#Cathrine does have Xena but it’s not like she can spend every waking minute with her during the winter seasons

[localgirlbecomesobsessed]

A winter walk

Short Drabble

“I’ve brought the supplies leader~”

Cathrine dramatically saluted an amused Rui as she handed over the large travel mug. Ed silently bowed as Lyca struggled to hold the umbrella over the unusually restless vampire.

Rui took a swig of his drink, whooping in delight as the mulled wine warmed his entire being.

“Catty! This is super delish~ you’re gonna have to share the recipe!”

Rui cheered as Cathrine giggled rolling her eyes as she handed another travel to Lyca, this time filled with a hot carob milk, she had to wrack her brains on what would be a tasty hot chocolate alternative and stumbled across the beverage when drinking with Taiga.

Ed pouted as Lyca became distracted by the drink, the sun was setting and there was barely any students around, there was barely a sound besides the chattering obscuary students and the inspector, their feet crunching on the thick snow covered floor as they looked for a place to sit.

“My flower 🌺 🌷 🌹 I’m feeling left out😦🥹😀😞, where’s my warm beverage? 🥺🥶☕️Or are you saving yourself for me later😈🤭🫦”

Everyone just looked at Ed in disappointment as he gestured lazily to himself, Cathrine pursed her lips and folded her arms as she looked at the ridiculous vampire.

“Last time I offered you mulled wine you said you wouldn’t ‘partake’ due to a video claiming aliens made the drink to placate the masses during the winter period-“

Rui chuckled shaking his head as he remembered Ed’s delirious rant after staying up for 10 hours straight ( a record) watching the conspiracy documentary. Rui took a small flask full of a special cocktail he made in preparation for Ed.

“Leader😈, you truly are a marvel.🥵🫶🏼🤭”

Rui sighed to himself in a mixture of amusement and defeat, how long were they going to carry on this leader charade? He helped Cathrine and Ed decipher some weird arcane puzzle and ever since then the two had been calling him leader, following his lead-even going for a walk despite the two barely leaving their respective hidey holes during winter, like a bear in hibernation.

“Lea-Gigolo, there’s a couple of benches over there.”

Lyca excitedly pointed at a shaded area, a large tree looming over a couple of benches, it was near the hotarubi dorms and was a picture of peace. The four wandered over, Cathrine lighting up a cigarette as they made their way, her and Rui hanging back to ensure no smoke went near Lyca or Ed.

“How ya enjoying the walk catty?”

Rui asked sparking conversation after walking in silence for a couple of minutes, it was nice the silence, a calm between the two that was comfortable enough to get lost in…but how he enjoyed listening to her voice.

“…it’s nice-“

She was about to say something else but paused as she took another hit of her cigarette, Rui glanced at her, her ruby red eyes seemed far away as she grimly gazed at the snow.

“You don’t like winter that much do you Cat?”

Neither did he if he was honest, the coldness seemed to set a constant reminder of the Loneliness that dwells within him.

She hummed in thought, bringing out her travel ashtray and stubbing out her cigarette, pausing in place as Rui patiently waited for her. The other two had already made their places on the bench, Lyca even making a small snowman next to Ed who watched in amusement.

Cathrine had a tender smile on her as she looked around her, the peaceful setting was a major contrast to how she usually spent the winter season; she was always by herself, usually locked away to work or left behind by family…she hated the constant silence that surrounded her during the winter.

But now she looked at the man beside her, his constant nagging and encouragement swirled around her this season-she looked towards Lyca who was building a Subaru shaped snowman as Ed tried to ‘help’ and instead only made the poor snowman into a misshapen horror.

She let out a light laugh as she pocketed her ashtray, gesturing for Rui to continue on to the benches.

A strange warmth built up within her and it definitely wasn’t because of the mullled wine, it was because…

She wasn’t alone anymore-

“I don’t know…I think I’m warming up to the winter nowadays…”