, Sir.” Eli’s tone was dry. “It’s going to get cold, even for you. And..” He trailed off, looking back down at his datapad. “I’m... not assigned to a room. I wanted to be here in case you needed me for something.”
Thrawn was silent for a moment or two, then stood. “Come with me, then.” He left the room then, heading down the hall towards his quarters, with Eli scurrying after him. He had never been in Thrawn’s private space; their meetings were always held in his office. Sudden nerves washed over Eli.
“I’m sorry, Sir, I should have asked.. I can find a space, I don’t want to bother you..”
Thrawn opened the door to his quarters and indicated Eli should enter. A sitting area with couches and chairs, tastefully decorated, was connected to a small kitchenette; two closed doors hid his bedroom and refresher.
“It is no bother, Commander. In truth, I welcome the company.”
Thrawn paused in front of a small storage area set into the wall and retrieved an armful of spare blankets, then opened the door to his bedroom. He stepped in for a moment then returned with another armload of pillows, all of which he dumped on one of the couches. He glanced back where Eli was still hovering near the door.
“My sleeping quarters are smaller and would be preferable for this, but as it shares an outer wall with the hull I fear that it will not retain heat as well as this space will.” He was moving things about, arranging pillows against one of the sides of the couch by some design only he knew.
Eli swallowed, blushing slightly, then stepped forward. “I wasn’t.. I didn’t mean for you to have to take me into your bedroom, Sir.” He was looking everywhere but Thrawn, and so missed the twitch of a smile on the Chiss’s lips.
“I am not, Commander, so you need not worry yourself about it.”
The door chimed, and Eli spun around to go answer it, returning with two bowls of broth and hunks of bread.
“Dinner, Sir.”
“Very good.” Thrawn gestured for Eli to sit as he moved to adjust the temperature settings of the room, to permit as much heat in as the system would allow. Not that it would change much, but better to be sure.
Eli lowered himself on the end of the couch, eyeing the nest of pillows and blankets Thrawn had constructed. It looked comfortable, if nothing else. He passed the Chiss his food when he returned and they ate in silence, sipping their broth and dunking their bread into the hot liquid. When they had both finished, Thrawn took the bowls to his kitchenette and rinsed them, then turned back to Eli. He was pleased to see the broth had helped; the human was shivering less, his body temperature elevated slightly higher than it had been.
“Please feel free to use the refresher if you need to, Commander. Once we are under the blankets we should avoid letting any heat out.”
“Ah. Right, yeah. Be right back.”
Eli stepped into the small, cold room. When he emerged again, Thrawn was still sitting on the couch, a blanket wrapped around his shoulders.
“Remove your clothing, please, Commander.”
Eli paused, not entirely sure he had heard correctly. He had imagined those words coming from Thrawn plenty of times - many times, if he was being honest - but this was not the context it usually was in.
“Uhm. Excuse me? Sir?”
“We will retain heat better if we have skin to skin contact. As you are not hypothermic at the moment, you may leave your underclothes on if that is more comfortable for you.”
Thrawn let the blanket fall open, displaying his bare chest and legs; he was still wearing his boxers. Fighting back conflicting waves of relief and disappointment, Eli shed his clothing and rushed over to the couch. Thrawn settled back into the pillow pile, arms and legs wide.
“It is likely best for you to lay on your back against me, Commander. It will be less comfortable for you in the long term if we are chest to chest.”
Cheeks red, Eli climbed on the couch and did as suggested. Thrawn wrapped more blankets around them, expertly cocooning them in a mass of fabric, then wrapped his arms and legs around the smaller man. His skin was cool, nearly cold, but Eli was surprised to find that before too terribly long it started to warm, and he relaxed back against Thrawn’s chest more fully. He nearly jumped when he heard the Chiss’s voice, low and soft in his ear.
“Is this acceptable for you?”
“Yeah.” Eli snuggled back some, finding a comfortable place to lay his head against Thrawn’s shoulder. “Yeah, this.. This is nice.”
Thrawn’s only response was a soft hum of agreement.
In time, pleasantly warm and belly full, Eli’s breathing evened out as he fell asleep. Slowly, cautiously, Thrawn leaned his cheek against Eli’s hair; when Eli did not stir, Thrawn murmured something to him in Cheunh, his eyes closing. He was surprised to find himself feeling pleased, content even to be here with the man who had become so unexpectedly vital, so.. important to him. Thrawn began to purr, the sound soft and soothing; he held Eli close, savoring the sound of his breathing and feel of his beating heart before he too eventually succumbed to sleep.