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georgiapeach30513 · 5 months

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A Snowflake Melts, Part 1

Summary: Your ex Jack O'Malley is an unscrupulous man. An excellent bounty hunter that comes alive in winter. He is winter. He terrifies you. Running away from him and your family, because even they couldn't keep you safe from the winter chill itself, you find yourself in a remote area. Living alone for almost a year when your new neighbor Steve Rogers arrives. He was curious instantly, and you were smitten just as quickly. Can you and Steve deny each other all winter long? And what will the other seasons bring? Will it bring you real true love?

Pairings: Steve Rogers X Reader

Rating: fluffy

Warnings: none, 18+ ONLY

Word Count: 3.7K

Series Masterlist

*dividers created by @firefly-graphics

“And once the snow gets thicker, you’re not going to be able to get out easily. So make sure you’re fully stocked. Your neighbor is a bit of a recluse, but maybe if she’s feeling sorry for you, you know,” Steve Rogers’ eyes look down the road where his real estate agent was pointing. A giant silver and white cat stares at him with her piercing green eyes.

He’d almost think it was a statue if it wasn’t for her mane bellowing in the wind. “Sir?” The old real estate agent tries to get his attention. Waving a hand in front of his face. “Mr. Rogers? Do you understand, you could get stuck out here with no food?”

“Yes. Yes, of course,” Steve shakes his head, trying to get the cat’s piercing eyes out of his mind. “If the snow gets thick, I’m stuck, and I will starve without provisions. Got it. So who lives down the road?”

“Ehh, you should leave her alone. She’s self sufficient. Never leaves. Will get things delivered there. She shouldn’t be a problem,” Steve looks back towards the cat, and she tilts her head to the side before turning and walking down the road and to the neighbor. “That’s her cat. She looks more ferocious than she actually is.”

“Who is she?”

“Someone who wants to remain private and live off grid. Leave her be. You’ll have a nice time being all isolated out here. You didn’t come here for friends, and that’s good, she won’t be. There’s deep freezers in the basement. Make sure your generator is full of gas and that you have plenty of firewood. Might I suggest a pet? It gets lonely out here once you get trapped. And whatever you do,” the man pauses to glare at Steve as his attention is back on the winding road.

“Yeah, leave my neighbor alone. Got it. She’s just got a cat that stands and stares at me.”

“Mistletoe is harmless,” Steve curls his nose up as he looks at the old man. “Mistletoe, it’s the cat’s name,” he shrugs, starting to walk towards the edge of the porch, “She’s nice. Very protective of her owner. Have a nice day, Mr. Rogers, stock up.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Steve waves a hand, waiting until the man leaves before his curiosity is back towards that road. He didn’t know why, but he felt drawn to that road. Drawn towards the cat. “A pet, huh?” He sighs, looking at his secluded cabin. It’s what he needed. He didn’t want to be around people anymore. But winter is coming. Isolation sounds both amazing and terrifying.

With a final glance down the road, he stretches before grabbing up an ax. Firewood will be the best way to start the preparation. And who knows, maybe eventually see what the house down the road had to offer. It would get lonely. Surely there was a reason he was drawn to that crooked little road.

You peek out your door, giving a deep inhale before fully stepping out onto the porch. Your eyes dart around your settings as you waft the air around you. Pine. That was it. It offered up pleasant memories since you are out here all alone. Your precious little cat jumps up on the railing of the porch, and you curl your nose at her.

“You’ve been nosy, Missy. What’s up there?” Her eyes slowly blink before she mews at you. “A new neighbor, huh? A man?” Another mew, and you hear the loud bang of firewood. “A strong one. It’s not him, is it?”

Mistletoe lazily blinks her eyes before jumping down. Her furry feet carry her to the door, and you open it up to allow her into the house before you look up the road. You had hoped to spend another winter alone. Secluded and utterly alone. If you had people around you, you wouldn’t be as vigilant, and he would find you.

Even your father couldn’t stop Jack. And if he couldn’t, you don’t know who could. Jack could find anyone, and in winter he was in his element. Living somewhere tropical all year round just wasn’t an option, you needed a taste of home. Need to hear the crackle of a fireplace, and the foggy windows. You couldn’t fully give up a winter wonderland.

You need to smell the pines, and the fresh scent of snow. You need to feel the warmth of a fireplace, and you couldn’t leave Mistletoe behind. She needs the winter as well.

A neighbor. It was an odd concept. You didn’t think anyone would want to live out here, much less that shitty little cabin. Looking over at your animals, you know it’s time to stop playing around. Winter is coming, and you need to make sure that everything is settled. And everything was ready. You look forward to being holed up in your cabin with no one but Mistletoe, and the small little homestead you have created. Just the way you like it. Simple. Alone. And away from him.

Steve wipes the sweat off his brow, watching the light snowflakes start to lay on the cold ground. Winter was here. He was still oddly intrigued by the house at the end of the road. You never left. A few deliveries were made, but never you. He didn’t even know how old you were. What you looked like. Just knew that you had a curious cat named Mistletoe.

“No!” He scolds the fluffy cat who swats at Steve’s newest friend. “What did she do to you?” Mistletoe looks up at Steve, her eyes narrowing at him. “She’s just a puppy. Look at her,” she looks at the fast growing malamute puppy who just wags her tail at the cat.

“You came here to see us. She just wants to play,” the puppy leans forward, her haunches in the air, giving the cat a little bark. “You don’t play? You just came up here to spy?”

If cat’s could roll their eyes, this one did. Turning around and starting to walk back home. “Maybe I should follow you?” She spins around, hissing at Steve. “You do understand. Who is down there?”

Mistletoe’s body hunches up as she gets defensive. Spitting out her frustration at Steve, “I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just need to make sure she can make it through the winter. I’m talking to a cat. This is going to be a long year,” the fluffy cat starts to walk back down her road, but keeps her eyes focused on Steve. She didn’t trust easily. She learned her mistake.

“Eventually the snow will be too thick to walk in! What is she going to do with her animals?” He growls at himself. Feeling stupid for carrying on with a cat, and then he turns to his furry friend, “You don’t show as much human-like qualities as she does, Sugar Cookie. Come on, let’s get inside. I will make it down there one day. I need to see for myself.”

One day, Steve knew he was going to see it. It was like a beacon of light calling his name, and he needed to go down there. He needs to figure out who lives down there. And why he felt like he was being pulled down there. Maybe once the snow came.

Jack steps onto a frozen pond, and takes a deep breath. Finally it was his favorite time of year. The time of year when the wind nips at your nose, and snowflakes crystallize on the ground. A winter wonderland indeed.

He knows you wouldn’t travel too far from home. You would need winter just as much as he does. It’s why you belong together. One — or two fights and you just run away. Cut yourself off from your parents, and all that you had ever known. You wouldn’t ever do that.

You were the sweetest Holly Berry. Someone must have gotten into your head. You wouldn’t leave him. Of all people to leave behind, it would never be him! Your usual instagram account was still silent. You had made some likes, but no posts, and that pissed him off. He needs to see your face. He needs you. And you need him.

He could feel you growing weaker. The two of you were made for one another, and needed to revel in flurries. He just had to make you understand that. Your father did. He understood that there wasn’t a more perfect couple than you and him. The two of you had been born of the ice and snow.

And now he has to find you, all the while doing his job. You would run during winter, and just to annoy him. He was busy, and you wanted to be a little brat.

“Sir!” Some woman behind Jack screams, and he gives her a glance back. “Sir, the ice isn’t thick enough. It won’t hold you.”

Ugh. Mortals. Jack rolls his eyes as he squats down, placing a hand on the ice, he watches it thicken beneath him. Smiling at his reflection as frozen fractals bloom out from his fingers. Never giving another look back as he struts across the pond. He had a limited time to find you. Winter was never long enough for his liking.

Taking a long sniff into the air, he envisions your scent; melted marshmallows over hot chocolate, a dash of cinnamon, and just the tiniest hint of something he’s never quite placed. And nothing. He smells nothing. He’d find you and that meddlesome cat. She never did like him. He had plans for your little spy.

The smoke coming from your cabin looked a bit bare. Steve kept a watch on it, and it bothered him that your nosy little cat came up here less. But what bothers him most is he feels that you are rationing firewood. He looks at his woodpile, and has more than enough. Sugar Cookie was proving to be a great source of heat herself.

It would be cold, but he can handle it. Strapping on his winter clothes, he taps a leg, and the almost fully grown puppy bounces over to him, “You want to see your hissy friend?” Sugar Cookie gives him a quick lick to his face, bouncing around excitedly. “Alright, let's go. I’m going to guess we won’t be asked in, but we can’t let the old lady freeze to death.”

Gathering up some wood in a wheelbarrow he begins the short walk down the road, and to your cabin. You had made it a homestead so you didn’t have to leave. That either meant you were hiding, or you hated people. But out here all alone. Day after day. Steve is already going stir crazy.

You yawn, looking over at Mistletoe who sits right in front of the wood heater. “We’re conserving heat, Missy,” she lets out a groan, rolling over to her back. “Oh, hush. It’s not that cold in here. It’s,” looking up at the cabin before yours, you sigh. You had prepared plenty of food, and you could ask him. Bargain with some fruit preserves.

But then you’d have to speak to someone new. And who knew who he knew. Or who he would talk to. It was just better for you to stay hidden from everyone. Jack always got to people. It was part of his charm. It’s how you fell for him.

Mistletoe stiffens up, and jumps towards the window. Sitting on the edge as she watches a figure with firewood. Your body starts to shiver from more than the cold. Scared that now someone was coming into your space. Your chest heaves with anticipation, and your body freezes in fear.

Mistletoe’s paw taps on the window at Steve, and she hisses, hating him being here just as much. “Oh stop it,” he crows, walking up the steps to lay out the firewood. “I don’t need you two getting cold down here. Just bringing firewood. I got bored, and have plenty. Look, you little heathen, the puppy is massive now.”

His dog was huge. More fluff than anything, and you find yourself shuffling more into the shadows. He shouldn’t see you. “I don’t want to see your smoke looking pitiful anymore, Mistletoe. I need you and your mom to be fully heated. Okay?” You answer him, by nodding your head, knowing he couldn’t see you.

“Uhh…that should last a while,” he smiles at the cat. His curious eyes look around through the window with nothing to see. “Well, stay warm, you two. Let your mom know it was me that brought this, you mean ole thing. Come on Sugar, we’ll leave you two alone. Don’t…I mean no harm,” his sentence finishes in a whisper as he backs off your porch.

You dare to lean over a bit to catch a glimpse of him, and almost smile at what you see. No. You can’t trust people. Jack has sources everywhere. He’s handsome. Ruggishly so. And his dog’s name was Sugar Cookie, and she was the fluffiest angel. He is the first kind face you have seen since you came out here.

Biting at your lip, you look behind you. You had plenty of food in stockpile. Even more in the basement. He was kind. He brought you firewood. The stranger gets far enough away, and Missy paws at the door. She really was a sassy little thing.

“Oh, stop it,” you grouse, looking up the road to see his figure completely gone. “We have to thank him.”

Hiss.

“You can’t just take people’s generosity for granted. You’re the one that’s been watching him. Does he smell like Jack?” Cracking open the door, you let your nose stick out first, taking a big inhale. No peppermint. Pine. Just the snow covered pines. Definitely not Jack.

Feeling comfortable enough to open the door, you start to carry in the firewood, and add some to the fireplace. Winter won’t be as icy cold this year. But you still had to thank the man. He was kind, and you need to extend the favor. As long as the scent of peppermint never floated up your nostrils.

Mistletoe circles in between your legs as you smile at her. You didn’t know when the man would be back, but you had a feeling he would. He deserves a thank you for last time. And the return. Putting together a basket of food, you look down at your princess. “He seems nice. He did something nice, I repay him. That’s what I do.”

You sigh as you look over at your phone. You only turned it on to make the one call a week to your parents. Your social media has been completely abandoned. And here you are spending another Christmas alone. You should be able to celebrate somehow. And what is Christmas without giving?

“Stop it, Missy. This is how we show our thanks and kindness. Maybe he feels just as lonely as we do,” her fluffy body perks up, and she scrambles to the window. Giving the glass a few scratches before she looks at you. “Oh! I gotta get this out there. He doesn’t have to see me for me to be kind.”

Forgetting your precautions, you open the door quickly as the blistering cold rages into the cabin. You look out into the distant snow, and can see his figure approaching. His even bigger dog in front of him. She runs out in front, just to turn to look at him. She is adorable. You linger in the doorway, trying to get a good look at him without a window blocking your view.

Being up here was doing him good. Somehow he looked better than before. Even with his giant coat, you could tell he was a towering. He was a man. Down to the way he walks. Struts. Beautiful. A man.

You see his mouth turn up into a smile as he catches sight of you, and you close the door quickly locking it. Backing away as he approaches your porch with more firewood. “Didn’t know I was dealing with a little mouse,” there is humor in his tone.

“What’s this?” He huffs, walking onto the porch.

“A gift for you kindness,” your voice is hardly a whisper, but he nods, hearing it.

“I didn’t expect anything. Can’t have you freeze down here.”

“I’m used to the cold. He didn’t know who your parents were, or who your ex was. Cold was practically your middle name.

“So you’ve got chickens and cows?” Steve rummages through your basket, making note of all that was in there. “What if I brought you daily firewood?”

“It’s too cold for you to come daily, Mr?”

“Rogers. But call me Steve, and you are?”

Missy’s paw gives your leg a little tap. She’s no longer scared of him. There’s almost trust in her, “You can call me Holly.”

“Like a Holly berry, huh?” Just like a Holly berry. Your parents had a weird sense of naming you. And you carried it on with Mistletoe. “Why are you out here alone, Holly?”

“It’s safer his way. Steve, you should go home,” he lays his hand on your window, feeling the warmth from inside your cabin. “I’ll make sure you have plenty of food. Whatever you like. But it is cold.”

“I don’t think it’s as cold in there as it is out here. Do your animals need feeding?” You had fashioned a way to get to them without having to fully be outside. Jack would know if your feet were out in winter for too long. “I can help. There’s not much to do up top. I just don’t want you to be alone.”

“You don’t want me to be alone, or you don’t want yourself to be alone?”

“Does it really matter at this point?” It might not matter to him, but it did to you. Bringing him in during winter was far more dangerous for him than you. Jack always was a jealous type. “Surely you need someone to talk to besides your cat. I know I do.”

“I shouldn’t when there’s snow on the ground,” he hears the hesitance in your voice. Looking around your porch, he finds what he’s looking for, and grabs it up. Taking the shovel he carves a trail in front of your porch, making sure that there is no snow on the ground before he walks back to the door.

His forehead presses against your door, and Steve’s panting breaths make butterflies circle your stomach. “There’s a clear area with no snow.”

“Do you like hot chocolate, Steve?”

“I do,” Missy gives you a pitiful meow as she looks up at you. Padding over to the door, she paws it a moment.

“You’re crazy,” you whisper to her, and look at the door. “Don’t have any snow on your clothes. You can’t stay long. I’ll get a towel for the puppy,” you hand a large towel out the door. Opening it up just enough for your hand to stick out before you close the door again. Letting him get her clean before starting some fresh milk to steam.

He timidly knocks on your door, and you still a moment. You’ve never let anyone in since Jack. Looking at Missy, you wish she would give you a sign of no, but her green eyes look towards the door in anticipated excitement. Slowly you open the door, and let the most beautiful person you ever laid your eyes on walk through the door. His coat and boots are on the porch, and he lets the giant dog sneak through first.

Missy doesn’t even seem annoyed with her until she spots her bet with Sugar Cookie covering the entire bed with her body. “You can sit on the couch, Missy. You act like you even use that. Like you don’t lay in the bed with me.”

“Sugar’s a good companion at night. It’s colder in the bedroom, and she’s always hot,” he has a crooked smile, causing your cheeks to heat up. You feel like a little schoolgirl with the way you couldn’t stop smiling. “Should I lock the door?”

“Always lock the door,” Jack was a powerful man, but he couldn’t just walk in without being invited. “Why are you here?”

“I was tired of constantly fighting. I wanted some quiet, and the only way to get it was to move far away from everyone. Why are you here?”

“Reminds me of home, and I don’t smell peppermint here. Just pines. Makes things a bit more bearable. I hate peppermint,” his icy blue eyes follow you as you go back to the stove, preparing the perfect mug of hot chocolate. “You mean us no harm, right?”

“No. I mean no harm to you or your little tyrant. Why are you alone? Mistletoe doesn’t count.”

“I like being alone. If I’m found, he can’t hurt the people I love,” Steve’s eyebrow cocks up, and you shake your head. “I don’t want to talk about it. Whipped cream or marshmallows?”

“Can I have both?” With a giggle, you swirl on some whipped cream, and dot on a few marshmallows. “So can we be friends this winter?”

“How long do you plan on staying?”

“Oh, I’ll head back before it gets dark.”

“No, are you staying just through the winter?”

“I could stay longer now,” he gives you a smile as he sips on his mug. “I can’t stay places for too long when I’m alone. Even if I like it. I could stay longer with company here and there,” his eyes dart down to your kitty cat that hops up into his lap. “You finally like me, huh?”

She’s not making things easy. Missy was supposed to be your alarm, and yet she’s hugging up on Steve. Trusting him. “Traitor,” you whisper, and if cats could smile, Missy just did.

“I can take a hint. If you really want me to go I will. But I do think she likes me.”

“Only come down here when it’s not snowing, Steve. Snow is beautiful and dangerous,” he didn’t quite understand, but nods anyway. “And soon spring will be here, and the first snowflake will melt,” one day you wished to go back in the snow. Enjoy the quiet and peacefulness it brought.

Snow is a lot of things. Cold. Fun. Dangerous. Snow is Jack. And it was only a matter of time until he found you. So for now, you’re going to stay locked in, and enjoy the company of a handsome man, a fluffy cat, and an even fluffier dog.

Masterlist

Taglist: @tis-thedamn-season @marveloustaylortot @pono-pura-vida @peaches1958 @seitmai @smile1318 @andydrysdalerogers @cjand10 @midnightramyeoncravings @kmc1989 @floral-recs @pandaxnienke

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