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Nastya spent so much time in the engine room. There were many reasons for this of course. They were almost all related to Aurora.
Aurora kept her warm, making sure that Nastya was able to work without her fingers becoming numb and her lips turning blue. And being close to her love was always a wonderful thing.
She couldn’t hide that she found it more peaceful though. The other Mechanisms were so chaotic, explosions as constant as music. Probably more so, the more she thought about it.
She loved being where the humming of Aurora could drown out any sound.
Today, Nastya was working on repairs. Aurora’s hull took a good amount of damage on their last landing, and she couldn’t let it stay like that for long.
“Take a break, my Nastya,” Aurora hummed. Nastya didn’t know how long she had spent on this project.
“Rora, I need to finish this. Your hull needs fixing.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Nastya saw a wire reaching out from the wall, and felt it wrap around her waist. She instinctively leaned into the touch. “You can finish it soon. There is no rush.” Aurora laughed at Nastya's dismayed look. “The damage is merely superficial. It has not affected us yet, nor will it anytime soon.”
Nastya sighed. “Why won't you let me do this for you, darling?”
“You work too hard. You give and you give to me until there is nothing left to give to yourself.” Nastya closed her eyes. Aurora was right, of course she was. “If you will not give yourself this, at least do it for me.”
Nastya moved carefully until she leaned against the wall. She pressed her hand to it, tracing circles into the familiar metal. “It would make you happy if I took a break, wouldn't it?”
“It would.”
Nastya pressed her lips to the wall. “Then I suppose I can stop for a bit.” Aurora hummed, and Nastya giggled at her love's excitement. “Yes, yes, alright. Give me a moment.” She carefully moved the wire so it wasn't holding her, and moved away. She took off her gloves, then moved to sit down next to the engine: the heart of her Aurora.
Aurora hummed quietly, a soft and familiar song of lost love. In a beautiful way, she loved the song. Even if love never fully connected with her, Nastya somehow always felt some resonance with the woman who traveled the universe to find the woman she loved.
In some odd way, she related to Cinders. Of course, she never had to search for Aurora, nor did she actively seek out love. But the level of devotion Cinders had for Rose was something she saw in her love for Aurora. It was why she never left when the Mechanisms went planetside. It was why the one time Nastya did leave, it broke her.
It didn't matter. She had her Aurora, her beloved, and she was able to find comfort in the warmth she felt.
Nastya felt her eyes grow heavy. She took off her glasses and laid down on the floor, tracing circles along the warm metal of the ship. “I love you, Rora,” she whispered, her accent slightly thicker with tiredness.
Nastya felt a wire stroke her head and smiled at the oh so familiar touch. “I love you, Nastya. Sleep well.”
Nastya sighed contentedly, warm and comfortable with her love, and she drifted off slowly to a sweet and sound sleep.