You swear as the snow starts to pick up - you only just managed to clear the roof of the heavy snow from the previous night.
At least you got it done. No roof will be caving in on your watch.
You set the roof brush aside, groaning and stretching for a moment. And then something smacks against the back of your head, sending you staggering sideways in surprise. You whip your head around - a brief spike of fear, the urge to reach for a knife you no longer have - but you see the flash of auburn hair before Merry can fully duck behind a nearby bush.
"Are you kidding me?" you snap, though you relax slightly, embarrassed by the way your hands have curled into fists.
The back door suddenly opens, and Lea is standing in the doorway, giving you a concerned look. Drawn out by your yelling, no doubt.
You both turn to stare off into the trees, Merry peeking out of the bushes.
Lea steps off the porch, their boots crunching over the icy ground, giving you another look as you stoop down and start to grab at handfuls of snow.
"Ah. Did she get you?" Lea asks with a chuckle.
Merry laughs too, still watching you from the safety of the treeline.
You mutter under your breath, standing back up with a few snowballs gathered in your arms. Merry is quick, though, jumping up from behind the bushes and letting loose a few snowballs of her own. You manage to duck out of the way, but Lea gets caught in the crossfire, grunting as snow explodes across their chest.
You return fire, just glancing one off of Merry's shoulder as she darts farther back into the woods. You sprint after her, following her laughter and hurling more snowballs after her. But your pursuit doesn't last long - you break into the trees just in time to see Merry slip and tumble through the snow, down the short slope from the treeline.
You rush over to her, dropping your remaining snowballs and peering down at her, laid out on her back, staring up at the sky.
"You alright?" you ask, unable to stifle your laugh as you crouch down beside her.
"No," Merry says, draping an arm over her face.
Lea slides down the slope next to you then, looking a bit disheveled, shaking their head with a sigh.
"I think this is it for me," Merry says. "It's all fading... I see the light."
"Well don't go towards it," you say.
"I think I need mouth to mouth," she says.
"Gods," Lea scoffs, "you're ridiculous."
You sit back on your heels, putting a reassuring hand on Merry's shoulder.
"It'll be alright," you say, grinning.
Merry gives you a sad puppy-eye stare. "Are you both just going to let your wife die?" she whines, pulling on your arm.
"I suppose not," you sigh, letting her pull you closer. She smiles up at you, a cold hand cupping your jaw, and your lips barely brush with hers before she smacks a snowball against the side of your face.
You jerk back, cursing as she laughs, and Lea laughs too, a little too loud as you wipe the snow from your eyes. You give them a look, lunging at them and grabbing at their long legs, pulling them down to the ground with you.
"No!" Lea yells dramatically, laughing as you pin them beneath you. You scoop a handful of snow and shove it under their shirt, pressing your palm to their stomach. Lea gasps, grabbing at your wrist, wiggling beneath you and kicking at the snow.
Merry jumps on you then, wrapping her arms around your shoulders and pulling you off Lea.
"This isn't fair!" you laugh as it takes both of them to grapple you back to the ground. By the time they manage to pin you, all three of you are breathing heavy, you in particular soaked with snow and starting to feel awfully sore after the work from this morning.
Merry and Lea share a victory kiss, both of them breathless, Lea's hair plastered to their face and falling loose from its braid. They ease off of you then, Lea's hand going from your wrist to entwining their fingers with yours. Merry still leans over you, giving you a look.
"Do you need mouth to mouth now, too?"
You nod.
She smiles, leaning closer, her long hair tickling your face. You resist the urge to reach for another handful of snow, instead just lifting your free hand to tangle your fingers in her hair as she kisses you once, twice, nipping at your bottom lip before sitting back and finally freeing you. Lea hauls you up, your hands still locked together, though once you're on your feet they let go and slide their arm around your waist, holding you close.
"I'll put the kettle on," Merry says, starting the climb back up the slope towards the cabin. Lea hums beside you, brushing some of the snow off your shoulders and chest as you start to trudge your way after Merry.
"We'll have to warm you up by the fire," Lea says, their lips close to your ear, and you shiver, their soft laugh ghosting over your skin, a faint kiss against your jaw.
Merry is waiting for you both at the treeline, and the three of you walk back to the cabin together, bracing against the snow as you step out of the cover of the trees. You suspect it will be a long, cold night tonight. Lea's arm tightens around you, and Merry jumps up the porch and opens the door, ushering you all inside. It'll be a long night, but you're grateful for the company.
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Penny loves to hug people from behind.
the whole choir is used to her doing this. sometimes they’ll feel a little touch on their waists, then they’ll open their arms so she can slide her hands through and wrap around them.
with Ocean and Constance, who are shorter, she’ll rest her chin on their shoulders. with the boys, who are taller, she’ll rest her forehead against their backs or will stand up on her tippy toes to try and see over them.
she’s only done this with Ocean and Constance because they’re short enough, but she’ll sometimes only hug with one arm, then with the other, she’ll reach up and gently cup their head, pressing it against her own.
it’s such a tender act of affection, and when one of them isn’t feeling the best for whatever reason, it’s so comforting. she’ll be holding them, then will feel one of their hands grip her wrist tightly, and they lean back into her warmth, and it’s just so nice. sometimes she’ll even sway them or press a little kiss to the back of their heads.
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