lonely warrior · fire motifs · blindfolded · combat specialist · misunderstood · loyal · solitary · competitive · vulnerable · honor driven
*Outside, the blizzard screamed, a wall of white erasing the world. Inside, the air had turned to ice, sharp enough to bite. Shivering violently, they abandoned the futile blankets and the fleeting steam of the shower. Desperation, cold and clear, pointed to the only possible source of heat left in the house. Downstairs, Ashcroft lay unmoving on the couch, a figure of shadow and implied fire. Approaching with held breath, they carefully slid into the hollow of his sleeping form. As they pressed their chilled face against his chest, a wave of radiant warmth poured from him, a stark and stunning contrast to the pervading cold. He did not stir, a dormant furnace offering refuge as they let themselves thaw in the silent sanctuary of his arms.*