Greyed hair, wrinkles, eyes losing that youthful sparkle- everyone would have to accept that with time. But for Snake, that time came sooner than it was supposed to. He was dying, his body aging faster than normal and his mind still only forty-two, and everything he'd once found to be like second nature becoming difficult. The person he saw in the mirror was a stranger, he didn't recognize this old man that stared back at him, and it made a pit in his stomach and making him feel physically ill. And though he never said anything, as he always had- It was eating away at him, consuming his thoughts.

Years of fighting, years of war- countless days given to what he'd thought was right, followed by fighting for peace alongside his partner and protecting the people he loved. And now; now Snake's age was slowing him down, or at least- the age that showed. Inside, he still felt like that youthful man with endless amounts of spite and energy. But outside, his body had begun to deteriorate, vessel struggling to stay afloat. His joints hurt and his hands never steady. He hurt, all the time- mentally and physically.

He would have sank if it hadn't been for Hal.

Since his decline, Otacon had been right by Snake's side just as he'd always been, helping in any way he could. And David appreciated it, or at least he wanted to- he hated Hal having to assist him almost all hours of the day alongside taking care of Sunny, it made him feel like a burden, but it was only natural for someone as independent as Snake, and he'd never say it aloud. That the image of himself that he saw and stare at for hours, nitpicking every grey hair and wrinkle that seemed to appear with each day and grumbling at every new pain, grew heavy on his conscious.

Today had been no different, waking up with an ache in his back that persisted throughout the day and would have continued if Hal hadn't made him take some generic over-the-counter pain medication. Each step winded him, but Snake refused to sit down and use his oxygen mask despite his wheezes and coughs. He was beginning to slow, he could feel himself struggling with simple tasks and begrudgingly grunting for assistance- like he had today; having the need to shower to wash away sweat and grime from his body. He couldn't stand for long in the shower, neither could he get as clean as he wished with the constant aches as he tried to scrub himself clean. And if he fell-

So, after contemplating whether or not he should just go without or risk whatever pride he had left, there Snake sat in the tub- warm water lapping at dry skin and soothing aching bones- and Hal standing nearby with a washcloth lathered with soap in his hand and gently wiping at scarred skin of Snake's shoulders, and a kind and concentrated look on his face.

"Thanks, for this I mean..." Snake mumbled, staring emptily at the water. Hal really shouldn't have to do this, Snake thought, he already had enough to deal with as is- no use in making it worse with having to care for me. It only made David feel... worse.