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Winter was harsh on the soldiers. Frost bite, peeled skin, numbness. It was all part of being a solder during those cold months. Snow had inhabited the ground for over a month now, making everything frozen or wet, which was not good for the soldiers.
The soldiers of the crown had been brought back to their underground bunker not long ago, finally being time to unwind and relax from a long, uneventful day. Carrie always hated those days. There was always nothing to do and it was just all and all boring. But the fact that it had also been freezing outside made it 10 times worst. His uniform wasnt made for harsh weather like this, and his skin was thin, with not much muscle. You'd think being in the army would give you more muscles. Guess the rezzer had other plans. So when him and his platoon stepped off the elevator, instead of going to the dining hall like the others, he went straight to the barracks.
When he entered the room, Carrie took off his boots and his uniform. He would have kept his uniform on, but they were wet and full of dirt and mud. Now left in his cotton undergarments, he climbed into his bunk and wrapped himself in his threadbare blanket.
The dining hall was packed with hungry soldiers. Luckily, Warwick had gotten his food early and was able to sit down at one of the many tables. Today they had served stew along with a side of bread. It was filling and felt good after a day in the cold trenches. But all through out the time Warwick had been eating, he had kept an eye out for Carrie. Earlier he had seen the man go towards the barracks instead of the dining hall, and he hadn't seen him come back to get his portion of food. It was starting to worry Warwick. He knew a soldier had to eat to be able to fight. And he knew that Carrie stood by that, never letting anyone take his food away from him. So when Warwick hadnt seen Carrie show up in the line to get his portion, he got worried.
Warwick looked around the cafeteria before getting up and going to the lunch line. It was surprisingly fast to say the least. When he got up to the counter, he was face to face with the dinner lady.
"Haven't you gotten your rations already corporal?" Asked the lady behind the counter.
"Yes, I have. I'm just wondering if private Carrie has yet to come to pick up his rations."
"Um.. private Carrie? I don't seem to have a face to the name."
"Gray skin, bandages on one eye, teeth all along his jaw.."
"Oh! Yes. That man. Uh, no. I don't remember him coming to pick up his food."
"May I pick up his rations for him?" Warwick asked. The lady behind the counter seemed hesitant to give a soldiers food to another soldier, but relented nonetheless.
"Okay, yes. Yes you may. Just wait a second." She turned back to grab one of the trays of food, giving it to Warwick. Warwick took it was a polite nod before moving out of the line, making his way to the barracks.
Even under the blanket, Carrie was freezing. So much so he hadn't even thought about supper. All he wanted was to get somewhat warm, but due to the winter season and not having any heaters in the underground bunker, with the exception of the higher ranking officers, it seemed imposible to do so. The sound of the door opening and closing caught carries attention, along with the smell of stew wafting into the air. He peeked his head out of the blanket he was under and saw it was his corporal, Warwick.
Warwick leaned down to set the tray of warm food onto the small table at the back of their barracks before straightening up to look at carries bunk. He saw a lump under the covers, and carrie staring back at him with one eye. They looked at eachother for a second before Warwick spoke up.
"Got you your supper." He started. "Why didn't you come to the dining hall?"
"Needed to get warm, I'm bloody freezing." Carrie responded.
"Ah, well, they fed us some stew today, pretty sure that'll warm you up." Carrie stayed still for a couple seconds before letting out a sigh and getting up and out of his bunk, bringing along his threadbare blanket, wrapping it around his shoulders. Warwick watched as Carrie sat down at the foot of his bunk and brought the tray into his lap, Warwick then sat down on his bunk taking out a small book to read.
Carrie set both hands on the sides of the stews bowl. The stew in the bowl was still somewhat hot, so it warmed up his hands a bit. It felt nice to finally feel some heat. Carrie would then pick up the fork and start eating the meal, sometimes dipping the bread in the stew and eating bits of it. Once Carrie had finished, he set the tray of empty dishes on the same table Warwick had set it down on before.
"Uh, thanks for bringing me food." Carrie says as he looks up at Warwick. Warwick, who was now laying on his back, under the covers, puts down his book to see Carrie still sat at the edge of his bunk with his blankets draped over his shoulders, shivering slightly.
"You're not getting sick, are you, mate?" Asks Warwick. Carrie shakes his head side to side.
"No no, just cold." He responds.
"Well, you can always climb in next to me. M'body runs hot, yknow?" Says Warwick as he pats the spot next to him, almost like you would with a cat. Carrie raised an eyebrow, contemplating whether he should go or not. After a bit of thinking he spoke up.
"Ah fuck it. Don't feel like freezing my arse off." Carrie crawled over to the spot where Warwick had patted earlier, getting himself settled underneath the covers in between Warwick and the wall. Warwick did in fact produce a lot of body heat, all of the extra heat getting trapped underneath the blanket Carrie was now also under. Carrie shuffled a bit underneath the covers, trying to find a comfortable position until he settled down onto his side, facing Warwick who was still laying on his back, continuing to read his book. When Warwick had stopped feeling Carrie shift around next to him, he held the book in one hand, and with the other, he wrapped an arm around Carrie, bringing the shorter man closer to him. Carrie opened his mouth to protest, but closed it again upon realizing that Warwick had brought him into a better, comfier position. He wasn't going to argue with his corporal, and especially not with the warmth he was giving to the private. The warmth did have a sedative affect of him tho. Making him sleepy and his eyelid droop down as well as his breathing slowing down. It felt nice to feel warm and cozy after a long day in the cold uncomfortable dirt trenches.
The both of them stayed like this for a bit, Carrie watching Warwick turn the pages of his book. He wasn't even reading along with Warwick, just watching him turn the pages carefully. But this calm energy would be broken when the door would open once again, mophead and Monroe walking in. Warwick put his book down when seeing the two men enter, looking towards them.
"Where have you two been?" Asked Warwick. Monroe was facing away from his corporal, taking off his boots as he responded.
"Got tasked with doing wet work again." Monroe turned around to look at Warwick in his bunk. His eyebrows rise a bit, he nudges mophead in the side slightly, signaling them to turn around and look at what he was seeing as well.
"Ah, well that sucks." Responds Warwick. When mop head turned around and looked into their corporals bunk they let out a small "oh", not expecting to see what they saw.
"So, when did Carrie get all cuddly?" Monroe teased, mophead chuckling a bit. Carrie was in a somewhat half asleep state when the two other privates had walked in, but upon hearing his name, he opened his eyes and lifted himself up by an elbow.
"Oi, fuck off! I was freezing my bollocks off!" Carrie protested before setting himself back down, grumbling a bit. Mophead, Warwick and Monroe chuckle at carries response.
"Pff, yeah. Sure." Replied Monroe with a laugh, climbing into his bunk.
"Aw, cmon Monroe. He might've actually been cold." Mophead chimed in, also climbing into their bunk. Carrie rolls his eyes as the three of them, not impressed by them making fun of him. But the person he was most annoyed at laughing at him was Warwick. Carrie gave a punch to warwicks side before saying.
"You're supposed to be on my side, jackass." Warwick looked next to him at Carrie, a smile pulling at his lips.
"And why should I?" He asked in a smug tone. Carrie growled.
"Uh- well- ..you're the one who suggested this whole thing!" Carrie defended himself. Both Monroe and mophead kept on watching with more anticipation, almost like it was a show. Warwicks eyes widened slightly at carries remark, although you couldn't see since they were covered by the gas masks lenses. With no other arguments against the private, Warwick huffed and said.
"Do you wanna stay here, or go back in your own bed?" He said sternly. Carrie just looked at Warwick for a couple seconds before settling back down and mumbling "bastard" under his breath. He didn't care to listen when the other three men started up a conversation, shifting impossibly close to Warwick, wanting more skin to skin contact.