11:55 P.M.

"Why you enjoy the weather out here, King of Knights, I cannot fathom."

Gilgamesh was answered by a light chuckle from his lovely queen. Her shoulders shook slightly as she turned to look at him.

Her green eyes were alight with amusement; she must have known how much he detested the cold atmosphere. It was ridiculously frigid and impossibly difficult to bear. The blasted ice made for an even more barren desert.

"Oh, please. I know you think it's beautiful."

As the lady King said this, she unwrapped half the long red scarf she had around her neck and offered it to him.

He shrugged, approaching the petite woman. As she wrapped the knitted fabric round his neck, his hand brushed her cheek. Her pale skin nearly matched the white ice that fell from the heavens, if not for her reddened lips and nose. She was close enough that he could feel the warmth of her breath on his chin. Tiny clouds formed between them, the mist mixing together in the meager space that separated them.

"I suppose so."

11:56 P.M.

His fingers traced the outline of her face and settled on her chin. With a gentle motion, he tilted her face up. Those red lips looked too good to pass up, maybe she'd allow him this one time? Gilgamesh decided to try his luck and dipped down to meet her, however he found his lips meeting the tip of her index finger. He almost audibly groaned but stopped himself when she raised a playful eyebrow.

"Oh? And you don't 'curse the gods for creating such unnecessary algid conditions'?"

Arturia laughed as the words left her mouth, her mocking imitation of Gilgamesh's foreign accent falling apart at the end.

"I do not sound like that," he deadpanned, the moment broken, "And just when did you hear me say such?" Gilgamesh's fingers let go of her chin and traveled down her shoulders and back until finally resting at the base of her spine. He'd let Saber have her fun. It was only very rarely she joked around; he should savor the moment. If it meant she mocked him a little, though, he wasn't going to let the moment slip without getting a little out of it. With a gentle pull, he fastened her to his body, relishing the warmth they now shared.

The feel of him pressed up against her didn't faze her. Over time, she'd gotten rather used to his unrelenting flirtations, and he on the other hand learned when to hold back. Now was not one of those times, she decided, letting him draw himself as close as he wanted to.

11:57 P.M.

"Christmas Eve. It was snowing then too," she said with a teasing smirk, just before he would have landed a kiss.

Not just yet.

He scowled, his kiss rejected a second time by words. The woman suppressed her laughter. Gil just looked too adorable with that unintentional pout. It was a face only she had seen; his pride would not allow it to anyone else.

"Of course. On the celebration of your god's birth, correct?" Gilgamesh questioned coolly, faking indifference.

Saber nodded up at the unamused king. "I know you don't celebrate, Gil. You and I believe in different things, and I respect that, but I at least wish you had joined in the feast," she said, as her fingers climbed the front of his white coat. Her fingers then played with the other end of the red scarf wrapped around both their necks.

"It is not my practice," he answered distractedly, much more interested in the dainty hands that flitted about his collarbones.

11:58 P.M.

"Then what is?" the woman asked, adjusting the knitted fabric around his neck to better warm him.

"I hold different events for every god. They fancy different things, those fastidious, selfish assholes," he commented, leaning his head to touch her busy hands as they arranged the shared material.

Saber paused and raised an eyebrow.

"Plenty of preparations, feasts, prayers, pesky priests," he listed, his red eyes travelling back up to meet hers as she looped her arms over his shoulders, "…traditions…" he added vaguely, as the British woman drew his head closer.

11:59 P.M.

"Mm," Arturia hummed, glad she was steering the conversation the right way. His ruby eyes had lost themselves in her forest-colored irises. She couldn't keep him waiting too long, but luckily she didn't have to. She counted the chimes in her head as she spoke next.

"Speaking of traditions, would you care for one of mine?" she whispered, leaning his forehead onto hers. A flash of curiosity crossed his riveted expression as he followed her movements, and he found himself completely spellbound by his queen. Her breath was warm on his lips as her hands slid to caress his face.

"Close your eyes."

His crimson orbs slid close slowly, obediently, just like in a trance. Snowflakes had already piled onto his long eyelashes, and his cheeks had pinked from the cold he hated so much, but he was smiling. A real smile. Not his usual smirk, nor his proud grin, but the one only she was permitted to see. Gentle. Genuine. Every detail, she etched into her memory, wishing that for the next year and for every year to come she'd see it, time and time again.

12:00

Just as the clock struck midnight, she placed on his lips a long-awaited kiss.

Behind them, mongrels struck pots and blew trumpets as colorful fireworks danced across the sky. Snow fell, but the cold did nothing to dampen their spirits.

Especially not those of the two kings, who were perfectly warm, locked in each other's embrace.

Heya!

First of all, Happy New Year! Here's a special treat I wrote for the holidays. I hope you liked it. :)

Next chapter will be up soon! See ya!

-akampana