I stared blankly out the frosty window, not fully aware that I was awake. It was morning again, whether I planned it or not. I heard the creak of the floorboards or the door. It was quiet after that, though there was a strange smell that seeped in from under the door. Sweet, but dense so that it made my nose feel funny. My body was stiffened by bandages that only tightened when I tried to move. Thinking of it, I started to laugh. Harder and harder the more I thought of it, until my chest ached and I was out of breath, and then I laughed some more. 

Heavy boots wandered back through the house and entered the room. He dripped with blood, tracking his mess through the room. The puddles soaked into the floorboards well before he returned. My throat felt dry, but again I repressed a grin. 

“What are you grinning about now?”

“Oh, nothing,” I mumbled, “just enjoying the view.”

“Are you healing yet?” 

“A little.”

His sigh throbbed in my chest like a venomous snake, curling and twisting between my insides. I wished briefly for stronger painkillers when he laid down next to me, but the ache receded and he slept until dinner.

Most days were like that. I’m not sure how many of them there were, but it felt like a lot. 

“Are you ever going to show me what’s under that hood?” I asked playfully.

He turned in my direction without a word.

“It’s not like I could go anywhere.”

I turned to look out the window, not expecting him to answer. Birds sang on a low, snow covered branch as his footsteps softly receded. The hair on the back of my neck stood straight as his cold breath chilled my shoulders. Startled, but only briefly, I turned toward him and reached into his hood. He grabbed my wrist before I could get close. 

“You’re no fun,” I teased. 

“Shut up. I’m tired.”

Grinning, I played with the edge of his shirt. He clenched my ribs until it ached up my side and made my fingers twitch. 

“Don’t be so grumpy,” I said through a smile of gritted teeth, “come play with me.”

He eased his grip as I unbuttoned the bottom of his shirt. 

“What are you doing?”

“Distracting you.”

I pulled him closer until I could feel his icy breath on my cheek. I hesitated only for a moment, and kissed him. He flinched like it hurt. 

“Do I need to remind you?” I whispered. 

His nails pressed hard into my skin, making tiny crescent moons in my shoulders.  ___

“You’re cute when you’re angry.”

I laid flat on my back. Damn my ribs hurt. 

[scene has been cut]

He came into the room and took his hood off, dropping his bloodied armor on the floor. It made a heavy clang before he stepped over it and walked toward me. 

He held his knife to my neck.

“I don’t think you want to do that.”

“And why the hell not?”

“Because you won’t want to live without me.”

“You’re incredibly irritating.”

“You’re in love with me.”

He seethed, pressing deeper into me, but something stopped him. I tried so hard not to laugh that my cheeks stung from the strain.