/post/100801438096/ : it's cold in winter, but Madoka has a warm blanket ready for Homura
Winter mornings were unpleasant, in a word, and cold, in one more. It took a great amount of self control to leave the toasty fortress of a blanket for biting chill. There wasn't even the perk of snow this morning, just a lingering cold in the air that invaded the bedroom.
Homura gathered that control and rolled upright, shedding the warm blanket and immediately breaking out into goosebumps. Madoka was already out of bed, presumably getting ready for school. They were fortunate that Junko allowed a sleepover on a school night.
It was early even for a school day, Homura didn't pass either of Madoka's parents on the walk to the living room. She did smell burning gas, and heard the familiar crackle of a fireplace.
"Homura-chan!" Madoka had the cheeriest voice, even on the worst mornings. She was wrapped in a fluffy blanket far too big for her. "Morning!"
"Good morning." Homura never allowed herself to sound groggy, even on a morning like this.
"I made hot chocolate." Madoka held up a mug with marshmallows floating at the top. "We don't have to get ready for awhile, want to sit with me?" She opened the blanket a little to invite her in.
"Ah, sure." Homura's goal was to find Madoka, not waste time wrapped in a blanket, but she wasn't refusing a request. She sat down next to her.
"Come on in," Madoka laughed, tossing the blanket over Homura's shoulders. "It's warmer like this."
"I suppose." It did feel nice against her bare arms, but completely inside would be too close to Madoka.
"You're still shivering, get in closer." Madoka grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled, nearly knocking her knee into the mug she was so aggressive. "Isn't this nice?"
Homura gave a cross between a nod and a shrug; there were no words. Rather there were, such as a simple "yes," but none to verbalize. She was pressed into Madoka in a strong one-sided hug, her arms crushed between the two of them so that they would both fit into the blanket.
"Ah, sorry." Madoka must have noticed and let go long enough to let Homura free, but immediately swooped back in. "It's warm right here, isn't it?"
"Yeah." That was something she could answer. A little too warm, maybe. It must have been the fireplace or the excessive fluff of the blanket but Homura was definitely heating up.
"It's nice to just sit around like this." Madoka took a sip of her hot chocolate. "Not worrying about anything. Magical girl stuff, or homework."
"Yeah," Homura agreed, again. She accepted the mug handed to her and took a drink, not paying any mind to sharing it with Madoka.
Madoka giggled while looking at the fire. "It's kinda silly, but it's like when we first met. When I said your name means flame."
"You're right." That wasn't a memory she went back to often. Normally one would cherish the memory of their first meeting, but for her it marked the beginning of redoing her most recent failure.
"You're a lot like fire, you know that?" Madoka smiled.
"How so?" She could think of a few similarities, like how she was destructive, or how hard it was to control her path.
"Well, you're both interesting to watch, and really pretty." She laughed again. "And you're both red, too!"
Homura covered her face with one hand. "That must be the reflection."
"Homura-chan you're blushing!" Madoka poked at her face playfully.
She tried to retaliate, but all she could do was sit silently and try to wave off Madoka's teasing. It was when they heard someone clearing their throat that Madoka stopped.
"Shouldn't you two be getting ready for school?" Junko gave a playful smile.
"Sorry Mama, we woke up early." Madoka lowered her head, but Homura saw her hiding her own smile.
"You two can get back to your fun when you're fully ready." She was always a little stern, but Homura never found her unreasonable. "We leave in a half hour."
"Of course Mama, sorry." But Madoka still smiled despite the chastising.