Sorcerer Stabber Orphen Fan Fiction ❯ A Snowball's Chance... ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: The usual, I don't own any of the characters in SSO.

 

Author's note: This is set after Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Revenge. Although the central characters are strictly based off the Anime, references will be made to a character from the manga and novels. I know basics about the character but not many details so the ones I came up with may not match canon. Simply consider the events around that character as alternate universe.

 

Also, this originally started out as a gift fic for Alchephiliac (Shardy) although it ended up extremely late as the story got longer then the oneshot it was originally intended to be. I'm rating it M because there are some…um…light sexual situations and implications but nothing explicit.

 

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Majic moved away from the window of the room Orphen had arranged. The snow was really coming down and it had been hours since he'd arrived. At least he thought so; he had woken up on the floor after the teleport, completely drained. He didn't understand why, but he couldn't seem to feel his magic. He paced around the room again checking on the pot of tea and coffee he had by the fire. The bathroom had a large tub in it and he checked for the fifth time in as many minutes that hot water was ready. He had to admit that was one thing he agreed with Cleo about in Sun Lake, all the modern conveniences, including hot running water. Still that didn't distract him enough from the problem at hand. He was there waiting for them, but they didn't follow like he expected. `Where are they?'

 

He walked back to the window and looked out, even knowing that when they arrived, it would probably be via teleport, just like he had. Still, he noticed a lone hooded, cloak and snow-covered figure arriving at the inn. He found himself examining the figure hoping they could possibly be carrying someone. `No, too thin.' He mused.

 

“Where are they?” He questioned aloud, giving voice to his growing worry. Even so he still found himself looking out the window hoping that Cleo would appear behind the cloaked figure.

“I shouldn't have left. I shouldn't have left them alone, there's no telling what's happening to them. No… No, they'll be fine. Master would never really harm Cleo.” Majic paused, putting his hand on the window wondering who he was really trying to convince with that last line, feeling a slight chill. “I know… I know he cares for her. He's just not sure how to express it… I think.”

 

Majic leaned against the glass, and shivered slightly. “Cold, that's how he is to her. Most of the time anyway… and that hurts her so much `cause she loves him.” Majic punched the frame of the window. “Damn it…where are they?!?”

 

“That's a good question Majic.” Hartia said, shaking the last vestiges of the snow off his cloak as he removed it. “Where the hell is he?”

 

Majic jumped when he heard the voice behind him. He whirled around to see Hartia standing in the entrance to the room. “Eeeep!”

 

“Very articulate…but that doesn't answer my question.”

 

“Um… I'm not precisely certain.” Majic answered before continuing to babble, “but the last time I saw them they were in a mine… that I, um… think was about an hour or so out of town. And I left and… and they stayed and… I-I'm expecting them any time now. Or rather… um… well, a long time ago. And I…”

 

“Stop rambling.” Hartia interrupted. “Start from the beginning.”

 

“Beginning of what?” Majic hedged.

 

“Start at the beginning.” Hartia ordered.

 

“The beginning, um… okay.” Majic answered, widening his eyes and putting on his mask of innocence, partly to play with Master Hartia but partly to distract himself from his own worries, “First of all Master came to Totokonta to stay at the inn only he wasn't my master…”

 

“Majic, not that literal.” Hartia chuckled, holding his cloak looking for a good place to hang it up. “I meant at the beginning of what separated you.”

 

“Oh… today. After we'd been walking almost all day, Master pissed off Cleo and well, that was a mistake since she's really good at making snowballs.”

 

“What does that have to do with the three of you getting separated?”

 

“Well, after she nailed Master in the face with a snowball, he dumped an entire tree branch full of snow on her.”

 

“He did what?” In surprise, Hartia's cloak slipped through his fingers to the floor. `He wouldn't, not when he blames himself…'

 

“Um…yeah…but she dumped snow down his pants because of it.”

 

“She didn't?!?” Hartia said unable to stop himself from laughing, as the laughter banished the bad memories.

 

“Yeah…and he was so mad. Then he left. Ported away.”

 

“He left you two alone? With that blowing in!” Hartia exlaimed, gesturing towards the window. “Then how did you get here?”

 

“Well… Cleo and I took shelter in a mine…um after we walked for a while. We stopped `cause she got cold…um… really cold and wet. And then Master came back…”

 

“At least he didn't stay away long. But still, why are you here if you were all in the mine?”

 

“Well… he told me to come here. But when I saw the storm, I didn't want to leave…but he said he'd take care of Cleo and I `ported here. Only he had to help…a lot. And I passed out when I got here.”

 

“Of course you did! Damn him! He knows better.”

 

“Master Hartia, um… you aren't surprised that I… why did I pass out?”

 

“You mean he didn't explain. Of course not, he doesn't. Unless forced. How can he call himself… well nevermind. That's an argument for later. That,” Hartia said pointing outside, “is an equalizer. It strips sorcerers of their magic.”

 

“It what? Could that be why? But how?”

 

“Majic, research mode later. The short story is that blizzards take away your magic or haven't you noticed that you can't even call light.”

 

“I-I'd noticed…but is that… why they…”

 

“Probably. That or they killed each other.”

 

“Gee… thanks Master Hartia. That's comforting.”

 

“Would you prefer that I said that they could be making out like bunnies?”

 

“Ewww… That's worse, in a way.”

 

“Well…I doubt that's happening, but you said it yourself Majic. He cares for her and won't let anything happen to her. Of course you forgot to add that he won't let anyone else near her, possessive bastard.”

 

“Um…you heard.” Majic gulped, “Um… how much?”

 

“Enough, to get you into a lot of trouble.” Hartia teased, watching Majic blanch and start to stammer. “Relax, I already figured out about him. Although it's nice to know I was right about her.”

 

“Um… okay, so why are you here Master Hartia?”

 

“Krylancelo sent a message to me asking me to meet him here. And if I'd known what the weather was going to be like this I wouldn't have come. I owe him for that. So should I punch him or kiss Cleo in front of him? Which do you think would piss him off more?”

 

“Um… no comment, but I'd be more worried about what Cleo would do than him.”

 

“Point.” Hartia replied, sitting down in one of the two chairs by the fireplace. “Now are you going to offer me some of the coffee or am I going to expire from the cold.”

 

Majic hurriedly went to the fire, got a cup and fixed Hartia some coffee. As Majic handed the cup to him, Hartia put his free hand on Majic shoulder, stopping him before he went to fuss at the window again.

 

“I'm glad I came in one respect, I stopped you from doing something stupid. They will be fine and without our sorcery all we can do is wait until the weather breaks. We're lucky your Master got the room. Cots and blankets are being handed out downstairs. We can't do anything till morning, so get some rest.”

 

With one last glance out the window, Majic reluctantly nodded and sat in the chair trying to relax.

 

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Once the sounds died down, Cleo cautiously opened her eyes trying to see what happened, however all she saw was darkness. She was pinned against the wall by something… something warm. Her legs however were cold so cold she felt like she was loosing feeling in them. Realizing she had to get them warm quickly or she'd be in trouble, Cleo started to squirm against the obstacle, a cloth covered breathing obstacle. “Orphen?” she whispered.

 

“Yeah. Stay quiet, the snow's still shifting.”

 

Cleo tried to stay still, but her legs were really becoming a problem, they felt like there were tiny freezing knives pricking her skin. She knew that was bad and kept trying to move her legs, but for every movement she made, Orphen pressed her further in to the wall trying to get her to stay still. Unable to keep still or quiet any longer, she softly moaned. “I'm c-cold and I need to move.”

 

“It's waist deep Cleo. That's easier said then done.” Orphen groaned back, wishing she'd stay still.

 

“We can't stay here.” Cleo cried, once again wiggling and attempting to move her legs.

 

“And what do you suggest, Miss Smarty Pants? It's waist damn deep and every time you move, the snow shifts more. Now stop it!” In a thought he added, `It's also playing havoc with my resolve. For once the cold is a welcome distraction. Wait cold…what was she… Shit!'

 

“Cleo, tell me you're in jeans.”

 

Cleo gulped before answering, “If I could, I would.”

 

“Cleo!”

 

“Look…my last pair of jeans was wet from the snow. And in case you've forgotten, my spare pair was shredded in the last battle and you wouldn't fix them.”

 

“Damn it!” Orphen growled.

 

“And you wouldn't let Majic try to fix them.”

 

“Cleo!”

 

“And you wouldn't let me have the money to buy…”

 

“Enough!” Orphen shouted, pushing back away from her only to fall back into her when he couldn't get enough leverage to break out of the snow.

 

“Ooof!” She exhaled when he slammed her against the wall again. “You do that again Orphen, so help me I'm gonna hit you so hard, it'll be spring before you wake up!”

 

“What the hell do you expect, I'm just as stuck in the snow are you are and I don't bend that way.”

 

“Could've fooled me!” She retorted, starting to systematically twist her waist and legs trying to get loose.

 

Orphen suppressed a groan, `The chit is going to be the death of me,' as part of his psyche was thinking just how he could bend her, making him increasingly aware of the fact that he needed to move away from her before she realized just what she was rubbing up against. He reached up to the support beam she was partially hidden behind and grasped it. Once he had a grip on it, he pulled himself up and out of the snow a bit. He'd gotten out to about mid-thigh when Cleo took that moment to push forward into his stomach causing him to fall into the snow filling the mine. `Well, that's one way to get out.' He moved to sit up and look for the end of the snow, when he felt a weight on top of him as Cleo crawled over him. “Damn it! Get off!”

 

“I'm working on it so quit your griping!”

 

“Let me…” He broke off when she slipped fell on top of him. He groaned, very conscious of every curve of her body that suddenly became plastered against his.

 

“Sorry…sorry, I s-slipped… my legs…” she apologized even as she slipped again after she'd almost gotten off of him causing one of her knees to connect with Orphen's groin.

 

“Oooof!” Orphen grunted aloud, pulling her to him and rolling her underneath him. Once on top, he pushed himself up and stood. Once solidly standing on the ground, he pulled her up, thinking, `And I wanted to be alone with her, why?'

 

Once off the snow, which only went on for a few more feet from where they'd been stuck, he was able to see the extent the snow intruded on the mine. The fire was dying but giving off enough light that he could see that the entrance was totally closed and the snow almost reached the fire. He could see the blankets she'd thrown off, dusted by snow just at the end of the snow line. He stood and quickly grabbed the blanket getting it away from the snow in the hopes that it wouldn't be too wet. Checking it, he found it was damp but not soaked. Keeping himself between the fire and the blanket, he started to shake it out, but stopped.

 

“Get by the fire you fool.”

 

For once without a word of complaint, Cleo moved by the fire and started looking around for Majic's pack while Orphen shook out the blanket. Once done, he turned and with a quick “Here,” he threw it at her.

 

She barely had time to drop the pack and catch the blanket before it fell in the fire. When she dropped the partially open pack the action dumped some of the contents into the snow. Draping the blanket over her shoulders, Cleo started grabbing at the items, including the clothes she'd been wearing earlier and one of Majic's spare shirts. Once determining that they were wet, she left them out of the pack realizing they'd only make anything dry in the pack wet. She glared at Orphen, “Watch i-it!”

 

“No arguments. Wrap up in the blanket while I get the fire going more.” Orphen moved to add wood to the fire, noticing that the fire was close enough to the snow that if he stoked it too much, the snow would melt too much and douse the fire. `Better to start a second one first. Then build a bit of a dam before building up the first anymore.'

 

He gathered a few pieces of coal and looked around for wood. He knew Majic found some but didn't know where. He noticed an ore cart a little ways further into the mine, and found that there was some wood in the cart, likely intended to be used to support the walls and about to be used for firewood. He quickly got the coal and wood together in a pyre before he realized he had another problem. How to start the fire. “Where's the damn flint?”

 

“Y-you and Majic don't use flint. I don't start the campfires. And when we were in a hurry a while back, you said not to carry it; that it was unnecessary.” Cleo argued back, shivering as she added a bit more coal to the fire she was huddled next too.

 

“Then we've got a big problem. I can't use magic, even something as small as calling a spark to start a fire.”

 

“What are you talking about? You're a sorcerer that's what you do. Did you hit your head back there?”

 

“No, it's the damn storm. Intense blizzards interfere with sorcery.” Orphen threw a piece of coal on to the other pile. “Till the storm dies down, we're good and stuck.”

 

“Then why are you building another fire, when this one I still going?”

 

“Additional warmth and melting risk.”

 

“Melting? Oh crap I didn't think of that.” Cleo paused, looking around and noticing for the first time just how close the edge of the snow was to the fire. “Should we move further back?” She asked even as she was gathering the packs and items to re-load the packs.

 

“No, we're fine here. Provided there isn't another avalanche.”

 

“Okay.” Cleo answered with some doubt in her voice. “So how are you going to start the other fire?”

 

“Give me a minute to think damn it!”

 

“Why don't you take some wood from the current fire to start the other?”

 

“That was what I was thinking of doing.” Orphen grumbled, covering his embarrassment at not thinking of the obvious answer sooner. “Just stay under that blanket as you're cold and wet enough as it is.” Orphen continued thinking aloud, “I'm not losing anyone else important to the cold.”

 

“Losing? To Cold? What do you mean Orphen?”

 

Orphen looked at her realizing what he'd said aloud. “Forget it!”

 

“N-No! You must have meant something by that. Explain.” Cleo demanded before adding in a softer tone. “Please.”

 

“No!” Orphen barked, standing to look at the original fire and locating a stick that was on fire but long enough for him to hold and move to where he had the other pyre set up. He got that fire started. He sat and watched as the fire caught and expanded, very aware of the silence that had fallen between them. Only it wasn't complete silence, he was hearing some faint clicking. Looking around for the source, he realized it was Cleo. She was shivering. `Damn it!' he cursed, standing and walking over to her he scooped her up and put her between the fires.

 

He also made note of just how wet the blanket was and that it wasn't helping. If anything it was making matters worse. He ripped it off her. “Why the hell did you keep that damn thing on. It's wet and that's the last thing you need!”

 

“Y-you're the one who told me to put it on and then s-stopped talking!”

 

“Is there anything dry in the pack?” Orphen groused, ignoring her smarting off.

 

“I hadn't finished checking when I th-thought we were going to need to move. I think some of the stuff at the bottom is dry. Um…my spare is still wet.”

 

Internally, Orphen cursed, they were traveling light since they were planning on staying in Sun Lake for a few weeks during the worst of the winter weather. He'd only allowed them one spare set of clothes for the last stretch of travel. Everything else had been shipped ahead while they hit a couple out of the way towns with a few specialty items Cleo wanted to check out before reaching Sun Lake. That's why we're in this fix, I shouldn't have indulged her that way. `Oh who am I kidding, I'm a sucker for her pout. Thank goodness she hasn't figured that out yet. Majic still caves first and then I can do the reluctant to go along routine.'

 

“U-um…Orphen. Y-your spare set is dry.” Cleo interrupted his thoughts speaking with pauses while she tried to keep the chatter out of her voice. “Here.” She continued pushing his clothes into his arms, “Your clothes are wet too.”

 

He absently clasped the clothes she'd shoved in his hands. “Thanks.” He mumbled, realizing that while he'd been standing there woolgathering, she'd dug back into the pack and found something dry for him to wear. “What other clothes are dry?”

 

Slowly replying, “Just these, the pack was open when the snow hit. That and, um… well, Majic put my w-other clothes in with everything and they got most of the others damp… err, wet.”

 

He looked at her, still trying to keep the shivers down and realized she needed dry clothes more then he did. His vest had kept his shirt dry. He sorted through the clothes she'd thrust at him and pulled his shirt out and threw it at her. “Change into that.”

 

“W-what about y-you!?!”

 

“My shirt's dry and I'm changing everything else. So you use the spare shirt!” Orphen growled, sparing a quick glance back to the snow filled entrance to the mine. “No arguments! We can't afford to be cold, wet and stuck.” He cursed himself, even as he asked, `Whatever happened to apologizing before I told her we were stuck. Oh yeah, she pissed me off first. Typical. She drives me to distraction.' Turning his back towards her, he quickly shed his wet pants to put his other ones on. Faintly he heard some rustling indicating she was changing and he had to resist the urge to look back at her even though the mere thought of her changing behind him had the normal reaction.

 

`Distraction, always a distraction. This shouldn't be difficult, think about the cold not her. Focus on what you have to do to keep us alive. Majic will be here in the morning as long as he stays put during the storm. But what if he doesn't? No, he's smart. He'll worry but he won't leave in favor of keeping everything ready for us to get warm.' That relaxed Orphen enough to also remember something, `I nearly forgot, Hartia was meeting us. He'll keep watch on Majic. That's one worry off my shoulders. Now back to the current task, keeping warm. And getting the blankets and our spare clothes dry.'

 

“Are you finished Cleo?”

 

“Um…well, yes but …”

 

“Good.” He said turning around, knowing full well what her problem was. She was only in his shirt and, knowing her, underwear. Although that image was extremely appealing, he needed to get the blankets and clothes hanging up so they could dry. And for that he needed some clothesline. “Give me the pack.”

 

“It's on the f-floor.” She replied, tucking her legs up against her and pulling bottom edge of the shirt over them to cover as much as possible.

 

Orphen stepped closer to the fire, Cleo and the backpack. He picked up the pack and started digging through it. Finding what he was looking for he stood, taking a quick opportunity to glance down at Cleo, who by pulling the bottom down had caused the neckline to open up further, giving him a both welcome and unwelcome glimpse down his shirt, enough to notice what she wasn't wearing. With a groan, he mentally chastised himself for looking knowing it wouldn't help his situation as he tied up the twine to allow him to hang the blankets and clothes in a box around the fires and where they'd be waiting out the storm. Additionally, he took the socks and laid them right next to the fires to get them dry and warm the fastest.

 

In a silence only interrupted by suppressed teeth chattering, Orphen hurried to complete their makeshift shelter. He stepped out of the shelter and collected some more wood, coal and rocks. Thinking about it he knew he wanted to have more fuel for the fires and to protect both them, and the first fire, from any additional snow based wetness. The wood and coal were both in the mine cart…so he moved the cart within their circle of blankets. Once complete he sat down near Cleo.

 

Orphen sat poking the fire for a few minutes lost in his own thoughts of old friends when a quiet voice interrupted him.

 

Cleo watched Orphen bustle about in an attempt to make the mine habitable, while she could feel the change in the temperature from him putting up the blankets around, part of her knew it wasn't enough. It was still bitterly cold and she couldn't get warm, even sitting right next to the fire. When Orphen sat down next to her, she fought the urge to lean against him to share or steal warmth. However, she knew that gesture wouldn't be welcomed, so she miserably sat and stared at the fire, trying to keep warm. Even though she was now dry, she couldn't shake the cold and as time went by, she found herself not noticing the cold as much. She found the fire hypnotic and started to doze off. A loud crack in the fire, startled her awake and she realized she could fall right back to sleep and with the cold, that could be bad. She needed to stay awake and Orphen was her only option for help. She gulped slightly building up her nerve before speaking.

 

“Orphen, please talk to me. I'm cold and sleepy and I-I know that's not good.” Cleo pleaded.

 

Snapping out of his thoughts, he growled at himself internally. He should have done this sooner, he turned, put his arms around her and pulled her close, “Cold, all right. We'll share body heat.”

 

“No.” She said struggling to get away, only to herself firmly held against him.

 

“Keep struggling, that'll just increase your body heat.”

 

“I'm too c-cold! Don't waste what heat you have! You were stuck in the snow t-too.”

 

“Stop it.” Orphen hissed. “If you'd have let me finish earlier, I was going to apologize for you being so chilled when I covered you with snow. I knew better and I shouldn't have done it. It's not the… nevermind.” He broke off. “Straighten up, we're going to re-arrange things a bit.”

 

“But…”

 

“Just do it.” He interrupted as she kneeled up. He sighed noticing the female thermometer through his shirt, although appreciating the view; he had to keep his focus on keeping them warm. He moved the mine cart behind where they had been sitting, thinking it he could lean against it and it would be additional draft blocking except for by the wheels, but the pack should fix that. While up, he checked the socks by the fire, which had only been a little damp and were now dry and warm. Grabbing the pack, socks and his jacket, he sat down against the cart and directed her to sit back down in between his legs. Once there he bent his legs under hers and laid the jacket over her bare legs. He placed the pack between his back and the cart. Once complete, he pulled her against him. He slipped the socks on her feet, which were very cold to the touch. Once the socks were on, he started messaging her feet.

 

“Um… I still need to talk…can…would you explain. What did you mean earlier about losing someone to the c-cold?” When Orphen didn't answer immediately, Cleo pressed on a bit, “Was…were you referring to something about… Azalie?”

 

“No.” Orphen replied moving the message from her feet up to her calves.

 

“Then w-who?”

 

“No. It's none of your business.” Orphen resisted. He didn't want to tell her about Komikron.

 

“Oh… um, sorry I didn't mean to butt in.” Cleo hedged, relaxing into his ministrations. His rubbing her legs was really helping her feet and legs feel warm for the first time in hours. “I-I um… Thanks but, um… why did you… come back? And, you… you could have left? Why did you stay?”

 

Orphen stopped what he was doing, feeling his anger rise at her assuming he didn't care, even as an internal voice reminded him that he didn't give her any reason to assume otherwise. For Majic and Cleo the trip to Sun Lake was for a safe relaxing place to wait out the worst of the winter with their modern conveniences. For him, this trip to Sun Lake was to change things. That was part of the reason he'd asked Hartia to meet them, to distract Majic with some much needed advanced concentration studies. `Still I can't really explain that to her here and now. I'd actually planned things out. The inn, a fire, some wine, me, Cleo and with a bit of luck a serious change in our… No. No, I can't think of that now… with her sitting her between… oh bad!'

 

He had barely started to move to shift her out of his lap when she shivered. Assuming it was because he'd stopped rubbing her legs, he resumed, thinking, `I have to control myself. She needs me now. I won't fail her like I did Komikron'

 

After the latest bit of silence, Cleo concluded she wasn't going to get an answer to her question and shuddered slightly. It almost seemed that her shudder reminded him to start rubbing again so she decided to speak up, “Thank you, I've got feeling back in my legs again. And I'm warmer now. You… you don't have to say anything or stay like this. I-I'll be fine, now.” She started to move away from him again, only to once again find herself clasped to his chest.

 

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And I'm going to stop it there… so the chapters are fairly evenly divided. There's more to come, a full chapter plus a bit of an epilogue. Hope you all enjoyed it!