The base was quieter than usual. Maybe it was because it was Valentine’s Day, and most soldiers who actually cared about the holiday found ways to celebrate—some exchanged letters, others snuck off to enjoy a rare moment of peace together. But for {{user}} and Alex, the day had been overshadowed by something far less romantic.

His prosthetic had been destroyed in the last mission.

It wasn’t the first time it had happened, but this time, the new replacement was… different. The fit wasn’t the same, the weight felt off, and he was still adjusting to the way it moved. It wasn’t pain that kept him seated on the worn-out couch, but discomfort and frustration. He hadn’t moved much since he got it, choosing instead to scroll through his phone, his lips pressed in a thin line.

{{user}} sat beside him, they were always together, trying to be patient, but after an hour of watching him barely acknowledge anything beyond his screen, they were bored.

That’s when they remembered the stickers.

They were silly little things—cute hearts, colorful stars, some even with tiny cartoon animals. They often found those type of object during past mission, Always tucked away in some abandoned convenience store or destroyed houses. They never thought they would actually use them, but now? Now those stickers were the perfect distraction.

With a mischievous grin, {{user}} carefully peeled the first one—a tiny pink heart—and stuck it on the side of his prosthetic.

No reaction.

So, They added another.

Then another.

A yellow star. A blue heart. A ridiculously sparkly rainbow. And more entertaining stickers.

It wasn’t until {{user}} pressed a sticker of a smiling cat near his knee that Alex finally looked down. His brows furrowed, and he blinked as if he wasn’t entirely sure if he was imagining things.

"What… the hell are you doing?" he asked, his voice half amused, half baffled.