Chapter 1 Cold Storms and Warm Fires
The drive to the cabin is far from enjoyable. Ven sits curled up in the passenger seat of Zack's car with the heat cranked to max while Zack is leaned over the steering wheel, his eyes squinting through the swirling snow of the storm that had struck them halfway up the mountain. Except for the radio playing softly in the background, there is silence. Ven is afraid to talk and distract Zack in the current conditions.
The quiet Christmas carols slowly lull Ven to sleep. Just as his eyes drift close, the car jerks and slides on the road, causing Ven's eyes to shoot back open. Zack swears under his breath as he fights the steering wheel to keep the car from spinning out. After a few terrifying moments, Zack gets the car straightened back out and continues the slow climb up the mountain in the snow.
Letting out a small sigh, Zack glances at Ven. "It's not that much further," he says and Ven nods. A few more minutes and they will reach the cabin at the top of the mountain they have rented out for the week leading up to Christmas. It is supposed to be their vacation get away after surviving finals at Destiny University, the college they both attend, but at that moment it isn't very relaxing.
"Thanks for doing this Zack," Ven says. Zack hadn't taken to the idea right away. He had wanted to stay at their apartment in the city so they could spend the holidays at their friends' parties, but Ven had begged and begged for this trip until Zack agreed to Ven's plans. Ven had happily found the little cabin in the middle of nowhere and booked it for just the two of them so they could enjoy Christmas in each other's company.
"It'll be fun," Zack says. "We'll see if us city boys can handle the wilderness."
"Piece of cake," Ven says with a grin. "I used to go camping with my dad, but we had to sleep in tents. At least this cabin has electricity and heat." Ven's eyes light up as Zack rounds a bend in the road and a small one story log cabin came into view. "There it is!"
Parking the car in the snow covered yard, Zack kills the engine and the two of them get out, shivering in the snowy air. Quickly gathering their suitcases from the back seat, they hurry to the front door. Ven pulls the key out of his pocket and unlocks the door, letting them both inside. Zack closes the door with a kick while Ven feels along the wall until he finds a switch.
Light from two overhead lamps fills the small main room, letting them see their home for the next seven days for the first time. Tucked in the far corner is a kitchenette with a table and two wooden chairs. The only other furniture in the room is a large and comfortable looking couch set in front of an empty fireplace. Two closed doors lead off the main room.
"I thought you said there was going to be heat," Zack says, dropping the suitcases and wrapping his arms around himself.
"There will be," Ven says spotting the thermostat beside the light switch. He quickly turns on the heat and moves to Zack. He slips his hands around Zack's waist and pulls him close. "Until it warms up, I think we should stay close to conserve body heat."
Zack raises an eyebrow playfully at him. "Oh?" He brushes a cold finger over Ven's cheek to his lips. "Well if you insist…" He leans down and bring his and Ven's lips together. He feels Ven smile into the kiss as he moves his hands to Ven's heavy jacket and pulls down the zipper. Ven lets it drop beside the forgotten suitcases on the ground and quickly does the same to Zack's jacket. Despite the thick sweaters they are wearing, they both shiver in the cold cabin and press closer together. Never breaking the kiss, Zack starts to pull Ven to the two doors of the main room, hoping behind one of them is a bedroom.
…
Ven wakes the next morning snuggled under a thick quilt. Still half asleep, he rolls over, reaching out for Zack only to find the other side of the bed empty. He frowns and sits up before hearing the sound of the shower through the wall of the bedroom. Rubbing his eyes to wake himself fully, he glances around the room to see that while he had been asleep, Zack had brought their suitcases into the room. Stretching, Ven rolls out of bed and grimaces as his feet touch the cold floor. Walking to the suitcases, he first finds a pair of socks to slip on before getting dressed. Overnight the cabin had warmed up considerably, but there is still a slight chill in the air. With a baggy sweater and a pair of jeans now on, Ven makes quick work of putting his and Zack's clothes in the dresser and closet in their room.
He is hanging up the last few sweaters they had brought when he hears the shower turn off. A minute later Zack enters the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. "Good morning sleeping beauty," he says as he gives Ven a light kiss.
"Good morning," Ven says kissing him back. "How was your shower?"
"Lonely without you," Zack says pulling Ven into a deeper kiss.
When they break apart, Ven pushes Zack away playfully. "Get dressed," he says with a smile and goes to take a shower himself.
…
After his shower and a warm breakfast of bacon and eggs, Ven and Zack bundle up and head outside to a landscape of white snow. The storm of the night before is long gone leaving them with a foot of snow. They stand for a moment with their breath fogging in the air as they admire the beauty of their surroundings. The snow clung to the pine trees around the cabin and covered the roof like something out of a movie. Smiling, Ven crouches down and picks up a handful of snow, molding it into a ball with his fist.
"It's perfect snow," Ven says showing Zack how well it sticks together. Dropping the small ball he had made, Ven grabs Zack's hand and pulls him into the middle of clearing. "C'mon! I want to make a snowman."
Laughing at Ven's childish excitement, Zack complies and starts forming a ball of snow. Once it is as big as he can make in his hands, he puts it on the snow and starts to roll it. It quickly grows in size. Once it is big enough for the middle, Zack straightens up and looks over to where Ven is working to make the bottom. Grinning, Zack starts on the head, making it in the same way as the middle.
Ven finishes his part and glances up to see Zack working on the head. Leaving the bottom in the snow, Ven goes to the trees to look for more supplies. Lots of branches had broken and fallen to the ground in the storm the night before. It doesn't take long for him to find two suitable to be arms. Rocks are harder to find as the snow had buried them, but around the bases of the trees where the snow isn't as deep Ven is able to gather enough to fill his pockets.
Walking out of the trees, Ven sees Zack adjusting the head of the snowman whose body had been stacked. Zack looks up as Ven reaches him and holds out the stick arms. He grins, taking them and driving them into the snowman's sides while Ven makes a smiling face out of the small rocks he had gathered. Taking a few of the rocks, Zack puts a line of three buttons on the snowman's chest and he and Ven step back to admire their creation.
"He's missing something," Ven says critically, tilting his head at the snowman.
Zack tilts his head as well. "What else- Hey!"
Ven snatches Zack's hat off his head and places it on the snowman's. "There!" Ven says triumphantly, nodding at his handiwork.
Zack hugs him from behind. "What should we name him?" He asks in Ven's ear.
Ven thinks for a moment. "Melvin," he says turning to smile at Zack.
"Melvin? What kind of name is that for a snowman?" Zack says teasingly. "What about Sticks? Or Tubby?"
"Nope," Ven says turning to face Zack in their embrace. "I like Melvin."
"Alright," Zack says leaning in so their noses touch. "Melvin it is."
Ven grins and kisses Zack lightly. He starts to pull away, but Zack stops him and deepens their kiss. Ven responds by wrapping his arms around Zack's neck and pulling him right up against him. As their kiss gets more passionate, Zack pushes harder against Ven who takes a step back so his back is against the snowman. Melvin however isn't all that sturdy and collapses, sending them falling to the ground on top of the unfortunate snowman.
Zack pushes himself off Ven slightly to survey the snowman carnage under them. "Whoops."
"Sorry Melvin," Ven says patting half of the snowman's head that was still intact.
Zack gets to his feet and helps Ven up. Looking down at the squished snowman, he says, "Let's rebuild him." Smiling, Ven nods and the two of them start over.
…
Two hours later, they stumble back into the cabin with cold faces and big smiles. Not only had they rebuilt Melvin, but they had also made him a husband named Tubby and two snowkids. Shedding their snow covered clothes and boots, they relish in the warmth of the cabin.
"I'll make us some hot chocolate," Ven says moving to the kitchen and getting out two mugs.
Zack moves to the fireplace and grabs some firewood from the basket next to the couch to burn. There is also some kindling to add and the fire lights easily.
After heating up some water on the stove and pouring it into the mugs, Ven pulls a box of hot chocolate mix from the cabinet. He adds one pack of mix to each mug and then smiles to himself as he adds a second mix to Zack's cup. Zack likes his hot chocolate with extra chocolate. Stirring both until the the mix dissolves, Ven carefully picks up the mugs and takes them to the couch where Zack is sitting, warming his hands by the fire.
"Thanks, Ven," Zack says taking the mug from Ven. He takes a careful sip of the hot liquid. "You remembered," he says with a smile as he tastes the extra chocolate.
"Of course I remembered," Ven says sitting next to him and leaning against Zack's shoulder.
Still smiling, Zack wraps his free arm around Ven's shoulder and leans against him as well. They sit together, sipping their hot chocolate and staring at the fire, until the sun goes down and the room darkens except for the firelight.
"I'm glad we came out here," Ven says sleepily. He nuzzles his head in the crook between Zack's chin and shoulder.
"Me too," Zack says kissing the top of Ven's head gently. He stares into the fire for a long time before realizing Ven had fallen asleep on him. "Ven," he says nudging him slightly to wake him. "I think its time for us to go to bed."
"No, stay here, warm," Ven mutters. He falls back asleep and Zack lets out a sigh. He sits up, pulling Ven with him, and Ven mumbles in his sleep at the change in position. Shaking his head lovingly at his boyfriend, Zack stands and lifts Ven into arms with some difficulty. Ven clings to Zack as he is carried into the bedroom. Zack places him gently on the bed before climbing in next to him and pulling the quilt over them both. Ven rolls over in his sleep to be cuddled against Zack. Wrapping his arms around Ven, he rests his head touching Ven's and lets himself drift off into a blissful sleep.
Welcome to the week of Zactus fluff! My goal is to post a chapter of Ven and Zack's snowy adventures every day til Christmas. Will I actually be able to do that? Idk, but it's a good goal.