The nerve.

Frey still ground his teeth as he walked past the BBT mansion's garden. They were all ridiculous snoops that just happened to get things right for some reason.

The first thing he noticed as he reached the stables was the snow. The days he'd been forced to spend in bed had apparently been very productive days for the weather, and he walked with caution in case any more treacherous patches of ice were lurking underneath.

He'd had more than enough head injuries to fit a lifetime.

"Ah, Lord Clausson," the stable master said as he appeared by the entrance. "I was told you'd come here today, so I've prepared your horse accordingly."

Frey held back any trace of disappointment.

"Oh, you did so by yourself? I was certain the stable boy took care of my horses."

"He's not working today, my Lord." The stable master shook his head. "I suppose not everyone likes to work every day."

"Your commitment is noted and appreciated," Frey said dutifully, still down about the lack of Marius. "Good to know that Tea For Two has been well taken care of despite his absence."

"Of course, my Lord," the stable master said, but Frey had already turned his attention to Tea For Two. "I should warn you, the ground is still terribly slippery. Best tread with caution."

"The forest path should be fine, shouldn't it?" Frey was already on his way up on the horse. "Less water to freeze."

"Well, I would agree, but..." The stable master hesitated. "... There's been quite a snowfall, and the previous, mild weather has caused some snow crust. I'm not so certain Tea For Two will appreciate it."

Frey scrunched up his nose. He'd always taken that path ever since he'd found it and was already set on heading that way. He wasn't fond of choosing another one just out of the blue.

"We will take a look at it."

"Of course, my Lord."

It did indeed not look promising as Frey neared the beginning of the forest. While Tea For Two wouldn't necessarily suffer too much from the amount of snow, the crust could hurt her, and he groaned in frustration.

Strangely enough, as Frey got closer he noticed the path was still there, looking as though it had been trampled continuously with just a layer of powdery snow on top. It was surprising. Aside from it being a shortcut for some during summer time, people usually chose the larger roads any other season.

There would be no complaint on Frey's behalf though. His frustration was already fading, and Tea For Two ambled along as if there had never been a question where they were heading.

Compared to the earlier days of winter he'd spent riding there, Frey was in awe by the snow covered trees and icicles hanging down the pine branches.

He breathed out.

"Beats staying in bed for five days," he said to Tea For Two. "You'd hate it. I barely got to walk around at all."

Tea For Two said nothing, which was common for a horse, so Frey continued.

"Damien sure is overprotective, despite how bad of a father he's turned out to be to his own sons. Honestly, I think he cares, he's just gone about it wrong." He shook his head. "Must be a strange dynamic nowadays, what with him and Lucius getting along that well despite their past."

More silence from Tea For Two, and Frey took the liberty of interpreting it.

"Yes I know it doesn't seem like it, but that's just how they talk. It's probably how they stand each other in the first place. They're very alike attitude-wise. Between you and me, I think they'd fit well together, but neither of them would ever admit that."

His mouth curved into a bittersweet smile.

"If they did, however, at least they wouldn't have to deal with the social class gap."

"Well, not to be that person, but isn't Mr. Cromwell a little lower than Lord Hargreaves?"

Frey flinched, and pulled the reins by habit.

"Marius," he said as the stable boy appeared next to him. "The stable master said you're not working today."

"Does it look like I'm working?" Marius raised his eyebrows with a playful smile on his lips. "I'm here because I wanted to see you."

"Oh." Frey wasn't sure what to say. "I... See."

"Want to come down?" Marius suggested, reaching out his arms. "I can catch you again if you trip. Just don't shove me this time."

Frey hesitantly glanced forward. He hadn't been outside for days, and interrupting his usual activity bothered him a little, but he wasn't fond of rejecting Marius either.

"I wouldn't expect anyone to come by here," Marius said as Frey stepped down from his horse. "Doubt we'll be interrupted... Or seen."

"Well..." Frey gave the ground a cautious look. "Path's been trampled though."

"And shovelled, mind you." Marius nodded. "Took a mighty long time."

Frey blinked, giving the path another look.

"No," he said in disbelief. "You didn't."

"I did," Marius insisted, and Frey had to scoff.

"You did not shovel this entire path all by yourself."

"Well, no," Marius admitted. "Not all by myself. Lance helped out. And Ihan. And Oliver and Versha, and Joaquim."

Frey stared at him, and Marius snorted.

"My friends? The people we drank with at Fisherman's."

"They're your friends?" Frey blinked. "All of them?"

"Yeah, I mean... My closest ones." Marius shrugged, still amused by Frey's confusion. "I told them how much it sucked that the path would be snowed over by the time you recovered, since you like riding here."

"And they what, just grabbed a shovel and got to work?"

"Pretty much." Marius grinned. "And after that first, denser layer, it was pretty easy. Just... Took a long time to get through all of it. Like... All night. Some of the morning."

Frey stood dumbfounded.

"But they— They don't even know me."

"No, but they're my friends, and it was important to me. Because it's important to you, that is."

"Didn't know friends could be that devoted..." Frey felt oddly warm for the cold weather, and he looked down at the snowy ground. "... Then again I don't know much on the matter in general."

"Maybe it's time you learned," Marius suggested and pulled Frey closer into an embrace before kissing him.

Slightly taken aback, it took a moment for Frey to realise he should kiss back, and he slowly wrapped his arms around Marius' neck.

"Is this what friends do?" he whispered as their lips parted, and Marius chuckled.

"In our case I guess there are some additional feelings going on, but I like to think we're friends too."

Frey smiled, but furrowed his brow soon after.

"I'm not going to hold a shovel though."

"I figured as much." Marius leaned his forehead against Frey's before looking back at Tea For Two. "So, mind if I come along?"

Frey blinked, having expected that Marius wanted them to do something else.

"Oh. She's not supposed to carry two people though."

"No, I know that." Marius shook his head and gestured to himself. "I've been around horses before. I'd walk beside you."

"Well, that should be fine then, if you can keep up." Frey nodded slowly, and Marius looked offended.

"I'm in good shape! I was able to shovel all night!"

"Yes, you've been shovelling all night!" Frey failed to stifle a laugh. "I'm already impressed you're standing up."

"I wouldn't have my job if I was afraid of hard work." Marius flexed an arm. "See?"

"Not really." Frey raised an eyebrow. "Coat aside, I figure there are more layers of clothes underneath."

Marius clicked his tongue, but his face was amused.

"Guess I'll have to show you with fewer layers some other time."

Frey turned away immediately to hide whatever dumb, flustered expression his face was showing, and adjusted Tea For Two's saddle. To his remorse and simultaneous intrigue, it was hard not to let his imagination wander.

"I think it looks good," Marius said as he leaned forward from behind Frey to check the girth around Tea For Two's belly, and Frey tensed up.

"What are you doing?" he asked, voice lower than intended.

"My job, my Lord." Marius leaned closer so his breath reached Frey's skin. "Is that not allowed?"

"You're not working today," was all Frey could say as Marius' lips burned his neck.

"I'm very devoted to my job," Marius whispered as he gently pulled down Frey's cravat to give room for another kiss. "And since I'm your stable boy—"

"That just slipped out before," Frey protested through an exhale. "I didn't mean to say it like that."

"I wouldn't mind though." Marius hugged him from behind. "I'd rather be your stable boy than Lord Hargreaves'."

Frey grimaced.

"That would mean I'd be the one to pay you. Besides, I don't think it would be appropriate to do these things with someone under my employment."

"What things?"

"I don't—" Frey shrugged. "Kissing, and so on."

"And so on?" Marius inquired, letting a chuckle slip into the sentence, and Frey groaned.

"Let's get going."

Marius obediently followed along, holding onto Tea's reins out of habit and possibly to make sure he kept up with her pace.

"So, how do you feel about winter?" he asked, and Frey frowned.

"Aside from concussions, and snowballs and frost wicks thrown at my head?"

"Winter does not like your head," Marius agreed.

Frey's eyes narrowed, and he mindlessly raised a hand to his cheek.

"Nothing likes my head."

A grave silence ensued, and Frey had no idea how to break it. Why did he have to go and say that?

"Oh!" Marius suddenly let go of Tea For Two and ran to one of the larger pines, pulling down a large icicle from it before running back again. "Look at this!"

"That..." Frey knitted his eyebrows, but tried to be supportive over the pointless piece of ice. "... Sure is a big icicle."

"Doesn't have to be just an icicle." Marius rolled his eyes and held it up. "It could be something else. Like an ice stake, for fire vampires."

"Fire vampires aren't real," Frey mumbled, unsure whether Marius was aware of this or not.

Marius sighed, but wouldn't give up and instead placed it against Tea For Two's forehead.

"See?" He gestured as if it was the most magnificent sight. "A unicorn!"

Frey relented with a weak smile.

"She would make a beautiful unicorn."

"Right?"

"Had unicorns actually looked like horses, that is."

Marius' shoulders sank, and so did his eyebrows.

"What, now?"

"Young Lady Hargreaves informed me that the body structure and shape of their skulls was a bit different, and that they were actually pretty small. Like the average dog in size."

Marius' eyebrows shot up again.

"Wow, the Hargreaves twins really know how to bum someone out."

"And they don't even seem to know it." Frey sighed. "When Luna found out I like horses she went and dug up every supernatural horse fact she could find. I could only humour her for so long."

"Well, you tried." Marius smiled. "Considering it's you, I'd be flattered if you put up with my nonsense to protect my feelings."

Frey's gaze fell to his hands.

"I yelled at Noah though." He found himself wondering why he'd bring that up. He'd already sort-of apologised, and Marius didn't even have to know. It was just a bad look. "On Dyris' day, before I came to you."

Marius looked forward in thought.

"I'm not gonna condone yelling at a child, but... I imagine he can get on one's nerves. What did he do?"

Frey looked away.

"... Asked me if I liked you."

"And you yelled at him!?" Marius' face was a blend of horror and amusement.

"He did it in a really annoying way!"

"Oh, how you hurt me," Marius complained, still with a playful tone that Frey couldn't quite comprehend, so he turned his head with a frown.

"I don't mean to."

"Yeah, I know that." Marius laughed softly, though with a frown of confusion. "I was joking."

The corner of Frey's mouth twitched.

"... Right, of course."

"Sorry if it didn't show."

Frey shook his head.

"No, it's alright, it was obvious," he said with a convincing smile. "I don't know where my head's at today."

"It's not hurting still, is it?" Marius' frown remained. "Maybe you should turn back if you're not feeling well."

"No, my head is physically fine." Frey rolled his eyes. "Don't turn into a Damien."

"Well, if I turned into a Lord Hargreaves, no one would object to us being together."

Frey made a disgusted face and Marius hurriedly continued.

"Not him literally, just... Well, you know."

"Yeah," Frey mumbled. "I know."

To his discomfort, Frey had to assume people would actually rather see him with someone more than twice his age than someone of a lower class.

More than ten times, in Damien's case.

He shuddered as Carrigan's suggestion swept through his head.

"Looks like it's gonna snow again." Marius looked up at the gathering clouds with a sigh. "Don't think I can ask the others to come clear the path a second time."

Frey nodded slowly as he followed Marius' gaze.

"... Tell me about them."

"About?"

"Your friends," Frey clarified. "Tell me about them."

"Do you care?" Marius raised an eyebrow and Frey pursed his lips at the amused smile."

"I figure I should."

"They're not that impressive by your standards, I'm afraid." Marius shrugged. "Much like me."

"It's because they're with you that I think I should know more about them." Frey briefly turned his eyes away. "So I get to know more about you."

Marius' expression went from amused to flustered, and he cleared his throat.

"Well, uh... Oliver and Versha are siblings, just a bit younger than me and both work as gardeners. And Joaquim works as a stable boy too, just on the western outskirts."

"I see." Frey nodded as he memorised everything.

"Lance works behind the scenes at the theatre, but would also like to perform one day," Marius continued. "And Ihan's the heir to a successful architect company."

Frey blinked.

"Really?"

"No." Marius looked smug. "He's a painter. A worm like the rest of us."

Frey wrinkled his nose.

"You know, I've never been fond of the whole low class worm and high class angler thing the South Kerilian population has going on. It just sounds distasteful, especially coming from the higher society."

"And we get by alright," Marius added. "Others have it much worse."

If only that argument would have been enough for Frey to involve Marius in his public life.

"Well, I think it's time we head back," Frey said as they reached the end of the path. "Before it snows so much we can't see."

"Agreed," Marius said. "Would be nice to avoid more snow accidents."

Frey scoffed.

"You didn't even get hurt. You fell on me."

"Maybe." Marius nodded with an unbecomingly smug grin on his face. "But you fell for me."

"I'll kick you."

"Oh, is that what you're into?" Marius still smiled. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised, what with those leg muscles."

"It's not," Frey protested, heat rising to his cheeks. "Or... I don't think so."

Marius tilted a head with an inquisitive look.

"You don't think?"

"It's hard to know what I'm 'into' when I haven't tried it."

"Kicking?"

"Among other things."

"Huh." Marius raised his eyebrows. "Figured you of all people would know, considering—"

He choked his sentence, turning his head away with a low curse under his breath.

" I— I'm sorry. That... That was insensitive."

Frey opened his mouth to say something, but apparently his words weren't quite ready to come out.

"... What do you mean?" he finally asked, and Marius squeezed his eyes together.

"It's... Nothing."

Frey's face turned into a scowl.

"Stable boy..."

Marius flinched, but tried laughing it off.

"So we're back to that all of a sudden?"

"Well, you told me friends use first names, but friends don't hide things from each other."

Marius' strained smile died out, and his shoulders sank.

"It's just that... You're pretty well known, for your..." He grimaced. "... Dalliances."

Frey inhaled a silent breath through his nose, and his grip around the reins tightened.

"Dalliances?" His voice was cold.

"Yeah, with..." Marius looked down at the ground. "... The older lords."

"Fantastic," Frey mumbled, nails digging into his palms. "More rumours."

"But it's your life," Marius hastily added. "It's not like anyone can— Uh, should... Judge you."

"And you think I'm well aware of my preferences because..." Frey scrunched up his nose. "... People think I'm sleeping with them?"

"But there's— There's nothing wrong with that," Marius clarified once again, looking more flustered by the second. "As long as it's your—"

"I don't."

Marius blinked.

"You...?"

"I don't sleep with them." Frey stared down at Tea For Two's mane. "I never have, because I don't let people touch me."

"Oh..." Marius nodded slowly, and Frey thought he could discern a look of relief. "... But, uh... Is that something that could change?"

Frey's lip curled.

"They're pathetic. Why would it?"

"No, I mean in general." Marius rubbed his neck. "The no-touching."

Frey raised an eyebrow.

"We've kissed."

"Yeah, I— Yeah, of course, but..." Marius let out a sheepish laugh. "... No, yeah. That's true."

A moment of confusion passed as Frey tried to read Marius' face with a frown, certain that the man hadn't forgotten such a fact.

Then he went through the conversation again in his head, and things began falling into place.

"Did you mean—" His face flushed, and Marius awkwardly pursed his lips.

"Sorry, I was just... Thinking."

Once again, Frey's mind conjured several images that made his face heat up to an alarming degree, but he wouldn't just let Marius get away with it.

"There really is no end to your shamelessness, is there?"

"I know. I'm being crass." Marius shrugged. "But can you blame me?"

"For being crass?" Frey raised an eyebrow. "Certainly."

"You've never thought about it?"

Frey discreetly eyed Marius up and down before turning his head forward with a stone faced expression.

"So shameless," he said under his breath, and to his annoyance Marius let out a snort.

"That's a yes, then?"

"It's an 'I will ignore your insolence this time, but watch it'."

Marius didn't look concerned in the slightest, but he looked around with a wistful sigh.

"I think it's time for me to go anyway."

Frey frowned, looking around the path as well.

"There's just one path."

"Yes, but... We probably shouldn't be seen coming back together." Marius' smile was betrayed by his crestfallen eyes, but it was a resilient smile nonetheless. "The snow's not that deep and I don't have to go far, so it's alright."

Frey gently tugged at Tea For Two's reins to halt her.

"And you're sure about this?" He forced his eyes to keep looking at Marius. "This unfair situation. Going through so much trouble for me, when you don't even know what I'll choose. When... I don't even know what I'll choose."

"Well, I guess I'm hoping all of it could make that choice a little easier."

Frey couldn't stop his gaze from falling to the ground.

"It should be easy, shouldn't it?" he whispered. "Like you say, the life I've always wanted is full of awful people, and getting my reputation back to where it used to be may not be possible anymore."

Marius gave Frey some space to continue, but when nothing more was said he cleared his throat.

"I... I'm not sure what to say. You know my stance already, so of course I'd find the choice to be easy. But then, I've never had what you're describing either. Assholes aside, that life of yours comes with wealth and comfort, and it's not something to scoff at."

"And what if we don't work?" Frey asked with a low voice, eyes narrowing at the thought.

"... What?" Marius' tone was painfully disheartened.

"I'd be throwing everything away," Frey elaborated, still not daring to look up. "Things aren't great now, but the chance to climb back up is still there."

"But... If you chose me, it would be over for good," Marius filled in, and Frey nodded.

"I'd be reduced to nothing in their eyes. There's no going back after that, and... And if either of us suddenly change our minds about..." He gestured vaguely between them. "... This. I'd be left with nothing. I'd have no life to return to."

Silence ensued once again before Marius replied.

"That's... Bleak."

"Yeah..." Frey raised a hand to his scar, managing a glance in Marius' direction. "... Things can turn bleak very quickly."

Marius looked at him with a concerned wrinkle between his eyebrows.

"Frey?"

Frey turned his head a little more to imply he was looking at him, so Marius continued.

"Do you want a hug?"

"I..." Frey faced forward again, genuinely surprised by the offer. "I'm not... Sure."

"Would it hurt to try?" Marius asked and held out his arms. "Make another exception to the no-touch rule?"

Frey laughed softly, still hesitant as he dismounted Tea For Two but softened as Marius' arms hugged him tight. He felt the urge to just lean against Marius completely, letting him carry both their weights, but he was too embarrassed to even joke about it.

"For what it's worth..." Marius' breath reached Frey's ear as he spoke. "... Regarding the fancier life, at least your family in West Kerilia will be there no matter what happens, right?"

It was a comforting thought, but still, Frey couldn't quite embrace it.

"They're struggling as well. Even if they'd want to support me in a situation like that, I don't think they can afford to, reputation-wise."

"But they're your family." Marius' tone was dry. "You have to come first."

"And I'm sure they want to put me first, but unlike me, they have a town to run, and people to satisfy."

Marius' silence suggested he was not convinced, and he sighed before continuing.

"So I guess... They wouldn't be too fond of me?"

Frey grimaced.

"They'd... Like you as a person, I think. They'd just find you..."

Marius' voice had turned fully bitter as he ended Frey's sentence.

"... Inconvenient."

"We can't know for certain," Frey hurriedly continued. "But... I'm not going to lie. Things wouldn't be so easy for you either if people knew about us."

Marius sighed again, but held Frey tighter.

"So we'll keep quiet about it for now," he said. "It's alright. We see each other at the stables all the time, and if we plan ahead we could go on more walks together."

"Well, there's one problem..." Frey looked to the side of them, and Marius loosened his grip to look as well.

"What?"

"She's such a gossip," Frey said, nodding in Tea For Two's direction, and Marius groaned.

"Oh, I keep forgetting."

"Now all horses will know about us."

"We could try bribing her," Marius suggested with a grin and patted Tea For Two's flank. "More braids in her mane, maybe?"

"Not enough." Frey shook his head. "This calls for a 'keep flies away all summer' kind of bribe."

Marius whistled.

"That had better be a team effort."

"Well you do seem to have a lot of helpful friends."

"I think there might be a line drawn at spending the summer chasing flies away from a horse belonging to the man I like."

"Guess we're out of luck then." Frey shrugged. "She'll tattle to everyone."

"How unfortunate." Marius' voice was grave. "And we've been doing so well."

Frey smiled, but couldn't keep it from fading as he looked down the snowy path.

"I think... I really should get back now."

"I know." Marius' smile proved weak as well. "But can we see each other tomorrow?"

It seemed cold, but Frey had to hesitate. His time outside had always been reserved for him and Tea For Two, and he enjoyed the privacy. Still, he did want to see Marius, and the forest was the one place that was possible at the time.

"Yeah," he said with a nod. "Of course we can."

He felt slightly more prepared for the second kiss of the day, but the fact that he had to hurry still remained, and he gradually leaned away.

"Alright." Marius relented. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Tomorrow," Frey confirmed before hoisting himself up on Tea For Two again. He looked after Marius as he gradually disappeared between the trees and let out a sigh, patting Tea For Two's neck.

"... Kind of wish it was tomorrow already."