Chapter Text
Yoichi plops himself down on the edge of the bottom bunk bed, letting himself sink into the plush, familiar memory foam. He stretches and twists his neck, enjoying the release of tension with the quiet cracks and pops as he moves. Now relaxed, he lets gravity and laziness take over, dragging him down and flopping onto his back.
He heaves a hearty sigh, turning his head to stare out a frosted window. Even with the obscured view he can still see snowflakes softly whirling about in the air.
It’s nearing the end of December, just 12 days before Christmas and another two weeks and a half before the new year and he’s gotta say, the year as a whole has been pretty solid.
The camp, his home, was saved and has got and still is getting more improvements. Yuki was back on campsite and by the looks of it, the change was to be permanent. For once in his life he’s somewhat got a goal, volunteering at the pet adoption centre and is learning to help train puppies. Buttcheeks finally got balls and asked out Pops in July and they’d be going steady since. His social circle has grown from just a dog to many great, albeit sometimes annoying, people. And to top it all of-
“Aww, don’t tell me you’re knocking off already? You’re not gonna fall asleep on me, are you?”
He turns his head over again to the left, eyes settling on his biggest dilemma this year. Leaning against the door to close it is Taiga Akatora, a coy smirk playing on his lips as he shuffles into the cabin.
His red and yellow-streaked hair is littered with snow, even from the distance Yoichi gazes at the little flakes that have landed in his lashes. His cheeks are pinched red from the cold, the colour complimenting his tanned skin and reaching up to his darker strip of scar across his nose. His lips look slightly dry, but still plump and light. Kissable, even.
This is a strong example as to why Taiga is such a problem.
His crush on his friend has lingered at the back of every interaction they have. It’s not an issue he likes to address unless he’s in the safe secrecy of his bed and alone with his thoughts, but it very much still exists (as the COC like to point out every chance they get). Taiga is selfless, smart, sassy and obliviously sexy and Yoichi’s come to terms that he’s helplessly smitten with the guy.
Before his brain and something a little more dirty can run away with those thoughts, he pulls it to a halt so he can concentrate on answering Taiga.
“Nah, I’m up, just lyin’ down. You got the stuff?”
Taiga nods, flicking on a lamp by the bedside table before coming over and sitting himself beside Yoichi on the mattress, dropping a shopping bag by their feet.
Yoichi wastes no time hefting the bag up on his lap, grinning at all of its contents.
“Damn, you really got everything, Dynamite!”
“I know, it’s a miracle Goro didn’t stop me in my tracks while I raided the place. Now hurry up and get everything out, I’ll get the movie set up.”
They set the work, reenacting a routine that has been built into his system for months. Taiga slips a DVD case out of the shelf pile, gliding back to the TV and DVD player to turn on the devices.
Behind him, Yoichi sits and prepares their mini feast. Homemade gingerbread cookies have their tin removed and placed in the middle, sprinkles, marshmallows, chocolate wafer straws, and a can of whipped cream surrounding it. He reaches into the bag again, pulling out two mugs and the grand prize of their weekly ritual. Even in the flask he can feel the heavy heat of the hot chocolate. Placing the mugs on the floor, he quickly uncaps the flask and takes a whiff of the hot fog emerging, humming in delight.
It smells heavenly.
“Hey! Don’t let it get cold, dummy! I didn’t trek out in that snowstorm just for you to sniff out all the warmth like a dog.”
He huffs humorously and rolls his eyes.
“Just get over here or I’ll drink it all myself.”
After the DVD is placed inside the player and the movie menu appears on screen, Taiga almost trips over himself rushing back to the bed, picking up his cup and eagerly offers it to Yoichi. He doesn’t even need to ask, Yoichi tipping the flask over and watching the rich chocolate roll smoothly into the cup. He repeats the action in his own, pouring enough to give space for his toppings.
Screwing the cover on again, he grabs and stuffs a handful of marshmallows into his mug, not caring that he can’t even see the actual liquid anymore. Out the corner of his eye he sees Taiga spray whipped cream in a circular motion over and over again until it’s almost toppling out of its container. Satisfied, he splashes a small pinch of sprinkles and sticks in a wafer. He takes the stick and twirls it round and round the cup, mixing in the bottom of the cool whipped cream pile and the hot chocolate.
He slowly takes a tentative sip, and after a moment he lets out a long, happy moan that would sound completely different if his eyes were closed.
“Fuck, that hits the spot.”
He sucks his bottom lip and inhales. How in good God he survived these without doing something like pouncing on the the redhead, Yoichi doesn’t know. All he can do is sip his own cocoa and will the blush down.
Damn he was right, that is some good shit.
He brings it to his lips again, letting a few sickly sweet and now melting marshmallows slip inside. Taiga picks up the remote and turns to look at him.
“You ready?”
He nods. “Yeah, hit it.”
With that, the movie plays. It’s some Christmas cartoon, one Yoshi probably bought ages ago that he doesn’t really remember watching. The plot’s pretty basic, the humour’s solid enough, but that what Yoichi loves about them. No matter what plays he’ll like it, so long as the guy beside him is here.
Speaking of, he looks to the side to peek at aforementioned, a hobby he’s picked up for quite a while. Taiga’s invested in the story, eyes trained ahead of him. Yoichi traces over his every feature, long red lashes, beautiful red orbs, jagged scar, a perfect little-
He can’t stop the snort that escapes. On the tip of Taiga’s nose sits a lump of whipped cream, making him look like Rudolph the White Nosed Reindeer. Taiga whips around and raises an eyebrow.
“What? What’s so funny?”
Yoichi’s still sniggering, tapping his own nose with his index finger. Taiga continues to look perplexed until his looks at his own, his eyes crossing as he peers at the bottom of his nose. He expects Taiga to sigh and just wipe it with his hands.
Instead, he sticks out his tongue and takes at swipe with it. When it doesn’t reach, he frowns, sticking it out again and wiggling it as if it’ll help do further damage.
Yoichi can do nothing but stare. It’s a pretty weird sight. Taiga’s eyes are still crossed, his eyebrows furrowed in determination as he sticks his tongue up and swings it left and right, the fact that he’s started to laugh that melodic chuckle of his not helping his escapade. And still, the whipped cream is perched on top, wobbling and jiggling yet still staying put.
He looks stupid. Taiga looks so, so, so stupid.
And yet, he can’t look away.
Because he is the most beautiful man Yoichi has ever seen.
He finds himself wishing that he gets to see this sight everyday. That he’s allowed to be the cause of that harmonious laugh. To be able to sigh in fond exasperation and swab that cloud of cream away with his thumb, let Taiga lick it off with a smirk.
He wants to lean in and flick him for such cheek. He wants Taiga to grab his hand and pull him in closer. He wants to stare into his eyes that are full with such mirth and glee.
He wants to kiss him. He wants to get lost in it and do so much more that both he and Taiga forget the movie’s even playing.
He wants to be this man’s boyfriend. So damn badly.
The realisation hits him like a truck. Taiga is still trying to get the cream of his nose with his tongue.
And all he can do is laugh.
He is fucked.
So horribly, terribly, fucked.