"Mother Nature thought she played a good one, Kase." Oliver pointed at him with a pretzel stick. It was about to be dunked in fondue, of which kind the universe had yet to know. "She sends snow the day after Thanksgiving, and that way, she thinks no one can argue with her."

So the pretzel was doomed to be covered in melted chocolate. Oliver ate it in two bites.

"But she made a crucial mistake. See, you think one must accept the inevitability of the holiday season after the end of Thanksgiving and the snow and Christmas songs on the radio that come along with it, but we can just as easily justify waiting until the winter solstice to accept snowy weather."

"Undoubtedly," said Fukase, listening intently. He selected a cookie from the platters of biscuits and pretzels and other tiny snacks. Cul was going all out for her party. He didn't dip the cookie in fondue, but ate it in small bites, savoring it.

"When's the winter solstice, again?" he asked.

"December 21st," Oliver replied. "Last year it was on the 22nd. I took that personally. I was born on the winter solstice, so even though it can even fall on the 24th, I have a bias for the 21st."

"Oh, right. I almost forgot your birthday is so close to Christmas."

"I take that personally as well! What kind of boyfriend are you? I would never forget your birthday."

"Oh yeah? What is it, then?"

Oliver had been bluffing, but Fukase didn't know that. At that moment, Cul came rushing down the stairs with a cardboard box filled with strings of electric lights. When she saw the two boys snacking on the snack platters, she let out a gasp that could win an Oscar.

"Fukase! I told you not to eat those. They're for my guests!"

Fukase tilted his head. "Don't you think having a Friendsgiving after the real Thanksgiving is kinda lame?"

"It is not!"

"I think it is," added Oliver.

"Hey. No teasing my sister." Fukase jabbed him in the side. "Only I can do that."

"Why don't you go take a hike in the snow?" Cul dumped the box out on a chair. "I don't want you two here when my friends show up."

"Nah." Oliver grabbed another pretzel to protest from Cul, dipped it in chocolate, and was about to eat it when Fukase snatched the pretzel out of his hands and popped it into his mouth. Oliver quickly followed him, stealing a peck on the lips.

Fukase almost choked on the pretzel as Oliver laughed.

"Gross!" Cul playfully pulled out Fukase's chair and hit his shoulder. "Just leave already."

"All right, all right!" Fukase stood, waving her off. "Where's my coat?"

On his way to the door, Oliver grabbed a handful of assorted nuts.

"Put those back!" Cul glared as she moved in front of her fondue spread.

"No."

"I hate your boyfriend, Fukase! Get a new one!"

"But I like this one." Fukase slung an arm around Oliver, who stuck out his tongue.

Cul threw the cardboard box at them.

=•=•=

Soon they were outside, Fukase dressed in layers and Oliver wearing a light jacket. They walked with their hands casually joined, as if they did it every day.

Fukase remembered when he was too shy to hold hands. His were rough and scarred, but Oliver held them lightly and almost unconsciously, like he did with everyone. Ever since they had started dating, Fukase was less and less self conscious about his looks.

"So, anywhere special you want to go?" Fukase asked.

"Mm, nah." Oliver swung his arm, pulling Fukase's hand with it. "We can just walk."

"Gonna let my little sister decide what we do, huh?"

His comment seemed to change Oliver's mind. "Wanna go ice skating?"

"You can't whine about snow one minute then want to go ice skating the next."

"Fine. Even though that wasn't a minute ago. You suggest something."

"All right."

They passed a few other shops and the bookstore on the corner. Several snowflakes fell from the sky, not threatening, but peaceful. Fukase idly thought about putting his hands in his pockets to warm them up. Then Oliver squeezed his hand and he decided he would rather have cold fingers.

"Do you want to go get something to drink? Maybe hot chocolate?" There was a new café Fukase wanted to check out a couple blocks down.

"You've ruined hot chocolate for me, remember?" Oliver kicked at the ground. "Nothing else even starts to compare with your recipe."

Fukase smiled. Typical Oliver, disguising compliments with complaints.

"Let's just go to the park, then. Unless I've ruined them for you, too?"

"No." Oliver suddenly moved closer to Fukase, letting go of his hand and linking arms instead. "The park is good."

Fukase couldn't help standing a little straighter. "Good."

They walked in silence for a while. Fukase paid close attention to the slight changes in Oliver's gait and accommodated for them by adjusting his own stride. Not once did he disrupt the rhythm.

They soon reached the park. Snow lightly dusted the grass and branches of trees like frost. It would've been a pitiful sight for December, but for November is was a gallant effort.

Oliver blew out into the air and shivered, pressing closer to Fukase's side.

"You should get a heavier coat," Fukase commented.

"Weren't you listening at all back at the café?" Oliver pointed to his own ear. "If I put on a winter coat, that means I've accepted it's winter and Mother Nature wins. Therefore, I will not wear a coat until the 21st." He nodded like he was proud of himself.

Fukase found the rhythm again, and laughed. "Still going on about that? Do you want my scarf?" He began unwinding the ends.

"Yes." Oliver turned towards him and stopped walking. "It's still freezing out here. Scarves don't count."

Fukase didn't ask for permission before carefully wrapping the scarf around Oliver's neck himself and tucking in one of the ends. He loved how straightforward Oliver was in matters like these. No beating around the bush whatsoever. It was nice. He shoved his hands in his pockets and continued to walk.

"Mm, it's already warm." Oliver pressed his hands into the fabric's folds, and covered his mouth with them, muffling his voice. "Preheated scarves should be a thing. And this smells nice."

"I'm glad you like it." Fukase felt his face heat up, and mentally blamed it on the cold. "If someone invents a scarf with a heating feature, I'll get one for you."

"No, I won't need one. I've got you."

"It isn't my job to keep you warm."

"No? Then why am I dating you?"

"It's my job to make sure you can keep yourself warm."

Oliver pouted. "You're so practical. It takes the fun out of everything."

"Let's sit here." Fukase pointed to a bench. It was one of the few that were clear of snow. Oliver plopped down, not even checking to see if he was sitting in a puddle of melted ice. Fukase was more cautious, brushing off the boards with his coat sleeve before taking a seat. Oliver leaned on his shoulder.

"So..." Fukase started. "What do you want for your birthday?"

"Gah!" Oliver pulled back and made a face like he had eaten something bitter. "So tactless!"

"I want to make sure I get something you like."

"Okay," Oliver laughed. "Smart. I guess. I'll accept it."

"So, what do you want?"

"I don't know. Double-sided tape?" Oliver slouched forward, resting his chin in his hands.

"Eh?" Fukase's eyebrows jumped up as he grinned. "Now who's the practical one?"

Oliver didn't seem to notice Fukase's jab, and instead stared off into the distance. "I never hung up the posters we got at that concert. " His voice slowed and lost its usual edge. He seemed to be lost in thought. "Double-sided tape... would make them look nice, right?"

"Where do you plan on hanging them?" Fukase eased back on the bench, pulling Oliver with him and back to the conversation.

"Hm?" Oliver looked at him with an expression like a washed window. "Hanging what?"

"The posters, Oliver." Fukase lowered his voice and spoke patiently, taking Oliver's hand and looking him in the eye. "We were talking about that band's posters you have. Where are you going to hang them?"

Oliver stared at him for a moment more, and Fukase was about to ask him if he wanted to go home before he leapt back into the conversation like a sudden storm.

"Don't you think it's weird when people put posters above their bed? I think it's weird, like what if it falls down on your face while you sleep? What if you have sleep paralysis and can't get it off and you suffocate? And hanging posters in your bedroom makes you seem like a nerd, no matter what they're of. Know what? You can have them, Kase. I'll bring them to you at school on Monday, okay? Just promise you won't throw them away cuz that's a waste. Do you promise that?"

"Sure." Fukase gave a slight laugh. Oliver seemed to have an unlimited air supply when it came to absentminded chatter. "Maybe Cul will like them. She's listened to like, every band there is."

"Right. How 'bout we go somewhere else." Oliver stood, brushing his bangs out of his eyes. "I don't like it here."

"Okay."

They went back the way they came, Oliver holding Fukase's hand much tighter than before.

They talked about nothing for a while, but Fukase couldn't stop thinking. He never knew what to do about the times Oliver seemed to disappear. This was the fourth time it had happened. Fukase knew people who zoned out during conversations, but never so suddenly and thoroughly like Oliver. He was scared to bring it up.

Oliver's phone buzzed. "Oh. I should take this."

Fukase pretended to look into the nearest window display as Oliver answered the call.

"Hi... I know, sorry."

The window was for a stationery store. A couple of personalized holiday cards and wedding invitations were featured, filled with pictures of models smiling blankly with empty eyes. Or maybe it was the printing that made them look soulless. Fukase didn't know.

"I'm sorry. I'll be home in a minute."

Fukase turned back to Oliver as he put his phone into his pocket.

"Uh, I've gotta get back to the house."

"Right. I'll walk you there."

"Um, no." Oliver seemed to argue with himself for a heartbeat. "I should, I should go by myself."

"Right," Fukase repeated.

They stood there for moment, simply looking at each other.

"See you later." Fukase turned to leave. He understood.

"Wait!"

"Yeah?" Fukase looked back at Oliver.

Oliver froze, then beamed, playing with the edge of his scarf. "Thanks."

Fukase tilted his head. "For what?"

The light turned green and Oliver dashed across the street before Fukase could read his expression.

"Nothing, you idiot!"