[attr="class","thadmain"]Kepler loved how tall Ash was, and how broad Ash was. That was more of a thing contributed to by his own height and slouch and narrowness but it was great, to feel so safe and small and ensconced and light. Like his existence wasn’t a burden. Like he was protected. All entirely new feelings for him.

Then they’re off again, and he’s buoyed by this feeling of lightness, and it’s a slow, steady progress over the ice. Every divot makes him wince and throw his arms out, but he stays standing. He can do this. They can do this.

Cloud is a big dramatic sap and is totally into the heart bubbles idea. The first few look a little strange but he eventually gets the shape down, throwing up heart-shaped bubbles for Maple to freeze. They frost so delicately that when they pop they puff out little clouds of snow.

He honestly doesn’t remember if he’d noticed the mistletoe before now (maybe he had and it had been forgotten in the hard focus of not falling) but he looks up then as they draw near it and says, “Oh, hey, mistletoe," warm breath coming in puffs.

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[attr="class","thadmain"]Cloud is enraptured by the thank you message in the snow and his eyes get a little watery as he throws his flippers around the feline’s body and gives him a big, chilly hug.

Kepler is so focused on going forward that he doesn’t realize when it’s time to stop until Ash reels him in with his uninjured arm. Chest to chest, red-faced and foggy-breathed in the cold air, Kepler beams up like he’s found the fucking sun, the answer to all the questions the world had ever posed.

He reaches up with slightly trembling fingers and takes Ash’s face in his hands, pulling him down as they seal their lips together, and it’s so good and perfect and warm and good that Kepler thinks he might fucking cry.

The heart bubbles continue to float around them for a bit, bursting into little clouds of frost, and Kepler thinks it’s so cheesy that if he were lactose intolerant he’d probably die. But he loves it. Holy shit, he loves it. He--

“--love you,” he exhales, as they part, and his arms go around Ash’s waist and he rests his chin on his boyfriend’s chest, “I love you so much. This was perfect. I think you are perfect.” And he was babbling now but it was fine, it’s fine, it’s better than fine, this might just be the happiest he’s ever fucking been.

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