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Days like these were always your favorite. Quiet days where you can spend time with your partner without feeling exhausted. Days you can go out together, go shopping, hand in hand. Whenever the two of you had time you always did the same thing— a comfortable pattern. You’d walk to the grocery store a few blocks from your joint apartment, buy things for dinner and make it together. It’s nice, it gets you both out of the house and into the sun, and you get to spend time with them.
Except, today you made a grave error.
You forgot your gloves. Left them at the table near the door, tragically forgotten. Abandoned.
On this cold, December day, all you had to rely on was your jacket sleeves and Toasty’s own gloved hand to keep yours warm. And it wasn’t exactly working. Well, the hand Toasty was holding was nice and warm— perk to him having large as hell hands— but your other hand was absolutely struggling. The chilly air had a particular bite to it that was not treating your bare hand well.
By some miracle, your partner hadn’t noticed either. He probably didn’t notice the biting chill, as he was all cozied up in his scarf and his Big Marty mittens. And he definitely didn’t notice the fact that you were cold. You’ve been doing a good job fighting off shivers, and not speaking so he can’t hear you chatter. Luckily, comfortable silence is a usual in your relationship, which was definitely coming in handy right now.
Except, when a particularly nasty blast of wind hits you, the shiver that overtakes you is enough to garner Toasty’s gaze.
“Cold?” He asks, glancing down with concern. You force a smile, shaking your head.
“N-nope! Plenty warm.” You lie, and Toast stares at you. And then down at your hands.
He tugs you to a stop.
Wordlessly, they drop your hand and tug off their own glove. You give them a look, confused, before they tug on your left hand, lifting it and pulling the glove onto your hand. He grabs your bare hand with his own, and tucks your interlocked fingers into his jacket’s pocket. Your frozen hands no longer feel as chilly, and you can feel your cheeks heat up.
Glancing up, they refuse to meet your eye, tugging his scarf up wordlessly and looking away. Both cheeks and nose flushed red, and you aren’t sure if it’s from embarrassment or the cold. You smile, before leaning into him and pressing a kiss to his jaw in thanks. You’re a little too short to reach his cheek, him being 6’4 and all. He coughs, a fake cough to hide his embarrassment, but you see him smile a touch.
“Warmer now?” He asks, giving your hand a squeeze.
“I am, thank you. Clever trick, babe.” You say, leaning your head against his arm. He tugs his scarf up again to hide his flushed face and huge smile.
“Trick? Y-you’re the one who forgot their gloves.” He stutters out, giving you a half offended half joking look. “Maybe you were scheming to get me to hold your hand like this. I’ll have to remind you next time to take your gloves.”
“It wasn’t a scheme, but now that I know this is what you’ll do, maybe I’ll just accidentally forget…” You tease, and Toasty shakes his head.
“You wouldn’t .”
“I would. ” You insist, and he huffs, before meeting your eye again.
“If you want to hold hands like this, all you have to do is ask. You don’t need to forget your gloves.” He murmurs shyly, and you beam at him. Most of his lower face is still hidden by his scarf, but his blush just peaks out. So adorable.
“Guess I’ll just have to ask next time.” You say with a wink. “Now, what do I have to do to get you to share your scarf with me?” You ask, a twinkle of mischief in your eye. Toast lets a small bark of laughter out, smiling.
“Get me a longer scarf. Or get taller. Your choice.” He jokes, and you elbow him to the best of your ability.
“Wow, height jokes? Real original.” You roll your eyes with a smile.
“I dunno if it’s a joke. I offered two real solutions here.” He’s still grinning like an idiot. You were too.
“Getting taller isn’t exactly a real solution.” You give his hand a squeeze. “Though I suppose I could get you a longer scarf for Christmas…” You think out loud.
“Hey, wait, isn’t it unfair that you’re buying a gift for me for you to steal?” He bickers back. You look up at him as you walk and talk and love swells in your chest.
You don’t know how you got so lucky, but you did. From small gestures to love, to absent minded bickering. He even steps out of his comfort zone (or, steps into his uncomfort zone) by cooking dinner with you. He cares, he loves, and you are so lucky to have him.
And you continue to bicker, hand in hand.