A/N: Just a bit of BraveBeauty because why not? Also, this takes place in the winter, so I used movies that would have been in theaters or about to be released back in January, if that makes sense.

~

January always brought heavy snowfall as the frigid air blew over Lake Ontario, creating hours upon hours of lake effect snow that covered the ground in a foot of powdery white snow. Unfortunately, that meant Merida's marathon training had to be moved indoors. Her morning runs had to be moved to the treadmill until the roads were cleared off.

So while Belle snuggled up in fuzzy pajamas underneath a thick blanket as she sipped on hot cocoa and read a new book every day, Merida would throw on a tank top and leggings and begin her morning work out.

On the fifth day Merida had been stuck inside, she began getting restless. She would go outside and trudge through the snow only to end up back inside no more than ten minutes later, grumbling about how she wished the roads were cleared. Belle would only ever glance up before going back to her hot cocoa and reading.

"Forty-six...forty-seven...forty-eight...forty-nine...fifty!" Merida sat up and looked around. Fifty push-ups used to be impossible for her, but now it was too simple. Push-ups in general were too simple. Merida scanned the room and her eyes settled on Belle.

"Belle!" Merida jumped to her feet and Belle looked up, not startled by the sudden outburst in the slightest. "I need you to sit on my back."

"Why?" Belle turned a page in her book and continued reading. She had finally found a comfortable reading position and the last thing she wanted to do was move.

"Because I need a challenge if I'm going to be stuck indoors for so long!"

"Maybe you should try relaxing for once in your life," Belle suggested. "You know, just sit down and eat a bowl of ice cream. Read a book. Watch a movie. We could go see Star Wars once the roads are cleared. That would be challenging for you."

Merida smirked. "I'll go see Star Wars with you if you sit on my back."

Belle looked up, clearly not amused by Merida's bargaining tactics. But since she had already gone and seen the Star Wars movie with Regina, Robin, and Emma, she didn't fall for it. Belle's gaze dropped back to her book.

"Wait! I'll also take you to see Captain America: Civil War when it comes out!"

Belle didn't have to think twice this time. Instantaneously, her bookmark was in her book and her book was on the side table. She threw her blanket up and bounced up. "You've got me. Let's do this."

Merida laid down on her stomach as if she was going to start another round of fifty push ups. But this time, Belle sat cross-legged on Merida's back. Merida slowly pushed herself upwards, her arms shaking.

"One," Belle said. She reached over and grabbed her book as Merida lowered herself to the ground and then back up again.

"Two." Belle tossed her bookmark to the side and skimmed the page she had marked, looking for her spot. Merida did another push-up.

"Three."

The more push-ups Merida did with Belle seated on her back, the easier they seemed to be.

"Four... Five..."

Merida knew that sitting through Captain America: Civil War would be well worth it.