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It isn’t often that Argenti finds himself stationary. He had a certain routine. A few days on one planet, a few days on the next. He hardly ever stayed in one place for long, but as he watches the snow that descends and floods his field of vision, he figures he may have to stay on Jarilo-VI for a little longer. He severely underestimated the storms this planet could go through. However, the undeniable beauty of the weather quelled his restlessness enough that he didn’t feel so bad about his predicament.
After speaking with the staff at the docks, they indicated that Argenti may be stuck here for at least three days until the weather clears. Certainly not how he wanted to spend his time, especially this close to the holidays, but it was unavoidable. Plenty of other people were trapped here as well, some with significantly less manners. After thanking the clerks at the dock and shuffling back outside, his breath is all but stolen from him by the harsh winds. The metal armor that typically offers him protection and sanctuary has now turned against him. Cold metal feels like frost seeping through his skin; he was hardly dressed for this weather. The One and Only was currently being docked off-sight, but once everything was all said and done, Argenti would be able to curl back into his beloved ship and wait everything out.
It only took around ten minutes, but soon enough, Argenti was back in his beloved ship. The Knight gets to work, quickly taking off his armor to allow himself to warm up a little faster. And, since he has the time, he decides to polish and wax his armor. It would at least give him something to focus on. Sitting in front of the armor stand in the main section of the ship, Argenti would meticulously clean every part, every nook and every crevice of each piece of his armor. On the very last piece, the left greave, Argenti would shiver and shake his head, his misty breath dancing through the air. He hadn’t taken into account that the heat wouldn’t last as long as the engine wasn’t running. A simple enough fix. With a grunt, Argenti would push himself up from the floor and shuffle over to the pilot’s seat. After pressing a few buttons and putting in the correct code, the engine would roar to life. The redhead smiles, though it dissipates from his face as soon as it comes. He was low on fuel. He could hardly spare anything, and that includes keeping the heat on.
Argenti shuts everything down post-haste and slumps into the pilot’s chair. No heat. No fuel. Hardly any supplies. Argenti begins to lament over the situation, realizing how underprepared he was. Though hardly ever one to stay down for long, Argenti would stand back up and start to dig through the storage compartments scattered across the walls of the ship. After finding an old, worn-down red tub, Argenti would pop the lid off and be greeted by the sight of his pedestrian clothes, something he hardly ever wears anymore. Various sweaters, shirts, scarves, pants and accessories he no longer needs. He digs through to the warmest pieces of clothing he owns and carefully puts everything on. Despite how heavy the red sweater was and how thick the white pants felt, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being so bare.
Even with the thickness of his clothing, it was nothing compared to his armor. He looks at himself in the only mirror he owns, his expression looking just as uncomfortable as he felt. Though his shivering has finally stopped, so he can’t complain too much…
After wrapping his neck in a knitted white scarf, Argenti would step out of his beloved ship and set off to try and find some food, something that wouldn’t mind the cold as much as him. One thing that did fascinate The Knight was the number of people still going about their business as usual, despite the onslaught of fluffy snow. Argenti stops at the nearest bakery he can find and simply asks for some bread, something that can get him through the next few days without much issue. He pays with the few credits he has on his person and collects the loaves, fresh out of the oven. The warmth felt like a gentle hug, and Argenti couldn’t help but hold them a little closer.
He walks slowly through the streets, his shoes certainly not made to trudge through snow and sleet. He walks past a few shops, hoping to find somewhere that may offer canned goods. Once he finds what he’s looking for, he steps inside. Sniffling as he walks, The Knight gathers two cans of soup and pays the teller with a smile. The other person nods and wishes him happy holidays. Argenti smiles, offering them a rose and well wishes in return. On his way back to his ship, he starts to wonder what his friends are doing right now, the same with his fellow knights. The Express Crew is surely all celebrating by each other’s side. Penacony must be lit up brighter than a star by now.
Penacony…
Argenti finds himself wondering about Boothill and Rappa now. As far as he knows, they have no family to return to. Perhaps they are spending it with each other? The mental image of their smiles is contagious, a steady grin sliding across Argenti’s lips. With a hum, Argenti begins to wonder if Boothill celebrates anything this time of year. He’s never been blessed with the opportunity to have such conversations with the silver cowboy. Perhaps once he is back on the ship, he’ll take the time to reach out. They haven’t seen each other in some time now…
The redhead’s attention is snapped back to the present moment when a voice calls out in front of him. A woman with sleek grey hair exits one of the shops, calling out her gratitude as she descends the stairs. They’re a woman Argenti has had the honor of meeting before, Natasha. He beams and picks up his pace, calling out to the doctor.
“Madame Natasha!” The woman turns, looking a little weary, but quickly relaxes when she recognizes the man in front of her. “My, what a wonderful reunion!” Argenti laughs.
“Argenti! It’s been so long! And…” She looks The Knight up and down. “I hardly even recognize you! How have you been? How is your arm?”
Last time they met, Argenti was getting patched up after a particular run-in with a few bandits. Argenti’s arm had gotten injured, but he recovered just fine thanks to the doctor’s efforts. They exchanged a few words and stories before Argenti disappeared once again.
“As good as new, My Lady, you helped immensely. You are looking as beautiful as ever, if I may say so.” Argenti replies smoothly, his smile as sweet as can be.
Natasha blushes and puts a hand to her chest. “And as polite as ever. I am glad to hear you are better now. What brings you back here?”
“It seems fate would like me to stay here for a while; the snowstorm is making flight nearly impossible. I am just gathering some supplies to stay for a few more days until it all passes.”
“Oh dear, do you have everything you need? I can bring you something from the clinic if you’d like.” Natasha offers, her face conveying her sincere worry.
“I am quite alright, My Lady. Please, keep the supplies for your patients.” Argenti shakes his head, adjusting the groceries in his arms. “And yourself? It’s quite cold to be wandering around right now.”
“Oh! I was just grabbing some gifts for the kids who will be spending the holidays in the clinic, just to raise their spirits. This place has everything you could need, really.” Natasha laughs quietly, gesturing to the store she just left.
“Really?” Argenti’s green gaze drifts up the dimly lit storefront. “It looks rather cozy, what a beautiful place.”
Natasha smiles and shifts her weight to the other leg. “If you have any last-minute shopping to do for someone, I recommend you take a look around here. But, as much as I would like to keep chatting with you, I have to get back to the clinic.”
Argenti bows and extends his hand, yet another rose appears in his hand. “But of course, your line of work is much more important. Please, stay as warm as you can, and happy holidays.”
Natasha smiles sweetly and accepts the rose, dipping down in a curtsy. “Thank you, Argenti. Happy holidays!”
The pair says their goodbyes, and eventually Argenti is left to his own thoughts. A shop with everything you may need for gifts…? Perhaps it is worth a look. He might even be able to find something for Boothill. The thought brings a smile to Argenti’s face, his heart filling with renewed determination. Climbing up the stairs to the shop, he twists the doorknob and kicks the snow off his shoes before entering. The humble shop smelled of antiques, old fabric and dried flowers. Argenti looks around for a moment before spotting the shopkeeper behind the counter, greeting her with a smile and a bow.
The older woman explains that anything in the shop is available for sale, and some prices are debatable. Argenti thanks her and looks around, starting at the back. This place had everything, from antiques to weapons to toys and more. Eventually, Argenti would find himself at a small display case towards the middle of the store. Something that immediately caught his attention was a gun cleaning and repair kit, which came in a neat little leather case with a gorgeous feathery design inlaid upon it. The tag below said it was a kit special for revolvers. Argenti’s immediate thought was with Boothill, and how much care he put into keeping his gun in pristine condition.
While The Knight is sure he has a cleaning routine and kit for his precious firearm already, Argenti still feels compelled to try it. Adjusting everything in his arms, he fishes through his pockets to count out the credits he has, seeing if he can even afford this right now. The shopkeeper would approach him a moment later, hands behind her back.
“Something catch your eye, honey?” She asks, her voice quaking a little.
Argenti smiles down at her after memorizing the amount of money he had. “Yes, ma’am, I was looking at the kit there.” The Knight raises his hand and lightly taps the glass where said item was being stored.
“Ooh, you don’t strike me as the kind of man to carry a firearm.” The older woman comments lightheartedly.
“You would be correct, ma’am. This is for a friend.” The redhead replies.
“Oh my, a thoughtful gift!” She carefully clasps her hands to her chest. “I have had this item here for a very long time. It’s good to see that somebody is interested.”
Argenti nods with a smile, though in the back of his mind, he knows that he will not have the chance to buy anything else for a while. This would deplete the rest of his credits. Even then, in the back of his mind, he believes it’s worth it. After kindly asking the woman to retrieve the kit for him, they both shuffle over to the register, and Argenti lays out all the credits he has. The woman thanks him, wraps up the kit nice and tidy, and even puts a little bow on it with thread. He takes the item, bows to her, and offers a rose before wishing her happy holidays. She blushes with a lovely smile and waves farewell.
Once he’s back outside, his breath once again stolen away by the frigid winds, he plans out his next course of action. He should likely return to The One and Only; the sun will be setting soon, and that only means it will get colder. He should eat while he can, settle down, and prepare for a long night. With a mournful sigh, he starts his trek back to the docks.
Halfway through his journey, Argenti is given a small bit of hope when the snowfall begins to die down. Perhaps he won’t be stuck here for as long as he originally thought! Nonetheless, he keeps up his pace, so as to be sheltered before nightfall. Once he finally gained line of sight with the docks, his shoulders relaxed at the sight of his beautiful red ship. It would certainly be a feat to try to steal The One and Only, but it weighs on Argenti’s mind sometimes. The Knight weaves in and out of the crowd, pardoning himself when he brushes up against somebody.
Once he finally escapes the large group of people, he can feel the items in his arms shift around, making his eyes widen a little. He glances behind himself to make sure he didn’t drop anything. In doing so, the redhead bumps into somebody directly in front of him. He holds everything close to his chest, surely crushing the bread a little.
“Watch it!” The man’s raspy voice calls as he spins around to face Argenti.
“My most sincere apologies, I wasn’t looking where I was g-...” The Knight’s words die on his tongue when he is met with a familiar face glaring back at him. The other man blinks and pushes his hat back and out of his eyes. The cowboy barks out a laugh and shoves his fists onto his hips.
“Hah! Well, I’ll be!” Boothill flashes a toothy grin. “Knight of Beauty, out here in the snow. What brings you ‘round these parts? Shouldn’t you be spreadin’ joy somewhere?”
Argenti suddenly feels woefully underprepared for such an interaction, shuffling the groceries around in an attempt to hide his gift that he has yet to properly wrap. “What beautiful fate it is to reunite with you once more, my silver cowboy! Though I regret to say that I am grounded for the time being. The weather has prevented any further travel.”
Boothill clicks his tongue and gestures behind him to the docks. “Same with me. The Bullet ain’t too happy ‘bout all this snow, and I ain’t got her repaired in a while. Can’t take a risk like that.” The ranger’s eyes slowly travel down Argenti’s figure before snapping back up to meet the redhead’s green gaze. “Say, I hardly recognize you. Y’know, without all your armor. Thought you may just live in it.”
Argenti gives a breathy laugh, white mist slipping from his lips as he does. “It is a rarity that I part from my armor, though I have on occasion. I fear that the frosty metal was making me too cold, so I had to change.”
Boothill grins and takes a step back, a mechanical hum radiating from his throat as he takes one more look at The Knight. “I’d say it suits you, Red.”
“You are too kind,” Argenti replies with a bright red blush. “Though if I may ask, are you not cold?”
Boothill was dressed as he always is. Torso exposed, hip windows in his leather pants, arms completely bare; Hardly anything to keep him warm. The cowboy waves his hand and makes a dismissive sound. “Pssh, nah. I ain’t get cold like that no more,” The black and white-haired man grins and points to his face. “Only got feelin’ up here.”
Argenti frowns and takes his free hand to unravel the scarf around his neck. “While you may not feel the cold, my friend, that does not mean you are undeserving of warmth.” The Knight carefully lays the scarf around Boothill’s shoulders and wraps it until it covers his neck, something to bury his face in if he were to get cold.
The gesture seems to stun the cyborg for a brief moment. Though he covers up his awe by plastering a smug smile on his face and crossing his arms. “Yer a real charmer, y’know?”
Argenti bows slightly. “You flatter me.”
“Where’re you stayin’ anyways?” Boothill asks, adjusting the scarf a little.
“I am staying in The One and Only. I plan to for the next few days.”
“You sure you got enough fuel to keep you warm?” Boothill asks, genuine concern lacing his tone.
“I am no stranger to cold nights.” Argenti places a hand on his chest and bows his head.
“Weren’t you jus’ tellin’ me that just because I ain’t feel the cold don’t mean I ain’t worth the warmth?” Boothill says with a sharp glare. Argenti can feel his face heat up, and his gaze wavers to the left. He’s hardly given the time to formulate a reply before Boothill shakes his head and tips his hat back over his eyes. “I need to find a place to stay myself anyway, how’s about you tag along?”
Argenti sputters for a moment as Boothill starts to walk over to the docks. “I-I would be remiss to ask that of you, my silver cowboy.”
“Good thing you ain’t askin’ then!” The ranger slings his arms behind his head and cackles. “‘Sides, ‘Genti, it’s Christmas. Consider this my gift to you, eh?”
Argenti makes a soft, little sound as he tries to think of a retort, but he ends up falling short. Boothill beckons him back over and explains they’ll grab what Argenti needs from his ship and find a hotel somewhere around the area. Argenti reluctantly agrees, only on the terms that he will repay Boothill when he can. The cowboy replies that it isn’t needed; he can just pick up a small commission to make up for the credits he’s about to spend, but Argenti won’t let it slide like that.
The Knight asks that Boothill stay outside while he gathers what he needs. He’s answered with a nod and a casual shrug. Argenti gets to work immediately, trying to find something to wrap Boothill’s gift in. While it isn’t the prettiest thing in the world, Argenti settles for an old, bright red gift bag. He kept it because he adored the color. He consolidates all of the groceries into one bag and organizes them a little better, grabs another outfit and locks everything back up. The Knight glances at the ranger’s hand and realizes he has a small box in his grasp. Perhaps he went to The Bullet to retrieve what he needed for the time being as well. Boothill glances over and arches an eyebrow with a silent question.
“I am ready to go, if you are as well,” Argenti answers, holding everything close.
“I managed to find a hotel a few blocks down, won’t be too much of a walk for ya,” Boothill says, flipping his phone over to show Argenti the map. The Knight looks over and nods with a smile. The two men make idle small talk until they finally find a rhythm, talking about their recent adventures, interactions, trials and tribulations.
“In all honesty, my friend, I was wondering when our paths would cross once more. You were on my mind today.” Argenti admits, glancing the other way.
“Was I now?” Boothill arches a brow and turns his head to face The Knight. “How come?”
“I found myself wondering if you celebrated the holidays. After that, I realized that I had missed you greatly. However, I understand we cannot always talk; our paths are always busy and unsure.” Argenti nods.
“Well…Yeah, I celebrate the holidays, but it ain’t like a lot of others. I’m more so here for the family n’ givin’, y’know?” Boothill says, a certain longing swirling around in his voice. “But s’ been a while since I’ve had anyone to spend the holidays with.”
Argenti hums and turns back to face his silver companion. “Well, by Idrila’s blessing, we have each other this time.”
Boothill chuckles. “How about you, Red, you celebrate anythin’?”
“I would say I am similar to you, though I, too, have no family to return to. Instead, I simply give gifts.”
For how flamboyant and boisterous Argenti can be sometimes, it often slips the cowboy’s mind that he grew up during war. He never had the simple pleasure of a holiday or a family meal around a warm fire. With how the Knights of Beauty live as well, it’s likely he still doesn’t treat himself the way most people do. No tree. No gifts for himself. Nothing like that, no. It saddens Boothill, but it’s what Argenti wants.
They travel the rest of the way in silence. Boothill holds the entry door of the hotel for Argenti, who bows and thanks him in return. They both kick the snow off their feet before approaching the desk. The redhead steps back and allows Boothill to handle everything as he’d like. The clerk explains to Boothill that they only have single bed rooms available for now, and likely won’t have an opening for the next few days. An oddly familiar scenario that Boothill can’t help but snort at. He accepts the room. They did it before; they can do it again. Though, it may take a little convincing for Argenti not to sleep on the floor.
He takes the keys, tips his hat, and bids the woman farewell before turning back to Argenti.
“Well,” Boothill starts, putting one hand on his hip, using the other hand to shake the key around. “Looks like we’ve only got one bed for the night.”
“That is perfectly fine, I will simply-”
“You’ll simply sleep in the darn bed and not on the forkin’ floor.” Boothill deadpans, causing Argenti to sink into himself with a blush. “S’ what I thought.”
Argenti, looking like a kicked puppy left in the rain, follows Boothill in silence to their assigned room. Boothill unlocks and opens the door, letting Argenti step inside first. The Knight sighs quietly, enjoying the warmth that floods him. Boothill rolls his neck and takes the scarf off, rolling it up neatly. They set their things down, and Boothill flings himself onto the bed. Argenti joins him, though he sticks to the far corner. Boothill slowly lifts his hat off his face and peeks over at the redhead, who was looking right at him.
“Somethin’ on yer mind, Red?” The ranger asks, voice low and raspy.
Argenti shakes his head with a cheery smile. “Not quite, no. I was simply admiring your beauty.”
Boothill curls his lip and puts his hat back over his face before Argenti could notice the creeping blue blush. “You’ve always got a funny way of talkin’, y’know that?”
“Though my words remain true. With every reunion, I find that I appreciate your presence more and more. Your beauty goes beyond your looks, my friend.” Argenti says, perking up a little as he places a hand over his heart, as if this were some sort of prayer.
“Aaahh…” Boothill waves him off casually, voice muffled by his hat.
“You dismiss me, though I must insist.” Argenti smiles sweetly.
Boothill groans loudly and finally sits up, setting his hat onto the bed, his face tinted with a pretty little blue. “Can’t go ‘round sayin’ stuff like that, darlin’, somebody’s gonna get the wrong idea.”
“What would the 'wrong idea' be, my silver cowboy?” Argenti asks with a tilt of his head, watching Boothill shuffle over to the dresser, where the cowboy had set that box The Knight had seen earlier.
“Somebody’s gonna think ‘yer confessing to them, dolly,” Boothill chuckles at the idea before spinning on his heels. “Can you knightly fellows even…?”
Argenti blinks before the question finally settles in his mind. “Some chose to remain solely focused on their path and mission, while some believe that the beauty of love is the ultimate form of devotion to The Beauty.”
The ranger would nod slowly before giving Argenti a sharp grin. “And your belief?”
Argenti is once again put into silence. He’s never thought about it. His mission and his path keep him so busy that…He feels as though it would be wrong of him to pursue a relationship. But love…It is so precious and so beautiful. That is undeniable.
“I believe that if Idrila blesses me with someone at my side, I shall not take it for granted. I will give them my everything.” The Knight bows his head and smiles sheepishly, a light pink blush gracing his features.
Boothill chuckles and snatches the box off the dresser, moseying on over before handing it out to Argenti. The redhead looks between the item and the one offering it to him. After a couple of seconds, Boothill lightly shakes the box, as if trying to direct Argenti’s attention back to it. “Yoo-hoo~”
The redhead blushes and quickly takes the box. “My apologies, I was not expecting a gift!”
“Was gonna get’chu one regardless, darlin’, Aeons know you ain’t rewarded ‘nough for the things you do ‘round these parts.” Boothill chuckles. “Not like you get yerself anythin’ either. Guess you could say you were on my mind lately.” The cowboy glances away and scratches at the back of his neck, an unusual sign of nervousness from the usually overly confident man.
“You are so kind to me…” Argenti says, looking genuinely touched. He gently grasps the top of the box. “May I?”
“‘Course.” Boothill nods.
The redhead gently lifts the top and beams with joy at the contents inside. A high-end wax and polish set, seemingly from Xianzhou Luofu, based on the characters and design of each of the bottles. Specifically made for armor and precious metals, it could make anything look as good as new, no matter the wear and tear.
“Well, I had seen it at a local shop when I was stopin’ by and uh…” Boothill blushes in earnest now. “I-I know how much you care for yer armor, wantin’ it to look as good as possible, so I thought of you.” The cowboy clears his throat and looks away, a frown on his face, to try and maintain a certain amount of his dignity as he stumbles through his words, the joy on Argenti’s face messing with his mechanical heart.
“Oh, this is wonderful! I could not ask for more, thank you so, so much, my dear Boothill!” Argenti laughs happily, looking at every one of the bottles in the box. Each one had a different purpose. His armor will look pristine, shiny and beautiful with all of this!
“Mmyeah, yer welcome, Red.” Boothill smiles. The cyborg melts a little, watching the way that Argenti simply lights up as he picks up every bottle, looking at every detail, committing it to memory. After a few more seconds of looking at his gift, Argenti would hurriedly stand and retrieve the red bag from the other side of the room. He hands it off to Boothill with an adorable smile, making the ranger laugh.
“You get me somethin’ too?” Argenti nods proudly. “Shucks, well you ain’t gotta do that for me, ‘Genti.”
“You are well worth it, my friend,” Argenti says proudly, meaning every little bit of that statement.
Boothill puts his weight onto the other leg and peeks inside of the bag. He raises an eyebrow, unable to discern what the gift was. The ranger takes it out, and after a moment, Boothill’s eyes go wide, and his reticles spin.
“Well I’ll be…” Boothill snaps open the lid of the kit and gently runs his fingertips across each item. His sensors barely pick up the touch, but Boothill can picture the texture of each and every item. The brushes, the pipecleaners, the jags, the reusable cotton swabs. Even the lube and the solvent. Everything was neatly in its own little section, clearly labeled as well. Boothill was so focused on examining the pieces that he had failed to notice the nervousness written all over Argenti’s face. Once he does decide to look up, his own expression drops, and he waves his free hand around.
“No, ‘Genti, I love it, ain’t nothin’ to worry about!” Boothill reassures him. “I-I’m jus’ surprised. This is a really nice kit, you didn’t spend too much on it, did you?”
Argenti shakes his head. “No price is too high to put a smile on your face, my friend. You deserve the gifts and more.”
Boothill pauses before scoffing. He laughs fondly and snaps the lid shut on the kit. “Not bad at all…I’ll put it to good use, trust me.”
“I am overjoyed to hear it,” Argenti says, clasping his hands to his chest.
“Y’know…Yer a blessin’, Red. Kinda glad I got stuck here now.”
“You honor me.”
“I mean it,” Boothill chuckles and sets the kit aside, stepping a little closer to The Knight. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Argenti smiles, nearly touching chests with the other man. The redhead closes his eyes, placing his hand over his heart. “Idrila has blessed me with tonight, your companionship means-” He’s startled away from his own words when he feels cold, metallic hands on his cheeks. When he opens his eyes, Boothill is mere inches away. The poor knight is left stunned, though he doesn’t feel the need to pull away. Boothill waits another moment, giving Argenti plenty of time to back up.
The space between them slowly closes until their lips finally connect. Argenti felt a rush of warmth through his whole body, setting his soul alight. His hands eventually find their place on Boothill’s sides as he melts into the kiss, leaning forward to chase the unfamiliar feeling. They stay this way for a moment or two before finally parting. Boothill’s eyes flit to Argenti’s cheeks, and he can’t help the laugh that ensues. The Knight was about as red as his hair. It was adorable, to say the very least.
Boothill is halfway to a snarky comment when Argenti leans forward and kisses him again, cradling him as if he were precious china. Boothill sighs through his nose and leans in, cherishing the feeling of the hand that comes up to his face. They part ways another moment, Argenti gazing at Boothill with puppydog eyes that would make anybody’s heart melt. The ranger slowly finds his grin again and speaks with a staticky rasp in his voice.
“Look at you, didn’t know you had that in ya, Red…” Boothill teases. Argenti’s reaction is immediate, looking as guilty as can be.
“M-My most sincere apologies, I lost my composure and…”
“Now, now, that ain’t a complaint, darlin’.” Boothill presses his finger to Argenti’s lip to stop his ramblings. “Besides, call it another Christmas gift, yeah?”
Argenti eventually nods, making Boothill remove his finger. “Then…Thank you sincerely. I will forever treasure this gift, my silver cowboy..”
Boothill can’t help but laugh, gently swiping Argenti’s bangs out of his face. “Darlin’, you can have as many gifts as you’d like. We’ll be here for a while.”
“I…I would like that.” The Knight offers a sincere, but nervous smile.
“‘Course. Anything you’d like.”
Argenti slowly strokes Boothill’s cheeks with his thumbs, simply admiring the man in front of him. “Merry Christmas.” The man whispers.
Boothill smiles, his eyes falling half closed. “Merry Christmas, ‘Genti.”