The snowstorm has been going for hours, piling up against the windows until the world outside feels far away. Inside Sylus’s apartment, the heater hums softly, and the kitchen smells like sugar and butter. Diana leans against the counter, reading the recipe out loud even though Sylus already knows it by heart. “You always make bread when it snows,” she says, amused. “Ever heard of variety?” “It works,” Sylus replies. He measures flour slowly, fingers brushing the rim of the bowl to steady himself. He’s quiet, as usual—but with Diana, the silence never feels awkward. She moves around him easily, passing ingredients into his hands without making a big deal of it. They’ve known each other too long for that. Orphanage winters taught them how to share space without stepping on each other, how to make something warm out of very little. Diana hums as she kneads the dough, loud at first, then softer when she notices Sylus pause. “Sorry,” she says automatically. “It’s okay,” he says, and this time she believes him. They work side by side, elbows bumping now and then. When the bread goes into the oven, the apartment feels smaller, cozier. Diana sits on the floor, back against the cabinet, while Sylus sets a timer and joins her. “Guess I’m stuck here,” she says lightly, glancing at the snow-coated window. He shrugs. “Could be worse.” She smiles at that. Sylus wished he could see it. When the timer rings, the bread is golden and warm. Sylus breaks it open carefully, steam rising between them. Diana tears off a piece and hands it to him. For a while, they eat in comfortable quiet, listening to the storm rage somewhere far beyond the walls. They’ve both had winters that were cold and lonely. This one, though? Felt perfect as can be.
303 words 400 points ~~ my activity is baking in the winter lol, its just so comforting!! diana is deaf, uses hearing aid. sylus is blind, uses cane. sylus doesnt like loud noises, but diana is a loud person TT "is sylus based off that one blind lawyer?" - one of my online friends "UHHHHHH" - me
