An Aquaintance With Insanity
He turned the dial a fraction of a degree. For a moment, it was warm in the house.
It was freezing.
His breath mushroomed out into clouds of vapor. His cheeks stung and he shivered.
"Hello, Winter." He said without turning.
"Vanya."
He turned sharply. "Don't call me that."
"Is it wrong for a father to love his son? A brother to love his brother?"
"I am not you son, nor am I your brother."
Winter sighed, his incorporeal form shimmering in his vision.
"I wish you wouldn't say that. I am you and you are me. You cannot escape me."
"What if I did?"
"Then I would find you again. Your southern neighbors cannot keep me."
He suddenly smiled, a smirking grin with anger carved into the curve of his lips. "Tell me then, Winter. Have I ever been as sane as I'd like to be?"
Winter leaned forward. "You, my child, you have never been quite sound, have you? You've only grown less and less with each coming year. Poor child."
"I am not a child."
"Prove me wrong."
He stood dumbfounded.
He wrapped his scarf more securely around his neck. "Leave."
"You cannot make me."
"Would you wish me to freeze?"
"Wear more."
He did not deign to respond to this.
"Why are you here?"
"I love you. Will you not accept my loyalty? Your own mind is not even loyal to itself. I can protect you, keep you safe in my hold forever. I can provide for you all that you care for. I could love you like everyone else is too afraid to."
"Never," he ground the words out. "Never say that again." He put a hand under his coat and lashed out with his pipe, swinging violently at Winter. The next thing he knew, he was lying dazed on the floor, head pounding.
"I told you so." Winter swam before him, a sad smile gracing his pale face. "I am you and you are me."
He reached behind him and seized a knife, slashing at his intangible body, his own blood dripping and forming puddles at his feet.
"I told you so…"
He lay huddled on the floor in the empty room, blood soaking steadily through his clothes and matting his hair in red clumps.
"…But your kind don't die so easily, do they?"
He twisted his neck, ignoring the spike of pain, and stared up at Winter. He grasped his hand roughly. Spluttering and coughing up blood with each breath, he took one last shuddering gasp and forced his eyes open once more.
"I'll be waiting for you on the other side…"
…what the hell that was, I don't even know anymore. It…it just…I don't know! *swings pipe at the stupid plot bunnies* It's my first non-romance fic, what an achievement.