Found in Winter (Sergei Dragunov x OC)

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Claudia was gripping at the reigns of her horse, looking around for any suspicious movements of any kind. The sound of snow being stepped on by the hooves of her horse, and her shaky breath shivering from the freezing cold, she grumbles to herself, wondering why she was in this position.

The all-familiar trees and direction had started to give Claudia some nostalgia, it had been a long time since she had been in this area. While she was gazing around the premises, Sergei was starting to feel light-headed. Breathing softly and his vision started to become blurry.

A house in the middle of the woods was seen, almost covered by the snow that was never maintained by anyone since it was abandoned. "Here we are," Claudia spoke. She jumped down from her horse and finally saw Sergei's state. He was paler than before, and his eyes had started to droop. He gets off as well and tumbles to Claudia's grasp, her supporting his stand.

Wrapping her hand around his waist while the other held on to his hand that he instinctively put around her shoulder, she helped him get inside the house. The house was a three-story building, and inside, Sergei noticed a few taxidermized heads of bears and deer, some only the antlers and a lot of furred furniture, all covered in webs and dust.

At the fireplace they passed a hung giant family portrait from above, a brunette woman smiling softly with a blonde man beside her whose expression was the same, both looking formal. And finally, a very young blonde girl who had the biggest smile, wearing a blue frilly dress.

Sergei felt that he was familiar with the young girl, staring intently at the portrait until he realized it. He glances back at Claudia who doesn't pay any attention to the portrait. That child was her, that was her family.

They passed the second floor and climbed a ladder that headed to the attic, where large crates that were filled with similar items that could be found in the living room, were left to collect dust. Sergei slumped and sat down on the floor, creaking ever so slightly, and rested his back against the wall. He wasn't looking all too good, Claudia worries. She kneels down and calls his name, "Sergei, Sergei."

He wasn't responding, he was drifting to sleep from the cold. His eyes were heavy and his mouth was slightly open, shivered breaths escaping. Claudia quickly took off her gloves and touched his face to feel his temperature, it was cold as ice, "I need to get him warm."

She then takes off her coat and the next layer of the sweater, "Sergei, I can't make a fire or else they'll see the smoke. So, I'm going to have to do this instead." She says to him, hoping that he would allow her, but there is no other choice. She removed his black leather gloves, and his large jacket, and unbuttoned his polo shirt that he wore underneath.

Blowing her hands with warm air from her breath and rubbing her hands against each other, she planted the small heat on Sergei's face, repeating it a few times, "He's super cold."

She then sits next to him, positioning herself to be close to his body then pulls the coats to blanket them. She continued to rub her hands and exhale heat before embracing him with her warmth. His sculpted body was hugged by her smaller torso. She rests her head against his chest, hearing his shaky breathing.

Without thinking, Sergei lifted his hand and put his hand on Claudia's shoulder and the other to her waist pulling her closer, seeking more warmth from her. Her eyes widened in surprise, peeking a glimpse of his face. His eyes were now closed while his brows furrowed. 

As she stared into his face, she never thought of it but now she had a closer look, she found him attractive. He had always been cold and unreadable, but this time he looked peaceful. His scar on his lips and at the bridge of his nose got her attention, a story that she wanted to learn from him but would never be told.