Yuukito sat in a pile of pillows and cushions set up on the den floor of the Howl family’s cabin. The fireplace was burning steadily, the orange flames casting a golden glow over the room and gradually warming up his chilled bones. After spending a whole day playing outside in the snow, breathing the frigid mountain air, and wobbling his way through his first snowboarding lesson, he was thoroughly exhausted.
Exhausted, but content. Especially as Jack returned from the kitchen with two steaming bowls in hand.
“Here. My mom made us some pear compote.” He sat down next to Yuukito, their knees touching, and handed him one of the bowls and a spoon. “It’s hot, so be careful not to burn your tongue.”
Yuukito sat up straighter and beamed as he took the treat. “Thank you.” He spooned out a bit of the compote, blew on it for good measure, and ate. The taste was delightfully sweet and cinnamony, and instantly warmed his mouth. “Mm! It’s delicious!” he gasped, wasting no time going in for another bite.
“Right?” Jack grinned, his tail starting to swish back and forth behind him. “It’s even better with cream on top. Or if you put it over pancakes for breakfast. Mom really makes it the best.”
Yuukito licked some of the sauce from his lips, a smirk crossing his features. “Hmm… Epel says his grandma makes some pretty darn good apple compote, though,” he drawled. “We’ll have to compare this with hers sometime to see which is better.”
Instantly, Jack stiffened, his ears twitching and his tail wagging coming to an abrupt halt. “What? No way!” he insisted, brow furrowing at such blasphemy. “My mom’s or not, pear compote is always gonna be superior!”
Yuukito laughed, fully expecting that sort of reaction. Jack was just too easy to tease sometimes. “I’m just kidding~” he chuckled. “You and Epel really are the world’s number one pear and apple enthusiasts.”
“Hmph.” Jack pouted, unamused, but didn’t deny it as he quietly consumed his own compote.
They sat like that for a few minutes, enjoying their dessert in peace, right down to the very last morsel, the very last lick. The clinking of metal spoons against ceramic bowls mingled with the sporadic crackling of the fire, until they were both finished and Jack took their dishes back to the kitchen. When he returned, he found Yuukito had scooted a bit closer to the fire, his knees brought up to his chest.
“Are you warm enough?” he asked, not missing the way his shoulders were hunched and how he was rubbing his arms.
Yuukito shrugged. “I’m still a little bit chilly,” he admitted sheepishly. “I might need to put on my scarf again.”
“Your stuff’s still drying,” Jack said, shooting down that idea. “Wait a sec.”
Moving over to the couch, he grabbed a folded blanket that had been draped over the back and wrapped it around Yuukito’s neck and shoulders. But what really startled Yuukito was that he then proceeded to sit directly behind him and gently drew him into his arms, hugging him to his chest and enveloping him with warmth.
All at once, Yuukito was hot, as if the fire had leapt from the hearth and singed his skin. He could feel the blush in his cheeks, could feel Jack’s racing heartbeat pressed against his back, mingling with his own hammering heart and nearly drowning it out. He swallowed thickly, his throat suddenly dry.
“Uh… Jack?” he managed, his voice small.
“I-I just don’t want you to catch a cold, okay?” Jack insisted, almost a little too quickly and defensively in classic Tsundere-Jack fashion. “It’d be bothersome if you were sick the rest of the trip.”
“O-Oh. Thank you.” Yuukito smiled, slowly relaxing in his hold. “Then… I’ll gladly steal your warmth.”
Jack huffed, his breath ghosting over the back of Yuukito’s neck. “You aren’t stealing anything from me,” he murmured. “I’m just…letting you borrow it.”
Another beat of silence passed between them. Then two. Yuukito tugged the blanket tighter around him, his gaze drifting to the windows.
“It’s supposed to snow tonight into tomorrow,” he said, watching the fat, pale flakes fall beyond the glass. “Are we still gonna go out on the slopes?”
Jack shook his head. “It’s too dangerous for a newbie like you to practice in a snow storm.”
“Aww.” Yuukito threw him a disappointed frown over his shoulder. “But I wanted to learn how to do those cool snowboarding tricks you were doing today.”
Jack simply glowered back at him. “I don’t need you breaking a leg. Focus on getting down the kiddie hills without falling over first.” He smirked, adding, “Then maybe I’ll show you.”
Yuukito pursed his lips. “Fine.” He turned back around, facing the fire again. “I’ll just ask your brother and sister to show me.”
“Don’t you dare!” Jack’s hug tightened, trapping him in a wolf wrap that pinned his arms and left no room for escape. He buried his face into the side of Yuukito’s throat, a grin on his lips as he nipped at the exposed skin. “I’ll make sure they don’t show you either.”
“Okay, okay!” Yuukito squealed, breathy and in a slight panic over the threat of a potential tickling. He squirmed in his hold, kicking his feet uselessly, and relented, “I’ll stick to the kiddie hills!”
Satisfied with that response, Jack loosened his grip and pulled back. Letting out a breath of relief, Yuukito slumped against him, flustered but happy nonetheless. They’d come a long way from when they’d first started dating, when both of them had been awkward and unsure of what to do with one another, let alone initiate anything physically intimate. There, of course, was still room for growth, but at least now they were comfortable going out on dates and taking trips with family. They could tease and touch each other without misunderstanding, without hurting each other, and for that, Yuukito was grateful.
They stared at the dancing flames for what felt like hours, the flickering movements mesmerizing. Tender and warm and at ease in the nighttime privacy of the den, it wasn’t long before Yuukito’s eyelids started to droop, his remaining energy waning.
“It’s so cozy…” he mumbled, his words slurring with drowsiness. “I wish we could…stay like this forever…”
“Mm…” Jack hummed behind him, the sound deep and trailing off.
Yuukito could feel how his breaths had slowed and evened out, how his head was drooping as he nodded off. A glance over his shoulder, and he could see that Jack had closed his eyes, his expression slack as he started to drift into dreamland.
Yuukito smiled. He was so cute when he was sleeping.
With the two of them comfortably relaxing into the pillows, Yuukito snuggled closer and adjusted the blanket so it was covering the both of them now.
“Goodnight, Jack,” he whispered, and together they fell into a deep and comfy and very warm sleep in front of the fire.
This is my first time posting my writing for the TWST fandom. Please be kind 💜
Yuukito belongs to me. I have his main story in the works, so if he interests you, stay tuned.
**I do not own Twisted-Wonderland (duh). I do not consent to having my work used for training AI.**
Part 4 of TWST Valentine's Day Shorts 2026
Part 1: Five More Minutes
Part 3: Sugar Cookies and Cherry Pie
