Archive of Our Own ^beta

3, 2, 1

Tick

And with that, freeze damage just kicked in. 

It was stupid really. Grian and Impulse somehow thought it was a good idea to play a game where you willingly enter a block of powdered snow in the middle of the night for prizes that are mediocre at best.

Cleo knows this is dumb, and dangerous and maybe one of the worst things they decided to do in the life series. Powdered snow is mercilessly cold, the freeze damage would slowly eat away at a player's hearts while they feel their bodies become brittle and numb.

And yet that isn’t what Cleo is worried about.

“Hey Cleo, how’s it going?”

“Uh,” she turns her head away to avoid catching a glimpse of the devilish smile crawling up Pearl’s lips.

“I’m more concerned about creepers than you to be honest.”

It wasn’t a complete lie. Mobs are sure to spawn, being out in the open without armour or torches makes them incredibly vulnerable. A creeper blast would surely kill them, and if it doesn't, the powdered snow would finish them off.

“Look in my eyes Cleo.”

Pearl steps closer. There’s a piercing look in her eyes, sharp and unyielding, as though she's wielding a dagger against Cleo’s neck, the tip nearing the edge of skin just waiting for the chance to spill blood. Pearl traces her finger down from Cleo’s neck to their chest in one delicate motion and somehow that causes her to shiver far more than the snow that's engulfing her entire lower body.

“You burnt my dog Tilly! I have a problem with you.”

Cleo couldn’t help but laugh. No matter what situation she was in, Pearl’s first priority was always her dog. 

“I don’t particularly have a problem with you. I got everything you want it’s fine—” 

Pearl blinks at her, confused.

“You don’t have everything I want wha-what?”

And then it clicked

“Oh!”

In an instant her demeanour changed. Instead of a bloodthirsty dagger in her eyes, there now resides searing inferno intent on devouring Cleo alive.

“I don’t want Scott! What are you talking about!?”

There's muttering in the crowd but Cleo doesn't hear it. 

She can't hear it.

Everything else becomes static around them as Pearl consumes her thoughts. She pulls herself closer to Cleo’s ear to whisper something. Quiet enough to not be heard by the others, loud enough to make her head spin.

“If anything…” Pearl’s breath lingers, the warmth is enough to set their heart ablaze, “the one I want…” her grip grows tighter on their shirt. Cleo felt her lungs falter, “is–”

Cleo stepped out of the snow.

She hears Grian’s and Impulse’s cheers as Pearl celebrates her victory but Cleo doesn't care. They couldn’t stay there for another moment. Not when Pearl was looking at her like that. She couldn’t let Pearl finish that sentence.

Pearl is crazy, a psychopath, a monster and besides, Cleo already has a soulmate.

Yet they can’t stop thinking about her.