Work Text:
A gunshot rang through the clearing. The air hollowed, drawn to the revolver’s muzzle, and then burst in a flash of crystal-blue. Ice crept over stone and trees alike, obfuscating the once sunny scenery.
In the midst of the snowy implosion, the Commandant saw a Construct readjusting his posture. He checked the revolver’s cylinder, tested his hold on the grip, and inspected the trigger. No doubt about it — the weapon had completely frozen.
Wanshi huffed, and his breath came out as a puff of white mist. Congealed dirt crunched under the Commandant’s boots as they approached him.
Small flakes of ice clung to his hair, sparkling under the sunlight. Now that the cold air had thinned out, it was clear that frost had gathered on his synthetic skin — it painted a beautiful web of blue and white under his amber eyes.
“A little help,” Wanshi glanced at the Commandant, pouting somewhat, “please?”
The Commandant stepped closer. With their gloved hand, they patted Wanshi’s shoulders, cracking the icy sheet stuck on his armor. Snowflakes fell like twinkling stars as they ruffled his curly hair. All the while, Wanshi stared at the reddening skin on their nose, the wetness shining in their eyelashes.
They rubbed their hands together and breathed into their palms. Wanshi leaned in when the Commandant cupped his face with their gloves. He hummed, feeling the feathery frost melt. Warmth spread through his tubings, blooming from his core.
Wanshi blinked, bleary. “Not sure what went wrong today — I thought I recalibrated the frame’s energy output. Hff, so cold still…”
“Alright, alright,” the human said, quick to understand his unspoken words.
And so, the Commandant embraced him. Wanshi hugged them back almost in the same beat. He sunk into their comforting presence, letting the rime dissolve against it. Like holding the sun in his very arms, or curling up in a soft nest — the silent snowfield in Wanshi’s M.I.N.D. thawed with lush spring flowers.
A small vibration startled him from his dozing stupor. He realized the Commandant had shivered, probably because their uniform was damp and cold. They didn’t seem to let go of the moment until Wanshi loosened his hold and apologized.
“We should head back to the base,” Wanshi told them, taking their hand. “We can review the training data there.”
Their hand closed firmly around his. He couldn’t help the fond smile on his lips as they quickly nodded in agreement.
“Let’s go get you warmed up, Commandant.”