Trips to the grocery store for most were, at the very worst, a miniature hassle, time taken out of perhaps an otherwise busy day, or ire at having to brave a crowd. For the bundled-up shapes that walked side pressed to side, it was a more dangerous affair than that. The town they'd stopped in had a bustling central square, the sort of cultural epicenter that suggested news spread quite fast. As such, it wasn't safe for them to stay for very long, not when the authorities could very well be on their tails at any moment.
So... they needed to restock. As safer, yet colder nighttime fell, Grimmer had offered to let Tenma stay alone in the hotel, but after a brief beat of uncomfortable silence, each of their brains flitting to all that could potentially go wrong with such a suggestion... they simultaneously thought better of it. Coats pulled on, their belongings packed, they would stop here only once before catching a train to the next town over. It was a little bit sad, Tenma couldn't help but think, as they neared the small grocery store on the edge of town, only an hour til closing time. This town was preparing for Christmas... and the twinkling lights that were strung up all about made it all seem so gentle and soft, like it didn't hide pursuers that would put their mission to a swift end. Really... Grimmer would have a much safer time if he'd just peel off and abandon Tenma already. He knew it well, and he imagined Grimmer knew it, too... but it went unsaid. Tenma... as ashamed as he was to admit it, deep inside... could no longer imagine his life without the other man beside him.
Almost as though he'd heard Tenma's thoughts, Grimmer suddenly moved to wrap an arm around Tenma's back, letting their steps fall rhythmically into place. "Are you cold?" he asked, friendly conversation, and Tenma couldn't help but smile incredulously, face warming. That sort of move was typically only made
after asking such a question, but Grimmer's order hardly mattered to him.
"Less than I was a few seconds ago," Tenma murmured, turning dark eyes and a small smirk towards his tall companion. The other man let out a soft, but hearty laugh that puffed steam in front of his lips, reminding Tenma of how insane they probably were, to venture out into the cold after sunset. But... this was the only way. It was just such a pretty town, and Grimmer was so at ease seemingly, that he forgot that he was meant to be somber, and frightened. He was... forgetting to do that more and more, these days, it seemed.
"And you've got the list, yeah? Let's have a look at it," Grimmer pinched his fingers open and closed with his free hand, and Tenma grinned slightly with some laughter-filled answer that Grimmer would never be able to read his chickenscratch doctor's handwriting... but then, wincing at the white state of his friend's fingertips as he caught sight of them. He thoughtlessly reached for them with both hands and held them between his palms, the motion making walking a little bit awkward. He brought the bundle of fingers and palms to his mouth and breathed into the little cave he'd made, trying to warm up Grimmer's hand to the best of his ability.
He seemed to realize how futile such a thing was when he felt a sharp chill of his own, some of his long hair slipping over his shoulder, exposing his neck to the freeze. He shivered, breath rapidly puffing as he did, and Grimmer hummed softly, taking his hand away and rubbing briskly at Tenma's back. He pointed towards the lights of the small, locally owned store, his fingertips a bit damp from Tenma's breath. "Come on. Let's hurry inside, and warm both of us up," he breathed, picking up his pace, careful not to overtake Tenma too much with his longer legs.
The shopping list wrote:
Nian Taigra
Frozen Hunter
Wisp Mahool
Hex Malphas
Candlelight Yonyuu (Claiming my birthday pet!)
It was that festive time of year again, and Gabriel stared in incredulous awe at the mountain of gifts piled high in front of him. It was a display, of course, but still - it would have looked right at home in Rheese's ballroom.
