Theme: Mittens

The outside temperatures had plummeted during the night. The sense of Sakura's feather appeared and disappeared throughout the day, so they'd taken turns keeping watch outside the inn, waiting for any signs of the feather. Fai had volunteered for the shift that ran from midnight until dawn, not wanting to expose either of the kids to it and fearing that any reluctance on his part would only make him look weaker in Kurogane's eyes. He didn't think he could stand it if Kurogane hated him any more.

He cupped his hands to his mouth and blew on numb fingers. His breath steamed out into the frigid air, but transferred very little heat to his appendages. He tucked his hands into his armpits, trying to control the shivering.

"Idiot."

The dark voice from behind him startled him, and in his surprise, he didn't react as fast as he should have.

Kurogane grabbed his hands and clasped them between his own. Fai's slender fingers disappeared inside Kurogane's larger ones, and heat slowly started to flow back to his tingling hands.

"I'm fine." Fai tried to pull back. Though his fingers were now thawing out, the rest of his body was even colder by comparison. The shiver racked his frame, and he tried to hide it with little success.

"Idiot." Kurogane repeated and pulled him into his arms, wrapping his jacket around Fai.

The temperatures dropped even farther as the world climbed towards dawn, but a faint heat began to suffuse Fai's body.

OOOOOOOO

That's right, melt Fai's heart! ^^
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays everyone!

Thanks so much to everyone who supported and commented through this challenge! 3