Writing Challenge: Winter Wonderland

[Admin!]

It's writing challenge time! To enter, just post a ficlet (300-4000 words suggested) in this thread. When the voting for this month's OTM winners comes around, a voting poll will go up for this as well.

The Challenge: Write a story set outside, in the snow. The characters need to be outside the entire time.

The rules:

• Ficlets are not site canon.
  
• Characters must be Hammel canon.
  
• You can enter no more than three stories. Any ficlets posted after the original 3 will not be considered for voting. If you want to post more, however, have fun.
  
• Ficlets must be titled.

[Vincent Meian]

Time Warp: Cold Hands, Warm Heart


Tokyo always snowed this time of year. The drifting shards of white ice had a sort of dampening effect on the sounds of the city, making things seem further away than they really were and giving an air of tranquility to the bustling metropolis. After the holidays, especially, things quieted down and people tended to hide away inside their homes and office buildings from the cold, giving an even more distant feeling to the winter days.

Vincent had always liked the snow. He wasn't exactly sure why, but he thought for some reason it suited him; something frozen and soft to cool the hard, fiery anger he felt so often. Maybe it reminded him that everything would eventually pass and the cycle would continue on... or maybe he was just nervous. The soldier's booted heel tapped the ground as he sat on the park bench, his breath puffing out in a cloud of fog as he huddled inside his snow-camouflage jacket for warmth, the fingers of his right hand toying with the object hidden within the pocket. He'd never been this nervous in his life, and for what? It was just one more day.

"Meian-kun?"

One more day with her.

The woman before him was as pale as the snow falling around them and twice as beautiful. Her fair hair drifted around her face beneath a knitted cap, and her deep blue eyes always seemed to shine when she looked at him. It was enough to send his heart pounding in his chest, and he stood abruptly, his height overtaking hers in a flash. She chuckled - a throaty sound that had always suited her for some reason - and gazed up at him, undeterred by the ten-inch difference in their statures. Warmth spread over his cheeks, and the young man turned his golden eyes away for a moment to collect himself. The young doctor always seemed to have this effect on him when he was surprised.

"Ken-san, I..." He swallowed, having trouble finding the right words. "I'm glad you came."

The woman before him crossed her arms over her chest, giving him a daring yet cool look. "Are you implying that I'm so busy that I can't have a date every once in a while?" she chided, amusement dancing over her features plainly. He shook his head and sighed, giving her a slight smile. She could always cheer him up, even if she was making fun of him. Once again, he fingered the box in his pocket. Now or never.

"Ken-san, I... I'm sorry it's so late, but..." He pulled the box from his pocket, the small object cradled entirely in one long-fingered and scarred hand. He unfolded his fingers to reveal it; a nondescript white container, wrapped with a red thread. "Happy birthday."

Her eyes looked from his to the gift before her, and Vincent's heart pounded so loudly he swore that she could hear it with how close she was. Her delicate, pale fingers took the box from his hand and toyed with it for a moment before tugging the crimson thread loose. It took an agonizingly long moment for her to open the hinged box, and her gasp of surprise nearly punched the wind out of him. He hesitated, afraid of what she might say, then stammered with his face warming once again, "I... I had it made for you. It... well, it just seemed... like something you'd like."

Her hand hovered over the box for a moment, then dipped in and pulled out the necklace; a delicate glass bubble the size of a small marble encasing a teardrop-shaped topaz of the clearest blue, guarded by a serpentine silver dragon as it held the orb in its claws. A fine silver chain twined between her fingers as she held it, eyes wide in amazement.

"Meian-kun... it's beautiful," she breathed, looking up at him with such affection it really did knock the wind out of him, releasing a breath he didn't even know he had held. She put the box away in her pocket absently, and struggled with the clasp for a moment before she gave up on her numb fingers with a laugh. "The moment when I really need dexterity," she joked, shaking her head. Her smile made the blinding white of the snow seem dim in comparison. "Thank you. I love it."

"Would you like me to help?" He'd blurted out the words without thinking and the color in his tan cheeks deepened as he did. She chuckled like she did, and stepped towards him to give him the pendant back. It came as quite the shock to both of them when she slipped on the icy sidewalk, and the act of him catching her sent both of them to the frozen concrete. Luckily (he supposed), Vincent had landed beneath her, his long legs sparing her from the cold of the ground. He held her tightly in his arms, heart racing with the adrenaline, and he could feel her hands clutching at his jacket as her startled breathing slowed to normal.

"Are you all right, Nakia?" he asked, pulling away enough to check on her and forgetting his formality in his worry for her safety. When she looked up to him, her infinitely blue eyes seemed to fill his vision entirely and he could swear later that his heart stopped its frantic staccato simply to hear what she had to say. The silence seemed to stretch forever before she finally nodded. Relieved, he hugged her close, breathing in the scent of winter on her hair and clothes. It was then he realized that he couldn't bear to hurt her, even if it was only an accident.

But the moment would have to wait. For now, he was just content with holding her in his arms, safe and warm as the snow fell silent and soft around them.

"Kenjutsushi-san... would you... do me the honor-"

"Vincent, I'd marry you if I had a thousand suitors at my door."

"...Oh."

Winter truly was a beautiful time of year.



Fin~

[Zander Grey]

Blame it on December. (Word Count:530)

Zander laid outside his apartment in the snow, a bottle of whiskey in his hand and Sheldon on his stomach. He looked at his pet turtle with a cautionary eye. Sheldon was wrapped up in a shell sweater and a scarf. Zander didn’t like the idea of Sheldon being too cold, but he also didn’t want to be outside alone. He had been alone since he was 14 and in truth he was quite tired of it. On most days Sheldon seemed like he was the only one that Zander had. If a depressed sigh and a rolling of his eyes Zander took a deep swing from the bottle in his hand. He took the now empty bottle and set it gently into the snow before picking up Sheldon in his hands and staggering toward the door of his apartment. He set his turtle inside and shut the door, but Zander stayed outside. He didn’t feel like going inside to be alone.

It was better to keep loneliness outside in the cold.

He sat down on the steps in front of his apartment and stared out at the white wonderland that was starting to appear in Vermont. The snow drifted down in soft gentle flakes. They got stuck in his hair leaving wet spots on his scalp as it melted. He leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees and put his chin in his hands. Zander's eyes drifted till they were half closed but still open enough he could still lazily watch the snow fall down. In all the wonders of this strange world, Zander had to believe that snow was one of the most beautiful things that has ever been created. A person would think that snow was snow no matter where you went, but Zander knew the truth about the mystery called snow.

He could remember the snow in New York, dirty,gray and thin. A childhood was built upon that dirty snow, a childhood was also destroyed on that snow. Snow ball fights in the park. His mothers grave blanketed in the gray that the snow brought with it. Skipping school because of frozen roads. His father sending him away to march through the frozen liquid to the cab that would whisk him away. The adventure that it brought. The years stuck at Hammel alone while his father kept away from him. The Future that Hammel gave him.

The contrast between the dirty snow for New York and the crisp clean snow of Vermont was striking. The past was gone, melted with the thin snow on the roads. The future was here falling day by day like the snow the sky. Such deep thoughts were the reason why Mr. Grey was in the snow drinking himself into oblivion.

Then again it could of been the Whiskey making him so philosophical.

Which meant time for more alcohol.

Zander got up shook out his hair and stumbled up the stairs and into his apartment. He opened his apartment door but did not enter. He looked around until he saw Sheldon on the ground.

"Sheldon get the shots ready! Time to wipe this holiday away!"

[Blaire Montoya]

Stuck In A Winter Wonderland - 2007

---

A younger faced Blaire stood with her free hand tucked firmly into her pocket. Her scarf hung low as she held the phone against her cheek. Her breath blew cold, condensation forming on the nearby window as she pressed her forehead against the glass. Flecks of snow caught in her blonde hair and she tried her best to rifle them out with a shake. To no avail.

"Tell him I'm sorry..." She pleaded into the device. She pushed off the outer window of the airport, stumbling back on the concrete and sitting back on a nearby bench. She looked up. Still not used to the snow.

"He doesn't want to hear from you right now, baby."

"I know. But. The plane." Blaire sniffed, raising her hand out of her pocket and running along her eye.

"He's only eleven, Blaire-Bear. He doesn't know what that means."

"Well I didn't fucking well ask for it to get snowed in-" She paused, her lips pursing into a line. "Sorry. Sorry mum. I didn't meant to swear."

"Sweetheart. It's alright."

"It's not." She couldn't stop herself from starting to cry at that point. She squinted her eyes, shutting them tightly. "He'll never forget this."

"He's eleven, ba-"

"Please." Blaire said quietly. She drew her feet up onto the bench, wrapping her free arm around her legs. Snow fell thick on her shoulders. She steadily began to hate it.

"Dad just brought him outside. He's here now. He's... He's asking for you." Blaire could hear rustling around on the other end of the line. Her teeth sunk into her lower lip and she looked around for anything to stare at. A point of contact to focus on. "Blaire?"

"Jackie?"

"Where are you!"

"I..." She paused. "Stuck in the snow. Remember how mummy told you I was all the way over the sea?"

"It's not snowing, Bear!"

"Uhh... Well, it is here, Jack. It means the planes are-"

"You're lying."

Blaire sighed heavily, shaking her head. "I'm not, baby. I promise. I'm trying really hard to come home. It's not that easy."

"You like it there better, don't you." She could hear him huffing and walking through the long grass near their home. "The snow and stuff."

"Jackie, no. It's really not like that. I'd be there if I could." Blaire pleaded, realising then that she was pleading to an eleven year old. A very angry sounding eleven year old who didn't care what she had to say.

"You can go back in time and get another plane."

"No I can't."

"Because you're lying!"

"Shut up, Jack! I'm not lying!"

"...You shut up." She didn't hear anything else for what felt like an eternity.

The reality of a quiet minute or two was terrifying. She felt herself crying and trying to stop to no avail. When she got mad, she cried. When she got upset, she cried. Jack was probably sitting on the ground, digging a stick into the ground in order to be at least somewhat destructive.

"...Jackie." Blaire tried again. Blaire denoted, standing up from the freezing cold seat and wandering around again. Her hand ran along her shoulders, shaking off the snow. She drew the back of her scarf up over her head to try and shield herself as it got heavier. Then again, any snow felt heavy to an Australian stuck in it. "Are you crying?"

"No." He huffed, but it was obvious that he was lying.

"But you're mad at me."

"Duh."

"I'm sorry I'm not gonna be there for Christmas."

He didn't say anything.

"I love you."

He didn't answer.

"I miss you."

Nothing.

"You... Get to have my prawns..." She heard a rustle, "And my share of the pavlova." Blaire's lips cracked into a smile. She had a feeling his did too.

"...Okay."

"Good." Blaire chuckled slightly.

"But I'm still mad at you!"

"I know."

"Cause you always do this!"

"I know." She sighed.

He paused. "But this helps..."

[Zander Grey]

Timewarp: Destroy me

7 YEARS AGO

"Your leaving me?"

"Yes"

"Why?"

"I think you know why."

Zander stood there at the young age of 18 looking at the man he thought he loved with all his heart with devastation in his eyes. This was the man he gave everything to. His thoughts, his feelings, his hopes, all of them were in his possession. And he was just going to walk away? It felt like all the air was stolen from his chest. No thought ran through his mind other then the ever present thought of 'What have I done?'. Zander knew when he walked into this relationship that it would be tough, the man was older then him, a college student. A normal man , who wanted to become a teacher and live his life in Vermont like his parents before him. A bright, beautiful man with a shining future, one that Zander in his naive thoughts believed he could be a part of. And where did those stupid ideas get him? Lost in the snow looking up at the man who killed his dreams.

"But...but thats not fair, I've done nothing!" Zander grabbed on to his lost love's shirt holding on to the older man like he was drowning.

His ex-lover pushed Zander off of him and looked down at the teenager with a look of disgust. "I can't handle you always being in here!" The man tapped his head roughly "Your constantly in my space, I can't hide anything from you! It's like your...it's like your trying to worm your way inside me and never going to leave. I can't deal with it any more."

Zander could feel the tears start to roll down his face , and into the snow below him, leaving drop size indents in the white blanket. Zander took a step forward and threw himself against his love. "I tried! I try so hard! I really do! Why can't we just keep trying? I'll do anything you want, anything you need...just don't do this!"

It only took a moment before the man pushed Zander again, this time so hard that he fell back into the snow. Zander gazed up with shock and fear in his eyes as saw the rage in his lover's face.

"Don't you get it freak? We are done!" The man didn't even wait for a reply he quickly just turned and walked back to his car, leaving a crying Zander in the snow as he watched the car drive off.

He didn't know how long he sat there in the snow staring out into the distance. All he could feel was the pieces of his shattered heart falling into the snow along with his tears. How could of this happened so quickly? How long had it been brewing?

"He broke up with me? I loved him and he threw me away." What was so wrong with him that no one could love him and his powers? He had tried hadn't he? He heard every thought in his lover's head, even the ones where he insulted Zander, but he didn't say a thing. He had given him everything, the stars, moon, the earth that his feet stood on. And it wasn't enough. Nothing was enough. For anyone.

"You wanna leave me you ass hole then leave!" Zander screamed into the thin air. His rage built up into a fire of depression and hurt. He stood up breathing heavily and started to kick the snow into the air in a frenzy of hatred.

"I know everything about you! I know your fears, I know what you've done. I could ruin you!" Zander gasped and started to pick up the snow in his hands throwing it at useless objects in rage. "I know about when you cheated on your finals, I know when you did those drugs in high school! I know when you stole your mothers rings!"

Zander fell to his knees in exhaustion sobbing into his hands ,"I know when you kissed that boy last month, I know when you cheated on me last week, I know I am pathetic." Zander could feel the horrible sensation of his heart breaking all over again. "I knew everything, and I didn't care."

He fell forward into the snow head first , the sobbing coming from deep in his chest making a sound that he had never heard before. But as soon as it started it died down. He stayed in the snow in an almost shocked state. With a calm composed manner he stood and stared at the spot where his ex lovers car had been.

"I will never let this happen again. Thank you for teaching me that this was what would destroy me. Love will never be an option." He wiped the tears off his face before heading back down the path he had come to get to the horrid spot. Where a track of two footprints used to be now only held one. And it would always hold one, till the day Zander died.

[Leiken Chu]

For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night

The fog of breath reached the air as the heat of his body escaped into the air freezing the very breath that escaped. The stars lit the night sky so well, even through the delicate flakes that fell in feathered motion, it was a beautiful sky. The snow piled around his body the way it did around the stones and benches near the lake . Coating his figure in a thin layer of snow as if he were just a simple part of the environment. Those leaf-green eyes stared toward the sky, a hand raising to reach out for those stars within the night sky, in a way that made it seem as if he were begging them to pull him into them. To cut him out of stars and paint him into the night’s sky so that the man he admired would enjoy looking upon him.

He might have closed his eyes and let the cold take him, let it consume him, let it bury him away from the pains that filled his world. It might have been the end of him and he might have forever been known as the boy who buried himself in the snow. However, as he laid half-buried by the snow with his hand reaching for the stars, another joined it in it’s reach. An older, more aged hand, that looked to have experienced a world of knowledge with it’s time that he would never be able to grasp. He felt the warmth of the aged hand coming to rest over his as they held toward the sky. Lacing fingers into a grasp that would revive the near frozen pulse within his body. His pulse increased, his blood warmed, bringing some hopes of life back to his cold skin.

He lowered those finger-laced hands down to lean them to his own shoulder. This is where his head would tilt, brushing snow aside as he let his cheek press to the hands that bound together. A shaken breath would escape his lips as his body warmed itself through his blood. The pulse of the older man was slower than his own, but lively which he was thankful for. It was because of that reason alone that his ability was able to easily seek the other man’s pulse out. To warm the pulse and increase the speed of his blood’s flow. The continued to fall, piling around them, though it was shifted, brushed away as the figure beside him began to spread his legs and flail his freed arm. Creating some sort of one-winged angel in the snow.

A light laugh, a gentle breath, the grasp of their hands remaining bound in an embrace that showed an affection beyond words. The night was perfect and Leiken would come to mimic the action with his free hand and his legs. Together they’d created a pair of wings and Leiken’s lips parted with gentle, but quivered words. “With our wings we will fly to the stars and we can be happy . “ he stated with a soft coo. At last turning to his side in the snow so that he could gaze up on the man who had grasp of his hand; as well as his heart. “Come with me… to the stars?” he would plead to the other man.

“Is the density of a neutron star comparable to the density of an atom nuclei?” he questioned Leiken with a wiggle of his eye brows at the younger male he turned to face as well. Propped up on his elbow almost in a pose that cried out, “paint me like one of your French girls.” Leiken stared blankly at the man for a moment. It was quite obvious that the answer to such a question was beyond his knowledge, but he was aided in an answer by the man he stared so longingly at. The man gave a grin as he shifted closer to Leiken ‘booping’ him on the nose with a fingertip, “Yes.” Leiken made a surprised expression as the thump on his nose from the other man’s finger brought his attention back from it’s unfocused daze.

A laugh escaped Leiken’s lips as he shifted closer to the other man, bringing his face to burry in the warmth of the older man’s chest, “Bury me in the snow and leave me to become a cube of ice if I cannot have you as my own. “ Leiken pleaded. Pressing himself into the other man’s body. Orin’s features held a look somewhere between awkwardness and acceptance. He could hear what his wife thought of such a thing and the sadness that filled him was almost unbearable. The sounds around him all whispered different things. Leaving him at times unable to determine if the voices being spoken by those right in front of him were being replaced by those of the whispers around him. However, he would not change being able to hear that voice he missed so dearly for anything in the world.

“If I buried you in the snow what kind of teacher would I be? I’m not gay Leiken. I cannot bury you in the snow that is dropped from the skies nor the snow that would cool the aches of your broken heart. “ he stated as his other hand touched the student’s cheek, bringing their eyes to meet, more focused in demeanor. “Don’t look so down you’ll make an old man depressed. “ he stated with a grin that would seem to become somewhat troubled with the sight of Leiken’s expression.

“How many times are you going to tell that lie? The snow is going to freeze hell over before you ever say that you’re gay isn’t it?” He questioned with a faint amusement. Orin grinned, “I’m pansexual. Not gay.” he would point out to Leiken. A soft laugh escaped Leiken’s lips, “You have sex with cooking equipment, but you will not with me?” He questioned with an amusement. “Your excuses are getting worse every day O---” he was cut off by the other man tilting his chin back. Making Leiken’s eyes catch sight of a ‘shooting star’ in the night’s sky. “Make a wish.” Orin told Leiken as the younger male stared into the heavens longingly.

“I wish -- “ Leiken was cut off by Orion’s finger placing upon his paled lips. “You can’t say it out loud or it won’t come true. “ he pointed out. Leiken had nearly forgotten that little part of the superstition. So silently he made his wish, he made an amused sound as he did, but he laughed. “It’s childish to believe in this isn’t it?” he questioned Orion. However, as he did the older man shifted in the snow, gripping that laced-finger hand a bit tighter as he pinned the smaller student down to the snow, giving a little head wiggle. “Giggity.” he jokingly chimed to Leiken. Causing Leiken to laugh, despite the delight in the weight of the other male’s body pressing to him caused, “You’ve gone mad !” Lei would exclaim to him as the other man’s hand released his own to pursue Leiken’s sensitive flesh; to tickle them.

Leiken exclaimed a laugh and writhed beneath the other man in the snow as he pleaded for him to cease the torture. Perhaps it was childish of them both to be so entertained by such a thing, but Leiken didn't seem to mind it so much. “Madder than a hatter, “ Orion would state with a grin as Leiken writhed in a fit of laughter beneath him. “You’d better feed your head !” Leiken declared though his laughs trailed off as the other man finally ceased in tickling him. He laid panting softly between his light laughs. Orin leaned forward to Leiken and spoke softly to him, “but we’re all mad here.” With those word’s spoken Orion closed the distance between Leiken and his own mouth. Capturing the student’s lips in a passionate embrace. The sort only a man with many years of experience could pass upon another Was it an effect of his wish? Leiken did not care, for that moment, it seemed right. He shared that kiss, with all of his heart, without interference from his ability surprisingly.

The night would come to an end and it was a simple one at that, but one that Leiken would not change for the world. He laid upon the ground , covered in snow, warmed by the heat of Orion’s body embracing his own and the wads of blankets that had been formerly beneath him. Lei’s head rested upon Orion’s chest, asleep, with the steady beat of Orion’s heart loud within his ears and steady pulse of the other man’s heart to comfort him.

[Ginny Campbell]

Dashing Through the Snow

Ginny paced the bank of Lake Memphremagog impatiently, occasionally glancing out across the roiling waters in consternation. Of course, pacing wasn't as satisfyingly smooth an action in the snow; she had to practically march through the snow drifts piling up on the banks, pulling one booted foot out and then squelching into the footprints embedded from her constant back and forth as she waited.

It was supposed to be an easy heist, particularly given that Elina Harte had been a spy long before joining up with The Queen Mab. She was a master of disguise, and the fact that she was blind gave her cover that the able-bodied didn't always have; of course she hadn't intended to walk into an important meeting, how silly. The dog she used to guide her merely got confused.

But perhaps she oughtn't have sent only Elina and Harmony. Harmony was known to cause trouble, often on purpose, and trouble was the last thing one needed when stealing famous diamonds off steamers.

She heaved a sigh, pulling out her pocket watch and squinting at the face, obscured by fog at the moment. Useless.

It was at this moment that a shrill yelp alerted her to the fact that someone was behind her. She whipped her head around, only to see another girl, one with whisps of pink hair sticking out from under the top hat jammed upon her head.

"Mia!" She hissed, glancing furtively around to check if anyone noted their meeting. "You're supposed to be keeping look out!"

Her crew had been staked out all across the bank, to help Harmony and Elina should they blow off course.

"I left Estelle there." Mia promised, dancing on her toes in anxiety, " But we need your help. We need everyone's help."

"I can't just abandon position!" Ginny breathed in exasperation. "Not until Harmony and Elina are safely back."

"But that's just it. Oh, do hurry! We're wasting time! They...they....they're going to be killed."

The urgency in the younger girl's voice, and the grand pronouncement, caused the captain to relent. "Killed?" She snapped, wanting to be sure she had heard correctly.

Mia nodded her head vigorously.

She fingered the pistol shoved into her belt with something akin to eagerness. "Very well. I'm on my way. Go gather the rest of the crew."

---

The first sign that she was nearing Mia's look out spot were the sounds of screaming, followed by the smell of gunpowder. She barreled towards the edge of the lake, in the direction of the noise. Or rather, she would have barreled, had the snow not been up to her waist.

"Estelle!" She called out, nearly swimming through the snow as she looked around for her first mate.

"Captain! Hurry!" Estelle's voice sounded frightened, unusual for the normally steely-nerved young woman.

Ginny struggled forward, and then she saw it.

It glistened in the moonlight, long and serpentine and rising up out of the water in undulating waves. Wreckage from what had once been a Steamer floated in the water. Even from hear she could just barely make out the words ...of the Lake painted across what had evidently only recently been part of a boat.

A boat that her crew members were supposed to be leaving.

"Estelle! Where are they?" She panted, finding herself at last by the other woman's side.

Estelle pointed directly at the monster. "There." She whispered, before pulling her musket up to her face.

Ginny followed her friend's gaze. In the water was a brunette woman clinging to a dog. And there, atop a fearsome head, was Harmony.

"Dammit." Ginny whispered as Estelle fired. Her aim was true, but the creature's hide must have been thicker than anything they had encountered before; the musket-ball glanced off, leaving behind not even a nick.

"If we could get the ship up and running..." She sighed, but then shook her head. Even if the weather had allowed, they couldn't risk it. Getting close enough to rescue Elina and Harmony would endanger the ship itself, and everyone on board.

She ground her teeth in frustration at being unable to help her people, kicking aggressively into the snow. She hated being helpless. She didn't want to watch as her crew were killed. And, more than that, she hated that the snow continued to fall around them, gently and silently as if in defiance of their situation.

It was while she was lost in these thoughts that something small and bronze streaked past her, standing out starkly against the white of the snow.

Estelle grabbed her arm, yanking her downward, into the snow. "It's an automaton!" She wailed. "We'd better leave."

Ginny nodded her agreement. Automatons usually indicated law enforcement, and that was definitely not something she wanted to get involved in. It meant leaving Elina and Harmony to their deaths, but there was genuinely nothing she could do for them.

But even as they crawled through the snow, she couldn't help but glance behind. Then cringed as the creature dipped its head towards the water, jaws outstretched, promising swift death to the girl and dog floating helplessly. Ginny prayed that Elina, blind as she was, didn't know. Maybe it would be quick.

And then something unexpected happened.

The automaton whipped a rope round its head, lassoing the beast's jaw shut. "Hurry!" It called out, gesturing to Harmony. "Get off and get your friend."

The creature strained against the rope, pulling the automaton steadily further into the water.

Harmony gave the automaton a disdainful look before deciding this really was her best chance, then leapt off into the ice cold water. She gasped and spluttered, grabbing a floating bench and paddling as fast as she could towards Elina.

"Grab my hand!" She yelled, before remembering the other girl couldn't see, and then reaching down to yank her companion up with her.

"Hurry!" The automaton yelled again, now waist deep in the water but still holding on with all its might.

Harmony paddled faster, and Elina kicked wildly in an attempt to help.

Ginny tugged at Estelle's hand. "We have to go back! They may be able to escape!"

Estelle hesitated moment, still fearful of the police, but then nodded decisively and followed Ginny back to the shore.

"Elina! Harmony! Over here!" Ginny yelled, splashing into the water behind the automaton and grabbing it around the waist, pulling backwards as hard as she could, trying to weigh it down so the monster didn't pull it into the deeps before her friends could escape.

Estelle grabbed her, as well, lending weight. But not enough; they could both feel the strength of the monster, and unlike the automaton they could feel the strain on their arms and legs.

Ginny gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the icy cold creeping up her legs as they were pulled further and further into the lake, willing Harmony and Elina to arrive faster. Their progress seemed so slow, mind-numbingly so.

"My arms," Estelle groaned.

And then.....then the rope snapped.

Harmony screamed as a wave engulfed her and Elina, submerging them. Ginny wailed in despair, as well, as she and Estelle and the automaton were bowled over backwards.

"We lost them." And she blinked back moisture from her eyes.

"We need to leave before that thing comes after us, too." Estelle insisted, nearly dragging her captain out of the lake just as the rest of the crew came running up, only to stop on the banks and stare out into the lake, now seemingly empty except for the remnants of The Lady of the Lake, the monster having dived down as soon as it had been released.

"....No." Mia whispered, shaking her head in disbelief. Jean wept openly.

Ginny took a ragged breath, pointing towards the horizon, "No use mourning. Estelle is right. We'd better be gone before that thing wants seconds."

The crew trudged through the snow, dejected by this defeat. Death was always a possibility for pirates, but such a helpless one was something they always hoped never to face. Death in battle, or defiantly going to the gallows. That was how a pirate wanted to die. Not at the jaws of a sea serpent.

The automaton, however, had stayed behind, frowning as the little group disappeared. And when they had it slipped into the waters.

---

Ginny leaned against a snow-covered pine, poking disconsolately at still-green needles. "And we didn't even get the diamonds." She muttered bitterly. "Lives lost for nothing."

A chirping cricket, the sound from a lookout, alerted her before the crunching of snow. Pistol was pointed in the direction of the intruder.

"...Oh." She dropped her hand to her side as murmurs filled the little outdoor camp. "You...recovered their bodies..."

The automaton shook its head. Now that they were in no danger Ginny took a better look; it looked to be made of bronze in the shape of a young girl. A young girl from the Orient, even more perplexing.

"They're not dead." She (since she had the shape of a girl, Ginny supposed that she was correct) pronounced. "Only unconscious. Do you have a doctor?"

Ginny nodded once, and Emilia Minks stepped forward, hovering over the two unconscious girls.

The rest of the crew held back, giving her room, and Ginny gestured for the automaton to step aside with her.

"You saved them. Why? Most automatons are..." With the government.

The automaton girl looked up at her with big eyes. "Aren't you Captain Campbell? I heard stories about you. I want to join your crew."

Ginny considered this, thinking back to the bravery the automaton had shown in saving people she didn't even know.

"What's your name?"

"Sayaka Ito."

"Then Sayaka, welcome to The Queen Mab."

[Juniper Birdsong]

I See the Light

New York City! Juniper had never really planned to go to the big city, but there was a festival being held that she simply couldn’t miss, and so she found herself walking the streets in the snow drifting lazily from the sky, all bundled up in multiple layers of fabrics and clothes, her long skirt swirling around the white stuff already settled on the ground. A warm stocking cap was perched comfortably on her head, and her hair, unlike usual, had been brushed and straightened and curled to perfection, an effort she only went to the trouble of doing for special occasions such as this.

A lantern festival!

Ever since she had seen Tangled, she had been dreaming of going to a festival like this. Everything just seemed so magical, from the fairy lights decorating the streets to the performing artists putting on shows on corners, to music permeating the air and various other smaller celebrations going on in the buildings they passed. The Chinese New Year was coming to an end, and the year of the Dragon was changing to the year of the snake. Therefore, many of the reptilian creatures could be seen in decoration in storefronts. Rather than being scary or disgusting, however, the decorations were very tasteful and stunning, all shimmery and colorful draping across the sidewalks.

Juniper wasn’t alone – she had her arm linked to a blonde boy who looked very out of place in a t-shirt and shorts, along with open-toed shoes that made his toes sink into slush with each step. Tanner had never had to deal with being too cold, and though they both got a few strange looks from people as they passed, it didn’t really bother them. They were on their way to the waterfront, where they were hoping to rent a boat for the show that was going to be put on later – the Chinese lanterns being released into the sky.

They paused at a storefront with various candies and chocolates in the windows. “Hey, let’s go and get some-“ Tanner began, about to step into the store, but Juniper dropped her hand to grab onto his and pulled him away gently with a grin.

“We can’t , Tan, we’re going to be late!” she told him, motioning towards their destination. That simply couldn’t happen. “Let’s come back later, yeah?” They were getting close to the water, too, close enough so that she could see the boats lined up along the piers, with people milling around in preparation for the show.

“Fine, fine,” he laughed, following after her as his heart picked up a couple notches when she kept hold of his hand.

“Come on!” Excitement was obvious in her voice as they picked up the pace a little, until they found themselves in the crowd of people on the dock, gently pushing their way through until they reached the place where they could rent on of the small crafts. They looked more like canoes than actual boats – it was good thing Juniper had experience with such modes of transportation.

“Isn’t this exciting!?” she exclaimed to Tanner, hugging his arm closely as they were shown to their boat.

“Yeah, it definitely is,” he replied; her energy was infectious, and he couldn’t keep the grin off of his face as they settled into the boat. Once the coast was clear of other people, they began the smooth trip out into the water; it was a big enough area so that the boats had plenty of room apart from each other.

They found the perfect place to stay, where they could see what was going to happen very clearly. They were mostly alone – a few other boats were located nearby, but not close enough to really pay attention to. They talked for a while as they waited, about the festival and the city and plans for the next day. Juniper’s heart felt so light, she couldn’t stop giggling, and when the music started to signify the beginning of the show, she immediately let out an excited gasp and whirled around to the source of the sound.

“They’re playing I See the Light!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together and beaming. Without much thought, she snuggled against Tanner, enjoying the warmth that radiated off of his body. He paused for a moment, his eyes wide as he gazed at her, but soon allowed his arm to wrap around her, resting his head on top of hers.

“This is perfect,” she murmured, her eyes reflecting the lights of the city as she gazed forward, waiting for the lanterns to appear. He nodded quietly, pulling his eyes away from her to follow where she was looking.

They didn’t have to wait long – as soon as the song hit the first verse, lights began to glow along the waterfront, soon lifting up into the air to be carried into the wind. The snow had stopped falling, giving them a clear view of the hundreds, if not thousands, of Chinese lanterns floating on the breeze. Juniper got goosebumps as the song hit the chorus, and the sky seemed to fill with just the lights. They were both silent as the lanterns drifted across the water, all different shapes and colors and sizes. It felt surreal, and Juniper reached up to pull one out of the sky for a moment, examining it before letting go and pushing it onward with a gentle wave of her hand to allow a breeze to lift it upwards.

Tanner watched her with a smile on his face, and as she looked back and caught his gaze, she returned the look and lifted a hand to trace his cheek. “I’m so glad you’re here with me,” she told him quietly.

“I am too,” he murmured back, tilting his head forward to rest against hers. “I love you, June.”

Her smile widened, and she dropped her eyes from his as she laced their hands together, before looking up once more. “I love you too, Tan.”

The lights continued to circle around them as the song came to an end; Juniper couldn’t imagine a more perfect moment, or a more perfect night, than what she was experiencing right then.

[Vincent Meian]

Faint
(Note; all of the dialogue is translated from Japanese)

["Why won't you just listen to me?"] The deep voice rang out as a cry of despair and anger, of confusion and worry. Nothing else disturbed the woods the two men stood in; one a tall Japanese man, the other a Chinese teenager. The latter faced away, as if the words the older man had spoken were a slap to the face that rendered him speechless. He didn't want to listen, didn't want to hear what the man before him had to say. There was nothing he could say that would change anything.


The loneliness wasn't all-consuming, but it was close. Lei felt that he didn't deserve companionship, so he discarded it every chance he could get. It honestly felt that the need within him was all that he had left; that loneliness was as much as part of his identity as his name. He disregarded the man before him after a long moment, turning away despite the look of desperation on the trainer's face.


["Why won't you answer me? Just tell me what I can do! If you have one, a handful, or ten thousand complaints, I need to hear them! I can't help you if you won't let me in!"]


["There's nothing you can do,"] the boy answered, letting the Japanese words fall from his tongue like black rain. ["People can see your scars. They know there's something wrong with you; something broken."]


A pained look crossed the instructor's face and he looked to his long-fingered hands. Pale scars crossed over the flesh until the tan skin had trouble peeking out from behind the net or healed wounds, and the patterns continued up his arms and over the rest of his body, though they could not be seen through his clothes. They were scars won in combat and in learning; with these scars, he'd both been broken and healed. ["I can't help that,"] he murmured, his low voice a soft rumble of distant thunder. ["Just like I can't help the fact that you-"]


["That I what?"] the boy screamed, tears in his eyes. ["That I feel the way I do? That I want you to feel the same way? It doesn't matter what can be helped or not - no matter what I do, I can't convince you that this isn't just some childish fancy. This is real, you bastard!"] Turning away, Lei stormed through snow-touched forest, and the sound of footsteps followed him.


["I know you don't want me to do this, Lei,"] the voice called after him. ["I can let you go, let you turn your back on me like you always do; to every trainer that's tried to help you. I can let you turn away from me and pretend that I don't care, or even that I don't exist. But you know it's not true!"]


["I don't know anything!"] came the reply, and though the younger male stopped, he did not turn around. Insecurity was all that was left in the wake of confidence leaving him. Vinny would never understand, and he knew that just listening to the man was enough to turn his world upside down. ["If you cared at all, you would have just-"]


["Let you ruin your life?"] the older man interjected, much closer now than before. ["Ruin both our lives? Let you live in a moment of false happiness until you realized for yourself that I didn't have those feelings for you? You may be a master of denial, but you also don't understand what I have to do for you."]


["That's because you don't make sense!"] The student rounded on his mentor then, pain and hate in his teary eyes. ["You tell me all these sweet things and then expect me not to fall fo you. But I'm everything you've told me I'm not, everything that you've never wanted to say because you're afraid it's true. That I'm a goddamn monster, a murderer!"]


The anger became dominant on the man's face, and he grabbed Lei by his arms. The grip was enough to make the boy cry out, but the trainer didn't let go. ["Why do you keep saying such things?"] he demanded. When no answer was given, he released the boy, a sound of disgust present in his sigh. ["It's like not matter what I do, I can't convince you to just hear my words, to listen to what I have to say,"] he growled, glaring at the boy with golden eyes. ["Why not?"]


Lei didn't answer, but his own anger boiled in his stomach, in his very blood. He'd never understand what it was like to be a monster. Either that, or he was too much of one already to understand what he'd done. He had been all Lei had; a lifeboat in the ocean, an oasis in the desert.. and then he just turned his back on him, on his problems, on his feelings. The younger man didn't know if they could ever go back to the way things were before. He didn't know if he wanted to.


["You make me sick,"] he spat out finally, turning away once again. However, that seemed to be the wrong thing to do at that particular moment.


["Don't you DARE turn your back on me!"] The hand that lashed out grabbed his upper arm harshly, and Lei cried out once again, struggling to get away. His powers rose to the surface, hungry for blood, but fear made him keep those urges in check. He couldn't kill anyone ever again, even if it mean being hurt all the time. His dark eyes were forced to meet his trainer's gaze, a smoldering gold that had always reminded him of fresh baked bread. The grip tightened a little, and the taller man leaned forward so that their faces were inches apart.


["Now, you are going to listen to me whether you like it or not, Leiken Do Chu,"] the older man stated, his low voice as cold as the snow falling around them. ["I can't feel that way towards you, but if you don't hear me out, I can't explain."] His face took on another aspect, the anger dimming in the face of weariness. ["If you turn your back on me, I can't show you. If you ignore me, I can't tell you. But it needs to be said and shown regardless; you are not a monster. You'd think after all this time, you'd know that by now."]


["Time?"] Lei snapped, glaring at the man even though he made no move to escape. ["Time can't heal this pain, you fucking idiot. The damage has been done!"]


["And it will stay that way, festering in you until the day in consumes you mind and soul,"] the soldier argued. ["I've been there - I've felt that pain. The damage is not irreversible. I can show you that if you'll stop locking me out!"]


There was silence for a long moment. No one was around but them; one too-tall man with more pain than the boy half his years could imagine, and a teenager with scars on his heart rather than on his hands. They said nothing, and though it felt like an eternity the snow fell for only a few moments in that deep forest before a choked whisper could be heard over the feather-touch of wind and ice.


["How?"]


The expression on the trainer's face softened, and his grip relaxed until his hand fell away along with his anger. There was not hate in his face, and no humor either. Just a sad smile and pain hiding behind gentle eyes. ["I won't be ignored,"] he answered softly. ["And I won't let you do this alone. Even if I don't love you, I still care. I can't feel the way you do, but I did once. The damage is done, but you can rebuild. Just let me help."]


Lei looked up, tears running down his face. Vincent was being sincere, and the hurt hidden behind that smile said more than anything else could have. Swallowing, he took a breath, then sighed it out, shivering with cold. ["Just don't turn your back on me like the others, okay?"]


The chuckle warmed his heart, even as the heavy military jacket placed suddenly over his freezing shoulders warmed his body. ["Idiot. You ran from me, remember?"]


["Just promise, Vinny."]


["...I promise."]



Fin~

[Lucah Ivaskov]

Baby It’s Cold Outside

Mid-December and there was several inches of snow on the ground already. This was the type of weather Lucah could live in without any problems. It was cold and snowy and he didn’t have to worry about the sun beating down on him so harshly. Winter was a blessing that all cryokinetics basked in. Whenever it snowed more, Luc just found himself outside more often. Whether it be just sitting outside playing guitar or doing what he planned to today. Having fun in the snow with his girlfriend.

Having come out so early in the day they had the best luck with snow. It was frozen enough to be melded into snowballs and snowmen, but not to the point of ice. The only ice that they’d fond was the pond, it wasn’t exactly thick ice, but with a little help from Lucah’s power, he had frozen it enough to make it sturdy enough for ice skating. He may not have been able to create ice, but he sure as hell could freeze something if need be. This was a time when he felt like his power really could shine. All the other seasons held him back, but winter was all his.

After they went ice skating, which had turned out a success, Lucah suggested they make a snowman. He’d brought some random things he had lying around, not to mention he took a few things from his unsuspecting roommate. Hey, it wasn’t like he hadn’t taken things from Luc without asking. Callie worked on rolling the snow into different sizes for the top, middle and bottom while each time he stacked one on top of the other. Once they were in place, Lucah pulled out all of the articles of clothing and they began assembling their snowman.

Callie sorted through all of the clothes and picked out bits that she wanted, “We’re going to make him look like you.” Looking back over her shoulder at him she smirked and continued pulling out things she liked.

“It’s funny because I’ll literally be cold as ice then,” Lucah smiled back at her and began placing the articles on the snow man. Each article was placed with care and he couldn’t help but smile as they both made the ice man come to life. All the while, Luc hummed Baby It’s Cold Outside.

Callie merely shook her head and laughed, “That was a terrible joke, I hope you realize.”

Once they finished their work of art, they both stepped back and admired their creative outlet of snow. Good thing his roommate wouldn’t be home any time soon, he’d have enough time to put the MP3 player back without him even knowing it was gone. Luc glanced over at Callie and saw the wide smile on her face. She seemed so happy in that moment, that he couldn’t even express how glad he was that he was spending the holidays here in Vermont rather than in Romania. Though he would have liked to see Jez’s face when she got his present, he knew it would only end with him and his father fighting. Just then, he very subtly took a handful of snow and lobbed it at her, just as it was about to be let go, he pulled some of the cold from it so that it would be lighter and less frozen. Upon it hitting her on the side of her arm, he smirked. “Oops, it slipped.”

Callie looked at him with narrowed eyes and faster than he expected took a handful of her own and chucked it at him as he took off running. The two of them ran around each tossing snowballs at the other until Lucah fell to the ground laughing. Sliding down next to him, Callie giggled and began moving her arms and legs to make a snow angel. Following suit, Lucah made his own and once he was finished, he stood up to look at his masterpiece. Okay, so masterpiece was a longshot, but it looked decent. Callie stood too and smiled at the two angels lying side-by-side.

“Are you having fun?” He asked tugging her close to him.

Callie looked up at him and nodded, “This has been one of the best snow days I’ve had. Thank you Lucah.” She hugged him and kissed his cheek.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Comfort and Joy

To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray.
Oh tidings of comfort and joy.
Oh tidings of comfort and joy.

Josh wore gloves whenever he left the apartment. They provided a barrier between his hands and the dirt and grime, waste and saliva and all manner of other bodily fluids that littered the streets of the City. He needed that barrier, now that he had to push down on the wheels of his chair for mobility.

Sean did what he could for his boyfriend, insisting on pushing him whenever they were together, either outside or within the safety of their apartment. Yet, even with the effort to synchronize their schedules, it was impossible for them to always be together, as much as both young men would prefer it.

Today’s Josh’s gloves served a different purpose, a more standard purpose: protecting him from potential frostbite. Today, Sean’s hands rested on either side of Josh’s wheelchair, gripping the handles tightly as he pushed his boyfriend through the streets of New York City. Despite the large crowds and general population density, they received a wide berth from those around them. This was, in part, the result of the permanent frown etched into the older boy’s face. The telepath took particular care with his boyfriend’s wheelchair, because Josh needed him to watch over him, as well as because of the light snowfall.

The snow hadn’t stuck, but forecasts said it might. If it didn’t stick, it would melt and freeze, becoming ice which was worse than snow. Ice brought with it the fear of Josh’s wheels sliding out of control, careening the younger man into traffic or the side of a building or a group of people.

Sean didn’t care about anyone else getting hurt, even if he had no desire to seem them get hurt, all factors equal. He did care about Josh being hurt; his boyfriend was the only person he had left in his life, and he had sworn to watch over him for as long as they lived.

Thus, when the shiver went through Josh’s body, Sean was immediately attentive. “Are you cold?” He asked. “You can have my coat.”

Josh already wore a winter coat, but he was ill-suited to extreme weather since the accident. Sean was hardier, and he would gladly sacrifice his trench coat to his boyfriend, without a second thought. It was only the need to keep the wheelchair steady that prevented him from shrugging it off before Josh could answer.

Fortunately, because the younger boy said, “I’m not cold.” Not cold enough to require two coats.

“It’s just a lot of people,” he explained further, turning his head to offer the telepath a smile. He couldn’t keep that up for very long, since too much pressure on his neck sent pain along his spinal column.

Sean would never forgive Cobalt and Danny for that, even if they no longer remembered what they had done. He hadn’t forgiven the others for their conduct either; however, they were dead, and there was nothing further Sean could do to them, apart from remember and curse their names.

“I’ll keep them away,” the telepath promised. To emphasize that, he turned the wheelchair, taking the exterior side of the road. While that exposed them both to a bit harsher air, it also provided them with wider sidewalk space and offered a bit of freedom from the congestion.

It was a long walk, nearly fifty blocks. Unfortunately, the subways were anything but accommodating, and the law passed a few years ago did little to actually create ramps. Most entrances and exits only had stairs, and even when they could actually get into the subway station proper, another set of stairs usually separated them from the platform. Or the turnstiles wouldn’t fit a wheelchair. Once, Sean had needed to carry Josh through the turnstile, and then come back for the wheelchair after depositing his boyfriend safely on a bench. In doing so, he’d held up everyone behind him and had opened himself up to a string of profanity from an unpleasant man in a navy blue suit. Now the man was far more pleasant and didn’t use profanity; he also no longer wore suits, preferring the freedom of skirts and pantyhose.

After that, Josh had suggested they stop taking the subway. At least until more accommodations were built.

The decay of New York City prior to the War hadn’t helped the situation. Neither had the War itself. Although since the City was on the upswing, Sean spent enough time inwardly grousing about City Hall dragging its feet and a lack of proper concern or work ethic.

Josh, as his better half, assured him that it would get done eventually. His boyfriend’s naivety was endearing at times. Other times, it kept Sean awake at night, because if something ever happened to him, Josh was a sitting duck, prey for anyone who wanted to take advantage of him. It took all of his control not to correct the people who passed them by with pity in their eyes and cripple in their minds.

“What are you thinking about?” Josh asked, breaking him from his reverie.

“That I probably look like an old man, with the snow in my hair.” Sean had no qualms about lying to his boyfriend. He loved Josh, but he’d spent most of their lives together shielding him from pain, even when he failed at it. There was no reason to stop now, when the younger boy needed reassurance all the more.

“You look distinguished,” Josh corrected him with a laugh. “Like Robert...”

His laugh died abruptly in his throat. Sean’s frown deepened, although Josh couldn’t see it from his wheelchair. That was for the best.

They walked the last few blocks in silence.

Finally, they reached their destination, impossible to miss.

Taller than any building in Vermont, green as the deepest forest, lit in more lights than the night sky.

“It’s beautiful,” Josh sighed, a smile stretched across his lips. He craned his head back, trying to see the very top.

It was nice. Bigger than the trees Sean’s family had had when he was a child. But it was hollow.

Most everything was hollow these days.

“Do you think people are ice skating?” Josh asked, settling back down after he’d seen his fill of the tree.

“Probably. They always are this time of year.”

“Can we go look?”

Instead of answering, Sean pulled the wheelchair back, executing a turn before pushing Josh in the direction of the ice rink. They settled at the banister; Josh was too short to peer over it. And, of course, there were stairs that prevented them from getting any closer.

The telepath drummed his fingers against the handles on the back of Josh’s wheelchair. Mulling over an idea. “Do you trust me?” He asked finally.

“Always.” Do you have to ask?

Sean acknowledged that by reaching down to press his hand against Josh’s cheek; both were cold from the air, but neither minded. “Close your eyes,” he instructed.

The younger boy did without hesitation.

When Sean had been a student at Hammel, Robert had taught him more than a few survival tricks with his telepathy. One was how to bore into another person’s mind and tap into their senses. It wasn’t the same as the people who could actually use another person’s body as their own, since he could control nothing; instead, it was a deep connection, a naturally extension of his telepathy. He could sense and see and hear what people thought; people thought about what they sensed, saw, and heard.

Robert had also taught him how to project his own senses, although that was something about which he was more sensitive, less willing to do. It made him vulnerable, giving up that information to someone who wasn’t his trusted mentor, his father.

But Sean trusted Josh; the younger boy was the kindest, gentlest, most innocent person he had ever met. He was safe, and Sean loved him with all that was left of him.

The telepath took a moment to focus inward, readying his mind and his senses. Then, he enveloped Josh’s mind as he had so many times before – for comfort and for protection. But this time, he simultaneously projected outward, essentially tugging Josh in with him.

Do you see what I see?

Dozens of people wearing parkas and ice skates, gliding along the ice. Smiling children. Happy couples holding hands. Single people. Entire families making their rounds along the rink.

A sea of coats in all the colors of the rainbow. Christmas lights along the walls. Wreaths on the doors of the buildings that surrounded the rink. The golden statue glistened in the sun, surrounded by the drizzling waterfalls.

It was everything that Josh had imagined and more. Everything he had expected when they’d discussed coming down to take a look.

It was everything that he remembered from back before the War. When he and Sean went ice skating every weekend when they first began to date. How he marveled at the telepath’s natural gracefulness on his feet, and how Sean shrugged it off as nothing. What Josh had lacked in grace, he’d made up for with enthusiasm; time had a habit of getting away from them in those days.

Never again.

“It’s beautiful,” Josh remarked softly, a wistful sigh then escaped his lips. “It looks like everyone’s having so much fun.”

“They are.” The telepath reached down to squeeze the younger boy’s shoulder. Josh reached up to cover Sean’s larger hand with his own.

“I wish we could do that.”

“Me too.” Unfortunately, for all his power, Sean could never help Josh’s body recover. Medicine wouldn’t provide that solution, and he knew no living healers. The last one he’d known had died, and before that, he wouldn’t have helped.

A moment passed in silence between them, before Josh squeezed the telepath’s hand. Sean took the sign, ended the deeper connection, returning his boyfriend’s senses to himself, and keeping his own as they were.

“Let’s go to FAO Schwarz,” the younger boy proposed. Turning his head, he looked up at the telepath. “We can go look at bears and then get some cocoa to warm up.”

“If you’d like.” Sean rolled Josh’s wheelchair back, turning it to push him away from Rockefeller Center. Turning their backs on the skaters that they could never join.

[Tanner Larson]

Last Time By Moonlight

”We walk this road together, one last time by moonlight;
But nothing lasts forever, not even the starlight.”

Tanner Larson and Robbie Wilkes strolled through downtown Pilot Ridge, the footsteps they left in the snow crafting parallel lines on the frosted sidewalk. They walked together, yet somewhat apart, a small space hovering between their bodies keeping them separated as they walked. They walked mostly in silence, only the crunching of powdery snow under the weight of their strides rising up from the quiet. The evening stars twinkled up above them like so many candles.

As usual, Tanner was dressed inappropriately for the season. Sandals covered his feet, allowing him to feel the cooling bite of the snow as his feet sank down into it. Anyone else wearing such footwear after a three-inch snowfall would surely be considered mad; but with his abnormally high body temperature, it was only in the cold of winter that this boy felt truly comfortable. As it were, a tee shirt and khaki shorts were plenty to keep the young pyrokinetic warm on this chilly December evening.

Robbie, on the other hand, was more typically dressed, jeans and a navy pea coat both wrapped flatteringly around his trim figure. A black wool hat covered the top of his head, flattening his blonde bangs down to just above his eyebrows. Gloved hands were stuffed into his pockets, and it was obvious which of the too was feeling the winter.

Downtown Pilot Ridge was decorated to the nines for the holiday season; entryways were lined with holly, doors were spotted with wreaths, and large banners wishing residents happy holidays zig-zagged across the main thoroughfare. All told, the neighborhood brought to mind the famous Christmas Village scenes of one’s youth.

“Everything looks so magical, doesn’t it?”

The words slipped through Tanner’s lips like running water, and Robbie turned to the boy to see a light smile dressing his features. Smiles being infectious, Robbie felt his own lips begin to spread as well, though he gave no verbal response.

As the young men strolled down Main Street, speakers that weren’t quite visible pumped soft music into the street:

”Green is in the mistletoe and red is in the holly,
Silver in the stars above that shine on everybody;
Gold is in the candlelight and crimson in the embers
White is in the winter night that everyone remembers.”

Tanner closed his eyes briefly, allowing the music to be the only thing he sensed. A content smile filled his features.

“Oh, Robbie, this song’s my favorite,” he breathed, allowing his eyelids to slowly open as if awakening from a beautiful dream. “We used to sing this back home, before I came to Hammel.”

The other blonde’s eyes were glued to Tanner’s. “It’s beautiful,” he agreed. He gave the other boy a look of longing that was never seen.

Reaching the edge of town, footsteps followed the sidewalk as it transitioned into a wide dirt path lined with spruce trees leading into the countryside. The path was covered in snow, no plow having traveled this far down the road since the snow stopped falling earlier that morning. This promenade would ultimately lead to the lake that sat frozen on the outskirts of Pilot Ridge.

The two boys settled into another comfortable silence for a time, Tanner’s eyes on the night sky and Robbie’s eyes on Tanner. Both boys were smiling.

Somewhere down the path, the two young men came across a bench. It was Robbie who sat down first; Tanner hadn’t been planning to, but he joined the boy agreeably. The space that lingered between them remained.

“I’m glad we did this,” Robbie offered, a denim leg bouncing casually up and down on the snow. “I wasn’t sure whether you’d agree to meet me.”

Tanner turned to him. “I am too,” he replied. “It was a good idea, I think.” When they had come across one another earlier that day, he hadn’t been so sure it would be.

Tanner was walking through campus, a dark red backpack slung over one shoulder. Having just taken his last final of the semester, the boy was looking forward to a few days of relaxation before going home to New Jersey to spend the holiday with his family.

The courtyard was relatively peaceful that day: most of the students had already gone home or were still holed up in their rooms studying for their exams, and so the snow-blanketed landscape was mostly empty.

Mostly.

Hearing footsteps behind him, the boy turned towards their source; since he had started working at La Maison Magnifique several months ago, Tanner had made more friends around town and on campus, so it was possible that this other person was someone he knew.

It was someone he knew, but it was not someone he would have expected to see here, not now.

Robbie Wilkes stood in the snow, having noticed Tanner at the same time Tanner had noticed him. The grocery bags he had been carrying in his hands fell to the ground with a dull thud. After a moment, a wide smile spread across his features.

“Tanner!” He called excitedly, racing over to the other blonde and wrapping him in a tight hug. “Buddy, how’ve you been?”

The pyro was wide-eyed, the sudden presence of this boy after an entire year having completely stunned him. He didn’t return the hug, nor did he move out of it. “Um, hi,” he replied meekly. “I’ve been… good.”

He suddenly felt very empty inside, for seeing Robbie again after all this time made him remember the circumstances surrounding their last meeting. Something about that day was still very bitter in his memories, and in fact he would be lying were he to say he hadn’t thought about that moment several times since then. They had been so close, and then so far, for so very long. In the past year, that scene had played through the boy’s mind so many times, and so many questions remained. Had he done something wrong? Had he misread the other? Robbie had really surprised him that day, and in a small way had actually upset him. And now there he was, arms wrapped firmly around him, seemingly so happy to see him.

The boy finally released Tanner from his grasp, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Wow, I can’t believe I’m seeing you,” he said, a large smile still on his face. “It’s been, like, forever.”

Tanner blinked, subconsciously clenching his jaw; he couldn’t articulate why, but he was suddenly very angry. “Uh, yeah, it has,” he agreed, his hands crossing protectively over his chest as his weight fell to one hip. “Why is that?”

Mistaking the question, Robbie gestured towards the bags that were still lying in the snow several feet away. “Oh, I’m just here to see some friends,” he stated by way of explanation.

Tanner simply nodded his head as he listened to Robbie’s response. Friends, right. Hadn’t he been one of those at one point? The blonde had actually sort of forgotten that the weather manipulator had graduated and went off to college. That explained why it had been so long since they had spoken, but only partially: the awkward avoidance had started before Robbie had left Hammel, not after.

“So… what happened?” The words surprised Tanner as he heard them leave his mouth, but they had been on his mind ever since he’d seen Robbie, and finally they had simply voiced themselves with or without his consent.

He heard Robbie sigh, looking down at his half-buried shoes before allowing his eyes to trail back up to Tanner’s. “You mean in February,” he replied, and whether this was a question or statement was not immediately apparent.

As it were, Tanner was surprised Robbie remembered it that clearly, having figured he was the only one who still thought about it, and so he merely nodded his head.

Robbie brought a hand to the back of his neck, rubbing at it furiously as though doing so would help him come up with the words. “Look, I’m… really sorry,” he stated, and while the words sounded genuine, Tanner just wasn’t satisfied. “I was going through a really difficult time, I had a girlfriend and… well, I still do. I love her, Tanner.”

The other blonde took a step back, as though the words had physically pushed him. The look on Robbie’s face as he professed his love for this girl – wasn’t that look meant for him?

“So that’s it, then,” Tanner said, arms unfolding to dive into his pockets. Robbie understood what he meant immediately.

“I didn’t mean to lead you on,” he stated, longing to move to the other boy but not letting himself do so. “I really like you, but…”

Tanner raised a hand, closing his eyes tightly; his brow was furrowed. “I don’t need your pity,” he spat. He turned away for a moment, standing with his back to the other boy before rotating back around. “I don’t believe you, though,” he added at length. “You didn’t mean to lead me on? You expect me to believe that?” He shook his head, giving a bitter laugh. “That’s bullshit, Robbie. That’s bullshit.”

That seemed to set the other boy off. “Look, what do you want me to say, Tanner?” He asked, throwing his arms up into the air. “That I felt the same way you did? That I was confused and frustrated and torn and hated myself for what I was feeling? That I wanted to kiss you and hold you and never fucking let go? Is that what you want to hear!?” He dropped his arms back down to his sides, shoulders rising and falling as he forced himself to maintain eye contact. “You’re a smart kid, Tanner,” he said quietly. “You should have figured all that out by now.”

Tanner looked down; for once, the boy who had an answer for everything was entirely speechless. Realizing he wasn’t going to get a response, Robbie continued.

“Look, I’m sorry, okay?” He asked. “And I know I could say that a million times and it wouldn’t help, but you have no idea how much this has affected me.”

Tanner shook his head; no, apparently he didn’t. “It still hurts,” he said finally, bringing his hands up to his shoulders. “I didn’t think it would, but it does. I… I just can’t believe I’m seeing you.”

Robbie finally closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms strongly around the other boy. “Hey, it’s okay,” he whispered, allowing the other blonde to sink into him. “It’s okay.”

After a time, he felt Tanner pulling away from him, and so he let go, instead placing a hand upon the boy’s shoulder. “And hey, what would you do with an idiot like me, anyway?”

Tanner couldn’t help but smile. “What wouldn’t I do?”

Robbie jabbed him playfully. “Hey, don’t start with me,” he warned through a smile.

At some point, they had started walking together, and when they came across a snow bank in the middle of the courtyard, Robbie looked at Tanner with a mischievous grin.

Tanner noticed the powdery mound as well, and he turned back towards Robbie, shaking his head furiously as a smile appeared on his own face as well.

“I would never forgive you,” he protested, but he was already letting the backpack slide off his shoulder.

Robbie’s grin spread. “I could live with that.”

“I mean, I would be really angry.”

“You already are.”

When Tanner hit the snow, he was already laughing.

The two boys rolled around like little kids, pelting each other with messily-packed snowballs and pushing each other lightheartedly to the ground, laughing all the while. When Robbie ended up on top of Tanner, hands on either of the boy’s shoulders keeping him pinned to the ground, he remained there, smiling down at him.

Tanner was breathing heavily. “I can’t remember the last time I actually played in the snow,” he mused, smiling back up at the other boy.

“Spend the night with me?”

The pyro was surprised by the question. “Robbie…”

“Not like that,” the boy clarified quickly. He pulled off one of his gloves, running his cold fingers down the boy’s warm cheeks. “We could just go walking, or something. Spend time together. I really missed you.”

Tanner looked uncertain at first, but finally he nodded his head. “Yeah, okay,” he replied slowly, thoughtfully. “We could do that.”

As the moon shone down through the trees, the snowy path before them glistening in the filtered moonlight, Tanner became aware of Robbie’s eyes on him. He turned, finding the other boy facing him on the bench.

“You look happy,” he observed, to which Robbie nodded.

“I am.”

Tanner smiled. “Me too.” He shifted to face the other boy, taking one of his hands into his own. “But… you know we can’t do this again, right?”

Robbie’s face fell, but he nodded yet again. “I know,” he admitted. “To be honest, I’m… not sure we should see each other anymore.”

It was Tanner’s turn to nod; that was what he had meant. Both boys knew that if they kept seeing one another, eventually they wouldn’t be able to resist each other anymore.

“Tanner,” Robbie continued, squeezing the boy’s smaller hand in his own as he looked down at their interlocked fingers. “Tonight has been… just great.” He looked back up to find the other blonde looking back at him hopefully. “Would you let me make it perfect?”

And the space between them was finally vanquished, as Robbie pulled Tanner in for their first and last kiss. Robbie’s lips were ice cold; Tanner’s were warm, and the older blonde melted into them. For but a brief moment, the two boys sat there, lips pressed nervously yet feverishly together as the stars glimmered up above them.

It was Robbie who pulled away first, and it had taken every ounce of his self control to do so.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, running his fingers through the boy’s spiky blonde hair.

Tanner blushed. “We should get going,” he stated just as reluctantly. The two boys stood, but their hands remained connected.

“Thank you for coming out with me tonight, Tanner,” Robbie said, feeling somewhat awkward now that their evening was coming to an end. “I didn’t want to remember you being angry with me. I want to remember you like this.”

Tanner smiled; it was a sad smile, one of opportunities missed and feelings forever confined to the eternal tomb of ‘what if?’.

“I’d like that,” he replied, and together they walked back into town, the moonlight shining down on them, together one last time.

”Remember this; for no one knows the way love goes.
Oh! Ho! Remember this! For no one knows the way life goes.”


((Special thanks to Nu, whose thread with me inspired this piece. You can listen to my musical inspiration here.))

[Lani Hunter]

Windrider Unchained
{Concept for Valdemar credits to Mercedes Lackey and the Windrider Unchained}

Lani cupped his hands as he puffed air into them and rubbed them for warmth. His cloak was doing very little to ward away the chill. “Winter is never going to end,” he uttered forlornly watching the fire whip back and forth glowing red off the snow.

:Look at you, Valdemar’s Heir missing your warm bed?: Chided the white horse barely visible in the mounds of snow. Both he and his mount would easily have vanished into the landscape with her white fur and his white uniform.

“Not the worst situation we’ve ever been in,” Lani told his Companion with a grim expression.

:You’d think it was with your complaining,: the horse made a whickering noise that could only be described as laughing.

“Not very Herald like is it, Darshay?” Lani said thoroughly rebuked. He wrapped his cloak tighter around himself as the wind found ways through the fabric.

Darshay snorted and blew air into his hair. :Chosen, you’re still human.:

Lani sighed as if unsatisfied by the answer. All the magic he had at his fingertips and he was still unable to make this situation even a little bit pleasant. He had to reserve his power for something important. He had blankets he wouldn’t freeze to death. But that didn’t mean he had to be happy about it. He snuggled against Darshay’s side stealing her warmth. She nuzzled his shoulder and together they withstood the cold of the night.

The morning came too soon and with a groan Lani pushed himself upright before his muscles could convince him not to move. He walked around the small camp warming his muscles as best he could as he quenched what was left of the fire.

:Lani! Quickly! Something’s happening!: Darshay surged to her feet and danced where she stood. There was not enough time to curry her the way she deserved and he was pretty sure Darshay would have bitten him for wasting time with it.

He fit her with her blue saddle and hackamore. Looking deep into one of those bottomless sapphire eyes Lani found it in himself to smile. He was the crowned prince of Valdemar and he and Darshay were the swiftest and strongest. That was why his father had sent them and not another Herald.

Darshay hardly waited for him to be settled in the saddle before taking off at breakneck speed. Companions were faster and more surefooted than any horse and could sustain a speed for far longer. Lani ducked his head and just did his best to make things easy for Darshay. Shifting one way or another and making himself as little of a burden as he could.

The clouds rumbled overhead and Lani frowned watching them and feeling the sudden howl of the winds. Someone was trying to Gate. Well too bad, Lani wasn’t going to let them. Lightning flashed overhead and the snow started stirring.

No you don’t! He gripped Darshay with his legs he raised his hands and called upon the magic he held. The magic formed into an invisible hand and faster than a bolt of light it flew and grabbed the portal. Lani pulled his hands back to his chest and there was a great power pulled the strings connecting this spot to where his enemy was trying to travel and he tore them.

Lightning flashed overhead as the gate collapsed. Lani grabbed Darshay’s mane to steady himself as sudden weariness struck him.

:Lani…: Darshay asked concern coloring her mindvoice.

:I’m fine keep going.:

Snow started to fall in sheets and the wind blew it into a blizzard. She leapt fallen trees and dodged past thickened forest at a speed that made him dizzy. Darshay’s speed made the lights ahead blur and one moment they were specks and the next windows offering warmth. But warmth was the last thing on Lani’s mind. The town was small but everyone was packed and on the streets pushing past him. Darshay slowed to a frustrated walk as the crowd of people pushing past them. Lani wasn’t looking at them for he was focused on what was frightening the people. His people.

An army clad in red armor. An army that stretched on for as long as he could see, which admittedly was limited by the swirling clouds of snow. “Herald!” A voice called pulling Lani’s attention.

A man pushed through the crowd to his boot and his face said it all. Lani dismounted and patted Darshay’s shoulder, “Get those who cannot move quickly to safety.” He told her. Darshay bobbed her head and Lani turned to the man. “Darshay is going to help get your children and elderly out of here, there’s a guard post not too far from here. I’ll hold them off, get these people out of here and call the guard.”

Lani raced away knowing that Darshay would take care of everything. Hopefully the guard would soon be at his back and they could push this army back. Lani threw his hands up calling shields in time for lightning to strike against them. His eyes found the opposing mage and for a moment they stared at each other.

Herald Lani’s eyes darkened as suppressed rage came boiling out of him. The darklord who had fled him when Lani had been given strength to break the darklords bonds. Lani knew this day would come sooner or later but as Lani swallowed back his fear he wished it had come later.

“Greetings again, Valdemar’s Heir.” The darklord said his eyes flashing underneath his helmet. “I thought it was you who stopped my gate.”

“You’ll never reach Haven.” Lani growled.

The mage laughed, “Stand down, you’re just one man. I have an army.” The darklord gestured behind him at row after row of soldiers. Lani swallowed and couldn’t keep his eyes from examining the army before him.

“I’m the Heir of Valdemar and I will not stand down so long as even a single life is threatened by an enemy of Valdemar.” Lani declared, “So turn back lord, if of me you are afraid.” Lani’s lips turned up in a taunting grin.

“Very well.”

That was all the warning Lani got before sparks flew in his face. He got his shield up in a frantically. The sparks danced across the snow making small drifts of steam. Lani called the snow in the blizzard into a ferocious storm.

He beat back but his enemy beat at him as well. He was replenishing shields as they were broken and he battered against his enemies own at the same time. The whole while the army stood rigid and still. Lani felt the familiar headache starting to bloom behind his eyes and the weariness started to seep into his limbs.

Deflecting the last lightning bold shattered his shields and before he could get them back up lightning laced across his hands deflected only in desperation from a more devastating blow. Lani howled and reached for his non-magic telekinesis and grasped the darklord and flung him back with his mind desperate to distract him before he finished the job.

He closed his eyes. He knew what he needed to do. I’m sorry father, he thought, Caroline will make a better Queen than I would make a King anyways. He was afraid but he knew that he had the power to rid the world of this dark power. He would defend Valdemar to his last breath.

:Don’t you dare!: a voice boomed in his mind and Darshay skidded to a stop in the snow screaming a challenge at the darklord.

:Darshay…:

One of those blue eyes turned to him and he felt warmth and love and power flow through his limbs. :Don’t you dare think of leaving without me.:

Darshay lowered her head and nuzzled his chest allowing him to wrap his arms around her neck and pull himself to his feet. The snow at least had one purpose, he couldn’t feel anything enough to notice the pain. With a swift motion he swung into the saddle their powers become one and the line between Herald and Companion blurred. Darshay glowed her eyes brighter than a lantern’s light in the darkness. Lani’s eyes too started to glow and he raised his hands above his head. Darshay and he blurred together and a winged horse made of white light rose into the blizzard. It pawed its hoof at the fallen lord cracking the shields.

The darklord swung his hands outward and chains closed on the flying horse's legs and around its neck. NOT AGAIN! their combined mindvoice shouted. Darshay and Windrider took to the sky and rearing toward the stars the heavens started to pour out on the dark wizard.

Lani separated himself from the Windrider and flung bolts at the chains freeing his steed. He slipped back into the light as if he were just a surge of light around it. Lightning poured from the sky like rain and the darklords shields shattered. The Windrider beats its wings and dove at the fallen lord. Opening its mouth light poured out and it impacted the ground swallowing the lord and his army in the white fire. Lani felt the heat against his skin and Darshay was screaming in his mind.

He shielded them both as best he could and they were flung from the Windrider and the winged horse rose into the heavens the chains dangling uselessly from its hooves. The blizzard swallowed the white creature and white fire and Lani just fell back into the cold snow unable to sustain the power he had unleashed.

~~

A warm nose touched his face and he reached up a hand and patted the velvet nose wearily. :Chosen?: The voice said softly in his mind causing him to cringe in pain.

He squinted his eyes open and a light snow was falling from the clouds and settling around him. He turned his head. Darshay was collapsed in the snow next to him doing nothing more than lifting her head above the snow. The snow around them was stained red and Lani sat up in alarm immediately regretting the action. His head swam and he was grateful the snow was soft as he fell back into it.

Rising more carefully this time, Lani looked toward the enemy to find that he and the army were gone. Where the darklord had been stretching for what looked like miles was nothing but scorched earth. A few trees at the perimeter were still ablaze but inside the ring was nothing but ash. The army and darklord were gone.

But they were still alive, he felt like death but they were alive. The snow started to coat the earth and Lani made to stand and hissed in agony as his leg protested the motion. His hands felt like they were on fire and the burn only intensified when they slipped into the snow. Blood soaked his white uniform from his shoulder and now that he was awake and aware he realized how much he hurt. But he had to look after Darshay.

One of her back legs was bent strangely but she assured him it wasn’t bad. The blood, thankfully, was from several minor cuts. He turned wrapping his arms around her neck. Neither of them could move and Lani didn’t have enough energy to heal Darshay’s leg without killing himself.

They were going to die here. They had survived what should have been their last great magic and yet they were going to die here. Lani closed his eyes and bit back tears and realized he wasn’t afraid anymore. Not with Darshay here. The cold seeped into his limbs and he could feel even Darshay shivering. “I love you,” He told her burying his face into her silken neck.

:And I you,: Darshay blew warm air over his neck, :I just hope this doesn’t end up like Windrider Unchained.:

Lani found it in himself to laugh. “Bards,” he said sourly. They were always twisting fact and romanticizing it all.

Darshay turned her nose to the air. :Someone is coming… several someones.:

Lani swallowed his fear and gripped Darshay’s neck. :I’m not afraid… I just wish I could have—:

:Hush, Lani, it is help on the way,: he heard the relief and love in Darshay’s voice. She let out a trumpet calling attention to their position. He hugged her tightly before lifting his head to see the blue guard of Valdemar guided by another Herald in white. Lani found himself laughing with relief and he huddled close to Darshay marveling at their luck.

“Darshay, when is spring?”