Work Text:
Wriothesley looked up from his desk when he heard the door to his office creak open. His eyes flickered down to his schedule for the day, which didn’t have any meetings listed. He listened to the footsteps that were slowly ascending the steps, accompanied by a resounding thud of…a cane.
“Neuvillette?” Wriothesley called. “Is that you?”
Moments later, Neuvillette arrived at the top of the stairs, exhaustion painted on his face, visible in the way he carried himself. He was bundled up in a winter coat, covered with more layers than even his usual outfit. He pulled the coat tighter around himself, his hand gripping his cane as he met Wriothesley’s gaze across the room.
Wriothesley couldn’t help but notice that there were snowflakes adorning Neuvillette’s hair. His already ethereal beauty was amplified by the small crystalline structures that were slowly returning to their liquid state as Neuvillette stood in the warm interior of Wriothesley’s office.
“Hey, are you alright?” Wriothesley asked, standing from his chair and crossing the room. He placed a steadying hand on Neuvillette’s shoulder, leading him to the couch.
“It is cold.” Neuvillette said this as if the sudden drop in temperature in the overworld was the most offensive thing he had ever witnessed.
“Yeah?” Wriothesley remembered that Sigewinne had mentioned that there would be a bit of colder weather this week, though he didn’t remember seeing snow in the forecast. Unless… “Did the cold really upset you that much?”
Neuvillette nodded as he sat down on the sofa, leaning his cane against the table before him. Wriothesley sat down beside him, chuckling to himself when Neuvillette promptly buried his face in Wriothesley’s shoulder.
“Why don’t you take off that coat of yours?” Wriothesley suggested. “It's covered in snow, and that’s only going to make you colder in the long run.”
Neuvillette mumbled in protest, but shrugged the coat from his shoulders. He then pressed himself closer to Wriothesley, wrapping his arms around Wriothesley in an attempt to catch every wisp of warmth that emanated from the human’s body.
“It is cold up in the overworld, but you are very warm,” Neuvillette commented. “Especially for someone who wields cryo.”
“Is that a compliment?” Wriothesley asked.
“Yes, love.” Neuvillette shifted his weight, placing his face against the nape of Wriothesley’s neck. His skin was warmest there, and Neuvillette soaked in the heat, desperately trying to rid himself of the chill that had followed him from overworld. “Wriothesley, dearest, I am tired. Can we go to bed?”
“It’s the middle of the day, Neuvillette,” Wriothesley chuckled.
“Please?” Neuvillette whispered, and Wriothesley made the mistake of turning to look at Neuvillette’s face. He had seen Sigewinne and the other melusines do this, a phenomenon that was known as ‘puppy dog eyes.’ Wriothesley was utterly powerless against them.
Wriothesley sighed. “Fine.”
Wriothesley scooped Neuvillette into his arms and carried him off to his own private chambers, smiling all the while as Neuvillette nuzzled into the side of his neck.
Pushing the bedroom door open, Wriothesley stepped inside and placed Neuvillette in the bed.
“I just need to let someone know that I’m taking the rest of the day off work. Do you need anything? Tea, water, something to eat?” Wriothesley offered.
“Not that I can think of,” Neuvillette began, “but could I borrow your coat while you are gone?”
“Of course,” Wriothesley said, removing his own coat and handing it to Neuvillette.
Neuvillette instantly buried his face in the fur trim, haphazardly draping the fabric over himself.
“I’ll be back in a bit,” Wriothesley called.
As soon as the door closed behind Wriothesley, Neuvillette found himself rearranging the pillows and blankets on the bed, trying to make them as comfortable as possible. He was glad that Wriothesley’s bed was as big as it was, as it gave him more room to pile blankets and pillows around the sides and still have enough space within for himself and Wriothesley to rest.
Neuvillette ventured across the room—a dangerous feat considering that he had left his cane in Wriothesley’s office—to retrieve more blankets and pillows from a trunk on the other side of the chamber. He made his way back to the bed, depositing his spoils upon the mattress. He then set about adding them to the growing pile that surrounded him, pausing every few moments to bask in Wriothesley’s scent.
“What’re you doing, Neuvillette?”
Neuvillette froze, turning his head towards the door, where Wriothesley stood with a warm smile on his face.
“Making a nest,” Neuvillette pronounced slowly, as if only realizing now what it was that he was doing. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Not long, A minute at most,” Wriothesley assured.
“My apologies. I did not intend to make such a mess. I shall clean up—”
“No, it’s alright,” Wriothesley interrupted. “You’ve worked hard on this. If you’ll allow me, I’d love to join you in there. It looks incredibly warm and cozy.”
“Of course, love,” Neuvillette breathed, reaching out a hand to help Wriothesley into the nest. They settled themselves amidst the pillows and blankets, Neuvillette pressing himself as close to Wriothesley as possible.
He took Wriothesley’s hand in his own, pressing it to the side of his face. He leaned into the warmth of Wriothesley’s palm, a content and unmistakably-draconic trill escaping his lips.
“Sounds like someone’s happy,” Wriothesley chuckled.
Neuvillette hummed sleepily in response. “I am warm, and I am cradled in your arms. What more could a dragon ask for in the dead of winter?”