for olebade: The Romance of Falling Snow [3/3]
[ pt2]
Apparently, the key to Jongin’s love and approval is to get Junmyeon to ski consistently down black diamonds. There is a large part of Junmyeon that thinks Jongin also is a bit involved in hero worship after he’d seen Minseok literally go flying off a jump in the trick part on Up Rising. Either way, it makes it easier for Junmyeon to get out of their room to go return Minseok’s coat with Jongin excitedly talking about meeting up later to possibly go to the fitness center to get to know Minseok better.
Luckily, Minseok doesn’t actually live in the forest as a sort of frost yetti, instead taking up residence in the newly built Miracles condo village. They’re slopeside, and Junmyeon finds himself vaguely jealous as he walks up to the unit Minseok is apparently staying in with the other man’s coat tucked under his arm. There had been a very serious moment where Chanyeol had suggested Junmyeon not wear his own so he’d just have more excuses to go back to Minseok’s condo and Junmyeon had considered it.
It’s mostly a stupid idea though, much like failing a class specifically to get the attention of the hot T.A. for the course. Junmyeon isn’t desperate, especially since he’s pretty sure he doesn’t need an excuse to see Minseok and the other man won’t object to him coming over for reasons other than coat return.
“Congratulations,” Junmyeon says as Minseok opens the door to the condo. He smiles as Minseok raises an eyebrow in question. “You finally got Jongin’s approval as a decent human being I’m allowed to be around.”
“Did I need his approval?” Minseok asks, grinning as he accepts the coat. He doesn’t even hesitate before pulling Junmyeon inside, wrapping a warm hand around Junmyeon’s wrist and tugging him into the warmth of the condo.
“Well, let’s just say that Jongin has the ability to cock block anything unless he’s convinced it’s not harmful,” Junmyeon explains with a soft chuckle. “He’s the only person I’ve ever known who can successfully cock block himself from getting laid out of pure stubbornness.”
“Impressive,” Minseok says, watching as Junmyeon toes off his boots. “I suppose I should feel honored? Or amused seeing as you apparently would let that get in the way of your own decisions.”
“I wouldn’t actually,” Junmyeon says, looking up finally from his boots. Looking at Minseok pointedly, he takes a brief moment to take in the other man. Out of ski gear and clearly still just cleaning up, he’s in a pair of fitted jeans and a long sleeved loose sweater. Hair still slightly damp and looking entirely relaxed, Minseok looks definitely hot for a snow elemental. Standing up, he watches Minseok’s eyes follow him. “I haven’t let it stop me so far.”
The corner of Minseok’s mouth quirks, his eyes dancing as he turns slightly. “Come on in,” he says, walking into the condo further. “I’ll give you the tour.”
The condo Minseok is provided is actually quite nice, fully furnished and decorated in a sort of mountain cabin-esque decor. It’s nice, but clearly meant for multiple people to come in and out of it, not one specific person. It’s a bit like an upgrade version of the room Junmyeon is staying in back at the Lucky Tree Inn, aesthetically pleasing but primarily functional.
Even so, Minseok appears to make himself right at home, showing Junmyeon the limited space of the living room, kitchen, and bathroom (just in case), as well as indicating the bedroom in the loft upstairs. Junmyeon follows him, close but not too close, just watching him and wanting to reach out for just a brief touch, but holding back each time.
The image of silver white hair and bone pale skin keeps flashing into his mind, the flesh memory of that biting bitter cold slicing through him making Junmyeon keep his hands to himself.
Mostly to himself, right up until Minseok sits down directly beside him on the couch, pushing a mug of hot coffee into his hands. As Minseok pulls his hand back, Junmyeon reaches out, grabbing his hand just to see if it is cold.
It’s warm, soft skin and without hesitation surrendering to Junmyeon’s imposing touch. Hand lying limply in Junmyeon’s grasp, Minseok falls still and silent, his eyes on his own hand in Junmyeon’s. “Curious?” he asks, not moving.
“I’m sorry,” Junmyeon says. It’s rude, but he wants to know. Frosted glass bottles and snow storms every night give a bit more weight to the significance of touch. “I just, I wanted to know.” Making to drop Minseok’s hand, Junmyeon’s breath stutters when instead Minseok’s hand turns to wrap around his own, holding on.
“It’s okay,” he says, and his eyes flicker up to meet Junmyeon’s. “I don’t mind. I won’t do anything, I promise.” He smiles, and Junmyeon knows that he’s being granted permission to explore and sate his own curious itch. “Unless you want me to, of course,” Minseok adds, and his eyes flicker with that soft mercury silver just as the very tips of his fingers in Junmyeon’s hand become slightly cool.
“Holy shit,” Junmyeon breathes out unintentionally. “So you really do have to make it happen for it to, um-”
“I’m just a normal boring human aside from the fact that if I focus, I can do cool stuff with frost,” Minseok says, still smiling. “Actually,” he straightens slightly, pushing a little closer. “Technically if I don’t remove contact, it doesn’t really become cold.”
“How is that possible?” Junmyeon asks, frowning.
“Well, I’m not entirely sure,” Minseok says, and repositions himself on the couch so he’s facing Junmyeon. Hand still held in Minseok’s own, Junmyeon lets it be manipulated so that Minseok is holding it with both of his own. “But I think it’s kind of like, I, as the creator, can’t actually drop to freezing temperatures or it would kill me. I control it, but that doesn’t mean that it is me. Once I release control, then it exists on its own so it becomes the proper temperature.” He frowns, looking a bit dissatisfaction. “Does that makes sense?”
“Not entirely,” Junmyeon says, and looks between his hand and Minseok’s focused expression.
“Can I-” Minseok breaks off, wetting his lips and looking hesitant, but determined “-can I show you?” Junmyeon stiffens slightly, and Minseok’s thumbs immediately slide soothingly over the back of his hand. “I won’t hurt you, I promise. It’s not cold when I use it, and I never feel cold. It’s not cold unless I let go of it.” Junmyeon can feel his heart beating a little faster, Minseok’s hands so warm around his own it’s hard to imagine them with the bite of ice.
Taking in a slightly shaking breath, Junmyeon nods slowly, eyes locked with Minseok’s. “Okay,” he says, heart pounding faster.
“Don’t let go,” Minseok tells him, voice firm and leaving no room for question. When he looks down at Junmyeon’s hand, his eyes flicker, swirling with the same silver of moonlit snow, his hair streaking as if catching the light in tones of white. It’s almost as if his hands around Junmyeon’s grow hotter, a soft mingling of pulses emanating from them.
It’s not cold at all.
A soft gasp escapes Junmyeon’s mouth as he looks down at the their hands and sees Minseok’s own now pale, almost white like bone again. Junmyeon’s own hand is covered in frost, the white ice crystals crawling up his skin in intricate patterns that are astonishingly beautiful. The longer Minseok holds his hand, the more the frost builds, wrapping in layer upon layer around his hand until it’s encased in a sort of case of ice crystals.
What has Junmyeon breathless is that it’s not cold, at all, instead his hand still quite warm, the touch of Minseok’s fingers to him not chilled at all. The ice against his skin instead feels like a soft brush, like snow against his cheek as it falls outside.
“Don’t take your hand from mine,” Minseok says gently, his voice almost deeper. It sends a slight shiver through Junmyeon that has nothing to do with cold. Minseok looks up at him, curious and almost worried. “Are you-?”
“I’m fine,” Junmyeon says, his voice holding a soft rush to it. There’s something incredibly exhilarating about this, about having his hand encased in breathtaking ice without his limbs freezing by a frost elemental. “I wasn’t shivering because of the cold,” he explains. Breathing feeling heavier, he meets Minseok’s eyes, watching the silver darker and feels a soft slow burn in him.
“You can touch,” Minseok tells him, a soft smile spreading over his mouth. “Just use your other hand. If you let go, I’m pretty sure with the degree I have you at right now, you’ll get severe frostbite.”
“I wouldn’t mind frost bite,” Junmyeon mumbles under his breath, and catches Minseok’s eyes briefly widening to show he heard him. Heat rising to his cheeks and spreading, Junmyeon carefully lets his other hand reach to touch. Minseok’s hands are only slightly cool to the touch, the pale skin not indicating anything out of the ordinary. The ice around his own hand though is exactly as it looks; frigid. “Wow,” he murmurs, staring at it, feeling the cold of ice under his fingers even as his other hand is entirely fine.
“Does it scare you?” Minseok asks, softly.
“If you let go,” Junmyeon asks, looking up at him. “It’ll freeze my skin, won’t it?”
“Probably,” Minseok answers, and flashes a teasing grin that isn’t without apprehension. With a soft sort of prickling, the ice begins to face, receding from Junmyeon’s hand in a slow crawl. “That’s why I said don’t let go.”
Hand still half encased in ice, Junmyeon reaches up, breath halted in his chest, and lets his other hand press to the exposed skin of Minseok’s neck. It earns him a soft intake of breath, and a sudden spike of cold runs through his hand held in Minseok’s. It’s not unpleasant though, and he gasps lightly as Minseok’s widened eyes fix on him. “Warm,” Junmyeon tells him, fingers smoothing down Minseok’s neck and warm skin. “You’re so warm.”
“Did I hurt you?” Minseok asks him, still looking hesitant even as Junmyeon doesn’t pull away. The strange mingle of cold and hot against his hand now, the cold slowly abating, makes his heart pound harder, the heat in him rising in response.
“No,” Junmyeon tells him. He didn’t really, just flashed cold for a second, and all of Minseok’s touch has been gentle. Back when Minseok told him on the chairlift before that he’d not let him hurt himself on a black diamond, Junmyeon hadn’t entirely know how much he trusted Minseok. Now, with the faint imprints of frost fading from his hand and Minseok’s eyes slowly returning to their dark rich brown, Junmyeon realizes that he does trust Minseok. A lot.
“It doesn’t scare you?” Minseok asks again, wetting his lips and making them shine a soft pink. “You know, the possibility of turning into a human popsicle.”
“Well, do you want to turn me into a human popsicle?” Junmyeon asks. He marvels a bit as Minseok finally releases his hand, the skin completely fine and with no trace of ever being encased in ice and frost.
“No,” Minseok says, and the glint is back in his eyes, the smile on his face. “I like you just like this.”
Examining his hand, Junmyeon feels a soft building rush in him, warming in him like embers from a fire. “So,”Junmyeon says, turning to him again. “It’s fine as long as we’re touching, right?”
Minseok’s expression darkens, shifting back into that heated look that he’d held back when Junmyeon had been opposite him in the hot tub, still hot from the rake of Minseok’s eyes over him. “I already told you that you could touch,” Minseok tells him. “I’m not an eyes only person, Junmyeon.”
“Is that an invitation?” Junmyeon asks, hand fallen to rest against Minseok’s shoulder, the heat of Minseok’s body seeping into his palm.
“Yes,” Minseok says, tone leaving no room for question. He doesn’t move away as Junmyeon lets his hand fall, resting over his chest, feeling the warmth of him and the soft but definite beat of his heart. Minseok only watches Junmyeon as he carefully lets his hands test, check and wonder.
Under the fabric of Minseok’s soft sweater, the lines of his body are hard, worked from softness into firm strength. As Junmyeon’s fingers run over them, the tense and relax, moving under his touch, all the while Minseok watching Junmyeon with heavy lidded eyes. For someone who can make frost crawl from their hands and rage storms of winter, Minseok is incredibly warm. When Junmyeon’s hands slip down and Minseok lets out a soft hitch of breath, cheeks flushed, Junmyeon amends himself.
For someone who is essentially the emblem of winter, Minseok is downright hot.
“Having fun?” Minseok asks, watching as Junmyeon’s hand finally stops, resting against Minseok’s muscled thigh.
“Does it bother you?” Junmyeon asks, letting his fingers splay over the stretch of warm muscle. “I mean, I did just come over to drop off your coat after all.”
“I don’t mind having you stay,” Minseok tells him. As he reaches up to brush Junmyeon’s hair back from his face, slipping down to wrap his hand gently around the back of his neck, Minseok’s mouth curves in a slow seductive smile. “You’re welcome to keep going.”
With Minseok’s hand at the back of his neck, fingers pressing in a gentle almost massage, Junmyeon hasn’t felt this hot in a long while. “Okay,” is all he says before toeing the line and slipping his fingers just under the hem of Minseok’s sweater and brushing over the heated skin there.
The shiver against Junmyeon’s fingers has absolutely nothing to do with how Minseok may be cold, and the look he gives Junmyeon is anything but cold. Junmyeon himself feels only hot, staring as Minseok wets his lips again and then slowly, pointedly, draws his bottom lip between his teeth.
It makes Junmyeon wonder just how hot or cold all of him is, and how it might feel to have Minseok’s own fingers flashing between the two temperatures as they run down his skin. It makes him shiver, and Minseok’s hand pauses at the back of his neck, as if worried. “Keep going,” Junmyeon tells him, not moving his hand from where it rests under Minseok’s shirt. “I like it.”
They fall into a silence, hands on each other and just sitting together, not invasive or unpleasant. Junmyeon realizes as Minseok sits beside him, that he’s not only attracted to Minseok because of how hot he is, or because he finds his elemental aspect fascinating, but Minseok is one of the few people Junmyeon has ever had a comfortable silence with.
Throat dry, Junmyeon’s heart beats louder than ever in his chest, echoing in his ears as Minseok doesn’t pull him or push, just is there, waiting for Junmyeon to lean in. Or not.
The sound of his heart beat is so loud it makes it hard to think through the warmth coiling in his chest.
❈
It isn’t until the fifth day of skiing that Junmyeon really thinks about it. They’re only up here for a week, and after that, Junmyeon will be going back to the city with Chanyeol and Jongin, and Minseok will go… somewhere not there. It’s not like Junmyeon is an idiot, he knew that, but when Minseok doesn’t show up on the mountain that morning after another five inches dropped the night before, Junmyeon feels a bit disappointed.
It’s easily understood why he’s not here, the last two nights taking a lot if he’s the one behind all the snow, and Junmyeon remembers that he’d mentioned needing to rest. It’s just that Junmyeon got so used to having him on the slopes with him, it feels strange without him. Of course, there also isn’t as much of a balance for Chanyeol and Jongin’s enthusiasm to now as they try to get him to go down What is Love on El Dorado saying that it’s “not that bad.”
“It’s a trail that is literally all rocks and telephone poles,” Junmyeon states, staring at the trail on the map at the top of the mountain.
“But we’ve had so much snow the last few days all the rocks are buried,” Jongin protests, pouting. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
“I’ll break my neck,” Junmyeon tells him flatly, maintaining a calm that seems to just ruffle Jongin’s feathers further.
“I bet Minseok would ski it with us,” Jongin grumbles. “Where’s your boyfriend when I need him?”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Junmyeon says easily even as he feels warmth spreading through him. “He’s just-”
“The guy you’re kind of dating on our ski week except not dating because you’re weird as shit,” Jongin grumbles.
“Why don’t we just take down Machine for the last run?” Chanyeol asks, jabbing the trail map board with his pole. “Then just go in and try to blacks on El Dorado tomorrow morning when the conditions are fresh.”
“Are we getting more snow tonight?” Junmyeon asks, frowning.
“They said we’re supposed to get about two inches when I checked during lunch,” Chanyeol says. He grins wide. “So, Machine and then hot chocolate back at the Inn?”
Junmyeon walks out of the shower back at their room to a note on the table and a message on his phone. Smiling softly to himself, he dresses quickly before making his way down to the common area to find Chanyeol and Jongin sprawled over the larger couch with each other and chatting with Minseok. “Took you long enough,” Chanyeol calls when he catches sight of him.
“It takes time to look this good,” Junmyeon tells him absently, walking to the side room. Returning to the couches with four steaming mugs of hot chocolate, he is greeted by Minseok’s smile when he hands him a mug. “Day of rest?”
“I work hard,” Minseok tells him, and guides him onto the couch with a hand at the small of his back. For a brief moment, Junmyeon isn’t sure where to sit, and then Minseok’s hand is resting warm at his shoulder. With Jongin involved with arguing over mogul technique with Chanyeol, Junmyeon doesn’t bother thinking about it and instead lets himself fall into Minseok’s side. “I deserve a day of rest with all the perks I’ve been giving the skiers,” Minseok says, voice lower as he turns to Junmyeon.
He looks well rested, life to his skin and pink just painting his cheeks faintly as he looks at Junmyeon warmly. “Am I standing here accusing you of being a bad person?” Junmyeon asks him, settling easier into Minseok’s side. It’s comfortable, curled up on the couch with him. It’s been a long time since Junmyeon really sat with someone like this.
“Technically, you’re sitting,” Minseok tells him, and grins when Junmyeon’s smile weakens. He chuckles, letting his hand slip down so his fingers curve around Junmyeon’s waist. “And no, you’re not.” Letting out a softer sigh as he relaxes, he leans a bit into Junmyeon. “How was skiing?”
“Fun,” Junmyeon says honestly. “The trails were gorgeous, and we had full sun the whole day. It was an awesome day to be out there.”
“Rub it in,” Minseok mumbles, resting his chin on Junmyeon’s shoulder, his mug of hot chocolate resting in his lap. “The one day I’m not out is the best day of skiing.”
“Was it worth it to stay in?” Junmyeon asks him, fingers wrapping around his mug of hot chocolate.
“I needed to,” Minseok murmurs. “My section is almost over and I have to keep up the commission. Hence the weather front moving in for tonight.” He lets out a sigh, bringing his hot chocolate to his lips and blowing on it. Junmyeon watches as a few snow flakes flurry out, the surface of the drink rippling in little fragments of ice.
“Cheat,” Junmyeon says, and Minseok grins when he notices Junmyeon staring. “Is this the last storm?”
“I can cool you down too if you want,” Minseok suggests, and the fingers at Junmyeon’s waist tighten, a little flicker of chill running through Junmyeon’s sweater. He shivers at it, holding down the gasp that threatens to crawl out of his mouth.
“Are you sure it’s safe for you to be this close to an open fire?” Junmyeon retorts, nudging Minseok’s knee with his own. Nodding to the fire, he settles back, the lingering tingle against his skin from the rush of cool making him slightly sensitive. “You won’t melt, right?”
“You can get me as hot as you want, and I guarantee I won’t melt,” Minseok tells him. “Though for now I’m okay just sitting for a bit. Long days warrant a rest.”
It’s hard to object to that. So far this marks four days of skiing straight, and while Junmyeon definitely can feel his body getting used to the exercise, it’s still exhausted at the end of the day. Muscles sore and stiff in ways that can’t get worked out from a long hot shower or a soak in the hot tub, Junmyeon is content to just curl up on the comfortable couches and rest. The radiating heat of the fire is pleasant, almost lulling as Junmyeon sits, taking tentative sips of his hot chocolate, leaned into Minseok’s side.
“Here,” says Minseok gently from his side when Junmyeon tries to take another sip of the too hot drink. He blows gently on it when Junmyeon holds it out to him, and when Junmyeon takes a sip this time, it’s the perfect temperature. Not too hot, but hot enough that it warms him all the way down to his toes.
“You guys are really cute, you know,” calls from the other couch. Jongin is practically sprawled on Chanyeol, smushing him into the couch as he lies on him, Chanyeol’s hand lazily petting through Jongin’s soft brown hair. Jongin looks about two blinks away from falling asleep on top of his boyfriend, Chanyeol not far behind him.
"Cuter than you?" Junmyeon asks, smiling as he looks at his friends across from himself and Minseok. The soft puff of a laugh against his neck as Minseok laughs makes his smile widen.
"No one is cuter than me," Jongin mumbles, but he grins in a big wide smile anyway, his eyes creasing up in happiness. "I just was saying you two are cute. Together."
"I see what you mean by how I earned Jongin's approval," Minseok murmurs, lips brushing the shell of Junmyeon's ear. The warmth from him seeps into Junmyeon, having him so close and easy to lean into lulling Junmyeon just as much as the soft heat of the fire.
"He's just honest," Junmyeon mumbles back, letting his eyes slip closed for a moment. "We are cute. You're cute, among other things."
"Other things?"
"You're also really hot." Junmyeon is tired, fatigued from skiing and the soft run of Minseok's hand up and down his side soothing him into just wanting to curl into the other man. It would be tempting to shift, press closer and mimic Jongin and Chanyeol. To see how much Minseok would let Junmyeon push him. If Minseok would let Junmyeon push him back until they're lying together and if the permission to touch include Junmyeon's mouth fitting against his, curious to find if his lips are as cool as the snow that he can blow from them.
The soft rumble of a chuckle against his ear has Junmyeon smiling, not resisting as he feels his mug of hot chocolate pulled easily from his hands. "Not cold?"
"Cold in a hot way," Junmyeon tells him through the thickness of sleep on his tongue, easily curling in where Minseok shifts to allow him. He smiles, feeling warmth expand in his chest as he feels the soft press against the side of his head that he's sure is Minseok's mouth.
"Ok, Junmyeon," Minseok says, quiet voice laced with amusement.
Junmyeon doesn't mean to drift off, but he does anyway, curled up and nestled on the couch with Minseok with a soft contented smile on his face.
❈
The bad thing about week long ski trips is that the all come to an end. It comes faster than Junmyeon thinks it will, where he’s on the afternoon runs, riding up the chair lift and he’s not alone this time. It’s a bit of a definite parallel from where he started on Monday. The crowds on Friday are worse than they have been all week, most people coming up early for the weekend.
It’s not that Junmyeon minds the other skiers, it’s more that he realizes that he’s not going to be with them over the weekend to enjoy the rest of the skiing. He has to do some set up for his job on Sunday and tomorrow he’ll have to get the apartment back in order. They’d only paid for five days of skiing and five nights, and Junmyeon isn’t going back to the warmth of the room in the Lucky Tree Inn, he’s getting in his car and driving three hours back to his cold apartment.
It’s a stunning day, and Junmyeon wishes it would last longer as he sits on the chairlift and tries to smile like he’s not disappointed that this is one of the last times he’s riding up a frigid metal chair with Minseok. Ahead of them are Chanyeol and Jongin, who managed to concede that for the last runs they’d ski Phoenix Peak again, taking the final run down Black Pearl while MInseok and Junmyeon probably took either History or Beautiful.
“You know,” Minseok says, leaning into his side and puffing out his cheeks. “It kind of sucks.”
“I know,” Junmyeon says with a sigh. “I wanted to watch Chanyeol fall too.” He smiles as Minseok laughs, grinning at the sound as it echoes off the trees and snow around them. “Though there are still a few runs left. Maybe we’ll be lucky.”
“True,” Minseok says, and leans back. He’s using his snowboard today. It’s a little bit of a shift, where Junmyeon just thinks more, where he barely notices Minseok delaying slightly to get his snowboard buckled in, and finds him just as stunning to watch as he carves down the mountain. Junmyeon just enjoys him, spending time with him, talking with him, and being with him.
It makes him wonder how long he can delay leaving the mountain to get home tomorrow.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” Minseok asks as they pass another chairlift pole.
“Tomorrow?” Junmyeon asks, turning to him. “Just housework I guess. Clean up after the week and just kind of settle back in.”
“Would you stay another day?” Minseok asks him, tone light. “If you could?”
“Well, our tickets were only through today,” Junmyeon explains. “And we already checked out of the Inn, so-”
“But what about you though?” Minseok asks. “I know Chanyeol and Jongin have to go back for their expo but, well, why don’t you stay another day?”
It makes Junmyeon’s heart flutter a little, the idea that Minseok is asking him almost like he really doesn’t want him to go either. “I don’t have to be home,” Junmyeon admits. “But I’d just need the lift ticket and can’t really see staying in my car overnight.”
“You can stay with me,” Minseok offers. His voice is casual but it still making Junmyeon’s stomach swoop at the offer. “I have extra bed space.”
“I thought you only had one bed in the loft,” Junmyeon reminds though, laughing a bit. It’s ridiculous, brash and stupid and… he really wants to say yes.
“It’s a King,” Minseok says, and then grins wide behind his scarf. “Just like me.” His grin widens as Junmyeon laughs at the comment, not sure if he’s actually amused or embarrassed. “You don’t have to, I just thought it would be nice. One more day skiing is never a bad thing, especially when you know the guy controlling the snow. You just can’t keep me up all night because I have to sleep some in order to keep the snow from burying us.”
“I promise I’ll be good,” Junmyeon says, a slight rushing prickle under his skin in excitement.
“Oh, you don’t have to be good,” Minseok tells him, and shoves him a bit. “I like you just how you are. Daring to shove your hands up my shirt and all that stuff.” As Junmyeon laughs, Minseok pulls him closer, arm crooking around Junmyeon’s neck to tug him into his side. At first Junmyeon just thinks he’s going to hug him, but then he feels those soft lips press pointedly to his cooled cheek and his heart jumps.
“Really?” Junmyeon asks, turning as he’s pressed into Minseok’s side.
“Well, just in case you thought kissing me would result in your turning into a human ice figure, I thought I’d start out slow,” Minseok tells him, shrugging with a soft pink to his cheeks.
“I’ll take my chances I guess,” Junmyeon says, smiling and feeling too big in his chest as he leans in with breath caught and kisses Minseok. It’s cold, mostly because it’s winter, but Minseok isn’t frozen and Junmyeon doesn’t freeze, instead that warmth in his chest rising up and spreading as Minseok kisses back, leaning into him. “Guess it’s safe,” Junmyeon says, slightly breathless as he pulls back from the kiss, taking in Minseok’s bright eyes and pink cheeks.
“No making out on the chairlift!” shouts a kid from the slope under them, waving up at them and wearing one of those huge funky hats with about twenty multi-colored spikes on it.
“Don’t hate just because you can’t get any! Embrace your inner voyeur!” hollers from ahead of Junmyeon and Minseok. Looking up and feeling himself blush all over, Junmyeon sees Jongin and Chanyeol turned around in their chair, waving at him, Chanyeol holding up two thumbs up for them. “Carry on, you two!” Chanyeol shouts back to them. “We’re enjoying the show.”
“Fuck,” Junmyeon says, slumping down a bit and shoving his face into Minseok’s shoulder as Minseok shakes with laughter.
❈
Jongin - If you don’t feel safe, remember, Chanyeol has a lead foot and we’ll come and rescue you. Your body, your choice to kick him in the nuts.
Junmyeon chuckles as he reads the message. Sitting on the couch in Minseok’s condo, he doesn’t so much feel like he’s on one of those nervous first dates or strange one night stands where he doesn’t know the guy he’s staying with. It’s more relaxed, where Junmyeon is pretty sure he could suggest they play cards all night and Minseok would just tell him he might fall asleep on him.
Minseok’s stuff is also mostly packed up, the other man apparently heading out the next day after skiing as well, and he gave Junmyeon the definite option of just taking the couch if he wasn’t comfortable. Of course, he’d offered this when he’d been slightly breathless with bruised lips and Junmyeon’s hands in his hair, so Junmyeon thought his answer was pretty apparent.
To Jongin - I promise I can take care of myself. Make sure Chanyeol doesn’t get a speeding ticket on your way back and good luck on your expo!
"Jongin?" Minseok asks, walking out of the bathroom and toweling his hair dry. He's dressed, but Junmyeon can't help but let his eyes trail over him a bit as he walks out.
"He thinks you're going to take advantage of me," Junmyeon tells him, smiling as Minseok flops down onto the couch next to him.
"Am I?" Minseok asks, brows raising in question.
Laughing lightly, Junmyeon doesn't hesitate to lean in and press their smiles together in a kiss, eyes closing at the feeling. "No," he says, pulling back slightly, warm and content. "You're not."
"Good," Minseok says, before leaning in again for a kiss. Minseok kisses just like how Junmyeon might imagine, patient and taking his time, not really pushing but slowing pulling with a secretive edge as subtle drags of his teeth or flicks of his tongue have Junmyeon letting out soft gasps.
They keep getting snuck in as well, those and soft lingering touches as they spend the evening together. The hands lingering at Junmyeon's waist as Minseok maneuvers around him in the kitchen, setting him to work in preparing ingredients as he cooks. "You can do breakfast," Minseok tells him with a grin, heating up the stove. "That way we're even."
"I'm not much of a cook," Junmyeon tells him honestly. "I'm still learning."
"Can you make oatmeal?" Minseok asks him, hand slipping down his spine to rest just at the small of his back, fingers splayed warm. "I kind of fall back on oatmeal for ski trips. It's kind of hard to mess it up and it's better than toast."
Junmyeon laughs, and agrees to breakfast the following morning. It's not specifically like a date, sitting at the small kitchen table in the condo and eating dinner with Minseok, but it's still nice. Nice enough that Junmyeon would consider it a date, does consider it a date, especially with the looks traded between them and the gentle conversation.
"And you're going to do what next week?" Junmyeon asks, sitting back in his chair to look at Minseok. "Sleep?"
"Probably," Minseok answers. "I have another gig next weekend for three days up at another mountain, so I technically need to recover from this week." He takes a drink of his water, frost spidering down the glass where his fingers touch it. "I may be asked up to another mountain mid week to give them a boost and dump some snow, but for the most part I'm just scheduled to recoup this week."
"If you were to work through the week," Junmyeon asks in curiosity. "Would you just… wear out?"
"Well," Minseok explains. "One of two things would happen. Either the snow would stop, and I'd go through a dry spell because I'd basically pass out and hibernate, or I could possibly lose control of it, and bury an area."
Wincing, Junmyeon stretches his legs under the table, tucking Minseok's feet within his own. "I don't really like the sound of either of those."
"Hence why it's not until next weekend that I'm really doing much," Minseok says, placing down his glass. The frost remains. "And why I told you that you can't wear me out," he adds, mouth tugging up at the corners.
"I'll do my best," Junmyeon says, though there isn't pressure behind it. Junmyeon is pretty sure if he did want to push for sex, Minseok might be on board, but he's not driven to get laid. It doesn't feel like that's something Minseok is after either.
It's much more comfortable to have Minseok sprawled on the couch with him, both of them at opposite ends with legs tangled together in the middle, hearing Minseok tell him about the crazy stuff he's gotten into. Snow storms, discovery of the elemental, and some of his adventures skiing and snowboarding. Watching him relax, talking more about it with less hesitation, smiling as he does, Junmyeon wonders how many people Minseok can really talk to about this aside from those like him.
It's more comfortable to just reposition himself when Junmyeon gets back from grabbing a water from the kitchen to leaning with Minseok. To letting his fingers card through his dark hair, letting out soft hums of approval as Minseok's hands slip under the hem of his shirt to brush against his skin. Never being a fan of cold, Junmyeon feels like he missed out on a big aspect of it as his skin flares as Minseok's eyes flash silver and his fingertips drag chilled down Junmyeon's heated skin.
"I can stop," Minseok tells him, voice hushed and rough as he watches Junmyeon with dark eyes. Junmyeon shakes his head, leaning in to kiss him, pulling him closer and feeling the soft bite of winter in Minseok's lips mingling with the heat of his mouth.
"No," he says, giving another shudder as Minseok's hands tease up over his skin. "I like it," he admits, and lets out another gasp as the fingertips dragging down his chest and over his abdomen suddenly turn cold, dragging sensitive down his skin and making him shiver. “Fuck,” he gasps out as Minseok’s fingers return to their usual warmth, slipping back over the still prickling lines he just drew, pressing them into Junmyeon’s skin. “Is this how you touch all your lovers?”
“No,” Minseok tells him, the words pressing hot into Junmyeon’s neck as he kisses down it. “Not all of them.” Pulling back, he slows down, hands just resting on Junmyeon’s waist and kissing him slow and easy. “Just the ones that were other elementals and... well, you.”
“You must not date much,” Junmyeon says, feeling oddly flattered that Minseok doesn’t hide this. It almost makes him hotter, more interested in feeling the full extent of Minseok against him, around him, intrigue burning.
“Well, I don’t not date,” Minseok hums, pulling Junmyeon to just lie with him, pressed flush against each other and sprawled on the couch. “It’s just most people when they find out I can freeze things tend to run.” Turning, he grins at Junmyeon, so close Junmyeon could easy just tilt his head in for a kiss. “I guess that makes you kind of an idiot.”
“So much for that initial romance,” Junmyeon grumbles, though he’s smiling anyway.
“A very handsome idiot?” Minseok amends. Despite the loftiness of his voice, his arms wind themselves around Junmyeon’s waist, holding him close, an unspoken degree of affection. It’s not uncommon that Junmyeon feels like words can only say so much where as a touch can explain the sway of the heart. “I’m glad you didn’t run.”
Rather than answer him, Junmyeon just leans in, capturing Minseok’s lips in a chaste lingering kiss. He’s not entirely sure what he’s trying to say himself, but that’s why it’s easier to just not try to, instead kissing to try to say it all.
Pulling away finally, Junmyeon watches as Minseok’s eyes slowly open, darker and deeper. “What are you doing next weekend?” Minseok asks.
It catches Junmyeon a little off guard. “Nothing much?” he says. “I thought you-”
“I’m, well, it’s not like I can’t bring other people up with me for work,” Minseok says, and his eyes flicker between Junmyeon’s mouth, his nose, his eyes, and never fix on one point. “It’s more fun skiing with people anyway, even if they don’t know all the snow they’re excited about isn’t because of natural weather patterns.” He wets his lips. “I’m going up with a few friends who share the condo with the company. You’d be welcome to join if you wanted to, same with Chanyeol and Jongin if they’re free.”
“I’m not sure I can afford another weekend of room and board and skiing,” Junmyeon says, though he feels almost too content, wanting to say yes.
“Well, you can just stay with me and then you just have to worry about a lift ticket,” Minseok says, and finally meets his eyes, dark and waiting. “Unless you really did want to sleep on the couch tonight.”
“Two days of skiing next weekend,” Junmyeon muses, watching Minseok watch him. His arms are warm around him, chest firm and pleasant pressed against his own. “I think I could be easily persuaded. Unless you kick me out of bed in your sleep or something.”
“I’ve been told I’m a very calm sleeper,” Minseok tells him, and the hesitancy is gone, guard dropping as he shifts to accommodate Junmyeon, slipping them closer. “Though I pity whoever it is stuck with my best friend.” At Junmyeon’s inquisitive look, he grins. “He screams in his sleep and apparently dreams he’s a pro football player. He’s an actual nightmare to share a bed with.”
“So I’ll be sleeping with you then,” Junmyeon states. It’s not often that he just signs up to sleep in the same bed as someone, let alone the guy he’s never really been on an actual date with. So far though, everything with Minseok has been unconventional, and Junmyeon realizes he likes all of it, slipping into the comfort before the steps of dating have passed.
“I mean, you might have to ask Jongin first, but the offer is definitely open,” Minseok tells him.
Rather than getting into specifics, Junmyeon agrees, thinking of another few days of riding up lifts together, half frozen M&M’s pulled from pockets, snow falling down in perfectly controlled conditions, and lips dragging along his skin flickering between warm and cool. The whole area is warm, the fire they ended up building in the condo fireplace making the whole place glow in soft amber burnt orange. The embers glowing warm mimick those Junmyeon feels in his core every time Minseok’s lips travel up the stretch of his neck, nose burying easily into his skin and pulling out a sigh of contentment.
Refusing to hear jokes or hesitancy, Junmyeon ends up dragging them up the stairs, telling Minseok he’s not keeping him up too late, just like he promised. It earns him a laugh and arms wrapping around him, Junmyeon’s own twining around Minseok’s neck, grinning together as they fall into the soft bed.
It’s been a long time since Junmyeon has had a goodnight kiss that pressed him back into the sheets and promised more to come. It’s been a long time since Junmyeon didn’t go to bed alone, instead with arms wrapped around his waist and soft breath against his skin.
It’s the first time though when Junmyeon wakes up the next morning, heavy with sleep and feeling the dull pleasant glow of sleeping in warm comfort, and opens his eyes to see frost creeping from all the windows from the inside. His laugh ends up waking up Minseok, bleary eyed and hair sticking up everywhere, only to get them both laughing at the gentle oddly warm snow that seems to fall from nothing just over the bed.
“I swear, that’s never happened before,” Minseok murmurs into Junmyeon’s neck, voice thick with sleep as he burrows into Junmyeon’s side.
“I like it,” Junmyeon says genuinely, pressing a soft kiss to Minseok’s cheek. “I like you.”
“Good,” Minseok mumbles. Pulling back from where he wedged himself against Junmyeon, he smiles down at him, warm and genuine before he leans down and kisses Junmyeon soundly. “I’m glad it’s a mutual thing.”
“Definitely mutual,” Junmyeon says, grinning at him and letting his fingers briefly brush through Minseok’s tousled hair. “And just for the record, I hope we’re also mutual on not kissing again until we brush teeth.”
“Oh definitely,” Minseok says, fixing him with a pointed look. “You’re gross, never kissing you again until you-”
Their laughter ends up getting caught up in the soft white sheets, white as the snow outside and gently falling inside. Caught up and wrapped up just as they do, tangled in limbs and laughter, their smiles as bright as the sun sending the frosted windows to reflect like diamonds.
Warm and thrumming, Junmyeon lies back with warm arms around him in a frozen dream, and knows this is not only a once in a moment fairy tale, but that his goes on. It’s not over, and as he turns to press his lips to the corner of Minseok’s mouth, he knows the excitement has only just begun.
❈ * ❈
Apparently, the key to Jongin’s love and approval is to get Junmyeon to ski consistently down black diamonds. There is a large part of Junmyeon that thinks Jongin also is a bit involved in hero worship after he’d seen Minseok literally go flying off a jump in the trick part on Up Rising. Either way, it makes it easier for Junmyeon to get out of their room to go return Minseok’s coat with Jongin excitedly talking about meeting up later to possibly go to the fitness center to get to know Minseok better.
Luckily, Minseok doesn’t actually live in the forest as a sort of frost yetti, instead taking up residence in the newly built Miracles condo village. They’re slopeside, and Junmyeon finds himself vaguely jealous as he walks up to the unit Minseok is apparently staying in with the other man’s coat tucked under his arm. There had been a very serious moment where Chanyeol had suggested Junmyeon not wear his own so he’d just have more excuses to go back to Minseok’s condo and Junmyeon had considered it.
It’s mostly a stupid idea though, much like failing a class specifically to get the attention of the hot T.A. for the course. Junmyeon isn’t desperate, especially since he’s pretty sure he doesn’t need an excuse to see Minseok and the other man won’t object to him coming over for reasons other than coat return.
“Congratulations,” Junmyeon says as Minseok opens the door to the condo. He smiles as Minseok raises an eyebrow in question. “You finally got Jongin’s approval as a decent human being I’m allowed to be around.”
“Did I need his approval?” Minseok asks, grinning as he accepts the coat. He doesn’t even hesitate before pulling Junmyeon inside, wrapping a warm hand around Junmyeon’s wrist and tugging him into the warmth of the condo.
“Well, let’s just say that Jongin has the ability to cock block anything unless he’s convinced it’s not harmful,” Junmyeon explains with a soft chuckle. “He’s the only person I’ve ever known who can successfully cock block himself from getting laid out of pure stubbornness.”
“Impressive,” Minseok says, watching as Junmyeon toes off his boots. “I suppose I should feel honored? Or amused seeing as you apparently would let that get in the way of your own decisions.”
“I wouldn’t actually,” Junmyeon says, looking up finally from his boots. Looking at Minseok pointedly, he takes a brief moment to take in the other man. Out of ski gear and clearly still just cleaning up, he’s in a pair of fitted jeans and a long sleeved loose sweater. Hair still slightly damp and looking entirely relaxed, Minseok looks definitely hot for a snow elemental. Standing up, he watches Minseok’s eyes follow him. “I haven’t let it stop me so far.”
The corner of Minseok’s mouth quirks, his eyes dancing as he turns slightly. “Come on in,” he says, walking into the condo further. “I’ll give you the tour.”
The condo Minseok is provided is actually quite nice, fully furnished and decorated in a sort of mountain cabin-esque decor. It’s nice, but clearly meant for multiple people to come in and out of it, not one specific person. It’s a bit like an upgrade version of the room Junmyeon is staying in back at the Lucky Tree Inn, aesthetically pleasing but primarily functional.
Even so, Minseok appears to make himself right at home, showing Junmyeon the limited space of the living room, kitchen, and bathroom (just in case), as well as indicating the bedroom in the loft upstairs. Junmyeon follows him, close but not too close, just watching him and wanting to reach out for just a brief touch, but holding back each time.
The image of silver white hair and bone pale skin keeps flashing into his mind, the flesh memory of that biting bitter cold slicing through him making Junmyeon keep his hands to himself.
Mostly to himself, right up until Minseok sits down directly beside him on the couch, pushing a mug of hot coffee into his hands. As Minseok pulls his hand back, Junmyeon reaches out, grabbing his hand just to see if it is cold.
It’s warm, soft skin and without hesitation surrendering to Junmyeon’s imposing touch. Hand lying limply in Junmyeon’s grasp, Minseok falls still and silent, his eyes on his own hand in Junmyeon’s. “Curious?” he asks, not moving.
“I’m sorry,” Junmyeon says. It’s rude, but he wants to know. Frosted glass bottles and snow storms every night give a bit more weight to the significance of touch. “I just, I wanted to know.” Making to drop Minseok’s hand, Junmyeon’s breath stutters when instead Minseok’s hand turns to wrap around his own, holding on.
“It’s okay,” he says, and his eyes flicker up to meet Junmyeon’s. “I don’t mind. I won’t do anything, I promise.” He smiles, and Junmyeon knows that he’s being granted permission to explore and sate his own curious itch. “Unless you want me to, of course,” Minseok adds, and his eyes flicker with that soft mercury silver just as the very tips of his fingers in Junmyeon’s hand become slightly cool.
“Holy shit,” Junmyeon breathes out unintentionally. “So you really do have to make it happen for it to, um-”
“I’m just a normal boring human aside from the fact that if I focus, I can do cool stuff with frost,” Minseok says, still smiling. “Actually,” he straightens slightly, pushing a little closer. “Technically if I don’t remove contact, it doesn’t really become cold.”
“How is that possible?” Junmyeon asks, frowning.
“Well, I’m not entirely sure,” Minseok says, and repositions himself on the couch so he’s facing Junmyeon. Hand still held in Minseok’s own, Junmyeon lets it be manipulated so that Minseok is holding it with both of his own. “But I think it’s kind of like, I, as the creator, can’t actually drop to freezing temperatures or it would kill me. I control it, but that doesn’t mean that it is me. Once I release control, then it exists on its own so it becomes the proper temperature.” He frowns, looking a bit dissatisfaction. “Does that makes sense?”
“Not entirely,” Junmyeon says, and looks between his hand and Minseok’s focused expression.
“Can I-” Minseok breaks off, wetting his lips and looking hesitant, but determined “-can I show you?” Junmyeon stiffens slightly, and Minseok’s thumbs immediately slide soothingly over the back of his hand. “I won’t hurt you, I promise. It’s not cold when I use it, and I never feel cold. It’s not cold unless I let go of it.” Junmyeon can feel his heart beating a little faster, Minseok’s hands so warm around his own it’s hard to imagine them with the bite of ice.
Taking in a slightly shaking breath, Junmyeon nods slowly, eyes locked with Minseok’s. “Okay,” he says, heart pounding faster.
“Don’t let go,” Minseok tells him, voice firm and leaving no room for question. When he looks down at Junmyeon’s hand, his eyes flicker, swirling with the same silver of moonlit snow, his hair streaking as if catching the light in tones of white. It’s almost as if his hands around Junmyeon’s grow hotter, a soft mingling of pulses emanating from them.
It’s not cold at all.
A soft gasp escapes Junmyeon’s mouth as he looks down at the their hands and sees Minseok’s own now pale, almost white like bone again. Junmyeon’s own hand is covered in frost, the white ice crystals crawling up his skin in intricate patterns that are astonishingly beautiful. The longer Minseok holds his hand, the more the frost builds, wrapping in layer upon layer around his hand until it’s encased in a sort of case of ice crystals.
What has Junmyeon breathless is that it’s not cold, at all, instead his hand still quite warm, the touch of Minseok’s fingers to him not chilled at all. The ice against his skin instead feels like a soft brush, like snow against his cheek as it falls outside.
“Don’t take your hand from mine,” Minseok says gently, his voice almost deeper. It sends a slight shiver through Junmyeon that has nothing to do with cold. Minseok looks up at him, curious and almost worried. “Are you-?”
“I’m fine,” Junmyeon says, his voice holding a soft rush to it. There’s something incredibly exhilarating about this, about having his hand encased in breathtaking ice without his limbs freezing by a frost elemental. “I wasn’t shivering because of the cold,” he explains. Breathing feeling heavier, he meets Minseok’s eyes, watching the silver darker and feels a soft slow burn in him.
“You can touch,” Minseok tells him, a soft smile spreading over his mouth. “Just use your other hand. If you let go, I’m pretty sure with the degree I have you at right now, you’ll get severe frostbite.”
“I wouldn’t mind frost bite,” Junmyeon mumbles under his breath, and catches Minseok’s eyes briefly widening to show he heard him. Heat rising to his cheeks and spreading, Junmyeon carefully lets his other hand reach to touch. Minseok’s hands are only slightly cool to the touch, the pale skin not indicating anything out of the ordinary. The ice around his own hand though is exactly as it looks; frigid. “Wow,” he murmurs, staring at it, feeling the cold of ice under his fingers even as his other hand is entirely fine.
“Does it scare you?” Minseok asks, softly.
“If you let go,” Junmyeon asks, looking up at him. “It’ll freeze my skin, won’t it?”
“Probably,” Minseok answers, and flashes a teasing grin that isn’t without apprehension. With a soft sort of prickling, the ice begins to face, receding from Junmyeon’s hand in a slow crawl. “That’s why I said don’t let go.”
Hand still half encased in ice, Junmyeon reaches up, breath halted in his chest, and lets his other hand press to the exposed skin of Minseok’s neck. It earns him a soft intake of breath, and a sudden spike of cold runs through his hand held in Minseok’s. It’s not unpleasant though, and he gasps lightly as Minseok’s widened eyes fix on him. “Warm,” Junmyeon tells him, fingers smoothing down Minseok’s neck and warm skin. “You’re so warm.”
“Did I hurt you?” Minseok asks him, still looking hesitant even as Junmyeon doesn’t pull away. The strange mingle of cold and hot against his hand now, the cold slowly abating, makes his heart pound harder, the heat in him rising in response.
“No,” Junmyeon tells him. He didn’t really, just flashed cold for a second, and all of Minseok’s touch has been gentle. Back when Minseok told him on the chairlift before that he’d not let him hurt himself on a black diamond, Junmyeon hadn’t entirely know how much he trusted Minseok. Now, with the faint imprints of frost fading from his hand and Minseok’s eyes slowly returning to their dark rich brown, Junmyeon realizes that he does trust Minseok. A lot.
“It doesn’t scare you?” Minseok asks again, wetting his lips and making them shine a soft pink. “You know, the possibility of turning into a human popsicle.”
“Well, do you want to turn me into a human popsicle?” Junmyeon asks. He marvels a bit as Minseok finally releases his hand, the skin completely fine and with no trace of ever being encased in ice and frost.
“No,” Minseok says, and the glint is back in his eyes, the smile on his face. “I like you just like this.”
Examining his hand, Junmyeon feels a soft building rush in him, warming in him like embers from a fire. “So,”Junmyeon says, turning to him again. “It’s fine as long as we’re touching, right?”
Minseok’s expression darkens, shifting back into that heated look that he’d held back when Junmyeon had been opposite him in the hot tub, still hot from the rake of Minseok’s eyes over him. “I already told you that you could touch,” Minseok tells him. “I’m not an eyes only person, Junmyeon.”
“Is that an invitation?” Junmyeon asks, hand fallen to rest against Minseok’s shoulder, the heat of Minseok’s body seeping into his palm.
“Yes,” Minseok says, tone leaving no room for question. He doesn’t move away as Junmyeon lets his hand fall, resting over his chest, feeling the warmth of him and the soft but definite beat of his heart. Minseok only watches Junmyeon as he carefully lets his hands test, check and wonder.
Under the fabric of Minseok’s soft sweater, the lines of his body are hard, worked from softness into firm strength. As Junmyeon’s fingers run over them, the tense and relax, moving under his touch, all the while Minseok watching Junmyeon with heavy lidded eyes. For someone who can make frost crawl from their hands and rage storms of winter, Minseok is incredibly warm. When Junmyeon’s hands slip down and Minseok lets out a soft hitch of breath, cheeks flushed, Junmyeon amends himself.
For someone who is essentially the emblem of winter, Minseok is downright hot.
“Having fun?” Minseok asks, watching as Junmyeon’s hand finally stops, resting against Minseok’s muscled thigh.
“Does it bother you?” Junmyeon asks, letting his fingers splay over the stretch of warm muscle. “I mean, I did just come over to drop off your coat after all.”
“I don’t mind having you stay,” Minseok tells him. As he reaches up to brush Junmyeon’s hair back from his face, slipping down to wrap his hand gently around the back of his neck, Minseok’s mouth curves in a slow seductive smile. “You’re welcome to keep going.”
With Minseok’s hand at the back of his neck, fingers pressing in a gentle almost massage, Junmyeon hasn’t felt this hot in a long while. “Okay,” is all he says before toeing the line and slipping his fingers just under the hem of Minseok’s sweater and brushing over the heated skin there.
The shiver against Junmyeon’s fingers has absolutely nothing to do with how Minseok may be cold, and the look he gives Junmyeon is anything but cold. Junmyeon himself feels only hot, staring as Minseok wets his lips again and then slowly, pointedly, draws his bottom lip between his teeth.
It makes Junmyeon wonder just how hot or cold all of him is, and how it might feel to have Minseok’s own fingers flashing between the two temperatures as they run down his skin. It makes him shiver, and Minseok’s hand pauses at the back of his neck, as if worried. “Keep going,” Junmyeon tells him, not moving his hand from where it rests under Minseok’s shirt. “I like it.”
They fall into a silence, hands on each other and just sitting together, not invasive or unpleasant. Junmyeon realizes as Minseok sits beside him, that he’s not only attracted to Minseok because of how hot he is, or because he finds his elemental aspect fascinating, but Minseok is one of the few people Junmyeon has ever had a comfortable silence with.
Throat dry, Junmyeon’s heart beats louder than ever in his chest, echoing in his ears as Minseok doesn’t pull him or push, just is there, waiting for Junmyeon to lean in. Or not.
The sound of his heart beat is so loud it makes it hard to think through the warmth coiling in his chest.
❈
It isn’t until the fifth day of skiing that Junmyeon really thinks about it. They’re only up here for a week, and after that, Junmyeon will be going back to the city with Chanyeol and Jongin, and Minseok will go… somewhere not there. It’s not like Junmyeon is an idiot, he knew that, but when Minseok doesn’t show up on the mountain that morning after another five inches dropped the night before, Junmyeon feels a bit disappointed.
It’s easily understood why he’s not here, the last two nights taking a lot if he’s the one behind all the snow, and Junmyeon remembers that he’d mentioned needing to rest. It’s just that Junmyeon got so used to having him on the slopes with him, it feels strange without him. Of course, there also isn’t as much of a balance for Chanyeol and Jongin’s enthusiasm to now as they try to get him to go down What is Love on El Dorado saying that it’s “not that bad.”
“It’s a trail that is literally all rocks and telephone poles,” Junmyeon states, staring at the trail on the map at the top of the mountain.
“But we’ve had so much snow the last few days all the rocks are buried,” Jongin protests, pouting. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
“I’ll break my neck,” Junmyeon tells him flatly, maintaining a calm that seems to just ruffle Jongin’s feathers further.
“I bet Minseok would ski it with us,” Jongin grumbles. “Where’s your boyfriend when I need him?”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Junmyeon says easily even as he feels warmth spreading through him. “He’s just-”
“The guy you’re kind of dating on our ski week except not dating because you’re weird as shit,” Jongin grumbles.
“Why don’t we just take down Machine for the last run?” Chanyeol asks, jabbing the trail map board with his pole. “Then just go in and try to blacks on El Dorado tomorrow morning when the conditions are fresh.”
“Are we getting more snow tonight?” Junmyeon asks, frowning.
“They said we’re supposed to get about two inches when I checked during lunch,” Chanyeol says. He grins wide. “So, Machine and then hot chocolate back at the Inn?”
Junmyeon walks out of the shower back at their room to a note on the table and a message on his phone. Smiling softly to himself, he dresses quickly before making his way down to the common area to find Chanyeol and Jongin sprawled over the larger couch with each other and chatting with Minseok. “Took you long enough,” Chanyeol calls when he catches sight of him.
“It takes time to look this good,” Junmyeon tells him absently, walking to the side room. Returning to the couches with four steaming mugs of hot chocolate, he is greeted by Minseok’s smile when he hands him a mug. “Day of rest?”
“I work hard,” Minseok tells him, and guides him onto the couch with a hand at the small of his back. For a brief moment, Junmyeon isn’t sure where to sit, and then Minseok’s hand is resting warm at his shoulder. With Jongin involved with arguing over mogul technique with Chanyeol, Junmyeon doesn’t bother thinking about it and instead lets himself fall into Minseok’s side. “I deserve a day of rest with all the perks I’ve been giving the skiers,” Minseok says, voice lower as he turns to Junmyeon.
He looks well rested, life to his skin and pink just painting his cheeks faintly as he looks at Junmyeon warmly. “Am I standing here accusing you of being a bad person?” Junmyeon asks him, settling easier into Minseok’s side. It’s comfortable, curled up on the couch with him. It’s been a long time since Junmyeon really sat with someone like this.
“Technically, you’re sitting,” Minseok tells him, and grins when Junmyeon’s smile weakens. He chuckles, letting his hand slip down so his fingers curve around Junmyeon’s waist. “And no, you’re not.” Letting out a softer sigh as he relaxes, he leans a bit into Junmyeon. “How was skiing?”
“Fun,” Junmyeon says honestly. “The trails were gorgeous, and we had full sun the whole day. It was an awesome day to be out there.”
“Rub it in,” Minseok mumbles, resting his chin on Junmyeon’s shoulder, his mug of hot chocolate resting in his lap. “The one day I’m not out is the best day of skiing.”
“Was it worth it to stay in?” Junmyeon asks him, fingers wrapping around his mug of hot chocolate.
“I needed to,” Minseok murmurs. “My section is almost over and I have to keep up the commission. Hence the weather front moving in for tonight.” He lets out a sigh, bringing his hot chocolate to his lips and blowing on it. Junmyeon watches as a few snow flakes flurry out, the surface of the drink rippling in little fragments of ice.
“Cheat,” Junmyeon says, and Minseok grins when he notices Junmyeon staring. “Is this the last storm?”
“I can cool you down too if you want,” Minseok suggests, and the fingers at Junmyeon’s waist tighten, a little flicker of chill running through Junmyeon’s sweater. He shivers at it, holding down the gasp that threatens to crawl out of his mouth.
“Are you sure it’s safe for you to be this close to an open fire?” Junmyeon retorts, nudging Minseok’s knee with his own. Nodding to the fire, he settles back, the lingering tingle against his skin from the rush of cool making him slightly sensitive. “You won’t melt, right?”
“You can get me as hot as you want, and I guarantee I won’t melt,” Minseok tells him. “Though for now I’m okay just sitting for a bit. Long days warrant a rest.”
It’s hard to object to that. So far this marks four days of skiing straight, and while Junmyeon definitely can feel his body getting used to the exercise, it’s still exhausted at the end of the day. Muscles sore and stiff in ways that can’t get worked out from a long hot shower or a soak in the hot tub, Junmyeon is content to just curl up on the comfortable couches and rest. The radiating heat of the fire is pleasant, almost lulling as Junmyeon sits, taking tentative sips of his hot chocolate, leaned into Minseok’s side.
“Here,” says Minseok gently from his side when Junmyeon tries to take another sip of the too hot drink. He blows gently on it when Junmyeon holds it out to him, and when Junmyeon takes a sip this time, it’s the perfect temperature. Not too hot, but hot enough that it warms him all the way down to his toes.
“You guys are really cute, you know,” calls from the other couch. Jongin is practically sprawled on Chanyeol, smushing him into the couch as he lies on him, Chanyeol’s hand lazily petting through Jongin’s soft brown hair. Jongin looks about two blinks away from falling asleep on top of his boyfriend, Chanyeol not far behind him.
"Cuter than you?" Junmyeon asks, smiling as he looks at his friends across from himself and Minseok. The soft puff of a laugh against his neck as Minseok laughs makes his smile widen.
"No one is cuter than me," Jongin mumbles, but he grins in a big wide smile anyway, his eyes creasing up in happiness. "I just was saying you two are cute. Together."
"I see what you mean by how I earned Jongin's approval," Minseok murmurs, lips brushing the shell of Junmyeon's ear. The warmth from him seeps into Junmyeon, having him so close and easy to lean into lulling Junmyeon just as much as the soft heat of the fire.
"He's just honest," Junmyeon mumbles back, letting his eyes slip closed for a moment. "We are cute. You're cute, among other things."
"Other things?"
"You're also really hot." Junmyeon is tired, fatigued from skiing and the soft run of Minseok's hand up and down his side soothing him into just wanting to curl into the other man. It would be tempting to shift, press closer and mimic Jongin and Chanyeol. To see how much Minseok would let Junmyeon push him. If Minseok would let Junmyeon push him back until they're lying together and if the permission to touch include Junmyeon's mouth fitting against his, curious to find if his lips are as cool as the snow that he can blow from them.
The soft rumble of a chuckle against his ear has Junmyeon smiling, not resisting as he feels his mug of hot chocolate pulled easily from his hands. "Not cold?"
"Cold in a hot way," Junmyeon tells him through the thickness of sleep on his tongue, easily curling in where Minseok shifts to allow him. He smiles, feeling warmth expand in his chest as he feels the soft press against the side of his head that he's sure is Minseok's mouth.
"Ok, Junmyeon," Minseok says, quiet voice laced with amusement.
Junmyeon doesn't mean to drift off, but he does anyway, curled up and nestled on the couch with Minseok with a soft contented smile on his face.
❈
The bad thing about week long ski trips is that the all come to an end. It comes faster than Junmyeon thinks it will, where he’s on the afternoon runs, riding up the chair lift and he’s not alone this time. It’s a bit of a definite parallel from where he started on Monday. The crowds on Friday are worse than they have been all week, most people coming up early for the weekend.
It’s not that Junmyeon minds the other skiers, it’s more that he realizes that he’s not going to be with them over the weekend to enjoy the rest of the skiing. He has to do some set up for his job on Sunday and tomorrow he’ll have to get the apartment back in order. They’d only paid for five days of skiing and five nights, and Junmyeon isn’t going back to the warmth of the room in the Lucky Tree Inn, he’s getting in his car and driving three hours back to his cold apartment.
It’s a stunning day, and Junmyeon wishes it would last longer as he sits on the chairlift and tries to smile like he’s not disappointed that this is one of the last times he’s riding up a frigid metal chair with Minseok. Ahead of them are Chanyeol and Jongin, who managed to concede that for the last runs they’d ski Phoenix Peak again, taking the final run down Black Pearl while MInseok and Junmyeon probably took either History or Beautiful.
“You know,” Minseok says, leaning into his side and puffing out his cheeks. “It kind of sucks.”
“I know,” Junmyeon says with a sigh. “I wanted to watch Chanyeol fall too.” He smiles as Minseok laughs, grinning at the sound as it echoes off the trees and snow around them. “Though there are still a few runs left. Maybe we’ll be lucky.”
“True,” Minseok says, and leans back. He’s using his snowboard today. It’s a little bit of a shift, where Junmyeon just thinks more, where he barely notices Minseok delaying slightly to get his snowboard buckled in, and finds him just as stunning to watch as he carves down the mountain. Junmyeon just enjoys him, spending time with him, talking with him, and being with him.
It makes him wonder how long he can delay leaving the mountain to get home tomorrow.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” Minseok asks as they pass another chairlift pole.
“Tomorrow?” Junmyeon asks, turning to him. “Just housework I guess. Clean up after the week and just kind of settle back in.”
“Would you stay another day?” Minseok asks him, tone light. “If you could?”
“Well, our tickets were only through today,” Junmyeon explains. “And we already checked out of the Inn, so-”
“But what about you though?” Minseok asks. “I know Chanyeol and Jongin have to go back for their expo but, well, why don’t you stay another day?”
It makes Junmyeon’s heart flutter a little, the idea that Minseok is asking him almost like he really doesn’t want him to go either. “I don’t have to be home,” Junmyeon admits. “But I’d just need the lift ticket and can’t really see staying in my car overnight.”
“You can stay with me,” Minseok offers. His voice is casual but it still making Junmyeon’s stomach swoop at the offer. “I have extra bed space.”
“I thought you only had one bed in the loft,” Junmyeon reminds though, laughing a bit. It’s ridiculous, brash and stupid and… he really wants to say yes.
“It’s a King,” Minseok says, and then grins wide behind his scarf. “Just like me.” His grin widens as Junmyeon laughs at the comment, not sure if he’s actually amused or embarrassed. “You don’t have to, I just thought it would be nice. One more day skiing is never a bad thing, especially when you know the guy controlling the snow. You just can’t keep me up all night because I have to sleep some in order to keep the snow from burying us.”
“I promise I’ll be good,” Junmyeon says, a slight rushing prickle under his skin in excitement.
“Oh, you don’t have to be good,” Minseok tells him, and shoves him a bit. “I like you just how you are. Daring to shove your hands up my shirt and all that stuff.” As Junmyeon laughs, Minseok pulls him closer, arm crooking around Junmyeon’s neck to tug him into his side. At first Junmyeon just thinks he’s going to hug him, but then he feels those soft lips press pointedly to his cooled cheek and his heart jumps.
“Really?” Junmyeon asks, turning as he’s pressed into Minseok’s side.
“Well, just in case you thought kissing me would result in your turning into a human ice figure, I thought I’d start out slow,” Minseok tells him, shrugging with a soft pink to his cheeks.
“I’ll take my chances I guess,” Junmyeon says, smiling and feeling too big in his chest as he leans in with breath caught and kisses Minseok. It’s cold, mostly because it’s winter, but Minseok isn’t frozen and Junmyeon doesn’t freeze, instead that warmth in his chest rising up and spreading as Minseok kisses back, leaning into him. “Guess it’s safe,” Junmyeon says, slightly breathless as he pulls back from the kiss, taking in Minseok’s bright eyes and pink cheeks.
“No making out on the chairlift!” shouts a kid from the slope under them, waving up at them and wearing one of those huge funky hats with about twenty multi-colored spikes on it.
“Don’t hate just because you can’t get any! Embrace your inner voyeur!” hollers from ahead of Junmyeon and Minseok. Looking up and feeling himself blush all over, Junmyeon sees Jongin and Chanyeol turned around in their chair, waving at him, Chanyeol holding up two thumbs up for them. “Carry on, you two!” Chanyeol shouts back to them. “We’re enjoying the show.”
“Fuck,” Junmyeon says, slumping down a bit and shoving his face into Minseok’s shoulder as Minseok shakes with laughter.
❈
Jongin - If you don’t feel safe, remember, Chanyeol has a lead foot and we’ll come and rescue you. Your body, your choice to kick him in the nuts.
Junmyeon chuckles as he reads the message. Sitting on the couch in Minseok’s condo, he doesn’t so much feel like he’s on one of those nervous first dates or strange one night stands where he doesn’t know the guy he’s staying with. It’s more relaxed, where Junmyeon is pretty sure he could suggest they play cards all night and Minseok would just tell him he might fall asleep on him.
Minseok’s stuff is also mostly packed up, the other man apparently heading out the next day after skiing as well, and he gave Junmyeon the definite option of just taking the couch if he wasn’t comfortable. Of course, he’d offered this when he’d been slightly breathless with bruised lips and Junmyeon’s hands in his hair, so Junmyeon thought his answer was pretty apparent.
To Jongin - I promise I can take care of myself. Make sure Chanyeol doesn’t get a speeding ticket on your way back and good luck on your expo!
"Jongin?" Minseok asks, walking out of the bathroom and toweling his hair dry. He's dressed, but Junmyeon can't help but let his eyes trail over him a bit as he walks out.
"He thinks you're going to take advantage of me," Junmyeon tells him, smiling as Minseok flops down onto the couch next to him.
"Am I?" Minseok asks, brows raising in question.
Laughing lightly, Junmyeon doesn't hesitate to lean in and press their smiles together in a kiss, eyes closing at the feeling. "No," he says, pulling back slightly, warm and content. "You're not."
"Good," Minseok says, before leaning in again for a kiss. Minseok kisses just like how Junmyeon might imagine, patient and taking his time, not really pushing but slowing pulling with a secretive edge as subtle drags of his teeth or flicks of his tongue have Junmyeon letting out soft gasps.
They keep getting snuck in as well, those and soft lingering touches as they spend the evening together. The hands lingering at Junmyeon's waist as Minseok maneuvers around him in the kitchen, setting him to work in preparing ingredients as he cooks. "You can do breakfast," Minseok tells him with a grin, heating up the stove. "That way we're even."
"I'm not much of a cook," Junmyeon tells him honestly. "I'm still learning."
"Can you make oatmeal?" Minseok asks him, hand slipping down his spine to rest just at the small of his back, fingers splayed warm. "I kind of fall back on oatmeal for ski trips. It's kind of hard to mess it up and it's better than toast."
Junmyeon laughs, and agrees to breakfast the following morning. It's not specifically like a date, sitting at the small kitchen table in the condo and eating dinner with Minseok, but it's still nice. Nice enough that Junmyeon would consider it a date, does consider it a date, especially with the looks traded between them and the gentle conversation.
"And you're going to do what next week?" Junmyeon asks, sitting back in his chair to look at Minseok. "Sleep?"
"Probably," Minseok answers. "I have another gig next weekend for three days up at another mountain, so I technically need to recover from this week." He takes a drink of his water, frost spidering down the glass where his fingers touch it. "I may be asked up to another mountain mid week to give them a boost and dump some snow, but for the most part I'm just scheduled to recoup this week."
"If you were to work through the week," Junmyeon asks in curiosity. "Would you just… wear out?"
"Well," Minseok explains. "One of two things would happen. Either the snow would stop, and I'd go through a dry spell because I'd basically pass out and hibernate, or I could possibly lose control of it, and bury an area."
Wincing, Junmyeon stretches his legs under the table, tucking Minseok's feet within his own. "I don't really like the sound of either of those."
"Hence why it's not until next weekend that I'm really doing much," Minseok says, placing down his glass. The frost remains. "And why I told you that you can't wear me out," he adds, mouth tugging up at the corners.
"I'll do my best," Junmyeon says, though there isn't pressure behind it. Junmyeon is pretty sure if he did want to push for sex, Minseok might be on board, but he's not driven to get laid. It doesn't feel like that's something Minseok is after either.
It's much more comfortable to have Minseok sprawled on the couch with him, both of them at opposite ends with legs tangled together in the middle, hearing Minseok tell him about the crazy stuff he's gotten into. Snow storms, discovery of the elemental, and some of his adventures skiing and snowboarding. Watching him relax, talking more about it with less hesitation, smiling as he does, Junmyeon wonders how many people Minseok can really talk to about this aside from those like him.
It's more comfortable to just reposition himself when Junmyeon gets back from grabbing a water from the kitchen to leaning with Minseok. To letting his fingers card through his dark hair, letting out soft hums of approval as Minseok's hands slip under the hem of his shirt to brush against his skin. Never being a fan of cold, Junmyeon feels like he missed out on a big aspect of it as his skin flares as Minseok's eyes flash silver and his fingertips drag chilled down Junmyeon's heated skin.
"I can stop," Minseok tells him, voice hushed and rough as he watches Junmyeon with dark eyes. Junmyeon shakes his head, leaning in to kiss him, pulling him closer and feeling the soft bite of winter in Minseok's lips mingling with the heat of his mouth.
"No," he says, giving another shudder as Minseok's hands tease up over his skin. "I like it," he admits, and lets out another gasp as the fingertips dragging down his chest and over his abdomen suddenly turn cold, dragging sensitive down his skin and making him shiver. “Fuck,” he gasps out as Minseok’s fingers return to their usual warmth, slipping back over the still prickling lines he just drew, pressing them into Junmyeon’s skin. “Is this how you touch all your lovers?”
“No,” Minseok tells him, the words pressing hot into Junmyeon’s neck as he kisses down it. “Not all of them.” Pulling back, he slows down, hands just resting on Junmyeon’s waist and kissing him slow and easy. “Just the ones that were other elementals and... well, you.”
“You must not date much,” Junmyeon says, feeling oddly flattered that Minseok doesn’t hide this. It almost makes him hotter, more interested in feeling the full extent of Minseok against him, around him, intrigue burning.
“Well, I don’t not date,” Minseok hums, pulling Junmyeon to just lie with him, pressed flush against each other and sprawled on the couch. “It’s just most people when they find out I can freeze things tend to run.” Turning, he grins at Junmyeon, so close Junmyeon could easy just tilt his head in for a kiss. “I guess that makes you kind of an idiot.”
“So much for that initial romance,” Junmyeon grumbles, though he’s smiling anyway.
“A very handsome idiot?” Minseok amends. Despite the loftiness of his voice, his arms wind themselves around Junmyeon’s waist, holding him close, an unspoken degree of affection. It’s not uncommon that Junmyeon feels like words can only say so much where as a touch can explain the sway of the heart. “I’m glad you didn’t run.”
Rather than answer him, Junmyeon just leans in, capturing Minseok’s lips in a chaste lingering kiss. He’s not entirely sure what he’s trying to say himself, but that’s why it’s easier to just not try to, instead kissing to try to say it all.
Pulling away finally, Junmyeon watches as Minseok’s eyes slowly open, darker and deeper. “What are you doing next weekend?” Minseok asks.
It catches Junmyeon a little off guard. “Nothing much?” he says. “I thought you-”
“I’m, well, it’s not like I can’t bring other people up with me for work,” Minseok says, and his eyes flicker between Junmyeon’s mouth, his nose, his eyes, and never fix on one point. “It’s more fun skiing with people anyway, even if they don’t know all the snow they’re excited about isn’t because of natural weather patterns.” He wets his lips. “I’m going up with a few friends who share the condo with the company. You’d be welcome to join if you wanted to, same with Chanyeol and Jongin if they’re free.”
“I’m not sure I can afford another weekend of room and board and skiing,” Junmyeon says, though he feels almost too content, wanting to say yes.
“Well, you can just stay with me and then you just have to worry about a lift ticket,” Minseok says, and finally meets his eyes, dark and waiting. “Unless you really did want to sleep on the couch tonight.”
“Two days of skiing next weekend,” Junmyeon muses, watching Minseok watch him. His arms are warm around him, chest firm and pleasant pressed against his own. “I think I could be easily persuaded. Unless you kick me out of bed in your sleep or something.”
“I’ve been told I’m a very calm sleeper,” Minseok tells him, and the hesitancy is gone, guard dropping as he shifts to accommodate Junmyeon, slipping them closer. “Though I pity whoever it is stuck with my best friend.” At Junmyeon’s inquisitive look, he grins. “He screams in his sleep and apparently dreams he’s a pro football player. He’s an actual nightmare to share a bed with.”
“So I’ll be sleeping with you then,” Junmyeon states. It’s not often that he just signs up to sleep in the same bed as someone, let alone the guy he’s never really been on an actual date with. So far though, everything with Minseok has been unconventional, and Junmyeon realizes he likes all of it, slipping into the comfort before the steps of dating have passed.
“I mean, you might have to ask Jongin first, but the offer is definitely open,” Minseok tells him.
Rather than getting into specifics, Junmyeon agrees, thinking of another few days of riding up lifts together, half frozen M&M’s pulled from pockets, snow falling down in perfectly controlled conditions, and lips dragging along his skin flickering between warm and cool. The whole area is warm, the fire they ended up building in the condo fireplace making the whole place glow in soft amber burnt orange. The embers glowing warm mimick those Junmyeon feels in his core every time Minseok’s lips travel up the stretch of his neck, nose burying easily into his skin and pulling out a sigh of contentment.
Refusing to hear jokes or hesitancy, Junmyeon ends up dragging them up the stairs, telling Minseok he’s not keeping him up too late, just like he promised. It earns him a laugh and arms wrapping around him, Junmyeon’s own twining around Minseok’s neck, grinning together as they fall into the soft bed.
It’s been a long time since Junmyeon has had a goodnight kiss that pressed him back into the sheets and promised more to come. It’s been a long time since Junmyeon didn’t go to bed alone, instead with arms wrapped around his waist and soft breath against his skin.
It’s the first time though when Junmyeon wakes up the next morning, heavy with sleep and feeling the dull pleasant glow of sleeping in warm comfort, and opens his eyes to see frost creeping from all the windows from the inside. His laugh ends up waking up Minseok, bleary eyed and hair sticking up everywhere, only to get them both laughing at the gentle oddly warm snow that seems to fall from nothing just over the bed.
“I swear, that’s never happened before,” Minseok murmurs into Junmyeon’s neck, voice thick with sleep as he burrows into Junmyeon’s side.
“I like it,” Junmyeon says genuinely, pressing a soft kiss to Minseok’s cheek. “I like you.”
“Good,” Minseok mumbles. Pulling back from where he wedged himself against Junmyeon, he smiles down at him, warm and genuine before he leans down and kisses Junmyeon soundly. “I’m glad it’s a mutual thing.”
“Definitely mutual,” Junmyeon says, grinning at him and letting his fingers briefly brush through Minseok’s tousled hair. “And just for the record, I hope we’re also mutual on not kissing again until we brush teeth.”
“Oh definitely,” Minseok says, fixing him with a pointed look. “You’re gross, never kissing you again until you-”
Their laughter ends up getting caught up in the soft white sheets, white as the snow outside and gently falling inside. Caught up and wrapped up just as they do, tangled in limbs and laughter, their smiles as bright as the sun sending the frosted windows to reflect like diamonds.
Warm and thrumming, Junmyeon lies back with warm arms around him in a frozen dream, and knows this is not only a once in a moment fairy tale, but that his goes on. It’s not over, and as he turns to press his lips to the corner of Minseok’s mouth, he knows the excitement has only just begun.
❈ * ❈