Work Text:
Suzuko took Ayana's hand in his own as he led her down the steps of his home, the snow crunching underneath their boots as they began to walk.
"Ah.. I truly do apologize for the lack of snow gear. We do not get much snow here, but I suppose your visit swayed the weather." Suzuko spoke up, a troubled smile spreading over his face.
Tilting her head, she giggled, "I don't mind! We managed to find everything we needed, anyways."
He glanced back at her, before quickly looking forward again and picking up the pace. His face was a pale pink, highlighted by the bright background behind him— though, it was hard to tell if his pink face was caused by the cold this time. Suzuko gripped tightly onto Ayana's hand as they walked through his village, often being greeted by passersby.
"So.. everyone here really knows you?" Ayana giggled, also waving to whoever greeted them with her free hand.
"Yes, yes. My village is often where the elderly migrate to for a peaceful life, but.. I just happened to be born here. Of course, I also reach out to them on my own behalf as well, many of them do require my services."
"Not a lot of births here, huh?" She did notice that her and Suzuko seemed to be the youngest ones here, but just chalked it up to weird coincidence.
Suzuko shook his head, "You'd be correct. I've been away for quite a while yet— I remain the youngest of this village. Not that I necessarily mind, of course." A small smile spread across his lips, his tone rather soft as he spoke about his home.
Ayana couldn't take her eyes away from Suzuko as he talked. He was so— gentle, of course he was, obviously, but it was a trait that she never really got to see whenever they were at school. He was always too busy fussing over Yoichi's antics, or just generally creeping out others by.. being himself. Suzuko was— and not to be rude— kind of a bitch at times and not the easiest to fully understand or get along with, but seeing him so unguarded in a place that perfectly fit him was..
"Ayana?" Suzuko called out, tilting his head as he looked at her.
Snapping back to reality, she blinked, "Sorry! What is it?"
Letting go of her hand to fidget with his sleeves, he stepped to the side to reveal a small, frozen-over spot in the middle of a forest clearing. It was clearly cleaned up by someone beforehand, as the ice was clear of any debris, and a nearby bench had been practically scrubbed clean.
Before she could even say anything, Suzuko had ran back up to her after quickly grabbing something from underneath the bench.
It was a pair of ice skates. Worn by time, and unused for a long while, but he held the most nervous smile as he presented them to her.
"I had to ask around beforehand for these, as I have clearly never had an interest in ice skating before, but I do believe these should fit you." His face was bright red now, still trying to maintain his air of confidence while he spoke.
Hesitating before finally speaking, her voice trembled, "Did you do all of this for me?"
His smile dropped as he looked over the other, trying to make sense of her reaction, "Y..Yes? I believe you deserve it, do you not? I sincerely apologize if it's not properly prepared for an ultimate.."
Feeling herself begin to tear up, she wiped at her face with her jacket sleeve, "No, no— it's perfect, Suzuko," Ayana let out a laugh, before hiccuping, "Sorry— I'm sorry.."
"I did not mean to make you cry.." He frowned.
Looking back at his blurry figure through her tears, she suddenly grabbed at his shoulders to pull him into a hug. Suzuko stiffened up at the sudden physical affection, before slowly relaxing in her arms.
"Sorry.. I know you don't like this." She whispered, her face stuffed into the mans shoulder.
Suzuko let silence hang in the air between them for a moment, listening carefully to the nature around them, "It's quite alright."
Finally letting go of him and taking a step back, she sniffled, "I've never.. had someone care so much about me." Reaching out to the skates, she placed her hand over his. "Thank you, Suzuko."
His eyes were as wide as a bugs as he looked from the skates to Ayana, a blush creeping across his entire face, "A-ah, well— it was really nothing at all. If others cannot appreciate your kindness, then they are truly not worthy your time."
"Oh, you're such a flatterer.." She laughed. Taking the skates from him and walking over to the bench, she sat down.
Suzuko, instead of simply sitting down, loomed over Ayana as she put the skates on, watching curiously. It barely took her any time at all to get the ice skates fastened onto her feet, quickly standing up again— before accidentally bumping her head into him. He let out a small hiss as he stumbled back a few steps, holding his head.
"Oww.." He mumbled.
"Don't stand so close to me next time, silly!" Ayana snickered, shaking off the pain to take the others hand and lead him to the ice.
"A-Ayana, I don't have skates!" He was practically tripping over himself as he was dragged, the panic clear on his face.
"I'm not gonna put you on the ice! Just keep holding my hand."
Blinking, he did as he was told and didn't let go, even if he was still incredibly confused by what she was planning.
Stepping onto the ice, she kept to the edge so Suzuko could follow whilst in the snow, still holding his hand as she skated around slowly, “I wish I knew you were planning all this for me.. I could’ve told you to ask for another pair of skates!”
He hummed, tilting his head to the side, “Wouldn’t be much of a surprise then. I am perfectly content following you from the outside, anyways.”
She pouted, though it couldn’t stay on her face for long as she immediately broke into a smile again upon looking towards Suzuko, “One of these days I will teach you how to skate. You can’t dodge it forever!”
A blush had creeped onto both of their faces as they continued to “skate”, their gazes lingering on each other for a moment too long before finally turning away. As the sun eventually descended, and the sounds around them came to a lull, Suzuko had eaten shit and laid facedown in the snow.
“Oh!” Ayana exclaimed, quickly stepping back off the ice and lifting him up in her arms.
Suzuko, who was shaking like a leaf at the slightest contact with the snow, shivered as he dusted the remaining snow off of his clothes. “Thank you.. I believe it’s about time we start our trek back to my home, as it is getting rather late.”
Shaking her head, she went to sit down on the bench to put her boots back on— making sure that Suzuko wasn’t hovering above her this time. Humming as she stood back up with the skates in hand, she walked over to where Suzuko was standing, just staring out beyond the trees, “You ready?”
He nodded, snapping back to reality. “Of course, allow me to lead the way once more.”
Making their way back to the village, Suzuko never let silence hang between them as he filled the air with stories of his hometown, the spirits he’s come to know, and whatever else Ayana asked about. She loved seeing him go on and on about his passion, his ultimate, just whatever made him smile so wide that you couldn’t even believe it was an expression Suzuko could make. Just as much as she loved seeing him happy, he loved talking about topics that no one else would entertain, no one but Ayana and Yoichi, of course (although— one was clearly much more tolerant than the other.) He couldn’t even remember the last time he got to be in the presence of someone so kind, so understanding. As they walked about the streets and talked about the days following, both made unsaid promises: Ayana, that she’d always keep the other company, and Suzuko, who would never let her kindness go unpaid again.