Chapter Text
Snowflakes drifted in lazy spirals through the pines, settling on the hood of Panam’s Thornton “Warhorse” like a dusting of powdered sugar on a beast that deserved fire and sand, not… this.
Panam folded her arms, breath fogging the chilled air as she glared at Vincent.
“You dragged me into the snowy ass-end of nowhere “she muttered “for Christmas”
Vincent grinned like a man proud of his questionable decisions.
“Correction…I invited you. You volunteered to come. You said—and I quote..‘Fine, but if I freeze, I haunt you”
“Yeah, well” Panam kicked a pile of snow “Still stands”
The cabin sat nestled at the edge of a clearing, wood-smoke curling from a stone chimney. Out front two snowmobiles, a stacked woodpile, and the Warhorse, somehow looking offended to be surrounded by white instead of dunes.
Vincent tossed her the cabin keys “Come on. Fire’s inside. And hot cocoa”
“Hot wha…?” Vincent, do I look like someone who drinks hot cocoa?”
He shrugged “Everyone drinks hot cocoa up here. It’s the law”
A reluctant smile tugged at her lips. She pushed past him, banging the door open.
Inside, the cabin was warm. Rustic. Wooden beams, thick rugs, a fire already crackling. A half-decorated Christmas tree leaned crookedly in the corner.
Panam stopped dead.
“…Did you get a tree?”
“I did” Vincent said proudly “From the guy down the road. Might’ve dragged it sideways. Thus the… angle”
“Vincent”
“Yes?”
“It looks like it’s emotionally struggling”
“We all are”
Panam snorted, shaking her head as she shed her jacket. “Okay. Fine. Cabin’s cute. Kinda cozy. But why mountains instead of the Aldecaldos’ camp?”
Vincent’s face softened just slightly enough for her to see the real reason.
“I wanted something quiet” he said “Just us. You deserve a break from Saul and everyone hovering”
Panam opened her mouth to protest default setting but stopped.
Because he was right.
And because it felt good to be seen.
“…Alright” she murmured “But I’m not putting up lights”
Vincent tossed her a tangled, monstrous knot of fairy lights.
“You say that now”
Her groan echoed through the cabin.
Christmas had begun.