Chamber by Chamber // Snowbaz

Realizations in the Cold

"Shit, shit, shit." Snow has been muttering since I first pointed out his dumbarse mistake. (Two hours ago- he sure could carry on.) The rough bark of the tree I'm leaning on digs into my skull, but I can't seem to be bothered by it. Snow is pacing in front of me - thinking (which is dangerous for all involved parties) - even though he knows it's not going to help. We're stuck out here for the entire bloody night, and there's no getting around it.

"Cursing isn't going to help, tosser. Just... I don't know. Sit down for Crowley's sake. It's nearly midnight- the gates won't be open for another six hours." He huffs and then finally takes a seat across from me. We're both cold and shivering- and I desperately need a feed. (You've got the need for feed Dev once told me. I spelled his mouth shut for half an hour.) We're sat in silence for a moment before we start talking at the same time.

"We might as well try for-" He starts as I say, "I'm gonna go-" He stutters around for a second, trying to tell me to go first. (Funny how even my enemy can give me common courtesy.) I sneer and roll my eyes all the way around before cutting off his babbling mess.

"I was saying, Snow, that I've got something to do. Stay here." I start getting up, but he reaches up and grabs my wrist. I try to ignore the way I feel his heat vibrate inside my pulse, making me feel alive, for once.

"Baz, you can't go out alone. It's-" He gestures around to our surroundings, pointing to the small layer of sparkles on the grass. "It's the first frost. It's freezing." I cock an eyebrow at him.

"What's that got to do with me going out for a bit?" He huffs (he does that a lot) and lets my wrist go, crossing his arms in front of his chest. (Out of frustration or cold, I can't tell. Perhaps both.)

"Fine." He spits. But as I'm turning to leave, he calls, "But hurry back, nutter." I smile even though he can't see me. (Especially because he can't see me.)

I don't know why I say what I say next. It just pops out like it's been sitting on my tongue for the longest time. "Won't be long, my darling Snow." I don't turn to see his reaction- I just walk quicker into the woods.

*Simon's POV*

Baz is gone for a long time before he comes back. He looks different... fuller, somehow. I suspect he went out to feed, but I don't say anything about it, for once. I'm too focused on two things to really notice when he plops down beside me, closer than he was before.

*Baz's POV*

I'm too cold to be that far away from my only heat source.

*Simon's POV*

First, Baz called me darling. Second, I'm freezing my fucking arse off. I don't quite know which one to focus on now, so I decide survival wins out for now. Usually I run warmer than Baz, but he's wrapped in this coat and this scarf, and I want nothing more than to be wrapped up in there with him. Er- instead of him, I mean. As in I wish I had a coat and a scarf, too. He sees me staring at his clothes apparently, because he sighs something of impatience and slips off his scarf. Before my brain (I do have one, despite what Baz says) can compute what's happening, he's wrapping his scarf around me. (Shouldn't he want me to freeze?) Instead of arguing, I just stay quiet. The frost is thick on the ground now, and the least I can do while we're stuck out here alone together is have some semblance of peace.

Baz always says I keep my heart on my sleeve. (Penny says so, too. She also says it's why she thinks I don't love Agatha. I have no comments on that.) But anyway, this turns out to be true, because I think Baz can see the longing in my eyes as I look at his warm winter coat. "Oh for Christs' sake, Snow." He pulls off his jacket, ignoring my protests. "Don't be a petulant child. Just take it."

*Baz's POV*

Take it. Take it all.

*Simon's POV*

I take his jacket and pull it on, immediately being enveloped in warmth. (Also, the smell of Baz- which I didn't think was all that comforting to me. Apparently it bloody well is.) But now Baz is shivering even more and I have this terrible feeling in my gut, and he may be my arch enemy (which I sometimes think is a load), but I just can't leave him freezing. (Especially when he already runs cold enough as it is.) Now he's yawning. And now I'm yawning. And then I'm opening my arms.

"Might as well make the most of it. You're freezing. We're both tired. It's the first frost. C'mere." I beckon him toward me, and he looks at me as though I've grown a second head. (I nearly feel like I have, too.) He raises a questioning eyebrow at me, but I know he won't last long. I've never met freezing and tired Baz, but I have a feeling he isn't one for either. "C'mon, Baz." He sighs much more theatrically than he probably needs to, but hesitantly scoots closer anyway. When he gets close enough, I open the coat a bit and envelope him in it. Even though he's cold, he's not near as cold as the air around us, so I don't mind much.

He yawns. "Thanks, Simon." I look down and his eyes are closing drowsily. Simon Simon Simon. He called me Simon. As I look down at the sleeping vampire (suspected vampire, Penny's voice tells me in the back of my mind) in my arms- the one that I've known for so long - the one I've known I'll have to one day kill... I realize something that might be a bit bothersome. A bit troublesome. A bit totally fucking bizarre.

*Baz's POV*

I love you, Simon Snow.

*Simon's POV*

I think I love him.