This story was inspired by InvertedTypo on Tumblr and "Starlight" by Cornonlecob on this site! ^u^
"Listen close, children, tonight's story is a new one."
The trill of high pitched cheers urged the storyteller on, her aged face crumpling in a warm smile that could melt the walls of the Northern Water Tribe.
"Down in the South Pole, beyond the reach of our sister tribe, lives a spirit. A bright eyed trickster that snatches the animals from traps, leaving dark red stains through the snow and ice.
"Those that claim to have seen it say they have almost been impaled on rogue icicles that spring up in it's wake. They say it had hair made of snow and skin made of ice. Terrible and freezing.
"Others claim to see a small child, always attracted to warmth, huddled by abandoned fires and wrapped in barely sewn together pelts. They call it Nini, a stray soul cursed to serve Koh and gather the dead to fuel the demon's ever growing hunger in order to finally, finally get warm."
From just across the street deep indigo eyes squinted, judging the story with everything else he has come across. Something wasn't adding up, only investigation would actually get any answers. He felt his teeth bare in a short 'tsk', hands burrowing deeper in his fur-lined pockets. He pushed away from the ice pillar he had chosen to brood on, stalking off towards the biggest distraction on the street.
He snatched the dark brown hood off of a spiky blond head, using the hood to haul the taller man away from his failing attempt at snatching up some free fried eel.
"Lukas you ass, let me go! I was just about to eat that!" The tall man whined, slumping in Lukas's hold.
"You're a moron. That shopkeeper uses banana pepper flakes as a spice. That thing you are deathly allergic to?" Lukas prompted, using his steady grasp on the hood to bodily throw the taller man down an alley between the icy buildings. "I've got a lead."
The tall man tilted his head, fiery blue eyes sparkling with interest. "Oh? So we can finally get out of this water filled wasteland?"
"It's in the South Pole."
The tall man's face went blank, eyes vacant for half a minute before his jaw dropped. "No. No! You can't be serious!"
"Dead."
The tall man's head dropped back, hands flying to his face in anguish. He let out a tortured moan— bordering on scream— falling against the wall behind him and slumping down it. "I'm going to become a popsicle at this rate! You're trying to kill me!"
Lukas snorted, rolling his eyes. He dropped down into a squat, keeping his dead stare locked into the pleading man's gaze. "You do a fine job of that yourself, Mathias, now get up. Before I make you."
Mathias huffed, a cloud of steam erupting from his nostrils and swirling around his head. "Fine fine. I'm up." He said as he stood, bones crackling in protest. "Is Ber still with the ship?"
"He better be, else we'll need to find a new Berwald." Lukas replied, latching back onto Mathias's hood to pull it over his spiky head. He paused for a second, eyes drifting to Mathias's neck where a dark blue necklace hung just below his adam's apple. "When we're beyond the sight of the Northern Water Tribe you will give me that back. No chucking it out to sea, you hear me? I've already lost one pair of good boots I will not lose that to your stupidity as well."
Mathias just snorted, dusting off his borrowed clothes just the finger the pale bone carving dangling from the cloth at his neck. "I think it looks great on me. Let's the whole world know I belong to you." He tossed in a wink, more than happy to see Lukas's annoyed eye roll in return. "But don't worry. I'll keep my word. I'll put it on you myself when we get in the boat."
Lukas looked away, blond hair concealing his eyes and most of his upper face from view. "You really are stupid, aren't you?"
"Not when it counts!" Mathias grinned in response, draping an arm around Lukas's slighter shoulders to pull the other man into a side angled hug. "Stop looking so glum! You've got a new lead, and if you think it's a real lead then it might as well be proof! We'll find him. Now smile or else people'll start to think you hate me."
"I do hate you." Was the quick response, more from habit than anything else. There was no real spite behind those words.
Mathias knew it. Lukas knew it. And as they walked out of the alley, if only for the smallest of seconds, he smiled.