Love Thaws: Melting

Control

Elsa gasped. The thick darkness made the air around her seem heavy. Where am I? She tried to stand, but found herself strapped down. She inhaled sharply, panic shooting through her. She twisted and writhed and fought. She felt movement, another presence. Only when a strong hand clamped over her mouth did she realize she'd been screaming. She felt the person shift towards her. Elsa closed her eyes, trying to suppress more panic. Where was she? What would they do to her? She felt another hand brush her wet cheek.

"Hey, hey, hey. It's okay, Elsa."

Elsa stiffened. Had Jack betrayed her? The thought stung. His hand still covered her mouth.

"Elsa, calm down. Can you calm down?"

She bobbed her head eagerly. She felt him lower his hand. With a 'click' the straps slid off of her body. She heard him grunt as he opened a door and stepped out. The frigid night air chilled her wet face. Elsa scrutinized the area the best she was able, feeling confused. Jack's strong arms slid under her neck and under her knees. Elsa inhaled sharply and scooted back in her seat. She didn't want to be restrained again.

"Elsa, it's okay. You can trust me. Always."

Elsa liked that word. Always. Hesitantly, she let Jack slid his arms underneath her. He lifted her out of the seat with ease. Elsa glanced up. The stars were breath-taking. The showered the sky in pristine white pin-points of twinkling light. The sky was a rich, velvety blue, almost black. She heard a door slam shut and Jack began walking, crunching leaves underneath his feet. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the dark. Elsa relaxed in his grip once she saw where they were. Home. 

Oddly enough, she'd never really claimed any house as a home after her parents died. This would be the first. The cabin seemed warm and welcoming, even when bathed in complete darkness. Jack managed to open the cabin door while still holding her. Elsa hadn't noticed that the cabin had its own particular aroma, smelling of wood and vaguely of cinnamon.

"I can walk now," she murmured, her voice still feeling slightly hoarse.

"I know." Jack didn't set her down.

"Then why are you still holding me?"

"Because tomorrow you won't be too tired to push me away. Tomorrow, I might not get to hold you."

"Oh," she whispered. 

Something warm blossomed within her. Her eyes felt dry and her eyelids heavy. She rested her head on Jack's chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. He had a good heart. Her body became completely limp in his arms. Jack held her close. She was gently laid onto a soft bed. The blankets were slightly cool. Elsa moved to wrap the blankets around her, but Jack was quicker. He tucked the blanket around her and gently settled her head on a pillow. Elsa didn't open her eyes. She felt his warm lips brush her forehead before she drifted to sleep.

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Elsa moaned quietly. Her limbs felt so heavy. Even though she saw sunlight glowing behind her eyelids, she didn't bother to get up. After a few moments, she summoned the will-power necessary to wake up. Elsa pried her eyelids open, blinking several times until she was sure they'd remain that way. The ceiling was triangular, getting smaller and smaller as it traveled high and higher. Golden wooden planks, glistening in the sunlight, were placed horizontally, covering the ceiling. Between the planks there was a glue-like white substance, some sort of sealant. 

She turned towards Jack, surprised to find him watching her. She felt a faint warmth in her cheeks when she remembered his comment last night. Had he really said that? Or was it just her tired mind conjuring up words? Elsa hoped the former was true. The blankets moved slightly as his chest rose and fell. She watched him back, studying every feature on his face. His face was chiseled and defined with a strong jawline, prominent cheekbones. He had a perfectly straight nose, on either side of which were glittering azure eyes. The lower half of his face looked slightly rough and scratchy. Elsa wanted to rub her hand over his jaw, but kept her hands at her sides. 

He remained completely still underneath her scrutiny. Her gaze took a sharp dive downwards, to his lips. She remembered how warm and gentle they were, how they had the power to create heat within her, to make her warm. No one else had made her feel warm before. Despite the strong, hard characteristics of his face, his lips were soft. Her breath hitched and she turned back towards the ceiling before her feelings ran away with her. The ceiling was a much safer view. The ceiling didn't make her feel these incredible emotions that had a tendency to spiral out of control.

She remained quiet and still for a moment longer. "I'm sorry." Her voice sounded calm, collected. Not a trace of last night's hoarseness.

"For what?" His voice was so deep and masculine, yet it had a silky quality to it that made it almost elegant.

Elsa scrambled to gather her thoughts. "When I yelled at you. I didn't mean it. I know I can trust you." She felt him shift closer. 

"Do you?"

Elsa considered this a moment. A tendril of hair fell in front of her face. Jack didn't brush it away like he normally would. She closed her eyes, trying to survive on memories of his touch. She missed it. It caused a terrible aching inside of her. Did she trust him? With her life, yes. With her heart... Elsa wondered if she even possessed one. Was it whole, like a normal person's? Or had it chipped away over the years? Maybe it had frozen over. 

Her fingers traced the designs on the comforter. What kind of trust was Jack referring to? "Trust you? What do you mean, specifically? With what?"

"With everything." 

His deep voice made her heart tumble and flip inside of her chest. She suddenly wanted to scoot closer. She bit her lip, knowing the answer, but not wanting to reveal it. Would Jack demand this of her? Would she hurt him by giving him the answer? Shouldn't she just give him the answer he was looking for?

Elsa realized she had hesitated too long when Jack sat up. He only partially managed to stifle his sigh before he stood and abruptly left the room. Elsa felt like she had done something wrong, though she knew for a fact that she hadn't. Elsa twirled a strand of her hair around her finger. She stayed a few more minutes before flinging aside the covers. She changed into a new outfit of jeans and a navy blue sweater before walking downstairs. Jack was pouring milk into his cereal.

"Mind if we have cereal for breakfast?" He seemed slightly distant, but polite.

Elsa suppressed a sigh, realizing it was her fault he was so distant. After all, that's what she had asked of him. "No, I don't." Elsa poured herself a bowl of sweetened flakes.

Jack swirled his cereal. Both of them descended into silence, but it wasn't a comfortable silent like before. This one felt awkward and cold. 

Jack cleared his throat. "So, I found this frozen pond not too far from here."

Elsa swallowed her mouthful of milk and cereal. "Oh. Is it pretty?"

Jack glanced down at his cereal. "Beautiful. It's perfect for ice-skating."

Elsa looked at Jack's bowed head, her curiosity piqued. Why wasn't Jack making eye contact with her? "Oh?"

He nodded in response before glancing up at her. "Maybe we could... go together sometime. Just for fun."

Elsa saw a hopeful spark in his azure eyes. She chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully. "I'd like that." Surely some ice-skating wouldn't do anything to her emotional control.

"Great." He smiled broadly and Elsa suddenly doubted if she'd have any control at all.