Being in the woods was always a pleasurable experience for X-ray. The cool, serene surroundings were a respite from the troubles of the world. The isolation meant to think with one's thoughts, figuring out what the next path was going to be or how they'll do it. Frost always thought that way, she never took shortcuts and had the patience of a saint. Naturally, she was paired with X-ray on a mission involving this nature thanks to her hunting background and his survivalist training.
They were part of a long-term reconnaissance mission in the middle of nowhere somewhere in the Canadian wilderness. The vivid lush of green around the foxhole blended well with her CADPAT variant uniform. X-ray's multicam pants were the only camouflaging he had, but it served decently enough.
They shared a medium sized foxhole dug several feet into the ground with a small makeshift roof of grass and branches. It provided excellent cover and discretion for scouting ahead. Only a foot away laid a camouflaged tent dug into the ground to make it less visible.
The target was a compound about five miles west of their location. Recon was minimal, activity was dull, and the weather was sluggish. Thunderstorms and lightning prevented any sort of helicopter pickup. All they had together was a foxhole, a decent tent and two sleeping bags.
She didn't make much small talk. Frost, or Tina, rather, was always singularly focused. X-ray, or Isaac, was rather blunt and to the point. Small talk was something that they didn't make, the silence taking up the space. Sometimes the silence became too awkward.
"Tina—mind I call you Tina?—I was wondering if I can ask some questions."
She turned around and looked at him, thinking for a second. "I don't mind Isaac, just not over the comms." Tina put down her C1 SMG by a standing log. "Shoot."
"What made you get into hunting? I know you're a pretty avid hunter back home."
It was a little personal, but Frost didn't mind. It's better to get it out of the way so they could get focus on the task at hand. She shrugged, crossing her arms as she peered over the hole. "Always been surrounded by nature. There wasn't much for me to do in Vancouver besides go out in the forests and hunt. My dad hunted in China, so he taught me how to hunt since he didn't have any other kid to teach."
"You're an only child?"
"Yeah," she sighed. "What about you? I read on your file that you're quite the outdoorsman."
"Did my file mention I'm also ruggedly handsome?" He chuckled, examining his Honey Badger. "I've always been into nature, the quietness and unspoiled aspect of it all is relaxing. I grew up in a mountain town, so this I prefer naturalization over urbanization."
"I always thought that too. I never did like staying in Van City for too long, otherwise I'd go crazy," She laughed, a smile coming under her mask. "Plus, it was the only reason I was allowed to shoot guns outside the police or military."
"All I had growing up was an airsoft gun, pa was always pretty against guns," X-ray added. "Look at me now, I carry my gun around like a suitcase."
"You can never please a parent," She smiled. "Your old man doesn't approve of the job?"
"Somewhat. He passed a while ago, so I don't worry about it."
Frost winced. "Damn, sorry for your loss."
"It's alright, it's been years. I've moved on," he leaned against the dirt of the foxhole. The cool mud and soil dirtied his uniform, but it was a relaxing sensation.
Another few moments of silent pass, morphing into hours as they didn't pay each other attention. Neither said a word as the day slowly dwindled into twilight, the crickets and critters beginning their calls and chirps of the night. No sign of enemies, no sign of intelligence, no sign of anything. Just miles and miles of trees and nothing.
He volunteered to stay up for night watch. A mistake on his part really, he very much enjoyed sleep. X-ray checked his watch.
2:42 AM
Each second felt like a day as the hands slowly tick to the right. The minute movements keeping his focus sharp on the task at hand. In an hour, his shift would be done, and Frost would have a go.
X-ray was glad to not sleep at the same time as her, he thought. Wouldn't have slept a wink with that snoring coming from the tent.
He turned to the middle of the foxhole. The fire pit was out, the soft glowing embers dancing around the air. Fire, under the right conditions, was a beautifully destructive sight. Seeing the small flakes of heat dance around and with each other made it a source of entertainment. Even so, it was a temporary thing. The embers died out along with rest of the charred firewood. Whatever moonlight shone through the tall trees provided the only light. Whatever angle they hit on the floor was the angles he saw.
X-ray checked his watch once more. Half an hour passed so far. He turned to the tent and noticed the snoring went away, much to X-ray's surprise. He slowly roused from the foxhole and stepped his way to the tent. The latch was partially open, peering in the hole.
There she was, the mass that was Frost surrounded by a camo sleeping bag. Her bob hair sprayed about carelessly across her forehead. He never really noticed how she looked like without that dumb beanie on her head. It was a little cute, seeing it all mussed up. It certainly was a stark contrast to her clean character.
He zipped up the tent and went back to his spot. The animals also seemed to be sleeping, their noises now more sparse and low than before. X-ray lifted up the balaclava he wore and whipped out a smoking pipe. He stuffed the mouthpiece in and started to enjoy the taste.
Another few moments of silence passed, the foxhole now carried the sweet aroma of tobacco. A simple yawn escaped, his eyes getting increasingly heavy. Showing away his pipe was a harder task than it should be, his lids narrowing to put it away. Maybe it wouldn't hurt closing them for a second, just a second. He relaxed, slumping over his collar.
"Isaac, you alright? I smell smoke." Frost's voice called out, stirring him up. Her voice is groggy and tired as well, her figure slowly moving across the dark forest floor. She rubs her almond eyes and stretches. "It's my turn to keep watch."
"Oh yeah?" He sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I'll get going to the tent."
Sudden sniffing made him stop. "Something wrong?"
"No, it just smells smoky, like tobacco," Frost smelled the air, realizing that it trailed from him. She turned to X-ray. "You smoke?"
"I smoke from a pipe, healthier than cigs," X-ray explained. "Helps me stay focused."
"Smells nice," Frost chuckled. "Thanks for making the foxhole smell homey."
"You're welcome," X-ray chuckled. "I try to make everywhere I've been comfy."
She laughed in response, and he smiled. X-ray shuffled off to the tent, laying his gun down next to him and closing his eyes. Finally, sleep was available.
Few seconds of darkness and ease, and he fell asleep, the colorful beginning of dreams forming in his subconscious.
Flashes of what seemed to be his dream flew through his mind. Frames of things he'd seen throughout the day contorted into a caricature of themselves. Trees suddenly morphed and changed into long metal poles or straws, rocks into animals, and grass into various colors. All so vividly familiar, yet completely foreign.
It wasn't until the colors started fade that he noticed himself in the dream. He wore nothing except for a pair of boxers, his feet tickling against toiling grass. Tina was there, dressed in her full uniform with her weapon drawn. He tried to speak, only to realize he couldn't say a word. It was like he forgotten how to speak. Isaac furrowed his brows and threaded across the ground to Tina. She remained focus on a object too distant for even Isaac to see.
He tried to tell her something. Only silence came out. Drawing his hand away from himself, Isaac reached to poke her. The dream hand felt the rough fabric of her jacket, Tina's head immediately snapping to the left, facing Isaac. Tina wasn't wearing the mask she usually wore, instead, her mouth held a pipe to it. Kinda like his, but as if styled like her Sterling traps.
"Hey Tina, whatcha doin'?" Isaac finally let out. The way it was said was clearly not him, but like a child.
"Making the place homey!" She joyously whispered. Then, she suddenly turn into tobacco ash, crumbling and flying away in the wind. He tried to ask her what happened, a weak "Tina" calling out before his eyes opened.
He awoke from the strange dream, rubbing his eyes and checking his hands. He still wore his clothes.
Isaac unzipped the tent and checked the foxhole. Tina was asleep, resting on her gun overlooking the northern area of the forest. He looked at his watch, reading 5:27 in the morning.
Isaac looked back at Tina. The weather was crispy, the fog of an early morning spreading around. If anyone was looking for them, they'd have a hard time doing so. He stepped out of the tent gear in hand and stepped in the foxhole. Looking at his sleeping partner, there was an essence of rest that hadn't been seen by him for the entirety he's been in Rainbow. He frowned and made his way to awake her.
It felt rude, and there was no clear danger anywhere in sight. Isaac figured he'd let the Canadian woman sleep in a bit more. Unloading his pipe, Isaac began putting in a new set of tobacco, making the foxhole "homey" again when she awakes.
A/N: Hey guys, long time no see. I can explain my absence, but first a little about this story. This story has been sitting in my docs for a while and I decided to publish it for the sake of publishing it. Of course it's a self indulgent OC x R6 character story, but don't worry, it won't be too cliche. It'll be a slow burn, so that's exciting.
As for my other stories, they're in the works. I'm about halfway done with a new chapter In Full Color, a quarterway done with a new Under the Rainbow chapter, and barely beginning with Troll Jammed my heart. I've been working on other projects in Ao3 and been focusing with life as well, since I'm shipping out in a few months for basic training.
That being said, I hope you've enjoyed my story. Give it a review or follow, and stay golden.
-Mister Bombastic