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Mob inhaled the crisp, chilly air, letting his eyes wander amongst the snowflakes that drifted down in fat, damp clumps to the ground. Winter had officially kicked in this week, leaving behind brown, muddy days and welcoming in the coatings of white and gray that now shrouded Seasoning City. He shivered, burrowing his pink nose into his coat collar. He wasn’t a big fan of the cold. His body didn’t run very warm in the first place, so he always had to bundle up until he was as snug as a polar bear cub. Over the uniform and thick undershirt he already had on, he wore a dark blue, puffy winter coat with pale pink mittens and a warm white knit hat. It took too much time to get ready in the mornings and too much time to dress back down afterward. He sighed, his breath wisping around him like smoke.
Well, he did always have one thing to look forward to, even in the biting cold.
Standing on the street outside Black Vinegar middle school, he craned his neck out to scan the crowd, careful not to meet eye contact with the many strangers that surrounded him. Since they had begun dating several months back, Teru and Mob had developed a system where they alternated their routes back and forth to walk home together, starting at each other’s respective schools. Today was Mob’s turn, so here he was at his boyfriend’s school, patiently waiting to walk him back to his apartment.
At last, he spotted Teru, still zipping on a winter coat over his uniform, hopping out of the building’s front doors. Mob flashed his aura at him, catching his attention, and a grin blossomed over Teru’s face. He jogged over, worming through the crowd of his classmates.
“Shigeo! Hi!” Teru called, emerging from the gates to meet him.
“Teruki,” Mob greeted, a smile creeping onto his face from within his coat. Teru’s cheeks were dusted light pink, and his coat was a stripey mix of neon blues and pinks and yellows. You could probably spot him from a mile away in the pitch dark. His shoulder-length blond hair was already covered thoroughly in snowflakes, almost hiding the brown roots that were growing in. Mob took Teru’s gloved hand and they bumped shoulders affectionately. “How was class?”
“Alright, nothing really to report! Entrance exam talk is ramping up.”
“Hmm. I’ve been trying to forget about that.”
Teru laughed, and they started walking away from the school. “Sorry! It is that time of year! Can’t believe we’ll be in high school next April.”
Mob nodded. “Hopefully we’ll get to go to school together. Ritsu’s probably gonna be following me wherever I get into, so we might all end up together if we’re lucky.”
“He doesn’t want to shoot for something more prestigious?”
“Not really. He says he’s been caring less about that kind of stuff. He just wants to find something to be passionate about. Plus, most of the higher-end schools are across the prefecture, so the commute would be long.”
They stopped at a crosswalk, and Teru watched the snow-capped cars that streaked by. Mob followed his gaze. “That’s fair, I guess. Good to hear he’s trying to explore a bit.” They crossed the street, hopping over the curb on the other side. Teru looked back at him, meeting his eyes. “Anything going on with you lately?”
Mob sagged melodramatically, earning a giggle from Teru. “Studying, like you. We had another math test today. My grades are up a little, I think.”
Teru squeezed their intertwined hands. “That’s good! Tutoring paid off, then?”
“Yes. Thanks for the help, again.”
“Of course! Feel free to throw some of your review packets my way sometime, I’d be happy to take a look.” Teru smiled softly at him, causing Mob’s heart to flutter. He thought that maybe as the months passed by he’d get over the initial excitement of being together with him, but he was sorely mistaken. He still found himself fawning over Teru; even the little way his blond hair fluttered in the wind mesmerized him. Mob huddled closer to the other boy, looking at the ground to hide the blush that had swarmed over his face. Teru leaned on him a little and started to ramble on as he usually did, filling the quiet with the blissful buzz of conversation.
Time skipped its way by, and soon they had reached Teru’s apartment complex. Teru fished around in his coat pocket for his keys while Mob shivered. The sun was already beginning to set, making it even chillier than it was that afternoon. He closed his eyes. Not a fan of the cold, indeed.
Teru noticed his trembling and reached a hand up to rub Mob’s shoulder. He blinked at him before looking up at the sky, where dark clouds were boiling. “It’s supposed to storm pretty bad soon. Are you sure you’ll be able to get home okay? I don’t want you to get stuck in it.”
Mob thought for a moment. He had been told about the storm earlier since his parents were talking about leaving work early to prepare for a potential snow-in. It meant school could be canceled, too, which was always exciting. He got so swept up in his daytime routine that it had completely slipped his mind. It might start blizzarding on his trek back across town.
He fidgeted with the zipper on his coat, eyes cast towards the road back. “...Hmm.”
Teru gave his shoulder one last brush with his thumb before digging his keys out of his pocket at last. Mob’s attention fixed back on him when he heard them jingle in his hands. Teru reached for the door but paused midway. “You could stay over for the night, if you want. You look cold.”
With impeccable timing, Mob shivered again. He looked up at Teru with bright eyes despite his demeanor. “Really? Are you sure?”
Teru looked at him somewhat incredulously. “Of course! You’re always welcome here, who do you think you are? Now, let’s get you warmed up. You’re gonna get sick out here.”
He opened the door and beckoned him in, and Mob followed gratefully, shaking the snowflakes out of his dark hair. He flipped open his phone and called the house landline as they took the elevator up, explaining the situation when his mom answered. Ms. Kageyama was glad, in fact, that he wasn’t going to try traveling through the blizzard, and yelled out to Teru her thanks before hanging up, causing them both to giggle.
“She likes you a lot,” Mob commented as they stepped onto the fourth floor. “She keeps worrying about you living on your own.”
“I get by alright.”
“You always say that, though. You should come visit more.”
Teru's eyes focused on his door down the hall. “Well, you’re right about that. If it’s no burden. I don’t want to put any pressure on your parents to keep arranging things.”
Now it was Mob’s turn to be incredulous, and he tilted his head to look at Teru. “You wouldn’t be a burden, Teruki. Not ever.”
Teru looked back at him, surprised, before he sheepishly bowed forward a little. “Ah. Sorry. Didn’t mean to say it like that. Thank you, though.”
They reached Teru’s apartment door and Teru unlocked it, letting them both in. The temperature was nice and cozy, a welcome feeling for Mob’s tired and cold insides. He took off his hat, coat, and mittens, and hung them up delicately by the door while Teru took off his own coat, gloves, and shoes and disappeared into the kitchen. Mob, placing his shoes beside Teru’s, shook out his hair again and brushed at it to clear it of melting snow before following the other boy into the apartment.
It smelled warm around here, of spring flowers with a touch of chamomile. Teru was already at work warming milk and scavenging through the cupboards. He turned his head at a funny upside-down angle towards Mob. “I’m making cocoa if you want some!”
Mob smiled at him. “That sounds nice. Do you need help?”
“Nah, go on without me, I’ll be done in a sec.”
He obeyed, but not before adjusting the burner running under the milk, huffing amusedly at Teru’s offended squawk. “Hey! What did I say! Shoo!”
Mob retreated into the living room, his socked feet thumping softly on the carpeted floor. Teru’s bed was set up as a couch at the moment, with two large cushions backing it. He sat down, eyes trailing across the room to all the knickknacks living amongst the shelves and windows. He rubbed his hands together, attempting to warm them faster. A thrilled feeling rose in his stomach as he thought about staying the night over. There was something about the prospect of getting trapped inside by the snow while he got to be secure and comfy that made the little kid in him giddy.
Teru made his return from the kitchen known by taking a spare quilt out of an old dresser by the bed and telekinetically throwing it at Mob. While Mob squeaked and fumbled with it over his head, Teru walked over and set down two steaming mugs on the coffee table in front of them. “I hope that’s warm enough. I have more blankets if you need them.”
Mob finally found the end of the quilt and pulled it out of his face. He wrapped himself in it, settling in. “Mmh. This is good.”
“Good. I ordered your favorite takeout so we can have it delivered before the storm hits.”
Teru took the other side of the quilt to bundle himself up as he sat down next to him. At this, Mob leaned heavily into his side. Teru wrapped his arms around him and pulled him closer. The warmth emanating off of him could have been pyrokinesis if Mob didn’t know any better. Teru was just the opposite of him; warm and toasty all year round.
Rather troublesome in the summer , Mob thought as he stretched his arms out and snuggled further into him. Teru had made him very content about being held since they had begun dating, but they had quickly found during the summer that they could barely share a bed in the heat. He kind of felt bad for him and his terrible AC, but he also had a sense of self-preservation to protect, and he simply could not tolerate boiling alive even if it meant leaving Teru to wail in despair and melt by himself.
Well. As much as he didn’t like winter, he couldn’t deny that it was nice to not have that kind of problem.
Right on cue, Mob felt Teru’s chest vibrate as he chuckled. “You’re just using me as a heater, aren’t you? This isn’t about you liking me.”
“Mmph.”
Teru’s head lolled back. “I’m offended. Is that all I’m good for, now?”
“Hmm.”
Teru scoffed and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Mob flushed bright pink and buried his face in Teru’s sweater. His voice came out as a mumble. “I changed my mind,”
“Oh?”
He lifted his head and shyly kissed Teru’s cheek as well. “I think you’re alright.”
Teru spluttered, blushing, then laughed and knocked their foreheads together. “Alright!? Just alright!? I should hope you’re not only dating me out of obligation!”
Mob pulled back and looked at him blankly. “I might be,” he deadpanned.
Teru yelled in outrage and suplexed Mob over onto the bed, telekinetically chucking the back cushions out of the way. Mob squealed and fell unceremoniously down next to him. They both broke out in uncontrollable giggles, Teru’s arms still wrapped tightly around him.
The rest of the night was spent eating and playing video games, before finally tucking in to sleep for the night.
The weatherman on TV said to expect several feet of snow by the morning. Indeed, the wind howled and rattled at the windows, carrying heavy lumps of snow swirling along with it.
In a borrowed set of pajamas, head propped up on Teru’s chest and lazily watching the storm through half-lidded eyes, Mob wondered what it’d look like when they woke up. It could take the whole afternoon to clear the roads. They could probably sleep in as late as they wanted to.
The room was dark, with dim, grey light streaming in and onto him from the snowy landscape outside. The muffled roaring of the blizzard came in waves, ebbing in and out.
Teru was still, already asleep. He was almost always on alert during the day, ready to launch into action at the slightest hint of danger. He had told him once that he often struggled to fall asleep. He must have been exhausted after today. Or maybe—he could only hope—being with him felt safe.
Mob listened to him breathe.
Their limbs tangled together, with Teru starfishing haphazardly and Mob simply curling into his side. One of Teru’s hands was still threaded in Mob’s hair. The comforter over them was heavy and soft, and Mob could feel himself growing more and more sleepy.
He gazed up at Teru. His expression was lax, but twitched every once in a while as if he was dreaming about something. Long blond hair slightly matted from the pillow, his mouth hung open a tiny bit, and he was snoring ever so softly. Mob’s eyes softened. He really was very pretty. Not the popular persona, but this. The relaxed, awkward, gentle, closely-guarded side of Teru that he hesitated to let anyone see. He loved many things about Teru, but this is the part of him he loved the most.
Love. He supposed it really was love by now.
Mob shifted up closer to him and settled back down so that his head fit just below Teru’s cheekbone. Teru moved a little, mumbling something to himself and resting his arm around Mob’s back, tilting his head to lean into him. Mob hummed contentedly and closed his eyes.
Maybe winter was okay after all.