One-Shots and Holiday Specials

Snowy Nights and Northern Lights

(Yes, Kat, this is because I need an outlet to give them a bit of adorableness they won't actually get for awhile.)

Max and Fenir (Max's POV) 

Dating a nearly 500 year old warlock with the scars of his past, mentally and physically, was definitely not easy. Being one of the fae (more specifically, a gremlin. A type of fae that isn't harmed by cold iron that Christianity brought like all the others are), one with emotional scars more so than physical, made it all the more difficult. And being told I was bipolar by practically everyone I spoke to put the cherry on top of this insane concoction.

And being woken up by a screaming, angry warlock who had just come out of a nightmare was one of the few experiences I dealt with.

I rolled over and pinned Fenir down, wrists over his head and hand over his mouth to keep him from saying a spell to fling me off. It had happened before, I thought as I straddled his waist to keep him down. "Fenir! Fenir, calm down. It was a nightmare, it's in the past," I said soothingly. He kept struggling and glaring at me for a few minutes, but gradually settled down until he slumped back against the bed, closing his eyes with a pained sound. I moved my hand and let go of his wrists, immediately engulfed in his arms.

I settled down onto his chest for a moment, then wiggled to get loose. "Hey. Let me up, I'm going to go make dinner," I said. He growled and held me tighter. "Do you want to eat or not?"

"I'd rather have you for dinner," he said, green eyes glinting.

"We just finished and I'm sore, so let go," I said firmly and flicked his nose. He pouted, but released me. I slid to my feet, stretching my arms over my head and arching my back. I felt his eyes on me and smirked a bit, wiggling my hips at him. He groaned and I chuckled, pulling on boxers and a pair of sweatpants.

"I'll be in the kitchen," I said and walked out. As soon as the door closed, I started smiling like an idiot. The full year I had to be there was almost up, but we both knew I would stay unless something happened. I flicked the radio on as I went and brought my arms up over my head to clap to the beat, spinning on sock-clad feet into the kitchen. I was greeted by the sight of the orphaned fox pup, Aria, I had found in the woods sitting near her bowl of food waiting for me. "Good morning, Aria," I said and twirled past her, opening the closet to pour her some dog food, then putting leftover steak on top.

Then I set about making dinner.

Fenir had told me I moved like the wind, silent and focused, in two situations: when I danced and when I cooked. I took his word for it, having seen a video of me dancing with my older brother Sam when I was younger. Both of us were extremely graceful and had the time and beat of the song down perfectly, moving in sync.

As I cooked, I allowed myself to remember the good times from when I was a child. Dancing with my brother and mother, singing and learning to work metals with my father, hunting with our dogs, and learning to ride horses (something I'd never particularly liked. I enjoyed being able to control my own direction, thank you very much).

I put the lasanga in the oven and stood in the open space in the kitchen, swaying to the music. A pair of arms wrapped around my waist and I felt an instinctive second of fear before Fenir buried his nose in my neck. I swatted the top of his head. "How many times have I told you not to interrupt me while I'm dancing?" I asked.

"One hundred and three," he replied and I felt him smiling. I snorted and leaned back into his chest.

"Then don't make it one hundred and four. Come on, let's go outside while the lasagna cooks." He nodded and followed me outside into the snow, after putting on shoes of course. Neither of us were cold, even though we were both shirtless. I had a metal collar around my neck and I'd made him a few rings, and all of the metal generated heat from my magic, though it didn't burn us. It zinged and ran throughout the body, warming as it went.

I stopped and sat down on the porch, brushing away snow. Fenir settled down next to me and I put my head on his shoulder. It was full dark out, the moon waning so it was a slight sliver in the sky. We sat in silence for a few minutes before I grinned and said, "Fenir. The Northern Lights." I pointed and he followed my finger, then started smiling too. I'd always been fascinated by the Lights and stayed up late most nights to watch for them. Fenir humored me and let me while he slept.

As I watched them, I could feel Fenir's gaze on me. Finally I felt him wrap his arms around me and draw me over onto his lap. I adjusted and got comfortable before putting my head on his shoulder again. "I love this," I said softly. "The Lights, sitting here with you, the snow. It's gorgeous. It's...unreal."

"It's very real and it's gorgeous too," he agreed, but rather than watching the Lights, his eyes were on my face. I turned my dark eyes, flecked with golds, silvers, and greens, and smiled at him. He smiled back and kissed me lightly. I kissed him back passionately for a moment before withdrawing, dropping my head on his shoulder and closing my eyes.

This was what made my life worth it. Before I'd been brought here, I would've let myself be killed if it meant I didn't have to be chased, stalked, and tortured by sick creatures wanting my power.

This was what I loved. These snowy nights and the Northern Lights, sitting here with Fenir, who I was pretty sure I was in love with.

I smiled again. I'd never been happier.

~~**~~

This is just sort of a short story that's...there. Kat, you know where it comes from of course. I had to do it and I was just squealing the whole time I wrote it. Haha, I might be able to get back into writing some shorts like this (I mean involving our characters, Kat, yes).