Chapter Text
A man in search of warmth.
Dammed by the gods to live for centuries in the cold.
He knows not what it means to be loved or cherished.
All he knows, sees, and feels is the icy cold.
Yet he craves for someone to love and hold.
Inspired by : Yuki-onna’s longing by illspk
Chapter One: Blizzard
Warnings: Slight spice, descriptions of hopelessness, and freezing to death.
“Um, Rick, where are we going?” William asked.
Rick and William had crossed the Canadian border days ago. Then they had just kept driving. William wasn’t even sure if they were still in Ontario anymore. Wherever they were, it was far north and completely isolated. He hadn’t seen a town in hours, and his phone didn’t register any bars.
“Camping,” Rick answered excitedly.
“Rick, it’s the middle of winter,” William said. He looked out the window and watched the endless snowy landscape pass by.
When Rick had asked William if he wanted to go on a trip with him. William had immediately agreed without asking for details or specifics. Simply excited to spend time with Rick. He should have known something was wrong when Rick had instructed him to purchase winter clothing. Such as a winter coat, boots, hat, mittens, and a scarf.
“Exactly! Perfect for camping. Believe me, William. You are going to love this,” Rick promised.
Even more hours passed by with no signs of civilization, but eventually the two Americans reached their destination. William expected to see a cabin or nature retreat. Only to be met with more endless Canadian woods. Tall evergreen pines frosted with snow.
“Where is the campsite?” William asked. He stepped out of Rick’s truck and shivered. Even with all his winter clothing, William was still cold. His breath ghosted out in front of him. A wisp of warmth which was quickly snuffed out by the bitter cold.
Rick went to the trunk of his trunk and grabbed their luggage. Then he started to walk off into the woods. “We are making our own,” Rick said.
“Wait? Are you serious! Isn't that super dangerous?” William said. Voice full of alarm and concern. He followed Rick into the woods.
“Don’t worry, I do this all the time, it will be fun,” Rick promised. He looked back at William and gave him a reassuring smile.
William continued to follow Rick through the woods. He kept rubbing his hands together and nuzzling into his scarf. Desperate to get some warmth. After many hours of walking, they stopped in a random clearing full of tree stumps. It seemed that someone had chopped many of the trees down.
“This looks like a good spot!” Rick said. He started to set up a tent and a campfire. He smiled widely and looked to be enjoying himself immensely.
William sat down on a random wooden stump and watched Rick set up the campsite. He would have offered help, but William had never gone camping before. Knew absolutely nothing about the outdoors.
“You like this, huh? Camping in the winter? In the middle of nowhere? Really?” William said.
He didn’t understand how. William enjoyed exploring local cafes. Searching for the best latte. Or petting friendly stray cats. When he felt especially mischievous, he would flirt with desperate tops and get free drinks. That was fun, not this. Camping seemed more like a punishment, not something to seek out.
“Yes. It’s like the rest of the world has melted away. Absolute peace,” Rick said.
“And you wanted to share that experience with me?” William asked. Rick turned to look at William. He suddenly looked a little nervous.
“I... I usually do this alone, but I like you, William. Your presence...feels safe,” Rick said and then quickly looked away from him. He went back to setting up their campsite.
William knew that Rick had a traumatic past. He often had panic attacks or reacted to specific triggers. Was on edge constantly and avoided people. Rick didn’t speak about his past often, and William didn’t know the whole story. But the pieces Rick had shared with him were horrific. William felt honored that Rick found him safe and had invited him to something clearly meaningful to him.
“I like you as well, Rick,” William admitted softly.
The two of them weren’t officially dating. Currently just friends with benefits. But William hoped this trip would change that. The idea of Rick being his boyfriend filled his stomach with butterflies.
After the campsite was finished being set up. Night came quickly. During the winter, the days in Canada were far too short. The sky turned inky black and filled with countless shimmering stars. William had spent his entire life in the city. Its sky is polluted by man. Stars rarely managed to break through. So, the sight of a sky filled with so many stars filled William with amazement.
“Here,” Rick said. He then handed William a cup of hot chocolate.
“Thank you,” William said and accepted the offered drink. He took a sip. Felt the decadent and rich taste of chocolate on his tongue.
Rick then joined William next to the fire. He wrapped a thick blanket around the two of them and got close. Pressing his body against William’s. For the first time since entering Canada. William did not feel the bitter bite of winter.
“Do you want to hear something spooky?” Rick asked.
“Oh?” William said. He raised an eyebrow. His eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“This forest has cryptids,” Rick said.
“Like the moth man? Or the Loch Ness monster?” William asked. He became even more curious.
“No more like spirits,” Rick said.
“Really?” William said.
“Yeah, it all started during Canada’s 1800s logging boom. Beautiful spirits appeared. With snow white hair and icy blue eyes. They seduced the loggers and trapped them in blizzards. The men disappeared. Never to be seen again,” Rick said. His voice was barely a whisper. Obviously, trying to make his tale even spookier. It didn’t work. William wasn’t so easily scared.
“I bet the men were just cheating and running off with their new wives,” William snickered.
“Probably,” Rick smiled.
“But if there are spirits in these woods. You will protect me, right? Put those big muscles to good use,” William purred. His tone turned very flirty. William took a finger and ran it up and down Rick’s impressive chest.
“Of course,” Rick said. He looked at William as if he were something precious. It made him feel cherished.
Rick then leaned down for a kiss. He paused a couple of millimeters away from William’s lips. Making sure that he consented. William enthusiastically closed the remaining distance and pressed their lips together. Then they kissed passionately.
After a little while, Rick grew bolder. His lips traced a path downwards. Towards William’s neck. His kisses became a little rougher, but still slow. As if Rick was savoring every inch of William. When his fingers moved dangerously low, William shivered. Not from the cold but from the way Rick’s touch made his heart race.
They soon moved to the tent. A flurry of excited, lustful touches. The sound of their moans and whispers filled the quiet night. Their warmth and bodies combined into a singular flame.
For a moment, William understood exactly what Rick had meant. It did feel like the rest of the world had melted away. That only he and Rick existed. They were completely unaware that, in reality, they were not alone. Jealous eyes watched them from the woods.
William awoke the next morning, held carefully in Rick’s muscular arms.
“Good morning, William. Last night was amazing, you were perfect,” Rick said. His voice was full of affection and praise. He gently placed his lips on William's cheek and softly kissed him.
“Hmm, yeah, you too,” William murmured sleepily. Still in the process of waking up.
“I'm going to get the fire going again, then make us some breakfast,” Rick said. He released William and stood up. Then Rick got dressed and walked out of the tent. William immediately missed his warmth.
He closed his eyes and almost drifted back to sleep, but then Rick’s swearing woke him back up.
“Fuck,fuck, fuck” Rick swore. He sounded very upset.
“What is wrong?” William said and sat up. Fully awakening.
“There is a blizzard. A total white out,” Rick said.
William dressed himself and then poked his head outside the tent. Everything outside of the campsite was pure white. Like a white piece of paper waiting for ink. The air was also filled with snow, and the wind was bitterly cold.
“Oh, well, I am sure it will be over soon,” William said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWGun9uM99M&list=RDpWGun9uM99M&start_radio=1
It was not.
Many days passed and the blizzard did not let up for even a moment. The temperature steadily dropped even further. A deep gnawing ache penetrated deeply into Williams' bones. Every shiver or breath brought a sting of pain. No matter how close William stayed by the fire. Or how much he pressed his body up against Ricks. He could not get warm.
“We are out of firewood. I’m going into the woods,” Rick shivered.
Keeping the fire going had become a constant struggle. The icy wind kept snuffing the fire out. This resulted in them using up even more wood to get it going again.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” William asked.
“We don’t have a choice. If we are going to survive the blizzard, then we will need to stay warm,” Rick said.
“What if you can’t find your way back? I don’t want to be alone,” William shivered from both cold and fear.
Rick leaned down and gently kissed William’s cheek. The moisture immediately froze. He then left Williams' side. Grabbed his axe and turned to face the woods.
“I promise to come back. Just wait for me...also William,” Rick said, his voice drifting off.
“Yes, Rick?” William said.
“I'm sorry for bringing you here. It was a mistake,” Rick said regretfully. He stepped into the woods, and his figure was completely consumed by the blizzard. It was the last time William ever saw Rick alive.
Three days passed, and the blizzard still hadn’t stopped. The fire had gone out long ago, and William couldn’t get more wood. Rick had taken the only axe and had yet to return.
Due to the lack of any heat source. William’s hands, feet, nose, and ears ceased to feel anything. Having completely gone numb. Frostbite and hypothermia were slowly killing him. Warmth a distance memory.
William felt completely hopeless and full of despair. He knew that if the blizzard didn’t stop. Or Rick didn’t come back soon. Then he would die.
“Fuck, where the hell are you, Rick? You promised to come back, liar,” William shivered violently and cried. His tears were freezing before they reached the snow-covered ground. Although he knew it wasn’t rational, he felt angry at Rick. It was easier to blame a person than mother nature.
Suddenly, for the first time since it had started, there was a break in the blizzard. A space that wasn’t completely consumed by snow. William looked towards it and felt strangely drawn in. It whispered safety.
William considered his options. He could stay at the campsite and continue waiting. Probably resulting in him freezing to death. Or William could leave the campsite and enter the woods. Hopefully, either finding Rick or his way back to the truck.
William really only had one option. Choice an illusion. He packed his bag with the remainder of his quickly depleting supply of food and water. Then he entered the blizzard.
The world was quiet. Sound muffled by a blanket of snow. The only sound William heard was the soft crunch of his footsteps in the snow. William could not see where he was going. His vision was almost completely consumed by the blizzard. Apart from a small part of the storm, in which the snow was strangely absent. He tried to stay in that particular part and continued to push forward.
William walked for miles. Over time, his movements slowed. Each step forward took an immense amount of effort. His muscles stiffened. Thoughts became foggy and slow. His heartbeat sluggishly and his breaths became shallow. William knew that his body was failing him, but there was nothing he could do about it. All he could do was move forward.
Finally, William could continue no longer. His body fully collapsed into the snow. He wasn’t sure how long he laid there. The snow had started to bury him. Claiming him as part of it. William knew that he needed to get up and struggle. Fight for his life, but he was simply too cold. William closed his eyes and started to drift away.
“I have waited for so long,” A voice said.
William opened his eyes and looked up. He saw a masculine figure in the snow. For a moment, he thought it was Rick, but no, that wasn’t right. The blues of his eyes were too icy. His hair was colored a snowy white instead of a warm sunshine yellow.
William closed his eyes again. Unable to keep them open. He felt himself being picked up and gently held. Instinctively, William snuggled into the body. Seeking warmth only to find none.
“But you are perfect,” the voice said. Full of joy. Then William heard no more.
.
.
.
.
William felt warm. A gentle softness surrounded him. He nuzzled further into its comfort.
“Are you awake?” A voice softly inquired.
Slowly, William opened his eyes. He found himself tucked into a bed. Blanketed by many furs. A soft pillow under his head. William sat up and observed his new surroundings.
He found himself inside an ancient log cabin. The cabin emitted a cozy charm with its weathered wooden beams, stone fireplace, and candlelight. At the end of the bed stood a very handsome man.
Snow white hair, icy blue eyes, ghostly pale skin, and a ridiculously muscular figure. He was dressed in a blue long-sleeved turtleneck sweater and even darker blue pants. He looked at William with an intense expression .
“Who are you and where am I?” William asked.
“My name is Mark, and this is my cabin. I found you in the snow,” Mark said. William noticed that he had a thick Canadian accent.
“You saved me....thank you,” William said. His voice was full of gratitude and relief.
William felt incredibly lucky. What was the chance that, in the middle of nowhere during a blizzard, he had been found? It seemed like an impossible miracle.
“Of course. It was my pleasure. What is your name?” Mark asked. He got closer to William. Closing the distance between them until he stood next to him. Mere inches away.
“William,” William answered. He then violently sneezed. His nose was congested, and every one of his muscles ached. William felt very ill.
“Oh...you are not well. Don’t worry, I will nurse you back to health,” Mark promised. He smiled softly.
“Thanks....but I really need to find my companion and go home,” William said. He tried to leave the bed, but Mark placed a hand on his chest and gently pushed him back down.
“You can’t leave, not in this blizzard. It’s not safe,” Mark said and shook his head back and forth in refusal.
“Shit...,” William swore and then sneezed again.
“How about you stay with me until the storm ends, and you are healthy?” Mark suggested.
“Is that really okay? You don’t mind?” William asked. He could not believe how kind and generous Mark was being. Canadians were stereotyped as being friendly, but this seemed too good to be true.
“It’s no trouble at all. You are more than welcome,” Mark said. He smiled a little wider. Showing off sharp canines.
William felt a random spike of fear. Like a dormant instinct had risen. Created from back when humanity was not the dominant predator. William also suddenly remembered the legend Rick had told him. Slowly, he lifted a finger over and poked Mark’s stomach. To his relief, he felt flesh.
“Why did you do that?” Mark asked. He tilted his head to the side. Like a confused dog.
“Just...making sure you aren’t a spirit,” William said, incredibly embarrassed.
For some reason, this made Mark laugh. William enjoyed his laugh. It was deep and full of amusement.
“Now, how about I make you some soup?” Mark said. His voice was gentle and caring. Yet his eyes sparkled with a wild excitement.