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Caboose blinked when his helmet was torn off, the light of day almost blinding him. It was a good afternoon, though the sun would actually be setting soon. Caboose loved to watch it everynight, admiring the same scene over and over. No matter how awful things were at Blood Gulch, he could count on the sun lowering to reveal red hues on the once blue sky. It's a ritual of sorts before he went inside base for a good night's sleep.
Caboose was alone, like he always was, when the first streaks of pink painted the clear sky. The pink slowly shifted to red. He would always adore the moment the entire side of the sky was a bright red, overlaying the rocks and grass and paths of Blood Gulch. He'd look around by then in awe, as if it were the first time he'd seen it. This was the moment Caboose was no longer alone.
He was never interrupted before in all of the months this routine was done. So when a voice all too familiar to him cut through the calm, Caboose jumped and turned.
"Hey, Buddy."
Church, helmet off as well, gingerly shuffled beside Caboose to sit down. Caboose, confused and discomforted, scooted away just a bit.
"Church, what are you doing here?"
Caboose was not exactly upset by the interruption, but he was confused by how Church even knew where the other man stays every sunset. After all, they're on a cliffside near the edges of Blood Gulch itself. For all Church knew, Caboose was just on a specific patrol everyday. Caboose was pulled out of his panicky thoughts when Church answered his question.
"I just... Ah... Tracked you down. I wanted to join you on your erm... Patrol."
Caboose's face lighted up with the previous happiness he felt before Church's interruption. He stretched up and charged his face into the other's chest plate, wrapping long, muscular arms around his torso.
"Really?!" Caboose nuzzled Church while he gasped and struggled to stay balanced on the cliffside, legs dangling. Church hurriedly nodded. "Mhm!"
"It's not an actual patrol, sorry for disappointing. I'm so glad you want to join me though!"
The blue armored man let go and shifted into a more comfortable position, snuggled up close to Church's side. Church ran his fingers through his hair, breathing a sigh of relief from his brief experience with death.
"Yeah, I actually wanted to tell you something. You probably wouldn't have heard it at all if I fell off just now, though!"
Church playfully became angry, lightly bonking the other's head. He smiled though, betraying the look of actual anger as Caboose giggled at him. Church sighed once more, this time in admiration. Though Church says different, he loves hearing Caboose's voice, no matter how dumb the words are. The laughter he hears is the bests them all though, similar to a melody in his head. Caboose made him snap out of his dreamy gaze with said voice.
"That wasn't my fault! Anyways!" Caboose laid a hand on Church's shoulder. "What did you want to tell me?"
Church swallowed uncomfortably, looking away from the other's face. He stared at the sky, realizing the sunset is nearing its end soon. There was a slim window of time for Church to admit how much he felt for Caboose.
"Yeah, that, uh... Hm..." Church seemed to shrink, his face remaining stiff and thoughtful while internally he panicked and screamed with self-doubt. It was when Caboose suddenly replaced his hand with his head that he looked panicked as well.
"What....what are you doing..?" Church would've sounded apprehensive and demanding if he were anywhere else, with anyone else, but right now he was alone with the man of his dreams.
"Just getting comfortable. Look, the sun's almost completely gone!" Caboose pointed a finger out to the sky, as if Church didn't notice until he pointed it out. "That means it's almost night-night time. Also bedtime!"
Church rolled his eyes at the word "night-night time," before sighing with defeat. He promised himself this would be the night he finally confesses, but he found himself at a lost for words once more. Suddenly feeling a spark of an idea however, Church's face lit up with a glimmer of hope. He slowly raised his arm, curling it around Caboose's shoulder.
"Well let me get comfortable too then." Church watched the sun disappear completely with Caboose, the sky becoming more dark. This would work for now.
Next night, he thought. Next night I'll confess.