Chapter Text
The owner’s house was warm — almost suffocatingly so — but Coat Guy remained the same as always: cold.
It was his fourth day in the small, cozy house.
Night had fallen, which meant the owner would soon wake from his afternoon slumber. Night also meant visitors. Sometimes many. Sometimes none.
Tonight, there were plenty.
Kade didn’t care about most of them.
Except one.
A boy with dark violet, wavy hair. A gray shirt. Black pants. Large eyes with unusually small pupils. And the most striking thing of all — his mouth was completely sewn shut.
The living room door had been left slightly open. Through the gap, Kade watched as the violet-haired boy slipped quietly into the kitchen, carefully closing the door behind him, as if trying not to be heard.
Still, Kade caught it.
A small, muffled whimper.
—
The next morning, the owner woke up and immediately went to check on the violet-haired boy.
What was so special about him?
Kade lingered near the doorway, peeking from the edge, asking himself that same question over and over again.
Then he heard it.
Georgian.
He recognized it instantly — not only because he was a visitor himself, but because he had studied the language for a long time.
After checking on the newcomers, the owner went back to sleep.
And Kade seized his chance.
He took a moment to steady himself, rehearsing the words in his head, then slipped out of the living room and made his way to the closet where the violet-haired boy was staying.
“— Uhm… s-sloz?” (Uhm… h-hello?)
His voice came out softer than intended.
The boy’s head snapped up immediately, eyes widening.
“— Vhkviz, szyozh tvlitrzml?!” (Wait, you speak Georgian?!)
There was genuine surprise there. And excitement.
“— Nl h-hlb vckvigl… k-k-kvil hv ol yzhrxl…”
(I-I’m not very good… b-but I know the basics…)
Kade was still cold.
But standing this close to him…
He felt warmer.
Just a little.
“— Kfvh, szyozh yzhgzngv yrvn! Zs, b ñr nlñyiv vh ovezn!”
(Well, you speak really well! Ah, and my name is Levan!)
Levan.
That was a beautiful name. Probably common in Georgia. Still… it suited him. (Kade thought.)
“— K-kfvh… k-k-kfvwl z hvngziñv gf oz-ozwl? H-hr jfrvivh klwvñlh x-x-xsziozi…”
(P-pues… c-can I sit next to you? W-we could talk, if you want…)
“— Kli hfkfvhgl! Ñv vnxzngz xsziozi!”
(Of course! I love talking!)
And he really did.
Kade sat beside him.
They talked.
And talked.
And talked.
Levan carried most of the conversation, animated, expressive, his hands moving as he described places he’d traveled to, strange encounters, small absurd stories that made no sense and yet were endlessly charming. Kade mostly listened — nodding, asking small questions, letting Levan’s voice fill the space.
He could’ve listened forever.
Time slipped by unnoticed.
Neither of them realized when night returned.
Levan yawned softly.
“— Ñv w-wrl hfvml… o-o-ol hrvngl.”
(I-I’m getting sleepy… s-sorry.)
He hugged his knees slightly.
“— Ls! Hr jfrvivh, kfvwvh zklbzi gf xzyvaz vn ñr slñyil.”
(Oh! If you want, you can rest your head on my shoulder.)
Kade blinked.
“— V-v-vnhvirl? Vh jfv nl jfrvil ñ-ñlovhgzigv b-b—”
(R-r-really? I don’t want to b-bother you—)
“— Nl kzhz nzwz! Wv svxsl, ñrh zñrtlh ñv wvxrzn zoñlszwz znwzngv… bz jfv glwlh hv wliñrzn vnxrñz ñrl, jaja!”
(It’s not a problem! Actually, my friends used to call me a walking pillow. Everyone fell asleep on me, haha!)
Kade hesitated only a second longer.
Then he nodded.
Slowly, carefully, he leaned in, resting his head against Levan’s shoulder. Adjusting slightly until they both settled into something comfortable.
Levan was warm.
Shockingly warm.
Kade hadn’t realized how much he’d missed that feeling.
Little by little, their words faded.
Their breathing synchronized.
Their fingers intertwined — instinctively, almost shyly — as if trying to pass warmth from one body to the other.
And for the first time since arriving at the house,
Kade didn’t feel quite so cold.