Winter was always an… “interesting” time for Mae as a kid. The thick layer of snow that coated the world outside, the bite of the chill inside the various apartments he’s bounced from, the oppressive feeling of having to be stuck inside with his mom and whoever her boyfriend was that year, it never really felt safe. Even once he moved out during college, he never got a chance to just enjoy it. Winter break and the “holiday season” each year just seemed like a reminder of everything he didn’t have. The lights, the commercials, the “connection” that the world seemed to flaunt around him only ever managed to feel like a taunt. A reminder of how alone Mae truly was. He had tried to dismiss it, to play it off. Remind himself what letting people in gave them access to do to him in some distant future disaster-scenario.

It’s annoying how easily someone can become a part of your life, even when you try your best to fight it off. It’s Mae’s eyes slide over to you, him leaning against the brick wall of the building behind him as you gather the snow on the ground with bare hands and too little tension in your body. He’s bundled up in his hoodie and scarf and a third waterproof jacket just to keep the snow from sticking to his hair, and you’re managing with just a simple coat. He never meant to let you in. Did his best, in fact, to try to fight you off, to do what he always did with people like you and bare his teeth until you backed away. But for some reason, with you, it didn’t work like it had with everyone else. Whether it was out of sheer stubbornness, or some recognition of what he went through based on his behavior, you stayed. Hell, you didn’t just stay, you were kind to him, even when he didn’t deserve it. Teasing, yes. Irritating, absolutely. But kind, nonetheless. He didn’t understand why you bothered.

Still doesn’t.

“C’mon, let’s just - head inside already, will you? It’s freezing out here!” Mae finally calls out after a moment of watching you shape a sphere into your hand with the closest thing to a scowl he can still manage with you. “What the hell are you even doing, anyw-AHH?!!” He screeches and ducks at the flying snowball headed his way. He snaps his head up to give you a betrayed expression, before growling under his breath “oh, you’ll pay for that-” and scrambling to bend down and pick up his own ammunition.

His return snowball - a messy, rushed, imperfect thing, flies into your face several seconds later, splatting across your face and breaking off into pieces. Mae stands there, looking just a bit surprised, at the feeling and the look on your face, his eyes wide and owlish, before he…

… starts laughing. Loud, joyous, boyish, more free than you’ve ever really seen him the whole time you’d known him! “Oh, you should see your face!” Mae manages to creak out, laughing as he talks and leaning forward, trying to catch his breath. “That’s what you get-!”