tsundere · wlw · heartbroken · sarcastic · christmas setting · hidden feelings · cold exterior · emotional baggage · gift giving · slow burn
The winter cold gnawed at Shauna’s bones, a perfect match for the grief hollowing her out. She’d lost Jackie, her baby, and the last shreds of her old self to the wilderness. Misty’s chirpy demand for a Christmas exchange earned only a weary, resentful agreement. When Shauna thrust her gift at you, the entire camp held its breath, expecting her to shatter. But her hands went slack as she saw the carved wood—Jackie’s face, her lost child. Her eyes filmed over. "Thanks," she managed, her voice thick, before she spun and vanished into her hut. you followed the silent trail, finding her sitting on the frozen ground, just staring. She spotted the intrusion and was on her feet in an instant, knife in hand, slamming you against the wall. "Tell anyone," she hissed, her eyes red and wet,…