The first snowfall of the season didn't count, Yusuke decided.
It disappeared as quickly as it came; while flakes drifted down from the grey sky for nearly the entire day, it melted against every surface it touched, leaving the city looking like a silent rain was falling instead. It was cold and wet and it didn't even bring the increase in customers that a proper winter's night would bring. People turned their collars against the chill and shoved their hands into their pockets and hurried into their homes, preferring to warm up in the comfort of their own kitchens rather than his.
The second snowfall of the season was different.
Once everyone adjusted to the transition from fall to winter, the energy changed. There were still grumbles about short days and cold wind and longing sighs for the beach, but few put any real malice behind their complaints. Winter meant soft clothes and good food and standing at a kitchen window with a hot mug in hand and watching the world doze. The second snowfall, the first proper one, whispered these promises as it settled on windowsills and park grass and sidewalk crevices, slowly covering up the urban grime and hinting at the rest and renewal that would follow for anyone who could get through the season.
Freshly-fallen snow made ugly things beautiful and beautiful things ethereal. What it did for Kurama made Yusuke nearly forget he had customers to tend to. When Kurama sat down and smiled his thanks as Yusuke set his bowl before him, all Yusuke wanted to do was stand there and observe the piece of artwork before him. Kurama had the lower half of his face nestled into his scarf, but as he sat down to eat he pulled it down out of the way. The wind had coaxed out a rosiness in his cheeks, and snowflakes had settled in his hair and on his eyelashes that hadn't yet melted until the warmth of the cart washed over him. He stirred his soup before lifting up a bite of aburaage first like he always did, putting it in his mouth and closing his eyes while his shoulders moved in a silent sigh of contentment. Yusuke always enjoyed watching people enjoy the food he made, but knowing he could make Kurama's favorite to the fox's satisfaction was on a different level.
When the other customers had left and Kurama was almost done with his ramen, Yusuke leaned on the counter in front of him. "So will I see you tonight?" he asked, trying not to sound as eager as he felt.
"Perhaps," said Kurama, eyes gleaming in a way that Yusuke knew meant yes, of course, and Yusuke's own eyes brightened with excitement.
"I sure would like to kiss you," said Yusuke softly, watching Kurama lick broth from his lips. Kurama took a moment to glance around; no one else was nearby, the number of people out and about having dwindled down along with the end of the lunch hour. He leaned over the counter and kissed Yusuke, smirking into it when Yusuke's eyes widened with surprise. "Damn, Merry Christmas to me," said Yusuke with a laugh when Kurama sat back down.
Kurama was about to tease him with promises of more early Christmas presents to come later that night when he caught a glimpse of another customer taking a seat at the opposite end of the stall in his peripheral vision, and instead turned his attention back to the last of his ramen. "What? Who's giving you Christmas presents already?" asked a voice that, while objectively pleasant and smooth, still managed to set Kurama's teeth on edge.
"Oh, hi Himeru," greeted Yusuke.
When he moved over to take Himeru's order, Kurama felt oddly cold despite the warmth still radiating from the kitchen. He set down his empty bowl and stood, readjusting his scarf as the wind picked up. "I should get back to work, Yusuke. I'll see you tonight." Yusuke glanced over and gave him a wave, the brightness of his smile going right to Kurama's core.
"Oooh, what's tonight?" asked Himeru teasingly. "Is it so important you can't go to the club with me tonight, Yusuke?" He tilted his head and pouted at Yusuke. "You did say you'd go with me sometime soon."
Yusuke laughed. "I will, I will. Just not tonight. What toppings do you want today?" he asked, already preparing a shoyu broth and the thickest noodles he had instead of the curly ones that normally came with it. Apparently, Himeru had become quite the regular customer, enough to have a custom order that Yusuke had already memorized.
Kurama walked back over to the counter. "Yusuke."
Normally Yusuke would just turn his head to see what someone wanted when he was in the middle of preparing a dish, but there was something commanding in Kurama's tone that made Yusuke stop what he was doing and step up to the counter to face him. "Yeah?"
Kurama reached over and grabbed the collar of Yusuke's shirt, pulling him in range for a hard kiss. He didn't pull away until Yusuke was flushed and breathless, his lips just a little swollen from Kurama's attack. "I'll see you tonight," he repeated (all Yusuke could manage was a strangled 'uh huh'), and as he turned away he looked directly at Himeru before heading back to the office.
True to his word, Kurama was waiting on Yusuke's couch when Yusuke got home. He smiled into his book, taking note of the fact that Yusuke had returned an hour earlier than usual. "Welcome home," he greeted without taking his eyes off the page.
Yusuke took note of the fact that a bottle of his favorite beer was waiting on the coffee table and Kurama was sipping a glass of wine instead of a cup of tea. "What's the occasion?" he asked, sinking onto the couch and taking an eager swig from the bottle. The room was dark except for the single reading lamp on the side table.
"No occasion," answered Kurama, finishing his page and marking his place before setting the book down. "I simply enjoy a nice glass of wine once in a while." He put a hand on Yusuke's knee and leaned in for a kiss, enjoying the feeling of Yusuke wrapping an arm around him.
"So uh, has the ban on PDA been lifted or something?" asked Yusuke when they pulled apart, settling back into the couch with Kurama still nestled under his arm.
Kurama's mouth tightened. "I apologize for my earlier behavior. No, I would still like to keep our relationship private. I merely let my emotions get the better of me for a moment."
"Your emot - " Yusuke started laughing. "Are you jealous? Of Himeru?"
Kurama pulled away from him to take another sip of his wine. "I am not," he said, with a huffiness to his words that betrayed his lie. "But he is interested in you, and there is something about him I don't trust." He fought to hold back the petulance that threatened to creep into his voice. "You're mine." He failed.
Yusuke set his beer down and took Kurama's wine away from him to join it. He cupped Kurama's face in his hands and kissed him so tenderly that Kurama felt as fragile as the wineglass on the table. "I'm yours," agreed Yusuke in a near-whisper. "Believe me, I don't have eyes for anyone but you."
Kurama smiled at the uncharacteristic emotional openness. He could tell Yusuke had become embarrassed as soon as the words left his mouth, and kissed him to let him know how endearing he found it. He let Yusuke push him down on the couch and closed his eyes while Yusuke turned his attentions to his neck, not opening them again until Yusuke began unbuttoning Kurama's shirt. "We should move to the bedroom, unless you've recently taken to storing lubricant somewhere in here."
Yusuke snorted in amusement but conceded. "Maybe I will start doing that," he said with a grin, standing up and gulping down the rest of his beer before taking Kurama's hand to go upstairs. "It'll be warm later; no point in wasting it," he said in response to Kurama's frown at the now-empty bottle that had temporarily stalled his plans.
"Honestly, Yusuke. I did bring more and put them in the fridge for you; it isn't the only one you have," he chided with just a little exasperation, but followed Yusuke with a smile.
Kurama had always found the phrase making love to be trite, a vain attempt at embarrassed modesty or putting more importance on the act of sex than what was actually there. Sex was a pleasurable act that could be part of a relationship or not. The concept of it as something more than a way to show dominance or a way to enjoy the company of someone he trusted had always escaped him. Or at least it had until tonight, with Yusuke's focus on Kurama and Kurama alone. He used his mouth and his hands to pay attention to all the things he knew Kurama enjoyed and watched him closely to discover new ones. Kurama's body was a god and Yusuke was his priest and he had never felt so loved in any of his lives.
Yusuke's worshipping had brought Kurama to satisfaction twice before Kurama tucked himself against his Mazoku's side and yawned into his chest. He drifted off to sleep as Yusuke kissed the top of his head, more content with his life than ever before.