A Wolf of Ice and Iron [OLD]

Chapter 27

Adras

It's safe to say I'm confused. Winter is in a good mood, and has been for a few days, and Morel is jumpy and avoiding him. It's as if the tables have turned completely, and I'm left in the middle without a clue as to why.

Darren sits across the table from me. He pops a blackberry into his mouth, and cringes as it turns out to be sour. But he chews and swallows anyway. "So, you're a human? What's that like?"

I look at him in surprise. He's been rather silent this whole time, and we've been sitting for half an hour. I'm not hungry enough to eat breakfast, so all I'm doing is sitting and thinking. "Well... it's not exactly special. It's just normal."

Darren doesn't seem satisfied with my answer. "How do you fly?"

I frown. "We... don't?"

He seems confused, then shakes his head briefly. "Whatever. So. What about Winter and Morel, huh?" He jerks his head toward the door with a smirk.

His smirk is playful and it makes my insides twist. He's something I haven't seen in a faerie before. Erotic and shameless, flirtatious and romantic and full of youthful life and curiosity. He can't be much older than me. While Winter and Morel are centuries old and have seen everything I haven't and won't ever see, Darren seems to have just as much life experience as I.

"What about them?" I ask, but I'm fairly sure I know where this is heading.

Darren shoves another blackberry or two into his mouth. "They totally want to fuck each other."

My face heats up tremendously at the foul language. "Darren!"

"What?" He smirks and nibbles on another berry. It splits and dribbles red down his chin. "It's true. If not a little bit more graphic. But they used to be smitten, y'know."

"Used to be?" I echo, tilting my head. I know most of this already, but...

"Ah, my apologies. They're still absolutely head over heels but won't admit it." He grins and breaks into laughter. "It's funny. But I think we should help them."

"I think we should let them sort it out themselves," I say in response. "It's never good to meddle in things like this. And they seem to be getting a little closer. They just need time." I thoroughly believe what I'm saying. I think they're getting close to resolving it.

Darren snorts and rolls his eyes, incredibly dramatic. "They've had centuries to sort it out. I say we help them out a bit." He smirks and leans over the table to whisper.

"They won't do this by themselves," he says softly. His breath is warm as it tickles my face, and my hair stands up along my arms and on my neck. His eyes are black and full of those secrets I think about still. What does he hide? Will I ever know? I most likely won't.

"I think they're perfectly fine by themselves," I reply curtly, trying not to stutter as he pulls away to sit down again. "I'm serious. Nothing good comes from meddling."

Darren scowls and grumbles, fiddling with his fingernails. They're freshly painted black. "If you say so. But I still think they're going to need help."

"Then we can help if that's apparent. But I think we should leave it for a bit longer." I smile and manage a laugh. "Why are you so invested anyway?"

"He's my brother, and he's always such a moping mess when he comes home and he's so worried about Winter, oh my god Darren Winter is sad what do I do," he whines and makes a face. "It's disgusting."

I laugh. "It sounds like it."

|~~~|

"Adras, just in time." Winter smiles at me, beckoning me forward. "I wanted to ask you something."

He looks a little restless, unsure. A bit upset. He smiles, but it is half-hearted, and he blinks a few times as he shuffles cards in his fingers, deft and practiced and quick.

"Yes?" I sit down, tilting my head in interest.

Winter takes a few moments to reply. "I... I wanted to ask for advice. On something... personal." It's difficult for him to get out the words, I can hear that clearly. He licks his lips. "Adras... if you've made a mistake with someone special, what do you do?"

I startle. I think I know exactly what he means. Or rather, who. I need to choose my words carefully. "Well, I... I've never really had-"

"I know that you know who I mean." Winter says, his words clipped but shaky. His eyes are teary. "I've made mistakes, and I don't know what to do."

I blink quickly. "Well, I'd... I'd tell them how I felt. Feel. How I made mistakes. Just... Winter, do what your instincts tell you."

He blinks furiously and looks at me with a bitter smile. "Do what my instincts tell me... tch." He scoffs lightly and looks away as tears threaten to spill from his eyes.

I reach out a hand, and place it on his shoulder. He leans into the touch, as if he needs it, craves it. But I can still feel his tense muscle. I'm not the person he needs right now. "Your instincts are never wrong. Even if you think they might be right then, they aren't. I promise you."

Winter closes his eyes for a long time. He's silent, and he licks his dry lips once or twice. Tears do not spill onto his cheeks. He swallows, and then opens his eyes. They are bright again, and a thrill in my chest appears at the sight.

He smiles a little, a quirk of his lips. "I didn't think it would come to this." He says, his voice soft. Bitterly amused.

"I know," I say softly.

"I don't think anyone truly knows," Winter whispers, blinking a few times and looking down at his hands, where he sits with them between his legs. "But I can fix it. I can fix it." Those last words are to himself, painfully private whispers.

He stands, and my hand falls to my side. He turns and goes to his hat rack, whipping a scarf off of it and wrapping it around his neck, shoving his feet into boots hurriedly. He shakes out his hands and breaks into a radiant smile.

It's like diamonds during sunset, a beautiful smile that show shining teeth. He's beautiful, I know that much, I would never deny it. And part of me truly is happy for him as he rushes out the door without another word.

I can only hope Morel is ready.