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Rat exhaled, blowing the steam off the top of his mug. The half-melted marshmallows drifted across his hot chocolate, leaving trails slightly lighter than the surrounding cocoa.
Rat drank in the warm scent and let out a faint sigh, curling his tail closer around his crossed legs. He took a long, slow sip of his drink, and tugged the blanket around his shoulders closer with one hand.
Wind howled outside, battering the cabin’s windows with snowflakes as the blizzard raged on. Meanwhile, Rat was perfectly content, a warm mug of cocoa between his paws, a blanket around his shoulders, and a fire burning heartily in the fireplace. His whiskers twitched, and he turned. Astron was busy, otherwise they’d be beside him, a book in one hand, their head in the other, legs kicked out comfortably. They were, in Rat’s opinion, the only thing that would make this more comfortable.
The hybrid turned back to the fireplace, watching the flames dance through heavy, lazy eyes. His tail flicked with content before settling back around his waist.
Yeah.
This was nice.
Rat took a long drink from his hot chocolate again. If not for his minor chocolate intolerance, he’d have chugged the whole thing a while ago and made himself another. As it was, though, he’d just savor one or two cups on cold days like this.
The hybrid turned to look out the window for a few seconds, watching snow batter the glass. The very sight made him feel as though the cold was seeping into his bones. He shivered slightly, and almost made to turn his gaze back to the fire.
Almost.
His dark eyes stayed fixed on a shape outside, however, with slight confusion.
Is that Astron…? What are they doing out there? He turned more fully, setting down his mug.
Rat could just make out a familiar mask as the figure turned. Blake? …What are you doing?
-
Blake exhaled shakily, taking another step. God, why did I come here…? …It’s so cold. His body shook, wracked with violent shivers. He pulled his arms tight around himself, though his armor did little to block the cold. Snow fell heavily, as though with a vengeance.
Where the hell even am I?
The blonde was completely lost, and had been walking for much longer than he should have been. Nevermind the fact that he hadn’t been expecting to meet a blizzard.
Blake forced himself to keep walking. He’d never get out of this cold if he didn’t.
With fingers numb yet burning from cold, the human tried to pull a golden apple from his inventory. His hands didn’t cooperate. The digits were swollen, mottled red and blue. That probably wasn’t good.
Over the roaring of wind in his ears, Blake thought he heard a door close. Great. So I’m hearing things, too. He thought bitterly, even hopelessly. A small feeling of desperation wormed its way into his stomach. I don’t want to die out here.
“Blake?”
The human raised his head, sure he was hallucinating.
A dark, humanoid figure jogged towards him through the snow. Behind him, the blonde could barely make out the front of a huge cabin.
“...Rat?”
Rat stopped beside him. “What are you doing out here?” Before the human could slur a response, the hybrid took his arms. “Shit, Blake, your hands…”
“‘M fine,” Blake said. He didn’t need help. There was nothing Rat could do that he couldn’t.
“No, you’re not.” Rat pulled him into a sort of side hug, and started guiding him forward. The blonde staggered, then stumbled, but Rat didn’t let him fall. The hybrid’s grip stayed steadfast on Blake's shoulders.
After barely a few seconds of trudging, Blake slumped partially against his enemy’s side. He was warm, almost burning compared to the human’s own skin. Rat glanced down at him and guided him forwards.
Cold air seared the blonde’s lungs with every breath, but he gradually stopped shivering, despite Blake still feeling blisteringly cold. His arms burned, and when he glanced down, his hands were almost completely blue. His fingertips were practically black.
“Rat?”
“Mm-hm?”
“I-I’m cold.”
“I can tell. Come on, not much further.” Blake stumbled as Rat pulled him ahead, up a set of steps. “Let’s get you inside,” the hybrid muttered as he steadied the man. Despite the ice-slick surface, Rat was doing a good job of not letting the other fall.
He didn’t need help. He never needed help, not from Rat. Never.
He wasn’t asking for help.
He was just admitting he was cold. Who wouldn’t be, out here?
That was fine. He could let Rat lead him… wherever they were going. Yeah.
It felt like much too long before the hybrid was guiding Blake inside. Warm air, enough so to feel scalding, washed over the blonde. Rat wasted little time in pushing the human onto his couch.
Blake was shivering again, he noticed, shaking violently. He barely noticed as his armor was unclasped and carefully removed before a blanket was pulled around his torso. Rats paws gently clasped his swollen hands.
As he slowly warmed back up, his hands started to ache, then burn, as the feeling came back to them. Rat gently rubbed warmth into the frozen skin.
Slowly but surely, Blake’s mind cleared, and his shivering again subsided. Something felt inherently wrong about this, being so vulnerable and at the mercy of his biggest rival, and yet…
…There was something… nice about it.
Like some part of Blake wanted Rat to stay here, to keep rubbing his hands and giving a bit of attention that wasn’t hell-bent on killing the blonde.
Rat gently set down Blake’s hands and stood, and the human looked up in confusion as he disappeared for a few minutes.
No, don’t lea-
He shut down that line of thought. Why would he want the hybrid to stay? He and Blake were enemies.
Enemies.
Why didn’t that word feel right?
The blonde started as Rat returned, settling down beside him. The hybrid had a steaming mug in his paws, and gently lifted it to Blake’s lips.
Don’t drink it. It’s poisoned.
But he’s been so kind…
We’re enemies. This benefits him, somehow.
What if he actually cares?
While his thoughts waged emotional warfare, the blonde raised a shaky hand to take the cup. Rat swatted it down with his tail, though not unkindly.
“Not in that state, you aren’t.” He murmured softly. Blake relented, letting the hybrid help him drink.
It was hot chocolate. Admittedly, not Blake’s favorite drink, but something about the tenderness of the gesture got to him. He heard Rat chuckle softly as he drank quickly. It was good, and he could feel it warming his core already.
“Slow down, there.” The hybrid pulled back the now-empty mug.
Blake coughed once, but leaned back. He felt a lot better, out of the cold and sitting in front of a roaring fire, his frostbitten limbs being treated to by a friend- A friend?
A friend.
Absently, he noticed when Rat set down the mug and extended an arm invitationally. Blake slumped against him, and the hybrid perked up in surprise, though wrapped his arms around the blonde. The human hummed as Rat gently and soothingly rubbed his back. It was surprisingly foreign- probably since his only experience with Rat’s paws was when they were doing him harm. The hybrid’s tail curled tenderly around his waist.
Softly, like a confession that shouldn’t be said, Blake spoke.
“Thank you.”
“Of course.” Rat nuzzled his face into the human’s hair. Blake could feel his breath against his scalp. It was oddly soothing.
He sighed, wrapped comfortably in the hybrid’s warm embrace, and let his eyes slide shut.
Sleep found him safe and comfortable in Rat’s arms.
End