#alt. 25

Had he known the weather was going to be this awful, he probably wouldn’t have picked this mission. The Valley already sends a chill down his spine. Not just from the cold, but because if he listens carefully, he swears he can hear the wind whistling turn into shrieks from God Eaters past. Perhaps a bit morbid to think, but Romeo and Nana once put the thought into his head.

The comms chirp. “Hey, you two. Looks like it’s just some small guys for now, but there’s a medium signal heading your way in about… I dunno, five minutes? Doesn’t seem to be in any rush.” Teru sounds as calm as ever.

“Would it really kill ‘im to sound a little more serious?” Gil mutters before he turns his mic on. “Sounds good. We’ll take care of these runts until then.” They stand on the cliff, towering above the herd of Dreadpikes on the ground. Renatus huddles into himself, trying to angle himself under a cliff. The wind is worse this high up, and while it’ll improve on the ground, he’s hesitant to move. Gil nudges his arm. “What’s the plan, Captain?”

Renatus pretends he was thinking this whole time. “There’s only a small group up here. I’ll knock them down, you finish them off. We should knock them down with time to spare until Teru’s gives an update.” Gil nods, and they launch downwards, taking out two Dreadpikes with the impact alone.

“Little guys all wiped out! The signal is closer, but it’s dawdling. Looks like it’s heading to Point D.” The other side of the field, because of course it is. “Damn. Looks like the snow’s picking up too. Hopefully, you’ll get the job done before it gets too heavy.” Renatus sighs through his nose as he hauls his Arc up.

“We just might beat it over there if we 一” Teru’s frantic voice stops him.

“Sorry, guys, we have an emergency! Another signal has been spotted 一 Large Aragami converging on your location! T-minus 30 seconds!”

“The hell did this one come from?!” A roar vibrates the air, snowflakes falling heavier. “Damn, looks like the storm’s here too.”

The moment the Caligula hauls itself onto the field, the look in Gil’s eyes changes to something angry.

“You… you remind me of someone I despise!” He charges in without a second thought, leaving Renatus to shake his head.

“So much for waiting for another plan.”

“Will you stop running?! Get back here and stay down!” Gil charges his spear and launches himself at the fleeing Caligula. It spins around just as Renatus rapid-fires blaze bullets into the boosters on its back, giving Gil ample chance to pierce the broken bond on its head. With a cry that shakes the ground around them, it falls dead.

“Nice shot, kid.” Gil slings his God Arc over his shoulder as Renatus devours the carcass. Still no good materials, it seems. He tsks.

“Please don’t rush in like that. Caligula-types always get you fired up.” He doesn’t need to turn around as he swings his own Arc into an approaching Dreadpike. It shutters then falls over just as dead. “I don’t know where that one came from. Must’ve escaped.” Gil stares at him, blankly.

“You’re pretty terrifying yourself, Captain. Don’t know a lot of people who can keep up with you. But… you’re right. Sorry. I should’ve been more careful, especially with just us two.” He shrugs a shoulder and pulls his Arc up. “Y’know, I’ve never really noticed how pretty this place is.” The comms chirp. “Teru, any updates on the transport?” It crackles for a moment, then Teru’s muffled voice comes through.

“Looks like some snow is heading your way. I’m not sure we’ll get to you before it hits. Will you two be alright until then? It should pass soon. I think.”

That doesn’t make him feel any better. Renatus is not built for the cold, but that’s his own fault. He knew they’d be going into a colder area, so did he think to grab anything warmer than a zip-up crop top? No. Because the cold doesn’t matter if you look good.

He may be captain, but he is not intelligent.

“No problem. There’s a cave over here, we can hide out in here til then.” Gil sets his Arc against the wall, letting his head fall back. Now that they aren’t fighting, the adrenaline wears off. The wind howls and bites into Renatus. He debates firing blaze bullets at himself to see if it’d warm him up. It’s a dumb idea of course, Gil would get caught in the crossfire, and there’s a decent chance it’ll attract more Aragami.

“ 一good? Captain? You alright?” He’s brought back to reality by Gil shaking his arm, then yanking it back. “Kid, you’re freezing! Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

“It’s a bit of wind, Gil. I’ll survive.” He won’t. He’s going to turn into a Renatus-shaped popsicle and it won’t taste appetizing.

“Kid, you sure? You look like you’re about to freeze over.”

“Nothing I can’t handle.” It seems like he gives up on Renatus admitting it, as he pulls off his jacket without another word.

“Here, take this. The fur lining should warm you up a bit.” He drapes it over Renatus’s shoulders, tucking him in. “Better?”

His face burns. Not from the cold, but rather the fact that he is wearing Gil’s jacket and it smells like him and it is warm.

“Do you want my hat too? This is a lot warmer.” Gil doesn’t wait for a reply again before plopping it onto his head. “I can put the earflaps down too, if you want.”

“Really, Gil, you don’t have to do this. I’ll be okay.”

“You say that, but you’ve been shakin’ like a leaf this whole time. Don’t think I didn’t notice.” Damn. He was hoping that wasn’t obvious. “Just let me help, yeah? Think of it as me making up for being reckless earlier.”

“I’m not angry about that. I can’t say I blame you for it, either.” He’d never met Kate, but if the way Gil and Haru talk about her is anything to go by, he’d do the same. For her memory.

“Still. Warm yourself up, Renatus. We’ve still got some times before the snow clears.” 

“…Thank you.” Gil tucks him under his arm, cheek resting on his head. They stand in silence, watching the snow fall around them.

About ten minutes later, the comms chirp again. “Snow’s clearing up! We’ll send a chopper your way riiiiiight now.”  Teru’s voice makes them jump.

“I suppose I should give your coat and hat back.” He tries to move away but Gil just pulls him in tighter.

“Nah. We’ve still got time. You look comfy. And… uh, you look… nice. In my jacket. Not in a weird way! Just 一 yeah. Comfy.” Gil avoids his eyes, looking intently at the wall beside them.

“Maybe I’ll have to borrow them more often, then.” Renatus tucks himself further into the embrace. Gil pulls him in closer.