"Hah, that was quite a night wasn't it, love?" Crusch smiled tenderly, the faint moonlight highlighting the gentle curves of her beautiful face.
"Of course, you were as great as always, Crusch-tan." Subaru replied, playing with the Duchess' green strands of hair as her head laid on his chest. A healthy coating of slick sweat covering each of their exhausted bodies could be considered a reminder of the intensity the pair found themselves in.
Both Crusch and Subaru heaved in the cold midnight air, their bare forms resting snugly under a single sheet on a large bed. Had it been any other ordinary night, the two would be huddled together either under the Duchess' favoured heavy blanket or in front of the manor's main fireplace.
The latter probably being more of a group event however, as the two would not be alone due to the various residents that inhabited the manor. Crusch's dutiful butler would most likely be tending to the young couple, ensuring their evening would be as comfortable as possible. His grandfatherly attitude and unusually gentle way of treating them was always a delight.
The other member of the group, Felix, would be constantly teasing Crusch's partner however. Ever since Subaru had chosen to take the Duchess' hand, the knight had taken a slightly more aggressive attitude towards his constant teasing. Oftentimes, he would disregard personal space if only to get a chance at seeing Subaru's flustered face. Had it not been for the presence of Crusch, the healer would surely continue his antics without remorse.
Felix could be quite persistent after all.
"Hey, is it still snowing outside?" Subaru asked, absentmindedly running his hands over his partner's skin. The fleeting feeling of his warm touch, contrasted with the frosty winter night sent shivers down the verdant haired woman's spine. Had she not have been exhausted from all the strenuous and vigorous bonding the two were doing earlier, she'd already have started on going for another round.
"It seems so." She replied, thoroughly enjoying as Subaru continued his unconscious stroking of the woman's body. Considering how often the pair were hard at work or busy attending to other responsibilities, she had to make the most of these intimate moments they shared alone.
Despite this, she didn't desire much else outside the presence of her partner at her side.
The two looked out towards the balcony, and farther still, the winter wonderland which now covered the originally neatly kept patches of grass and shrubbery in a blanket of fluffy white. The view made them feel all the more cozy, as they hugged each other tightly.
"Doesn't this feel familiar." Crusch commented, looking back from the scene to the dark-haired man lying beside her.
"What do you mean?"
"Didn't you describe something similar to this to me? That story you were telling me about, erm… curistmas?"
Subaru sat up and pinched her cheek, smiling as the Duchess racked her brain for the right words. Furrowing her brow in a way he would most certainly call cute, although she would very much berate him for ever considering such a thing.
"Well, you got the last part right at least. Although how do you mean it's similar?" Subaru said, turning his gaze back to the snowfall.
"You mentioned how it was a time where you would gather with your loved ones on a snowy night. Am I remembering it correctly? Or is there more to it?" Crusch spoke, propping herself up on her elbows.
"It's like, a time where everyone comes together and gives gifts for um…togetherness? I don't know, it was more about the presents with me."
"How very much like you, to consider the material more than the presence of those you love most." Crusch teased, noticing the small tick Subaru made in response.
He made it way too easy.
"Hey, I was still a kid alright, sure it was nice to be with family but presents are what anyone that age would look forward to." Subaru replied in defence, although a little too quickly as Crusch smirked at his embarrassment.
"Anyway, referring back to what we were discussing earlier. This 'Christmas' is a time of giving, is that it?"
"Mostly, although I guess it's supposed to be more about being with your family and giving them meaningful gifts. Being thankful for the people around you and celebrate everyone being with you."
Crusch let her lover talk about the obscure holiday of his homeland, well, where he told her he comes from. Though he was a bit vague on some of the details, she could see the subtle frown and very mild hurt the subject brought to his features. While she didn't feel the need to call him out on it, she at least wanted to let him know he isn't alone.
"Oh, so like this?" she whispered, placing a light kiss on his lips. The mere moments of contact with Subaru seemed like a lifetime.
Subaru on the other hand, seemed to get more and more heated. The young man attempted to continue the act, however was stopped by her finger on his lips.
"Is something wrong?" he asked, a little taken aback by Crusch's actions.
"Can we continue this later? I may want to just continue embracing for now." The Duchess commented, moving to a more comfortable position before curling into Subaru's side once again."
Subaru looked down at the young woman again, tenderly running his hands through her hair gently.
"Of course, Crusch-tan." He whispered, wrapping an arm around her as he drifted back into sleep, his final gaze lingering on a lone speck of snow which slowly made its way out of his field of view.