From the Skies to the Heavens

Seventeenth Prompt: Water

Word Count (for drabble only): 400 words

"I... need... water..." Ema gasped as they reached the last few steps of the climb. Who thought putting a bunch of sacred sites at the summit of mountains was a good idea? And why was it only accessible on foot?

"The snow up here should be perfectly clean, Detective. If you are not too cold, you may always quench your thirst by making use of your resources." How was he not cold? Or tired? Did he come here often, or were there others? "And if you are getting cold, might I offer you a spare coat next time we make this journey?"

"Next time?" Ema could barely get the words out. After some hesitation, she decided to take Nahyuta up on his suggestion. She couldn't remember the last time she'd eaten snow before this.

"Well, of course, Detective. Never do you only visit the crime scene once." He paused, the beginnings of a smile on his face. "Unless your wish is to remain here the entire investigation."

"No way!" Well, that helped. Slightly.

As investigation of the newest murder dragged on, Ema found herself shivering more than once. Some chemicals she had to hold close to her chest to ensure they would not freeze. The weather may have been pleasant at the mountain's base, but that did not hold true for the summit in the slightest. She could only imagine how cold the prison above the Kee'ra temple ought to be. She hoped the people up there had heaters. They probably couldn't use them down here for two reasons. One, a heater would be a pain to drag up the mountain along with everything else, and two, it had the potential of compromising the crime scene.

Ema tried to stay moving, but it wasn't helping much. She felt her extremities going numb to the cold when-

A large fur coat fell over he shoulders. The investigator wrapped it tighter around her before she could ask any questions. When she felt the urge to, she turned around, looking for her mysterious benefactor.

Nahyuta Sahdmadhi didn't look at or even acknowledge her as he returned to kneeling over the body. But he was now absent one coat, and didn't seem to mind in the slightest.

Ema put her arms through the over-long sleeves, reminding herself to thank him when this case was over.

A/N's: So it's been a while since I put one of these together. I just felt like letting some steam loose near the end of a long school week. I would have worked on more of my writing last weekend, but I got sick and could barely keep up with my real life work. Who knew the last semester of high school could be such a slog ALREADY.

I definitely am not up on all the hot Skyemadhi content, but I can only imagine Measured has posted some wonderful one shots on AO3 since I have been gone. My work here most definitely does not compare, so check her stuff out when you're done here.

Thanks for reading, please review, and I'll see you on the far side!