COC #28: Frost
Simon and Baz are stuck out of Watford during the first frost of the year.
~ I really was this close to titling this one 'READ ME PLEASE' but I figured that'd be a bit desperate. I am just so thoroughly happy with every part of this one. Enjoy! ~
*Baz's POV*
There's something poetic about being stuck with Snow during Watford's first frost. Of course, I'm particularly bloody fond of the idea of thinking about poeticism when I'm stuck with fucking Snow during Watford's first frost. Outside. In payback for the Chimera (he still has no proof I pointedly set it out on him), Snow left me a note telling me to meet him in the woods outside the school because he had information on my mother's killer. Of course, I'm not daft. I knew he didn't, really. Well. I mostly thought I knew. But as things pertaining to my mother go, I couldn't risk him really having information and then never telling me. So this time, love (for my mum and Simon, if we're being honest) and desperation outweighed common sense. I had set out for the woods late, thinking that the information couldn't possibly take long.
The cool evening air nipped at my already cold nose. I hadn't thought to bring much with me in terms of staying warm; just a coat and a scarf. They weren't any match for the first truly cold winter night at Watford. But as I walked up over the drawbridge and to the edge of the wood, the cold wasn't exactly on my mind. It mostly consisted of bloody Simon, his eyes, his hair, and my mum. (I hardly like to think of my mother when I'm also thinking of Simon Snow.)
There he was, standing at the edge of the forest, in nothing but a t-shirt and trackie bottoms. (Sometimes I think he doesn't really own a real coat- Penny usually spells one up for him.) He was shivering and all his blood was in his face, an adorable blush flushed against his cheeks. (At this rate, I'd never be over Simon fucking Snow if he kept looking like that. Who gave him the bloody right?) I quickened my pace until I got up close to him, and then I stopped. (Even from five feet away, I could feel his heat and the hot, sticky taste of his magic.)
"Well then, Snow," I started out, desperate to get it over with. "What've you got for me?" He smiled a bit, like he knew something I didn't. At that point, I think I knew it was a trick. I knew I could've walked away then- no harm done. But I think a fairly large part of me (the most insufferable part who is hopelessly gone for Simon) didn't particularly care at the moment. Because I was within arms length of Simon Snow, and even if it hurt like all fuck, it was better than nothing. Even if he burned me with every single glance, it was better than being ice cold all the bloody time.
"Well, I erm-" I rolled my eyes and gestured with my hands for him to get on with it.
"Use your words, Chosen." He growled a bit, but kept tripping over his words. It went on for a good bit before he jumped up and down, pointing excitedly to something behind me. "Christ, Snow! Calm down! I've seen you kill a dog with less effort." But he didn't stop pointing and smiling, and part of me wanted to see that smile forever- even if it was at my expense.
"I got you, you arse!" He stopped jumping up and down, but he kept smiling as I looked over my shoulder to see the drawbridge closing. I had expected that, and it was cold, but I couldn't be bothered to care, because something else was scratching at the back of my mind. (Whether it made me want to laugh, cry, or scream, I didn't know.)
"That's all well and fucking fine, Snow, but..." He looked at me, a smile still playing at his lips. But that smirk quickly faded as he saw mine start to crawl across my face. "How do you suppose you're getting back inside?" His face stayed frozen for a moment- like a snapshot of bliss. Mouth open in half a smile, eyes alight with the spark of victory. Then his smile dropped as he realized: we were both stuck out for the night. Together. No way back in. With hardly any clothes on our backs.
"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.