“It’s no different to the hammock,” Drift rolled his eyes, lifting up the flap of his sleeping bag as Cove eyed him warily.

Cove’s own pack containing his sleeping bag had been lost on the cliff. Given how dark it had become by the time they emerged through the tunnels to the topside of the cloud glacier there was no point in trying to regroup with the rest of the boys or carry on to Trolvbard.

They needed to sleep and regain energy whilst they could, plus the temperature was fast dropping and Cove was going to freeze if he didn’t stop being such a brat and just get in the fucking bag.

“Fine,” Cove huffed as if he was doing Drift a favour. The silver haired boy pulled his coat tightly around him and crawled into the cocoon of fabric beside Drift.

“Where’s the pistol?” Cove asked suddenly, turning round to look at Drift anxiously.

“You scared another yeti will come?” Drift frowned.

“No,” Cove huffed, “I’m more worried about you firing it in your sleep and shooting my damn leg off.”

“Relax your highness,” Drift snorted, “it’s over in my pack.”

“Why is it so cold?” Cove whined miserably, tucking his chin into his chest and huffing. “I feel like my lips are frozen!”

“Still hasn’t shut you up though has it?” Drift smirked as Cove glared at him.

“You’ll live brat,” Drift murmured, reaching out to wrap an arm around Cove and drag him closer.

“What are you doing?” Cove squawked, moving to push Drift off.

“Relax,” Drift muttered, closing his eyes but not relenting his grip. “I’m sharing my body heat with you.”

“I don’t want it!” Cove snapped. “Keep it in your own body.”

“You don’t make it easy do you Cove?” Drift muttered, slinging a leg over Cove’s to stop him from squirming away.

“Maybe I just don’t want to be molested in a bed with you!” Cove snapped, wriggling backwards.

“I’d only be returning the favour,” Drift grinned lazily, cocking his eyebrow as Cove’s face scrunched up in a frown.

“What are you talking about?” Cove asked.

“Never mind your highness,” Drift laughed, shaking his head. He didn’t feel like teasing the other boy any more, he looked too confused and cute.

Ugh, had he really just thought of Cove as ‘cute’?

Spoiled, bratty, selfish, ignorant, naive, insufferable, whiny, difficult – sure, Cove was all those things. But cute?

Drift opened his eyes again to study Cove’s face. Cove was still frowning but he was looking down at his chest. There was a light rosy flush of pink on his cheeks and his small, pale lips were pursed with frustration. His eyelashes were gently kissing his delicate skin and his brows were drawn together beneath a mop of silver hair.

Cute

Drift’s brain thought treacherously before he could stop it. Drift huffed and pulled Cove closer forwards so the other boy’s head was tucked underneath his chin and Drift couldn’t be tempted to stare at him anymore.

They managed to sleep until morning’s light came and gently roused them from slumber.

“Found them!”

Drift smiled as he heard Fletch’s triumphant whoop and cheer.

“Well, hello there,” Robbo announced cheerfully as the group of boys trudged over the top of a snow drift and stood at the foot of the sleeping bag.

“Nice to see someone got a lie in,” Fletch grinned toothily, reaching his foot out to kick Cove awake.

“Mm five more minutes,” Cove mumbled sleepily, brushing drool from his chin with his hand and snuggling in closer to Drift’s chest.

“Oh bless him,” Robbo snorted. “You know Fletch was worried the two of you had been gobbled up by a yeti and yet here you were, snuggling.”

Drift rolled his eyes and started to manoeuvre himself up and out of the bag when Cove let out a loud whine of protest.

“Dear god he’s more clingy than an octopus,” Fletch laughed delightedly.

Finally, Cove’s pale blue eyes opened and he looked around groggily taking in the party of other boys before sliding back to Drift.

“Hey!” Cove let out a squawk and scrambled back away from the other boy, tipping out of the bag and onto the snow dusted ice. “What are you doing?” Cove hissed with an extremely affronted expression, hugging his arms across his chest as if to protect himself from futher violation.

“Unbelievable,” Drift rolled his eyes and started to pack up, handing Fletch’s pistol back to him.

“Two bullets used,” Fletch squinted into the chamber, “came in handy then?”

Drift shot his friend a grateful nod before chucking the sleeping bag at Cove. “Make yourself useful and roll that up. Least you could do after all the trouble you’ve caused.”

“Asshole,” Cove muttered.

“He’s still a delight then?” Fletch sighed, nudging Drift on the shoulder as they set off towards the direction of Trolvbard.

“Yeah,” Drift’s eyes slipped across to where Cove was letting out a stream of expletives whilst trying to stuff the puffed up sleeping bag back into its case. Drift found his lips twitching as he felt almost… fond?

“Still a brat,” Drift added as Fletch laughed.