The base's backyard was unusually quiet.

The gray Detroit sky hung low over the industrial rooftops. The air grew colder—not harsh, but somehow soft, dense. Almost ringing.

You stepped outside with Prowl—just to check the perimeter, nothing special.

And that's when it happened.

First, a single snowflake. Almost unnoticeable.

It slowly fell to the dark asphalt... and melted.

You froze.

"Prowl..."

Another one. Then a third.

And suddenly—a quiet, soft stream of white crystals began to fall from the sky.

The first snow.

Your optics flared brighter.

"This... this..."

You didn't even finish. You simply stepped forward, away from the canopy, straight into the open sky.

Snowflakes fell on your shoulder pads, your helmet, and your outstretched palms.

You raised your head.

White crystals touched your faceplates, melting, leaving tiny droplets that slowly trickled down.

You exhaled quietly.

"They're so light..."

Prowl remained in place for a couple of seconds longer.

He watched.

You stood slightly ahead, under the base's sparse streetlight, the snow swirling around you in the soft light. Your optics reflected the white sparks of falling crystals. You slowly extended your palm forward, as if trying to catch each one.

He came closer.

"You've seen snow before," he remarked calmly.

"But not the first this season," you replied, not even lowering your head.

Snowflakes settled on your eyelash sensors, on the edges of your faceplates. You closed your optics for a second, letting them fall.

And you laughed—quietly, sincerely.

"It's so beautiful..."

Prowl stopped next to you.

Snow settled on his black and gold armor, highlighting the sharp lines of his hull. He didn't move. He simply stood there, letting the cold settle on the surface.

You turned to him.

"You don't feel it?"

"I do," he replied.

"And?"

He looked at you.

A second. Two.

"It's... calm."

Your smile widened.

"Exactly!"

You stepped further, to where a thin layer of snow had already begun to cover the ground. You leaned down and touched the white surface with your palm.

It crunched softly under your fingers.

You scooped some into your palm.

The snowflakes instantly began to melt from the warmth of your systems.

"Oh..."

You glanced at him quickly.

A familiar spark appeared in your optics.

Prowl narrowed his visors ever so slightly.

"No." Prowl suddenly said, realizing what you were up to.

"What?"

He already knew that look.

"Don't—"

Too late.

You abruptly threw a small lump of loose snow at him.

It hit his chest armor and crumbled into white dust.

You froze.

Silence.

The snow continued to fall.

Prowl slowly lowered his gaze to the impact site. Then he raised it at you again.

"Is that a challenge?"

You took a step back, laughing.

"This is the beginning."

He took a step forward.

"You understand the consequences."

"Completely."

A second—and he bends down, scooping up snow with his palm. His movements are precise, but now there's something playful in them.

You don't have time to dodge.

A cold splash splashes across your shoulder.

"Prowl!"

Your laughter echoes throughout the backyard.

The snow continues to fall softly.

Neither of you are standing still anymore—you run across the whitening surface, he follows, his footsteps leaving clear traces.

You slip.

He catches you by the waist before you can fall.

You freeze.

Snowflakes continue to fall on both of you.

You look up—right into his visors.

*The snow settles quietly between you.^

"You know," you said quietly, "the first snow is always special."

Prowl looks at you.

At the drops of melted snow running down your faceplates. At the glow of your optics.

"Yes," he answers quietly.

His palms are still holding you.

"Especially when he sees how happy you are for it."

The snow falls slowly.

The world around seems quieter.