#comforcember2024

He does not really get the approval of the tea. (We've all laughed at his expressions to the Jayce's one form that scene in the show.) Thought if you really like this drink and take his distaste too close to heart, he might just swear that it was purely Jayce's fault and awful tea-making skills and not the drink itself. Maybe after some time, you both discover that he is actually quite fond of some specific sweet blends like the berry teas. But overall, he stayed aloof to the ideas of "leaves in boiling water" type of drinks. "Firelight, c'mon! It's like drinking a medicine" - sad puppy eyes and frowning.

- Through trial and errors after almost giving up on the idea that he can enjoy anything beyond fresh water and some light booze. It is then during more cold months, when you discovered just how much of a sweet-tooth he actually is.

- Makes sense though that being from lover levels of Zaun with no access to any luxury products so popular within Piltover, he never even tried hot cocoa. Besides, in line with his altruist nature and leadership position, he would first of all try providing any kind of foods to the firelights first, not really carrying if there will be anything left afterwards for himself.

- Except, when he was swinging by your place after a frosty walk along the seaside bridge. Truly, not the smartest idea, as the winter winds left you feeling numb in your fingers and eyes all shiny from the harsh wind gusts.

- You quickly filled two cups with the hot beverage and thrusted one of them into Ekko's frostbite hands. Young man made a funny expression but complied as even if all those fancy drinks were awful to his personal taste, they at least made a good job at warming one up from the north wind currents.

You can't help but laugh at the astounded look he gives you after the first sip, the mask of pretense disgust slipping.

You move closer hiding the smile behind the rim of the cup as Ekko tries (and fails) to put on annoyed expression again. He can't though, he is too fond of those happy sparks lighting up your eyes.

"Ok, maybe you pilties have at least two good things after all."

"Two?"

The winter frost immediately spasmed your breath as you exited the building. The luck was on your side, as the heavy snowfall stop just before your evening shift finally ended. The day was especially busy and it seemed like the whole city was buzzing with energy. Soon the festival of Snowdown will come and Piltovans were laying on the local shops in desire to get all the final purchases. Such times never carried out without minor incidents.

You dragged in the cold night air, shoulders easing up a bit. The warm yellowish light from the holiday themed lanterns were pleasantly warming up the street with its light, painting the decorated buildings and store fronts in colourful glints. Most of them already closed for the night, all kinds of holiday-special products in windows waiting for the next morning jostle of customers. The owner of the little shop next door hurried past you with a polite nod and a small smile, most likely rushing to get home to a warm dinner.

You closed your eyes. The frost is slightly biting on your cheeks and nose. Not harsh enough to really hurt, but reminding you that you have to hurry home too. To finally have some rest. And to see him.

A swift motion beside you. A warmth of another body. A familiar sent and a warm hand softly brushing agains your reddened fingers. You squinted to the side. His polished to the perfection uniform looks untouched by the recent snowfall and wind. Green skin looking even more radiant under the warm lights, casting golden reflections with each move of his little cheek fins.

"Thought you were supposed to finish earlier then me?" He just casts you a glance and shrugged. So yes, you are right. Your hand intertwined fingers with his. He stiffens a bit before grasping you more firmly. Of course. He had to wait for you.

"Come in the shop if you decide to wait for me again, Steb. Or you want to get a frost bite on your gills?" A soft huff from him. Stubborn fishman. Yours, though.

Sometimes we all feel kinda lost. And not only in geographical sense. When life does not seem to improve and the existence itself becomes dreading, we sometimes encounter people that become our personal stars of flickering hope in the disconsolate ocean of darkness. And we just might find something new.

Rocket Raccoon

Rocket was always the one to take. Legally or not, did not really matter. He believed it was right, after all the universe already took so much FROM him that there was no chance he will give something away freealingly. Even now with his new family of misfits surprisingly efficient in universe-saving business, he won't do a damn thing without a tempting award.

Yet here he is now.Tinkering away at the middle of the sleep cycle on your gear when you did not even ask. "Well, why would I if you are always protecting me?" you said smiling at him with this stupid little smile and stupid little dimples. The same ones that his raking paw are twitching to soothingly pet when you come face to face with him.

Steb

Cynical approach. Sure he was a medic, an enforcer too of course, but a medic nonetheless. It is possible that in the beginning he was blindly following the colourful sweet dreams of changing the world for the better, making a drastic difference. To heal. But the more time he spend within enforcers ranks, the more he saw the real picture. The unfairness, the cruelty. Sometimes directed at him, most of the times at zaunites. Sometimes it felt like an ice-cold shower of sobriety, others - like a slap leaving a mark somewhere deep inside. Made him tougher, less prone to get hurt but also felt like losing a part of himself.

But with you and those big dreams that you shared only with him! Your desire and inability to give up! You believe that the world is big enough for all of you! It became something that he cherishes and carries with him in the heart pocket of the tight uniform, giving him strength to fight for what is actually right and not betray himself in the process.

Stoker

He was fighting for as long as he could remember. And it felt like a personal torture - to loose people around him and not being able to get even a jot closer to winning. Like those dirty swines in power will never see further than their pockets filled with bloodied plutarkians money. He is burning out.