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“You promised you’d stop snowing on my flowers, Jeon.”
Jeongguk gritted his teeth, lifted his chin and shoved his hands in his pockets. “And you promised you’d stop sending the fairies to my dorm when they bothered you. I guess we both break our promises, don’t we?”
Taehyung sighed, taking his hat off and running his hand through his hair. “They won’t kill you, you know. But these flowers are going to die out of season now.”
Jeongguk huffed. “I’m trying. You’re asking for advanced magic control, I can’t help a few snowflakes!”
“Jeon Jeongguk.”
Jeongguk groaned, throwing his hands in the air. “Fine! I’ll go!”
“Nope,” Taehyung said. “Cold boy is going. You are gonna stop pretending you’ve got a stick up your ass.”
“I do not--!” Jeongguk flinched as Taehyung stepped over the flowers and grabbed his arm, pulling him forward.
“You can’t lie to me, Gguk,” he murmured. “Now. You gonna tell me who threatened you this time?”
“No one did,” Jeongguk hissed, turning bright red. “I’m not a child anymore, I can take care of myse--”
“This is not the same and you know that,” Taehyung growled. “We were fine at the start of last summer. What changed?”
Jeongguk’s lower lip wobbled. “Nothing.”
Taehyung’s frown deepened, and he sighed, letting go of Jeongguk’s wrist. “Talk to a teacher about that damn snow, then,” he muttered, stepping back. “And quit avoiding me. I’m not that attached to the flowers.”
“That’s a lie,” Jeongguk mumbled.
Taehyung cracked a small smile, chuckling. “It is, isn’t it? But it gets my point across just fine.”
“I’m not avoiding you,” Jeongguk huffed.
“Keep telling yourself that.” Taehyung waved a hand, and the snow melted off the flowers. He patted Jeongguk’s shoulder as he walked past him, poking him in the cheek. “Jinnie’s cafe on Wednesday. Lunch is on me.”
“I’m not--”
“Come on time or I’ll send the fairies again!” Taehyung huffed, and Jeongguk whirled to follow him as he walked toward the gate.
“I knew that was on purpose-- Tae! ”
“What?” Taehyung huffed, as Jeongguk fussed with the flowers weaving themselves into his hair. “They’re snow flowers, you can’t kill them. Besides, you could use a little more life in your outfit.”
And with that, he was gone, leaving Jeongguk blushing and stuttering at the garden gate.
***
Jeongguk showed up to the cafe despite everything, despite the tug inside him warning there would be consequences for his actions. He spotted Taehyung in the corner, basking in the sunlight, and found himself struck again by how inherently different they were. Where Jeongguk was quiet and reclusive and cold, Taehyung was bright and open and full of life. How did they ever become friends?
How had Jeongguk not seen the wrongness of it sooner?
As he approached, Taehyung waved a hand, and Jeongguk felt the flowers in his hair brighten, the snowflakes he couldn’t control drifting around his shoulders as he sat down.
“I got your favorite,” Taehyung said, passing an iced coffee to him. “Honestly, what happened? Your snowflakes were never this bad.”
Jeongguk hummed, brushing his hair out of his face with one hand and wishing he had the words to explain the way his heart lurched in his chest at Taehyung’s teasing smile. “It’s just gotten… harder, lately, I guess.”
The humor on Taehyung’s face changed to concern. “Aren’t your teachers supposed to be helping you with that?”
“They’re trying,” Jeongguk said. “I guess I’m just not a good student.”
Taehyung frowned, reaching out and tucking Jeongguk’s hair behind his ear. “Really?” he asked, tilting his head, and Jeongguk sighed, taking a sip of his coffee.
“Really,” he said. “I-- I’m sorry for how I acted last time. That was immature of me.”
“It was,” Taehyung agreed, brow furrowing. “You’re usually much better with control, too. Is everything okay at home? Everyone healthy?”
Jeongguk nodded.
Taehyung’s frown deepened. “I wish I could help,” he muttered, fingers still drifting along Jeongguk’s face. “I know we don’t hang out that much anymore, but still.”
Jeongguk sighed. It was hard to resist the worry in Taehyung’s eyes, harder still to find the courage he needed to tell him the truth. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes, and Taehyung cupped his face in one hand, letting him lean on it for a moment.
“I… hyung, there’s a lot,” he finally said. “It’s just-- I don’t know if I’m ready to tell you.”
He didn’t see Taehyung’s expression, but Taehyung’s hand stayed steady on his cheek as he said, “I’ll be right here whenever you’re ready, I promise.”
Jeongguk nodded. “I know,” he said. “That’s why-- that’s why I’m worried.”
“Worried?”
Jeongguk forced himself to open his eyes. “It’s not… it’s not a good thing.”
Taehyung’s brow furrowed, and he let his hand drop to Jeongguk’s, squeezing it. “Are you in danger?”
“Not really,” Jeongguk let out a weak laugh, then squeezed his eyes shut, flipping his hand to twine their fingers together. “My professors have been saying… saying some things.”
Taehyung’s grip on his hand tightened. “What kinds of things?”
“Things about… the appropriate company for a snow witch.” Jeongguk opened his eyes, meeting Taehyung’s eyes, and found him staring back with an alarming amount of anger. “Hyung--”
“And what have they said?” Taehyung asked, a low rumble to his voice that sent anxiety skittering through Jeongguk’s chest.
“That it’s better for you if I don’t hang around you,” Jeongguk admitted, hanging his head. “They said-- with my control, and everything-- that it would be better if I had friends I couldn’t hurt.”
Taehyung growled something under his breath, squeezing Jeongguk’s hand tighter. “Bullshit. You’ve seen how easily I can get rid of your snow. You’re not hurting me.”
The words took Jeongguk off-guard, and he couldn’t help how the tears welled in his eyes. “I’m glad,” he managed, voice thick. “I-- I love you, hyung. I don’t want to hurt you, ever.”
Taehyung tilted his head, examining Jeongguk’s face, then nodded as if satisfied. “Good. Because I love you, too, and I’m not going to let you go anytime soon.”
Jeongguk blinked, mouth falling open. “You love me too?”
Taehyung smiled. “I do. Now, can I get a hug from my favorite snow witch?”
Jeongguk slipped around the table and wrapped himself around Taehyung, exhaling into his shirt. “Fuck,” he whined. “I-- fuck. That was-- that was--”
“Breathe,” Taehyung huffed, rubbing his back. “I’ve got you. And if your professors keep talking to you like that, send them my way, alright? I’ll show them a thing or two about spring witches.”
Jeongguk nodded.