Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Come on, look! It's snowing!”

It wasn't often that N found himself confused as he was dragged into the snowy field by his favorite person one fine morning.

They stood side by side, overlooking a snowy field. Winter had come to Unova earlier than last year. 

Touya took a deep breath, his eyes bright as the sun that overcast above them. “This looks like a perfect place to make a snowman.”

It took N a moment to digest an unfamiliar word—snowman? Abomasnow? Why would Touya talk about making a Pokémon—and realize he wasn’t referring to a Pokémon. Touya did say snowman amongst his tale of childhood, N listened in rapt attention, even though he doesn’t fully understand to what he is referring to—snowangel? Snowman? snowsledge? Igloo?

The last one, N, knew vaguely what an igloo is, but the rest was foreign to his knowledge. He never voiced this out loud, and his face barely expressed anything but bewilderment.

Maybe it was a good thing—he was still undercover as a normal Pokémon trainer after all.

Touya already had his back on him. He grabbed all of his pokeballs and threw them to the ground, releasing them from the confinement of their prison.

“Everyone!” Touya shouted, which was followed by a clap, catching their attention. They all gathered around him, listening attentively, ignoring the green-haired man who stuck too close to their trainer. “Listen, we're going to fight over who will make the best snowman.”

Everyone cheered—what a joyous day to have a chance to crush the man with green hair!

“But this guy—” Touya pointed at N, which prompted said guy to point at himself in pure confusion. Honestly, it's a crime for a man to look this cute, but please ignore that. “—doesn't know how to build a snowman. So, let's show this guy how to build the coolest snowman ever!”

A brief moment of confusion and silence spread over the Pokémon before everyone cheered—today may not be the day they will crush the green-haired man, but p

However, the fun outweighs any grievance they have against the green haired man. So they let it go this time.

Meanwhile, N was struck with another bewilderment and—if he was a bit honest himself—joy.

You noticed? He wanted to say, but today his tongue flopped and the words were stuck in his throat, but Touya picked it up quickly.

“What? You look like you don't know what a snowman is when I talked about it yesterday,” he said, watching his Pokémon frolicking on the snowy field. When he turned to look at N, there was a glimpse of sadness in his eyes, despite the cocky smile on his face. “I just thought it won't be a fair fight if you don't know how to make a snowman.”

So Touya noticed, N remembered Touya talking about his childhood—how Touya, his sister, and friends would play outside during the winter, wrestling on the snowy field with Cheren, the snowball fights they had with each other, and the snowman they made at the end of the day.

It contrasts with tales he often heard from his friends, those who survived—of being abandoned in the deadly winter, fending against starvation and the cold, as death trailed after those who were unprepared—a story that so often leaves N with heartbreak.

This is why you have to be their hero, N—you have food, a warm bed to sleep in, and a roof over your head—while you stay here, they have to fend for themselves against the cold winter. Don’t compare your suffering with theirs—they’re miserable than you.

It was what Father said after N complained about not being able to play outside during the winter.

The guilt that slammed him almost drove N to tears and strengthened his vow to free all Pokémon from the suffering of their human trainer. 

But, it also left him with a bad impression of one of the four seasons—winter was a cruel mistress, devoid of joy and warmth, no mercy for those who were abandoned. Made him dread the day when the last of the autumn leaves would fall, turning the road covered orange leaves into deadly pure white.

What Touya give him was joy and warmth when he recalled the past. It sounds so fun.

He was caught off guard when Touya dumped a lump of snow into his hands, feeling the chill sinking through his gloved hand.

When N turned to Touya with thousands of questions, he was answered with a coy smile and a playful nudge.

“That snowman won't build on itself, you know?” He guided N's hand to make his beginner snowman, gathering it into a mound, and slowly molding it into a lump that resembled a snowman. N had a fascinated look during the process.

Touya could feel his heartbeat going faster, and the redness on his cheek glowing. He hoped N didn't see it.

He instead put a confident front, challenging the man who crouched beside him. “You better learn fast. I'm not the type to hold back, so you better be ready!” 

N's answer was a resolute nod. Already enjoying the brief moment of peace and joy.