by Kaly
It was the silence that always surprised her, as she watched the multitude of flakes fall. How a city as bustling and noisy as New York could turn so silent in the midst of a heavy snow. The lights still twinkled and blinked behind the doors, windows and curtains, and yet all was so still.
Catherine watched the snowflakes materialize from the grayish-white of the sky, as they fell by the millions to blanket the ground far beneath her view from her balcony. She folded her arms against the chill, longing for the warmth of the fire inside, but unwilling to miss out on the beauty of the scene before her. It wasn't often that a storm brought the city to a complete halt, rare that one of such magnitude occurred, and she planned on enjoying every second of it.
She stepped to the brick railing, making hand-shaped imprints in the inches of snow as she leaned forward and braced herself. Her head tilted back, feeling the feathery soft kisses of the flakes as they fell upon her upturned face. Her eyelids fluttered as some settled onto her eyelashes and she allowed herself the childish indulgence of catching a few snowflakes on her tongue.
Vincent thought again, as he often did while quietly observing her, that she'd never looked more beautiful. Never had he seen her so at peace with the world; her world was too full of anger and hate. But not on this night. He watched, enjoying the silence as she did. Watched as the snowflakes in her hair danced in the reflective light on the balcony, glittering as the light bounced off them. The corners of his mouth curved upward at the sight of a pink tongue darting from her mouth to capture a few wayward flakes and he caught himself chuckling at the pure delight she took in such a simple thing.
Catherine sighed, a smile coming to her face at the sound of Vincent's laugh. She'd sensed he was near, had called out to him through their bond, hoping to share this joyous experience with him. She shivered slightly, the cold air seeping into her body and he was at her side in an instant. She felt his cloak drop about her shoulders, his arms curling around her to pull it closed and she leaned back against him, feeling a warmth stronger than any fire could produce.
"Catherine," he spoke softly into her hair, "You should go inside by the fire…"
"No," she replied, her hands moving up in an effort to keep his arms around her; her fingers curled over his forearms and held them tightly. Leaning slightly to one side, she turned her face up toward his and looked into his eyes. "Being here with you – sharing this…with your arms around me is all the warmth I need."
The two fell silent once again, both turning to watch the beauty of the night before them. Beautiful, in and of itself…and even more beautiful because they were sharing it – together.
