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It was beautiful outside, the snow falling over the healing city spread warmth through Chiara as she watched from the bay window. She’d taken the blankets from the bed and piled them at the window once she realized the snow was actually sticking. The only time she’d seen snow stick in Antiva was when she was 10 and that was Antiva City.
After the dragon attack and the Antaam occupation, Treviso deserved beauty, the people deserved beauty. Later Chiara would spend time with Viago and Teia, the holidays were only important to her in the past because of her big brother. Then she’d listen to Teia fawn over the snow and watch Viago act like he didn’t care and that he wasn’t disgustingly in love with the elf.
Right now though she’d take her moment to be disgustingly in love, Illario was still sleeping with the one blanket she’d left him on the bed. A highly trained assassin who would wake up at any sound, but Chiara had taken the blankets from the bed and he didn’t even move. The trust he had in her, the comfort he obviously felt. That was the best gift anyone could give her.
Letting out a sigh she stood up, taking the comforter with her as she crawled onto the bed to join him. His face twitched when she put her cold hands on his bare chest, “Wake up cucciolotto.” She cooed, sliding her hands over his warm skin, “It snowed and I want you to take me outside to see it.”
He was awake now, even with his eyes closed she knew him well enough to tell when he was faking, being an assassin didn’t hurt either. He grumbled and slid his hand around her thigh and pulled her body against his, “It’s not going to stick, you know that cucciolotta.”
Chiara laughed as she grabbed his hand, stopping it from going any further up her leg, “Jokes on you it’s already stuck. The gondolas are beautiful, the statues are covered in snow! I’ve never seen Treviso like this and I want to see all of it.”
As tempting as it would be to stay in bed with him, give into the way he tried to move his body against hers, she was determined. Pulling herself up Chiara took all the blankets with her this time, leaving him open to the cold air. “Going out is so much work, all those people taking your attention away.” Illario reached for her again, “And if we stay here, I can keep you very warm.”
He liked to act like it didn’t bother him, that the looks from the other crows, from the people who knew about what he’d done meant nothing to him. Illario wasn’t as infallible as he liked to act, both she and Lucanis knew that. And they knew that it didn’t matter that Lucanis had nearly forgiven him, people would continue to think what they wanted. Not that she could exactly blame them.
Letting out a soft sigh she reached out and ran her fingers through his hair, “We can walk around Villa Dellamorte or the private docks. You’ll have my attention all to yourself.” His hand grabbed hers when she caressed his cheek, his lips brushing over each of her fingertips. “It’s our holiday too, Illario. We deserve to celebrate as much as anyone else.”
His blue eyes narrowed at her as he let go of her hand, a clear sign she’d won, as she knew she would. He’d always been awful at telling her no, even when she was a little girl following him around, she was an expert on getting her way with him. “Get off the bed if you want me up, you’re too distracting.”
-
Illario had complained about the cold as soon as they left the house, unlike her his contracts hadn’t taken him to many snowy places. His cheeks were reddening and if she was asked he looked utterly adorable. “You should have worn your hair down, it would have covered your ears.”
“I don’t go out with my hair down.” His voice was muffled by the jacket he was hiding his face in. “They wouldn’t be cold if we were at home in bed together. You wanted to come out here and see the snow, so now you look.” Illario waved his hand outwards.
Rolling her eyes Chiara reached up and took his face in her gloved hands squeezing, “You’re the biggest baby I know.” if he tried to hide the smile on his face he was failing, “What would people say if they knew that the extraordinarily debonair Illario Dellamorte cries when he gets cold?”
He took her hands from his face and raised his eyebrows, “Should we tell them? Put out a paper and tell all my past lovers about it?” His eyes shined, a newfound enjoyment coming over him. Illario knew it would annoy her, that’s why he said it. If there was one thing anyone could count on him for, it was a smart remark.
Nodding Chiara pulled her hands from his and walked ahead of him. It didn’t bother her, not really, she was the one who knew all of him. His past ‘lovers’ had been for a night or a weekend. Or evil Venatori magisters that she could bring up if she was feeling feisty enough.
“Maybe you should write to them. I could write to my past lovers too, tell them how my current boyfriend is too much of a cry baby for me. That I’m in the need for a new—” Chiara yelped when arms wrapped around her, lifting her off the ground.
Warm breath on the side of her neck as Illario held onto her. “You live to drive me crazy.” his lips brushed the side of her neck, “You know you’re not going anywhere.”
Holding onto his forearms she leaned back against him, “I’m not. But I will leave you stranded in the cold if you don’t be careful.” Turning to press a kiss to his cheek Chiara laughed softly, “You have snowflakes in your eyelashes.”
Illario hummed, “And you have them in your hair.” He looked over her face, quiet as he stared at her. Resting his forehead against hers “Maybe your snow isn’t too bad. I could learn to like it, in small doses.”