Warmth

The fire hadn't been the greatest of ideas. Rei knew it would attract attention, especially from the Stalkers, those faceless, screeching beings that stole through the decrepit city at night. Though her Third Stream didn't pick up any sign of those creatures, the danger of marauders approaching the fire still remained. They were cold, ruthless, perhaps even more so than the monsters. Rapists. Looters. Killers. All united under one banner.

But Minako had reasoned and insisted. And in the end, Rei knew her partner was right. Freezing to death was by no means a better alternative.

Hands above the low fire, Rei sent a jolt of energy through her palms. Instantly, the fire doubled in size, bathing its surroundings in an orange glow. But Rei felt far from warm. Minako's prolonged absence was beginning to worry her.

Rei never doubted Minako's ability to hold her own in a fight. Time and again, her partner had proven her mettle in ways that left Rei bewildered and even a little frightened. She could never forget the day of Minako's first kill. The sight of her standing over a decapitated marauder with blood streaking down her face, and her blue eyes wide and unseeing still haunted Rei in her dreams. Granted, Rei would have been killed if Minako hadn't intervened, but seeing her partner in such a state had left Rei wondering if Minako actually enjoyed slaughter.

But Rei knew Minako. Too well, perhaps, but well enough to see that she had no choice but to kill. Her frenzied eyes would always draw back into a weary look that one can only wear after having been to hell and back. It was an expression that Rei had seen on her own face many times. But as much as Rei wanted to empathize with Minako, she couldn't help being annoyed about the way her partner went about things.

Minako smiled a lot. She smiled too much. Just what in hell was there that made her so damn happy? Rei had snapped at her, told her to wipe that stupid grin off her face, but Minako only rolled her eyes and carried her smile everywhere. Enemies on the road, shortening food supplies, no clear direction to safety; the whole slew of it, constantly dumped on them like garbage. Yet through it all, her smile had persevered.

And so had they.

Rei pulled her knees to her chin. She gazed at the dancing flames in front of her, wondering why it was so easy for Minako. Of course she was a strong person. She was probably stronger than Rei would ever be. But how could anyone simply greet life and all of its grim revelations with a sassy quirk of the lips? Even grit had its limits, especially in a world where reason and morality ceased to exist altogether.

It was easy to label Minako as a hopeless idealist. But Rei knew even that wasn't true. All she needed was to look into those blue eyes to be reaffirmed of everything that her partner felt from their ordeals.

Rei threw more kindling into the fire. Her senses registered movement within 200 feet away from her, but she remained seated. She felt an all too familiar aura, one that she had missed, though she would never admit it.

There was a rustle, followed by a patter of footsteps. Suddenly, two cold hands wrapped around Rei's eyes.

"Guess who's back?" a sugary voice crooned over Rei's head.

"Gee," Rei snorted. "I have no idea."

Minako giggled. She slid her hands away and took a seat next to Rei.

"Find anything?" Rei asked, keeping her eyes on the fire.

"Nothing special," Minako replied, running a hand through her blonde hair. "Two boxes of saltines, some teabags, a thing of beef jerky. I also found a Blockbuster but no one was at the front desk." She laughed. "Sorry. Dumb joke."

Rei shook her head. "To think I would've gotten used to it by now."

Minako poked her partner in the cheek. "You're such a grump." She reached for her rucksack and began rummaging through it. "How 'bout some tea? I'm sure it will make you feel better."

Rei grumbled and rubbed the pink spot on her cheek (courtesy of Minako's finger), but accepted her partner's offer. They were fortunate enough to have found a few unopened bottles of Poland Spring the other night, one of which Minako emptied into a dented billy can she had set over the fire. An entire bottle of water was a lot to part with, but both women longed for something warm and soothing. They had spent the whole day trekking through ruins and broken streets after all.

The tea was quickly brewed, then poured into porcelain teacups that Minako had pulled out from her rucksack.

"Where'd you get these?" Rei asked, tracing her finger along the rim of one of the cups.

"Mom got me a tea set for my birthday," Minako replied. "Those two were the only ones I could save after…" her eyes darkened "…you know…all this happened."

Rei looked at Minako. Again, that smile. That same, reassuring smile below those melancholy blue eyes. A study in contradiction. Rei suddenly had to fight the urge to embrace Minako and hold her tightly. The fire crackled and popped.

"I hope the others made it out," Minako said.

Rei placed her cup by her feet. "They're alive. I can still sense them."

"Really? All of them?"

"Yes."

Minako turned to the fire. "That's good to hear. It's nice to hope for something once in a while."

"I thought you've been hoping all this time."

Minako shook her head. "I'd like to, Rei. I thought this was simply another mission for us. Get from point A to point B. Survive. Move on. But it's not so simple after all. Everything is so spread out and instant. It's like we own everything and lose everything at the same time." She paused. "I want to make sense of it all, I really do. But what right do I have to the truth when I'm just as stained as everything around me?"

Rei saw the sadness emerge from the blue wells of Minako's eyes. "Whenever I think about that boy, I can't sleep. He didn't deserve it."

"Mina," Rei cut in. "Weren't you the one who said that survival is priority? That even a moment's hesitation can end both of our lives? Don't tell me you're getting sentimental."

Rei instantly regretted her words. Minako hung her head, her hands wrapped around her cup of tea. "You're right. I must be losing my touch." She looked up and smiled sadly, "Thanks for reminding me."

Rei would have preferred if Minako had lashed out, shot back at her with something acerbic. She couldn't bear the look her partner was giving her. It cut into her deeply, like a jagged sword.

"I…I didn't mean it that way," Rei muttered.

"…I know."

They were silent.

Suddenly, Minako sneezed.

"Whoo! Thank God for the fire!" she chimed, all trace of sadness gone from her voice.

Without saying anything, Rei held open the blanket that she had wrapped around herself. Minako raised her eyebrow, an unspoken question playing across her lips.

"Don't get any ideas," Rei warned. "Sharing body warmth is a survival tactic too."

Minako giggled. "I didn't say anything." She scooted closer to Rei, wrapped an arm around her waist, and placed her head on her shoulder.

"Don't get too comfortable," Rei said.

"Oh, hush. You like it," Minako replied.