Chapter 10 - Frozen

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Joey sighed softly as he placed the last piece of glass on his temple to protect himself from the horrid snowstorm.

"Why won't he just let me be his boyfriend," Joey whispered to no one in particular but himself.

"Maybe because he doesn't like you," said an icy voice. Joey whipped around, trying to find the source of the mysterious voice.

"Who- Where- What are you?!"

"Already forgotten me Joey?"

"Who are you?!"

A cold breeze went through the temple and Joey froze in place.

"Do you know who I am now?" The voice behind him became more apparent and more clear.

"Wh- What do you want from me you demon," Joey said, the fear clear in his voice.

"I'm just answering your question aren't I?" Scott smirked.

"Well- You're lying!" Joey turned around to face the icy demon. "Of course Xornoth likes me!"

"Sure, you can tell yourself that." Scott slowly walked around Joey, menacingly. "But how do you know?"

"I- I- Because- I just do!" Joey tried to resist but failed miserably as he let out a weak whimper of fear.

Scott laughed. No. Cackled. It was bone chilling.

"Aw poor Joey. Doesn't even know if his lovely crush likes him or not."

"Of course I know!" Joey protested. But he was becoming more unsure by the second. What if this demon was right? What if Xornoth didn't even like him?

Scott's cackled filled the air and faded out as the temperature dropped further.

Joey shivered as goosebumps crawled up his body. He was not suited for the cold. Not in the slightest.

"Who's going to save you emperor?" The voice was mocking him. Scott was mocking Joey. A soft whimper escaped Joey's lips as he fainted from the freezing cold.

Scott smiled, walking up to Joey's cold, but alive, body. He pressed his heel into Joey's back and kicked him onto his back. Using his ice, Scott trapped Joey in an icicle. The demon smiled. Oh how he would love to see Xornoth's reaction to this.

The cyanet stepped out of the empire, satisfied. Next stop: Rivendell.

"Xornyyyy," Scott called out in a mocking tone, mimicking Joey.

"Hello-?" Xornoth cautiously opened his front door using his hand to block the snow from falling into his eyes. With his magic, Scott made the door fly open. Xornoth gasped in shock, staggering backwards. "Wha-"

"WhA?" Scott mimicked his brother. "Do you hear how stupid you sound?"

"What do you want?" Xornoth growled.

"I just wanted to notify you a little something about your admirer," Scott said, observing his surroundings.

"Who-? Admirer?" Xornoth was confused before it clicked together in his head. "What- What did you do to Joey?"

"Oh nothing. Just gave him a little break from the warmth."

"What did you do?!" Xornoth asked again, firmly this time.

"Trapped him in an icicle."

"WHY?"

"He was getting in the way," Scott said, looking down at his nails and inspecting them.

"Shoot," Xornoth muttered. Ignoring Scott, Xornoth left his home.

Scott grinned. Oh how stupid these emperors could be.

. . .

Xornoth finally arrived at the Lost Empire after a hellish flight. But he managed to make it despite being blown off course multiple times. Fighting against the snow and wind, the magenta haired male hurriedly climbed up the stairs of Joey's temple.

"Joey?" Xornoth cried out when he reached the top. He tugged on the door that Joey had installed. "Joey!"

"I told you. I trapped him in an icicle," said a voice.

"You!" The snow in front of him cleared so that Scott was visible at the bottom of the temple.

"Me," Scott said, chuckling to himself.

"Where is he?!"

"Inside. I would suspect he has hypothermia by now. Or at least frostbite."

Finally getting the door open, Xornoth eyes widened at the sight of the emperor trapped in the icicle, clearly out cold. No pun intended. Unfortunately, Joey's skin was turning red and starting to blister, signaling frostbite.

"What did I tell you?" Scott said, now at Xornoth's side.

"LET HIM GO!" Xornoth roared.

"Sure," Scott said, unnerved by his brother's outburst. And with a snap of his fingers, the icicle began to crack. And soon, it fell apart, releasing a shivering, unconscious Joey.

Xornoth rushed to Joey's side. He held the freezing body closer to his warmer body, determined in protecting Joey. Scott's cackle filled the temple as he disappeared in a hurricane of snow.

Taking off his cloak, Xornoth draped Joey in a more appropriate attire for the cold weather. Picking him up and carrying him bridal style, Xornoth flew back to his empire with Joey in his arms.

When he got back into his home, Xornoth tucked Joey into his own bed. Gripping his hand, Xornoth found that Joey wasn't just cold. He was freezing. Literally. The emperor just couldn't stop shivering despite being out cold. Hovering his hand in front of Joey's face, Xornoth sighed in relief when he felt the warm, shaky breath on his hand.

Xornoth climbed into the bed and shifted Joey so that the emperor was sleeping on top of his crush with his head rested on Xornoth's chest. Xornoth pulled the blanket over both of them and gently kissed Joey's forehead, running his fingers through Joey's hair, down his neck and stopping at his back.

Feeling Joey's chest rise and fall above him, against his own body, comforted Xornoth, knowing that Joey would be okay. Soon enough, the Rivendell King fell asleep to the sound of his (finally admitted) crush's soft, slow, but reassuring breathing.

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More Jornoth content. Enjoy. Angst and Fluff. I should give y'all more angst