08 Shelter
a/n: Rock is a hard working citizen of New Los Angeles, even on cold mornings.
Super sweet prompt by [guest].
All the good things belong to Monolith Soft.
"Wake up, sleepy head."
Rock lifted his massive head and unfolded himself from his crouch slightly. His usual sleep pose was a comfortable curl, arms wrapped around his knees, elbow guards curved over his back. It was a cozy and safe position, but mornings in NLA were often cool and damp and then he was slow to wake up. At least the city accepted his preference for sleeping outdoors. No more being shut inside, trapped in the dark. He shivered from bad memories.
"Come on, you need to have breakfast before going to work." His dear friend, his family, Celica climbed neatly up his arm and found a seat on his shoulder. She was already dressed for an away mission, and was intent on getting him ready as well. She rubbed the thick hair on his head, then tugged his shawl into place, hauling at it with both hands. She straightened his earrings so they all hung in the same direction, then hopped lightly onto the ground. "When we have more time, I want to cook you pancakes, but you slept in today."
"Cabbage is good," Rock said. He honestly liked the crunchy vegetable, and the Nopon could provide it in huge quantities. He shivered again.
"And some oatmeal, to warm you up," Celica insisted. "The weather report looks dreadful." Her concern warmed Rock just as much as the largest tub of oatmeal ever could.
He was still crunching away at the last handfuls of cabbage when she said her goodbyes. Once she was gone, he rearranged his shawl, tapped his earings, and gave all of his fur a good scratch. Celica's fingers only brushed the surface, nothing as deep as his nails could reach. He knew it wasn't very polite but he never felt truly awake until he had raked his claws through every patch of his fur.
He arrived at the construction site on time and was soon lifting steel girders into place, holding them still for the other workers to rivet into place. He could have carried the whole team in one hand, maybe both hands if they didn't like being crowded, but he tried to keep his voice as gentle and respectful as possible. He might be huge, but they were so clever, and so generous. He didn't want anyone to be frightened of him. He thought that it was working. The team wasn't completely comfortable around him, but they were starting to get used to him.
They were working hard on a perilous stretch of roadway bracing when the weather turned nasty without warning. Rain lashed them from all sides, blown by a bitter wind that rapidly turned it to sleet. The construction crew was trapped on an isolated platform. The only way back was along ice slick girders. Rock shivered under the force of the storm, and the humans clung to each other, trying not to be blown off into the gel moat many stories below. The wind intensified and Rock acted without thought. He scooped the humans up to his chest, crouched low, and formed a shelter with his body. He felt the hail pounding his back, but if he leaned down onto his elbows, he could keep almost all of it from reaching his coworkers.
Weather never lasts long on Mira. Fifteen minutes later, the sky had shifted to a hazy blue, still cold but no longer directly interfering with their lives. Rock felt something shoving against his chest and hastily stood up. "Gosh, sorry guys, I didn't mean to squish you or anything."
"You make almost as good an emergency shelter as a construction worker, son," said the oldest human. "What do you think, Ryo?"
"I dunno. I like it better when he's swinging girders and not me," laughed the other human. "But I wasn't enjoying that hurricane much, so thanks a bunch, Rock." The others echoed their own thanks.
Rock felt warmer than he had all day.
a/n: I had to watch Celica's second mission, which features a lot of Vandham. Oh no how I suffer the things I do for my art oh dear. Somewhere in the back of my brain, Lila was drooling.
Next up: uhhhhh, I swear I put that prompt list somewhere. "In the fridge." If you say so.