Hello !

Based on this prompt : "I meant for that snowball to hit my friend but you came around the corner at the last second and now we're having a snowball fight" AU! Drac/Martha. I really think this collection of one-shots will just be about them, unless I suddenly get inspired by Mavis/Jonathan. Who knows.

–***–

"I feel like my toes are about to fall off!"

Martha looked at her friend and rolled her eyes. Eunice always found something worth complaining about.

Snow had fallen the night before, covering the small town in white powder. Wrapped from head to toe in warm clothes, the three women had met at the local park and were now calmly strolling in an alleyway, catching up with each other.

"Quit your whining and enjoy the view," Wanda berated. "You should have worn another pair of socks. We'll be home soon anyway."

"Speaking of home, how are the kids?" Martha inquired.

"Oh, they're unbearable!" Wanda chuckled. "Came to our bedroom this morning jumping and screaming excitedly about how it was Christmas all over again. They forced Wayne out of bed just so he could open the door to go outside. Then of course they all engaged in a snowball fight. He was still in his pajamas! It's a good thing he's so healthy, otherwise he really would have fallen ill."

Both her friends laughed at her reply.

"The day Wayne is sick is the day the world ends," Martha teased.

"I wish Frank was the same," muttered Eunice. "But he's currently bedridden."

"What? Why?"

"Ate too much."

The dark-haired woman snorted. The three of them walked silently for a bit before conversation resumed.

"Ah, to be a kid and get excited about things as simple as snow," Eunice sighed. "The only thing its doing is making me wish I'd taken a radiator with me."

"What are you talking about?" Martha said incredulously. "I still get super excited about snow! Where has your inner child gone?"

"Thrown away when I first paid taxes."

"That's the saddest thing I've ever heard," the other woman replied, shaking her head. "No, no, we need to do something about this. Wanda, help me. She needs to have fun like a kid again."

"Well… I recall mentioning something about a snowball fight earlier…"

Eunice's eyes widened and she turned to Martha, glaring threateningly. The other woman was crouched down and quickly picking up snow in her gloved hands.

"Don't you dare –ooh my god!"

Martha had thrown the snowball at her friend, right in her face. Her aim was slightly off and it splattered against the scarf instead, making Eunice squeal when some of it found a way inside her coat.

"Aaaah! Cold! Cold cold cold! You are so paying for this!"

"As if!" her attacker teased. "You're probably too scared to ruin your makeup to put up any real challenge!"

"I'll let you know, lovely…" Eunice started, bending down to amass some snow, "that this kind of sophisticated makeup took ages to apply…" the snowball was forming very rapidly, getting bigger by the minute, "…and that I won't let you criticize it! En garde!"

Martha laughed and started to run away, pursued by Eunice who tossed the snowball at her. She avoided it easily enough, and soon they were engaged in a full blown fight while Wanda watched them from afar, smiling at their antics. She resumed her walking, knowing her friends would catch up with her.

Indeed, Eunice was starting to tire and regret her decision to wear heels. They were not exactly the most perfect shoes to go around playing in the snow. She needed something to get back at her friend that did not involve running after her endlessly. She looked over to Wanda, and noticed a man further away about to cross her path.

Now or never, Eunice thought, a plan forming in her mind that would be just the right amount of embarrassing for her friend. This guy was part of it whether he wanted to or not. She ran to the alleyway. He suddenly stopped and knelt down, apparently tying his shoelaces. This was perfect. Martha was not far behind her, if her laughter was any indication. Eunice placed herself a couple of meters away from the man and turned to face Martha. She was grinning and coming closer to her, snowball at the ready. Instead of running away, Eunice crossed her arms and stared defiantly at the other woman.

"Well?" she asked. "Go on! I'm right there! Or is your aim really that bad? I mean, when you look like you just fell face first in the snow while I still look perfect, one could wonder-"

Martha threw the snowball with all her strength. Eunice avoided it easily, revealing the man kneeling behind her, and watched in anticipation as it described a perfect arc of a circle before smashing right into his profile.

Martha's mouth dropped open in shock.

"Oh my god," she breathed, mortified. "I just threw snow in his face. I attacked him with snow!"

"Yes, I saw that," Eunice whispered back, a satisfied smile on her face. Martha looked at her suspiciously, frowning.

"Wait… Did you plan all this?"

"Might have, might not have," her friend shrugged. "I'll join Wanda and leave you with him to apologize like a proper adult. See you!"

She nudged Martha in the stranger's direction and hurried away before her friend blew up. She was extremely proud of herself. Resisting the urge to scream, the younger woman cautiously approached her 'victim'. He had stood up and was rubbing the snow off of his face with his sleeve. Hearing him sniff, she reached inside her purse and took out tissues to offer him one. He thanked her in a whisper and blew his nose, then turned to face her.

Strands of black wet hair were clinging to his face. His red cheeks were the only color on his otherwise pale, almost ghostly skin, which brought out his blue eyes. He looked…

Adorable.

"I am so, so sorry," she blurted out. "I never meant to hit you in the face with that and I'm actually pretty sure my friend tricked me into doing it and I was targeting her and not you and I was the one that started the snowball fight and – and are you okay? I hope I didn't hurt you? If I did-"

He held up a hand and she blushed and stopped stammering.

"Stop! It's okay, really," he reassured her. She noted his accent and wondered where it was from. "No harm done. Just a little cold is all. You, um… You and your friends? You were quite funny to observe."

"We were behaving like kids," she laughed nervously. "I really should have seen you earlier, I am incredibly sorry."

"I've seen worse," he said smoothly. "I'll survive. Although…"

"Yes?"

"Although I have to find a way to get back at you for that."

A mischievous smile suddenly appeared on his face and he hunkered down, gathering up snow much like she was doing minutes before. Understanding his intentions, she stepped back and started to get away. He caught up with her quickly and she let out a squeal when the cold snow came in contact with her head. Giggling, she quickly brushed it off and immediately sought out her revenge. Getting snow, she turned to him and savored the look of surprise on his face. He clearly thought she would be done and that they were even.

He didn't know her.

–***–

The duel ends a few minutes later, both of them out of breath. She hadn't had this much fun in a long time, and, given the way he was looking at her, neither did he.

He's practically beaming.

She opened her mouth but the words she intended to form died in her throat as she went into a coughing fit. His look shifted to one of concern and he walked up to her, noticing her shivers. He hesitated very briefly before taking off his long coat and placing it on her back.

"Wha- No, take it back, you'll freeze to death!" she protested.

"I'll be fine," he shook his head. She stared at him. Men and their pride.

"You're shuddering as much as I am. Both of us need to warm up quickly," she said, biting her lips. Where could they go? She didn't live far, but bringing him home when she barely knew him…

"Well, I know a great coffee shop that's just a few minutes away," he offered. "It's called… I don't remember the name, but they make really great cookies."

Her eyes lit up at the mention of baked goods, and she nodded her approval. They both departed, finding their way back to the park exit, all the while chatting amiably.

"So you work in a hotel?"

"I'm the hotel manager," he corrected. "Today was my first day off for the first time in a long while. Can't say I expected it to go this way, but I'm not regretting it."

"Neither am I," she smiled. "I'm Martha, by the way. I don't think we've had the time to introduce ourselves yet?"

"Indeed not. Vlad," he said, reaching out to shake her hand. "You can also call me Drac. That's what my friends do."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Vlad Dracula," he muttered. "They all claim I have the perfect face to play him in a movie."

"Well now that you mention it…"

He groaned and she chuckled. It clearly annoyed him.

"Didn't they make another movie about Dracula recently?" she asked. "I remember seeing the trailer. We could…" she hesitated. "I mean… We c-could go and see it together? If you want to? Not that you have to, but it would be nice –I mean…"

She was babbling again and shut her mouth, blushing brightly. He looked startled at her proposition, but his face slowly broke into a wide grin.

"I would love that," he replied softly.

When they reached the coffee shop, he held the door open for her. As she closed her eyes and welcomed the long-awaited warmth, Martha couldn't help but think briefly about Eunice.

If only she knew how well her so-called revenge was turning out...

–***–

I meant to update sooner but I struggled a lot with this one, sorry :( Writer's block and all that. And real life.

Lots of ideas coming up next! Including things like Demon!AU or some cute High School AU stuff. In any case I hope you enjoyed it. Tell me what you think, do not hesitate to point out any typo, and why not propose if you have any other ideas!