Chapter Text
The fire crackled merrily in the open fireplace. It smelled of burning wood, and the café was warm and cozy. The frost-painted windows began to thaw, and through them, one could see the slope of the ski resort. With occasional skiers passing by. The door swung open, letting in a stream of frosty air, and the flames in the fireplace flickered. Preston shivered and pulled his sweater collar higher. “Dolph! It's not May!”
The door closed, a draft ran across the floor, and then it was warm and cozy again. Especially at the table by the fireplace.
“It's snowing,” Max announced and brushed off the snowflakes.
“Harrison! You fucking warlock.” Dolph slumped down in a chair and made frightened eyes. “I just hit a rabbit. It came right out of my fucking slope! I looked Springtrap right in the eye–”
“Dolph.” Preston shook his head. “You still haven't learned how to prank.”
“Fuck!” Dolph grew sad. “Why?!”
“You lack subtlety.” Preston warmed his palms against his cocoa cup.
“Whatever.” Sniffing resentfully, Dolph got out from behind the table. “Max, would you like some cocoa, too?”
Yeah.” Max looked out the window. Now the snow was falling in a solid wall. “And pancakes.” Max looked away from the window and joined the company.
“I didn't even spill it.” Dolph unloaded the plates of pancakes onto the table and set the cups down carefully. He squeezed himself in at the table and began to eat with gusto, moaning with pleasure.
“That's unexpected, Preston.” Harrison dipped the tube into his cocktail glass. “They're officially dating,” he explained to Max.
Preston nodded. “He introduced me to his family very nicely, and then told them to fuck off.”
“I just traumatized Dad, he deserved it.”
“Uh-huh, sure.” Preston curled his lips in an ironic smirk. He shielded himself from Dolph. “He liked staying at my place. He came for a month, but he's been living there for three years now. Is that also to annoy your dad?”
Dolf nodded without looking up from his food. “He finally left me alone,” Dolph said, chewing. “Max is lucky, his parents don't bother him. My father wouldn't give me a free pass.”
“Oh, yeah,” Max agreed. “I don't think they realize yet that instead of one of me, they have three.”
“That's not true.” Harrison hid a smile.
“Guys, does anyone know what happened to Campbell?” Dolph wiped his hands on a napkin. Harrison shrugged.
“Who cares?” Max rocked back and forth in his chair.
“I think that was his last scam.” Harrison nodded.
“I feel sorry for our camp.” Preston reminisced. “And David.”
“Why feel sorry for David? David's doing great. Now he's the director of a new camp. The most progressive camp. With animatronic counselors.” Max rolled his eyes.
“Are you kidding? Learn, Dolph! I can't tell if he's fucking with us or not.”
“It's true,” Harrison confirmed. “Gregory went there this summer. Well, he had a motive.”
“Not a motive, but a hidden and cunning goal,” Max corrected, “to steal Freddy. He's prowling around Freddy like a cat around sour cream.”
Dolph and Preston exchanged glances.
“Wait. Seriously? Animatronic counselors?” Dolph rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Yeah, Freddy and Roxy.” The glow of the fire played in Harrison's hair. “Kids love them.”
“Cool.” Preston rested his chin on his clasped fingers, daydreaming.
“Yep. That technician, Henry, is on staff. But the Quartermaster has become even angrier now. Because of Henry. They argue all the time. Don’t look at me like that.” Max grew serious. “David sends me voice messages. On his own initiative. It's not like I ask him anything. You know David.”
The café was quiet, with only a couple of tables occupied by vacationers. Harrison lowered his gaze and fell into thought. Max's warm hand rested on top of his.
“Is everything okay?” Max tilted his head.
“Absolutely,” Harrison smiled and fluttered his eyelashes. “Everything's great now.”
Max squeezed his hand gently. Outside the window, the snow continued to fall, and the fire crackled merrily, casting flickering reflections on the floor by the fireplace.
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