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Winters in New Eridu were relentless, ever since the problem of the Hollows began to take over, for some reason, regions where the season passed with just low temperatures and not much trouble, now had to endure snowstorms, deluges, thunderstorms, typhoons, and worse. All of that accompanied by a temperature of under 0°C and even lower.
That year, luckily for New Eridu residents, they only had to deal with heavy snowfalls (at the moment) but unluckily, for two unfortunate proxies, the climate meant slower business at the video store, fewer commissions, and also a broken down AC system they neglected to fix due to a lack of funds which mean until the temperatures began picking up again, the siblings were by themselves to deal with it.
“Belle! Where's the electric heater?” Wise called from the top of the stairwell, right where the trapdoor to their dusty attic was. No matter where he shone his flashlight he couldn't find the damn thing and he was starting to shiver.
“Sorry bro! It's in my room this time!” Belle yelled through the thick wall, making her sound ridiculously muffled.
“What!? We promised we would use it only in the common rooms, that thing uses too much electricity for just one person!”
“Sorry, but this climate is making me cramp and I need to be warm so I can bear with it. Hope that as my big brother, you understand the plight of your little sister!” The girl yelled back from her room.
Wise pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Can I at least use the electric blanket? I know you have it too…”
“Sure, with this here I don't need it!”
“Woohoo, lucky me…”
The gray-haired proxy walked up to his sister's door and almost instantly, an arm handed him a folded-up fleece blanket from what he could feel, a rather cozy room.
God, life was so unfair when you were the older one…
But at least he wouldn't freeze to death that night, right?
Right?
Wise walked to his room and decided to set up the old blanket he was sure was there even before he was born, he had already run out of stuff to throw on his bed and nothing seemed to make it better but luckily if this thing caught on fire it would help to curb the frostbite.
He pulled from the cord to reach towards the socket beside his bed but at the very first tug, he heard a heartbreaking snap.
The cord had broken…
Now nothing would save him.
Wise wondered which God he had angered so much that every winter he was cursed to forever be cold and suffer.
Was this the end for him?
... Bzzzt.
A notification ran on his phone. It was a Knock-Knock message.
“Hi, manager, how are you guys holding up? It sure is cold today, huh?”
It was from Billy.
Billy…
Wise thought of a rather wicked idea.
----
Billy threaded through the snow and wind on his way to the video store. His hands were deep in his leather bomber jacket. Long red scarf flaming in the wind.
Just a while ago, Wise had told him that he was in the mood to watch some movies with him and that the weather was a good excuse to cuddle for a while.
Billy Kid, ever a hopeless romantic of course, would never let such a request slip by, especially when his beloved was probably freezing alone in his room in need of some company and warmth. No, as an agent of justice and defender of everything good and pure in this world, he simply couldn't ignore a call for help when it presented itself in front of him! He was a defender, a protector even!
For he, was the Starligh–
“How long are you going to be standing there!? I'm freaking freezing over here!!” Wise yelled at the android from the entrance, having seen him through the window and opened the door to let him in but for some reason, Billy decided it was the perfect moment to stand there practicing his tokusatsu poses.
“Oh! I didn't notice I was already here. H-Hi, manager! Sorry about that, I was…”
“Practicing your monologue, I know I know… please come in quickly the store is already matching the outside.”
“Ough! No kidding, I think it was less cold in the snowstorm!” Billy said, detecting the very subtle change after Wise closed the door and locked it for security.
Wise walked closer to the android and softly wrapped his arms around his waist in a hug, as a greeting. Billy reciprocated with gusto, a bit surprised by the sudden gesture but flattered nevertheless.
“Missed you...” The hacker said softly.
“Me too, Wise.”
“It’s so weird to see you fully dressed…” Wise commented, pulling slightly from the material of the jacket Billy had on. His waist and chest were disappointingly covered for once.
“Hey, I have to vary from time to time, and anyways, I look good in everything, wouldn't you agree?”
“Heh, I imagine it is also to protect your articulations, right?”
“Yeah, with this cold they tend to get all stiff and creaky, it makes me feel ancient.”
“Well, for someone that old you don't look so bad.”
“Why, thank you, sweetheart, I wuv you too !” Billy draped himself over Wise's body, pressing his faceplate flush against his messy hair in a nuzzle, and this one sighed relieved. As he had suspected. Billy was always warm and comfy.
“Let's go upstairs, I'm cold here.”
The gray-haired proxy led his boyfriend by the hand through the stairs, until they passed right in front of Belle's room who slightly opened her door to peek at who was their guest.
“Hi, Billy! Did my brother call you?”
“He sure did! We're going to watch some movies tonight!” Billy replied enthusiastically as Wise firmly tried to pull him inside his room to no avail. When the android stopped nothing could make him move unless he wanted to.
“Hmm, “Movies” huh…? Just don't be too loud you two, okay? I'm going to bed.” The girl said with half-lidded eyes, hinting at something with her tone, but Billy wasn't sure what…
“Don't worry we won't dare bother her majesty , come on Billy!” Wise continued pulling from Billy's arm as this one waved goodbye to his sister, and finally, he decided to enter his room.
As always, everything seemed incredibly clean and tidy, a total contrast with the literal warzone he could barely distinguish from Belle's ajar door just a moment ago. He wondered why both siblings were so different…
“Hi, Eous!” He greeted the little bangboo currently hanging in his charge port on one corner of the room, this one twitched slightly, as if aware someone new was in the room and resumed his charging.
“So, what movie do you have in mind?” Billy asked, already plopping into the sofa but Wise went straight to bed.
“Well… don't get mad but…” The proxy began to explain and Billy turned around on the couch to look at him. “Actually I was thinking that we could cuddle up in bed and spend the night together instead…”
Billy took a second.
He wasn't even mad, this was even better than he had ever imagined it would be.
He nodded energetically, gripping the backrest with strength and quickly he practically jumped over towards the bed, his enthusiasm making him trip over his own feet and falling on his face instead.
“I knew you'd be down,” Wise commented, helping the android to pick himself back up. “So, can you spend the night here?”
“O-of course! I already told the girls back home to not wait for me!”
“Heh, you had your night planned, huh?”
“Let's be real, I wasn't going to let you freeze to death if I could help it.”
Wise smiled flattered and soon, he was inviting the android to get on his bed alongside him.
Billy did so with enthusiasm, kicking off his boots and his thicker winter clothes, ending in just a light undershirt and some underwear shorts before getting under the covers. Wise laughed at this but welcomed the warm android to cuddle up to him instantly, surrounding his torso with his arms.
“Mmh, god, this is all I needed.” The proxy said, pressing his face on the softer material of Billy's neck. He could feel the artificial muscle-like wiring underneath and he thought it was so cool.
“You're really cold, I'm glad I came here in time to save you.”
“Heh, my hero~” Wise teasingly said and without saying anything else, he leaned closer to deposit a soft kiss over Billy's glass faceplate.
This one flinched into place and soon grew red over his cheeks, or at least as red as his facial module allowed him to. It was rare for them to kiss often so each time it felt downright electrical. So far their relationship had been pretty chaste, then again, he was sure Wise was also being polite of his physical limits and the most intimate they had been was snuggling under and holding hands; things you do with your body.
“What's wrong?” Wise asked, curious of the android's reaction.
“N-nothing, it's just… Haah, I wish I could kiss you too!”
Wise snorted softly and laughed endeared at this.
“Hey, come on, you know I don't mind when you try. Whatever, as long as it comes from you, I'll receive it..”
Billy wondered what he meant by that, but soon found himself drawing closer to the proxy until the flat of his face softly nudged Wise's now warm cheek.
He heard him laugh and lean against him. “That's more like it~” Wise whispered into his auditory.
If he had skin he was sure he would have goosebumps all over, a shiver ran down his spine as Wise deposited another kiss on him and another and another, pressing his fingers on the back of his neck, toying with his hair. Billy produced a soft squeal and attempted to hide his face, embarrassed and a bit anxious, but Wise didn't allow it.
“Heh, since when did you become so cute?” The gray-haired male asked, tangling their legs together underneath the covers. Billy made sure to spread his knees further in order to not press or clamp his weight over Wise's more delicate flesh with the hardness of his steel limbs. He always worried that even laying over him would cause him pain, but Wise always demonstrated the contrary so it was confusing.
“H-heyy, I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm adorable 24/7.”
Wise laughed out loud and just held his companion even tighter, inviting him to lay over his body.
The snowstorm roared outside, but neither of them cared anymore. Right there in their little nest, tangled with one another, the world could disappear under a pile of snow for all they cared, as long as they were in each other's arms right now, nothing else mattered.
------The End-------