just_writing | Intermission

Hey. I'm new here.

Coming in halfway through advent I don't feel like I can really join in with the advent stories - actually I thought about waiting until January to join - but I got this scene in my head and it wouldn't go away, so I thought I would share.

It sort of fits with The Candle, if you emphasise certain parts and read an awful lot of symbolism into it (and I could have twisted certain parts a lot more to force it), but it's really just ... oh, read it for yourselves.

* * *

He shifted slightly, and she knew immediately that he was awake. He was flexing the muscles in the arm beneath her, testing her weight, wondering if he could get up without waking her. She smiled at his thoughtfulness and decided to let him off easy. "Good morning," she said, a smile on her voice as well as her lips.

"Hey," he replied. "You're awake," he added, stupidly.

"Yes," she agreed, and moved around so her head was on his chest. She moved her hand up to rest there too, revelling in the warmth of him. She'd never known a man give off so much heat, even in the depths of a New York winter. Although, all things considered, it was hardly surprising. "And so are you."

"I didn't want to wake you," he said softly. The implication was clear. Her face fell and tiny cracks of disappointment creased her forehead.

"Do you have to go?"

"Well, yeah. I'm really going to have to fly if I don't want to be late for work," he apologised, glancing up at the clock. She reluctantly rolled off him so he could get up. He smiled gently and touched her face, feeding her with warmth for a moment.

He got up and walked across the room, and the moment was over. She sighed and sat up.

"Am I going to have to get a day job, too?" she asked.

"Uh, you probably should," he replied distractedly, "If you're serious about doing the 'Good' thing." He was hunting around for some pants. The room - his room - was a mess. She wondered vaguely whether she would allow herself the luxury of an untidy room, now. If it was to be a new start - and she genuinely meant it to be - then every aspect of her life was up for review. Things would have to change. But putting things back in their proper place when she was done with them ... was that one of them? She thought not.

"And tonight you introduce me to the team?" she asked with an impish grin. 'Introduce' was the wrong word. They'd met. Half dressed, he looked at her and smiled reassuringly.

"It'll be fine," he said, shucking on a shirt. "I talked about it with them, and they're happy to give you a shot. Though, you know, it's strictly probationary. A good-will thing. But we'll make you a full member in no time, you'll see."

"And God, won't that be the day," she laughed, falling back on the bed. "Icy-Kill, fully paid-up member of the great and noble Team S..."

"Ha, yeah ... that other thing," he hesitated. He was suddenly uneasy. "They ... That is, I ..."

"Spit it out."

"You're going to need a new name." The words fell out of his mouth. He didn't know why it was so hard to say, though he realised later. To their kind, names were sacred. They defined who you were, what message you wanted to send to the world. What you stood for. Mocking the name was as bad as critiquing the costume. Maybe worse. "I mean," he added hurriedly, sitting on the bed and taking her hands in his. "It's a good name, a fine name but ... it's just not ..."

"I think I know what you mean," she agreed gently. "It is kind of ..."

"Evil," he finished. His face was a picture of unease. His face flushed red, giving off more heat than before. She put one hand on his forehead to cool him down.

"So," she said. "A new name. Do I need a new costume too?"

"We'll ... stick with the name for now. Maybe later."

"Alright. Icy ... How about just Ice?"

"That's ... taken, kind of," he said. "She was in the League, she um ... you could say it was in honor of her, but there's a lot of people who still ..."

"Okay, no, fine," she backpedalled a little. "That was just a first thought, I didn't have my heart set on it. How about ... Ice Maiden?"

"Taken again, only that one's still -"

"Point taken," she interrupted. "All the obvious ones are gone, already. Hmmm ... Ice ... frost. Frost Lady. No, Lady Frost?"

"Well, there's a Killer Frost, but I don't think -"

"Alright! Fine! You're so clever, you think of something," she suggested with a grin. And suddenly it was a game. This was something they would do together, they would find her a name and it would be theirs.

"Okay, um," he began with a big, stupid grin. He paused. This was harder than he remembered. His name had come so easily, but how do you name somebody else? "Ice ... woman?"

"Ha. No, that sounds like there should be an Ice Man," she said. He looked off to one side, feigned an innocent look.

"Mm hmmm," he hummed.

"Alternate universes don't count," she grinned, pushing him gently away. Still playful. "Okay. Frostina."

"Ice Queen," he threw back, grinning hugely now.

"Frigidera," she suggested.

"Oh," he said. "No, wait, wow. That's ... Frigidera. That's cool, I like it." She laughed, but not at the 'cool' joke. They'd gotten over that months ago, even before she switched teams. Before they were really together.

"Frigidera? You're serious?"

"No, yeah," he confirmed. "It's retro, but it knows it. It doesn't take itself too seriously. It's a More Fun name."

"It's not going to strike fear into the hearts of evildoers."

"It doesn't have to. You're on the team. What you want is a name that ... that inspires."

"Oh, it'll inspire people to something." She twisted a strand of her white hair.

"Well, look, think about it, okay?" he pulled on his jacket and moved over to the window. "I have to fly - just think, it'll be The Amazing Therm And Frigidera."

"Oh, you're not The Amazing," she teased. "I'm The Amazing."

"The Amazing Frigidera?"

"Maybe," she smiled cheekily and blew him a kiss.

He turned and climbed out of the window. Purple fire erupted around him and she lay back in bed as he soared away into the dark grey morning sky. She smiled. "Therm And The Amazing Frigidera," she whispered to herself. Trying it on for size.

It was a good fit.