winter was easily leafâs least favourite time of the year , even despite things like his birthday and christmas and new years taking place throughout the season , and despite him finding winter activities to be wholeheartedly fun . he was reminded of why he thought this season blew as he had to put on layer after layer in preparation of exiting the building , finishing the look with his large boots - the only pair of shoes he would ever own or wear , wearing them only when he had to . he was extremely sensitive to the cold , surprisingly , and he was uncomfortable in all he was made to wear to protect himself from the bite the air had to offer once he stepped outside , but seeing river there waiting for him immediately worked to thaw his temporarily frozen heart . â a ride ? â his mind immediately went to things other than the car river was standing by , despite knowing what he really meant . â yeah , iâm looking for a ride . but can you also drive me some place ? â he teased him , though his mind quickly changed pace as he looked down and saw what river held . was that a present of him ? the mere thought of the romantic gesture was enough to warm leaf up even while out in the cold . â thanks for driving up to the door for me , iâm a real baby in the cold . â he informed the other , not having to reach up quite as far as usual to kiss him as the added height the boots he wore gave him assistance . they kissed the other once , then twice , then a third time for no reason in particular other than they simply couldnât get enough of river .
leaf walked out in full gear, as if he were wearing a full armor against the cold. river smiled- it was too cute. he somehow looked even smaller than usual despite the extra height inches with the snow boots. it wasnât like river loved the cold, but he didnât have that much gear to cover himself up, so he ended up getting used to it for the most part. besides, river ran hot for some reason. he was a little walking heater, which would work if leaf hated the cold enough to wear ten thousand layers. it only made river want to wrap his arms around him already, bring him close and hibernate - or better yet, never move again. for once, riverâs mind was in some kind of innocent mode where he didnât get the joke for a couple seconds until leaf made it painfully obvious. of course river laughed, felt his cheeks redden, though he could argue came with the cold, but he simply stepped forward and handed him the letter and the little paper flower. âyouâre a baby either way,â he teased, returning each kiss with his eyes closed, wishing each time it lasted longer than before. youâre my baby, he wanted to say, but a sudden wave of panic forced the words back into his throat, but he grabbed his face and kissed him deeply for a few seconds before moving back.Â
river fixed leafâs winter hat and opened the door for him before going around the driverâs seat. the car was already warm, so there was no need to wait for it to do so the second they were inside. river started the car, turned on the radio, and immediately went off on some spanish music station his father loved to hear. river was quick to turn the volume all the way down and laughed, looking at leaf as if he suddenly was way younger and absolutely smitten for the first time. âsorry about that- itâs my dadâs car after all,â he wrinkled his nose before slowly starting the drive towards the lodge. âi, uh-â have never been on a date, he thought of saying but once again he panicked. âiâm excited,â he said instead, and turned the knob of the volume back up, letting leaf choose the station instead.Â
river pulled over by a little shop in the lodge- the place was full of life already, and with the winter getting closer and closer, the sun was already halfway down, allowing the lights and decorations shine all across the lodge area. âuhm- have you ever made a gingerbread house?â river asked before getting out of the car. âi havenât.â he grinned, feeling almost childish about the activity he had chosen. he had also gotten a cabin for the night, but river did not want that moment to be the center of their day, so he kept it to himself for now. feeling a new wave of nerves, giddiness and almost nausea, river got out of the car and held his hand out for leaf when he opened the door for him. âletâs go inside before you freeze, baby.â