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Eiji quietly puffed some breaths of air, slightly agitated.The scenery was surely splendid; the tall, snow-covered pine trees were dancing with the wind, the houses and cabins scattered in different sections of the mountain were displaying Christmas lights and decorations, and the full, round moon’s light was reflected on the entirety of the frozen, immobile lake, creating an elegant, inspiring and serene atmosphere.Yet, here he was, in the middle of this beautiful landscape, sitting on a pile of snow.Frantically shivering, his trembling lips parted, considerably astounded.He awoke from his stupor when Ash exploded in genuine laughing fits, hands on his knees, struggling to perfectly keep standing on the ice.The blonde man sarcastically wiped his tears while nearing Eiji, the latter furiously blushing, trying to hide behind his neck warmer.And then Ash was right in front of him, getting some obsidian-tinted locks out of his eyes, his cold fingers brushing his tanned skin.Eiji quivered some more, his cheeks burning. “Come on, let’s try again, cutie,” Ash encouraged optimistically, his fingers wrapped around Eiji’s tiny wrists, which were imprisoned in soft mittens.“Don’t mock me,” he bluttered, his soft voice muffled by the accessory.“I’m not,” Ash specified, a reassuring smile on his lips. “It’s just... Look, you were too adorable, I couldn’t help it,” he admitted, his breath mingling with Eiji’s.“Adorable? Aslan, I just tripped and fell in a pile of snow! Now my butt is wet and I’m freezing,” he complained and sniffed, a pout illuminating his delicate traits.Aslan tugged on his limbs, giggling so hard he almost lost his balance and fell on the ice. Eiji stood up, unstable, and encircled his slender arms around his boyfriend’s neck, still terrified at the idea of losing his grip and unceremoniously collapsing for a second time.But Ash was there.Lively, luminous, warm Ash was there, hugging him tightly, his heart beating loudly, its thumps appeasing Eiji’s nervousness.“There. We’ll go slowly. Remember the pizza slices,” he said, his tone velvety.Skating backwards, he held Eiji close to his chest, never letting go of him.And Eiji tried, gulping anxiously.Left, right, left, right.“I-I think I’m getting the hang of it,” Eiji proudly grinned, and Ash felt his heart flutter, comforting affection coursing in his veins.“See? I knew you could do it! Now, you know how to skate properly,” he chirped up, quickening his pace and releasing Eiji.Disappointed by the loss of contact but determined to show his new skills, Eiji concentrated on his courage and began making ‘pizza slices’ (or pie pieces?) by moving his feet, his skates sliding softly on the lake’s surface.Powered by assurance, he gazed at Ash’s shining, lime-coloured eyes and accelerated, wanting, needing to join the other and gather him in his arms.Only to regret his act a few seconds later, when Ash yelled ‘Stop, slow down!’ and Eiji abruptly bumped into him because of his inexperience, sending the couple on a mount of chilly snow.A stunned silent ensued, the two men way too shocked to process words.And then they chuckled lightly, snow covering their coats, hats and hair.Eiji held Ash’s face between his palms, shivering, his ears red.“Why don’t we go inside and get a cup of coffee?” he suggested while whispering, the tranquillity of the night enveloping them. “Besides, my butt hurts and itches.”“Yeah,” Ash agreed, giggling tenderly.Under the moonlight, they waltzed together on the ice for one last time before making their way to the cabin they had rented for the totality of the winter season, joy surrounding them.They linked their fingers together and gently kissed, the mountain and its trees being the only witnesses of their love.