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It had gotten warmer in the weird BNB since the others had arrived.
Perhaps it was the increased amount of campfires, maybe it was the increase in warm bodies, but Avid couldn’t deny it was warmer in the house now.
Thank goodness it was, if you asked him. He did NOT like the others, of course he didn’t! Drift was pretty nice, but Viking and Apo seemed a little weird and Legs seemed REALLY weird. But, they were helping him and his wonderful wife, so he decided he would complain less. And it was warmer now! That was great. It had been… much too cold. Before.
He checked again to make sure Marmalade was still there. She was, of course, making more campfires. They always need more campfires.
Still, Avid couldn't shake the memory of lying next to her on the freezing ground, watching the cold suck the life out of her. He couldn’t shake the memory of the fire flickering beside them but providing no warmth as he shivered and his senses blurred.
But he was alive, somehow. She was alive! So it was alright. He wouldn’t let her die for real, no chance of it.
Avid yawned. Gosh, he was tired. How long had it been since he slept…? He thought about it. The first night, he hadn’t gotten much more than a bit of shut eye, because Legs was running around panicking about monsters and everyone was screaming. He hadn’t been able to sleep after he and Marm had run off, either, because he was too focused on protecting her. And then there was the snowstorm, and she got bitten, and they found the cabin, and- now they were here, on what Avid believed was their third night, and he hadn’t slept.
No wonder he felt like he was going to fall over.
He looked over at Marm, who was staring at the sticks of the campfire like they’d offended her greatly. Maybe they had. (If they had, Avid would break them for her.) An idea entered his head.
She was probably just as tired as he was, and she wasn’t too busy- why not drag her along for a nap?
He smiled. He loved dragging her along for naps.
-----
Marmalade was having a rather hard time building these campfires. It was hard to fixate her thoughts and arrange the sticks right, when her eyes kept drifting in and out of focus. She was exhausted.
Two arms wrapped themselves around her midsection. Marm chuckled, and without even looking down to see who’s they were, said, “Hi, Avid,”
“Maaaaaaarm…” He murmured into her sweater. “I’m cooooold, and tireeeed…”
She laughed again, setting down the sticks she was holding and prying Avid’s arms off her.
“Is this an invitation?”
Marm turned, seeing two big violet eyes, dull and lifeless bright and practically begging her to give him cuddles. “...Yes.”
Marm picked up the sticks again, and Avid looked phenomenally sad.
“Pleeaaaaseeeee?” He pleaded.
“Of course I will, silly.” Marm told him with a roll of her eyes. As if she could ever say no to his puppy eyes, or the promise of cuddles. It was freezing! Of course she’d want cuddles. Marm opened a chest and set the sticks down inside it, then turned back to her husband.
Avid was grinning now, and as she faced him he took her arm to lead her upstairs.
There was only one bed in this strange BNB, and she and Avid had now claimed it. It was a sad grey colour, and cold to the touch, but Marm hoped it would warm soon.
She was checking the temperature of the room, searching for any soul lanterns, any corners that seemed particularly cold. They couldn’t have a repeat of last time.
The memory flashed through her head before she could clamp down on it. Avid had died first. She’d watched the life fade from his eyes. She wouldn’t allow it to happen again, she wouldn’t.
There were no soul lanterns in the room, which Marm found herself eternally grateful for. “Avid, we’re all good in here!” She called, and her husband entered the room a moment later.
“That’s great!” He smiled as he came to stand by her side. Then, he plopped down on the bed, beckoning for Marm to join him.
“It’s a little cold, still,” She admitted with a tiny laugh as she dropped down next to him, laying her head down on the pillow. It was soft.
“As long as it doesn't kill us, that’s alright.” Avid layed himself down, tugging the grey blankets up over himself and Marm, and snuggling into her chest. Marm pulled the antler headband off him and set it on the bedside table. He made a noise of protest and took Marm’s earmuffs. She can’t help but dissolve into giggles.
“You were gonna be so uncomfortable if you fell asleep with those, admit it!” She prodded him lightly.
“Nooooooooo…” He complained, tugging Marm closer to him.
She huffed affectionately, laying an arm across his shoulders. Avid was here. He was warm, and alive.
Avid’s dark hair brushed against her cheek. It was the slightest bit damp from the melted snowflakes. He smelled like smoke, too, although Marm reflected absentmindedly that she almost certainly did as well.
She hadn’t felt this at peace since… since before they came here at the very least, maybe longer. Marm felt herself drifting off already, arms around her husband. He was here. They were both ok.
-----
Legundo entered the alleged Air BNB. Viking and Drift were already in ahead of him, and he was pretty sure Apo was still out there somewhere, but who was he to tell? The strange demon(?) person was likely imaginary anyway. No, the more concerning thing was that Avid and Marm were nowhere to be seen.
“Do you think they went out without us?” Drift asked nervously.
“Well they finally found their stupid BNB, probably not.” Viking replied, with rather solid reasoning.
“They might be upstairs,” Legs suggested, glancing upwards, and both Viking and Drift made sounds of agreement. “I’ll go check.”
Without setting his stuff down (that would be a bad idea, why in the world would he do that?), Legs walked up the stairs and into the hallway. It was narrow, but warm. Had those two put campfires upstairs as well? That was good.
He pushed open the door to the bedroom, and rounded the corner. Almost immediately, he found where the couple had gone. They were curled up together under the grey covers, eyes closed and chests rising and falling slowly. They were… asleep.
Legundo hadn’t gotten much time to sleep in any of the worlds he’d been in. Too dangerous, always on the lookout. He’d gotten used to it though, and it occurred to him that they hadn’t.
Quieter now, Legs walked back out of the room, and then back down the stairs.
“Did you find them?” Drift asked as soon as she saw him.
“Yeah, they’re-” He laughed, just a little. “They’re sleeping.”
Viking immediately moved towards the stairwell. “We should go wake them up then, right?”
“No, let them sleep, while they still can.”
The young man looked vaguely disappointed. “I mean, ok.” He shrugged.
“You two should probably get some sleep as well.” Legundo told them. “It’s a relatively calm night. I’ll keep watch.”
Drift and Viking looked a little surprised.
“You sure?” Drift asked, and Legs nodded in response. The woman turned to Viking. “...Ok then, I guess we take the couch?” Viking shrugged, and then looked back at Legs.
“Uhh, thank you. Mr. Know-it-all.”
Legundo couldn’t help but smile as the two travelers went to the couch and rather awkwardly squished themselves together on it. This place was one of the worst he could’ve come back to, but at least he wasn't alone. Not this time.