Chapter Text
It was winter.
The sun had long set, but that didn't stop the snow from falling. It continued to pile up, turning the village into a winter wonderland. The chilly winds made the snowflakes dance until they joined the fluffy pure white piles below. Snowmans the children had built lined the roads, their scarves fluttering and hats teetering, a few succumbing to the winds and joining the snow.
Down the road from the main epicenter of the village, there was a small plot of land with a quaint house. The bare branches of the trees were being weighed down by the blanket of snow that covered them, the continuously falling snowflakes creating a thick layer over the ground, covering any footprints that had been there earlier. One may have thought that the land was unoccupied if it wasn't for the orange light shining inside the house.
A young man with fluffy white hair was tending to the fire in the living room, small beads of sweat forming on his temples. He was so focused on warming the house, he didn't notice the other male walking into the room behind him. Only when he felt a hand shove him on the back towards the fire did he look up and see the black-haired male walking by with a teasing smirk.
"How dare you smile like that when you almost killed me?" the white-haired male snapped. The other man only giggled.
"You know I wouldn't do that, Minnie."
"On purpose? No. Accidentally? Absolutely." The other male gasped dramatically, hand over his heart.
"Do you really think so little of me, Seungmin?!" he shrieked. Seungmin rolled his eyes, used to his husband's antics.
"What do you expect when you almost pushed me into the fire, Hyunjin?"
"I'm sorry!" Hyunjin cried, drawing out the last word as he threw himself at Seungmin's feet. "Please forgive Jinnie." He hugged his legs, looking through his bangs with puppy dog eyes and a pout. Seungmin smiled and ruffled his hair with a breathy laugh.
"Alright alright, I forgive Jinnie. Just get off the floor." Hyunjin's pout immediately melted into a grin, and he hopped up.
"Thank you, Minnie!" he said as he placed a quick peck on Seungmin's lips. Seungmin's smile widened.
"Yeah yeah, just let me tend this fire, okay?"
"Cuddle time!" Hyunjin cheered as he skipped to the window. Seungmin shook his head with a fond smile and returned his attention to the crackling fire. But suddenly, Hyunjin gasped. "Minnie, Minnie! Get over here, quickly!" Seungmin groaned.
"Hyunjin, the fire—"
"Quickly!" With a heavy sigh, Seungmin walked over to where Hyunjin was stood by the window. "Look," Hyunjin said softly, pointing outside to the falling snowflakes. "Just like that night. Do you remember?"
Seungmin chuckled. "Of course I do. I could never forget it."
It was winter, and night had long fallen.
The snow outside still fell beautifully, and Hyunjin could sit by the window and admire it all night. But it was cold, the blowing wind seeping through the wooden floorboards of his home. With the wood he had cut from the forest just a few days prior, he began to make a fire. He had planned to set the fire in order to comfortably sit by the window and watch the snow, but that was interrupted when there was a knock at the door.
Hyunjin paused and looked up, confused. It was already quite late and snowing at that. He didn't expect someone to be out, much less come to him when he hardly knew any people in the village. So with cautious steps, he opened the door. There on his porch was a figure draped in a cloak, hood pulled up and covering their face. Hyunjin couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. Was this a beggar? Or a robber?
"Hello," he said slowly, clutching the door in case he needed to slam it shut. "How may I help you?"
The figure didn't respond, only raising their hands and pulling back the hood. And staring back at him was the most beautiful man Hyunjin had ever laid eyes on. Silky smooth skin, pink lips turned up into the most breathtaking smile that reached his warm chocolate brown eyes. And his hair, bouncy bangs that fell across his forehead, as white as the falling snow. "I'm sorry for intruding," he said in a voice so light and airy, calming like the chirping of birds in the morning. "But I'm a bit lost and could use some help."
"Lost?" Hyunjin asked, trying to focus on the stranger's words and not so much his face.
"Yes." He chuckled sheepishly, his laugh sounding like a melody in Hyunjin's ears. "I was supposed to be in Yellow Wood, but I suppose I took a wrong turn."
"Yellow Wood? Why, that's a week long trip in the opposite direction of here!"
"What?" The stranger sighed. "Oh dear. I better get going then." He flashed another smile. "Thank you for your help, sir," he said.
"Wait!" Hyunjin cried, stopping the man in his tracks. "You can't go out in this, much less at night! Come in, please."
"I don't want to impose..."
"You're not." Hyunjin smiled. "I insist, please. It's no trouble."
"Alright," the stranger gave in after another moment of hesitation. Hyunjin stepped to the side and allowed him inside before shutting the door.
"Take off your cloak and make yourself comfortable in front of the fire. You must be freezing," Hyunjin said.
"Thank you, sir," the stranger thanked.
"Just call me Hyunjin, no need to be formal."
"Thank you, Hyunjin." The way his name sounded rolling off the stranger's tongue made Hyunjin smile, feeling jittery as he continued stoking the fire.
"And what is your name, stranger?" he asked.
"Seungmin."
"It's nice to meet you, Seungmin."
"The pleasure's all mine, Hyunjin."
"The snow is as beautiful as when we first met," Hyunjin said. Seungmin nodded in agreement before feeling an arm wrap around his waist and pull him closer to the black-haired male. When he looked up, Hyunjin was smiling fondly at him. "You are still as beautiful as the day we first met."
"Stop it," Seungmin whined, slapping him on the chest as a faint blush overtook his cheeks. Hyunjin only laughed. "You're so cheesy," Seungmin said as he leaned his head against his husband's chest, rubbing his fingers over the white feather that hung from his neck. Hyunjin smiled and kissed the crown of Seungmin's head.
"I know."