𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙍𝙇𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏 𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙍𝘼𝘿𝙀𝙎

𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙊𝙉𝙀 ; 𝘼𝘾𝙏 𝙄

𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 came, you've been friends with the twins for a couple of months now.

You reached for Aqua's hand, feeling the cold nipping at your fingertips despite being covered from head to toe. Aqua was about to pull his hand away but after seeing your shivering face and hands, he sighed and relented, grasping your hand tightly to share heat. 

The two of you were motionless as you stood near a tree of the daycare's grounds. Snow falling on top of your covered heads, you stared mesmerized at the fog forming whenever you breathe. Aqua was just staring blankly ahead, but that was when he noticed you were staring at him, specifically his mouth. He was about to call you out but your statement stopped him.

"... We should pretend to be fire-breathing dragons! You look like you're producing smoke from your mouth, Aqua!"

Aqua just deadpanned at you before sighing. You just eagerly looked at him, waiting for him to act like a dragon. After the bullying that happened where he protected you, your clinginess to Ruby has also been applied to him. You told him you looked up on him a lot too due to his intelligence and kindness. He doesn't know whether to be touched or exhausted by your affections. 

Still, your eyes were sparkling, anticipating him to do something, not realizing you were inching closer to him. Aqua, pushed your face off of him gently, flicking your forehead.

"No."

"...But—"

Aqua just squeezed your hand tightly hoping to shut you up. You winced, not because it hurts, well it did, but not because of Aqua's strength but rather the numbness of your hands due to the cold. Aqua raised a brow at you, he was still holding your hand and you two were huddled together.

"...Aqua, my hands feel numb," you blankly stated, staring at him with a straight face.

"We've only been out for three minutes... I guess you're really weak to the cold," Aqua uttered, before he took both of your hands together and held it between his, trying to warm your hands and return them to its normal state. His demeanor looked the same, however since Aqua was fond of you, he 'slightly' enjoyed being in your company and taking care of you despite the many times he outwardly tries to deny it.

You laughed so suddenly that it startled Aqua out of his thoughts. He was now looking at you weirdly, remembering you're still quite a pain sometimes.

"That tickles!" You buried your nose under your scarf as you felt the cold reaching your face too. Aqua's hands on yours as he tried to warm your hands somehow tickled you. You felt warmth as you beamed at Aqua, appreciating that he was helping you even though you've noticed that his hands were shaking as well. He doesn't seem to notice it as he was focused on lessening your discomfort.

You smiled warmly at Aqua, this time, putting his small hands between yours. 

"Thank you for always taking care of me, Aqua!"

"... As I said, you don't have to thank me, I'm just doing what I have to." Aqua quietly said, staring at your joined hands. It was weird. You have small hands and he has small hands, yet it was undeniably warm.

"How about a hug!" 

You shook your hands away from his, widening your stance as you prepare for a big hug.

Aqua always found it funny how you looked like you were a cat about to pounce on their prey whenever you try to give him hugs. You started giving him surprise hugs after the first month of being friends with them. At first, Aqua couldn't stop you, however he slowly learned your patterns and learned when and how to avoid your hugs—

"Got you! What are you thinking so deeply off?" He heard a certain someone ask, crap he got too into his monologuing he didn't realize you moved already.

You hugged Aqua for warmth and smiled in victory. You laid your chin on his shoulder as you start to drift off due to the cold. Aqua was really warm, you bet he wouldn't mind if you slept for a few minutes, right?

Aqua felt you go limp on his shoulders and panicked. He wasn't about to have you sleep here outside on the freezing snow while you laid on him! He's going to freeze from death or die from your heavy head.

He tried to shake you awake so you two can go inside. That was until he felt a very menacing aura approaching. Aqua felt a shiver up his spine so he used you as cover from whatever was approaching...

"AQUAAAAAA! YOU THIEEEF—!"

'Oh, it's just Ruby... Wait... it's Ruby—'

Ruby kicked Aqua's back, he felt himself almost buckle from the force but he held his place as to not squish you. Where does Ruby get her energy during winter? He doesn't know either.

"I just left for a little bit to go to the bathroom and you're here stealing my number one best friend! What were you doing?!" Ruby asked dramatically, as if the Earth was going to crash, she was doing wild motions with her hands as her face was scrunched up.

She had a funny expression but Aqua just deadpanned at her, annoyed by her kick. He would've given Ruby a light smack if only you weren't in his arms... He didn't want you to go fall on the snow first and foremost.

"...Well, actually maybe best friend number two, mama is my best friend number one!" Ruby said with a conflicted face, Ruby loves you but she loves her mama the most! Sorry!

Aqua just stared at Ruby again, he felt like a headache was forming. That was when he noticed Ruby suddenly became quiet, did he look at Ruby questioningly. 

Ruby continued to intensely stare at you as your head laid on Aqua's shoulder. You seemed to be asleep as your eyes shut close. Your chubby cheeks very squishy as fog slowly leaves from your mouth and into the air, your breathing and your face calm and peaceful.

Aqua stared at Ruby weirdly wondering why she was staring at you like that. Ruby just wanted to stare at you and let you sleep... Almost.

"You're so cute, it's unfair! I want to squish you so bad," Ruby cried out as she reached for your face to pinch your cheeks. She almost flinched due to how cold your face was, realizing this, she cupped your face with her small hands to warm you up as she continued to coddle you.

It was kinda of funny, Ruby's face was red and she looked like she was about to cry. Aqua can understand her in a way, but Ruby always took it up to a notch. 

Feeling warmth to your face, you nuzzled deeper into the hands holding your face and yawned opening your eyes. You blinked owlishly as your gaze met with pink eyes.

"...Ruby!" You smiled at Ruby, still hugging Aqua, you reached for her too as you wanted her to join your hug.

At your sight and endearing call of her name, Ruby brightened up even more and became redder as her smile reached her eyes. She squealed, exclaiming how cute you are and how much she wants to protect you before joining the hug.

Aqua deadpanned at another heavyweight leaning into him. But he couldn't help to slightly smile at the current situation.

Ruby rubbed her cheeks at you, her small hands rubbing your back as she held to you for her dear life. Gosh, you were so cute and sweet! She wished she met you sooner... 

Maybe if she met you as her old self, life would've been more brighter. Ruby shook the thought, her hug on you tightening, no... If you two met before, she wouldn't have lived long anyways and parting with you, she didn't want to imagine your sad face.

Ruby nuzzled her face to your shoulder, she wants you to be happy as much as you make her life brighter each day.

Aqua just laid his head on top of yours, secretly enjoying the warmth. He patted both yours and Ruby's back for a few times before sighing.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐦.

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