Chapter Text
Peridot is not a fan of any weather that makes her uncomfortable. Summer is too hot. Winter is too cold.
Why can’t it just be a nice temperature year-round?
(She tells Jasper she’s going to fight the sun.)
But there is a perk to winter.
Jasper is very warm. And comfortable. And completely fine with letting Peri cuddle with her underneath a couple of blankets.
She’s happy with her girlfriend-and-blanket nest.
Exceedingly happy.
She snuggles closer to Jasper, rubbing her face against her arm with a gentle sigh.
Jasper glances at her, making sure the sigh was a good one, and she smiles.
“You comfy?”
Peri is very matter-of-fact about it.
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
They lapse back into quiet, Jasper doing something in Minecraft, and Peridot messing around on her iPad.
--
Jasper’s not actually paying attention to Minecraft. She’s distracted by- much prettier things. Her basement room has windows at ground level, and they’re quickly becoming obscured by snow, blocking out all but a fuzzy white glow.
Peri’s curled into her side, and although her toes of ice are shoved underneath her legs, her warmth against her is- it’s comforting and makes her feel content. It’s nice.
Unfortunately, to be able to see her TV and be curled up comfortably with her girlfriend, Jasper is keeping herself balanced against the headboard. It’s not too hard, but if she loses her concentration, she’s going to fall.
--
Peridot’s browsing through old photos and- there’s something she hasn’t seen in a while.
“Hey, Jasper, look at this.”
She tries to keep the laughter out of her voice, and fails. Once she’s looking, she presses play.
The video starts on a frame of snow, with the audio of Jasper yelling something about “Peridot PLEASE HELP ME” and a quiet “in a minute hold on”.
The camera focuses on Jasper lying on her back in deep snow, staring up at the sky in defeat.
“Dork got herself stuck in the snow.”
With Peridot’s giggles, the video ends. Jasper shakes her head, smiling slightly.
“You snapchat too much.”
“Whatever.”
They don’t say anything for a few more seconds, until Peridot speaks quietly, casual in a way that Jasper doesn’t understand.
“It’s been a year since I realized I loved you.”
--
Jasper loses her concentration.
She falls to the floor with a thump, dragging the blankets with her.
“Hey! Rude!”
Peri leans off the bed, blinking at her.
“You okay?”
Jasper stares back up at her.
“Shit, Peri, you can’t just say things like that all- simple!”
She blushes, and offers her hand. Jasper takes it, hauling herself (and the blankets) up.
They curl up together again, but she’s firmly on the bed this time. Peri’s still nestled against her, face pressed into her collarbone.
“So… you should tell me about that…”
--
Peri knows it’s gonna come out awkwardly.
She hopes Jasper doesn’t care.
“You were gone with your parents and I- I missed you so much more than- than just a friend should have. And I was like ‘okay what does this even mean’ and well. It meant I loved you.”
Jasper rests her head on hers, gentle, and her hands seek out Peridot’s, fingers tangling together.
She thinks for a moment before asking something.
“That means, though- that was months before we got together. That whole time, you… Really?”
Peri laughs.
“Yeah.”
“When were you planning on saying anything?”
She coughs.
“Um. Never.”
Underneath the blankets, something in Jasper’s chest goes cold. She shifts back, moving so that Peri sits up and glances at her.
She doesn’t have to ask why. She knows. She’s just- still not sure how to deal with it.
Jasper looks away, muttering about how “I’m glad it did happen, then” and Peridot agrees quietly.
They don’t talk for a minute, lost in thought.
“The snow is building up.”
Peri tilts her head to look at her, and tugs at her hand, willingly getting out of her blankets.
“Come on.”
Jasper smiles, and follows. She stops to make them put their boots on, but otherwise they go through the still house, ending up at the back door.
Peridot opens it, stepping out onto the patio, biting breeze tossing snow at the two of them. Jasper stands beside her, looking up at the clouded sky.
There’s nothing but the wind blowing, snowflakes catching on eyelashes, and their hands reaching for each other’s.