"... I hope you you'll be here to warm me up."
If there was one thing Tanjirou disliked,
He'd probably say winter.
Maybe it was from the dead cold he'd feel thrumming through his veins that would make him recoil. Or perhaps it was from the memories attached to them. He had unconsciously associated snow with cold and lonely – it's what experience does to you. After all, it was the only thing he could do; to let guilt color the snow with crimson in a way to never forget the carnage and suffering his family went through. At some point, during his quiet (and lonely) residence in his previous master's abode, he had pretty much etched the pain under his skin. He had all the time and silence to repeat the memories over and over again, after all.
He was never cold under his family's roof. Only had he experienced gelidity in their absence.
When his ruby eyes met the Siberian white ground, all he could see was the crimson tainting the snow and surrounding his house – his family's cold, dead bodies scattered around his house. It was a nightmare that followed him like a shadow, yet it never got old and always gets him. The redhead could only let out a small sigh, puffs of visible air surrounding his face, an expression outwardly vacant while a storm of familiar distress brewed within. One that could possibly compare to the snowstorm in the real world, except quieter – silent, even.
Isn't Christmas the season to be festive; to spend time with your beloved families and friends? Yet he found himself amidst the winter wonderland, staring at the falling snow with melancholic reminiscence, quite similar to the times he spent his last two Christmas void of his family's warmth. He could hear the rambunctious chatters of his friends from outside, clanking sounds of utensils and glass cups followed by their joyous cheers, savoring the moment of just spending their day without killing demons, without risking a limb and a life, and easing what remains of their sanity.
He's found family within the corporation... so why does he insist on the lonely winter's companion?
"There you are."
Tanjirou let out a surprised sound, not expecting anyone to find him so soon. But, then again, this person who could decipher his silence wasn't just anyone.
From the milky white expansion above him, which cried snow and cold, his warm and ruby optics drifted over to the figure that was now beside him, with a head sprinkled by sparse snow thanks to the lack of roof and two visibly piping hot cups in both hands. [Eye color] hues with the gentleness he always loves, a tone so soft and so melodic to his ears.
And a smile full of fondness that felt like cupid's arrows shooting him right at his heart.
"Ah, [Name]."
The way your name rolls out of his tongue sounds like caramel dipped in chocolate – from the tenderness to the quietude. The warmth engrained forevermore in his person, and especially within his eyes, only seemed to brighten up at your arrival, which greatly contrasts the milky and dull white expansion. Rubbing his arms for warmth, he inquires. "What brings you here?"
"Oh, nothing." you first shrug before a knowing smile takes over, handing him one of the cups he sensed with a sweet cocoa aroma, "Was just searching for a certain hard-headed friend of mine. I couldn't find him inside. How about you?"
The boy follows your mirth and mimicked your tone in a lighthearted and playful manner, not before accepting your offer with warm palms and nonverbal gratitude. "Oh nothing, just watching the snow, I couldn't watch it inside."
A snort leaves you, "Yeah, watching the snow tooo intensely, aren't you? Look at your hair!" you ruffled his burgundy hair to dust the snowy sprinkle away with your free hand as if you, yourself, weren't in a similar situation. You neverminded the proximity between you two, him probably less.
Tanjirou only lets out an apologetic smile, subconsciously leaning on your warmth.
When you're satisfied with your work, you took a few steps back to behold his newfound beauty – some rebellious snow particles weaved between his messy locks, yet perfectly framing his face – before you jokingly posed in admiration. "Ah, yes, now that's way better. Can't have the snow covering your pretty face now, can we?"
The male would only grin at your antics, embarrassed at your choice of words. The emptiness within felt as if it's suddenly invaded by warm butterflies.
You simply laugh along, your breaths materializing, as you then take your rightful place beside him and sat on the wooden fence (which was thick enough for sitting), letting your feet dangle in the cold air, and stare at the scenery of winter wonderland before you. Tanjirou, on the other hand, has his legs crossed, his body in the present while his mind is distant as if he locked himself in deep contemplation. Or, rather, in reminiscing.
Rough and warm palms wrapped around the cup, a companion by his side that had eliminated any feeling of loneliness; the atmosphere was just right for the cold. But it doesn't eliminate melancholia.
You hear him heave a sigh hinted by a humble chuckle, yet was void of any humor. He scratches his head with an apologetic expression, "Sorry for suddenly leaving... I was feeling a bit..."
Though, he doesn't really finish it.
"It's alright."
Your voice tickled his ears, your words tenfold. He gives you a glance, and you held serenity in your bearings – neither uncaring nor probing, but somewhere in between; patient and understanding. From the cold, your flush complexion cutely highlights the beauty in your visage, and he immediately looks away before you can catch staring, shoving his warm cup right under his nose. If you ever caught him, he just hoped to use the gelid temperature as an excuse for the scarlet embarrassment.
You often claim he was the kinder between you two, but how could he agree when you grace him with the peace he had resigned himself from?
He's thankful that it was you.
"Winter is beautiful, isn't it?" your lighthearted voice starts before you took a sip from your beverage, to fill his empty atmosphere because you know he isn't yet used to the life of silence.
Your companion hummed in agreement, ruby eyes softening as he stared at you once more.
But also full of dangers.
Tanjirou could never forget the day his world turned upside down; the vivid memories, the flooding emotions, the merciless winter, and the scent of blood. After that night, you and his little sister were the only ones left in his crumbling world – his only drive to keep moving forward Maybe if he really were left with nothing, he might have become mad. How he swore to protect both of your lives, even if it meant losing his.
Taking another sip, he then tilts his head skyward to behold the white horizon above, the unpleasant memories and intrusive thoughts forever grasping his mind and digging poison shaped like claws as if intending to leave a striking scar and would never let him know peace.
If he loses his little sister...
If he loses you...
It was times like these when doubt starts creeping on his spine and taking hold of his mind. The usual blaze and determination he never fails to exhibit were gone with the icy wind, the passion sunken deep in the abyss, and the negativity within that he had kept aside now catching up. Similar to the sun and how it weakens warming up the world once snow falls and stars stay up longer.
He never had plans to stop and sulk in sadness – not when a human's life is limited, and not especially when he could be saving lives. Never had, and never will.
But they consume his mind when void settles in.
And where else is void but winter and its striking cold that urges everyone to huddle for warmth and comfort? It's paradoxical, in the sense where his dislike of winter is also his only comfort, almost as if the winter, who was his only witness of his darkest and bloodiest, would be his most trusted listener.
Until shuffles from beside snaps him out of his little world, and it all but urges him away as he looks at you, who jumped off the fence and starts to walk away. Your almost emptied mug was placed where you sat, and he doesn't inquire your sudden movements. Simply, he watches the way you maneuvered on the snow until you stopped a few feet away from where he is. The snowfall easily drapes your head and shoulders, your feet leaving footprints, and he seriously considered buying those cameras from the west just to capture this ephemeral and breathtaking imagery... and a myriad more.
But you suddenly turn around, and nothing would prepare him from the grace you bless him with, from that smile that mirrored his; patient, understanding, genuine. As winter wonderland surrounds your build, snowflakes and dully white background complementing your color and vigor, you held your hand out to him.
"Shall we dance?"
And that he is who's at the receiving end of such affection.
And he remembers that comfort doesn't mean lonely.
Tanjirou felt a shudder run down as warmth rises up. He thought his cheeks couldn't glow any brighter, and he thought wrong. The way you offer him with nothing but company – but comfort he never knew he wanted yet had long needed.
And, at this point, refusing you is just detrimental to his health.
He only sets his cup down before walking to where you stood, patiently waiting for his acceptance. And accept is what he does, the rough imprints in his fingers familiarly touching your palm that brings a smile to your face, not without an appreciative smile and rekindled movements that now seemed like winter has nothing against his fire. A chuckle escapes you, but before any more exchange, he intertwined your fingers and pulled you closer to his comfort space, his other secured on your waist. His eyes held humble mirth and overflowing adoration, his small laugh tickling your ears.
"Thank you, [Name]."
When he steps, you follow, and when he spins you, you twirl. You're not necessarily born with a dancer's feet, and your clumsiness in the way you almost trip on snow is evidence of this, yet he feels this blind trust of his skills that you gave him – that you merely let him guide you, and even if you're not much of a dancer, you considered it a means of cheering him up. It feels... intimate. Warm and comforting. He never thought he could use his family's tradition as a means of leaning closer to you, breathing in your scent better, yet here he is.
He wonders if he's taking advantage of your leniency. After all, he doesn't think this is how... friends should treat each other... is it?
But it doesn't stop him from pulling you against him, your back flushed against his chest, his arms protectively looped around your waist, and his chin comfortably atop your shoulders. For some unexplainable reason, everything feels right. From the familiar presence under his arms, to the familiar coldness nipping his skin numb, to the unusual serenity within his mind.
Because all he really thinks of, as this moment, is you.
"You're... very warm." comes your murmurs, your thumb lazily drawing circles with his intertwined ones that he had once never let go of.
"Mhm," you feel warmer. "Or maybe it's just too cold."
He feels you shift your weight against him. "Or maybe it's both."
The redhead smiles, subconsciously breathing in the scent engrained in your person. The same scent that would enter his system when both of you, back in the day, would spend your sunny afternoons collecting flowers to make messy flower crowns, or when you and him would spar with wooden swords in hand under the viridian forest of where his former master lived. After all these years, you remain the same, and that eases him in this world of ever changing.
Perhaps... he can allow himself to be a bit selfish regarding you.
You're offering all of you to him, and if this is what you truly intend, then who is he to deny your gracious offer?
But if you need release and space, then he'd give it to you in a heartbeat, and he does so the moment he felt you disentangle from his embosom. With your back facing him, he can't really see your features. Yet he's patient, and he only waits for your next actions as he watches you stretch your limbs and heave out a deep and audible sigh. Within the same second, you then drop to the ground to crouch, which finally makes him verbal in his confusion.
"[Name]?"
"Hey, Tanjirou."
He sees your hands doing... something. Or, at least, he just sees your arms moving from his periphery. The Kamado crossed his arms and shifted his weight to the other foot, raising an eyebrow as he waits for whatever is in your mind. "Yes–?"
That was until he felt a handful of cold material slap him right in his face.
His first instinct was to bring a hand up to his now damp visage to rub away the cold and wet snow, his second instinct was to snap his head back to where you now stood. A snowball dances around your sprightly digits, a smug grin on your features.
"You're it."
He pauses.
Oh.
"It's been a while since we had a snowball competition," You started to take steps backward until you turned your back to run. "Let's see if I'm still the winner, shall we!?" Your childish laugh filled the cold atmosphere. And just as how fast you were in your ambush, you dashed off in a speed possible faster than sound.
Disbelief is first sprawled in his countenance before a determined look replaces its stead, and the fire that was close to being extinguished is revitalized once more as a playful and competitive front is now displayed.
"... I think you've forgotten." he's oddly calm when he utters those words, but then he trained legs started to run after you, ducking down to get a handful of snow, he suddenly chases you down with such speed, "The last time we had a competition, I won!"
You almost squealed in astonishment to hear his crunching footsteps on your tail. "Eh!? That doesn't count!"
"Whatever you say!"
As you both descend into blurs from the winter wonderland, two mugs sat peacefully by the fence.
Right beside each other, warm despite the winter.