Work Text:
Although Firefly could never feel much in the way of physical sensations due to the way SAM controlled her environment, she always believed it to be a cold thing.
Cold metal. A cold willingness to go into battle and die. A cold detachment as she killed. A cold feeling of what she felt not being real due to the sanitized sensory inputs she received - only useful for battle.
A harsh cold reality.
However, despite all of that, the world outside could be even colder. What kind of world existed for someone like her? A clone with no queen or empire to serve, a machine - whose only purpose was to kill - having no enemy. A pitiable existence indeed.
And so, for the longest time, she was content to remain in her cold shell. Content to do what was asked without question. The strange lady with purple hair always smiled at her detachment, as if she knew more than she let on, but never was overly friendly. A comfortable, professional distance at all times. The one that followed her like a lost puppy though, always looked at her strangely.
She never was put off by Sam’s demeanor or callous words. She always tried to be accommodating or considerate to Sam’s needs. She always was the first to speak up in her defense or volunteer to help. It was…different. So unlike the normality of the world Firefly was used to. It was…
Warm.
Yes, that’s it. Somehow, her presence and insistent nature brought a life to things that Firefly hadn’t felt in a long time. Even as regulated as her system was, that couldn’t stop the rush of feelings that built up as they spent more time together. And, for the first time, Firefly longed to be free of her metallic destiny.
Even if she can’t leave for long, Stelle is quick to share that warmth with her as she tries to become ‘herself’ for the first time. Firefly learns through Stelle that there’s all kinds of warmth. From a kind, considerate interest, to the joy of sharing an experience.
The way she touches her face, skin against skin.
All of these sustain her. Days. Weeks. While she longs for more, knowing that such warmth exists keeps her going. As she moves forward to changing her destiny, she longs for the day she can have another moment of warmth.
Stelle, though, wasn’t satisfied with just that.
The small embers of warmth soon gave way to the roaring inferno of love. Something so strong, that Firefly soon forgot what cold even was. A start to something that lets Firefly give warmth to others. Friendships. Companions. She discovered what it meant to BE a person.
Something that lets her be warmth for herself and others.
So, when Stelle finally had to move on to the next part of the play, Firefly would be alright. The armor may be cold, but at its core was the beating heart of a person at last. That gift Stelle gave would always remain - let her be free from the cold as long as necessary.
Until they could join hands and hearts once again in a lasting embrace of love, she would remember that warmth Stelle gave her, and find her own dream amongst the stars.