Chapter Text
the warmth of the sun shining from the thinnest slit from the curtains gently stirs Ludwig awake from his slumber. his body felt like it wasn't really there, as if he was floating. not in the most pleasant way though. his body is DEFINITELY numb from hours of walking the day before. Mikhail had caught him right as he started to fully gain consciousness. the man walked into the room with a curious, yet still tired face.
"ах, проснулся уже. good morning. for a small man, you are a heavy sleeper" Mikhail laughed seeing how Ludwig snuggled back into the comfort of the blankets and pillows around him, clearly still wanting more rest.
"i can't feel my body... what time-" the bespectacled man nearly jumped out of his sheets when he saw the watch on his hand read 15:00, "gott... where are my manners... my apologies for sleeping in so late," Ludwig's voice was small and timid. he hasn't had any comfort for such a long time that he could barely hold himself together when given a taste.
Mikhail sat right at the edge of the bed and softly patted Ludwig's shoulder to stop him from getting out of bed, "нет нет, no need to get out of bed today. your body is still recovering. should rest some more"
the man recognized how his tone was a bit too,, stern. he's not talking to a younger sibling, this is a guest - he reminds himself, "just... care for your health. i do not want to have you dying under my hands. bad credit for job, no?"
Mikhail sparkled a little hearing how the other man laughed. it was light, a little high pitched from his regular speaking voice. it was just nice overall seeing this man with some color in him. it just makes the Russian feel relieved. the atmosphere around the pair grew warmer. Ludwig enjoys Mikhail's hospitality; Mikhail enjoys being hospitable towards him.
"actually, if not too prying... what does Ludwig do for a living?" Mikhail's tone was gentle and as warm as the fire he had going in the living room. slightly tip-toeing around the subject incase its a sensitive one.
"ah, i was a doctor. emphasis on the was... it's a long story really."
"hm, so you are an educated man... интересный, i happen to hold a degree myself. i am currently teaching Russian literature."
"oh! you're a professor??" Ludwig's eyes brightened with intrigue.
"no... not yet. still have a long way to go. i teach in schools." Mikhail awkwardly shifted in his seat. the bed creaking along with his movements
"that's still quite impressive! but, if you're a teacher, what are you doing up here in the mountains?"
"i refuse to leave my roots up here. my mama has been taking care of me even when things get hard. никогда не забывай руки, которые тебя воспитали, they say here." Mikhail looked down at his feet with a solemn smile, "i may have many opportunities down there, but what use if i did not have a chance at living at all without my family?"
Ludwig looked up at the man with an admiration painted over his expression. but under that, there's also a sense of longing... envy? envy seeing how Mikhail is so passionate about his family, no doubt his family thought highly of him too. he'd say they were both on par with each other when it comes to their education. Ludwig has definitely achieved more with his medical studies and research- yet, he never felt that way with his family. he praised himself for being so independent, taking himself up to new heights without having the need of another's guidance.
he knew from the start he never needed his family. they were simply some sort of baggage for him to carry until he could live by himself and do whatever he wished. and hearing Mikhail talk about his family like that... he wondered if his view of his own family would be considered "wrong". without noticing, Ludwig had let silence hung in the air for a bit too long. Mikhail tilted his head, again, in an attempt to understand the increasingly odd man. he cleared his throat and Ludwig's attention was quick to return to him.
"enough chatting. you must be hungry from walking yesterday, да?" Mikhail offers him a warm smile when Ludwig lit up and politely nodded. "cooked up some beef stew yesterday, come come."
Mikhail got off the bed and beckoned Ludwig closer so he could help the man up. Ludwig was as stiff as a plank when the man first picked him up. but with a little bit of stretching and assistance from Misha, he manages to feel some blood in his limbs once more. Ludwig had just noticed how he hadn't taken off his gloves. but when he did, his heart immediately sank - the tips of his fingers were slightly red and swollen. that couldn't be good... his winter gear may be inadequate, but if the frost managed to get him under his gear, he dreads what could happen if he were to be left out in the snow for any longer.
with a shaky voice, he called out to the Russian, "... Mikhail... Mikhail, i need your help."
Mikhail peeked out from the kitchen doorway. when he saw those hands, he paled. he was quick to drag Ludwig to the kitchen, gently sitting him down on one of the wooden stools he had set aside. while he cooked up some hot water, the man kept looking back at Ludwig. how the color drained from his skin as he stared down at his shaking hands. Mikhail has handled situations like this before, but never did he feel this much urgency to fix someone up.
the water felt like it was taking forever to warm up. in the meantime, Misha returned to Ludwig. the man held clamped his hands together tightly, desperately trying to retain any heat in the organ he had left. Mikhail kneeled down in front of the man before taking a hold of his hands and warming them up in his own. soon, the shaking stopped, but they still needed a stronger heat source to fully warm the man up. Mikhail was relieved as he gently rubbed at Ludwig's hands. Ludwig was - even in his shaken up, drowsy state - taken aback from how willing the man was to offer help to him.
"ha... almost gave me a heart attack..." Mikhail's head slumped forward, resting his head on the man's knees.
"im, im so sorry- god, i shouldn't have overreacted,"
"overreacted?? ты псих, tell me any later and your hands would turn into ice." Misha lets go of the man's hand. Ludwig hadn't noticed it, but he was reaching out for the man a little as he pulled away. he was quick to correct himself.
without much talking, Mikhail helped Ludwig to the living room, where he was set right next to the fireplace. the warmth of the fire was numbing - in a good way. the larger of the two placed a cushion right on the floor and carefully laid the man. not that Ludwig needed any help anyway. he was already swaying and getting droopy eyed the second he felt that satisfying heat melting the cold that clung to his skin.
"just stay here. i will get something to warm you up." Ludwig nodded, but Mikhail still couldn't help but look back twice as he left for the kitchen once more. Ludwig felt a different kind of warmth unfurl within him. this man barely knew him. yet he's being taken care of as if he actually mattered in this house.
Misha soon came back with a warm, damp towel and a bowl of stew. he lifted Ludwig off the floor as if he was handling porcelain and let him rest his back against his shoulder. Mikhail gently wrapped Ludwigs hands in the warm towel. warmth directly getting into contact with his skin was overstimulating at first. the man tried to pull away, but Mikhail insisted and managed to keep it on Ludwig. as Ludwig started to adjust to the feeling of the wet towel around his hands, he looked up at Misha. he never really gave much thought into the man's appearance. not that he had time to.
his eyes traced up from his short, dark brown hair to his pale blue pupils and down to his neatly trimmed beard. he had a face that looked as if it was carved by an artist - yet eyes that bares the friendliness of a puppy. Mikhail smiled as Ludwig stared. he might have to get used to the man losing himself in the sea of his own thoughts most of the time. he ruffled up the hair on Ludwig's head before turning his attention back to the fireplace.
"after you eat, i will find some old clothing for you. this thin coat clearly cannot withstand a winter's rage."
Ludwig's face turned to the fireplace, he nods before responding, "danke... thank you. you are very kind. kinder than the people down there."
Mikhail chortled, "you play bad games, you win bad prizes, да?" the two shared a laugh, "so many unfriendly faces these days. is not hard to be kind and offer a hand."
a silence dawned over the two men. a comfortable one. one that reassures Ludwig, for once in these hard times, that everything was going to be just fine.