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Boil waits until they stop to make camp before carefully pulling the scuffed book from his belt pouch. The proximity warning markers are in situ and quietly functioning. Waxer's currently distracted with shaking out their sleeping bags inside the tent, the sound of rustling fabric and the scrape of armour plates against the tent side joining the sound of the evening birdsong.
Boil gently brushes the dried purple mud from the cover, the flakes scattering on the ground. A travel guide. Boil's heard of them, knows that there are brothers that browse the holonet to read about planets to discover non-mission critical information - just for the joy of learning about them. Waxer is one of those brothers. He loves to learn about the local popular destinations, the recommended places to eat food, and how to communicate in the local language.
Boil isn't interested in reading these things himself, but he loves listening to Waxer talk animatedly about the things he's learnt. Adores watching Waxer's face light up as he peruses images of local wildlife and makes plans for visiting places after the war. Boil hopes that one day they will be able to visit these places, travel guide in hand, and experience the galaxy like natborns can. Together.
Boil's never seen a paper version before. Clones don't have things. Let alone beautiful things like books. He carefully flicks through the pages - colourful images on every page of places and wildlife and delicious looking food.
Waxer backs out of the tent arse-first. "Sorted," he announces as he straightens.
"Thanks," Boil says and then as Waxer turns to him, awkwardly thrusts the book in his direction, not knowing how to give Waxer something so precious.
Waxer's forehead crinkles in confusion, taking the book gently from his outstretched hand. "What is this?"
He turns it over in his hands and Boil watches with warmth soaring in his heart as Waxer's face lights up in pure delight.
"A book!" Waxer exclaims excitedly, reading the title out loud. His eyes dart straight back to Boil's. "You found an actual travel guide book?"
Boil's smile mirrors Waxer's as he nods. "I thought you might like it."
Waxer looks like he might explode with happiness as he grabs Boil and pulls him in for a hug. Boil, dazed in Waxer's joy, is abruptly yanked off balance as Waxer breaks off the hug and pulls him by the hand towards the tent.
Waxer can't seem to de-shell fast enough and Boil chuckles in fond amusement as he follows suit, ducking into the tent after an excited Waxer. Waxer is already in the sleeping bag by the time he's in there, waving the travel guide whilst patting the open sleeping bag next to him.
"Want to read it together?" Waxer asks him, and Boil could never, would never, say no to that infectious happiness his fellow ARF is exuding.
Boil settles in next to Waxer, who sighs and curls against him - reverently opening the travel guide and gently smoothing the book pages. His fingers trail across the images and text as he takes in the delicately printed pages.
Boil closes his eyes to the sound of Waxer's happy sounds and excited commentary, and after a while, entirely unintentionally, he drifts off to a pleasant sleep.