Together - A Senku Ishigami Love Story (Dr.Stone)

Chapter 44

Emerging from the hut early in the morning, Senku was greeted by the still darkened sky and the crunch of frost covered worn grass beneath his feet. A deep exhale showed his breath in front of his face, a low hum rumbling from his chest. Winter was in the air, the stillness of the morning both beautiful and eerie. Turning his head to glance at Tachi's hut he saw the faint glow emitting from inside, the calm crackle of a fire disturbing the tranquillity of the morning. The light flakes of frost caught on the barely there breeze made his fingertips tingle, the bite of the air nipping at his digits lightly as the cold sank in. It didn't take him long to make the decision to head into Tachi's hut. She already had a fire burning in her hearth after all, so whether she was awake or not, he was coming to disturb her.

A few gentle knocks was all he gave, it would more than suffice to draw her attention if she was already awake. He was correct, of course, the door opening slowly to reveal a groggy eyed Tachi, her hair dreadfully askew and her blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She blinked a few times as though trying to focus her vision before her attempted sentence was cut off by a loud yawn.

"Hey Senku, I wasn't expecting anyone else to be up. I didn't wake you or anything did I?"

He shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest, feeling himself shudder lightly. He was unsure of what had awakened him, but given the shivers running through him he would wager it was the temperature. Tachi took notice of his shiver, giving him a tired smile and moving aside, Senku taking the silent invitation to enter inside before he answered her.

"I'm 100% confident it was the cold that woke me."

She fake gasped as she closed the door over behind him. It wasn't much warmer in the hut than it was outside, but she would rather keep every heated particle within its walls that she could.

"Only 100%? That's the least sure I've ever heard you be."

A deep chuckle fell past his lips as he was drawn towards the flickering flames in the fireplace, seating himself on one half of the fur pelt placed in front of it where Tachi had obviously been seated before his arrival. She joined him quickly, sighing contentedly as the heat fanned across her cheeks, the numbed tip of her nose prickling in the warmth. Senku outstretched his hands, his posture slouched and his legs crossed lazily. Although he was awake, he clearly wasn't quite ready to be. Tachi shrugged her blanket loose a little, grasping one end and stretching it around the scientist's back, nudging his shoulder until he took hold of the edge to wrap it around him. It had only been knitted for one, and given that she wasn't particularly patient or skilled in the craft it was full of holes and much less than perfect...but damn if she hadn't impressed Ruri all the same. Senku pulled the edge of the blanket forwards, edging closer to Tachi until he sat as close to her as he could, his knee brushing against her thigh.

More than a month had passed since his confession. While they still had their close moments and most things remained unchanged, the scientist was very aware that there were instances when they were alone that a strange tension would fall between them. The air itself was weighed down by unasked questions and unspoken words, an altogether unpleasant and unwelcome change between them. There were moments when he wondered if it would have been better to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself, but they were brushed aside as quickly as they were conjured. 

"We'll be okay through the winter right? I've been spending extra time fishing with Ginro but the pickings are slim now."

His thoughts broken by her quiet question Senku faced the young woman seated beside him, taking a few moments to admire the way the flames cast dancing shadows across her face, and the low mumbling sleepy tones lacing her usual brash voice. It reminded him of those early days when it had been just them together in Tachi's small teepee shelter, when space was sparse and alone time was even sparcer. They were packed together in that thing like peas in a pod whether it was awake or asleep, and listening to her early morning tired grumbling had at the time been tiresome. Yet now when he was given the opportunity to witness the same behaviour, he found it almost endearing.