[PP - F4] Warmth

[Lessa 1]

After years trapped within Aincrad, Lessa considered herself strong enough to counter many attacks. She could, and had, withstand a swipe from a Floor Boss. She could hold her own in a duel, even with Players she considered to be of superior skill. She could stand firm against twisted cults, mistreatment of Aincrad's youngest, and injustices of all types. She could weather emotional manipulation, loss, and disappointment, again and again and again. But one thing she proved powerless against?

Baldur's smile.

His expression of pure, unbridled joy coaxed a smile of her own, even though the words she spoke dripped with a bittersweet self-awareness. "When we found each other, I was in a really weird place. I was constantly comparing myself to others. I was falling behind the other Frontliners, my gear was outdated, and I wasn't spending nearly enough time in my shop. I wasn't exploring new floors, tackling new quests, or even grinding for consumables that I knew would be important one day. I had a handful of col left, and no real idea of what I wanted to do." Her gloved hands clenched and unclenched restlessly at her sides for a few seconds as she gazed out over the frozen lake. Then she scoffed. "Watching two men leave me for the same woman did nothing for my self esteem, either, and that's the truth."

She tipped her head back, enjoying the feel of the sun on her face. "But you didn't know any of that when you met me. You didn't see any of that in me. You didn't see me as the fallen Frontliner, or the second choice, or the Blacksmith who just didn't give a shit about her daily crafts." She let her head fall to the side so she could eye Baldur mischievously. "All you saw, once you looked past the tip of my blade, was someone who could help you. You saw a leader. And maybe I was that leader, even back then. Or I grew into it, with your guidance. And your faith in me. Who knows for sure." She loosed a quick shrug, then continued. "But you saw me. And I saw you. And we've only ever asked that of each other, even after all these years. No expectations. No ultimatums. Just quiet acceptance. And support. And love. And I'm beyond grateful for that."

She slid her arm through his and gently tugged him back the way they'd come. "If there's a way to ride in the snow, you can bet your ass I'm going to find it."

[Baldur 0]

A contented smile hung on the weary samurai's face as he let the sentiment of her words linger in the snow covered air. All the years they had been together, this floor constantly brought them back together. It wasn't where they met, and he didn't have his home on this floor, but it was their home. So he leaned against her as they went arm and arm through the snow, and for a moment he let his mind wander.

Pictures of a small stone cottage, with a low fence around it. A stable for horses in the back. Warm light leaking out of the windows, and cups of hot chocolate on a table. Just the two of them, hunkering down with a fire in the cold. Forgetting about the frontlines, and fighting and dying. Just the two of them, as they had for a summer on another floor, helping teach children what they were missing, but in his minds eye this was a more selfish time. Just for them.

If only I were ten years younger.

He let out a slight chuckle and nudged Lessa with his shoulder. "Oh believe me, I have no doubts that if there's a way to ride horses in the snow, you're going to be the one to find it."

Snow softly fell onto his dark hair as his ocean blue eyes surveyed her face. The face of the most true friend he had in this castle. Sure he had other people he would fight side by side with, even other people he would die for, and whom he was sure that would die for him. But Lessa was unique in the tower, but one of those reasons was that Baldur trusted her with more than his life. He trusted her with heart, and with his soul. Some day, when they finally got out of this tower, and finished rehab, he was going to find her out there in the real world, and he was going to give her the biggest hug she ever had in his life. And knew, deep down in his bones, that whatever life threw at him inside or outside of the tower, that Lessa was always going to be there. That they would be friends for the rest of the lives, and God willing, those would long lives indeed.