✶ CHAPTER 07 - WINTER ✶

CW: abuse

In the quiet dawn hour, Winter shifted in his bedsheets, the bed creaking slightly under his weight. Warm light filtered in from the curtains, dipping into the shadows of the bedroom. The clock ticked, the only sound in the room. Curled up against him was Qibli, his head buried in his neck, limbs draped over his body. An arm rested across his torso, while his legs straddled his own. Qibli's soft hair tickled his chin.

He groggily recalled the night before. He and Qibli had fallen asleep on the floor, while Lynx and Snowfall took the bed. They must have woken up and carried Winter and Qibli onto the bed. That was nice of them. 

Winter leaned in closer, cautious to not wake up Qibli. He moved a hand to gently rest on the nape of his neck, fingers brushing idly on the curled hair at the back. Winter gazed at the boy, counting the thousands of freckles that painted his face. In the soft warm light, Qibli looked heavenly.

Winter closed his eyes and basked in the warmth of Qibli's bare skin against his. Winter was wearing a tanktop and boxers, while Qibli was half-undressed, only in boxers. The direct contact was comforting.

Qibli's eyes fluttered open. His gorgeous dark eyes caught the soft golden sunlight, glowing amber. He pressed a gentle kiss to Winter's neck, and the other boy awoke, a soft smile spreading across his lips. He cupped his hand to Qibli's cheek, thumb grazing over the harsh stubble. Qibli blinked half-lidded eyes at him, looking as if he could just fall back asleep in a matter of seconds. 

Winter's thumb grazed the edges of Qibli's nose scar. Then he brought his hand to his hair, combing through the dark strands. Winter leaned forward slightly to kiss the scar.

Eyes shut, Qibli leaned further into him-- so, so warm. 

Winter breathed him in and moved his hand to rest on Qibli's bare chest. The ring on his finger glowed in the light, a cruel reminder that he was supposed to be with someone else. Winter shut his eyes.

They remained like that for a while longer, until the hours dragged by, and Qibli would have to leave before he would be caught in Winter's bedroom. 

"Qibli," the prince breathed in Qibli's ear, voice quivering. "You have to go."

Qibli swallowed thickly and leaned closer to him. "I know."

None of them moved for a minute, then Qibli slowly unfurled from Winter's embrace. He missed the warmth immediately. Qibli dragged himself out from the sheets and slipped into some fresh clothes. 

He glanced at the clock, then down at Winter, who gazed up at him. They stared at each other for a long moment, then Qibli moved to the doorway. "See you later, Winter."

"Bye, Qibli."

And the boy closed the door, disappearing behind it. 

Winter sat alone in his bed, wrapped only with the blankets. He missed the comfort of Qibli's embrace. He missed feeling the simplicity of a life he could not have, and could only have in mere fragments that left him wanting more.

He closed his eyes and melted into the blankets, covering his face with his hands. Winter felt a tear trickle down his cheek, tickling his palm. He remained awake for a while, listening to the door opening as Lynx entered the room. The mattress dipped with a creak as Lynx sat down on the edge of it. He could smell her perfume-- but it wasn't hers. He knew that Snowfall loved that perfume and wore it all the time.

"Hey," he mumbled around the blanket covering his face.

"Hey," she replied. "What's up?"

Winter tossed the blanket aside, meeting Lynx's gaze with shadowed eyes. He could feel the familiar sting in his nose that told him that he was about to cry. "I can't stand this."

Lynx sighed, giving him a sympathetic look. "I know," she said, quiet in the silent room. "I hate it too. There has to be something we can do to fix this."

The prince looked away from her. "I wish it were that simple," he whispered. Lynx reached out to place a hand on his shoulder. 

The door swung open. The two whipped their heads around, eyes widening at the newcomer. 

Cold eyes, tall features, long, straight hair, and glittering teeth that rattled on a necklace wound around her neck. Tundra. 

Winter tried to steady his breath as his heart immediately plummeted to his stomach. He hoped that his mother would be here for just a moment, but the burning rage in her eyes told a different story. He felt uneasy. Tundra never let her emotions be read. If Winter could see her anger, that was not a good sign.

"Winter and Lynx," hissed Mother, stepping closer, arms folded neatly behind her back. Her heels clicked on the shiny floor with each threatening step. "Can I borrow you for a moment, Princess?"

Lynx tensed, but she stood up from the bed anyway. The mattress sprang back up from where she sat. When she spoke, her voice was calm and even. "What is it, Princess Tundra?"

Wordlessly, Tundra gripped Lynx's arm and led her out of the room, slamming the door behind them. Winter could hear muffled fragments of conversation, but he couldn't make out any of the words.

Then he heard an "Ow!", and the door opened. Lynx was standing in the doorway, a bright red handprint on her freckled cheek. Tundra walked into the bedroom, shut the door, and glared down her nose at her son. Winter stood up to face her, trying to ignore his rising fear.

"If I see you fawning over that damn boy again, I'll make sure you regret it," Tundra spat, an inch away from his face. She grabbed his throat, nails stabbing into his skin. "I saw you dancing with him last night."

"I-I don't have feelings for him, I swear," Winter protested weakly, voice raspy behind her grip. "We're just friends."

"Bullshit!" 

A fist flew at his nose and he was thrown to the floor. Winter collapsed to the ground, clutching his bleeding nose, bringing his knees up to his chest. She walked closer and whisked his hand away from his nose, twisting his wrist. A shock of pain shot through his arm. Winter's teeth gritted, tears glinting in his eyes.

Tundra twisted his arm with more and more force with each passing second. "Don't fucking lie to me," she growled through clenched teeth. "If I see you trying to be romantic with that friend of yours, you'll be dead. Understand?"

Winter nodded vigorously, but that wasn't enough. Mother pulled harder on his arm. "Say it."

"I understand," he blurted quickly.

"Say it again!"

"I understand!" The prince wailed.

She finally released him. His wrist was red. As Tundra left through the door, she pushed past Lynx (who was still standing in the hallway), and Lynx came into the bedroom. She noticed Winter cowering on the floor and rushed over to him, helping him up even though he could stand up just fine.

"Are you okay?" She asked, guiding a comforting hand down his back. Her nearly purple eyes were fixated on his bloodied nose. He shakily raised his aching arm and wiped at the blood.

"I'm fine," replied Winter. "You?"

"I'm fine, Winter," Lynx echoed. "I only got slapped. She punched you."

The prince shrugged, still wiping the blood off his mouth. "I've gotten worse than this."

She sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, gently pulling Winter down to sit next to her. Then unexpectedly, she wrapped her warm arms around him, patting his back. Winter hesitated for a brief moment, then embraced her back. "I'm sorry, Winter."

He didn't know what she was talking about specifically, but there was a lot to be sorry for in their situation. "I'm sorry too, Lynx."

The 'fiancés' sat embraced for a while, seeking comfort in one another. It had been a while since Winter had felt the sympathy of someone who wasn't his boyfriend. Nobody really cared for him anymore. 

They eventually separated from the hug and sat in silence. Then, Lynx broke it, trying to lighten the mood with casual conversation. "There's a holiday coming up soon," she said, voice quiet in the silent room.

"Oh, cool," Winter replied, casting a small smile at her.

She smiled back. "Right? I'm wondering if we can spend time with our partners without your stupid family noticing this time."

"I hope so."

Hope. It was all they had. It was the only thing they could do.