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The wind of the raging blizzard bit your cheeks as you looked outside. The bridge leading to the Korolevskiy Theater was hardly visible, disguised by the whiteout ravaging Snezhnograd.
Being an avid Amurta scholar at the Akademiya meant that you spent most of your days within the humid rainforests of Sumeru, where you defended your thesis on the composition of the fungi family and their evolution (to the dismay of your advisor, who was a witness to the aftermath when you ventured out to collect samples). Snezhnaya was home to unique populations built to last the everlasting winter where endless possibilities awaited! The idea fascinated you so much, you packed your bags shortly (mere hours) after your graduation and booked a room at the Podvorye in hopes of writing a paper that revolutionizes current knowledge on cryobiology.
However, you wondered if coming here was a mistake. If the activated Dendroshroom from that one excavation wasn’t meant to put you in the ground, surely this blizzard would. You managed to snag a ticket to watch the prima ballerina of the Korolevskiy Troupe during her recital at a nearly extortionate price thanks to resellers, rationalizing that it's important to be well-rounded in knowledge (unlike the freaks you’ve encountered in the library who reek of women repellent and musty books). Watching the snow whip around the city’s walls, the yearning to return home crushed you with full force.
Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Alyosha approaching with all of the nonchalance in the world despite the calamity right outside of the door. You became acquainted upon your arrival to Snezhnaya, where the hunter helped you navigate the railway system and to prevent you from being scammed by a supposed “local wildlife tour guide” (he insisted that he could be the one to take you on those excursions, making your cheeks warm despite the cold).
“How are you faring?” he asked in front of your seat, an unfamiliar furrow apparent in his brow. In your time of knowing him, it seemed as if nothing could faze him, even if colorful expletives were being thrown in his face when he interrupted the scammer’s sales pitch.
“As well as I can in this weather.” The statement was meant to be reassuring, but you couldn’t help but rub your upper arms for warmth as a fresh gust of snow hit your face. Even though you were appropriately dressed for the walk to the theater, the snowstorm seemed to phase through each layer to personally attack your skin. Distancing yourself hadn’t helped much either. Despite being sat in front of the stage, the gusts from the door still managed to ice your body.
Alyosha’s furrow deepened. You wondered if he thought you were overdramatic. Looking around, everyone else seemed to be doing fine (aside from Chugunov, whose complaints were getting higher-pitched by the second).
“It’s important that you stay warm,” he murmured. You were able to agree with the sentiment when you felt a cloak being put over your shoulders.
This couldn’t be…?
Without the fur covering the bottom half of his face, you took the time to appreciate the freckles that dusted his furiously red cheeks that betrayed his indifferent expression.
“I… Alyosha, you don’t have to-“
You let your sentence trail off when he breaks into a bristle walk, presumably to talk to the Traveler to form a game plan.
Despite the frigid weather, your heart felt warm.
—
After escaping death at the theater, you found it difficult to try and approach Alyosha to thank him.
Not for a lack of trying, of course.
When you tried greeting him near Kvasnik, he quickly wrapped up his purchase and nearly sprinted off with a bright blush apparent on his freckled cheeks.
Another time, you saw him carrying supplies into the Korolevskiy Theater. When you tried to help, he quietly insisted that you needn’t lift a finger and, in an amazing display of strength, carried crates the size of himself into the building while still having a spare hand to shut the door.
The strangest encounter that happened, however, was when you were nearby Sretomorozsk collecting field samples of the local fauna. When reaching down to collect the fallen fur of nearby polyarbears, you saw striking golden eyes looking over a log, tracking every movement you made. Feeling shivers run down your back, you blinked and rubbed your eyes to make sure they weren’t playing tricks on you. When you looked back up, they disappeared.
Your feelings of gratitude quickly shifted into exasperation. This game of cat and mouse brought you back to your early days in the Akademiya, going from scientist to scientist in your Darshan in an attempt to get funding for your research.
You decided enough is enough.
The forecast was looking to be particularly harsh the day you visited Alyosha’s cabin.
Knocking on the door, you heard the barks of Tugarin behind it alongside poorly hidden whispers.
“Tugarin…! No! Don’t eat that! Sit!”
You rested on the heels of your feet, biting your lip nervously. Was this too forward? You didn’t want your first (and only) friend in Snezhnaya to think you were a creepy nut-case. However, he did say that you were welcome anytime…
You perked up when the door opened, watching Alyosha’s face go through a myriad of emotions before settling on looking stoic.
“Hey… Wasn’t expecting you to visit.” His gaze trailed up and down from your feet to your eyes. You shift in place, feeling both scrutinized and chilly from the night air.
“Wanna come in?”
—
One of the first things you’ve noticed about Alyosha was that he tended to be a minimalist. Back during your first time in Sretomorozsk, you watched as he bought the bare necessities for him and Tugarin. Food, clean water, and a sewing kit to repair his clothes after hunting were all he held after perusing the marketplace. During your time at the Akademiya, your life was anything but. Stacks of notes crowded your room as well as various trinkets that you bought during particularly busy weeks as a form of therapy, which is something you sheepishly admitted. At the time, his face reflected no judgment or criticism. He quietly listened to your stories and tangents, only intercepting to ask a question with a smile on his face.
One of the first things you’ve noticed about Alyosha was his kind heart.
Stepping into his cabin, you were engulfed by the warmth of the lanterns lit on the walls. “Sorry, I wasn’t expecting any guests. Please, make yourself at home.” Before you could even properly take a seat, he was already pushing a cup of hot tea in your hands with a blanket on your lap. Tugarin pawed at your thigh. You gave him some pats.
Your frustration towards the hunter was slowly melting into a gooey feeling in your chest. How dare he be so perfect?
“Alyosha, listen…” You had a whole speech prepared, but it was as if the fire had been smothered. “If I’ve been making you uncomfortable, I would appreciate it if you could just tell me. I don’t want to…” Ruin your friendship? Ruin whatever chance you had with him? You envy yourself from a few moments ago when you were somewhat articulate.
Alyosha’s face, as usual, failed to betray any of his emotions. Your mind imagined him pushing you out of the door with the promise of never seeing you again. (Completely out of character, but it’s best to prepare for the worst, right?)
The farthest thing you expected him to do was laugh.
“Wow, I went about this the wrong way, huh?” he chuckled. “Sorry. I thought that you already knew… but I probably should’ve been more forward.” He gets up from where he was sitting on his bed, walking over to the shelf to pull out a bouquet of Frostfairy flowers before offering them to you. Despite his attempts to cover his face with his other hand, you can see his ears turn red.
What…?
“Of course, you don’t have to reciprocate my feelings…” he confessed, the hand holding the bouquet tightening. “But listen, I thought that you should know how I feel. I admit, it was cowardly of me to run because I was afraid of rejection, but hunters shouldn’t make excuses, right?”
“Alyosha…” How could you have been so blind? You gingerly took the bouquet from him and sniffed. It smelled like pinewood, his signature scent, and fresh snow. “You dummy, could you be any more confusing?” you barked. “I thought all of this time that you hated me! Seriously, who runs away from people you like?”
He looks away in embarrassment. “I shouldn’t have made you second-guess like that.” You feel one of his hands trail along your face, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “How could anyone keep their cool near someone as radiant as you?”
Oh, now he wanted to turn on the charm? Despite the urge to roll your eyes, you had to admit that his words wrapped around you like a blazing fire.
Turning your head, you noticed that the blizzard began to pick up outside. Not wanting to get stuck in the snow, you decided to make yourself sparse.
“Well, I’m glad we cleared that up,” you blurted, putting aside your cup of tea and blanket. You needed time to gather yourself (and perhaps scream into a pillow). “Well, you know where I’m staying. Let’s get dinner sometime?”
Upon putting your hand on the doorknob, you felt a bigger, gloved one wrap around it.
“It’s important to stay warm, remember?” You felt him breathe into your ear.