December 14th: Ugly Sweaters

The cold night was closing in. The high altitude abnormal had led them on a merry chase and now they stranded on the side of this mountain as the temperature dropped. She might have hiked back to their extraction point even in the dark, but the moon was immediately obscured by clouds that began dumping fat heavy snowflakes upon them. Within minutes their gear was soaked and they were shivering. Nikola's physiology protected him from frostbite but not from feeling miserable.

It was their great good fortune the Abnormal lived near ski country. Stumbling upon an chalet meant they'd survive the night. Helen had scavenged everything within reach to stuff into the fire place. She stuffed a pile of wooden knick-knacks and throw pillows in until the flames caught and she could feel her fingertips again.

Warming her hands as the meager fire grew, she glanced at their surroundings and found the firewood. She threw wood in, building up the fire as much as she could without risking the whole place being burnt to the ground. It was a private chalet, which meant the owner had money. The decor was suitably rustic for a mountain dwelling, but obviously expensive and elegant. The large living room they were in looked like it belonged in a magazine spread.

The shadowy loft and hallways that led off the room were wasted space for them, as they both huddled near the fireplace, neither anxious to leave the only source of heat.

The decor was elegant but Helen found she couldn't same the same for clothes she had turned up when she went rifling through the closets. They were mostly empty, so the options boiled down to ski suits or a pile of garish holiday jumpers.

"Really, Helen…." Nikola's face was pinched in distaste as she handed him a stack.

"We don't have a lot of options, Nikola." Helen said, starting to wiggler her way out of her wet gear. Her teeth had started to chatter again during her short foray out of the room and her discomfort gave her no patience for his prissiness.

Helen disrobing was enough to distract Nikola from his complaints. He eyes her appreciatively as sodden garments were tossed on the floor. With a disapproving tsk, she turned her back to him before she peeled her blouse off and pulled one of the slightly musty wool sweaters over her head. She shucked her bra before sticking her arms through the sleeves and quickly following up with another layer. The large sweater she pulled on was embroidered with bright red poinsettias and thankfully large enough to cover her nearly to the knee.

The interesting part over (with nary even a glimpse of side boob), Nikola went back to glowering at her unhappily.

"Well don't blame me!" Helen chided as she pulled her damp socks off and spread them to dry by the fire. She'd managed to find a truly hideous pair but thick pair to replace them. They were miles too big for her and, like the sweater, nearly reached her knees in the other direction. "It isn't my fault we didn't find a Mens Warehouse to shelter in."

"You wound me, Helen!" he protested. "As if I would wear anything off the rack."

But there was nothing for it so Nikola was forced to changed into the borrowed shirts. The top layer was a nice shade of blue. It brought out the color of his eyes, Helen thought. But the pattern of white snowflakes and reindeer made him sigh in disgust.

"Come." Helen beckoned from the couch where she was now burrowing under a few heavy throw blankets left folded over the furniture. "Help me keep warm."

Well, he wouldn't have to look at their hideous outfits if they were covered by blankets at least. Not that he needed another reason to crawl in next to his dear Helen.

He shifted the flow of electricity within him, nudging it just slightly out of the perfect balance he kept it in until it emitted a byproduct of heat. Turning him into a walking, talking hot water bottle that Helen cuddled up to gladly. Nikola refrained from commenting on their intimate nearness, not wanting her to pull away. He settled his arms around her and she inched in to get comfortable, her head finding its way to lay on his chest.

Resting his chin on top of her head, her body warming in his arms and her heart beating a steady reassuring rhythm he could feel down to his bones, he resolved not to move an inch until he absolutely had to get up to feed the fire.

Thoroughly thawed into a state of drowsiness, Helen let herself doze. She knew she was safe with Nikola and she slept with her head pillowed against him until the scratchy knit of his jumper tickled her nose.

When she shifted to his shoulder, Nikola smiled a tiny smile. It grew when her body sagged in sleep again and her face ended up pressed into the side of his neck. Her breath fanned over his skin and Nikola felt a warmth that wasn't due to the heat of her breath, the roaring flames of the fire, or the energy within him. Helen slept on and Nikola watched over her, filled to the brim with affection for the most amazing person he had ever known.