Winter Shushes (YDHAC sequel)

Lonesome Home

Our new home was in the forest. Mason knew how anxious and nervous I would be if we lived in the town, so we had found a nice little home in the forest, not too far from the lake where he had saved me.

It had taken almost all day to get all of our belongings into the house. It was nice and small, not big like the manor. It had a few rooms, a nice view. It was pretty. We had managed to get everything inside just as it began to snow. In Reverse Falls, most of the year it was covered in soft snow. Coated over the ground and making the entire place chilly, I always wondered what it was like to be outside in the snow. Mason promised that we could go do something outside when there was lots of snow.

Mason set down the last box and sighed to himself as he stretched. I looked over at him and tilted my head, "Is this all..?" I asked in my soft voice, fiddling with my fingers as I glanced at the window. Mason walked over to me and took my hand. "Yes, dear. We're all done, see?" Mason had made a big effort to make me feel calm. He was trying harder to try and make me feel better about this, have more emotions, loves me more openly. I smiled a little and nodded a bit, "I-I see-" I confirmed. I wanted to be more independent. Stronger! I couldn't be shy, but it was really tough, okay?

I looked towards the window and began to walk towards it. "Th-The snow is so pretty... Mason, d-do you like the snow?" I asked as I looked over at him with a bit of a shiny look in my eyes. "Me? Of course not. It's cold and wet and ugh-" he shivered and shook his head, my expression dropped. "Oh-" he sighed a little and wrapped an arm around me as he stood beside me.

I wondered what he thought of things. Mason and I had sure changed a bit since that night of the party. Mason drank sometimes now that Mabel wasn't controlling him and now that he was an adult with his own life. And with everything that had happened we were both trying to just... Put it behind us. Mason suggested a Therapist but I quickly shot down the idea. Therapy horrified me. Much less talking to a professional human that was supposed to help me deal with my... Issues. But I was always too scared to even consider taking up the idea.

I sighed to myself and Mason must've noticed because he looked towards me and said, "Something wrong?" Of course, I shook my head. I was trying hard to ignore all that was wrong. All that I was feeling. Of course, I had doubts about our relationship, but Mason was really trying! We just weren't as compatible as people made us seem. We had things to work on. From being so unlike each other it meant we didn't have a lot of agreements. But we never argued... Because of me. The last time Mason raised his voice to me, I was unresponsive for two and a half hours. Dead silent. And frozen.

But for the moment, its us trying to deal with our new life in our new home. I tore my eyes away from the snow outside the window, noticing that the sun was disappearing behind the trees. I noticed my hand was suddenly grabbed and I looked over towards Mason, his cold eyes this time had some sense of... Love. It was a warm feeling. "Come on, Winter is perfect for hot chocolate. You'll love it." He said as he turned and led me to the living room. I sat down on the couch as he let go, watching him disappear into the kitchen.

It was just so new. I didn't know what to say and it took a lot not to apologize or ask for permission or call him Mason instead of Master. I'm not used to him being so careful with me. Maybe he was paranoid... Sure I could never die, despite being so close some time ago.
Water terrifies me.

I sat quietly, fiddling with my fingers as I noticed Mason come back into the living room with two mugs. He gave me one, and I squeaked at how hot it was. "Oh! Yeah, be careful. Its still hot." Mason warned as he sat down beside me.
Why did things feel so weird...?

"U-Um-" I began to speak and it slightly alarmed Mason, making him look at me expectantly. "Y-You're sure this is..  A- a good idea..?" I asked as I looked towards him, studying his blue eyes for a moment. He seemed surprised. "What? Of course I do-" "Don't you mi-miss your old life? Back at the manor. Y-You had everything you could ever wa-want-" I interrupted.
Realistically I just didn't feel like I was enough for him. And he seemed a bit angry by that. "William," the moment he said my name I had looked away. "No, no, look at me dear," he told me, raising his hand to rest on my cheek, turning my head to look back at him. "Having everything I could ever want would never compare to having you"

How did he do that so easily?
"You're perfect Will, you're so kind and... The opposite of me. I know things are hard for you, but its hard for me too. And no one said this would be easy. We got through the first part, and now we have to improve. You'll teach me how to be kinder, as I'll teach you how to be unafraid."

At the time, I didn't understand what he meant by that. But realistically, what he was telling me was that this was our next challenge.
Helping each other be someone worthy of loving.

I'm just afraid I won't be able to be the man he's expecting me to be.

He sipped his drink, so I did the same, still attempting to process what he said.
My eyes lit up with amazement.

"This is how good chocolate is!?"