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“shou! why’s it still so cold in here!”
shouta was hunched over the ancient heater that their landlord refused to take a look at, twisting different knobs and occasionally giving it a smack or two. the snow was really piling up outside at that point, and despite his best efforts their apartment was still frigid.
hizashi, on the other hand, had been sitting on their bed wrapped in a blanket and sipping on some hot chocolate. handiwork just wasn’t his thing, so(much to shouta’s delight) he settled for micromanaging instead.
shouta twisted his head around to stare daggers into his boyfriend. “do you wanna try? because by all means-“
his hands(well, hand- the other one had been valiantly trying not to slosh hot chocolate on the bed) shot up defensively. “woah there, i was just asking for a status update,” he joked. then, softer, “if it isn’t working why not just give it a rest and come warm up with me, sweetheart? it’s getting late, and i need my big, strong man to protect me.” he winked and patted the bed, giving one of his trademark toothy smiles that showed off the adorable gap between his front teeth. fuck.
shouta considered this for a moment. the thing is, he’d thought that he was far too stubborn to give up on their stupid project heater, but hizashi… if anything could divert his attention and his acute intent on fixing that thing, it’d be him. he was a grown man, dammit, but nothing sounded better than some cuddles and kisses in bed with his love to combat the cold. oh, and maybe hizashi would do the thing where he lightly tickled shouta’s back, or gently scratched at his scalp, and- yeah, definitely more than a little desperate for it.
he hauled himself up off the ground, and the groan he released while doing so was reminiscent of an old man. his bones ached and his muscles were sore, so he’d earned his stripes, probably. hizashi bunched up his fists like he did anytime he got excited and set his drink on the nightstand. he’d need both hands for this, after all.
“i was afraid i’d never convince you!” he triumphed as shouta slid under the covers and wrapped his arms around hizashi’s chest, pulling him in close. this way, shouta’s front was enveloping hizashi’s back in the way that always brought a sense of serenity to the blonde. shouta’s belly was soft, his arms were muscular, and the broadness that came with both of those things made hizashi feel surrounded and safe. he could feel every connection between his and shouta’s bodies: shouta’s hands on his stomach, their feet tangled lightly, legs pressed together and hizashi’s back pressed to shouta’s front in an effort to cultivate some more heat. here, he could let his guard down and fall into a sleepy state.
“you’re so warm, my love,” hizashi crooned, pushing further back against him.
shouta grumbled in acknowledgment. “your feet are cold.”
hizashi giggled, bending his knee so his foot ran along shouta’s calf. he giggled even more when shouta squirmed and made a strained, indignant noise that hizashi couldn’t even describe.
“y’should’ve thought’a that before you fell for me, babe!” he teased. “it’s not my fault i’m all skin and bones and you’re a damn space heater. of course i’m gonna mooch off of you.”
shouta sighed dramatically but protectively pulled hizashi into his chest, trying to warm him up as much as possible. “knew you just wanted me for my body,” he teased, kissing hizashi’s cheek playfully.
hizashi blushed under the tender kiss his boyfriend just planted on his cheek. shouta was always so cute when he was affectionate.
“now i’m not saying that’s why i’m with you, but hypothetically,” he began, a sly grin spreading across his face, “could you blame me? you have a damn dad bod and mastectomy scars, how am i supposed to hold back? hypothetically.”
shouta was quiet at that, but hizashi noticed the way he subtly squeezed hizashi tighter between his arms, as if he were willing to fuse their skin and bones if only to make his partner warmer.
it was also at this time that hizashi took note of the copious amounts of snow falling outside, creating a picturesque view from their window despite what an inconvenience the weather may be.
it was beautiful.
“hey shouta?”
“hmmm?” he grumbled, somehow already sounding sleepy.
“i’m so in love with you.”
hizashi could feel his boyfriend sharply inhale, then sigh. “hizashi-“ he began, voice bitter or strained or something. though he knew shouta cared for him, panic briefly ran through his bones. “you… i-“
shouta paused, the room falling so silent hizashi swore he could hear the snowflakes hitting the ground outside. “every day, i, um…i fall in love all over again. with you.” hizashi could feel the scratch of scruff against his neck as shouta sat up to kiss his jaw. “and i know i don’t say that enough, but i mean it.”
at that moment, the heat coming from hizashi’s cheeks would’ve been enough to warm up their entire apartment complex. shouta always felt silly, almost, saying how he felt out loud; it was much easier to dote on hizashi with gifts and actions and physical affection. he found it more meaningful to get him coffee from his favorite cafe or clean his laundry after a long day of work. he showed his love quietly, but near constantly, and he often found himself wondering if his silent persistence would be enough to reassure his boyfriend.
hizashi giggled as shouta pressed a particularly ticklish kiss to his throat. “i know you mean it, shou, i know.” he reached a hand up to scratch at shouta’s head. “you’re cute when you get all nervous though, hun.”
shouta grumbled at hizashi’s words, hiding his face in his boyfriend’s neck. he was still kissing his shoulder softly though, and one of his hands came up to rub hizashi’s tummy, now pleasantly warm and full from the cocoa. they stayed like that for a while, content with the silence, until hizashi jolted out of his light dozing and spoke up.
“gonna put me to sleep, dear,” he warned with a chuckle.
“you feel a little warmer now?”
“mmhm, thanks to you, darlin’.” he scooted back further against shouta, feeling grateful for his own personal heater.
“then go to bed.” he kissed hizashi’s ear and pulled away, putting his head back on his own pillow. “i’ll stay right here, keep you warm.”
hizashi rolled over at that, nuzzling his face into shouta’s chest and reaching around him to tickle his back(yes!).
“g’night, sweetheart.”
shouta smiled, kissing hizashi on the head. “love you.”
“love you more.”