And again and again and again...

Blue hues glanced up at Daelan as he watched the snowflakes. Silently, he wondered what was on the other’s mind. Both of them had tendency of losing themselves in voices and memories- even if only for a passing moment. He painfully assumed neither of their minds wandered to anywhere good.

The abuse they both suffered created a tragic, unspoken bond between the two. The mannerisms Daelan possessed, Maverick had as well- occasionally acting as if they did not belong to themselves. His mind drifted to the thin lines still on both of his wrists and ankles. Visions of his father and his childhood flooded his mind. Shutting his eyes tight, he buried his face in Daelan’s chest for a moment. He attempted to will the memories away from his mind and focus on the heart beat thumping rhythmically in his ears. 

Daelan’s voice interrupted his thoughts as he looked back up at him. The pained expression slowly relaxed into more of an amused expression. He found Daelan’s protectiveness endearing. “I’ll dress warmer if we come back out.” He promised.

In the moment he was happy, in the moment everything was okay, in the moment he could concentrate on maverick, run his fingers through the other’s hair when he buried his face in Daelan’s shoulder to escape demons the assassin could not slay. His chest tightened in a way that made breathing difficult, made him want to run but also made him stay at the same time.

Finally inside the cabin again he shivered, shook slightly like a dog.. he didn’t like that thought, not at all.. and bit down on his bottom lip. Looking into the sky blue eyes of his friend, before his eyes closed at the short and gentle touch of his hair. And before he can even think about it his hands had caught Maverick’s curled around his fingers as he opened them again. To stop the touch, to look into his eyes with a certain fear. A fear of the feeling in his chest and stomach, especially in moments like these. Craving affection.. he didn’t know if that did ever anything good for him. Feeling attached to a person reminded him of his past. He had loved his master, begged for his affection and touch. But it had been wrong, tainted.. this was not.. not wrong, not tainted but slowly came too close to those feelings and at the same time were entirely different.

Daelan didn’t know for how long he had just held Maverick’s hands, looked into his eyes like he hoped to find an answer there, something, anything to calm him down. But finally he started to move again, smiled softly and raised the man’s fingers to his lips to kiss the fingertips softly was a gentle smile.

He let go of them, accepted the hug and gently placed his own arms again around him. “Yeah.. you are special like that. Bringing out sides in me I didn’t know I had.” he chuckled, nuzzling his face into Mav’s hair and neck.

“Well, this isn’t the coldest it’s been up here. I grew up in the mountains. You get used to the cold after a while.” Used to the cold or not, Maverick couldn’t stop his body from shivering. Momentarily, he remembered winters when he was a child. Sometimes, the mountain made it nearly impossible to travel if the snow had gotten too deep. Being stuck in the house with his abusive parents for days sounded worse than hell. So, he would always run away the day before there was supposed to be a big snow storm. In the cold, he’d wake by himself all the way to the Indian reservation. He would stay with a sweet older lady who cared for him until he decided to go back home Everyone always asked about the bruises covering his body, except for her. She didn’t question him but rather cared for him. She had been the only warmth he knew as a child.

Daelan’s arms rescued him from his restless thoughts. Not used to gentle touches, Maverick’s body tensed in uncertainty- bracing to be hit, out of habit. Of course, Daelan never did. Mentally noting the touch to be a hug, he relaxed in his arms. He welcomed the warmth the other provided. Another violent shiver spread through his body as the wind picked back up.

As he felt him relax he pulled him closer to his chest wanting to share more of the warmth that always seemed to radiate from the thief’s body. It was a weird fact, that he felt cold so fast, but still never actually had cold skin.

Brown eyes watch the falling snowflakes, starting to think about it himself. Winter, what it meant to him.. in a weird way it meant freedom. Since in the always warm place it had been cold chains, cold hearts.. a cold life. 

“You can dress appropriately later and then..” he blinked, then laughed at his own words, shaking his head as he slowly started to walk backwards towards the door again, pulling Mav with him in a weird double penguin walk.