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Aventurine tugged his scarf tighter around his neck, his slender frame shivering against the biting cold.
He wasn’t entirely sure if the lights were worth it.
“How much longer, Veritas?” he asked, glancing up at the man besides him. His fiancé, looked entirely unfazed by the cold weather, his tall figure relaxed and effortless, framed by the dark blue coat, the one that hung perfectly over his muscular frame.
“We have a few more hours. It’s only noon, ‘Vasha.” Ratio’s tone was flat, almost too direct.
“Right, right,” Aventurine shifted his weight from one foot to the other, an involuntary scowl forming on his pretty face. “I mean, I guess it’ll be impressive. If it’s as good as everyone makes it seem.”
“It’s not just about the lights,” Ratio reminded him, “You wanted to see snow, remember?”
Aventurine’s nose crinkled as he looked down at the very much snowless ground.
“To see snow, there has to be snow,” Aventurine complained before taking in a shuddering breath. “Babe, find us a café or I will die.” He added, cuddling into Ratio’s side.
“You’re such a drama queen.” Ratio’s voice softened slightly, yet never losing that blunt edge. Still he fished out his phone and started looking for a close-by café.
Aventurine sighed contently as the barista brought them their drinks—a cappuccino for Ratio and a hot chocolate for Aventurine.
The hot chocolate was sweet, thick, and comforting—everything he needed in that moment. He sat his mug down, licking some of the hot chocolate from above his lip, a small smile tugged at his lips again. “You know, this isn’t so bad. I might just make a habit of visiting cold places.”
“You’ll get tired of it soon enough, “ Ratio said, but there was a flicker of amusement in his voice. He leaned back in his chair, watching Aventurine with a look that was far more tender than it had any right to be.
“Easy enough for you to say, Doctor.” Aventurine countered, his voice light and teasing. “You’re the one who insisted on Tromsø.”
Ratio grunted but didn’t answer. Instead, he rested his chin on his hand, silently studying his fiancés face. There was something about the way those magenta-blue eyes sparkled as they glanced up at him, that teasing glint that, in contrast to the cold surroundings, made the world seem a little warmer.
Aventurine’s beauty had always been a bit of a mystery to Ratio, like the other man was an enigma wrapped in soft skin and charm. It was distracting—but not one that Raio minded.
“Darling?” Ratio said, catching Aventurine's attention as he nooded to the window, “It’s snowing.” The café’s window had fogged over, the city outside now hidden behind thick snowflakes falling from the darkening sky.
Aventurine practically jumped up, his eyes sparkling with newfound energy, “Oh my God..”
They payed quickly and Ratio was caught somewhere between amusement and irritation as they stepped outside.
His gaze was immediately caught by Aventurine’s wide, delight expression. The flakes falling around his blonde hair, the way his eyes shimmered as he looked up, mouth open and catching a snowflake on his tongue.
“Veritas, look!” Aventurine giggled, his breath clouding in the air as he spun around, his arms wide.
Ratio couldn’t help himself, he chuckled. His gaze softened as he watched Aventurine twirl around in the snow, his laughter echoing in the street.
Ratio swallowed, Aventurine looked breathtaking. The light from the streetlamp illuminating his figure in front of the dark sky.
Aventurine suddenly stopped suddenly turning to face Ratio, his grin wide and utterly unguarded. “You have to come over here!” he called, “The snow is perfect!”
Ratio hesitated, his heart skipping in his chest, he simply continued watching Aventurine for a moment, taking an internal note to take his fiancé to more snowy vacation places.
“Ratio!” Aventurine’s voice broke through his train of thoughts. “Are you listening?"
With a sigh Ratio walked over, settling his hands on Aventurine's waist and pulling him in for a kiss. His lips found Aventurine’s, warm replacing the cold air.
The snow around them fell like a curtain as Aventurine parted his lips, deepening it, as his hands settled on Ratio's chest.
“You were staring,” Aventurine said as they pulled away.
Ratio, in response, settled another quick kiss onto Aventurines lips, “You were extraordinarily beautiful. He said it as if it were a fact, which to Ratio, it was.
They finally reached a spot on the outskirts of the city, where the buildings and streetlights gave way to the vast, open expanse of the Norwegian wilderness. The air was even colder now, but Aventurine for once barely noticed it as he stood beneath the endless sky, staring up at the swirling patterns of green and purple lights that danced across it.
Aventurine had seen the photographs, of course, but nothing could’ve prepared him for the real thing.
He let out a breath, “Okay, maybe I get it now.” he admitted, voice filled with awe. But as Aventurine turned to look at Ratio, he realised the other man wasnt looking at the sky at all.
Ratio was standing just slightly behind him, his stance relaxed but his gaze fixed entirely on Aventurine.
The colours of the auroras painted Aventurines features in a light the Doctor hadn’t seen before. And would he really be a man of science if he didn’t study such a new revelation?
Aventurine raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a teasing smile, “Youre supposed to look at the lights, not me.”
Ratio blinked almost as if snapping out of a trance, before giving a nonchalant shrug. “Just confirming a new theory, and no you cannot know it.” His voice was still blunt, but now held an edge of sincerity that Aventurine caught onto immediately.
“I know I’m hard to look away from,” Aventurine teased, “but surely, even I can’t compete with these lights.”
Ratio made an unconvincing hmpf sound in response, crossing his arms.
“Speaking of the lights, Doc. What are they actually? Care to enlighten, little old me?” Aventurine asked him, finally managing to move Ratio’s gaze to the lights as well.
Ratio hummed, before starting his explanation, “They are also called aurora borealis—”
Aventurine listened half heartedly to the Doctor's explanation, simply enjoying the other man's voice and his steady warmth.