Alyosha and Mitya

The wind over Snezhnaya was howling especially fiercely today, hurling handfuls of stinging snow against the laboratory windows. But inside, amid the steady hum of the instruments and the soft glow of the lamps, it was warm. Mitya sat at a massive oak desk, completely immersed in his calculations. His neat lavender braid draped over his shoulder, and a couple of unruly lilac strands stubbornly fell into his eyes. A mechanical arm creaked softly behind him, carefully turning the pages of a heavy tome, keeping the scientist focused on his notes. Mitya muttered formulas quietly to himself, completely oblivious to everything around him. He also missed the footsteps in the hallway—he was too busy. The door swung open, letting the smell of gunpowder and frosty freshness into the sterile silence of the room.

"Still pining over your irons, His Excellency?" a mocking voice rang out.

Alyosha entered, casually slinging his heavy rifle over his shoulder. The fur on the collar of his dark overcoat was dusted with snow, and his vibrant mint-colored hair stood out even more than usual after the long snowstorm ride. His usual cheeky smirk played on his lips, but his amber eyes instantly warmed as soon as they fell on Mitya.

Mitya shuddered, looked up from his papers and immediately smiled weakly.
— Alyosha... You promised to be back at noon. I... I was a little worried.

"Oh, come on, I met a couple of Fatui patrols, had to lead them by the nose through the snowdrifts a bit," Alyosha put his gun against the wall and covered the distance between them in two steps.

Removing a thick leather glove, he unceremoniously extended his hand and lightly flicked Mitya's nose, causing him to squint playfully. Alyosha's fingers, still tinged with the cold outside, slid higher, gently burying themselves in the fluffy lavender hair at the back of the scientist's head. Mitya exhaled softly at the gesture, leaning toward the familiar warmth and resting his forehead against the boy's shoulder belt, inhaling his personal, soothing scent.

“You’re completely cold,” Mitya quietly reproached, hugging Alyosha around the waist and trying to warm him with his palms.