Bitter Words in the Bitter Air

I’m going to be late again, it seems…

    Another characteristic blizzard roared through the streets of Sigurdrif, and drifts of snow were beginning to pile high on the campus of the Queen’s Academy. Squinting his eyes to see through the onslaught, Kasan was struggling to navigate the sea of ceaseless white. Even with warming spells, the wind still found a way to chill to the bone.

 The red of the frost biting at his cheeks and nose and the deep cobalt of his uniform was the only color for what felt like miles, the buildings of his school being drowned out by the weather. Stuffing his face into his scarf, Kasan let his mind wander to try and ignore the cold.

    I understand not canceling class for weather this frequent, but why haven’t these buildings all been connected for the circumstance…?

    He wasn’t even heading to his own class, rather making his way to the music building to listen to the band rehearse. Admittedly, he was mainly going for his boyfriend, Ewell, as before meeting him, he wasn’t interested in music all that much. That said, the thought of seeing him so entranced in his trumpet already warmed his heart. Even if he could only listen to the final run, being able to walk the distance back hand in hand with him made the whole journey worth it. Well, it would have, if someone hadn’t called out to him in the cold.

    “Planning on becoming a frozen corpse, Virttenen?”

    Shooting like daggers through the brittle air, the frozen blue gaze of Enzio met Kasan’s in a second, the latter’s heart leaping into his throat. There was no person on Memdia he wanted to see less, ripping him from the thought that the worst of the day would pass with the weather.

    “A possibility, yes, but not the goal,” Kasan shouted back, moving his eyes back onto his path. “Like you’re out here to catch the sights.”

    “Oh no, just heading to the music hall,” replied Enzio, now making his way to the other elf’s side, smirking as Kasan’s eyes widened in shock. “What? Am I not allowed to just enjoy the rehearsals?”

    Kasan was at a loss for words, trying not to visibly seize up and trip over his own voice. “No, I was just...surprised, see. I’m heading there myself and...you just didn’t strike me as the type, that’s all.”

    Enzio barked in laughter, puffs of breath escaping as clouds before rising into the late afternoon air. “As if you are, either. I just decided to entertain a whim, you’re deciding to entertain your dick.”

    “Enzio!”

    The remark still stung, no matter how much he saw it coming. His classmate’s tongue could be replaced with a gilded dagger and it would take an eternity for him to tell the difference.

    “Oh please, are you really going to try and convince me how you’re so enthralled by the works of Kleisman and Zigreider? So much so that you had to run through a blizzard to see our band merely rehearse it?” Enzio said, cocking an eyebrow as he pushed platinum blonde hair out of his face. 

    “I wasn’t going to be that bold.” Kasan’s wool scarf hid his scowl, but his tone did not.

    “Then do tell me, Virttenen, what brings you out into the elements, for once? You can’t just say it’s an impulse, as you and I are nothing alike.”

    Makes me wonder why you even bother talking to me, if we’re so night and day.

    “The fact that you’re finding a way to ridicule me for trying to support Ewell says more about you than it does I,” Kasan said, focusing more on the cadence of his boots crunching in the snow than the poisonous words being thrown in his ears.

    

    “Ah! I see, you’re off to give your puppy a treat-”

    “By the lady Alkusta, are you 18 years old or 12?” Kasan snapped, finally letting Enzio see the annoyance flaring up in his blue and gold eyes. “We’re adults, and you still insist on making the same joke about my relationship as if I’m fucking some nameless Farvasi for a sick game, rather than committed to someone with thoughts and feelings because I love him. Goddess above, I’d love to live in your world, where you can say whatever you think is funny and nobody will stop you.”

    Enzio took a step back, blinking in surprise. “Well, shit, Virttenen. I’m-”

    “You’re nothing. Either go your own way to the music hall and leave me and Ewell alone, or become a snow drift body yourself. See if I care.”

    “You can’t possib-”

    “I do. Fuck off.”

    Kasan turned heel and stomped off unceremoniously back into the snow, stuffing his hands in his pockets and keeping his head high, not bothering to turn around and see if Enzio was tailing or not. After spending some time brewing in his own anger, the warmth of the music hall thawed his body and heart. For better or for worse, rehearsal had just wrapped up when he walked through the doors, allowing him to almost fall immediately into Ewell’s arms upon arrival.

    “Ah, there you are, I was starting to worry...” his voice was warm and inviting, just like the rest of him. “Did you get lost in the snow? The storm just crept up on us it seems,”

    Kasan shook his head, leaving its weight on his chest. “No, no...it just slowed me down a little, had to take a detour.” 

    “A detour? Go on a little adventure, did you?”

    Kasan put thought into venting his frustration to Ewell, but Enzio’s words replayed through his head.

    Just giving your puppy a treat…

    He sighed, letting his eyes flutter closed against Ewell’s warmth. “I think it’s better if you just know how much I love you…”

    

    “I’ll take your word on it, then.” Ewell laughed softly, playing with Kasan’s hair as he spoke. “Ready to go?”

    Kasan’s eyes opened to settle on the window, sheets of falling ice still visible from where they were standing. Outside, there was the unforgiving cold, and possibly Enzio, but…

    

    “As long as you’ll keep me warm, ready when you are.”