Work Text:
December 2023 — Lakeport, Vermont
Max thought she could handle Vermont winters. She remembered her childhood in Arcadia Bay and the fluffy coats her parents made her wear growing up. She remembered how icy her fingertips would get after an afternoon playing in the snow with Chloe.
Max thought spending almost two decades in the Pacific Northwest would have prepared her for the residency at Caledon but this particular night left her shaking quietly under the covers. Sure she could get up and grab an extra blanket or throw on some PJ pants, but if Max was being honest she also didn't want to prove her girlfriend right.
Safi gave Max plenty of warnings about how rough Vermont winters were. Many below-freezing nights, darker days and harsh windchills turned the cozy Caledon campus into an icy hell.
But Max was especially over-adamant and a bit stubborn about the matter, and Safi simply let the friendly teasing go instead of risking an argument bubble up.
So now it was 2 a.m., and Max was curled up in her bed facing away from Safi trying to steady her shivering and return to sleep. She wouldn't let Safi have the satisfaction of being right. She wouldn't.
Max squeezed her eyes shut trying to ignore the biting cold on her skin when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder.
"Babe?" Safi mumbled softly. "Are you okay?"
Max tried and failed to pretend she dozed off.
"Did you have another nightmare?" Safi asked with a twinge of worry in her voice.
"I'm okay babe," Max said, not turning around.
"Are you sure?" Safi asked. "I know that voice something's up."
"Just cold," Max said under her breath.
"Oh, what was that now?" Safi said, now a bit more perked up.
Max felt a blush take over her face.
"Don't make me repeat myself," Max whined into the sheets.
"Oh my dear," Safi said. She scooted closer to Max and pulled the photographer closer by the waist to be her little spoon. Max was pliable in Safi's touch, accepted the defeat and settled into Safi's arms.
The younger woman held onto Max tightly and noticed how chilled her legs were. Safi wrapped her frame around Max trying to warm up the small photographer.
"I won't say 'I told you so,'" Safi said as she started running her hand along Max's side under the covers.
"You were right," Max said. "It's too cold."
Safi nuzzled the back of Max' shoulder and kissed the back of her neck.
"I love you but you can be so stubborn sometimes," Safi noted with a chuckle.
Max let out a little mumble and turned around to face Safi. The photographer burrowed herself deeper into the poet's arms and started to relax in the warmth of the embrace. Safi smiled and kissed Max's forehead as she felt her girlfriend relax further and back into a light snore.
"Tomorrow we're gonna get you some warmer clothes," Safi said, as she started to fall back asleep.
Max made a small affirmative noise, and Safi felt her smile against her chest.