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The quietness of a cold brittle morning, where the snow has settled and the blues meet a comforting orange in the sky. The trees stilled as birds sang their routine melody. Letting it bounce around. Welcoming those nearby to a new day.
In a large old worn house, the wood along the floors froze to the touch, but yet silent and peaceful.
Illustrations of western landscapes bathed in sunlight on the walls, capturing the dust dance around it in the air. The carved statues half finished laid in the office in their slumber, cradled around their shavings and tools.
On the counter top, a coffee mug that had an etched image of an owl on it stood, waiting patiently to be warmed up by a hot beverage. Something the object came accustomed to.
Up the creaky stairs and in the biggest room of the second floor. Where several records were displayed on the wall, all worn and well played. Loved and adored throughout the years even through an infectious outbreak.
A man laid in a giant bed alone. His head to the side resting on his arm that folded behind his head.
His chest rose and fell peacefully as he slumbered.
Tranquil sounds of birds chirping and his soft snoring was all that was present in the house.
He wasn't expected to wake up for at least a few hours. He had traded places with Jessie for the morning shift to instead have the evening patrol.
It was his birthday after all, why not have a sleep in?
His bed could swallow him up whole. The warmth and comfort of the blankets that contrasted the crispy air. What person wouldn't be in deep sleep right now?
“Joel!!” Suddenly a speedy figure ran in and jumped onto the bed in which he was resting in.
Joel jolted up in a panic to then see her there. Staring back at him with a mischievous grin. “You've slept in.” she whispered.
He flopped back down onto his bed, pulling the blanket back over him. To protect himself from the harsh cold air and to let her know that he is sleeping. He gave her nothing but a grumble in response.
“Joel… Joel get up.”
“Joel isn't here right now.” he mumbled.
“Oh I see. So I’m here all alone at big ol’ mean Joel's home- what a shame if I were to..” She crawled onto him. Laying down with only the blanket between them both. “Cut all the strings of his guitars…”
Slowly and cautiously he pulled the blanket back to then stare at her. “Mean? I’m not mean. You’re mean for thinking about damaging my possessions.”
“Everyone thinks you're mean” she planted her hand square in his face and patted him. “Even the horse groomers.”
He sighed, reaching over and intertwining her hand with his, pushing her hand away from his face. “And do you believe them?”
“I’ve had first hand experience that you're mean. So yes, I believe every word they say.”
He scoffed “really?”
“Oh yeah! I can recount perfectly the time you’ve manhandled me.”
A wheezy laugh that developed into a chuckle left him, making her stomach feel all fuzzy and warm. Oh that gentle laugh “Manhandled you? What- like this?” He threw the blanket up and rolled her up into it like a giant blanket burrito.
Letting out a single yelp she attempted at wiggling out of his hold.
While he held her snuggling into her he couldn't help but hum out a soft laugh as she attempted to break free.
After a while she gave up. “Meanie!”
“Shhh, I’m trying to sleep.” He mumbled, tightening his grip around her.
Worming her way out of the blanket, popping her head out to then suddenly see him there, as her only view. He was actually trying to get back to sleep, holding her like she was a god dayum blanket worm.
His eyes closed, soft and undisturbed, a rare vulnerable state for him. She couldn't help but take it all in. Snaking out her arms she reached up and cupped his face, rubbing his cheeks with her thumbs.
“What are you doing?” he murmured. “Your hands are cold.” He frowned.
“Your face feels like toast.”
He opened one eye to look at her, catching her smiling up at him. “Is this your way of trying to get me to get up for breakfast?”
“Not really. I could stay like this forever but I would very much like to make you breakfast in bed.”
“Oh?” He pulled a face “Breakfast in bed? For me?”
“you’ll have to let go of me first!”
“Hmm… Do I have to?”
“Unless you want us to starve?”
“hmm…Less talking, more sleeping.”
Her mouth went agape. “Joel!?” Gently slapping his cheeks “Wake up! Wake up!”
He wasn't moving. She resorted to kicking her feet and then Joel let go of her. All her wriggling and kicking made her fly off the bed and hit the cold hard floor. He couldn't help but sit up and burst out laughing.
“You okay there?” he asked, peeking over the bed, holding back a stiff laugh. “Now that wouldn't have happened if you weren’t wriggling so much.”
Shooting up, with the blanket wrapped around her, she glared at him. “Very funny.”
Leaning up against his pillow, Joel just looked at her tenderly. Letting his eyes wash over her before reaching out to yank his blanket back. “Very.”
Shivers ran up her spine as she just crossed her arms at him. “You're not going to get up are you?”
“I don't see why I have to.”
“You can't stay in bed all day.”
“And why not?” he spoke into his pillow, muffled, full of tease.
“Because I said so.”
“Hmmm hmm.”
“Joel.”
“Hmm.”
“You better not be falling back asleep.”
“Hm.”
“Joel.” Silence. “Joel for god's sake-” She crept under the duvet cover and sat on top of him, saddling him. “If you're really asleep I swear to god.”
He was wearing nothing but his boxers. His body radiated heat, the kind of heat that if you snuggled up against you’d fall asleep instantly. Hair sprawled out all over his chest and arms. She ran her hands up his chest as she let herself fall down to rest her elbows on him. Leaning her chin on the palm of her hand as she just started poking his face.
“Hmm.” he groaned, face scrunching up as she pestered him.
“Joel.” she sang “wake up~”
His eyes fluttered open, capturing her beaming above him, he couldn't help but reach up and tuck a hair behind her ear.
“Happy Birthday Joel.” She whispered leaning down and planting a ghost of a kiss onto his lips, breathing her next words lightly across them. “I love you.”
“Love you too."