Once the hug had dissipated slowly and hesitantly, you went back outside to get wood to save the dying fire. During your trek back, snowflakes began to fall, and you sped towards the house, desperate to get more firewood before the blizzard started up again.

Ivan had watched you gather several armfuls in wood, stuck sitting on his seat on the couch. He offered help which you had to deny, knowing it hurt him to walk, let alone do any kind of physical labor, no matter how strong he was. The final load you brought in included the vile branch which had given Ivan his injury to be burned later.

Four days have passed since this incident, according to the battery-powered clock on the wall as well as a calendar, and since then you and Ivan have gotten along well. Ivan talked more, warming up to the idea of conversations with you.

The snow still continued to fall, leaving Ivan still trapped in your house with you. Well, trapped isn't the right word at all; in fact, he seemed to feel right at home as a visitor, though he was forced to stay in your home.
You had made him a comfortable spot on the couch, though he was still far too tall, and laid blankets atop a sleeping bag and comforter as your own make-shift mattress and bed. The morning of the first night, though, you woke up to find yourself lying on the comfortable couch. Looking on the floor, Ivan had taken your spot, sleeping happily with his back towards the ceiling.

Since then, the two of you choose between the mattress you had dragged out of your room to the living room and threw blankets over and the couch. Firewood was now running low, with you resorting to burning chunks of the infernal branch. There was no chance to get outside in the ice blizzard for any more firewood without risking hypothermia.

"…You know, is warmer to share body heat." Ivan broke the silence.

You looked up from the book you had been reading from your spot on the mattress to see Ivan awake from a nap and sitting upright on the couch, not leaning into the back of the couch but hovering over it to avoid a stinging injury. You felt your cheeks turn pink as the statement's meaning clicked in your head.

"What?"

His face turned a similar shade of pink, but a sweet smile spread over his face. "Is warmer to share body warmth. My sisters stayed close when nights were being very cold. You are looking cold, is why I brought fact up."

You had to agree, with the fire dying, it was getting rather cold. Still, being so close to him…the thought of being so close to anyone, let alone someone so attractive, made you nervous.

…Then again, both you and Ivan seemed to be cold…

"It…it's a good idea." Ivan's face lit up. "We should probably huddle together for warmth."

Ivan got up carefully but cheerfully and joined you on the mattress. Warmth and joy were practically coming off him in wavers. His injury had ben healing rather well, too, though he could still hardly be touched more than lightly. Under the blankets, your embarrassment combined with his body warmth, so it was only minutes before you weren't cold anymore.

Ivan sighed, obviously content.

"Is much better. Nice and warm."

"U-uh-huh…" He was so close now, almost leaning against you to absorb your heat and share his under the blanket; he had to keep himself close in order to keep the both of you on the mattress, he was so large. You stared blankly ahead at the words in your book, trying to keep calm in this odd situation.

Ivan looked over, concerned. "Is something wrong? You can still be reading. I was just wanting to keep you warm…If you want me gone, then I can—"

"N-no, I'm fine, I'm fine. It is actually nice and warm." You smiled up at him nervously, but he still wasn't convinced.

"Are you being sure? You are not looking fine." He slid an arm over your back and gently pulled you over to him, trying to give you a comforting hug. All he did was win a sharp inhale from you, as well as your tomato-red face. He stared until you almost heard the gears turning in his head. "…Are you…Being embarrassed?"

You swallowed and looked up at him, knowing you couldn't lie to him, and answered him with a short single nod. His expression fell from curiosity and concern to melancholy.

"…Oh…" His arm pulled back, and he used it crossed over his other as a pillow for his head. "I am sorry…We were already doing the hugging, too…But…"

You felt his heart break. "N-no, Ivan, it's okay! I was just kind of…startled!" You began to babble an apology. "Th-this is just really close so soon and everything, and I wasn't used to having someone so close to me. I just wasn't prepare is all, you don't have to—" You tried to grasp at the next words, taking a small pause.

"I am not wanting to scare you away."

Just as a word came to you, your voice froze in your throat. You saw him staring forward at nothing in particular, looking concerned, sad and even…regretful?

You bookmarked your page and gathered your nerves with a silent sigh. Without saying a word, you reached towards the large Russian man. His eyes widened as he felt you gently lean against him, an arm lightly draped across his back in a laying-down hug, a gesture to comfort him without touching his back more than needed.

Your endeavor to cheer him up worked wonderfully. He looked over at you in surprised, then smiled, his gloomy face disappearing for a warmer one. He gently moved an arm across you again to hold you closely.

The two of you remained so for several minutes in silence before Ivan shifted, then lifted his head up, listening intently.

"…Are you hearing that?"

"Hearing what?" You sleepily mumbled, lulled by his embrace and warmth.

"Listen."

So you did, sitting up a little to keep yourself conscious. Silence was the only noise that hit your eardrums, so you turned to him with a confused look on your face.

"Ivan, I don't hear anything…"

"Exactly! Is silent. The snow blizzard is quiet!" He got up, his forgotten injury causing him to groan in pain once. The warmth was let out of the blanket you were both curled under, and with its escape, you shivered. You joined him on your feet, realization hitting.

"O…oh my god, it is!"

The two of you stared at each other in disbelief before rushing to the back door. You pulled it open, and Ivan grabbed his coat, storming out into the cold to help you with firewood. Several armfuls of wood were carried back into the house, and the fire was soon burning brightly again.

Still, the two of you chose to share the mattress under the pretense of warmth, though you both knew that it wasn't all you wanted anymore.