Chapter Text
The text comes just after dawn; it’s been snowing all night and it’s at least knee deep by now. Minho frowns when he sees the unknown number, teetering on the edge of decision when another message comes through.
From Taemin: hey do u need help shoveling
To Taemin: i dont think ill need any help ty
To Taemin: but u can still come over if u want
From Taemin: already omw lol
Minho snorts and peers out the window. The snow is light at least; he’d gone out to check earlier. And shoveling could be considered a replacement for his daily morning run, so before he can convince himself otherwise, Minho gets his coat, shovel and gloves and heads outside.
Only a few minutes after Minho finishes shoveling, Taemin rings the bell. “Come outside with me!” is the first thing he says when he sees Minho, grinning widely.
“What?”
“Come outside with me! Do you not play in the snow?”
“Not really-”
“Then come out!” Taemin tugs on Minho’s arm, and his grin is infectious so Minho sighs and puts his coat back on. They end up going to the park; it’s been snowed over and no one is out so the snow is still perfect and fresh and new, though not for long. Taemin flops down back first and giggles as he spreads the snow around. Minho watches from the side, fighting back a grin of his own at how happy Taemin looks.
Taemin struggles up then and grabs Minho’s hand just to tug him down into the snow again and Minho shrieks because the snow is cold, because he hadn’t been expecting Taemin (sweet, innocent Taemin) to do such a thing. But Taemin is laughing and so is he, even as Taemin scoops up a handful of snow and smears it into Minho’s face, giggling all the while. Minho rolls over and manages to straddle Taemin, grabbing handfuls of snow and piling them on top of them, in his mouth to stifle his giggling. But it only makes Taemin laugh more, put his hands up in a silent plea for no more even as Minho keeps grabbing more snow from around them. It’s only when Minho sits back does he realize how pink the tips of Taemin’s fingers are, and he grabs them, lifts them to his mouth to blow hot air against them.
Taemin’s cheeks are red too, from exertion or cold or perhaps he’s just flustered, and there are flecks of snow in his dark hair. There’s clear joy in his eyes and his fingers are as pink as his lips and Minho doesn't know, for a moment, which he wants to kiss more.
But Taemin is still now too, gaze cast down towards Minho’s lips even though there’s still a slight smile on his own and he doesn’t protest when Minho leans down just a bit, so Minho leans down the rest of the way and kisses Taemin. Taemin’s lips are cold and he presses his fingers to the back of Minho’s neck because they’re freezing. Minho jumps back and Taemin giggles again, cheeks even pinker now. Minho rolls off of him and lays next to him, fumbling for his hand to warm his fingers.
“Your fingers are freezing, brat.”
“Because it’s snowing.”
Minho fights the urge to smooth another handful of snow against Taemin’s cheek, stays silent and instead continues warming Taemin’s hands in his. They’re soft, and his fingers are small, and Minho wonders how they would feel intertwined with his.
“Do you have a crush on me?”
“What? No, I just wanted to kiss you. Is that okay?”
“Huh,” Taemin says, and then, “yeah. It’s okay. I liked kissing you too, if you wanted to know. You can kiss me more, if you want.”
Oh, okay. “Do you want to go back then? I have hot chocolate.”
Taemin hums and nods, but doesn’t move. Instead, he twines his fingers with Minho’s, rolls over to face him. “Yeah, sure.”
“Come on, then.” Minho sits up and pulls Taemin up with him, shivering when the wind blows against them.
(And half an hour later, Taemin’s weight is blanketing Minho’s and he’s much warmer now. Minho thinks he likes chocolate flavored kisses best.)