365 Days of Starshipping (Part 2)

Rain Before Snow

11/19/19

The rain decided to pick up during the week leading up to when it was supposed to snow, screwing up their usual plans of going and exercising in the morning - to make up for it, though, they decided to just grab an umbrella and take a walk, enjoying the fresh, crisp smell of the rain and the sight of the city lit up around them.

"Been a while since the last time it rained without it turning into a storm," Judai noted, huddling close to Yusei and hugging his arm. Yusei got to hold the umbrella since he was the taller one, but luckily it was one of the really nice, big ones so there was no worry about him holding it too high on accident and letting the rain hit him.

"It has been, hasn't it?" Yusei mused, "I hadn't thought about it before, but there's been a lot of storms..."

"Eh, it's just weather being weather," Judai shrugged, looking up at him with a quirked grin, "Can never make up its mind on what it wants to be, but at least whatever phase it was going through seems to have passed."

"'Phase', he says," Yusei snorted, raising an eyebrow down at him that Judai was quick to refute.

"Hey, you can't tell me that the weather isn't like some teenager that's always going through phases! It's very true, just think about it."

"Trust me, I get it, but still - phases."

"Okay, to be fair I've met my fair share of duel monsters who could influence the weather and acted just like that, so I may be slightly biased," Judai admitted, get a hum of sudden understanding in return.

"Ah, now that makes more sense," Yusei chuckled, leaning down and pressing a quick kiss to the top of his head. He somehow freed his arm from Judai's grip on it for a moment, wrapping it around his shoulders instead and tugging him closer.

Judai wasn't going to complain about that at all though and simply got used to the new position, more focused on the rain and the city than worrying about however Yusei wanted to walk or keep him close (thought admittedly, he probably should've paid a little more attention to it if only to more fully appreciate the warmth they gave each other). Before they'd left, they'd grabbed two to-go bottles and added fresh coffee and creamer to them - one was put on the side pocket of the bag they brought along, while Judai held the other in the hand that wasn't busy either hugging Yusei or getting squished into his side by him.

The warm liquid as he drank was a stark contrast to the temperature outside, and Judai hummed happily at the feeling of it - it really felt like it was winter coming up, something he'd been excited for for ages after the scorching hot summer they'd had. He had to physically stop himself from stomping in a puddle with two feet at full strength as they walked along the sidewalks, reminding himself that it probably wouldn't be the best idea to risk Yusei getting sick again from the weather.

He really didn't want to have a sick Yusei on his hands again... it was still fresh in his mind how oddly and sweetly Yusei had acted, solely for the chance at getting his laptop to use and never relinquish control of again, so he definitely was trying to actively avoid the possibility of having those puppy eyes be mercilessly turned on him.

"If you want to jump, go ahead," Yusei said, clearly noticing the twitch he'd given towards a couple of puddles that they'd passed at this point and giving him an exasperated smile, "A little water isn't going to kill anyone, Judai. It's the time when we're in the rain without an umbrella and without enough layers that we'll have to worry."

Judai gave him a sheepish grin in return but beamed soon after when he nodded, spotted the next puddle, and let go in order to run towards it and minimize the amount of splash that would get on Yusei, just in case. It was way too satisfying to hear that splash noise of the water splattering up and away and he found himself doing it again the second another puddle walked into range.

"Wanna go to the park? We could still do laps, just walk them instead," Judai asked, laughing a little to himself when he found another puddle to stomp on before exchanging smiles with Yusei, "Plus, there's that one dip in the sidewalk near the exercise machines and I'm way too curious about whether or not there's a huge puddle there."

"Sounds good to me, let's check it out," Yusei said, agreeing easily but pulling him back into his side teasingly once he'd wandered off and defeated another puddle, "I need my heater to stay closer to me, though - please?"

"Only if you go and stomp on the next few puddles. You remember how fun it is, right?" Judai grinned, not minding the little bit of rain that came with urging Yusei forward (which meant the umbrella went with him, too), "Let me see this splash, dear."

Judai couldn't even find ability to be mad at all when Yusei stomped and somehow made some of the water splash above Judai's waist - it's not like he wasn't already a little wet from just walking in the rain, plus he'd run out from under the umbrella for a few seconds in order to have his fun as well earlier. They paused and stared at each other before breaking out into laughter, coming back together without a second thought with Judai hugging Yusei's arm again and leaning his head on his shoulder as they kept walking and enjoying the morning.

When Judai did eventually find that dip he'd been talking about though, and discovered that it was less like a big puddle and more like a small pond in the making, he made absolutely sure Yusei was far enough back before proceeding to play hopscotch in it; it completely soaked the bottom half of his pants as a result, but it was so worth it (plus all it took was a few creative card uses to dry them quickly).