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'Maple!' Jisung laughs, gently pushing away the labrador's head as she tries to lick the whipped cream from his face. It's only because of his hands that she keeps missing his mouth with her long wet tongue.
The reason he got whipped cream on his face in the first place isn't doing anything to help him. Jisung knows that Minho will help if he asks. At the same time Minho loves it when Maple is being a little menace off duty.
They're quite the duo together. Minho and Maple. His boyfriend and his service dog. Both of them are gentle and caring, but also absolute gremlins when they get the chance. Minho even more so than Maple. But Jisung suspects that's only because Maple is so well trained.
'A little help here?' Jisung giggles as Maple continues to dodge his hands and lick his cheek.
As expected, Minho is next to him in seconds. 'That's enough,' he says to Maple, clicking his fingers. Maple obediently backs away. 'Good girl. Now both of you wait here.'
Jisung hears Maple sit down and he reaches out with his hand to feel where her head is. Once he feels the soft fur under his fingers, he gently scratches her behind her ears.
For as long as he can remember, Jisung has been blind. He wasn't born that way, but he was very young when an accident robbed him of his sight. Now, when he looks at something he sees a blurry pinhole surrounded by visual snow in black, like static.
Minho's footsteps followed by the pitter patter of cat claws are making their way towards him and Maple, and Jisung smiles. 'I hear you brought back some company. Which one of your kids wants a taste of this whipped cream as well?'
Maple whines next to him and nudges her nose against his shoulder just before he feels small cat paws against his leg.
'Who do you think,' Minho chuckles, kneeling down next to him and gently taking a hold of his chin. 'Here, let me clean your face.'
Jisung tips his face towards the direction of Minho's voice and lets him wipe away the sticky sugary mess with a soft warm cloth.
‘This is giving me flashbacks to this morning,’ Jisung says, the sides of his mouth curling up in a mischievous grin.
The cloth stills on his cheek and Minho's grip on his chin tightens. ‘Is it now?’ Minho's voice is lower than before and Jisung shivers.
‘Mmhm,’ Jisung nods, squirming a little when Minho's hand moves to grab the back of his neck. ‘This stickiness is sweeter though.’
‘And here I thought you enjoyed this morning's activities,’ Minho replies. His fingers dig into the muscles of Jisung's neck. ‘I remember you begging for a taste.’
Jising licks his lips before smiling. ‘I didn't say the other stickiness was bad. Just less sweet.’
Minho laughs and nuzzles their noses together in a eskimo kiss before he lets go of him. His knees crack as he rises off the floor and he uses Jisung's shoulder for support. ‘I'll remember that for next time.’
‘Hyung,’ Jisung whines, already knowing that his little joke will have some consequences for him the next time he'll be begging.
‘Nu‐uh, better stop talking jagiya,’ Minho teases and his voice already sounds a bit further away.
‘Where are you going?’ Jisung calls out.
‘To get our coats, we're going outside. It's snowing.’
Jisung gasps and immediately jumps up in excitement. His socked feet glide across the floor and he has to stick his arms out for balance to not fall down.
Maple lets out a huff at his action.
‘I know, I know, I'll be careful. Go get your leash, we're going outside to play.’
Jisung knows Minho's place well enough that he doesn’t need any guidance walking around, but he still follows the sound of Maple's paws as she trots towards the hall.
‘Do you want me to put her harness on?’ Minho asks.
‘No,’ Jisung shakes his head. ‘I want her to play in the snow like a dog is supposed to. Besides, I have you to guide me. Right?’
Jisung feels Minho slide up against his back while arms are wrapped around his stomach.
‘Always Sungie,’ Minho says, pressing a soft kiss against the back of his neck. ‘I’d never let anything happen to you.’
‘I know.’
Once the two of them are bundled up for the cold weather, the three of them make their way outside. The icy wind immediately hits Jisung’s cheek and he takes in a deep breath of fresh winter air as he feels snowflakes touching his nose and clinging to his brows. He can only imagine how the garden looks right now, wrapped in a blanket of white snow.
‘Maple is watching you,’ Minho says, taking a hold of Jisung’s arm so he can guide him.
‘Oh. Right.’ Jisung slaps his thighs with a flat palm and makes his voice a little higher as he says, ‘go play, Maple.’
Maple barks and Minho laughs. ‘She’s run off like someone is chasing her. It definitely scared a few birds.’
He does that a lot when they’re out together. Telling Jisung what he sees. He’d describe the scenery, explain what’s happening around them or when someone is approaching them.
Jisung joins Minho’s laughter and leans against his shoulder.
They walk in silence for a while and Jisung listens to the sounds around him. He hears Minho’s breathing, the creak of his jacket as they move, the crunch of the snow underneath their shoes. But he also hears the rustling of leaves as the wind blows through them, the chirping of a bird and the occasional bark and huffs from Maple.
‘Can we make a snow angel?’ Jisung asks, suddenly inspired by the thought of his dog rolling around and playing in the snow.
‘You want to get on the ground in this cold and make your clothes wet while you move your limbs?’ Minho replies slowly. ‘Really?’
Jisung nods. ‘Yes.’
Minho sighs and Jisung grins as he does a little happy dance, bringing up his balled fist to move them around while he swings his hips from side to side.
‘I didn’t even agree,’ Minho says, but Jisung can hear the amusement in his voice.
‘I know what all your sighs mean, jagi.’ Jisung giggles. ‘And this one meant a very reluctant 'okay, fine.’’
Minho stops walking and Jisung feels him turn his body towards him. Warm breath tickles against his face and hands are wrapped around his hips, pulling him closer against Minho’s chest. ‘You’re lucky you’re so cute.’
‘I know right,’ Jisung wiggles his eyebrows.
Minho snorts before kissing him. It’s soft and sweet and Jisung melts against Minho’s chest, opening his mouth a little to deepen the kiss. He’ll never get tired of this. The kiss warms him up from the inside, spreading tingles across his spine and by the time Minho leans back, they’re both panting.
‘Hmm let’s make this snow angel and get back inside, yeah?’ Minho whispers against his lips, pecking them one more time. ‘I don’t want you to catch a cold.’
Jisung just nods and lets his boyfriend lead him to where the snow feels thicker. He’s pretty sure it’s up to a little above his ankles now, which means they probably got off the trail they walked on earlier.
‘Ready?’ Minho squeezes Jisung’s gloved hand.
‘Is it safe for me to just fall backwards?’ Jisung asks, just to be sure. He doesn't want to hit his head and end up in the emergency room. That would be very much like him. ‘Or should I–’
His voice wavers and a loud squeak leaves his throat as Minho pushes him square in the chest so he loses his balance and falls backwards. His fall is cushioned nicely by the thick layer of snow, the cold already seeping through his pants, and he laughs loudly.
Maple’s barking gets closer and it doesn’t take long before he once again feels her tongue on his cheek. ‘Aaghh,’ he squeals, pushing her away. ‘Get off you gremlin.’ She does as she’s told, but he can hear her moving around in the snow close to his head, huffing and puffing.
‘Make your angel, Sungie,’ Minho says from somewhere on his left.
Jisung spreads his arms and legs, ignoring his tingling skin as his jeans get soaking wet, and moves his limbs to the sides, repeating the motion to make his snow angel.
‘I haven’t done this in years,’ he tells Minho.
‘Me neither. It’s way colder than I remembered,’ Minho replies, his voice a bit gruff.
Jisung laughs.
–
Once they get back inside, Minho ushers Jisung towards the bathroom for a hot shower and Jisung doesn’t argue. The cold has slipped into his bones by now and he can’t stop shivering. At first the warm water hurts his skin, but once he’s used to the temperature his body starts to relax. Until Minho joins him that is.
‘You’re freezing!’ Jisung complains loudly when cold skin meets his warm one.
Minho just chuckles, presses his cold lips to Jisung’s cheek and then rests his chin on Jisung’s shoulder. ‘And you’re hot, you don’t hear me complaining.’
Jisung tries to squirm away, but Minho’s hold is only tightening so he surrenders and stops struggling. It doesn’t take long before he’s warm again, they quickly rinse off and dress in cozy pajamas that his mom gifted them for Christmas last year.
‘Hot chocolate would be so good right now,’ Jisung says, mostly to himself, as he shuffles to the kitchen.
‘Did you say something?’ Minho’s voice sounds from the bathroom where he’s applying his skin care.
Jisung yells back a ‘no’ over his shoulder and opens the fridge, feeling around for the carton of milk he knows is in there. When his fingers touch the familiar packaging he makes a happy little noise and pulls it out of the fridge. Next is the cocoa powder, which he finds in the cabinet above the sink. He’s just about to grab some mugs when he hears Minho approaching.
‘Jagi, can you warm up the milk for us?’ he asks sweetly as Minho enters the kitchen.
‘Sure thing, jagiya,’ Minho replies, ruffling Jisung’s hair as he moves past him to grab a pan.
They work quietly for the next few minutes. Minho stirring the milk while Jisung finds the tiny marshmallows, some spoons and the whipped cream that had been stashed away earlier. Minho carries the mugs towards the living room once they’re finished and Jisung happily breathes in the scent of chocolate.
The two of them cuddle up on the couch and cover themselves with blankets. They are soon joined by Maple who lays down on their feet and starts snoring almost right away. Halfway through their drinks, the cats also join them. Soonie cuddles up on Jisung's lap, Doongie on Minho’s and according to Minho, Dori makes herself comfortable on top of Maple.
Jisung is warm, happy and he feels extremely lucky to have found a little family like this. A love like this. It’s not something he thought he’d have.
When he voices his thoughts, Minho kisses the top of his head and then his forehead, followed by multiple kisses all over his face, ending with a soft kiss on his lips.
‘I feel the same way, jagi, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.’