Prompt 17 - Ice Word count: 1,026
@ineffablelyqueerwolfstarshipper @wolfstarmicrofic
Remus stirred beneath the heavy blankets, eyes fluttering open as a shiver ran through him, its cold fingers reaching all the way to his bones. The winter morning light seeped through the slatted blinds of their flat, illuminating the faint dust that danced in the air. It was beautiful, the soft flakes that had fallen during the night carpeting the world in a pristine layer of white. Yet, as lovely as it looked from the warmth of their home, Remus hated winter.
Each winter brought with it a sharp reminder of his condition, making him painfully aware of every ache and twinge as his joints stiffened in the cold. As he attempted to stretch the sleep from his weary limbs, he grimaced, clenching his teeth against the wave of pain and instinctively curling deeper under the covers, trying to find warmth amidst the encroaching frost.
“Not today,” Remus muttered under his breath, though the chill was relentless. He wanted to pull himself together, to shake off the winter blues, but despite how much he loved the beauty of snow, winter had a way of making him feel frail.
After a brief moment of hesitation, he attempted to swing his legs over the side of the bed, his body protesting at every turn. Just as he about got to the edge, a sharp pain shot through his lower back, and the hiss that escaped his lips felt like an unwelcome echo in the quiet room.
“Remus?” came a slurred voice from beside him, though it was laced with concern. The familiar warmth of his husband, Sirius, was still cocooned in the bed next to him, wrapped in layers of warmth that seemed far more inviting than the ice clinging to his own bones.
As Remus swung his legs over the side of the bed, a sharp jolt of discomfort made him pause. “I’m fine… just going to get some tea,” he attempted, though the statement hung in the air as fragile as it felt. “Merlin, Moons! What are you doing trying to get out of bed?” Sirius shot up, panic etched onto his features as he registered the painful contortion of Remus’s face in the dim light. “It’s freezing! You’ll only make it worse.”
“I just thought—”
“You thought nothing, you stubborn werewolf,” Sirius, now completely awake, his worry transforming into action as he hurriedly ushered Remus back down against the pillows. “Stay here! I’ll turn the heat up.” Before Remus could protest, Sirius was out of bed, his feet hitting the cool floor with a small gasp. His movements were quick and frantic as he padded toward the thermostat, casting worried glances over his shoulder.
“Damn this winter,” Sirius muttered, fumbling with the settings. “We should have cast warming charms on this place.”
Remus smiled slightly, watching Sirius flail around with the urgency of a man on a mission. “You're warm enough that you could probably just stand there,” he teased gently.
“Not the point!” Sirius shot back, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice. “You need heat, and I’ll get you heat.” With that, he darted into the kitchen, rummaging about before returning with a heating pack, warm and steaming from the microwave.
“Here,” Sirius said, handing over the pack with hands that still bore remnants of warmth. “Press this to your chest.”
Remus accepted it gratefully, pressing the pack against his ribs, and he could already feel some of the tension beginning to melt away. “Thank you, love,” he said softly, savoring both the heat and the affection in that moment.
“And eat this,” Sirius added, revealing a small pastry perched on a plate in his other hand. “I made it last night. Thought you might want it, you know, to keep your spirits up while you hibernate.”
As Remus took the pastry, his heart swelled. “You really didn’t have to,” he said, but the sincerity in Sirius’s eyes made it impossible to refuse.
“Of course I did,” Sirius insisted, sinking back into bed beside him. “Nothing’s worse than staring out at that frosty landscape while being cold and hungry.”
When Sirius returned, he had an armful of things—a heated pack in one hand and a small plate with what looked like a freshly baked pastry in the other. “Have this. I thought you might appreciate a little something sweet,” he said, an affectionate smile breaking through his worry.
They nestled together under the warm quilt, and Remus took a cautious bite of the pastry. It was sweet and flaky, bursting with warmth that spread through him like a cozy blanket. “This is fantastic,” Remus mumbled, savoring another bite, his heart warmed by both the treat and the caring gestures of his husband.
“Good! Now, stay there,” Sirius said, shuffling closer and wrapping his arms around Remus, snuggling in as tightly as he could. “For warmth,” he quipped, as if the words were an irrefutable defense against any teasing.
“Always for warmth, huh?” Remus chuckled, leaning into Sirius’s embrace. It felt good to be held so closely, feeling the reassuring strength of his husband push back against the winter chill creeping into their space.
“Of course. And maybe because I like being close to you,” Sirius murmured, his voice lower, softened by the intimacy of their surroundings.
Remus’s heart fluttered, warmth blossoming further within him. “You’re too good to me, you know that?”
“Only because you deserve it,” Sirius replied, nuzzling into Remus’s hair. They lay there for a moment, the world outside completely forgotten as they melted into each other.
With Sirius so near, Remus certainly felt the bite of winter retreat. He reclined against his husband, feeling the comforting heat radiate off him as he inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of Sirius—a combination of warmth and the faintest hint of something citrusy from his soap.
And in that little cocoon of warmth and love, it didn’t matter that winter howled outside. They were together, and together they could brave anything—even the harshest of winters. As Remus nibbled on the last bite of pastry, he felt grateful for the warmth, the love, and the laughter that made it all worthwhile.
