Tempus Fugit {Who Killed Markiplier}

~Night Out {part two}~

We skated for hours until we were numb. It was nearly ten o'clock and the snow clouds had depleted, revealing the many stars that now dotted the sky. Damien beckoned me to the edge of the lake. I frowned, sad that the night had to be over so soon. He helped me take the skates off the soles of my boots, then we fridgidly got into the car. "Did you have fun?" he asked, his cheeks flushed a dusty pink from the cold. I gave him a smile. "Yes, of course. I'm just sad it has to be over." I replied. "Who said it was? There's still one last place I have to take you." he said, starting up the car. I beamed. "Where is it?"

"You'll see soon! If you'd like to, you can rest until we get there. It takes about another hour."

I nodded. "Let me climb in the back."

I stepped over the armrest and into the back seats, lying down across the cushions. "I'll wake you when we get there." he said gently. I closed my eyes as he turned down the radio and my thoughts began to drift away as sleep enveloped me.

~*~*~

Soon after, I awoke to Damien's soft lips pressed against my forehead. "Iris, we're here." he whispered, tenderly brushing my bangs out of my eyes. I let out a yawn and sat up. "Already?" I asked sleepily. He chuckled. "I wouldn't have gotten you up if we weren't." I slid out of the car. "So where are we?" I asked. "You'll see! Follow me."

He opened the trunk and lifted out a large box. I cocked my eyebrows, but he simply smiled. "You'll seeeeeee." he drawled. I laughed at the childishness in his voice. "Alright, alright."

He held the box under his arm, then took my hand in his as we started up a snowy trail lined with trees. The subtle crunch of our feet in the fresh snow was the only sound around us, but the silence was comfortable, not awkward.

The trees became sparse as we neared the path's end, and a cliff's edge was revealed. A few feet from the edge was a tarp strung over what looked like two poles. Going around it, I found it was covering a woven hammock that looked out over a breathtaking view of the entire city miles below us. "Holy shit.." I muttered in awe, "We can see everything from up here!" Damien laughed. "I know! I drive up here to think sometimes. It's especially nice at night when the lights are almost all you can see." He plopped the box down next to the hammock. "Here, go ahead and get in." he said. I trudged over and carefully sat down as he opened the box. Inside were three fluffy blankets. "You thought of everything." I said as he threw a blue one over me. "Well I couldn't have us freeze to death on Christmas Eve, now could I?" I laughed. "Good call."

He scooped the remaining two blankets into his arms, then sat down next to me with a huff, his cloud warm breath puffing through his lips. I helped him wrap the blankets around both of us, then huddled close to him. I rested my head against his chest, and listened to his heartbeat aligning with mine. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.

"I hope you have a good tolerance to the cold." he joked. "Unless we stay the night, I think I should be fine." I retorted. He chuckled and kissed the top of my head. "I hope you've had fun tonight." he muttered into my hair. "I did." I replied quietly.

A gust of wind lightly rocked the hammock as though an invisible person with cold hands had come up behind us and given us a push. I shivered and wrapped my blanket tighter around my shoulders. Damien noticed this and slipped his arm around my shoulders. I stretched up and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "I love you." I said. He smiled and rested his head on top of my own. "I love you too."

~*~*~

For a long time we laid in each other's arms, our noses as red as cherries from the cold, but our hearts happy. Every so often we'd chat, but we mostly silently enjoyed the view and each other's presence.

Suddenly off in the distance church bells began to ring. Damien smiled and kissed my temple. "Merry Christmas Iris." he said quietly. "Merry Christmas my love." I replied with a tired smile. "We should head back." he said after a moment's pause. I yawned and nodded. "Agreed."

We stood and the blankets fell away, the nip of the cold suddenly stinging our skin. I gathered them up and messily put them back in the box. Damien lifted it before taking my hand as we walked back down the path we came.

~*~*~

My lover drove me back home, his quiet humming slowly lulling me to sleep. When the car stopped, I heard him open the car door, then it shut again. The subtle sound of footsteps in the snow approached my side, then gentle arms lifted me up bridal style as I was carried into the warmth of my home.

His steps were slow and careful as he made his way up the spiral staircase to my room. He sat down with me in his lap and amiably slipped off my sweater and undershirt so I'd be more comfortable. Then with the same careful grace, he laid me down and tucked the covers around me, then placed the ghost of a kiss on my lips. I opened my eyes as he began to walk back down the stairs. "Damien!" I called out quietly. He turned, his whiskey brown eyes sparkling with the moonlight that streamed through my window. "Yes?"

I paused, momentarily distracted by his gorgeous eyes. "Will you.. Will you stay with me tonight?" I asked sheepishly. He beamed, his smile as bright as the moonlight that shone on him. "Of course." he replied.

He kicked off his shoes, his coat, and his shirt, then slipped under the covers with me. I inched into his embrace, curling into a ball and pressing my back to his chest. He wrapped his arm around my stomach and buried his face into the nape of my neck. I stifled a giggle at the ticklish touch of his stubble in my skin. "Good night my love." he murmured. "Good night." I replied lazily. A soft "merry Christmas" was the last I heard before sleep overtook me.