Chapter Text
Winter was in love with this woman.
He realized that one day, lounging on the sofa with her, in front of a fire. She was curled up against his chest, reading one of her many novels while he pretended to watch whatever movie he had put on earlier. In reality, he was playing with her hair and just watching her. He had memorized every single thing about her within the few months they’d been together; he held onto every word she said, and he just..loved her.
Winter loved her so much. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, and he felt this wide, soft smile come over his face as he did so. Autumn hummed softly in appreciation, pulling away from her book briefly to kiss his cheek before nuzzling back against him.
He loved her so much that he put up with the furry black ball of fur at their feet. Autumn’s cat was the bane of his existence; he’d hiss whenever Winter approached him or if he dared to kiss his girlfriend. Today, though, he was happily napping at their feet.
That was when another thought came over him, this one much darker than his previous; He was scared.
Not of loving her, but of spending the rest of his life with someone and then having to watch their life end. Winter had experienced plenty of death in his life, but he didn’t realize how terrifying even the thought of losing someone he loved so much would be. He’d watched his mother die, grow sicker and sicker, before finally passing away. Not even that was as horrible as the thought of watching his love die.
“I love you.” Winter whispered, refusing to wait longer to say those three little words. “I love you, Autumn. You don’t have to say it back, but please just know that I love you.”
He felt her tense, shift uncomfortably, and he felt his world crumble slightly. Autumn blew out an intentional breath, pressing herself closer into his chest. She turned slowly, carefully, before placing her hands on his face. She ran her thumbs over his face, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Autumn began to pepper kisses all over his face, and Winter felt another soft smile spread across his face.
“I can’t say it back,” Autumn said after a while, kissing his face again. “Not yet, at least. But Winter, trust me, as soon as I can, and I will.”
Winter felt his smile grow wider before pressing a soft kiss to her hand, allowing Autumn to lean back against his chest. She opened her book again, allowing herself to settle against his chest with her book. Winter pressed another kiss to his forehead, turning to the movie playing softly on the TV.
Just him, the love of his life, an annoying black cat, and the soft flickering of the fire.