somnolescent

hour ten - elyshia and salvator make snow angels on the rooftop

"There is a primal reassurance in being touched, in knowing that someone else, someone close to you, wants to be touching you. There is a bone-deep security that goes with the brush of a human hand, a silent, reflex-level affirmation that someone is near, that someone cares." - Jim Butcher, White Night

☾☆☽

by the time elyshia and salvator were heading back to her apartment to warm up, there was two inches of snow on the ground (and steadily rising, unlike the temperature). well, not exactly her apartment. she wasn't quite ready for the consequences of taking salvator to a room with a bed. or any place they could lie down on and do... certain things.

"h-hey ely?" asked salvator, teeth chattering loudly as elyshia yanked open the apartment building doors. "i th-think you owe me a h-hot ch-chocolate."

elyshia cracked a smile and practically leaped inside the building, closely followed by salvator. they both let out a sigh of relief as the warmth enveloped them like a big bear hug. the fire in the fireplace was still crackling, but the flames were considerably smaller than a little over an hour ago. "i'll give you your chocolate when we get to my apartment."

salvator laughed shakily as he practically collapsed on a loveseat, closer to the fire. elyshia did the same on the other side of him, the other loveseat.

"right, as if you'd let me into your apartment anytime soon," said salvator, thankfully good-naturedly.

"it's inevitable," replied ely with a shrug and he raised an eyebrow but didn't ask any questions about it.

rather, he said with a small pout, "why are you all the way over there?"

"because i want to be closer to the fire too...?" elyshia said slowly and he shook his head.

"am i not hot enough for you?"

at that, elyshia really couldn't help but laugh. hard. "your form of hotness can't stop me from shivering."

he frowned. "don't you remember i'm your turn on?"

she rolled her eyes at him. "being my turn-on doesn't make me stop shivering."

he winked, a small smirk slowly growing on his lips and elyshia instantly regretted what she said. "oh? or can i?" he leaned forward slightly in his seat and instictively, elyshia sat back.

"no you cannot."

salvator sighed and slumped back, all forms of michief gone. "come here. you'll be warmer when someone hugs you." she pursed her lips and he looked at her pleadingly.

"okay olaf," sighed elyshia at last, standing up. she made her way to him and salvator practically pulled her down beside him, enveloping her in a cold and wet, but comforting, embrace. "you're cold."

he pulled back slightly, but still had his arms around her. he was grinning. "not as cold as you are. but that's okay. i'm hot enough for the both of us."

"what part about you're cold don't you understand?" she grumbled and he laughed. nonetheless, elyshia slowly wound her arms around him and they stayed like that for a few minutes until their freezing clothing heated up a bit.

finally, salvator pulled away first and elyshia (reluctantly) did as well. "let's play in the snow."

she stared at him with confused eyes. so he repeated it again. "let's play, outside, in the snow!"

his childish enthusiasm was what made elyshia fully process his words. "um... wasn't the whole point of the hugging to keep us warm? the point of going inside where there was fire and heat and warmth?"