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Snow had been falling outside the cabin for hours.
The world beyond the windows had disappeared beneath it.
Trees blurred into white shapes. The path leading up to the cabin had vanished under thick snow. Wind pressed softly against the walls, not loud enough to be frightening, but steady enough that it never let anyone forget it was there.
Inside, the fireplace crackled downstairs.
The cabin was warm.
Hatter was not.
He sat close to the fire with his arms wrapped around himself, shoulders hunched beneath a blanket that did not seem to be doing much. Heat touched the front of his legs and his face, but the cold had settled deeper than that.
His hands were freezing.
His nose was cold.
Everything was cold.
For once, there was nowhere he needed to be.
Still, he kept looking toward the door.
The bell rang.
Hatter looked up.
Hudson stepped inside, brushing snow from his boots before shutting the door behind him. He paused in the entryway, taking in the cabin, then Hatter by the fireplace.
Hatter looked away first.
Hudson walked over and crouched beside him.
“You’re freezing.”
Hatter stared into the fire.
“My body betrayed me.”
Hudson blinked.
“It did?”
“I’ve been sitting here for an hour,” Hatter said. “In front of a fire. And I’m still cold.”
Hudson looked at the fireplace.
Then at Hatter.
“That sounds like a you problem.”
Hatter turned toward him slowly.
His cheeks puffed up into a pout.
“I hate you.”
“Sure.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.”
“I’m literally freezing.”
Hudson’s mouth twitched.
“You were the one talking about how pretty the snow was.”
“It is pretty,” Hatter said. “From inside. Where it can’t touch me.”
Hudson laughed quietly.
Hatter narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t laugh at me.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“Barely.”
Hatter pulled the blanket tighter around himself.
“…I still hate you.”
“Sure.”
For a moment, Hudson stayed crouched beside him. The fire popped softly. Snow tapped against the windows in loose, quiet bursts.
Then Hudson stood.
“Come upstairs.”
Hatter looked up at him.
“Do I have to? The fireplace is downstairs.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you taking me upstairs?”
Hudson held out his hand.
“Because the loft has blankets.”
Hatter stared at him.
“That’s your plan?”
“You’re freezing in front of a fire,” Hudson said. “I’m trying something else.”
Hatter looked toward the stairs.
Then at Hudson’s hand.
“…Fine.”
“Good.”
Hatter took Hudson’s hand and let him pull him up.
His fingers stayed curled around Hudson’s a little longer than they needed to.
They headed toward the staircase.
Hatter made it up the first few steps without any trouble.
Then, around the fifth one, he stopped.
“I…” He took a breath. “Need a second.”
Hudson looked at him.
Then at the stairs.
Then back at Hatter.
“We’re not even halfway up.”
“I know.”
Hatter’s hand tightened around the railing.
“These stairs are stronger than they look.”
“I don’t think that’s how stairs work.”
“They’re winning.”
Hudson laughed.
“You know I could carry you.”
Hatter looked genuinely offended.
“You will do no such thing.”
“You’re losing to a staircase.”
“I’m taking a break.”
“A tactical break?”
“Yes.”
Hudson nodded as if that made complete sense.
“Of course.”
Hatter narrowed his eyes.
“You’re making fun of me.”
“A little.”
“I hate you.”
“You said that already.”
“And I mean it more now.”
Hudson kept hold of Hatter’s hand as they started moving again.
Hatter glanced over at him.
“You’re being unusually helpful.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“Too late.”
Hudson looked at him then.
A small smile appeared on his face before he could hide it.
“Just watch where you’re going.”
“I am.”
Hatter took one more step.
Then paused again.
“The stairs are still winning.”
Hudson laughed under his breath and guided him up the next step.
“Then we’ll beat them together.”
Hatter did not answer right away.
He just tightened his hand around Hudson’s.
Together, they reached the ladder leading up to the loft.
Hatter grabbed both sides and started climbing.
Halfway up, he slowed.
Hudson rested a hand against the middle of his back.
“You’ve got this.”
“I’m trying.”
“I know.”
“Stop saying that.”
“Why?”
“Because it makes me feel like you think I can’t do it.”
Hudson’s hand stayed warm against his back.
“I think you can.”
Hatter went quiet.
The snow continued falling outside.
Then Hatter started climbing again.
By the time he reached the loft, he looked exhausted from what should not have been difficult. He sat immediately on the edge of the bed, pulling the blanket around himself.
Hudson climbed up after him.
Hatter watched him for a moment.
Then he patted the spot beside him.
“Come on.”
Hudson looked at the bed.
“I thought you wanted blankets.”
“I do.”
“So?”
Hatter looked down.
“I want you to sit down too.”
Hudson’s expression softened.
He sat beside Hatter, the mattress creaking beneath them.
Almost immediately, Hatter moved closer and wrapped both arms around Hudson’s middle.
Hudson let out a small laugh.
“Comfortable?”
“Mhm.”
“You’ve become very clingy.”
“I know.”
“And?”
Hatter pressed his face against Hudson’s chest.
“I’m not apologizing.”
Hudson slid an arm around Hatter’s shoulders.
Hatter’s hands were still cold through Hudson’s shirt.
“You’re warm,” Hatter mumbled.
“So are you.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You are now.”
Hudson looked down at him.
“…Thanks.”
Hatter lifted his head slightly.
“Don’t make it weird.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You were about to.”
Hudson smiled.
“I really wasn’t.”
Hatter settled back against him.
Below them, the fireplace continued to crackle. Outside, snow fell through the darkening sky, covering everything in silence.
Hudson’s fingers moved slowly through Hatter’s hair.
Hatter’s eyes began to close.
“You’re still cold?” Hudson asked.
“A little.”
Hudson reached behind them and pulled a second blanket over both of their shoulders.
“Better?”
Hatter shifted closer.
“…Yeah.”
“Good.”
For a while, neither of them said anything.
They did not need to.
at least for now