Title: Instamatics 2/2/01 1/1, #84
Guest Author: kimberlite
Archive: Please ask.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Todd Haynes, Miramax, etc.
Feedback: Please, to kimberlite@cox.net
Notes: Many thanks to Alex for beta, for all her encouragement, and for letting me frolic in her playground.

"Come back to bed, Curt, before you freeze to death."

Curt looked back to the bed, its warmth magnified by Brian's presence. "Just a minute, I'm trying to see something."

Completely mystified, Brian asked, "What could you possibly be trying to see out the window at this ridiculous hour?"

Turning, Curt slunk across the room and dove under the covers, pressing his naked body against Brian's.

"Argh! You're freezing," Brian whined, even as he rubbed his hands up and down Curt's smooth back, trying to warm him.

Curt relaxed under the gentle caress, soaking up heat from his lover. "But you're hot, so it evens out."

Brian snorted, unaccountably pleased to find this man in his bed, his life. "You still haven't told me what you were doing."

"Looking to see if the groundhog saw his shadow," Curt answered matter-of-factly.

"Looking to see if --" Brian's voice trailed off. "What the fuck is a groundhog and why would you care if he saw his shadow?"

Curt laughed at Brian's tone, nipping kisses along his jaw. "The groundhog hibernates during the winter, but comes out every February second -- Groundhog's Day. If he sees his shadow, he gets frightened and goes back in his burrow, and that means six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see his shadow, he stays awake and spring weather has arrived."

"You've got to be kidding. You actually believe some animal can predict the weather?" Brian pulled back so he could look at Curt's face.

Looking deeply into Brian's eyes, Curt said mock-seriously, "When you're surviving a Michigan winter, you look for signs of spring anywhere you can find them."

Brian rolled his eyes. "You still haven't told me what a groundhog is, exactly."

"Oh, well, it's a rodent, I guess, sort of this big," Curt raised his hands to demonstrate, "and brown and furry and..." Curt dropped his hands as he saw the look of horror on Brian's face.

"That big...you're telling me you've got rats that are that big." Brian was turning an interesting shade of green at the mere thought.

Hastening to reassure Brian, Curt said, "Well, they aren't exactly rats. They don't have tails." Curt's voice was soothing, sure that this information would make Brian feel better.

"No tails..." Brian shivered, trying to snuggle down into the mattress while pulling the covers over his head.

Curt ducked under the blankets, following Brian into the dark nest. Stroking Brian's skin, Curt ran kisses along his neck and chest, sucking a nipple to hardness. "I didn't mean to freak you out, Bri. It's just something I always check. I didn't even think that it might bother you."

Arching into Curt's touch, Brian's body accepted Curt's apology. "It's okay -- just as long as we get to spend the next six weeks in our burrow..."

"You're on, ratboy."