..
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Winter had an armful of snow in her arms. Her sleeves were soaked through, her skin raw and blistering pink from the cold.
She had dropped all pretenses hours ago and abandoned her controlled, rigid demeanor in favor of cracking Qrow Branwen in the face with a snowball.
She had laughed, loudly at the sight of him brushing wet snow from his face, his nose red from impact. He had grinned back, but she recognized that crazed smile as one to be cautious about.
Qrow had launched back a dozen snowball with near perfect accuracy. They stung horribly when they hit but the adrenaline of their harmless little battle overtook the tingling in her slowly numbing hands.
Fortresses had been built, tall and sturdy, and the battle had ceased for a few moments as both gathered up mountains of snow to form into projectiles.
She could hear Qrow laughing, exuberantly and freely from his fort. Winter had half a mind to launch herself over the snow bank rather than a few measly balls of snow.
She peeked over the top of her fort. It was risky and childish- but she clawed over the top and ran. Her chest burned from inhaling icy air and ill contained laughter.
Qrow looked over his fort just as Winter went crashing into him. Snow piled heavily between them, Qrow sputtering and laughing beneath her.
Winter pushed herself to her knees, ignoring the snow soaking through her pants.
Qrow had yet to resurface from the snow. Only his legs were visible, poking comically out of the mountainous pile.
He was remarkably still and she idly thought that she had never seen him so quiet in her life. It was worrisome though and panic set in quickly.
"Qrow." She muttered through clenched teeth, digging and shoving piles of snow off him.
He lunged forward grasping her around the middle ands surging to his feet. She gasped, fingers clutching desperately to his soaked jacket.
His entire face was a brilliant shade of pink, his eyes a warm faded brown and Winter's chest filled with warmth.
"Put me down, you savage." She ordered, raising one hand to touch his cheek.
He was unusually cold to the touch, though there was a faint heat gathering just below the surface of his skin.
"Not a chance." He retorted, sticking his tongue out childishly.
"Put me down so I can kiss you properly." She told him, firmly.
He shifted, allowing her to slip down. Her feet touched the ground and he leaned in expectantly. She grinned and shoved him forward.
He caught her wrist as he fell back, dragging her down atop him. She made an undignified yelp that was muffled quickly by Qrow's mouth slanting warmly over hers.
His nose was cold against hers and when he pulled away, he was grinning.
"What are you smiling about?" She asked him, softly.
He reached up and brushed her heavy bangs from her eyes. He was so close that she could count his eyelashes, dark clusters around his eyes.
"I've had my hand on your ass this entire time and you haven't hit me." He told her, his grin widening
She scoffed and made to sit up and move away from him. His hands curled firmly on either side of her hip and he sat up to meet her.
"Kidding!" He barked, though his grin had slid into a smirk.
"I'm not upset, Qrow. I was just thinking how wonderful a warm bath would be. Now, if you aren't too busy pawing at my ass then perhaps I'll allow you to join me." She told him, coolly, her lips curling up.
The smile slid from his face and he stood up eagerly, lifting her along with him. His hand curled tightly around hers and she was suddenly flooded with his familiar heat.
"Lead the way."