you’re my new neighbor and we’ve never spoken but you saw me shoveling snow all day and i guess it must be pretty obvious how cold i am because you brought me a jacket and hot cocoa au (merrikat Zack just moved back to Maryland from Hawaii and forgot how much he hates shoveling snow)
tbh i think the best part abt being so multi-fandom is that the prompts i get are all different ships from all different media and i lov it
thanks for the prompt, anon
send me a winter/christmas prompt!
There is snow in his shoes.
Originally, Zack had been so excited for the heavy snowfall. After several years living in Hawaii, he hadn’t seen snow at home at all. Now, though, as he shovels his driveway while trying not to slip on the underlying sheet of ice, he wishes he could go back to his beach house and never have to deal with winter ever again.
Just as he starts on the last section of driveway, movement across the street catches his eye and he looks up to see a skunk-haired man– who is also much more appropriately dressed for the weather than poor Zack– heading across the street to him.
“Hey, you just moved in a week or two ago, right?” the man asks, smiling brightly. “My name’s Jack, I live right across the street there.”
“Yeah,” Zack smiles in return. “I’m Zack. Nice to meet you.”
Then he shivers, finally unable to ignore the chill now that he’s standing still. Zack hasn’t had the chance to get his winter wardrobe updated, so he’s out in a layered long-sleeve and T-shirt, compression leggings under his jeans. (He’s improvising, okay?)
“Oh!” Jack fumbles a bit, untucking something from under his arm. “I, uh, noticed you don’t really look like you should be out shovelling, so I brought this out for you? I don’t know if it’ll fit–” you are MUCH more fit than I could tell from the window…
Zack takes the coat appreciatively and slips it on. It’s a little tight in the shoulders, but it already feels better than having nothing. “Dude, thank you so much.”
“Yeah, no problem,” Jack nods. Then he shuffles his feet awkwardly. “So, uh, when you finish up, if you want, you’re welcome to come over? Hot cocoa sound good?”
Zack blinks in surprise. “Oh– yeah, yeah, that sounds great. Sure. I’ll be over in like, five or ten minutes?”
“Okay!” Jack grins, walking backwards across the street to his own driveway. “I kinda wanna know why a guy living in Maryland doesn’t have a winter coat, so be prepared to tell some stories!”
Zack laughs to himself, shaking his head and picking up his shovel again.
Maybe he doesn’t need to be in such a rush to get back to Hawaii.
“So you’ve been living in Hawaii for the past six years?” Jack says in disbelief.
Zack laughs and nods, sipping on his hot cocoa. Both he and Jack have gotten little white mustaches from the melting marshmallows on top of their drinks, but it doesn’t even bother him.
“Why’re you in Maryland, then?”
“Work, family,” Zack shrugs. “Cheaper to live here than to buy a plane ticket every year or two just to spend two months continental before heading back out.”
Jack bobs his head at that. He nudges the fireplace with the metal poker, stirring the flames up again. In the orange firelight, his eyes look like warm amber, dark honey, and Zack quickly looks back down at his mug.
“Thanks for this,” he blurts, Jack’s gaze snapping back over to him.
Jack laughs, trying to brush it off, but there’s a blush creeping up his neck. “Oh, yeah, no problem. I mean, I was kinda looking for the opportunity to say hi, anyway, since you moved in so recently.”
Zack hums, smiling as he drains the last of the cocoa from his mug. “It’s nice to have a friend in the neighborhood already.”
“Hell yeah, bro,” Jack laughs.
“Hey, do you wanna help me buy an actual winter wardrobe this weekend?” Zack asks hopefully, grinning and gesturing to his thin layers. By the doorway, his converse are slowly creating a puddle of melted snow.
Jack smiles in a way that crinkles his honey-dark eyes. “Of course. I think you need the help.”
