Chapter Text
Since they started traveling their days had varied greatly in their contents, but nothing could be bad as long as they stayed together. The cold of Sweden was certainly not something either were used to, but they found themselves enjoying it regardless.
Currently they were staying at a small hostel a far bit up north. They had been there for two days, and would stay for another three before continuing further north, slowly but surely making their way to the top of the country to hopefully witness the northern lights in Kiruna around new years.
The place they were staying at now though was an older large log cabin, painted red on the outside making it stand out among the snowy landscape. There were wood stoves in most rooms. They were not necessary for heating however as electrical radiators had been installed some time ago, but they brought a certain charm regardless.
Pran had worried how it would be to share common spaces with other people but it had been surprisingly nice. Currently there were only three other rooms occupied beyond their double bed one. An elderly couple in one, a family with two kids in another, and then finally a lone traveler in the last one. To Pran’s very small surprise Pat had managed to befriend everyone despite only knowing as many words in swedish as he could count on his hands. Pran couldn’t help but sigh affectionately when Pat asked him to cook extra food to share with the rest. He had already planned to do so himself but was unsure how to approach the strangers. It seemed he didn’t have to worry with Pat there.
Speaking of Pat. This morning he had woken up and asked Pran to remain in bed and wait for him. It wasn’t that uncommon of an occurrence, especially after nights where they stayed up late doing unholy things, but it was the first time during this trip.
Still Pran had no reason to worry so he agreed. There was no way he was going to be able to fall asleep again so he turned on the small television they had in their room. It was a rather old one, as thick as it was wide, and only had the basic channels as he had found out on the first night when Pat complained he couldn’t find any fun things to watch.
It was the 13th of December, and Pran had read up on some things regarding the holiday season here so he wasn’t that surprised by what he saw when he turned it on. A choir of a mix of men and women, more of the latter than the former, all dressed in white. The dresses were rather simple with long sleeves and a red sash tied loosely around the waist. Everyone but one carried a lit candle in their hands as they sang in what Pran assumed swedish. It was pretty, he couldn’t deny that, and despite the language barrier there was a sense of warmth to it.
The only person that didn’t carry a candle was the person in the front, Lucia, as he had read online. Lucia was some symbol meant to bring in light in this dark season, and also pastries for some reason. Instead of having to carry something slightly precarious in her hand she instead had a leaf head wreath that had candles mounted on it. Something that seemed just a tad bit worrisome but seeing as this had been a custom for a hundred years he could only assume they knew how to make it safe.
He was a little sad to see that the program ended just shortly after he had started to watch it. But he was happy that he caught the end of it at least.
As he was about to start looking though the other channels for something else there were noises outside the room. Curious, he turned off the television and waited, assuming that Pat was right outside.
What Pran had expected was Pat waltzing through the door, tray in hand with breakfast that he had prepared all proud and satisfied for doing a good job before Pran could even compliment him.
Instead he was greeted with momentary panic as Pat walked through the door a lot more carefully wearing white and a candle-carrying wreath on his head. The fact that he seemed to be singing barely registered as Pran could only picture Pat hurting himself with that.
“Pat- what are you wearing!?”
The worry in his voice had Pat stop immediately, startled.
“Uhm… well.” Pat looked down at himself. Instead of the nice dresses Pran had seen on TV Pat wore what seemed to be two bed sheets tied together to simulate a similar look. At least he had the signature sash around his waist though it was tied a lot more bow-like than the loose tie Pran had seen moments ago. “I got to borrow some things for Maria.”
Maria was one of the children from the family staying in one of the other rooms. Despite having no language in common Pat had managed to befriend her with gestures and his amicable aura.
It was when Pat reached up to touch the wreath that Pran realised that it, thankfully, wasn't real candles but some fake electric ones.
“Oh… I thought those were… real.”
Pat’s own expression wandered from worried to a calm smile. “As if. You would chew me out for being reckless.”
Pran couldn’t deny the statement, but he could redirect it. “I wouldn’t want to risk burning this place down.”
“So your worry wasn’t for me at all?” Pat opened his mouth and eyes going wide in fake hurt. It only lasted for a few seconds before he couldn’t hold it any longer and smiled with delight instead. “Here I just wanted to dress up as Lucy-”
“Lucia.”
“Right, her. She supposedly brings light to the world…” There was a mischievous look in Pat’s eyes as he approached. That self satisfied grin he always got when he was up to something. Pran both loved and hated it because it was unpredictable in its nature. “-and you are my world.”
Pran almost wanted to smack him for the ridiculous amount of cheesiness there was in the statement, but he held himself back only due to the fact that Pat was still carrying a tray with food.
“Cheesy,” Pran said at the very least even if without the extra physical reprimand.
“And you love it,” Pat countered as he sat down.
The disgusted expression Pran showed said otherwise, though even he knew that the look didn’t fully reach his eyes. “Who told you that?”
“Hm- you did.”
“When?”
“If you didn’t like it you wouldn’t have stayed with me for this long. That’s basically the same.”
It was almost laughable, the mere suggestion that leaving Pat was even an option for Pran. But he wasn’t able to say that outloud, as it would be leaving him a bit too vulnerable if he did. Instead he did the next best thing to convey it. Scooting over a bit he sat next to Pat on the bed, his eyes wandering over his boyfriend’s face.
“Cat got your tongue?” Pat continued when Pran stayed quiet, perhaps once again looking a bit too happy with himself. He enjoyed making Pran speechless and a blushy mess a bit too much in Pran’s own opinion.
From one moment to the next Pran had moved his head, placing a quick peck on Pat’s cheek. “Perhaps I don’t mind it that much. I’ll just have to deal with it since you are so head over heels for me.”
Pat’s eyes sparkled, stunned for a moment, and Pran enjoyed every second, every micro expression passing over Pat’s face.
“You are the one that’s head over heels for me.”
“Says the one that is dressed up in bedsheets for me.”
“... You win this once,” Pat pouted.
Pran smiled satisfied before they started to dig into the tray with breakfast that Pat had brought. Though as they did Pran couldn’t help but to think that he was winning everyday as long as he got to be with Pat.