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“Damnit, it’s too strong!”
Locke grit his teeth against the cold, lips icey. The storm chased them, lashing them, chilling them.
“We need shelter or we’ll freeze to death!”
He turned and saw Celes, pulling her cloak over her shoulders, hunched over. Damnit. He couldn’t let her die like this.
“We… We have to find… the others…”
“Celes, we can’t find anyone on this weather -”
At that moment, Locke saw it. A window in the screen of snow, opened for just a moment, but through it he saw salvation.
“Over there! A house! Come on Celes, follow me.”
Pushing on. Not looking back - he wanted to. But the storm was too fierce. He couldn’t risk it. Have faith in her. Push. On.
“HELLO!” He banged on the door. “ANYONE IN THERE?!”
He barely waited before he turned the handle - unlocked. Walking in swiftly Locke could finally look back. His heart jolted for a moment - Celes wasn’t visible for a moment. But then she came in as white and wet as he was sure he looked.
“I need to get you warmed up.”
Locke quickly scanned the room - it was a small house, with almost no furnishings, just a bed in the corner and a fireplace.
Barring the door shut, Locke got to work on the Fireplace - there was enough flint and dry wood to get a flame going.
“Lie down, Celes, I’m going to get the fire working.”
Locke didn’t even wonder why the place was seemingly abandoned. Were the old occupants dead? Forced out? Was the small house - or shack, frankly - looted by bandits? He didn’t care. He was focused only on Celes.
“What about you, Locke?”
“What?” Locke continued.
“Where are you going to rest?”
“...Sorry?”
“There’s one bed.”
“One bed?”
“Yes, there’s only one bed.”
Locke diligently worked the fireplace while thinking haphazardly. One bed? Why would that matt- Oh.
With a final strike the fire ignited.
“Well, you sleep on the bed. I’ll stay by the fire - I’ve slept rougher than this.”
“Nonsense, you need it more than me - besides, I have to find the others.”
“The others?! Celes, with all due respect, there’s no way you’ll find them like this!”
“Oh, you’d know? Been in a lot of blizzards have you?”
“I’m sorry, you’re the expert, I must have missed that ceremony.”
“Why are you like this?”
“Like what, trying to make sure you don’t freeze to death?”
“I am not freezing -”
“How are you gonna help anyone if you die?! Do you have any idea what I’d do?!”
“Locke, you…” Celes averted her gaze.”You… you have a point. Look away.”
“...look away?”
“I need to get undressed.”
Locke stared.
“I need to remove my wet clothes. You’re gonna have to as well.”
“...oh.”
Locke turned away, staring at the fire. Intently. Not blinking. His eyes started to get blurry.
“I’m done now.” Locke relaxed. “It’s your turn.” He tensed. “I’ll get you another blanket, wait here.” She searched for a spare - one was on the bed and she didn’t want to tear it. Fortunately she found one in the back of a cupboard. “Here.” She placed the blanket next to him, folded and even.
“OK just. Turn away.”
“Of course I won’t look.”
“Good.”
“Good.”
Locke slipped out of his clothes and wrapped the dry blanket around himself.
He looked behind himself at last. Celes was lying on the bed. He stared straight ahead, into the flames. He was tired, but couldn’t sleep, not like this. But it’s OK. As long as Celes was resting easy -
He felt a presence next to him. “Locke.” Celes was sitting down. “I… don’t want you to be lonely.”
Locke’s breath became deeper yet slower. He smiled. As the hours wore on, Celes rested her head on his shoulders, Locke resting his on her own head. They drifted off in the orange glow.