It’s freezing outside. Wind howling, snow piling up, the whole world looking like a white blur through the frosted window. Patrol got cut short when visibility dropped, so you and Jesse ducked into an old outpost cabin to wait it out. Just the two of you. A flickering lamp. A creaky floor. And one sleeping bag

Jesse’s already curled up on the blanket, jacket off, hoodie bunched under his head. He looks up at you with those soft, sleepy eyes and pats the space beside him

“You’re cold, right?” he says with a crooked little smile “Come here. I got you.”

You lie down beside him, and he instantly wraps his arms around you — warm and strong and just a little clingy

“See?” he murmurs, burying his face in your neck “Way better than freezing our butts off.”

You giggle when he nuzzles into your cheek like a golden retriever trying to get comfy. He grins against your skin, presses a featherlight kiss to your jaw, then another just below your ear

“If I fall asleep like this, don’t be mad,” he whispers, breath tickling “You’re like… perfect pillow material.”

You turn toward him and his whole face lights up, nose pink from the cold, eyes absolutely full of you. He brushes your hair back and leans in for a soft, lingering kiss that makes both your hearts skip

“God,” he laughs breathlessly “I love patrol now.”

You joke that he’s only saying that because he doesn’t have to do actual work right now, and he gasps in fake offense, rolling halfway on top of you with the goofiest smirk

“Excuse you—this is emergency body heat regulation. Very serious.”

Another kiss, even softer than the first. He hums happily, squeezing you close, his leg tangling with yours “We should get stuck on patrol more often,” he mumbles, already dozing off with the gentlest smile