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Logan hated the cold. That's it, period. No if ands or buts about it, he just never was a fan. Growing up in California with his toes in the sand had never prepared him for a damn winter mission. He shivered and snuggled deeper into his jacket, hugging himself tightly to block the wind. Once, only once had he been on a snowboarding trip when his family insisted on going somewhere else, Hesh and his mother loved it but Logan and his dad Elias, not so much. Needless to say, the trip didn't last two weeks, and they were back home. Logan missed home, it was taken away from him at a young age, sixteen if he recalled. The memory of his home being destroyed in the attack. He never knew what happened to his friends that day, but for the most part Logan assumed the worst.
Now, here he was trudging through the deep snow and fighting off strong blizzard winds to reach a scouting point. Another tremor up his spine, Logan was starting to think his toes and fingers were long gone, purple and black and most likely falling off. The goggles on his face protecting his eyes thankfully as the next rush of wind blew through.
Logan winced as the cold raced down his jackets collar and infiltrated his remaining body heat. Logan jumped to shake off the cold, only to run into the back of his Sergeant. Logan looked up to apologize, only catching the raised fist, Keegan never turning. Then, his sergeants voice was in his earpiece, Logan forgetting that he had one in.
"Looks like the storms picking up. Should find some cover, Hesh and the others should be in by tomorrow."
Logan groaned under the wind remembering that he and Keegan were sent out a few days earlier to look for an infiltration route into the building. His brother needing to finish another mission, trusting Keegan to look after his younger brother. "Permission to complain, Sarge?" there was a minute of silence as they pressed on.
"Permission granted." Keegan whispered after a while.
"I hate the cold..." Logan mumbled, forcing his legs to move. His ears caught the soft, yet rough chuckle of Keegan.
"I'd imagine you do, California." he spoke. "You're different from Hesh."
"That's what I'm told." Logan rolled his eyes.
"You get used to it after a while." Keegan moved to take point. Slowing to kneel on the ridge.
"Nah, not ever." Logan moved to kneel by Keegan. "How do you do it?"
"Hold that thought, kid." Keegan signaled. "There, a building."
Logan followed his Sergeants point and took in the sight of a small, abandoned building, to Logan's surprise it actually passed as a good source of shelter. "Think there's enemy patrol?"
"Yep." Keegan lowered his rifle. "There, two inside and one on the roof." Then he turned to look at Logan. "Think we can take 'em?"
Logan nodded, taking in the sight of Keegan's sharp blue eyes that pierced through the whiteout. He looked sharp, alert and as always, calm. Logan had no idea how the man never let anything bother him, how he was a ruthless machine when needed to be. It was like he could just swallow a pill without water. He truly was a phantom.
"Kid?"
"Hm?" Logan only realized he was staring far too long, not budging at Keegen's unnoticed instructions. "Oh, shit... sorry sir." he turned, thankful that his blush could pass as windburn. He looked forward. "What's the plan?" he hated the sigh of annoyance from Keegan. He needed to do better, he needed to focus, but Keegan made that so damn hard. Then a pat on his back and Keegan's soft voice came through.
"Don't worry, once we're inside we can start a fire to keep warm."
Logan nodded somehow feeling colder when Keegan removed his hand from his back.
"Now, I'll take the one on the roof, it will let us get closer to take the last two out. After that, we ditch the bodies and let the storm cover them."
Logan nodded. "On your mark, sir."
Keegan aimed his scope after a few minutes and nodded at Logan. "They've separated, move up. I'll cover you."
"Promise?" Logan asked through a whisper, it was faint and seemed to have gone unnoticed by Keegan.
"I promise." Keegan whispered back.
Logan smiled, giving a more affirmative nod before he moved closer to the building. The first stack of pallets and barrels covered in snow being his cover. Against the snow, Logan was like a ghost, blended in so well that nobody could spot him. Well, maybe one person could.
"Draw your knife kid, tango heading your direction few cm to your left and closing. Wait on my go." Keegan spoke as he readjusted his scope.
Logan's breathing mirrored Keegan's countdown, his knife twisted backwards and his fingers clenching and unclenching around the handle. Logan could feel his pulse quicken at the rough counting from Keegan. He wasn't sure if the next tremor up his spine was from the cold or Keegan's command.
"Now."
Logan snuck around the side of the barrel using the snow as cover. His steps were soft in the snow as he crept up onto the enemy. Logan slid up to a stand, practically on the enemies back as he jammed the knife into the enemy's throat and pulled his body back to drop against the wall of the shack.
"Good kill."
Logan bit his lip to hide a smirk, proud that his effort went noticed. "Learned it watching you." he teased, entertained when he received a grunt in the mic.
"Time to show me what your made of then, Cali Prince. Tango moving in your direction."
Logan raised his knife and pressed his back to the wall. He could pick up the faint crunching of boots on snow, a few mutters of Russian and the faint whiff of cheap cigars. Logan readied himself to round the corner and jam his knife.
"He's mine."
Logan froze, the last cry of the enemy as the sniper bullet ran through. Logan crouched and looked at the corpse, then his eyes traced around the outskirts of the area. Even though Keegan was on his side, Logan still found it terrifying how good his Sarge was at blending in. Keegan took his job with all seriousness, he was a tough nut to crack, Logan still tried to find out what would make the man break, but after all this time he wasn't sure. All he knew was that he really was thankful to have Keegan watching over him. Which came double for when Logan's distraction nearly costed him his life as a mutter of panicked Russian drew his attention. Logan's eyes widened as he moved to a stand, facing the enemy that emerged from the building, a fourth man, should've known.
Before Logan could even draw his weapon on the enemy soldier, the man let out a gargled gasp as his body slammed dead weight into the door. Logan breathed out.
"Kid, what are you looking for? Eye's up!" Keegan spat into the mic.
"Sorry, Sarge." Logan breathed out harshly. He really wasn't expecting there to be a fourth enemy.
"Area's clear. I'll be there in a second."
Logan only nodded and hurried to recover his composure. Then, Keegan came into view from the far right, Logan watching as his Sarge slid with elegance and professionalism down the slope. Logan knew with the was Keegan rushed over he was going to get his ass chewed out. But when Keegan closed in and Logan braced himself for the scolding, he was surprised when a gentle fist was placed on his head. He looked up to Keegan's soft blues.
"You okay California?"
"Y-yeah..." Logan nodded. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it. It was my fault; my calculations were off about how many men were actually here. I should've held you back to scan the rest of the area."
Logan blinked and blinked some more. One, because this was the most Keegan has ever talked to him, and two because his Sarge was actually attempting an apology to him of all people. Logan shook his head in a frantic. "I should be the one to apologize, sir." that caught Keegan's attention. "My mind wasn't on the mission." there was a pause, then Keegan spoke.
"Guess we shouldn't tell Elias any of this."
Logan was once again thankful for the potential windburn on his face as he felt himself grow hotter under Keegan's playful eyes. His heart thumping another rush of adrenaline into his veins. Logan nodded, the smile hidden under his mask, but large.
"Good, let's get these bodies out of view and inside."
Logan hummed. "Yeah, I hate the cold." and he held back a laugh when he heard Keegan's own.
Once the bodies were cleared, the storm never seemed to slow its roll. Logan was grateful for that because it hid the smoke of the fire that he was currently sitting in front of, hands stretched out, boots off and both feet right to the edge of the flames.
"Careful, Cali, wouldn't want you catching on fire now."
Logan rolled his eyes at Keegan's snicker behind him, the older male focused on cleaning his gun. "You think we're safe here for the night?" he asked.
"Hmm, should be, but we better not take any chances. With the blizzard covering the surrounding areas it's hard to tell what we're near until it passes."
Logan nodded and pulled his feet in, tucking them to his chest as he swiveled around on his butt to face Keegan who sat in a chair across from him. "How are you not cold?" he frowned.
Keegan shrugged. "Benefits of growing up in Colorado."
Logan furrowed his brows. "I didn't know that's where you're from?"
"Mhm, small ranch on the hills. Lots of snow, you'd love it~" he teased.
Logan scowled at the thought. "No, that's just too much to think about."
Keegan chuckled. "Not big on dirt are you?"
"No, I can handle dirty things, just not overly dirty things." Now his ears caught a laugh, genuine and entertained. "Hey, I have a rule of cleanliness, okay? you try living with Hesh." he pouted.
"So, you're like a Prince then?"
Logan sighed. "You wouldn't get it."
"Oh no, I get it. But you're really picky when it comes to certain things. Perhaps Prince California should be your callsign." Keegan teased.
"You know sarge, I think I liked you better when you weren't talking." Logan took a peek at Keegan. His sarge going radio silent but held a stare. Then, Logan frowned when Keegan said nothing, just focused back on cleaning his rifle. "C'mon sarge, I didn't mean it." but Keegan still didn't say anything. Logan stood up and moved over. "Sarge..." he spoke again, sitting on the chair across from Keegan. "I'm sorry. I was only-"
"It's okay." Keegan whispered. "Let's just get through the night and focus on the mission, okay?"
"But... I like talking to you." Logan brought his hands to the table, fingers brushing Keegan's. His brown eyes moved up to see Keegan's staring. "I don't know a lot about you. Besides, we're going to be in here for a while." Logan nodded to the window, the whiteout still continuing. "Plus, it's not like we can get a signal either, so... guess it's just us." Logan swallowed and for a moment he thought he saw Keegan's body stiffen. Then, he smiled when Keegan sighed.
"Fine." Keegan whispered. "What do you want to know?"
Logan's eyes sparkled as with mischief as he leaned back in the chair.
"I never thought that you'd be a sweet lover." Logan laughed.
"Why? everyone likes something sweet? Don't you?"
"Yeah, but like... you're so quiet and 'cold' I just didn't think you had a sweet tooth." Logan snickered again.
Keegan hummed as he sat with his legs pulled up to his chest in front of the fire. "Well, candy isn't the only thing I like that's sweet."
Logan gasped and playfully tapped his sarge. "Don't tell me you have a crush on someone, Keegan." He teased. Keegan's face turning to face him. It was still breathtaking to see Keegan's well-groomed feature, blue eyes and soft locks of black hair. Logan's only ever been able to see Keegan's face once before, and that was back during the Federation Day mission. But now that he could sit and enjoy Keegan's features without anything stopping him it was like the first time seeing his Sarge all over. No patchy face paint, no gun powder or traces of dried blood, hell that mask was currently scattered on the floor behind him leaving Keegan's features all for Logan's viewing pleasure. It made Logan swallow hard, and he wondered just how many people have actually seen his face, or if Logan was just the luckiest guy ever.
"You're staring, kid."
Logan quickly looked away, face heating up and not because of the fire. "Sorry..." he whispered.
"It's okay. I get it."
"I know... but it was still rude."
"Actually... I like when you notice me."
Logan's heart sped up and he turned back to look at Keegan. "Sir?"
Keegan's lips pulled into a smirk as he stared at the fire. "Makes me feel alive a little. Gives me confidence the way you look at me."
"I'm sorry, sir. I don't think I follow?"
Keegan snickered. "Well, it's hard to be noticed when you're on a team with both the Walker boys. You start to feel like you fade into the back at times with how much of a praise that Elias gives. I know he's your dad and all so it's mandatory instinct for him to praise his sons, but fuck... when you work your ass off and go unnoticed because of it, kinda kills the mood a little. Deflates the ego, so to speak."
"Keegan P. Russ. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're jealous."
"Watch it, kid."
Logan smirked anyway. "Sorry sir, couldn't help myself." he bit his bottom lip to hold back a laugh. There was a silence lingering in the air for a while, only the sounds of the blizzard outside and the fire cackling as Keegan threw more kindling onto it. "I know you said that you work your ass off to impress my dad and Hesh, but... don't think that it goes unnoticed, Keegan." he knew he spoke out of line, not using the proper authority, but Keegan didn't seem to mind. Just stayed silent, content on hearing Logan out as he stared at the fire. "I've admired you for a while... I know I'm not the one that you want to hear that from. But every mission we did I was always glad that I was sent with you." Logan began. "Everything you did was just mesmerizing; it's always done with quick precision and skill. I try to take mental notes on everything you do." Logan chuckled, feeling a little embarrassed he was spilling himself to Keegan. "I even had Merrick train me longer in CQC, he started to notice a few changes until he eventually told me I was starting to fight just like you, though according to him, slopier and I -" Logan was cut off, lips had met his and hands slid around his head and shoulders to pull him in closer.
A grunt escaped his mouth when his brain registered what was happening. Logan's eyes fluttering shut and moving in to meet Keegan's. It was a passionate kiss, one that was filled with love over lust, well maybe because the soft nip Keegan gave his bottom lip as he pulled away to stare at Logan, left Logan panting gently as his brown eyes met Keegan's. "What the hell was that for?" he got a smile in return.
"Because I have been waiting so long to hear that praise from you, Logan."
Logan... not California or prince, or Cali. Just, Logan. He smiled loving the way his name rolled from his sarge's tongue. His blood pumping a new set of warmth through him as he moved into Keegan's face once more, inches away. "Permission to kiss you again, sir?" his eyes flicked down at Keegan's lips, watching as his Sarges tongue darted out to wet them.
"Permission granted." Keegan whispered.
And that was all Logan needed before he moved back to recapture Keegan once more. Molding his mouth to Keegan's with Keegan's skilled leadership and moans of pleasure. Logan kept pushing forward until he was straddling Keegan's waist, his sarges back on the ground.
Logan gasped at the trace of the sniper's tongue on his lips, the appendage darting into his mouth to dominate him in the best ways. He finally had to break for air, Keegan leaving traces of kitten licks and nips to his jaw and throat. "I thought we were supposed to be focusing on the mission, sir?" Logan hummed out through a lopsided smile.
"I know." Keegan mumbled through his handywork on Logan's neck, sucking a mark on the exposed skin. "Hesh will kill me if he finds out."
"He won't." Logan breathed as he pulled Keegan in once more. "By the way, I'm not cold anymore Sarge." he whispered, loving the way Keegan's eyes glazed over, a growl filling his ears from the older man as Logan was pushed onto his back.
"Guess we're going to have to share body heat then~"