#12 Days of Ficmas 2020

[winter-dayz]

A Year Together

Pairing: Bang Chan x Reader Inspired by Holidate (2020) Genre: Angst; Fluff Words: 5574 Warnings: mentions of excessive drinking, smoking, and drug usage; strong language; suggestive content

Masterlist | 12 Days of Ficmas Masterpost

Taglist:  @soobin-chois

She stubbed out her cigarette, sprayed on some perfume, and huffed into the cold air, before gathering the courage to enter her childhood home.

“Merry Christmas,” she called, barely over a speaking voice, hoping no one heard her.

Her mother rounded the corner, displeasure written plain as day. “Finally.” She glanced over her daughter, eyes narrowing on Y/N’s hoodie and leggings. “This is what you’re wearing for Christmas dinner? Would it kill you to dress up a little?”

Y/N ignored her mom’s criticism, as she had for years, and looked around at the meticulous decorations. “The house looks beautiful.”

She hummed, motioning her daughter to follow her. “No thanks to you or your aunt. She brought a date, at least, unlike you.”

“Speaking of plus-ones…” Y/N’s older sister, Nayeon, cut in. She pulled Y/N to the kitchen. “Why didn’t you call Seungmin?

“I just wasn’t feeling it.”

Nayeon sighed, “It’s been six months. Eventually, you have to start dating again.”

“I mean who’s surprised no one wants to take her out when she just sits at home looking like that,” their mother snarked, coming into the kitchen.

Y/N’s eye twitched, the urge to smoke rising. “I work from home, Mother. My boss and coworkers don’t care if I wear pajamas. You know what they do care about? You constantly calling while I’m working.”

She ignored her daughter and leaned closer. “Are you still smoking? You’re going to die alone for sure then. No man wants a smoker who can’t be bothered to dress well.” Her mother scowled at her and left the room, Nayeon in tow.

Y/N rolled her eyes, throwing her drink back, and mumbled to herself. “And no man wants a bitchy mother-in-law either. So, I guess that’s three strikes.”

The rest of the afternoon and evening went exactly as she expected.

When her brother, Jeongin, arrived, he lightly taunted her about showing up alone again. His girlfriend, Chaeryeong, scolded him for teasing someone for being sad. Y/N insisted she wasn’t sad. Then Nayeon’s husband asked her why she didn’t just call Seungmin. She had tried to argue back but was interrupted by her mother calling everyone to open presents—Y/N received dresses from her mom that didn’t fit, pajamas from her sister that were definitely a regift, and a gift card from her brother. When Y/N managed to escape (finally) from the judgment of her family, she refilled her drink in the kitchen, and her aunt joined her.

“Isn’t he so fun?” Her aunt giggled drunkenly, nodding in the direction of her date playing with some of Y/N’s nieces. “He’s Santa at the mall this year. You’d be surprised about the kind of men you can meet there.” Y/N didn’t respond, not wanting to come across as judgy as her mother was of everyone, but her aunt sensed the hint of criticism anyway. “Calm down. I’m not gonna marry the guy. He’s my holidate.”

Y/N laughed lightly, “What is a ‘holidate’?”

“A date just for the holidays. No commitment, no strings attached. Just fun.”

Y/N hummed but didn’t get a chance to respond as dinner was announced to be ready. She wasn’t even surprised to find herself at the kids’ table.

“Could I have everyone’s attention?” Jeongin asked from the main dining room. Y/N stood from the kids’ table just in time to see Jeongin kneeling before his girlfriend. “Lee Chaeryeong…” Y/N felt her eyes widen, her head shaking no. Her baby brother couldn’t be getting engaged before her… “Will you do the honor of becoming my wife and marrying me?”

“Fuck no…” Y/N whispered to herself as Chaeryeong jumped up with an excited “Yes! Oh my god, yes!”

“Two down… One to go.” Y/N’s mother smiled at the young couple before flicking a snide glare to Y/N in the doorway.

🎄

It was in line at some store in the mall a few days later that she met him.

Chan had been trying to return khakis that were very much not his style, and Y/N was trying to return the dresses and pajamas she had gotten. They had gotten to chatting about their awful Christmases, when her aunt’s Christmas date recognized her.

“Have your aunt call me!” The man called out, Y/N embarrassedly pulling Chan away from the food court.

“So what was the deal with that?” Chan laughed goodnaturedly.

“He was my aunt’s holidate.”

“Wait, wait… A holidate? Like a date for Christmas, or does it work for all holidays?”

Y/N shrugged, “I assume all of them. But then again, my aunt doesn’t stick around with one man long so she might find a new one for Easter.”

Chan breathed out a laugh, “That’s what I need for New Year’s…”

“Why would you need a holidate?” Chan glanced over at her in confusion, and she shrugged. “I can’t imagine you’d really have that much trouble finding a date. You’re extremely good-looking. You seem sweet. Look pretty dependable… I mean, you have dimples for Christ’s sake! That’s every girl’s dream!”

Chan hummed, “I’m also a workaholic.”

“Oh…” Y/N nodded, “Okay, I get it.”

“And casually dating on the holidays…” Chan shook his head, “It just becomes a lot of pressure. People expect more than I can give them, especially once the holiday is over.”

“That sucks… Try being the only single person left in your family, though. I’m so fucking sick of the pity party and them trying to set me up.”

“I get why they do it though. They don’t want you alone on the holidays… We’re not meant to be alone. Humans need companionship, warmth… someone to drunk-mock strangers with at parties.”

“I do enjoy drunk-mocking strangers at parties…”

“Great, so be my holidate for New Year’s.”

A laugh bubbled out of Y/N, “I don’t even really know you.”

Chan stuck a hand out to her, a big grin with crescent eyes and dimples shining. “Hi, I’m Chrisopher Bang. I go by Chan, though. I’m a music producer. A perfectionist and workaholic. I have VIP tickets to the JY New Year’s party. Would you like to go with me?” When she hesitated, he pulled out a business card and passed it to her, “Think about it? There’s no pressure, no expectations. I mean…” He cleared his throat and darted his eyes away for a moment, “I don’t even find you that attractive so no worries there either.”

“Wow. I’m so flattered.” Y/N scoffed, snatching the card.

The tips of Chan’s ears colored red, but Y/N didn’t notice as she stared at his business card. “Just think about it and text me.”

Y/N hummed and shook her head, waving him off as she headed to her car. She would think about it, but she definitely wasn’t going to text him…

Well, she probably wouldn’t have. Except the next day her mom video-called her while she was working and proceeded to berate her for wearing another hoodie (even though she was just working from home and had no virtual meetings that day). After the berating was done, she moved on to trying to insist that Y/N go on a date with their new neighbor, Felix. It ended with Y/N snapping that she already had a New Year’s date and hanging up on her mother to make a new call.

She heard the smile in Chan’s voice as he answered, “Hello~ I thought I said text me, not call me.”

🎄

Y/N pointed out another couple from their balcony booth. “They’re for sure getting engaged at midnight.”

“You think?” Chan asked, sipping his fifth? sixth? drink. Y/N nodded, finishing her own and taking new glasses from a passing waiter.

At some point the conversation turned away from drunk-mocking strangers to their thoughts on romantic comedies.

“So who ruined love for you?” Chan asked, leaning in close so Y/N could hear him.

She shook her head vehemently. “You don’t really wanna hear about him.”

“Why not?” Chan shrugged, “We’re already on the topic… At least give me a name.”

“Minho.” Y/N swallowed the rest of her drink. “He was handsome and smart. I loved his dry humor, a bit mischievous. He was a dancer, sexy.” Y/N groaned in memory.

“So what happened? If he was so perfect…”

“We wanted different things. I wanted someone to bring home for the holidays. He wanted someone to fuck behind my back. So…”

“Oh damn… I’m so sorry.” Chan frowned, trying desperately not to sound like he was pitying her. He already knew she hated that.

Y/N shrugged, “It’s my own fault. My sister always told me to date down, but I didn’t listen… He was just too hot to be trustworthy…”

“Still sorry he screwed you over like that. No one deserves that.” Chan hesitated looking around, while Y/N simply hummed in thought. “I’ll be back in a few. Gonna run to the bathroom and get us new drinks on the way back. Sit tight, yeah?”

Of course, as soon as Chan had left the announcer began the ten-second countdown. Y/N looked around frantically, not wanting to be alone when they got to–

“Happy New Year!”

“I’m so sorry,” Chan huffed, running back through the crowd to her side. He glanced over to her and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “Happy New Year.”

🎄

She was alone on a holiday again, save for her overflowing basket of candy. Even though New Year’s was fun with Chan—probably the best holiday she’d ever had—she couldn’t find it in her to call him again for another holiday. Especially Valentine’s Day.

“Y/N?”

She wished she had called Chan.

Her eyes widened, and she whipped around, truffle hanging out of her mouth as she ate from the basket she had yet to pay for.

“Minho? Oh my god! How’ve you been?” Y/N rushed to wipe her mouth clean as she came face-to-face with her ex-boyfriend.

Minho didn’t get a chance to answer since a young woman ran up and did it for him. “Baby taste this! Isn’t it good?”

He had a new girlfriend. A new, adorable, perfect girlfriend.

Lost in her self-deprecating thoughts, Y/N felt an arm slide around her waist. “Hey love, I thought we were gonna meet over by the little ice cream stand? You told me you wanted to try that new flavor.”

How was he here? Why was he helping her?

“Oh, hey there mate. I’m Chan, Y/N’s little boy toy. I’d love to get her to commit long-term, but she’s just so strong and independent. Fingers crossed though!”

“Stop it,” Y/N finally snapped out of her reverie and hissed under her breath to Chan as she fake nuzzled him. He covered it well with a laugh.

“Yeah, nice to meet you…” Minho smiled down at his girlfriend. “I’m Minho, and this is Tzuyu.”

“Cool, well did you get everything, love? I wanted to get you something from Victoria’s Secret. Let’s go,” Chan grinned secretively at her. A show for Minho, she knew. “Anyway, lovely to meet you both. All the best, bye Julie~”

“Um, it's Tzuyu!” They called back to Chan as he dragged Y/N out of the store.

She was dragged past the ice cream store he mentioned and the Victoria’s Secret, all the way to Chan’s car, as she continued to mumble about feeling sick. Finally, in the privacy of his car, she let out a shaky sigh and a single sob.

“I need a cigarette.”

Chan’s head ticked to the side, “You smoke?”

“Sometimes… Not regularly, just in high stress situations. Holidays are the worst…”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“I thought about it but… I was embarrassed that nothing had changed since New Year’s. I’m still bitter and single.”

Chan laughed lightly, nudging Y/N to lighten the mood. “That’s the point of this whole holidate thing. We both get to avoid the pressure of a real relationship and the judgment of not having one yet. So… Let’s just make it official, yeah? Holidates until further notice?”

🎄

St. Patrick’s Day came and went smoothly. Chan and Y/N met up at a pub, drinking until all the green in the room began to blur together, and surprisingly ran into Nayeon, Jeongin, and Chaeryeong. None of them quite understood the arrangement the two had, but they were supportive of their sister getting out of the house, having fun, and letting loose.

After St. Patrick’s Day, Easter rolled around, and with Easter came a family brunch.

“Hoppy Easter, my little bunnies,” Y/N’s aunt strolled into the backyard wearing a Playboy outfit. She motioned to her own holidate, who was wearing a long white robe, “This is Jesús.”

“What in God’s name are you wearing?!” Y/N’s mom shrieked at her sister. “This is an Easter brunch; silly costumes are not allowed.”

As she spoke, someone came literally hopping into the yard wearing a full pink bunny suit, tossing candy-filled eggs to the kids.

Y/N choked on her mimosa at the sight. “Looks like someone didn’t get the memo.”

“Felix!” Her mother beamed. “I’m glad you could make it. Honey,” she turned towards Y/N, dragging a freckled, ball of sunshine with her, “This is our neighbor that I told you about.”

“Hello,” he smiled at her. His voice was deep—deeper than she anticipated—and sent a subtle chill down her spine. His freckles stood out, even against his lightly tanned skin, and his smile warmed her from the inside out. “I’m Felix… Sorry, I volunteer at the kids’ cancer ward and was doing a bit of cheering up. Came straight here… Wow, you are prettier in person.” Y/N blushed deeply, dipping her face to hide her grin. Chan glanced between the two. “Thank you,” she mumbled out at the same time that Chan piped in, “I’m Chan. Y/N’s date. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m so sorry, Felix. We weren’t expecting Y/N to bring a guest.” Her mother cut in, sneering down at Chan and Y/N.

The warmth Felix had brought drained out, and Y/N glared up at her own mom. “That’s odd to say since I explicitly told you that Chan was coming.”

“Um… I’ll go say hi to the kids. I have some more treats for them…” Felix excused himself, glancing between the staredown the two women were having.

“You see what you did!” Her mother hissed. “He’ll think you aren’t interested.”

“I’m not interested.” It wasn’t totally a lie.

Y/N’s mother fussed with her hair. “I just want you to find someone with real potential.” She glared over at Chan again. “I don’t want you continuing with this holidate crap. Do you want to die alone like your aunt?”

After remaining silent, her mother huffed and dispersed to nag at someone else. Chan waited a few minutes and then cleared his throat. “You know… Maybe you should actually give that neighbor guy a chance?” When Y/N simply stared at him like he was crazy, Chan continued, “I mean he has nice hair, freckles, volunteers with kids… That’s gotta be a dream guy, right?”

“I just don’t think I’m ready yet.”

“Hasn’t it been almost a year?”

Y/N pouted down at her crepes. “I mean… yeah,” she said softly, a bit broken. “Women take their time to process though. We don’t just dump and move on like men do.”

“To be fair, women can be brutal too.” Chan breathed out heavily, “My ex… I mean, my friend’s ex. She crushed him. Pretended to like his friends and hobbies. Started leaving things at his apartment until he just suggested they move in together. And it was great at first, or maybe she was good at pretending… They started exploring more things sexually and talking about the future. But then one day, she was just gone. All of the stuff she had left around was cleared out, her phone number was changed, and I was blocked on social media. I mean, my friend was blocked.”

Y/N looked over at Chan, really looked at him. He looked as broken in that moment as she often felt inside. She rubbed his arm lightly, and he gave her a sad smile. After a few more minutes, Y/N cleared her throat.

“So… what kind of sexual things are we talking?” She joked, trying to lighten the mood.

It worked, and Chan laughed loudly. “I am not telling you that.”

🎄

Much like St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo was spent at a fiesta party getting blackout drunk together. This time without the interruption of Y/N’s siblings.

Several rounds of tequila shots in, Y/N finally asked about the “sexual things” Chan had explored before since he never answered at Easter. He just laughed her off again. A few more rounds, and some light flirting, and Y/N was taunting that he probably hadn’t even slept with anyone in a while and lost his touch. He corrected her that he had actually met some waitress at St. Patrick’s Day that he’d taken home. She downed her next drink after hearing that, not stopping to think about why it bothered her. More shots, more drinks.

And the next thing they knew, they were waking up in Chan’s apartments and promptly going their separate ways until Mother’s Day.

“Can we please not talk about my personal life for once?” Y/N questioned, sipping her drink, while Chan sat silently beside her eating brunch.

“It’s my day. I have a right to know what my only child is doing with their life.” Her mother snipped.

Y/N grumbled about her siblings, and her mother cut her off, “They aren’t single.” She spat the word like it was a curse. “I just worry about you… And you,” she turned her glare to Chan, “I don’t understand why you’re wasting my daughter’s time.”

“It’s not a waste. We’re friends, Mother.” Y/N defended immediately, and Chan perked up, glancing over at her with a small smile.

“You don’t need a friend. You need a husband. Or at least a life partner. You need someone legally bound to be there when you go through chemo.”

Chan looked worriedly, “chemo?” at the same time Y/N spat the word out.

Y/N’s mother turned back to her daughter. “Let’s not kid ourselves. You have bad genes, and you smoke. Bald women don’t get a lot of dates. You need a husband now.”

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about, Ms. L/N.” Chan interrupted, noticing how she curled in on herself. “Y/N is an amazing girl. Even bald.”

🎄

For Independence Day, Chan and Jeongin gathered fireworks and drove up to the lake cabin separately. Y/N met up with Nayeon, Chaeryeong, and her aunt to ride up: girls’ trip style. With the addition of her aunt’s holidate…

“What’s that smell?” Chaeryeong asked, sliding into the backseat beside Y/N’s aunt and her date.

Nayeon breathed deeply, “Is that marijuana?”

“It’s medicinal.”

“Don’t care,” Y/N laughed, “pass it over!”

Slowly but surely, the girls hotboxed Nayeon’s car, arriving at the cabin happily high. Upon arrival, they settled in with munchies while the boys ran down to the lake to start shooting off the fireworks, shouting excitedly while they did.

“What is it about men and explosives?” Y/N laughed, watching from the balcony as Chan gleefully shot off fireworks.

“It’s like jacking off.” Y/N’s aunt giggled back, “Men live for the orgasm. If they’re not fucking then they’re dreaming about fucking… Or blowing stuff up. It’s the next best thing to fucking.”

The girls burst out laughing, but petered off as Jeongin ran up frantically. He was shouting about a freak accident and how Chan shot off a firework and the kickback knocked him over and the explosion hit the tree and a branch fell on him and he broke his leg.

Which led to Y/N, miraculously the most sober person at the cabin, taking Chan to the hospital.

“All right, so it looks like you only fractured the bone,” the doctor said coming into the hospital room.

“Felix?” Y/N asked, confused.

“Y/N! Are you hurt? You’re okay, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine… I didn’t know you were like a doctor doctor; I just thought you volunteered.”

“Well, I’m technically still a resident. But I also volunteer in the cancer ward.” Felix smiled at her.

Chan glanced between Y/N and Felix as the two grinned shyly at one another.

“That’s so amazing… You’re just… Wow. Doing amazing things.” Y/N breathed out. (Maybe she was still a bit high).

“I’m just trying to help people,” Felix blushed. “Anyway, I was disappointed I never heard back from you…”

Chan couldn’t stand their flirting anymore. “You know what I’m disappointed about? This broken leg.”

“Ah, yeah, man… It shouldn’t be too long now. We’ll give you some pain medication and a prescription and make sure it’s set and cast properly. Then you can go.”

“Sounds good.” Chan smiled, although the grin was tight around the edges.

Later that evening, Y/N had managed to gather the necessary prescriptions, taken Chan home, and ordered him food.

“I’m sorry I ruined your Fourth of July…” Chan pouted at her, grabbing her hand when she turned away to leave.

She pulled away gently but moved to push his hair out of his eyes. “It’s no problem, Chan… Holidate rule number three: leave no holidate behind.”

🎄

The next holiday did not come as smoothly. Since Labor Day was also the weekend of Jeongin and Chaeryeong’s wedding, Y/N and Chan decided to take different dates.

Not that either necessarily wanted to, but neither knew that the other wanted to take each other. It was unnecessarily complicated.

Instead, Y/N brought Felix and Chan brought the St. Patrick’s Day waitress, and the whole event was awkward overall.

At some point, though, the two found themselves at the bar, and it went from awkward to horrible as they argued. But, their tempers were smothered upon finding their dates making out near the dessert table, and they both sighed and smiled sheepishly at one another.

“So you got any ideas for Halloween?” Y/N pouted.

“Already on it.” Chan shrugged, planning out matching outfits for the two of them.

On Halloween, Chan spotted Y/N first, calling her over with wide-eyes at the corset wrapped tightly around her. “I’m glad it fits… Perfectly, actually.” He eyed her pirate costume, gaze dragging up-and-down her body. He hadn’t anticipated how good it would look.

“Ahoy!” Y/N smiled and held a flask out to Chan, “Rum?”

The party, hosted by Jeongin and Chaeryeong, was going well. Y/N and Chan were having a blast with her brother and sister-in-law, along with Nayeon who had come out. It was fun… Until…

“Happy Halloween!” Minho cheered, heading towards them.

Y/N whipped around to hiss, “Who invited them?” Chan’s hands came to rest on her shoulders, giving a reassuring squeeze.

“I love the slutty pirate costume. Classic!” Tzuyu smiled.

She was being genuine, and Y/N wanted to hate her for it. Wanted to hate how genuinely sweet and pretty she was. But she couldn’t. Because at the moment, she was busy hating her for the obvious baby bump she was sporting.

“Um…” Y/N smiled awkwardly, “So, baby?”

Tzuyu’s eyebrows rose, “Oh, yes… Minho and I are expecting. Isn’t that great?” She looked so happy.

Y/N felt sick.

“Wow… Pregnant. That’s– that’s great! She’s pregnant everyone! Isn’t that great?!” Y/N babbled frantically.

“Alright, love, let’s go get another drink!” Chan interrupted, pulling her away with Nayeon following closely behind.

Once out of earshot, Y/N grabbed Chan’s hand. “I don’t feel well.”

“Do you want me to take you home?” Nayeon offered, but Y/N shook her head, insisting that her older sister enjoy her night out.

“I’ve got you. I’ll take you home.” Chan said. No room for argument. “Holidate rule number three: leave no holidate behind. Let’s go.”

Back at her apartment, Y/N rushed to the bathroom. She slid down to the floor, the panic attack pulling dry heaves out of her. Chan settled next to her after a few minutes, passing her hot tea to soothe her nerves and rubbing her back. She let out loud sobs and fell into his chest.

When she had settled down, he helped her up and into her bed. He moved to leave, but Y/N grabbed his hand, pulling him back onto the bed. “Please stay…”

“Are you sure? You’re really upset about this.”

“I’m upset that he gets to cheat and still finds love, and no one will love me. I’m upset that my mom is right. There’s something wrong with me…”

Chan’s brow furrowed, and his jaw ticked. “There is nothing wrong with you. You deserve love, and…” He paused, head tilting in thought slightly. “Someone will love you.”

She nodded and slid down into the blankets. Chan followed, curling around her and holding her close to him.

She’d never fallen asleep so quickly.

In the morning, Y/N woke up with Chan only a hair’s breadth away. He looked so soft. She reached up, finger tracing his pouty lips, but froze when his eyes fluttered open. His own hand reached up, grabbing hers and placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles.

As a small smile tugged on both their lips, Y/N leaned forward. Her hand slid over his cheek and into his hair while their lips met. When she started to pull away from the chaste kiss, his grasp tightened on her, and he pulled her back in for another. And another. And another.

Before either knew it, the October morning chill had turned heated. Their kisses turned into bites and licks. The gentle caresses turned into scratches and roaming hands. The early clouds turned into the midday sun.

And both flopped back onto the bed, exhausted and sweaty.

“Wow,” Chan breathed heavily, “So should we…”

As he trailed off, Y/N felt the panic rise again. “You can go if you want.”

Of course that’s what he would want. They were holidates, friends at best. He had said he wasn’t even attracted to her…

Chan’s smile, that she hadn’t noticed yet, fell. “You want me to leave?”

“I mean… I don’t want you to feel obligated to stay.”

“Why would I feel obligated?”

“Well, Halloween’s over.”

Chan’s eyes widened, brows raising. He nodded, “Right.”

“So… I’ll see you at Thanksgiving?”

🎄

“Are you sure he’s coming,” Y/N’s mom snarked, moving about the house to finish preparations. “I don’t want to put the leaf in if he’s not.”

“Yes, Mother. Put the leaf in. He’ll be here.”

“Well it’s all the way in the basement…”

“Mom–”

She didn’t stop walking, ignoring her daughter, “We could just use the piano bench somehow.”

Y/N snapped, “Put the goddamn leaf in!”

“Fine, no need to shout…” Her mother started to chastise but was cut off by the shrill of the fire alarm. “Oh no! The pies!”

Since her mother had burned both pies and several of the sides to a crisp, Y/N was being ushered to the store. As the door was pulled open, though, Y/N was met face-to-face with Chan.

“Hey?”

“Hi… I have to go to the store, if you want…?”

Hearing her mother fussing in the background, Chan grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.”

At the store, the two mostly shopped in silence, awkward chit-chat kept to a minimum, but eventually, Chan couldn’t take it anymore. “So are we really just going to pretend we didn’t have sex?”

“Sounds good.” Y/N smiled, albeit obviously fake.

Chan shook his head with a scoff. “Fine. But, for the record, I didn’t want to leave afterwards.”

“Sure,” Y/N rolled her eyes, “You didn’t even want to have sex with me. You told me you didn’t find me attractive, but sure. You definitely wanted to stay all day and talk about our feelings.”

“What did you want me to say?!” Chan snapped back, pulling Y/N to a stop. “I was some stranger in the mall. Did you want me to scare you off by telling you how beautiful I thought you were, even in your sweats. Did you want me to tell you that on New Year’s I ran away to the bathroom because you have these lips that just beg to be kissed. And on Valentine’s Day, I could see from outside the store that your eyes were filled with tears, and it crushed me. Is that what you wanted to know?”

Y/N felt her heart constrict, turning away to stare into a freezer. “No. I didn’t want to know that. In fact, I don’t want to know any of those types of things. You can relax and keep sleeping with St. Patrick’s Day waitresses all you want.”

“Wow…” Chan breathed out in disbelief. “You’re really trying so hard not to feel anything, huh? Well at least that makes you the liar and asshole and not me.”

Storming out of the store and leaving her alone in the frozen section, Y/N felt her heart crumble and eyes fill with tears. She wanted to scream and cry, but instead, she checked out and headed home, already anticipating the fight that would be waiting for her.

“Where’s Chan?” Nayeon asked as soon as Y/N walked through the front door alone.

“I don’t know…” Y/N whispered, moving to put groceries away and start helping to make some of the replacement dishes.

“I knew it!” Her mother called from the dining room. “No leaf!”

“What did you do, Y/N?” Nayeon sighed heavily.

Y/N whipped around, trying desperately to ignore the snide remark from their mother. “What makes you think it was me?”

“Well, honey, you don’t have the best track record.” Her mother chipped in again. Jeongin, having come in to get a drink, glanced between the two.

“Excuse me?! Minho is the one who cheated on me. Chan left me in the store.”

“Well maybe if you were honest with him…” Nayeon mumbled.

Jeongin shrugged one shoulder, “Yeah, if you just told him how you feel we could get through a holiday without your personal life being such a mess.”

Y/N started to argue back when her aunt’s holidate collapsed. The fighting promptly cut off, an ambulance being called, and Y/N somehow getting roped into the back with her aunt.

“You know… I barely even know him.” Her aunt whispered as they sat in the hospital waiting room. “I even had to write his name on my arm… And I know how sad it is; I know what everyone in the family thinks and says. It’s my own fault, too. I had so many opportunities with good men, kind men, who liked me. Loved me even… But as soon as they got too close, I ran away. Ran away and found someone who wasn’t good or kind. Someone who cheated, but was sexy and fun. And now I’m in my fifties, waiting in a hospital for a man I don’t really know…”

Y/N hummed, realization hitting her.

🎄

Inspired by her aunt, and a few very-much-needed therapy sessions, Y/N found herself outside Chan’s production company a week before Christmas.

Her chest felt tight, and despite the cold, her hands felt sweaty.

She could do it. She could confess. She just needed to walk in there and tell him.

“So… Are you going to go in, or just keep standing outside stalking me?” Chan’s voice came from behind.

Y/N spun around so fast she almost slipped on the icy ground, Chan reaching out to steady her.

“Chan! Hi. I just…” She exhaled heavily, breath coming out in a puff of steam against the freezing cold. “I just… I fucked up.” His brows rose, but his hands remained on her arms. She took it as a good sign and continued. “What I’m trying to say is that I’ve had more fun with you this past year than with any other loser I thought I was in love with. And I know I fucked it up because I was scared, but letting you go was the biggest mistake of my life… I miss you so much. So much that I even quit smoking and eating junk food all the time and drinking so much. You really ruined all my vices for me… Anyway…” She swallowed heavily, gaze traveling across his blank face to gauge his reaction so far, despite him not giving any. “You were right. I do have feelings for you. I thought I wanted a holidate, but the truth is that I just want you. For all the holidays. And the weekends… And weekdays would be nice too. I know I’m probably too late, but honestly, you’re the only one I’d wanna go through chemo with.”

Chan’s lips quirked into a small smile, and he stepped closer. He rubbed his nose against her freezing one and pecked her lips, pulling away just enough to say, “Yeah, why not… I bet you’d be hot bald.”

[mysterynoel]

12 Days of Ficmas Day 7 - Lukanette NYE

Title: Undecided

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug

Ship: Marinette Dupain-Cheng / Luka Couffaine

First made: August 2020

Last worked on: July 2023

“This was a great party, Adrien.”

“I’m glad you could make it, Marinette.”

“Well, I better get going. I promised my parents I’d watch the bakery so they could rest after the morning rush. It wouldn’t be good if I was falling asleep when someone came in.”

“It’s really late. Are you walking home by yourself?”

“I’ll be fine!”

“I should at least call you a car.”

“Don’t worry about her, Adrien,” a voice called out from across the room. Marinette turned to see Luka standing on the stage, facing them. “I’ll make sure she gets home safe, if that’s okay with you, Marinette?”

[12daysficmas]

FAQ, Rules & Other Important Things

History

Hey there! Back in 2020 I, @echoghost1, decided to challenge myself and write 12 fics based of a 12 different winter & holiday prompts.

I was very productive that year and was able to do it! You can read it here if you like

It was so much fun I figured the more the merrier and made it a lil event open for other's to join!

I made this blog, got a AO3 collection, and for the last three years I've kept it going!

When is it?

It runs from December 12th until December 23rd

To help give everyone plenty of time and wiggle room, the prompt list will (hopefully) be posted on the 1st of December and you have until January 1st to finish, be reblogged, and added to the AO3 collection (if you've got something I can add to that)!

It is the holidays and finals season, so I don’t want anyone to feel too pressured with deadlines

I will queue up the entries on the day off the prompt or after it passes, so feel free to make and post stuff whenever.

I will give updates on the progress of the calendar as we get closer to December.

If it is not going to be ready by the first, I will have a post about it and give my best guess as to when it actually will be ready by.

What is The 12 Days of Fic-mas?

A short little Danny Phantom prompt-based event for those winter holiday vibes! One one-word prompt a day to fill however you please!

You can write (what I’ll be doing) or draw or make a song or whatever creative thing you can think of!

Why is it 12?

Honestly? It’s just because of the 12 days of Christmas song.

Is this just a Christmas thing?

Nah, feel free to use the prompts however you want to.

You can focus on another winter-based holiday that you are more familiar with (ex; Hanukkah, Yule, Kwanzaa)

Or just winter in general!

Whatever vibes with you the best is a-okay!

This is just for fun and to be creative so anything that fits that is fair game!

What are the tags so they’ll be reblogged here?

I'll be keeping an eye out for the following tags

#ficmas #ficmas24 #ficmas2024 #ficmas 2024

Pick your favorite you don't have to use all of them

Tagging the prompt of the day or having it somewhere mentioned in the post helps too

Feel free to at the blog itself too

Other tagging rules

Please tag any and all triggers that your work has.

Angst and gore is a strong pillar in this fandom and 100% allowed in this event, but we wanna make sure we give others a heads up in case they might need it.

Can I use OCs?

Yes! Have fun with your blorbo's!

Just remember this is a Danny Phantom event so having some canon character interaction or an explanation of who your OC is and how they are tied to the show would be good.

The explanation can be a simple as:

"They are a ghost"

"This is a clone"

"This is a Fan-kid" or "Future generation" or "child of [insert character(s) here]"

"This is one of Danny's nameless classmates/teachers"

"Random Amity Park citizen(s)"

"This is the [insert occupation here] type person of Amity Park"

"This is a boyfriend/girlfriend/significant other for [insert canon character here]"

I don't need their whole backstory (unless that's what you are making for the prompt that day than go for it)

Are ships okay?

Feel free to make whatever you want.

I have the right to not reblog it.

I am not explaining that further. :)

Any other questions?

Send and ask and I will answer as soon as I can!

If needed, I'll update this FAQ

[crimsonheart01]

Alright my loves, I’ve been listening to my holiday playlist for a couple of weeks now and I’m READY (yes I’m one of those “November 1st means it’s Christmas” people). 

I’m going to do a 12 Days of Ficmas 2020!  I’m accepting 12, twelve only, prompts. 

Pick a prompt, tell me the character, specify anything you would like to see (POC, LGBTQIA+, religious denomination, angst, fluff, fav song/carol, etc...) and I’ll start writing them. I will post them daily starting December 12th, 2020. 

I write for a bunch of fandoms: Harry Potter, SOA, Mayans, F&F, Supernatural, MCU, Good Girls, Animal Kingdom, RPF (Pete Davidson, Henry Cavil, etc...).

Requests are first come first serve and 1 request per person!

I’ll leave the requests open until November 30, 2020. After that, they’re closing so I can get on to writing the fics <3 

Love you my bbs! 

P.S. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, don’t feel like you can’t participate. As long as you’re specific with me, I will do my best to honour the request!

winter/holiday prompts:

1. “I’m not going to kiss you under the mistletoe.” 2. “I got apple cider up my nose.” 3. “I’m cold, can you cuddle with me?” “No.” 4. “If you don’t grab me a blanket, I’m breaking up with you.” 5. “I’ll give you five dollars if you make a fire.” 6. “Let’s make snow angels!” “Are you nine?” 7. “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” 8. “Merry Christmas!” “I don’t celebrate Christmas.” 9. “How much for the ugly Christmas sweater?” 10. “I don’t like how you decorated the tree. Do it again.” 11. “What are you doing?” “Hiding from carolers.” 12. “So you’re going to dress up as Santa.” 13. “You burnt the holiday cookies!” 14. “My reindeer slipper broke.” 15. “I’m no Kevin McCallister, okay?” 16. “Great, now I have to re-hide your Christmas gifts.” 17. “If you turn down the Christmas music, I’ll murder you.” 18. “Wanna go skating in Central Park?” 19. “You really want a pair of fuzzy socks?” 20. “Nightmare Before Christmas is a Christmas movie, not a Halloween movie.” 21. “Bath and Body Works was having a sale on their holiday scents so I bought twenty bottles of lotion.” 22. “How can you possibly look good with snow in your hair?” 23. “Are you humming the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy?” 24. “I’m watching Barbie Nutcracker.” 25. “Santa’s handwriting looks suspiciously like yours.”

[confusedunit]

A Faint Divergence - Day 12

12 Days of Ficmas - Day 12 Gen, as always. Light Angst? Characters: Mr. Coolatta, Tommy

Tommy was different to his father.

All children are, of course. Even when made by a creature, unless they were a direct copy, they would be different. This is a constant of the universe.

But his difference was quite noticeable, right from the beginning. Tommy was excitable, always curious, always wanting to learn. He wasn't afraid. What, after all, was there to be afraid of as a child under such safe care? And even if there was danger to be afraid of, he'd been taught quite early about the nature of their species. Hard to destroy.

Why would he be afraid?

Mr. Coolatta envied him, sometimes. His son's carefree attitude, his persistence on sticking to compassion, his earnest desire to learn of other species. All things that he had never had, himself. But when the envy rose, he would crush it quickly. It did nothing, to dwell on the past.

And, after all, wasn't the point as a parent to make a life for your child that was better than your own?

Tommy wasn't a completely easy child to raise. Children weren't supposed to be. Children were supposed to be children, and parents were to adapt. This is another constant. And for Tommy, he'd had to adapt.

He wasn't a copy, but he had many traits of his father. Luckily, Mr. Coolatta was able to recognize them, help him learn how to adapt at an early age. He taught him the language of colors, when the boy struggled to learn his voice. He taught him how to move his body in a way to express his excitement, or to vent his frustrations. He taught him calming sounds to make, to help himself return to ease.

There were so many lessons to learn. And all between different jobs he'd had to take. He was worried he wouldn't have enough time. The man who was used to having complete control over his time, suddenly realized that even freezing time might not be enough. If not even endless time was enough...what could one do?

Well, he thought to himself as he straightened his tie, one can do the best one can.

He taught Tommy of conflict, and how to mitigate it. How to protect himself, should he have to. What empathy was, even if it was a lesson that he himself still struggled with. Emotions in general were difficult for him to explain, and he knew he processed them differently from his son. But he tried his best. And he hoped that would be enough.

When Tommy had gotten a bit older, and decided his interest was in humans, Mr. Coolatta had a moment of fear, worry flowing through him for his son to follow in his footsteps. He didn't want his son to have to do that. But if he became attached...

He reached up, alone in his room, to tug lightly at the glowing yellow cord that filled his left wing. The cord had completely wrapped up and covered both of his wings, shielding them from anything else. He'd never seen cords of life behave like that before. Of course his son would be so protective, even his own cord of life would react in a protective way.

Hidden beneath the yellow near the base of his left wing, was a single white cord, tangled between the frame of the wing a few times. It didn't glow, but it was stuck fast. A small pale cord was tied between two sections of the white cord, color still not set.

He let the yellow cord return, reaching to his other wing. The glowing cord was too tightly wound over that wing, to allow him to see the cords hiding beneath, and he let out a sigh. It seemed that his son would indeed be getting attached.

He never should have taken Tommy to Earth with him.

But if the attachment was already forming, there wasn't much more harm in returning. He would find his way there regardless.

There were a few things he still hadn't taught him, on purpose. Mortality was one of those things. And humans...humans were so damn fragile. So mortal. They required so much protection, so much care, or they would break, and...

...Well. Best not to dwell on the past.

He could only look to the future. That was all that mattered.

He eventually sat Tommy down, telling him many things. Telling him about humans, and how distressingly mortal they were. And about what protection he could give them.

"When you one day find someone who is important to you, for whatever reason they may be," He spoke in the tones of the stars, a tongue he hadn't spoken in for so long before he'd had Tommy. He had to teach him. He may not have grown up where he was from, but he should at least know how to speak if he wanted to. And how to understand, regardless. His eyes flashed as he spoke, to help him understand more clearly. "You will feel this tug on your heart. When you have a chance to be alone, seek out where this pull was, and you will find this." He let his right wing free, stretching it out to allow him to look at it.

Tommy stared in awe. "Yellow."

"Yes. But yours that you find may not be yellow. But this, is called a 'cord'." He had peeked forward onto Earth, just wanting a quick glimpse to check on a job, but had seen his son. And a friend of his son. Someone he hadn't met, on prior visits. He reached into his jacket now, pulling out a midnight green cord in his hands.

"...I don't see it."

"Focus, Tommy. Close your eyes, and search."

He did so, reaching out with his hand as he tried. He relaxed a bit. "Green. Weird green?"

He chuckled. "Green, yes. A dark green. This is a cord. This is how it will be when you find one, in a different color. You must keep it safe, and protect it. And one day, with how you are? And how much care you have to give?" He put the cord away, leaning forward to ruffle Tommy's hair. "You'll have brilliant, multicolor wings."

"Why's yours yellow, if you're blue, and have that green?"

He pulled his son into a hug. "Because you are the one I care for the most, Tommy. The one I wish to keep the safest." He smiled faintly. "The dark green cord will be yours, in the future. But for now, I am...keeping him- ...keeping the cord safe. Until you can have this shade of cord for yourself."

"Do I know him?" Once again, too curious for his own good.

"Yes. But not yet. You will, though." He hummed. "One day, you will."

-

In the future, not too far forward from then but not too soon either, Mr. Coolatta was in a room he'd taken when he'd started his job involving Black Mesa, world frozen blue. He sighed, sitting down on the bed, letting his wings out. As he checked over the cords, he felt a sadness as he felt the glowing yellow cords looser than before. Once they had been held taught. But now, even Tommy's persistence was faltering. He was a terrible father, asking his son to do such work for him. He shook his head. He knew he had no choice. His son had gotten attached. He was their best bet for safety.

He pulled the yellow cord aside gently on the left, checking the cords beneath. The white cord was intact, and he was grateful for that, though it had become tinged with a bit of yellow over time. The smaller cord had grown in length, and wrapped around the longer cord. It was another white cord, but every once and a while it would shimmer with a faint orange or blue tone.

He pressed a hand to the other wing, unwilling to fight with the cord. He didn't want to risk exhausting Tommy and more than he already was. But the five woven cords below, including the midnight green, were still together, held taught. The green one was a bit frayed, but steady.

He leaned backwards until he fell against the bed, letting out another sigh. He just needed to wait a little bit longer. He'd found a possible location. Now all he needed to do was get the components there, and wait.

He'd waited, he'd made his son wait, for so many years.

What was another week?

[li0nheartstories]

12 Days of Ficmas

Hello! Is anyone hosting a Marauders 12 Days of Ficmas this year? If so, how do I sign up? TIA!

[lumosinlove]

12/15/20: Day Two

On the second day of Ficmas, Hazel gave to y’all, Remus joining the Lions’ thrall!

Remus looked at the jersey in his hands, and then at the flashing cameras.

“Put it on for us, Remus!”

The press were surrounding him at his new stall, and Remus felt claustrophobic and like he was soaring above the room all at once. He pushed his hair away from his face and laughed a little, standing to take his suit jacket off before slipping the jersey over his head. The cameras flashed, and he turned to show off the number six across his back.

The morning had been full of press conferences, and this felt like the reward for the exhausting excitement of it all. Remus wanted to go back to Sirius, where he was at morning work out with the rest of the team. He wanted to get on the ice. Two weeks. Two weeks until their first game of the season. Until his first game.

“Why the number six, Remus?” one of the cameras asked.

“Six has always been my number,” Remus said, and then he realized—as he had been, over and over again—that he was allowed to say more. He shrugged with a smile. “Plus, it’s half of twelve.”

That drew some laughs.

“Coach says you’ll be alternating between Black’s line and Dumais’ line during your transition into the roster, and also getting to play with Cole Reyes, drafted fifth overall by the Lions. Are you looking forward to it?”

“Of course,” Remus said. “I spent a lot of time with younger players on the Lions’ staff, and I’m excited to do it as a player myself.”

There was a sigh, and heads turned to Marlene. “I see you’ve already mastered the NHL bland toast answer.”

“Isn’t it required?” Remus laughed, and others did the same.

“All right,” Alice waved herself into the view of the cameras. “That’s it, thanks guys.”

Remus turned around, away from the departing press, and looked up at his stall. He’d seen it before, his name in the plaque, right beside Sirius, but this was different. This time, he had taken his jersey from its hooks. Later, his skates would be there, which he had gotten fitted with Moody earlier that week. And his gloves, and his helmet…

“Don’t you want to see your zero-flex stick with the rest of them?” said a voice from behind him.

Remus smiled, hands still holding the hem of his jersey tightly, to see Sirius standing there. He was dressed in his training clothes, backwards hat keeping his hair out of his face, sweaty from the weight room. But Remus wrapped his arms around him anyway, feeling Sirius fingers trace the name on his back.

“Lupin,” Sirius said softly, ducking down to brush a kiss against his mouth.

“I can’t believe it,” Remus said. “I just…it feels like a dream, and I’m going to wake up, like, still in the hospital with my arm in a sling, and all of this—”

Sirius cut him off with a kiss and Remus sank against his chest.

“I used to think that,” Sirius kissed the corner of his mouth, and then his cheek. “But, no. All of this is yours. It’s ours.”

Remus pressed his forehead against Sirius’ shoulder, laughing. “I know, I…fuck. When Coach told me at the wedding, and then I looked at you and you were just smiling, and—but no one else seemed to know. I thought for sure this doesn’t…but it does. It does make sense and it is real.”

There was a sharp knock on the locker room door, and they looked up to see Coach standing there.

“Black, you said five not a honeymoon. And Lupin—”

Coach paused. He smiled. “You look good. But you’d look better ready to work. Get out of that suit and come join your teammates. We’re doing land drills.”

“Well, that feels real,” Remus said as Coach disappeared, and Sirius laughed.

“How am I suppose to focus now?”

Remus traced the chain of his necklace on his neck. “We worked out together all summer.”

“Yeah, but that was just us,” Sirius pressed a kiss to Remus’ cheek. “I could do that whenever I wanted to.”

“You will get chirped so hard if you kiss my cheek between every sprint.”

“Worth it.”

Remus grinned, then pushed him gently towards the door. “Go, I have to change.”

Sirius stuck his bottom lip out a little as he walked backwards. “Go?”

“Yes, Captain,” Remus said, pulling his tie loose. “I’ll see you in there.”

Sirius paused by the door, hand going up to hold his necklace pendant. “I can’t wait.”

Remus looked down at himself when Sirius left. The Lions’ logo was clean and bright, with the sheen of a new jersey. He put his hands over the number sixes on each of his sleeves and took a breath, grinning.

The weight room was crowded and familiar with the heat of an entire team of hockey players sweating. Remus had never minded the smell, and now he nearly embraced it. He was here for the same reasons they were. To work. To win.

“Loops!” Thomas dropped down from the pull-up bar, bare chest shiny with sweat. “You look ready.”

Remus glanced down at his sleeveless Lions tank and shorts, shrugging. “Well, yeah.”

“No, I mean you look ready, hot damn,” Thomas circled him. “Who knew you looked like that underneath everything, you got game.”

Remus felt the back of his neck heat. “I worked a lot over the summer, honestly. Just want to keep up with you guys.”

“Oh, you’re keeping up alright,” Pascal said. He was wearing the same shirt Remus was, curling monstrous looking weights. “Come, Remus, start beside me.”

“Non, mais ici,” Sirius sat up from where he was bench pressing. “Loops, I’ll spot you.”

“Yeah,” Thomas said, clapping Remus on the shoulder. “Your boyfriend’s gonna spot you.”

“I wouldn’t mind that,” Remus laughed with a tilt of his head. He walked over to the bench press and looked down at Sirius, before up at Olli, who was spotting him. “Mind if I take over, Ols?”

Olli’s smile was sweet, but knowing. “For sure.” He gave the weight bar two taps before handing it over to Remus.

“Hi, baby,” Remus laughed, looking down at Sirius’ upside-down face. “Ready?”

Sirius grinned. “Absolutely.”

[squiggledrop]

Day 12: Watching Christmas Movies - Spencer x Reader

Masterlist

Ficmas 2020

Listen to my Christmas Playlist!

Summary: Ficmas Day 12

Word Count: 1k

Pairings: Spencer Reid x Reader

After you had finished dinner, you and Spencer had decided to relax by watching a Christmas movie. The two of you had decided on Home Alone, considering it was one of your favorites, and Spencer loved all the booby traps because he got to explain the physics of them to you, which you gladly listened to.

The two of you sat on the couch and Spencer wrapped a blanket across your laps, placing a popcorn bowl in between you. He wrapped his arm around your shoulders, and you snuggled in close. The only light in the room was the warm glow of the Christmas tree and the illumination from the television, which you were currently setting up to watch a Christmas movie on. As you hit play on the remote, Spencer placed a handful of popcorn into his mouth, a few pieces spilling into his lap. You watched him out of the corner of your eye, a small snort leaving your nose.

“As delicious as the popcorn may be, I don’t think the blanket really wants any”, you chuckled. Spencer turned to you with squinted eyes and a smirk as he picked up the fallen bits of popcorn.

“Well did you ask the blanket what it wants?”, he teased.

“No, I guess I didn’t”, you giggled. You looked down at the blanket strewn across your bodies and asked, “Blanket, would you like any of our popcorn?”, trying to sound as sincere as possible. You heard Spencer laughing beside you, and you looked up at him with a knowing look to see if he was satisfied with your consideration for the blanket’s feelings. “It didn’t respond, I guess it doesn’t”, you said, picking up another crumb of popcorn and lightly flicking it at Spencer’s cheek. He playfully swatted your hand while giggling.

“I don’t think it heard you”, he amused, biting his bottom lip to conceal his smirk. You smiled and shook your head, leaning down to get closer to the blanket.

“Excuse me, Blanket, would you care for any of our deliciously buttered popcorn?”. You spoke with a ridiculous voice that only perpetuated you and Spencer’s laughs. You quirked your head up at him, waiting for a response.

“The blanket said it wants something sweeter than popcorn”, he said with a smile that you knew all too well. Spencer only smiled like that when he was up to something.

“Yeah?”, you questioned, “And what would the blanket like?”.

“You”, Spencer quipped. Before you could respond, Spencer had lifted the blanket up, wrapping it over your torso. He brought the ends of it around you, his body following suit, sending you both laying across the couch.

“Ah, Spence!”, you let out a small yelp followed by laughter that matched Spencer’s. You looked up at the man currently laying on top of you and smiled, placing a quick kiss on his lips.

“Well, as kind as the blanket was, I don’t think it thought this through”, you giggled, looking down at the spilled bowl of popcorn. A pink flush rose across Spencer’s cheeks as he looked down beside your connected chests at the popcorn strewn across the blanket.

“Oops”, he half-smiled, feeling a bit bad that he made a mess.

“It’s okay”, you laughed, lifting your hand to his cheek. He smiled, leaning into your palm at the gesture. “Just because you’re genius doesn’t mean you need to be smart all the time”, you teased. Spencer gasped at your words, feigning offense.

“No”, he laughed, “I’m just making it easier to eat the popcorn”.

“Uhuh”, you amused, “and please bestow me with some of this wisdom, doctor”. Spencer blushed, looking away slightly before returning your gaze.

“Well, clearly”, he started, “now I can eat it while still being in a close enough proximity to kiss you without having to strain my neck”. You burst into a soft giggle, Spencer doing the same shortly after.

“Please, doctor, demonstrate this new movie date technique”, you giggled.

“Gladly”, he smirked. He leaned his head over to the mess of popcorn on the couch, picking a piece up with his tongue. You widened your eyes, showing you were slightly impressed. He swallowed the piece of popcorn and grinned up at you. “And now, the trick of this technique is to make sure you let the salty butter linger in your mouth so that it balances out the sweetness of the kiss”. You hummed, trying to hold back your laughter. Spencer leaned in and you closed your eyes as he placed a loving kiss on your lips. “How was that?”, he smiled, biting his lip.

“Salty”, you hummed, both of you breaking out into laughter again. “But, um, I think you may need to demonstrate it a few more times, just so I can get the technique down myself”, you smirked.

“I think that can be arranged”, he giggled, leaning in for another kiss. You smiled against his lips, savoring the way his soft lips felt against yours.

When he pulled away, you both smiled at each other, before he relaxed, resting his head on your shoulder. You snuggled under him, turning your attention back to the movie.

“Are we really going to watch the whole movie like this?”, you giggled, after a few moments of silence. Spencer looked back at the popcorn lying around you and shrugged.

“I mean, at this point, I think we have to”, he chuckled. You smiled, placing a kiss on his cheek.

“Fair enough”, you smirked. Spencer wrapped his arms tighter around you, resting his head in the crook of your neck. You relaxed further into the couch, the pressure of him laying on you and running his hands along your back soothing you. You tilted your head slightly, picking up a piece of popcorn into your mouth. You hummed, completely content spending the rest of your life like this if it meant getting to spend it laughing with Spencer.

[theamberwriter]

Ficmas Day 1: One More Sleep [Tenya Iida]

Pairing: ProHero!Tenya Iida x Fem!Reader

Song: One More Sleep by Leona Lewis

Word Count: 5.4k

A/N: I tried to get this done a few days ago, but I was just so tired 😭 Anyway, I hope that you guys like it!

~

Tenya rubbed his eyes groggily, staring at the ceiling. He rolled over to look at the clock on the nightstand. 3:43 AM. How frustrated he was by this. He should've been asleep hours ago. He sat up, deciding it was no good. Sleep wouldn't come, not until you were here by his side.

    He checked his phone for the date. December 21th. Four. More. Days. Five more grueling, restless nights. Tenya figured he should've been used to this. Spending time apart. Your relationship had been that way since the beginning. You traveled for work while he stayed put. Doing the hero gig he'd always dreamed of.

    But now - so close to Christmas - it was impossible to think of anything else but you. Here. In the bed you'd spend nearly a year deciding on because he insisted you had to look at all the options first. Your side was barely worn. It made his heart ache in ways he was too stubborn to admit.

    Tenya wondered if it's be too cruel to ask you to stop. To stop traveling. To stay put, just for a little while. No more calling at wild hours. No more flickering signals or long distance fees. Just you and him. Together in the home that you'd bought. The place you made love and fought and kissed endlessly to make up for lost time.

    But when was enough, enough?

    He swung his feet out of bed, put on his glasses, and slid on his slippers. A blue bathrobe hung from the best post. It was one you'd bought him last year from somewhere over seas. You had said it reminded you of his eyes. Apparently you'd worn it considerably before gifting it. It was drenched in your scent by the time it reached his hands. The collar smelled like your shampoo, the rest of smelling of your favourite spray. You'd bashfully admitted you wore it because you missed him. And this one little thing made you feel closer.

    Your smell had been washed from it by now. But he silently wished it was still there as he put it on. He only flicked on a few lights as he made his way to the kitchen. A warm cup of tea on a cold, snowy night sounded wonderful. Tenya looked out at the piling snow as he waited for the water to boil.

    He worried your flight would get delayed. Or worse – it'd be put off until after the storm passed. Sure, he'd video chatted you early that evening. But he felt like he'd die if he had to wait even a single day more than he already had to. He ran a hand through his hair. What a funny thing love was.

    Tenya had never expected you to come into his life. He never really expected to share love with anyone. It was just another thing his brother talked sweetly of. Telling him, “Tenya, you'll know when she's the one.” Tenya breathed his brother's every word like gospel.

    Except for that one.

    What had Tensei meant by you'll know – it wasn't very informative. It didn't help too much. It only kept him guessing as he passed attractive women. Until Tenya found you. It wasn't love at first sight. Not entirely. But the first words he thought when he saw your face? I just found my wife.

    It had been such a nauseating, powerful experience. One little glance as you said 'hello' from your new spot at a desk in his agency. Tenya had rushed away, and left out the back so he wouldn't have to pass you again.

    It was the single most powerful moment in his life.

    Many things had changed over the years. You were one of those earth shattering experiences for him. Breaking open the egg that was the world. Showing him more than he would've thought possible. Four years ago, that thought that he'd fall in love with a stranger and get married to them just two years after would've seemed ridiculous. But here you two were.

    You worked as a travel writer. Going to exotic places. Trying new things. Meeting new people. While Tenya was living his dream. Fulfilling his brother's legacy as Ingenium. He never thought being alone could feel so hollow and bitter and cold. He'd never really felt lonely when he was alone, until you two made a home together. Tenya worried that home was too boring for you. Surely it had to be after seeing so much of the world. It gnawed at him. No matter how much reassurance you gave him that coming back home to him was always the best part of the trip.

    Tenya contemplated his tea as he poured in the water. Watching as a deep red color soaked out from the leaves. Only four more days, he kept reminding himself. Five more nights, and she'll be with you. But the mantra didn't help at all.

    Tenya went to his reading chair by the window. Yours was next to his, a table separating them. Your side was stacked with books. Even your chair had a few on it. Bookmarks spouted from a few. Tenya was sure you'd never finish them. But watching you try was endearing nonetheless. Your wedding picture sat on the table, along with a vase of your favourite flowers. He went every day to get one while you were away.

    He counted twenty three. Twenty three flowers. Twenty three days apart. But only four more until you were back in his arms. Until he could kiss you and hold you. Feel your warm skin against his own. They'd made you stay longer, so you'd have writing material through the first of the year. Didn't they know you had a husband and a dog to get back home to?

    That picture encapsulated the best day of his life. A face splitting grin on his own. You wore a goofy smile because he'd made you laugh. Tenya cried when he saw you come down the aisle. Though he desperately tried to hide them. You teased him later about that. He simply covered you with kisses.

    A small lump formed in Tenya's throat as he watched your dog slump sadly down onto the floor in front of your chair. He rolled his eyes up at Tenya and whined, his tail wagging only once. Things just weren't the same with you away. Tenya blew on his tea with a sigh.

    “I know boy, I miss her, too,” he said softly. Then took a sip. The hot tea did nothing to warm the cold that settled in him.

    Only four. More. Days.

    Tenya didn't sleep much after that. Dozing on the couch until the morning light woke him up. He was very stiff and chilled to the bone. Like someone had left a window open. Tenya searched the house, simply pushing the heater up when he found no cause for alarm.

    Tenya was very surprised as he let the dog out. The snow was ludicrously high. Five feet, give or take. He was willing to say give. Your poor pooch could barely get down to use the bathroom. Tenya just knew he was going to have to shovel a path for him.

    Was his ideal morning bundled up and shoveling snow? He was fairly sure that no body's was. But he diligently donned his his coat, hat, scarves, gloves, and snow boots. Being a good dog father and shoveling a path down into the yard.

    Tenya chuckled at the thought of you out here last year in the snow. A hair dry plugged into the side of the house. He yelled at you about the hazard, trying to argue that a hair dryer was not the most efficient way the clear snow. You started a snow ball fight after that. You'd both gone in drenched, and took a nice, hot, steamy shower together. His body tingled warmly at the thought, his face (and quite a few other places) feeling hot.

    After shoveling, it was shower time. Then he made himself and the dog breakfast (yes, he makes the dog's food because he is a very good doggy daddy). After was time to tend to all the chores he'd been putting off in the wake of his depression. This included wrapping your gifts. Tenya knew you'd be home for Christmas, but it'd been too painful to wrap them before. Between his loneliness and the excitement that bubbled in him at the thought of you coming home in a few days, he felt numb but jittery. One canceling the other out.

    And there was still so much to do.

    Ochaco and Izuku had accidentally, inadvertently invited themselves over for Christmas. They wanted to throw a party. And somehow Tenya had gotten wrapped up in it all. He hadn't been able to get a hold of you to try and talk them down. So he did the responsible thing and said he'd take care of it all. They gushed about what to bring and who to invite, he just had to take care of the house and making sure everything was perfect. He supposed this was a sort of coming home celebration for you, so it didn't annoy him quite as much.

    Tenya measured the dimensions each and every package he wrapped. Then he measured the wrapping paper. The process was tedious, but it ensured every piece of paper was used to the fullest. He pulled off the smallest pieces of tape that he possibly could, so he didn't waste the roll. Honestly, Tenya thought of how you might react as you opened them all. The excitement, the embarrassment, the sheer happiness that he wanted so much to bring you. He'd gone overboard, sure. But you were worth every penny. And all the burnt fingers. The thing he'd tried to make you did not go as well as he wanted. But Tenya just knew you were going to love it.

    After wrapping, he figured having a nice tree to put them under would help. He'd only gone out and bought one. Nothing was decorated. That was something you two usually did together. There wasn't a tinkle of a light anywhere to be seen. Though he knew Ochaco and Izuku expected the place to look as warm and cozy as it always did this time of year.

    The decorations were stored in a closet under the stairs. You had made it a giant Janga tower. Honestly, Tenya was a little scared to pull everything out. If he was crushed to death by decorations, no body would know for days. He studied your tower for a while. Thinking about when you'd put them in. You had struggled tremendously. He'd just chuckled. Tenya always thought everything you did was endearing. In it's own sort of way. In the love touched way.

    When Tenya was sure nothing was going to fall, he started to pull things out and organize them into piles. Garland, ornaments, outside lights, indoor lights, the tree angel, upstairs decorations, table runners, stockings – he sprinted through the house as he sorted. He planned to start upstairs, then work his way down.

    By the time he finished the upstairs it was early evening. He'd missed lunch, stopping only briefly to feed the dog. Now it was dinner time. He had no gumption to cook, though. So he heated up leftovers and sat at the table. Tenya stared at your empty chair as he ate. It was made up with a place mat, and a book, and your favourite mug.

    Three more days.

    It surprised him in the morning when there was a ring at the doorbell. Tenya had been up, working slowly at things around the house. He wasn't planning on company. Nor for Ochaco and Izuku to be standing behind the door. They had their own bags and piles of things in their arms. They grinned widely at him.

    “What a surprise,” Tenya said, then moved aside. “Come in out of the snow. I hope the roads weren't too bad.”

    They nodded and ducked in. “Thanks!”

    “Most of the snow is melted already,” Ochaco pouted. “Izuku and I built a snowman yesterday, but he was just a pile of mush things morning!”

    Izuku looked around, clearly surprised by the bare walls and shelves and tree. “Tenya, you haven't started decorating yet?”

    Tenya looked away ashamedly. Eyes wandering on their own to a picture of you. His guests' eyes followed. Ochaco's grin dropped.

    “Oh,” she said, putting her stuff down. “You're probably waiting for [Name], right?”

    “Tenya, if you didn't want to have the party, you could've said something,” Izuku insisted.

    Tenya had tried to tell them he didn't want to throw the party. Not at his house anyway. But they were so excited that they didn't listen. “It's fine. [Name] is coming home on Christmas. It'll be nice to have everyone here to welcome her back. I've just been putting it off. I didn't want to decorate alone.”

    Ochaco hugged him tightly. “I'm sorry, Tenya. We're here to help!”

    “Yeah!” Izuku looked disproportionately determined for the task. But Tenya was glad that his friend was as enthusiastic as ever. He needed the energy boost. “We're going to make it amazing for when [Name] comes home! You have nothing to worry about.”

    The pair ran off, doing what, Tenya didn't know. But he sure was glad to have friends like them. They helped him finish decorating downstairs. And he made them lunch. Soon everything was dripping with sparkling lights and garlands and glitter. Three stockings hung on hooks that suctioned to the wall, one for you, one for Tenya, and one for the dog. He hoped to add more stockings in the near future. But how was that going to happen when you were barely home together long enough?

    Ochaco and Izuku treated Iida to dinner that evening. Taking him to a restaurant down the way. They chatted quietly, mostly going over holiday plans.

    “We're going to my parents' on Christmas Eve,” Ochaco noted, looking over the menu. “Then Deku's mom and All Might are coming with us to the party Christmas day. I hope you don't mind.”

    Tenya shook his head. “No, it'll be nice to see them.”

    “Are you doing anything Christmas Eve? You could always come with us,” offered Izuku.

    “I'm going to my parents house. Tensei and his wife will be there.”

    Ochaco's eyes lit up. “I didn't know he got married!”

    “Not too long before I did. She's a lovely woman, and takes very good care of my brother. We're all very grateful to her.” Tensei smiled lightly, thinking about his brother's wedding. It'd been a very beautiful ceremony with many tears. He was best man, and dreaming about the day he was going to propose to you.

    They ate and talked and laughed. For just a little while, Tenya felt like himself. Izuku and Ochaco walked him back home. It was dark now, and cold bit through their coats.

    “Oh, before we go – I have invites for you to pass out at your agency.” Ochaco produced a stack of envelopes from her pocket. “Could you give them out next time you go in?”

    “I managed to get a few days off to prepare for [Name]'s arrival, but I can run them in tomorrow,” Tenya said, taking the stack.

    “Let us know when you're back,” said Izuku. “We'll help you decorate the outside.”

    Tenya shook his head. “You've already done so much, I couldn't ask for more.”

    “It's really no problem. We don't mind helping.”

    “Very well, then.” Tenya nodded. “I'll see you tomorrow.”

    As Tenya shut himself in for the night he sighed, leaning his head back against the door.

    Just two more days.

    Tenya set off bright and early the next morning. The air was still frosty and the sky looked like it wanted to flood the ground with more white. He was going to try and make this trip quick. He'd been getting increasingly pitying looks. He didn't want to hang around long, to see their eyes boring holes in him.

    He hesitated at the doors, watching as his breath floated up to the sky. Even with gloves on, it felt like the cold seeped through from the door handle. Tenya didn't bother going to his office. He stopped at the front desk. The woman there smiled up at him.

    “Good morning, Mr. Ingenium,” she greeted. “How can I help you?”

    “I need you to distribute these to all of the staff and heroes,” he said, pulling a large stack of envelopes from his coat. He'd spent the entire night trying to remember all of the staff at his agency.

    “Can do.” She took the envelopes. But she didn't shift her gaze. “You look tired, sir. Are you doing okay?”

    “There's a lot to do, is all. My wife will be home in a few days.” Tenya cleaned his glasses, looking for an excuse to break eye contact.

    “Right,” she bit curtly. “Your wife.”

    Tenya leaned on the counter, hoping to charm her with a smile. He was far too tired for this today. He was going to have to hire a new secretary sometime soon. “Izumi, it would mean a lot if you could pass these out to everyone. I'd be very grateful.”

    The woman softened. “Anything you want, sir.”

    He nodded. “Thank you.”

    Tenya left swiftly, before he had to endure anymore one sided flirting. The distaste his secretary expressed for his wife got tiresome. Along with her not-so-subtle hints for him to have an affair with her. He had more important things to worry about. Like making sure you came home to a magical display.

    “Izuku,” he started, phone to his ear as he walked down the road. “I just left I should be home....soon....”

    “Okay Tenya!” Izuku cheered from the other side. Then there was a long pause. “Tenya?”

    But the man was distracted by the window he was passing. “I'll call you back when I get to the house.”

    “Wait, is something wro –”

    Tenya hung up, staring at the window display. It was perfect. It was just what he was looking for to top off the season. You were going to love it. He rushed in, demanding the display in the window. He wasn't usually the type. But he was just too excited. The clerks gently packaged it, tying neat bows around the box. Tenya had to stop himself from sprinting full force down the road.

    He rushed a message to Izuku when he got home. But there was no hope of sitting still for him. By the time Ochaco and Izuku got there, he'd already had half the outside decorated. He was on the roof, hooking up the lights. He waved down at them.

    Ochaco floated up the rest of the boxes for the roof. Izuku nearly floated away as he tried to help finish the lights. Tenya caught him and hauled him down. It felt like they were back in UA as students with the ensuing chaos.

    Tenya treated the pair to a home made dinner. They had a few drinks and some laughs. But honestly, he just wanted to chug through the next few days. Today was the twenty third. Two more days to Christmas. Two more days to you coming home.

    The trio examined their handy work when the sun went down. The house glowed and twinkled. It really did look like a winter wonderland. Tenya just knew you were going to love it. He was looking forward to seeing your face as you watched the display they made.

    Just a few more days.

    The morning of the twenty fourth was a lazy one. He didn't want to get out of bed. Tenya wanted to lay there until the following night. When you'd be there with him. To finally warm the thorough chill that hadn't left him in days.

    But eventually he pulled himself up, going to the vase in the living room.

    “Twenty five,” he muttered, slipping a flower in. “Twenty six....you'll have a very big bouquet this time, [Name].”

    Tenya set to breakfast. He'd lost all his fire from yesterday. He was a tired shell now. He was so sure you were going to love what he found for you. But now one, long agonizing day laid ahead of him. The house was decorated, inside and out. Presents were wrapped. The tree was ready. Filled to the brim with perfectly packaged gifts, awaiting your arrival.

    Tomorrow would be the party. You'd arrive after dark, hopefully with people still around to greet you. You wouldn't have to worry about a thing. Ochaco and Izuku were going to take care of all the other little details. All of the invites read a potluck and BYOB. In the meantime, he had to wait the day out. The only thing he had to look forward to distract him was seeing his family later that evening.

    Christmas morning was to be lonely. Then, by three, the house would start filling up. By eight, you should be walking up the front entrance. By 8:01, you'd be in his arms and smothered in kisses. With any luck, you'd be making love by midnight.

    Tenya went out and shoveled snow again. More than two feet had fallen in the night. The more snow that fell, the more he worried the weather was going to be too rough for your plane. He needed you, sooner rather than later preferably.

    The day seemed to crawl away. Only a few minutes had passed every time he glanced at the clock. Had it always been so difficult to entertain himself? He'd already showered, made lunch, brushed snow meticulously from the front porch and back deck. He uncovered all of the decorations he'd put up the day before.

    He was impatient by the time he had to leave to see his family. Even the ride there drove him crazy. The road seemed to stretch. The cars squeezing from every side. Would the tedium ever cease?

    As the evening with his family began, he discovered it would not. Even as he laughed with his parents and brother, as he listened to stories and shared a few. His eyes never left his watch for long. It didn't go unnoticed, but it was left unmentioned. Just a look exchanged around him.

    They knew, of course. That he counted down every second until he'd see you again. The light and fire you brought into his life was wonderful to see. But how they wished you didn't leave so much.

    Tenya went to bed when he got home. But sleep didn't come. Not for a very long time. He tried to force himself asleep, just a single thought leaping in his head.

    One. More. Night.

    A new tickle of joy danced in his chest as he realized the day. Christmas. You were going to be home. He was going to be counting down the hours until he saw you.

    Tenya zipped through his morning. Shoveling the fresh few inches of snow. Hand making the dog's food for the next week. Making breakfast for himself, showering, and pulling out the outfit you'd picked over video call a week ago. Just a red sweater with stripes and snowflakes and charcoal grey slacks. He spent time cleaning, making sure every inch was dusted.

    He had his fire back – until he checked his phone just after lunch.

[NAME] (Wife)

My plane is being delayed. I won't be home until tomorrow. I'm so sorry, my love, I wanted to be home for Christmas. So, very much....

    Tenya felt a little bit of himself break. He slumped in his reading chair, phone discarded on the table. He stared blankly ahead of him. His worst fear had come true. One more day had turned into two. And with this snow, two could easily turn into three or four.

    Ochaco and Izuku came not too long after. They knocked on the door, rang the door bell. The dog barked. Eventually they tried the handle, letting themselves in. They exchanged a worried look as they spied their friend. They could see the hollowness of his eyes.

    “Tenya...?” Ochaco whispered.

    “She's not coming,” he muttered numbly.

    Izuku put a hand on Tenya's shoulder. “What do you mean?”

    “[Name]'s flight – it's been delayed. She won't be home until tomorrow....” Tenya could barely scrap his eyes to his phone. He didn't want to look at it. To see anything else that might ruin him.

    “But she'll be home, at least.”

    “You don't understand. You two have each other. Tensei will be spending the holiday with his wife. And I have her. If [Name] isn't here....”

    Izuku and Ochaco glanced at each other again.

    “We'll still have a good time, Tenya,” Ochaco said, trying to cheer him up.

    “Yeah, people will start to be here soon! You won't even know she's missing!” Then Izuku began to panic. “Not that we don't want her here. But maybe getting your mind off of her will help. Not that you shouldn't miss your wife on a holiday but –”

    Tenya chuckled. At least something was normal. Izuku eased some at the sound. He and Ochaco set up the kitchen, while Tenya put away anything he didn't want broken. You never knew if someone was going to get rowdy.

    As the first people showed up, the booze flooded in. Tenya had only meant to have one. But he was having a self-pity streak. One became two, two became three. Different Christmas mixes that people brought, some made right in his kitchen; homemade egg nogs, and Christmas cocktails, holiday ciders. He claimed they were just to try. Normally, he'd be following people around. Putting down coasters, ensuring that they didn't slosh on the couch, making sure no one was scuffing up the floors. But Izuku was already doing a pretty good job of that. Probably to make sure Tenya didn't have to worry. But it left him too idle.

    Tenya chatted with his co-workers as they came. They complimented his house, saying they wouldn't have expected anything else from an Iida. He went around, greeting everyone. Thanking each person for coming. Each drink numbing just slightly more. He spent a good deal of time talking to Izuku's mom and All Might.

    He was caught in the middle of an inescapable conversation with his insufferable secretary when Izuku came to tap him on the shoulder. His friend pointed towards the entrance to your house. Tenya's eyes followed his arm, going wide at what they found. They swept to the clock on the wall – it only read 5:23. In alarm, he triple checked what he was reading, to be sure he was right. With a puff from his quirk, Tenya launched himself.

    You screamed as he tackled you. He kept you upright, making you didn't fall. Tenya smooshed your face with too many kisses to keep up with. He squeezed you tightly in his arms. You could smell the liquor on him. Since when did he drink? You hoped this wasn't the start of a bad habit.

    “[Name]! You're here!” he exclaimed in disbelief. He held you at arm's length, looking you up and down just to be sure you were real.

    You laughed, nodding. “Yeah!”

    “But your plane –”

    “I – uh – I lied.” You glanced away from him, your face hot. “My flight was actually bumped up. I wanted to surprise you. I wasn't expecting you to get stupid drunk.”

    Tenya sunk to the floor, and pulled you into his lap. He was so cute with his goofy grin and the pink dusting on his cheeks. He rubbed his cheek against yours. Your guests chuckled at the sight. You pulled him in for a long, hard kiss. So glad to finally have him in your arms. You could feel every bit of his body against yours. You had to calm his hands as they roamed freely over your body. They were dipping into places that shouldn't be caressed in public.

    Finally – no more counting the days.

    No more nights between you.

    No more hours to wait.

    You two were together. And it was the sweetest feeling in the world.

    “Why wouldn't I have been upset by the delay?” he rambled. “I've missed you, and I didn't want to think of another day without you here. I needed a little boost. Drinking was perhaps not the best choice.”

    Tenya clung to you all night, never letting you out of his sight. Seeing everyone was lovely. You really couldn't have asked for a better homecoming. The lights he'd put up outside were spectacular. And the warm cozy air your home had taken on was supernatural. Or maybe it was just because you were glad to be home.

    It was nearly midnight when everybody finally left. Ochaco and Izuku had stayed to help you clean. Tenya wouldn't let you go long enough to do anything. You were about to force him upstairs when he stumbled over to the tree.

    “No, no, no – you have to open this. While it's still Christmas. Please,” Tenya pouted, and forced a little black box with a shimmering silver lid into your hand. The childish pout on his face was adorable, but he really should've been getting to bed.

    “Tenya –”

    “Open it.”

    You eyed him suspiciously, but planted yourself on the couch. He adhered himself to your side. He held you closely, head on your shoulder. A red ribbon was tied lovingly around the box. It was always too beautiful to unwrap. You had a suspicion Tenya hadn't done this himself. He packaged things neatly, but aesthetics weren't his forte.

    You pulled the ribbon, then peered into the box. You looked at him, then in the box, then back again.

    “You did not go out and spend a fortune,” you scolded.

    Tenya shrugged. “You deserve the world.”

    “Tenya!” But you couldn't deny it was beautiful.

    It was simple, with a thin silver chain. Hanging from the end was a pendant. It had your birth stone in set on the part where the chain went through. And there was immaculate scroll work around the edges. Tenya took it briefly from your hands, the pressed the sides.

    The front popped open. A lump pressed in your throat. A miniature of your wedding photo was nestled inside the frame. Tenya turned it over, revealing both of your initials along with your wedding date on the back.

    “I left the other half open, for when we have a family of our own,” he muttered drowsily. “I love you more than the world. I'm very happy you're finally home. I'd be very happy if you didn't have to leave again.”

    “I love this. I love you,” you murmured in reply, then turned your head to kiss him.

    You put the locket back in the box, then helped him stand. You hauled Tenya upstairs, and got him changed. He insisted on brushing his teeth, even though he coud barely stand up right. The necklace took up a home on your night stand. You were going to wear this every day that you could. It was your new favourite piece of jewelry.

    Once you were settled into bed, he immediately took you in him arms. He hummed in content.

    “How would you feel about being a secretary?” Tenya slurred, nuzzling his nose into the back of your neck. “I'm going to need a new one soon. Mine is gonna get fired.”

    You sighed. “I actually wanted to talk to about that. I wanted to wait until you were sober. But – I'm going to quit my job. That way I can be home with you. If we want a family....I'm also tired of spending so much time away from you. You can't imagine how lonely the world is without you with me to see it.”

    Tenya sighed. “I want your....baabbeeezzz...”

    You chuckled. “Tenya? - Love?”

    A light snoring told you he was out cold. You smiled to yourself as he snuggled closer to you. You relaxed into him. You'd been waiting for this for ages. Or, it felt like ages anyway. You didn't want to be away from him anymore. Coming home to the one you love? It was amazing. But getting to stay home with them? That was the best Christmas gift you could ask for.

~

[leelee10898]

Choices 12 days of fictmas 2020 Masterlist

Day 1

12 days of Drakemas by @the-soot-sprite

All I want for Christmas by: @lucy-268

12 days of fictmas by: @msjr0119

Simple little Christmas by: @ofpixelsandscribbles

Day 2

12 days of Drakemas by: @the-soot-sprite

The one ive been missing by: @kat-tia801

12 days of fictmas by: @alj4890

Wine and fire by: @camillemontespan

Day 3

The heart of nerve by:@glaimtruelovealways

12 days of Drakemas by:The-soot-sprite

Day 4

Merry Squishmas by: @ao719 & @cocomaxley

The seas within me by: @cordoniantrash

12 days of Drakemas by: @the-soot-sprite

Up in flames by: @emichelle

Day 5

Undeniable miracle by:@axwalker

Mistletoe by:@plumeriavibes

Fight tonight by: @burnsoslow

12 days of Drakemas (jingle bells) by:@the-soot-sprite

Day 6

Only thing I need by: @kat-tia801

Undeniable miracle stranded. by:@axwalker

12 days of Drakemas (last Christmas)by: @the-soot-sprite

Day 7

A miss match Christmas: Matched for disaster by: @leelee10898

Christmas in the country by:@annekebbphotography

12 days of Drakemas (jolly old saint Nicholas) by: @the-soot-sprite

Day 8

12 days of Drakemas (sleigh ride) by: @The-soot-sprite

Nutty Christmas by: @cordoniansgonewild

My kind of present by:@ofpixelsandscribbles

On the 8th day if Christmas by: @innerpostmentality

Day 9

12 days of Drakemas by:The-soot-sprite

Once upon a merry birthday pt 1 by: @katedrakeohd

Once upon a merry birthday pt 2 by:@katedrakeohd

Let your heart be light by: @burnsoslow

9th day if Christmas by: @alj4890

Day 10

Merry Christmas, happy holidays by:@plumeriavibes

12 days of drakemas (silent night)by: The-soot-sprite

Lonely hearts club by: @janezillow

Day 11

Dad King by:@plumeriavibes

12 days of Drakemas by: The-soot-sprite

Jingle bell rock by: @annekebbphotography

Day 12

12th day of Drakemas by:The-soot-sprite

You make it feel like Christmas by:@lucy-268

Sojourn: holiday hijinks by: @zaffrenotes

Santa comes to town by: @twinkleallnight

[crimsonheart01]

I Promise (Angel Reyes x Female!Reader)

A/N: Shout out to one of my day ones @chaosinourbones​ for this request! Love you boo!! It’s been a hot minute since I wrote for my other tall boy. Let’s hope I do him a world of justice. Enjoy some angsty fluff with our boy! 

Prompt: 22. “How can you possibly look good with snow in your hair?”

Word Count: 2.3K words

Playlist: I’ll Be Home - Meghan Trainor [Spotify] [YouTube]

Warnings: None (surprisingly) 

"I'll find my way back home And light up every tree We will hang our stockings for you and one for me 'Cause Santa called to make sure I'm prepared He said, 'Pack your bags and tell them you'll be late'" I'll Be Home – Meghan Trainor

He checked the time on his phone once last time before reaching out for the double doors in front of him. He shook his head in disappointment at himself. He hadn't meant to lose track of time, but he had a hard time coming up with an excuse to slip away from the boys. Irritated with himself, he closed his eyes for a moment before gripping the handle tightly and propping the door open. He ducked into the gymnasium as quietly as possible. He thanked whatever gods there were that the whole room was covered in darkness, allowing him to post up against the wall unnoticed.

He gazed around, taking note of the varying ages of those in the audience. He smiled. The turnout was amazing. He knew how important this project was and how much effort she'd given to it. Seeing how many people came out brought out a feeling of pride for his community. This was what holidays were supposed to be like.

Tucking his hands into his pockets, he felt the sensation of someone watching. Turning his head, he found his Pops watching him with a keen eye. He smirked at the old man and nodded in greeting. They both turned back to the front of the gym as the lights on the stage flickered between reds and whites. He grinned at the spectacle of the moment.

The stage had been decked out in a perfect replica of a winter wonderland. No doubt to set the scene. He watched as dozens of kids lined the stage and began to sing out loud and proud. He couldn't stop the chills that covered his arms and the broad smile that grew. It wasn't every day that they got to see a production of this stature. It didn't matter that it was just the local community center's holiday concert. Seeing everyone come together to put it on was where the real magic was.

He leaned back into the wall, getting comfortable and enjoying himself. He knew he'd missed the first half of the performances, but he was happy to say that he'd been here for the second bit. It was better than not making it all, a promise he made sure he kept. His gaze roamed over the crowd, and he spotted her almost immediately.

He held back a chuckle at her outfit. She had chosen to go the authentic route with a long-sleeved Henley shirt and puffer vest. He noted the thick wool mittens she wore and the matching wool headband. There was no doubt in his mind that she was sweating, even with the air conditioning pumping through the vents. She took no shortcuts, always going that extra mile to make sure everything fit the scene.

He watched as she mimed the dance moves to the kids, keeping them in step. He let out a quiet sigh as he appreciated her. They were still relatively new in their status, but he knew she was the one. At least, he hoped so. Maybe it was the time of year that had him feeling this way, but he couldn't help but want to parade her around town. Show her off to everyone and anyone.

He'd yet to properly introduce her to the club, unsure of how it'd go. She was nearly a polar opposite of everything that they were. She was his angel. He rolled his eyes as he made the comparison. She should have his name, not him. In his opinion, she was much too good for him. He still couldn't fathom why she gave him the time of day in the first place, but he wasn't going to question it too much. He had her now, and that's what mattered the most.

The concert continued, and he watched with a strong emotion of pride the entire time for her and their community. They did it! They pulled it off. When the finale finally hit, he stood up to his full height and clapped along with everyone else, even letting out a few good-natured hollers in her honour. Once everyone was back up on stage, taking a bow, confetti and fake snow began floating all around them. The crowd roared with awe and wonder.

He found himself staring at her, melting at the smile she was sporting while she stood there. She'd outdone herself. Everyone would be talking about this night for weeks to come.

He kept himself sparse as the auditorium emptied. Finding an available seat off to the side and stretching his legs out in front of him, all while he admired her from afar. He wasn't interested in interrupting her, not while she was being congratulated by everyone, young and old. He carried around a specific reputation, and he wasn't ready to sully hers.

He ran a hand through his hair, knowing full well she'd tell him he was ridiculous. She never saw a problem with who he was. She knew he lived a very different life, that there was a lot of danger in his way, but she didn't believe that reputations determined who they were. He wanted to believe her, but there was always that voice in the back of his mind telling him otherwise, telling him that it was too good to be true and to take advantage of what he had with her before it was gone.

He was broken out of his thoughts by a hand resting on his shoulder. He glanced up to see Pops watching him and where his eyes had been glued a moment before.

"This who you've been hiding?" Felipe surmised.

Angel furrowed his brow, "No one's hiding anything."

Felipe stared at his son, his eyes telling him that he understood the situation exactly. Angel scoffed and shrugged the old man's hand off him. He shook his head and swallowed, attempting to ignore the sympathy in his father's gaze. Felipe took the hint and took a step back. Both men looked back up to the first row of seats, where she was standing and speaking animatedly with a few parents.

With a deep inhale, Felipe nodded and turned, "Give yourself the benefit of the doubt."

Angel clenched his teeth at the words of advice, annoyed at his father’s perceptiveness, but nodded his head as his father walked away. He wasn't hiding her, far from it. He was keeping her safe, at least that's what he was trying to convince himself of.

~(MMC)~

She'd spotted him as she took the stage in the encore and was overjoyed that he made it. She knew there was always a chance that he'd get caught up with the club, but she was happy to see that he found a way to make the event.

As the night wound down, she found herself expecting him to seek her out but instead, she found herself tugged from person to person while he kept his distance. She sighed internally, knowing that he was still in a questioning stage of their relationship. She'd hoped that by now, he'd understand that she wasn't afraid of him or who he was. She knew people had their own opinions, but she knew him better than them. That's what mattered to her. Him. Not everyone else and their beliefs.

She breezed through the stragglers wanting to get their thanks in, and in no time, it was just her and the lone Mayan in the gym. She stood facing the double doors, flattening her palms against each one, ensuring that they were closed. She heard the creak of the chair as he stood up and listened to his footfalls as he went. It took her a minute to realize he was walking away from her by the echo of his footsteps.

Creasing her eyebrows together, she spun around only to endeared by him further. He'd taken that moment to approach the stage and take in the full effect of the décor. She let out a small chuckle as she watched him run his hand through the mess of confetti and snow on the platform. He pulled his hand back and brushed his hands together to rid himself of the flakes.

She took stock of him as she stepped down the middle aisle, noting that he'd chosen to leave the kutte out of his outfit for the evening. It touched her in a way she wasn't expecting. She knew how much the club meant to him that it was his life. The fact that he chose to appear as something different for her production had her chest swell with emotion.

As she neared him, she reached out and toyed with the sleeve of his flannel. Her touch was light but enough to alert him to her presence.

"You made it." She smiled up at him.

He turned towards her and immediately slung his around her shoulders, pulling her into his side.

"I promised, didn't I?" He quipped, but she could hear a subtle tone of frustration. 

Not wanting to dwell on anything negative, see pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before linking her around his and pulled him in the direction of the steps leading onto the stage, "Come on, take a closer look at everything."

They ascended the stairs together, and she talked him through all the details of the decorations and set up. He kept up with her, asking a few questions here and there but for the most part just admiring the whole thing. She lead him to the middle of the stage, where the spotlight was still shining. Slipping her arm out from around his, she pointed up to where the blankets that held the snow were housed.

They both looked up as she explained how they managed to get it to float instead of just dumping it down on top of everyone. She even chuckled as she noted there were still a few swirls coming down. When she turned back around to face him, she laughed. He arched an eyebrow at her, and she stepped in closer to him. She grinned at him, and he couldn't help but respond in kind.

Reaching up, she thread two fingers through his hair, "How can you possibly look good with snow in your hair?"

His eyes shot upwards even though he knew he wouldn't be able to see what she saw. Her fingers daintily plucked out a few of the fake snow pieces, and she let them crowd the palm of her hand. She held it out for him to see, and he chuckled. He lifted his hand to cover hers, twining their fingers together. She smiled down at the sight.

Using his other hand, he lightly tapped underneath her chin, signalling her to look up. She accepted the gesture and glanced up at him. His dark eyes reflected the bright lights above them and took her breath away. His thumb brushed across her chin, and she bit down on her lip as he licked his. He bowed forward slightly as if he was waiting for her to deny him before clearing the distance between them and pressing his lips to hers.

His kiss was tentative giving her a chance to react to him. She smiled against his mouth and fell into him. She caressed one hand up the center of his chest before fisting the fabric of his shirt in her hand. At her reaction, he let go of all his hesitance and dipped her back, pushing everything he was feeling into their embrace. She clutched at his upper arm with her other hand and let him hold her in his arms.

There was a strong need in his kiss. His passion seeing itself through and making itself known. She poured herself into the moment, wanting him to feel everything she was experiencing by being here with him. He made a small noise at the back of his throat, and it sent a wild thrum through, causing her to hold him tighter. She wanted him to know how much she cared for him. All of him. Everything that he came with.  

Losing himself in the moment, he pulled her back up, their heated connection lost for a moment and spun her around. The remnants of the snow swirled around their feet, and she laughed at the momentum. This was her Angel. This was the man she'd fallen in love with. As the dust settled back around them, she looped her arms around his shoulders, resting her head against his chest.

The sounds of the janitorial staff broke them out of their spell. With a sigh, she loosened her arms around his shoulders and looked towards the doors. Her arms fell away from him, but she made sure to catch one of his hands in hers. She led him off the stage and towards the front of the room.

"I only need to pass over the keys and discuss the finalities with the clean-up crew, and then we can get outta here, alright?" She glanced over her shoulder back at him.

He grinned back at her and nodded, "Sounds good querida."

He tugged her back to him before she was able to break away and kissed her soundly. She felt his smile through the kiss. She pulled back and gave him one last chaste kiss before spinning around to talk to the staff that had shown up. However, she made sure to never let go of his hand as she did so. He was hers, and she was his. Everyone was going to know. She'd make sure of that.

[winter-dayz]

12 Days of Ficmas

winter-dayz

A collection of oneshots for Ficmas 2023.

Taglist:  @soobin-chois

Rosé Park: Falling in Love with Me Inspired by The Holiday (2006) Genre: Angst; Fluff

Choi Lia: Falling in Love with You Inspired by The Holiday (2006) Genre: Angst; Fluff

Im Changkyun: Moments of Christmas First Christmas Together Genre: Fluff

Kim Seokjin: Home Meeting the Family Genre: Fluff

Seo Changbin: Sweet Crushing Bakery AU Genre: Fluff

Jackson Wang: Think of me? Brother's Best Friend Genre: Fluff; Smut (if you squint)

Bang Chan: A Year Together Inspired by Holidate (2020) Genre: Angst; Fluff

Chae Hyungwon: The Perfect Christmas Snowed In Genre: Fluff

Kai Huening: Reunited Childhood Neighbor AU Genre: Fluff

Park Jinyoung: Grinch Festivities Grinch/Scrooge Genre: Fluff

Hwang Yeji: Anonymous Secret Santa Genre: Fluff

Son Hyunwoo: Idyllic Inspired by Snowglobe (2007) Genre: Angst; Fluff

[mysterynoel]

12 Days of Ficmas Day 8 - Trio Royale

Title: Trio Royale

Chapter Title: Flower Power

Fandom: Persona 5 (Royal)

Ship: N/A

First made: July 2020

Last worked on: August 2020

If Akira was being honest, he really didn’t want to go through a palace without him team. Akechi and Sumire were good to have around, but a blood knight and a girl who just reawakened weren’t the best people to do a mission of this caliber with. However, it was going well, so he figured that this would work with just the three of them.

He was proven wrong.

“Joker,” Akechi called to him, “it seems like these cables extend well past this palace.”

Akira looked at the screen Akechi was pointing to, showing the central location of the cables. “The depths of Mementos?”

“What’s ‘Mementos?’”

“That’s right, you haven’t been there. Mementos is like a palace, but it’s one that anybody can appear in, and it’s everyone’s palace. Most of the hearts we changed were people in there.” Morgana and Futaba were better at explaining Mementos and the collective unconscious, but Akira didn’t have them at the moment. “Guess we’re heading there next. Let’s head out for now.”  The trio made their way back to the entrance, and soon found themselves back in the real world. “Sumire, meet us at Shibuya station tomorrow. We’ll go to Mementos then.”

As Akira hung out in the attic that evening, something didn’t feel right about their plan. He wasn’t sure what, but he knew it was something important.

He knew what it was as the three of them stood at the first platform of Mementos.

“Well, Joker, how do you propose we get down there?”

“Couldn’t we just take the train? It seems to be running here, somehow.”

“We could, Violet, but we still need to get to that platform.”

“How could you not realize—“

“Crow, if you finish that sentence, I swear I will��“ Akira was cut off by the sound of a horn. The three turned to find a car that had just appeared. Driving it was a young boy.

“Hey, mister!”

“Jose! I have a favor to ask.”

“Sure thing! Let me set-up camp first, then we can talk.” Jose drove off to a dead end in front of them. The three of them exchanged looks, wondering if it would be safe. Akira shrugged and carefully stepped off the platform and onto the tracks below. Sumire jumped off after him, followed by Akechi a few steps later. They made their way to the main portion of the floor before stopping. After looking both ways to check that the coast was clear, they dashed to the other side to reach Jose before Shadows chased after them.

[alj4890]

12 Days of Ficmas

Day 2

(Thomas Hunt x OC*Amanda) in a Choices Red Carpet Diaries Christmas one shot.

A/N I always love these two and their awkward ways of admitting they want more than friendship. What better way to do so than at a holiday party that is nothing but chaotic? This fic grew longer and longer as I worked on it. I blame my daydreaming and my lack of self-control. Woooo 2020! LOL!

12 Days of Ficmas writers and readers list

@texaskitten30​ @leelee10898​ @emichelle​ @zaffrenotes​ @burnsoslow​ @kat-tia801​ @darley1101​ @msjr0119​ @annekebbphotography​ @god-save-the-keen​ @plumeriavibes @ofpixelsandscribbles​ @camillemontespan @ao719 @cocomaxley @cordoniansgonewild @twinkleallnight @the-soot-sprite @cordoniantrash @axwalker @innerpostmentality @lucy-268 @janezillow @katedrakeohd  @mom2000aggie @sfb123 @bbrandy2002 @debramcg1106 @desireepow-1986 @speedyoperarascalparty @hopefulmoonobject

Thomas Hunt List

@krsnlove @lxaah11 @alleksa16 @penguininapinktuxedo @blackcoffee85 @stopforamoment   @annekebbphotography @hopelessromantic1352 . @sunflowergirl05 @greywitchyshots @lilyoffandoms @moodyvalentinestories @emceesynonymroll @my-heart-beats-for-ya @aworldoffandoms @ab1901 @flyawayboo @i-bloody-love-drake-walker . @trappedinfanfiction @kate-mckenzie @everythingmarvelsherlockspn @trappedinfandoms

Song Inspiration: Underneath the Mistletoe by Kelly Clarkson and Brett Eldridge

Masterlist

Mistletoe Madness

November 28th...

"Well," Ryan began as soon as he entered Thomas's suite. "He did it again."

"Again? How delayed will we be this time?" Thomas demanded.

"We're looking at another six weeks." The former heartthrob movie star recently turned executive producer poured them both a drink. "Given the holidays approaching, I suspect it will be closer to nine weeks."

Thomas grumbled about never again agreeing to producing another person's film.

If he had not witnessed the young director's raw talent firsthand, he would have never joined this venture. With Ryan Summers urging him on to support the next generation, he had somehow ended up spending the last few months in New York City and basically babysitting a twenty-two year old recent film graduate.

"Austin swears this will be the last time." Ryan explained.

Thomas took a healthy gulp of scotch.  "Are we certain he isn't in over his head?"

"You've seen the dailies." Ryan rubbed a hand down his face. "What do you think?"

Thomas slumped in his chair. "It is going to be a critically acclaimed film that sweeps the Oscars."

Ryan finished off his drink and stood up. "Don't worry. There is nothing like Christmas in New York."

"Except in my home." Thomas grumbled.

"Have no fear." Ryan's charming smile flashed. "I intend on hosting my annual Christmas party."

Thomas didn't bother to repress his shudder. "You mean that garish monstrosity that you refer to as an intimate gathering?"

"Can I help it that everyone loves me?"

"I believe you could." Thomas grumbled.

"Look on the bright side." Ryan reminded him. "Most of the people who love me are nearly three thousand miles away in California. This might actually be my most intimate gathering yet."

"True." Thomas rubbed the back of his neck. "I suppose one night of revelry won't kill me."

"There's that Christmas fortitude." Ryan set his empty glass down. "I'll let you know when the plans are finalized."

On his way out the door, he sent an image with a couple of phrases to a few groups in his contact list.

Christmas Party: Where? 80 Fifth Avenue at 14th Street, 17th Floor PH, New York, NY When? 7p.m., December 17. Why? You already know the answer. RSVP? Only if you want to come inside.

Within seconds of sending it, his phone began to chime nonstop with friends and acquaintances saying they would fly in just for his party.

******************

December 14th...

"Oof!" Amanda tried to keep from falling over. "I'm so sor--"

"My fau--Amanda!" Ryan grasped her arms. "What are you doing in New York?"

"Some of Cordonia's nobles were invited for a World Tourism forum." She explained. "What about you?" Her teasing smile formed. "Why are you not in sunny California?"

He chuckled and linked his arm with hers, guiding her toward a nearby coffee shop. "I'm currently here as a producer."

"I had heard that you were stepping behind the camera for a change."

"Producing seemed the easiest." He shook his head with a laugh. "I never knew I could be so wrong."

After placing their orders and finding a table in a secluded corner, he asked how long she would be in New York.

"I was supposed to leave with everyone yesterday." She picked at her chocolate croissant. "But I decided to stay a few more days and do some Christmas shopping."

"So it’s just you?" He asked.

"Just me." She smiled at him. "I don't have anyone complaining about the cold weather or my tendency to linger near Christmas decorations."

"Speaking of Christmas decorations," he held his phone up, "Did you receive my party invitation?"

"I did. I didn't RSVP because I wasn’t sure how long I would stay here."

"Then allow me to RSVP for you." He quickly added her to the list. "Can't have one of my favorite duchesses alone this weekend."

She chuckled. "Who else is coming?"

"The usual." He flashed a smile. "You know most of them. One in particular."

Her eyebrow lifted. "Now I am curious."

"Thomas has been here with me." He explained. "We are both producers--"

"I know." She said softly.

"You do?" His smile grew mischievous. "Just how close did you two become when he filmed in Cordonia last spring?"

She squirmed in her chair. "We became friends."

"Friends or friends?"

"Ryan..." She could feel a headache forming at his prodding.

"Sorry." He relaxed back in his chair. "I know it is none of my business. Just because I am friends with both parties doesn't mean that I have a right to know if they moved out of that friendship phase of--"

"Thomas was right." Amanda playfully threw her napkin at him. "You really don't stop talking."

"Well," he shrugged. "I mean there are ways I enjoy being forced to shut up." He winked at her. "But I don't think you want to go down that road, at least not with me."

"You are impossible." She shook her head in resignation.

"I know." Ryan straightened in his chair when he noticed the time. "I have a meeting with one of the caterers." He flashed a smile as he stood up. "Want to come along and keep me company?"

"I should try and finish my shopping." She glanced down at the different bags of Tiffany blue, Gucci white, and Cartier red. "Especially now that I have to find something to wear for your party."

"Come with me and then I will help you find whatever you want." He took her bags before she could give an answer. "I could use someone else's opinion on appetizers."

"I suppose I have to say yes, since you're holding my purchases hostage."

He chuckled at her teasing while offering his arm. "Come with me, duchess, if you ever want to see these again."

Slipping her arm through his, they set off down Fifth Avenue.

*****************

Later that night...

Thomas wrapped a towel around his waist as he stepped out of the shower. He rolled his shoulders in an attempt to work the many knots of stress that persisted after fourteen hours of filming.

I should have remained in the director's chair.

The need to take control was growing stronger than ever. It was a wonder that he had not broken the arms off of the chair he sat in as he attempted to keep his mouth shut. The ridiculously young director had made numerous decisions he wanted to change.

But it isn't my vision we are going for.

As he rubbed a towel through his hair, he heard the familiar ping of notifications on his phone.

He picked it up, smiling at seeing Amanda's name as part of an alert.

It disappeared when he saw the following images.

She was in New York. With Ryan.

And it looked like they were more than friends.

"Why didn't she tell me she was here?" He muttered to himself.

He swiped through the images of smiling Ryan sitting on a couch at Versace while Amanda twirled in a dress for him.

He then saw an image of the two walking out of a coffee shop, arm in arm.

Thomas tossed his phone on the bed as he hurried to dress. Frustration built within him at the thought that Ryan might feel something for her.

After months of debating how to broach the subject of dating, he couldn't believe that he might have missed his opportunity with her.

He was pulled from his thoughts by a knock at his door.

Eyes narrowed when he saw who it was through the peephole.

"Ready?" Ryan asked as he walked in. "I was able to get us a table at Cote for..." He trailed off when Thomas turned his back on him. "What's wrong? No to Korean barbecue or did Austin flounder again?"

"No."

"Still struggling with his directing decisions?" Ryan asked.

"No. In a way. But no." Thomas bit out.

He knew he was being unreasonable. Ryan couldn't possibly know how he felt about the duchess since he had not bothered to share that with anyone.

Still, it should have been him running around New York with her instead of his flirtatious, playboy friend.

Wondering just how serious Ryan was about Amanda, he decided to casually get some information out of him.

"How did the party planning go?"

"Better than I expected." Ryan's smile reappeared. "Everything is set. Music, food, drinks, and decorations will be on theme this year."

"Ah." Thomas mumbled. "And the theme is?"

"You'll see." Ryan winked. "You won't believe who I ran into today."

Finally. "Who?"

"Amanda Bridgerton. There was some type of forum she had to attend last week and she decided to remain here on her own for some extra days of fun and shopping." Ryan replied.

"Is she coming to your party?" Thomas asked.

"It took some of my powers of persuasion, but I got her to agree."

"She should have let me know she was here." Thomas cleared his throat. "It would have been nice to see her."

"I asked her about that when she said she knew you were in New York." Ryan cocked his head to the side as he studied his friend. "She said she didn't want to bother you while you worked."

"Amanda isn't a bother." Thomas felt a little better at hearing that.

It does sound like the thoughtful thing she would normally do.

"That's what I told her." Ryan replied, checking the time again. "If you don't hurry, we’ll be late in meeting her for dinner."

Thomas's head jerked up. "We're having dinner with Amanda?'

"Why wouldn't we?" Ryan slowly smiled. "Once I told her that you would welcome a distraction from producing, she readily agreed to dinner."

The pictures then were like any other from gossip magazines. Completely innocent.

Ryan noticed an expression of relief form on Thomas's face.

He leaned forward in his chair. "Just how close were you two in Cordonia?"

Thomas's flush told the actor all he needed to know.

"We became friends." He muttered on his way back into the bathroom.

"Friends, huh?" Ryan rubbed his hands together. "I guess that's why Amanda is still single."

*****************

Cote NYC, an hour later...

"There she is." Ryan pointed towards a table to the right of the restaurant.

Amanda was studying the menu and didn't notice them walking in.

Thomas felt that same jolt to his heart that he had each time he saw her. Knowing she would be here with him, with no distractions, made him decide to test the proverbial waters.

The moment she looked up, her eyes immediately went to Thomas.

Her smile was filled with warmth and a touch of shyness when she stood up to greet him.

His lips grazed her cheek as he took her hands.

Even in the dim light, he could see her blush.

Ryan glanced from one to the other and cleared his throat. After a second, louder clearing to get their attention failed, he spoke up.

"I'm here too."

Amanda pulled her hands out of Thomas's grasp.

"Haven't I seen you somewhere before?" She teased.

Ryan dramatically clutched his chest. "Did our day out together mean nothing to you?"

She shook her head at his foolishness. "I might have enjoyed it, if you hadn't made me try on so many dresses."

She sat back down and felt a thrill go through her body when Thomas slid in next to her.

He draped his arm along the back of their booth and turned more towards her as they talked.

Ryan observed the two closely, a slight smirk on his lips at discovering that there was a definite attraction between the two.

His party's mistletoe theme would go a long way in helping these two.

*****************

Towards the end of dinner, both men received a cryptic text from Austin.

Ryan lifted an eyebrow. "Do you understand what he is talking about?"

"Unfortunately, I do." Thomas slipped his phone back in his pocket. "We better go in case he decides to try and dangle a camera from the Empire State building.

Ryan motioned to the waiter for the check.

Amanda tried to not be too disappointed. She hadn't realized how much she had missed being around Thomas until she had him sit next to her. The dinner had been the best she had had in a long time.

And it had nothing to do with the food.

His attention had settled on her and remained. It was a wonder she had not become tongue tied under his steady, dark gaze. His fingers grazed her shoulder every so often each time he settled his arm along the back of their seat.

If only they could have been alone without anyone disturbing them.

"Where are you staying?" Thomas asked.

"The Ritz-Carlton." Amanda wrote her suite number down for him. "Twenty-first floor."

He slipped it into his pocket before giving her his hotel and room information.

"We aren't too far away from you." He smiled softly at her. "Perhaps after we calm Austin down, we can plan on meeting up."

"I would love that." She took his hand as he helped her out of the booth.

"If nothing else, you two can meet up at my annual Christmas party." Ryan added.

Thomas and Amanda both stared at him as if seeing him for the first time.

"That's true." She mumbled.

"It is a small gathering still. Isn't it?" Thomas asked.

Ryan shrugged as he led the way out.

"Do you know how big it will be?" Thomas whispered.

"No." Amanda's eyes narrowed. "But if I had to judge by the caterer's face when Ryan wrote down how many he was expecting, small is not going to be associated at all with his party."

***************

Dec. 17, Manhattan Penthouse, Fifth Avenue...

"I can't believe that we have been trapped with Austin the past few days." Thomas grumbled.

"Neither can I." Ryan slung an arm around his friend's shoulders and gave a gentle shake. "Cheer up. We now have two weeks or so of freedom from the boy wonder."

"There is that." Thomas eyed the growing number of people coming in. "Aren't you supposed to greet your guests?"

"Nah. Everyone knows who I am." Ryan replied. "But I will go mingle."

Once he disappeared into the crowd, Thomas lifted his eyes to the ceiling. Every five feet or less, a sprig of mistletoe dangled with lights and tinsel. The plant was hung from the main bar to every inch of the ballroom. There were even a set over the bathroom doorways.

Between the open bar and whatever alcoholic concoction Ryan's Christmas punch was made of, this holiday party would soon turn into a different sort of gathering.

Thomas wanted no part of an almost drunken orgy.

The only reason he had come was so that he could see Amanda. The long hours working with Austin had offered nothing except a quick phone call to apologize that he couldn't meet up with her. The few texts they exchanged were filled with understanding and a hope to see each other soon.

He hoped to find her in this crowd that was quickly getting larger and entice her away. Go someplace quiet where he could talk to her about taking that next step that would change everything.

That shouldn't be too difficult, he thought as he began to walk around.

But Thomas had made one mistake.

He was walking a path covered in mistletoe.

**************

An hour later...

"There you are!" Ryan greeted Amanda with a kiss on her cheek. "I was afraid you weren't coming."

"It was a long line for the elevator." She looked around at the crowded room. "Looks like you invited everyone."

"Not everyone." Ryan handed her a cup of punch. "I forgot to invite my financial advisor. One of the guys that serves coffee. Probably a couple of others."

Not paying attention, Amanda took a big gulp of the punch. She struggled to get a deep breath as she felt the alcohol burn a path down her throat to settle with the sensation of a small fire forming in her stomach.

"What," she wheezed, "is in this?"

"Old Summers family secret." He nudged her cup up to take another swallow. "The first is the hardest. The ones that follow make everything bright."

"Don’t you mean right?" She took a tentative sip and realized he was right. The fire was gone, leaving her with an aftermath of warm giddiness. Finishing off her cup, she smiled while admiring his decorations. "It really does make everything bright."

He chuckled while pouring her another one. "Enjoy duchess. I have to go talk to the couple that just walked in." Ryan gestured toward the back of the ballroom. "I saw Thomas over there earlier."

Before she could say anything, he disappeared.

Smiling from not only the Christmas punch but also at the thought of spending time with the man she secretly loved, Amanda began to weave her way through, pausing only long enough to greet those she knew.

***************

"For the love of--" Thomas suffered through another overly eager kiss.

This particular wannabe celebrity told him she was a popular YouTube personality.

It took all of his willpower to keep from telling her that he truly didn't care about her type of fame nor anything about her. He untangled himself from her arms and picked up his pace.

Being blocked in by Ryan's guests on one side and tables on the other, he had yet to escape the long line of mistletoe.

"Dammit!" He was grabbed once more.

"Is that any way to greet me, Thomas?" A sultry actress cooed.

"Good evening, Ava." He grasped her arms. "If you will excuse me--"

"You're under the mistletoe." She gripped the lapels of his blazer. "You know what that means?"

"Unfortunately, I do." He grumbled. Closing his eyes, he subjected himself to the kiss she pressed to his lips.

When Thomas was finally released, he first took pleasure in the disappointed expression on Ava's face from his lack of response.

Then his heart dropped at the person who stood a few feet away, staring at him.

Amanda turned away when Thomas locked eyes on her. Her mind jumped from one wild thought to another.

Thank God I didn't tell him how I felt! What if I had and then he had been forced to point out which woman he preferred? I need to leave. No! Then he'll suspect! I have to stay. Smile. Drink, dance, and be merry. Act like my heart didn't drop at the sight of Thomas being kissed by a woman I can't ever compete with.

She knew she couldn't run away so she remained in place. With a neutral expression on her face, she watched him out of the corner of her eye walk over to her.

"Amanda, I--that display you--I--" Thomas stuttered.

She turned toward him with a friendly smile firmly on her lips. "Thomas," she began with a slight, carefree laugh, "what can one do when caught under the mistletoe?"

Thomas blinked, taken aback when she casually shrugged the incident away.

Her heart was thudding as if she had sprinted. Pretending to not be affected by everything was too hard with his attention on her. She needed a temporary escape.

She called upon the things her friends in Cordonia depended on when upset.

Olivia would tell her to face the situation head on.

Not something I want to do.

Drake would go to the bar.

I've already had too much Christmas punch.

Hana would suggest desserts.

The table is too far away.

Maxwell would suggest to dance one’s troubles away.

Hmm. I could do that.

Her eyes scanned some of the men that stood nearby. Catching Ryan's eye, she nodded toward the dance floor with a silent plea.

He smiled at her. Coming over to do as she wanted, he noticed Thomas and glanced curiously back and forth at the two.

"Duchess?" He held his hand out. "Care to dance?"

"I would love to." She turned to a shocked Thomas. "Would you mind holding my drink?"

When his fingers grazed hers, she looked up at his face. Her carefully guarded expression flickered revealing her angry frustration.

"Feel free to use my cocktail napkin." She snapped.

"Your napkin?" Thomas repeated. "Why?"

"That shade of lipstick isn't really your color." She lowered her eyes and stubbornly ignored his attempt to explain.

She grabbed Ryan's hand and pulled him to the dance floor.

Ryan immediately twirled her as the upbeat tempo began. Taking both her hands to pull her toward him, he lifted an eyebrow in silent question.

She shook her head. "Don't ask. Please."

His gaze momentarily softened to pity. "Then hold on tight." He broke out some swing dance moves in the hopes of getting her to smile.

Her laughter at the numerous twirls he spun her in with dramatic dips made him smile.

"You know?" He said, once she was upright. "The only way I was able to get Thomas to agree to come tonight was telling him that you would be here."

"Ryan." She muttered.

"Amanda." He countered with a flirty grin on his face.

She couldn't help but smile back. "How do you make it impossible to ignore you?"

"Part of my charm." He admitted, twirling her into his embrace right as the song came to an end. "Now go forth and be kissed by someone you like."

She looked about at the number of couples kissing on the dance floor. She then lifted her eyes to the ceiling, sighing in relief that they had danced in a mistletoe free zone.

"I don't know if I should be thrilled for the one you prefer or insulted at how happy you are not to be under the mistletoe with me." Ryan narrowed his eyes playfully.

She laughed and rose up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Does that help?"

"Not really." He winked at her. "You just gave me a brotherly peck. I now have to find someone to bolster my flagging confidence."

She watched him dance away in search for a more kissable partner.

Amanda jumped when she felt someone grasp her hand.

Ignoring her surprise, Thomas pulled her off the dance floor.

"Thomas!" She tried to make him stop. "Where are we going?"

"Out." He stopped long enough to retrieve their coats.

"What about Ryan's party?" She couldn't stop her bitterness from spilling out. "Aren't there more people you hope to find under the mistletoe?"

"I never want to see that damn plant again." He snapped, gripping her hand as they stepped into the elevator.

They kept their eyes forward, trying to ignore the couples that joined them. Kisses were given as each seemed to still be in a haze from all the mistletoe..

They escaped and stepped out onto the sidewalk, each breathing a little easier.

Their eyes met.

"I should pro--"

"Walk with me--"

They closed their mouths and simply stared at one another.

"Will you go for a walk with me?" Thomas asked. "There is something I need to discuss with you."

Amanda hoped but honestly doubted that what he wanted to talk about was the subject she had intended to talk to him about.

Feelings are such a nuisance, she thought to herself.

With a brief nod, she began to walk towards Central Park. Once inside, she quickened her pace, hoping to burn up her frustration enough to calmly hear whatever it was he wished to say.

Without a word, Thomas kept up with her. When she started to slip on an icy patch on the walkway, he swept her into his arms.

Her breath hitched as her body slid directly against his.

Their noses bumped against one another’s.

Thomas tightened his arms around her refusing to lose this one chance to have her undivided attention. He had argued with himself about cutting in the entrie time she danced with Ryan. That ridiculous party would be the last time he allowed anything to keep him from finding out if she felt as strongly as he did.

"What," her voice cracked, "what did you want to talk about?"

His lips curved somewhat at seeing she was just as affected by being close to him as he was her. "Us."

Her eyes dropped down to his lips. "Us?"

His eyes drifted down her face, pausing at her mouth. "Yes."

"Oh." She breathed the word as his head slowly dropped toward hers.

He gently captured her lips in a tender kiss.

Thomas had felt nothing with those other kisses he had been given at the party. The spark from that touch of her lips warmed him to his toes. And yet, the mere brush of her gloved hand through his hair as he moved to kiss her again caused his skin to burn.

The kiss deepened, drawing an audible gasp from both at the sensation of the other's lips.

When they parted, their eyes met.

"Thomas, I--"

"I want to--"

Amanda bit her bottom lip. "You first."

Thomas smiled softly. "I'm in love with you."

"I love you too." She smiled against his lips when he kissed her again.

A thought popped into her mind, causing her to jerk away.

"Amanda, what--"

"I better never catch you in a room that has both beautiful actresses and mistletoe." She warned him.

He chuckled while cuddling her close. "You're the only one I will ever willingly stand under mistletoe for."

Amanda sweetly sighed at that as she pressed another kiss to his lips.

When his lips drifted down her cheek, she spoke up again.

"There was a corner at Ryan's party where one sprig of mistletoe wasn't being stepped under."

"Really?" He lifted his head. "That is a pity."

"Isn't it?" Her arms looped around his neck. "All alone. Without a purpose."

"I suppose we could go back and fulfill its one mission in life." He rested his forehead against hers. "Or..."

"Or?"

"We go somewhere private and pretend the entire room is covered in mistletoe."

"Private, hmm?" Amanda stepped out of Thomas's arms. "I think I would like to try this pretending."

He wrapped his arm around her as they walked out of the park. "If you follow my lead, I think you will enjoy yourself immensely."

[confusedunit]

A Faint Divergence - Day 11

12 Days of Ficmas - Day 11 Gen, as always. Angst Characters: Bubby, Calhoun, Dr. Freeman, Dr. Coomer, Tommy, Sunkist

Bubby listened.

He was almost always listening to conversations around him, no matter what they were about. It had been a habit he'd picked up after his creation, when he was kept locked away in his labs, unable to do much except watch and, well, listen. But he kept doing it, even after he was allowed to wander more. He couldn't help it. It was a defense at that point, keep listening to those around you to make sure they aren't a threat.

Everything was to be treated as a threat until proven otherwise. And very few things were ever proven otherwise.

Even then, as they sat outside, truly outside, in the dusty dirt hidden away in the middle of Black Mesa, he couldn't help but listen.

He was gladly listening to Harold, as he sat next to him on a blanket, eagerly explaining the stars and their history to Tommy. That was easy to listen to.

He also heard Tommy's breaths, and Sunkist's ever so often sighs, from where the two were lying. Tommy was lying in the dirt, head and shoulders resting against Sunkist's side like a pillow. His eyes were closed, and his jacket was pulled over him like a blanket. He could tell from the breathing that Tommy wasn't asleep, but he was at rest, which was unfortunately uncommon for the younger man.

And he definitely heard the quiet conversation going on a bit away from them, even as one party tried to remain quiet.

"Barney. Please, he's right there." Dr. Freeman whispered, nervously adjusting his grip on his contraband beer.

"Yeah, I know. I'm not scared of him." Calhoun sighed, running a hand through his hair, guard helmet discarded in the sand. "I just don't wanna scare him, man. Thought askin' you would be better."

"It's really not my place to tell you about his personal life." He quickly took a sip of said beer.

Bubby stood, fingers twitching at his sides as he moved over to the two.

"I'm just trying to figure out what I should and shouldn't say."

He stopped, hand in the air, a moment away from bursting alight, and he blinked.

Dr. Freeman stared up at Bubby, anxiously. "Uh...what do you mean, Barney?" He gave a nervous smile.

Bubby frowned, but lowered his hand a bit.

"I just..." Calhoun groaned, pressing his hand against his forehead. "I don't want him to be scared. Around me? Us, I guess? If I know what shit to avoid, then I can make sure the others do too. Don't even have to explain why." He huffed. "I'm not a cop or anything. I'm a guard. I'm supposed to protect. Keepin' people from getting harmed in the first place is part of protecting."

"You're the first person I've ever met who felt that way." Bubby dropped his hand fully, to cross his arms.

"Uh-"

"Heyyyy, Bubby." Dr. Freeman gave another nervous smile, which quickly wilted under the glare. "Uh, I-"

"I heard." He straightened up, looking down at Calhoun. "Ask your question. You get one."

"What were they testing?"

It took every ounce of his being to not light the guard ablaze. The only reason he didn't was he could smell the alcohol from there. The man was tipsy. He didn't know what was coming out of his mouth.

"Barney!"

"I'm askin' because- because look, all I know about ya' is you can catch shit on fire, you're friends with Coomer who's in the cloning project, and these people really don't wanna let you have a scrap of freedom." Calhoun straightened his own posture where he sat, raising his eyes to meet Bubby's gaze. "What's got them so scared of you findin' out what living feels like?"

The bluntness, the bravery, and the wording of the question caught Bubby off guard. "...I'm sorry?"

"Because the way I figure it-" He hiccupped. "Is that- you're a person, yeah? You're a person. People've got- got needs, got wants. Got dreams. Yours, as far as I can figure, was just to be outside." He didn't drop his gaze. "So what the hell are they doing? What have they done to think they deserve to rob a man of experiencing even the most basic shit of life?"

He wasn't used to someone being so blunt, but...caring. He could hear in the words, Calhoun was angry, but not at him. He was angry on his behalf. And that alone disarmed him immediately. "They made me." The words fell out of his mouth before he could stop them. "To be the perfect scientist."

"So? What kinda scientist doesn't get to learn about the world around him? Isn't that the entire point?" His shoulders dropped from their tenseness, but he kept staring. "So they made you. So what? You're still a man." He blinked. "Or, a person, at least. You're whatever you wanna be. But like, you're a person. You're human."

"I can create fire. I'm not human." Bubby snarled.

"Some people can learn hundreds of digits of pi, or generate enough bioelectricity to shock something." He grit his teeth, meeting his anger. "Doesn't mean shit about being human."

"I'm not human!" He shouted, ends of his labcoat smoldering. He struggled to maintain control, to lower his arms to his sides, and he didn't notice for a bit that he was panting. Everyone was startled, and looking up at him with worry...

Except for Calhoun. Calhoun looked up at him like he was on the edge of finally getting the answer he'd been searching for.

"...Not in the ways that matter." His shoulders fell, and his hands tightly gripped his arms digging his nails into his coat.

"Bullshit."

His anger flared up immediately, defensiveness rising. "What the fuck do you mean bullshit?"

Calhoun stood, jabbing Bubby in the chest. "You're human. You live, you breathe, you bleed. You're just like us, only difference is your life was a whole lot shittier." His hands grabbed Bubby's wrists, pulling them away to keep him from hurting himself. "Look, I get it. You're defensive as hell because you're hurt. People fucked you up, made you feel like shit. Lesser. But look around, man."

Bubby did so, nervously, watching the looks of his friends. Dr. Freeman looked concerned, Harold was smiling softly, Tommy was on guard.

"You're a person. You've got friends, you've got family. You're outside, seeing the stars, finally starting to live life." He shook him lightly. "All these brilliant minds around you, plus my dumb ass. Plus the other two of the team. We all know you're human, no matter what shit you try to peddle. If you won't believe me, at least believe the smart ones?"

"...I..."

"Or at least believe Alyx. I swear, she can see right through a person."

Bubby started to shake.

Harold moved close, wrapping his arms around his shoulders. "I've got him now, Calhoun. Thank you."

Calhoun blinked abruptly, taking his hands back. "...Shit, sorry. Didn't mean to be so...I know he doesn't like touchy, I just..."

"It's quite alright. Thank you for looking out for him." He smiled a bit. "...Hopefully one day, he'll believe us when we say those words to him." He quickly led back to the blanket, pulling Bubby close.

Bubby looked up at the stars again, as Harold started to explain once more, but his mind tried to wander.

He didn't let it. He put those thoughts away in a box, to be opened again later. Or even better, perhaps not at all. And he put it away in a place in his mind that hopefully wouldn't shake loose.

And as he focused more on the words, he smiled to himself, sure that he had finally gotten his emotions under control. He wouldn't have another outburst about feelings, or thoughts, or being human. He was better than that. The box was locked away.

-

And it was.

For a while.

Until he tried to die on his own terms, instead of let someone kill him themselves.

Until he'd woken up in a room so close to his own, but not quite.

Until he'd done test after test, not knowing what was wrong, but feeling something was off.

Until the first Cascade, as he tried to escape with his ragtag group of what he realized were truly friends.

Until he betrayed one of the only people who cared about him.

Until the lights faded out in a worn down Chuck E Cheese, and he realized for a moment that he felt safe.

Until he ran for an elevator, after the second Cascade, desperately trying to lock the box away, to hold it closed as the cardboard fell apart.

Until his memories hit him like a truck, and he remembered. Remembered what it felt like to be cared for. To care in return. To feel safe, again.

Until he screamed for his friend to abandon him to live, and his friend said No.

Until his friend's life was in danger, and he threw his life on the line, to try to save him.

Until he floated in his tube, hand pressed against the glass, with nothing left to give. And nothing to focus on but the memories of a life long missed. To be held onto like scraps of paper in the wind.

'You're human.' He repeated those memories over and over. 'You're human. You're human.'

'You're human, in all the ways that matter.'

He still did not believe them. But he held onto them.

He'd hold forever, if he had to.

[underatedcharactersunite]

Dear Santa Claus

Summary; Jeff helps your Son/Daughter write their letter to Santa. 

Dear Santa, 

I am writing to tell you how good I have been this year. I've done all of my homework and behaved as much as possible.

The first thing I would like for Christmas is Lego because I like to build things. Anything would do. I also would like a bike, so I can learn how to ride without stabilisers.

Also, I would like a John Cena doll, and a Roman Reigns one too. Also can I please have some new merchandise, but not Daddy's. I already have loads of that.

Thank you Santa, 

Merry Christmas, 

Love 

Your Son/ Daughter’s name.