#can you feel the christmas cheer in the air? yeah that was me. i did that while i was writing this | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

kedsandtubesocks · 7 days ago

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Mr. Winter

Santa!Joel Miller x F!Reader

summary: you wrote that letter to Santa as a joke (knowing he obviously wouldn’t answer it) until he does - and he comes with a proposition

warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY MDNI. no outbreak/modern AU & Joel has both his daughters, marriage of convenience, unspecified age gap (reader’s age is not mentioned but is a drinking aged adult & Joel is older), yearning, fluff with light angst, grumpy but sweetheart!Joel, caregiver!Joel with slight sugar daddy!Joel vibes, brief moments of dealing with toxic family, Joel lifts reader once with his Santa strength, spicy thoughts, heavy making out, fingering, glove & finger sucking, use of “good girl,” Joel’s dirty talk & referring to himself as “old man,” one light ass smack, reader wears lingerie, Santa!kink (?), use of gendered language

word count: 9.1k (I’m sorry)

a/n: yeah… hi lol this is heavily influenced and based off “The Santa Clause” films but you don’t need to know those to read - biggest thank you to my favorite enablers & Santa’s cutest helpers @pedgito & @hauntedhowlett ily…also happy holidays, if you’re reading this I can’t thank you enough & hope a little magic comes your way ♡ divider credit to the ever talented @saradika-graphics

You wrote the dumb letter at the end of the semester class party. You’re thankful everyone decided to write papers instead of having a final, a grad school blessing, which meant class was done by the last week of November. Your professor even had set up the cutest Letters to Santa Station, and your friend begged you to write one with her.

So you did.

And you jokingly asked Santa for one thing - to send you a boyfriend.

Of course you know the big guy isn’t real and wouldn’t ever answer. It’s why you didn’t think much of it.

But now, if there’s any hope Santa could be real, you wonder if maybe he could just grant you one small wish…

You’re happy for your best friend, you truly are. Her wedding reception is beautiful, you just need a moment.

It finally hit you that you’re the last of your friend group not married. And as the cozy colder winter days bring in the couples closer during the slow song, you simply take a moment outside to collect yourself.

The once warmed spiked hot chocolate you’ve been enjoying now sits cold, not so festive.

Someone calls to you, says your name in a thick southern molasses smooth accent you don’t recognize.

Turning to the door, you definitely don’t know who this man is because you would have remembered someone this stunning.

Dressed down in some jeans and a sharp looking blazer, there’s almost a cowboy like air to this man. Rugged, older with lovely streaks of wrinkles and shining grey hair, a gorgeous sharp hawk nose, and dark as the deep earth eyes stare at you - he’s flat out gorgeous.

“Got your letter.” He cryptically announces, and confusion clusters in you.

This handsome stranger lifts up the overly festive candy cane colored envelope, the one you picked at the party a few days ago when you wrote your letter to Santa.

Slightly panicked, now you question who this man is.

The mystery man fidgets, painting him younger. He shifts to put his hands on his hips.

“Alright… there ain’t no easy way to put this, so imma just say it.” He starts. “I got many names… Father Christmas, Ol’ Saint Nick. Shit like that.”

Those dark unearthed eyes stare unflinching at you.

“But you can call me Joel.”

“Wait…What are you saying?” Bewilderment and skepticism bubble in your voice.

He sighs, ancient and tired, rubbing a hand over his face.

“Don’t make me say it.” He grumbles.

“Wait are you saying you’re like, fucking Santa Claus or something?” You can’t even believe it.

His large hand moves away from his face, and the man, Joel, stays silent. The somber stillness makes this feel worse.

A disbelief filled laugh escapes you.

“Yeah okay, nice try.” You lift your drink to him, a slight mock cheers, then take a sip. It’s cold as hell and tastes bitter.

“I know it sounds fucking crazy as shit-”

“The Santa I know wouldn't cuss.” You playfully cut him off deciding to now embrace this joke.

His face grows foul, hard with a frown, not so very Kris Kringle like. With deliberate steps he moves slightly closer to you.

“Two years ago… who d’ya think dropped off that snow globe, huh?” His voice dips low, bordering a deadly seriousness, and you inhale sharp.

Two years ago, you and your mom’s favorite snow globe shattered. It felt silly getting so upset over such a strange object, but you couldn’t find a replacement anywhere.

Then after everyone had opened their gifts and family had left, you spotted a lone gift still tucked away hidden under the tree.

It was the snow globe, new and perfectly wrapped. You know you didn’t get it for your mom and the way she teared up, she didn’t get it for you. None of your other family members knew the significance of it.

“It has to be a Christmas miracle,” your mom had said. You didn’t believe it.

Now you stare a bit horrified and in shock at the man who knows about this.

Silence suffocates the air between you and him.

“Make a reindeer show up.” You blurt out.

The man, Joel, snorts dry and amused.

“Don’t need reindeer. S’a myth.” He replies low.

Your eyes narrow suspicious at him now.

“Can you make it snow?”

“M’not Jack Frost.” He scoffs offended.

“Santa always leaves snow from his boots.” You argue back.

“It’s for the dang effect.” Joel argues back.

“Can’t be Santa then.” You shrug.

He makes a disgruntled sigh of a noise. Glaring hard, he waves his hand out to the wind. Suddenly the wind blows strong, a howling gust rushing against you, so blustery you need to cover your face. When the wind stops you realize you’re lightly covered in snow.

You almost drop your not so hot chocolate.

Joel must sense your shock. He takes your drink from your hand, takes a sip and makes a disgusted face.

“Look… came here for a reason. I think we might be able to help each other out.

He’s here with a proposition.

“I… need a wife.” He declares with a deadpan like energy.

Now you almost laugh again.

“What, did Mrs Claus divorce you?” You joke.

“Never been married.” He frowns.

Oh.

“So why now?” Curiosity peeks up in you fast.

“Legal shit.” His words don’t allow for more prying. “I’ll explain it all later. Just needed to find ya to see if we can get this done.”

“Wait, why me?”

He lifts up that damn letter again, waves it around.

“Y’said you wanted a boyfriend.” He almost sounds bored.

“This isn’t the same.” You squak, indignant.

“Look,” he now returns to that deep somber tone.

“I need this. And you’d be… compensation.” His voice shifts slightly awkwardly.

He mentions your loans, all the debt you have, and how he might be able to help out. Your eyes feel like they’re about to pop out their sockets.

Commotion finally arrives at the door leading back inside.

Joel takes a sip of your drink, then hands it back to you.

“Think it over.” He says low.

The door slides open, and your other friend flings her head out.

“Hey come on! They’re cutting the cake!” She brightly exclaims, but her face scrunches up confused.

“Wait, who were you talking to?” She asks.

Your eyes flicker to the spot where Joel would be.

No one stands next to you. All that’s left is snow and the imprint of boots.

You also notice…your hot chocolate has been warmed.

“Santa lives here? In Austin Texas? What happened to the North Pole?” Walking behind him, you sound like a bummed out kid who just found out Santa isn’t real.

“Shit said to throw the FBI off.” Joel Miller replies bluntly, and you don’t know if he’s joking or not.

His house, rustic and cozy, holds a spacious warmth. But it feels vacant, unusually quiet for a man known to bring joy and the personification of Christmas warmth.

“So how does one become Santa?” You ask.

“Long story.” Another curt reply.

“Well, if I’m gonna be your wife shouldn’t I know these things?” Just saying the words aloud didn’t seem real.

You can’t believe you’re doing this.

The new home draws in your full attention trying to soak it all in. So many photos of two girls cover the walls and they grow right before your eyes. Curiously, you ask about them.

“They’re my daughters.” Joel answers simple.

Your eyes go wide.

He had children.

“They’re the reason why we’re here actually.” Joel adds while he moves around his cozy kitchen.

He reveals ‘Santa Claus’ is simply a title for someone to fill. It’s a hefty role. Joel was able to get away without having a spouse with his first daughter, and then again with his second. But now with her about to enter college, Joel was alone.

The stipulation to marry now stood between him and having the title stripped from him.

“Why do you even need to get married?”

“Some shit about needing companionship and other fuckin’ bullshit.” He gruffly explains.

“You could retire.” You offer.

“Don’t wanna.” He roughly replies grabbing papers out of a drawer.

“So your daughters… I’m sure they must’ve been over the moon knowing their dad was Santa.” You try breaking the ice more.

Placing a pen on the table, Joel sighs.

“Look, we don’t gotta do this.” He snaps tight. “This small talk and shit. The sooner we can get this signed and started, the sooner we can get this over with.”

His words sting, becoming sharp barbs that dig in deep.

“Fine.” You grab the pen ready to sign whatever the hell this guy has for you.

A back door opens, and commotion follows. A handsome younger man, with the same dark eyes like Joel that instead sparkle, walks into the kitchen from the garage. Following him are two much older gentleman, one with kind eyes and the other with a glare that could whither a field

“Well now, is this the soon to be Mrs Joel Miller?” The youngest of the bunch says bright and sunny.

Joel introduces you to his brother, Tommy, who is an exact opposite to his sour puss older sibling. Frank, an old family friend, is here to officiate the ceremony. His husband, Bill, would be the other witnesses besides Tommy. Frank and Tommy are thankfully sweet, obviously curious about you.

“Can we get this fuckin’ done with?” Joel snaps.

Now your annoyance triples, and you’re thankful Tommy and Frank chide Joel. Bill snorts amused.

But wanting to leave now too, you’re quick to agree to start the ceremony.

It’s done short and simple in the kitchen - Frank asking you and Joel to take each other as husband and wife. You agree briskly. Joel just nods. There’s not even an exchange of rings, or a kiss to conclude the ceremony.

Joel simply sticks his hand out, a damn handshake becomes your official agreement, your binding wedding vow.

You maybe should have read over the marriage agreement more, could have been smarter and brought a lawyer, even one that might have believed you. But you’re pissed. You simply sign the papers, let Frank go over the documentation, then gather your things.

“Wait, you ain’t gonna stay for lunch?” Joel suddenly questions seeing you get up to leave.

“We got this over with, didn't we, husband? That’s all you wanted right?” Your words are clipped, polite but sharp, that they even sting you.

You apologize to Tommy and Frank for meeting like this. Yet you don’t say another word to your new husband who feels more of a stranger than ever.

When you get back to your mom’s place a new sticky note sits on your night stand.

Sorry about today, let me make it up to you.

-J

Underneath is his phone number.

Guess he’s showing off the very classic Santa trick of slipping into houses without anyone noticing he pulled off a breaking and entering.

He answers on the second ring when you call.

“I got Santa’s personal number?” You offer with a gentle treading tone.

“Yeah, yeah.” Joel huffs.

It eases the tension. But hesitation still brews thick, an awkwardness of trying to talk to a stranger who just so happens to be your new husband.

“Uh, shit…Sorry about earlier. Didn’t end up eating lunch. You up for a bite to eat? I'll pay?” His voice is open, letting you decide.

Agreeing, he shows up to your door in record timing.

“Is this traveling fast a Santa thing? How can you travel so fast?” Your curiosity gets the best of you.

Joel simply smirks, not answering, but the silence dances playful now.

He takes you to a cozy barbecue spot on the lake. The Texas winter makes the days crisp, almost stuck between autumn and full blown winter. But in the midday sun, it's rather lovely.

“I’m surprised you’re not busy with everything coming up.” You’re trying stepping into the conversation as eased and natural as possible.

“If I’m tryin’ to scramble to get shit done by now, then I ain’t doing my job right.” He says taking a sip of his beer, and his words ignite a burst of heat in you.

It's attractive… he’s attractive. You can’t deny that.

Lunch is surprisingly casual, relaxed. Joel asks about grad school and about your major, asks about your family. It vaguely feels like a regular first date.

However this is treading the waters between you and him and this strange new circumstance.

This situation has been gnawing at you. Anxiously, you wonder if he judges you for agreeing so quickly, for jumping in because of the money.

“Hey,” it's like he senses your quiet already.

“You still don’t gotta do this. I can head back home right now, rip up those papers and start again.” A sincere tone, gilded in understanding, rings in his voice.

He’s giving you a way out. You shake your head.

You want to see this as something good. So raising your drink up, it’s another cheers to him. This time Joel moves to toast you with his beer.

“I’d call this the strangest wedding reception ever but hey, I’ll take it.” Joel nods. His mountainous shoulders drop seemingly relaxed more.

You laugh, and for the first time, it feels like you’re sitting across a new friend now… who just happens to be your husband.

You and Joel start texting. It’s still a bit awkward, and he’s a dry texter which doesn’t help. You get tempted to send him Santa memes, but you’re not sure you can joke with him more.

You check your loans. They’re still there looming like a thick unmovable sludge. So he hasn’t paid it off yet.

Reality and acceptance settles in. This man, the embodiment of Christmas joy, is just that busy even though he said he wasn’t.

At least you helped, or maybe unknowingly sold your soul away and just don’t know it yet. Whatever it is, you slip back into your regular routine and head back to your mom’s.

Pulling up an unknown older red truck sits in front of the house, and you wonder who’s its owner.

Walking inside your mom announces she’s in the kitchen. Tools scattered along the table are a reliving sight. So it’s just the plumber she finally called.

“You didn’t tell me the guy you were seeing is a handy man.” Your mom whispers excitedly.

As if on cue Joel struts out from the bathroom looking something straight from a hallmark movie. The green plaid shirt he wears compliments him beautifully, and it’s hard not to stare at him and his delicious broad ass shoulders.

“Hey.” He greets with a half smirk.

“Was in the neighborhood, wanted to stop by and see if ya wanted to get dinner tonight. Then I remembered you telling me about your mom’s sink.”

You mentioned that during your first lunch with him. How did he remember?

Something soft, swirling with longing, fills your chest, and you try swallowing it back. As thanks, your mom happily suggests Joel joining for dinner here, and panic strikes you fast.

Joel grins bigger seeing you scramble to dissuade him. Of course he agrees.

You never would have guessed Joel ‘prickly as a Christmas cactus’ Miller is a charmer. He even pays for takeout much to your mother’s surprise.

“Didn’t know he was so much…older.” She hesitantly comments when he leaves.

“It’s been nice dating someone more mature.” You half lie. You aren’t ready to tell her the guy is your husband.

Later you text him thanks for fixing the sink and for dinner.

What are husbands for? He replies back.

And you really wish you knew.

You’ve wanted to go see the trail of lights, but with your mom working late for the holidays and your friends out of town, you consider making the trip alone.

Until your phone rings.

Joel has now started calling you, simply to chat, ask about how your day is, even just to check up on you. It makes your heart jump.

“Whatcha up to?” His voice rumbles deep and wonderful over the phone.

“Wanted to go to the trail of lights but might skip. No one wants to go.” You sigh.

“I’ll go.” He quickly replies, and your head spins.

If you thought Joel in plaid was a deadly force, him in a thick winter brown coat that highlights his strong frame is an utter sight.

The array of candy colored lights coat the world in a beautiful celestial dream. You’re thankful it’s not busy tonight.

“I’ve always loved Christmas lights.” You admit. It’s one of your favorite parts of being back home.

Surprisingly, he curiously asks about you more, what brought you back home. You of course tell him the truth. Out of state college got too expensive in undergrad, and now going to grad school expenses started piling up.

“So I’m back home.” You simply shrug.

“Ain’t no shame in it.”

You beam at his earnest words.

“Y’know, I haven’t been here in so long.” Joel admits. “Used to come here with the girls all the time when they were little.”

Wanting to embrace this tiny step he’s taking, you ask what they’re like. A soft look, one molten and fatherly, blooms over his face. It suits him, like he was born to be a dad in any lifetime.

Sarah is his eldest, a sweetheart going to school to be a journalist. He had her when was young, way too young, and her mother wasn’t big on wanting to raise a kid at that age.

“So it was just the two of you?” You softly ask.

“Yup, until our Ellie came along.” He nods while another soft grin tugs at his lips.

He tells you Ellie is adopted.

“S’actually a wild story.” Joel begins. “Found her during a run.”

A run, you learn quickly, is when he’s out on Christmas Eve.

“Newborn baby crying on the edge of the fire station. It was freezing as shit that night. Couldn’t just leave her there.” He mutters lost in the memory.

You and him have slowed your walk, now almost glued to each other side by side.

“Was a goddamn miracle.” He adds nodding.

“That’s beautiful, Joel.” You admire, meaning your words.

He goes on telling you Ellie’s already working in her last year of high school, ready to move out, be on her own, ready to start college.

“So I bet when they were kids they were thrilled to know their dad was… who you are.” You state with a warm grin.

Joel barks hollow.

“Couldn’t even threaten them with the naughty list deal. To them I’ll always be dad.” His voice twinkles, it’s like peeling away at the rough exterior to realize Joel is just an extra toasty marshmallow.

He’s still so warm and soft on the inside.

“Can I ask… how did it happen?” You’re worried he’s going to shut you out like he did last time.

But a heavy exhale leaves him. And he tells you…

About a night driving home during the bad snow storm that came many years ago. He stopped to help this man on the side of the road, who he assumed was a mall Santa that had gotten into an accident.

“Instead it was the real fucking deal.”

After that, the previous holder of the title passed away, leaving Joel to take up the mantle.

“Had to say yes,” he says with a shrug. “Even at five years old Sarah was bossin’ me around, telling me I had to…. Haven’t regretted it since.”

Iridescent adoration swallows your body whole begging you to embrace Joel Miller wholly.

“It’s wonderful. It’s brought you so many amazing things,” You can’t even hide your admiration anymore, don’t want to. You don’t want to fight this. You’d be his real fake wife for long as he would let you.

Joel’s face turns to you. His eyes glance straight into your very being, the lights dance among his endless earthen eyes. You want to get lost in the twinkle, already hating how badly you feel drawn to this man.

You try taking in every ounce of Joel here under the cloak of lights. He’s a dream, this fake husband of yours, one that feels like you’re simply allowed to admire but never touch.

Being this close to him, your eyes unfortunately drift to his lips. How bad would it be to kiss this man?

There’s plenty of songs about kissing Santa Claus. Would you simply not be embracing the holiday spirit?

A distant car horn honks and causes you to jump, breaking the hypnotic spell Joel has cast on you. Walking out, sadly heading home, you finally notice something.

It could be the shade of the lights, but the greys in Joel’s beard are starting to appear white.

The week before Christmas is a chaotic cluster. So much cleaning and shopping, you want to scream. Joel calls you while you’re braving the mall.

“You sound exhausted, honey.” He says, and the pet name isn’t lost on you.

But it is lost on your rant though. You’re exhausted from trying to find these specific dang muffins your grandmother only refuses to eat while also trying to find a gift for your cousins.

“Gift cards are a lifesaver for a reason.” He comments casually.

“You grant Christmas wishes for a living, and that’s your answer.” You snort.

“I’ve delivered my share of ‘em, so hell yeah they are.”

Even in the mess of the mall’s chaos you laugh. In such a short amount of time, Joel’s presence in your life has solidified steady, unwavering, like he’s always been here. Long chats on drives home, him dropping by with groceries to deliver, it all unfolds so natural. You’re even heading over tonight to have dinner with him and his brother Tommy.

Once you’re back in the car, you notice a new bag sitting in the backseat.

Reacting in you discover not only the damn elusive dinner rolls you’ve been searching for, but a pack of gift cards.

A sticky note sits on top of them.

Don’t hate the gift card

-J

You blame the Yuletide spirit in the air, but your heart soars. It’s like you’ve been swept into a Christmas special. But, you’re waiting for the bad ending to come.

These feelings for Joel have only multiplied, taking root deeper in your heart. The sugared admiration for him now grows fangs becoming a dazed lust. You’ve had dreams of him sweaty and golden above you in bed. You ache to know what he sounds like, to know the feeling of him inside you, to get drunk on his taste.

Heading over to Joel’s you kick away those dangerous thoughts you have for your husband.

A sweet woman answers the door, who introduces herself as Maria, Tommy’s wife.

“Nice to finally meet Joel’s not so secret, secret wife.” She grins. Guess that meant she knew the secret too.

She knows more than you even do as she guides you out back. The shed sitting in the corner of the backyard is unassuming. Yet when you step inside, a full workshop, the size of a Costco, stands glimmering before you.

“It never gets old.” Maria whispers, sensing your stunned awe.

Joel finally steps into view, and you’re taken back. The white among his beard sits stronger. He’s in more comfortable clothes and the gray sweatpants are sinful on him. The sight of his strong arms, his tummy through his tight white shirt, all make you think of biting into his skin -

You yank yourself out of the feral thoughts. Especially when Joel spots you. He blinks, just as stunned as you are.

“Hey, sorry. Got shit tied up here. Y’don’t gotta stay, might not be done until... fuck I don’t even know when.” He sighs, running a hand across his face.

“Can I help?” You blurt out.

Joel blinks at you, almost like he didn’t hear what you said and even squints a bit making him as old as he is.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” You ask again.

Joel swallows. “You don’t, fuck...Ya don’t have to.”

You want to and determinedly tell him that.

His eyes widened like you just grew two heads. He recovers swiftly, nodding as he calls Tommy over. The younger Miller brother sees you and winks.

“Come on newbie, let’s getcha set up.”

You, Maria and Tommy are in charge of bulk orders making sure each package has the right amount and ready to be delivered.

“Does he… really have a list?” You ask with a whisper.

“Checks it twice too.” Tommy cheekily replies, and you laugh bubbling with disbelief, but apologize quickly.

“S’all good, trust me it took me a while to realize it’s real. But it’s something damn special once you do.”

You fully agree.

The night is long, but you don’t notice it. You get into a grove and get excited when Maria shows you some of the orders, children getting bikes, someone getting a new pair of shoes. It fills you with something luminous you can’t fully describe.

It’s a reward in itself when you finish a large order and high five Maria and Tommy.

“Well now, we finally get to meet the new Mrs. Joel Miller.” A new voice, smooth but curious, breaks the moment.

Behind you stand a small cluster of older men. You don’t know how, but you just know they’re all previous holders of the title of Father Christmas. It’s only confirmed when Tommy whispers it sharp to you. So these retired men were the ones pestering Joel.

“They usually drop by to do audits, checks and things, didn’t know they would be here this late.” Maria adds low.

“We’ve been wanting to stop by and give our congratulations, but Joel has been so keen on keeping you all to himself.” One of the older gentlemen winks.

You politely smile.

“You’re rather young.” Another man comments.

“Way too pretty for a grouch like Miller.” One, with a thick accent, teases with a grin.

Joel suddenly, as if summoned, comes rushing out from the side and immediately slides in front of you, a protective barrier.

“You’re running a bit behind schedule.” The snarkiest of the men comments to Joel. “Guess the new wife really has been keeping you away.”

Your face scrunches up pissed now, until Joel’s hand moves to hold yours, squeezing it tight.

“He even has you helping, dear?” One of the quieter men asks you, concerned.

“I’m happy to help.” You truthfully answer steady and firm.

You want to be a part of this as much as Joel allows. Not just because you’re his paper wife, but because you care for him.

All of the previous Santas now seem to survey you, practically staring straight into your soul.

“If you gentlemen are done harassing my wife I suggest y’all fuckin’ head home.” Joel barks sharp.

One of them scoffs at this reply.

The main leader of the group glances at you then back to Joel.

“You picked a good one, Joel.” He smiles with a chuckle.

“You take care of this grouch now, pretty lady.” The sweetest of the men beams at you, a twinkle in his eye.

“Get out.” Joel snaps cold, holding your hand tighter than ever.

In a blink, they’re before you, and the next, they’re gone, vanished into the wind.

Your legs feel like they’re about to give out, and you have to lean against Joel who sighs with the same relief.

In the rush, you swear you feel him press a kiss to the top of your head. Tommy and Maria greet you proud. You return back to your station, back to helping.

Until you realize it’s past 1 in the morning, and you can barely keep your eyes open.

“Hey, crash here for the night.” Joel appears besides you, steadying your arm.

“I’ll be fine, I can drive home.” You reassure him through an unconvincing yawn.

“No. You don’t need to. S’cold as hell out there, just stay here.” He urges, and you don’t want to fight him.

So you’re given the guest room and a spare change of clothes, which include an oversized UT Longhorns shirt and sweats, both obviously Joel’s.

Sliding his shirt on, your heart races. The exhaustion, you blame it on the exhaustion, when you pull his shirt up to inhale deeply. The smell is soft, comforting, a mixture of his cologne and something purely musk, purely Joel.

You wonder how bad it would be to touch yourself in his guest room. Glancing out the door to see if you’re alone, that’s when you catch a glimpse of Joel down the hall.

Busy looking at his phone, he’s shirtless and a decadent sight. You fully take in his solid build, the look of a man. His sweatpants have slung lower, revealing the thick trail of hair leading down to his cock. The pudge of his belly is beautiful.

He’s beautiful, and you want him more than anything.

The next morning he’s gone, already hard at work. You enjoy breakfast with Maria and Tommy who you already adore even more.

“Don’t be a stranger now, it’s nice to have a new face around. Plus Joel can’t stop talking about you.” Maria’s words almost make you spit out your tea.

Tommy snickers at your reaction.

Driving back to your mom’s, you already miss the chaos of the Miller household. Arriving home, your heart sinks seeing your relatives have arrived early.

“Oh, back from staying over at a guy’s house? Maybe you’ll finally get a boyfriend that stays around long enough.” Even though your Aunt is trying to be teasing, you already wish she could leave.

“I think he’s a keeper. He’s older too.” You mom explains with a slow whisper, and you send her a look.

Everyone unfortunately perks up at that.

“Really? Well, you know what they say, you should always question why a man doesn’t date a woman his age.” Your Aunt, with such a judgmental tone, tries to sound sincere but it slices you deep.

“It’s not like that.” You reply feeling a new sense of dread crawl in you.

“Is it a sugar daddy situation?” Your cousin jokes, and it gets too much.

You laugh bitter, fake, then head back to your room. You wish more than ever to crawl back to Joel’s.

Back in your room, something new sits waiting for you on your nightstand.

A flower, your favorite, in full bloom has a note tied to it.

Thanks for all the help

This time Joel signs his name with a little scribbled heart.

You cherish it more than gold.

“I…won’t be available these new few days.” Joel reveals, almost sounds guilty.

It’s the first time you’ve finally gotten the chance to talk with him free from curious family members trying to eavesdrop.

Here in the dead of night, your heart aches for him.

“I know, kinda figured.” You grin.

He chuckles.

Suddenly a selfish thought tugs at you.

The image has been plaguing you more and more. Does dress up in full Santa gear? He has to, right?

“So do you…fully wear the whole thing? The red suit? White hat?” You ask, waiting for the answer.

“…if I say yes, are ya gonna divorce me?” Joel replies gruff.

You laugh but rush to quiet down trying not to wake anyone. But you reassure him there's no need for divorce.

“Just… kinda wish I could see it.” You admit, feeling greedy wanting to witness the sight.

Joel stays quiet.

“Maybe one day.” He mutters.

“Yeah…” maybe one day.

“Stay safe out there.” You tell him when you hear him yawning more. “And get all the rest you can.”

“Yes ma’am.” He drawls, and you melt.

You don’t hear from him after that.

You deal with more annoying family members. Enjoy some delicious cozy food. All while missing Joel.

Waking up Christmas Eve morning, you see an email.

All your loans are paid in full. It wasn’t just your loans, but your mother’s. Completely debt free - both of you. She cries. You even get teary eyed.

One of your uncles makes a dumb joke about it maybe being a mistake.

“It’s a blessing,” your mom says, grateful.

“No, it’s a gift from Santa.” You beam, knowing no one would believe you.

However, a new fear starts morphing in you.

What did this mean for you and Joel? Is the contract completed? Is this over? Was it only to say he had a wife on paper, parade you as proof, then… never speak to him again?

The questions pester and haunt you the entire rest of the day.

Then night creeps in.

“You wanna leave cookies out for Santa?” Your mom jokes seeing you grab a plate.

“Maybe, but I think I might leave out a beer too.” You reply and she laughs.

Once everyone heads to bed and leaves back to their hotels, you sneak into the living room.

Never in your life would you have imagined ever needing to wait up to see Santa. Much less as a full adult.

And it proves to be a true test of endurance. You doze off a few times but quickly snap your eyes open, worried you’ll miss him.

Checking the time, it’s almost midnight. Of all the nights you want to stay up, fighting asleep is harder than ever.

You don’t even realize your eyes have closed until the softest graze of fingers against your cheek wakes you.

Panicked, scrambling awake, you snap your eyes open and whisper Joel’s name.

Finally blinking into focus, there’s no sign of anyone here.

“Y’left out a beer for me?”

Until the softest smoothest thick accent floats out into the quiet of your living room. You left the tv on, and the light of it blends with the glow from the Christmas tree. It bathes Joel in something sublime.

No classic Santa hat sits on his head, but the way his hair is scruffy and flat, he must have been wearing it before.

But the sight of him in the crimson suit, the soft white fur lined edges of the coat, how bulky and strong he looks… You’re reminded of a rugged cowboy Santa.

It all ignites a wildfire, and now you’re wide awake scrambling out of the blankets to get to him.

Not thinking, almost possessed by some ghost of Christmas present, you rush forward and embrace him. His body, sturdy and solid, radiates a warmth that encompasses you.

“What are ya doing up?” He whispers low while you clutch onto him. You need to touch him with your own hands, feel he’s real. You also don’t miss the gloved hands against your hips.

“Had to see you.” You croak out.

You pull back to look at him.

Finally, you take him in. It’s Joel, the same grumpy Joel that’s changed the oil for your car, who has a soft spot for the stray cats in his neighborhood, and is an amazing father - but it all collides with the truth of who he really is.

A watery laugh comes out of you and you hate that immediately you’re blinking away tears.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” Joel immediately asks worried, letting his hands move to rest on your arms, a comforting presence.

You reassure him it’s nothing, trying to wave this reaction off.

“You gotta tell me what’s wrong or else Christmas stops and it’ll all be your fault.” His tone is somber, but you sense the tease, a classic Joel joke among his words.

Shaking your head, you wipe away more tears frustrated at your reaction. Then his hand, gloved but striking in size, cradles your face, and he gently strokes your cheek. Joel turns your face to him.

“Talk to me, honey please.”

You don’t know how to express everything that’s in your heart. It all feels too much - the conflict of realizing where you stand with him, the doubt that brews wondering if he even holds the same affection for you.

“I don’t wanna lose you.” You admit weakly.

It’s that you can muster out, all that you can do to sum up the bundle of emotions storming in your heart.

Joel’s eyebrows furrow. His mouth drops a bit. In the low light, the shadows on his face deepen like caverns aging him beautifully.

“M’not going anywhere. You won’t lose me.” He reassures, even squeezing your face soft.

Those endless eyes that normally stare so direct and with such a magnetic force, now flicker away almost boyish and shy.

“I’m the one afraid of losin’ you.” He mutters, like he’s admitting it more to himself.

His words unwrap your heart releasing so many emotions.

“Joel.” You whisper, a bit hesitant, and his gaze draws back to you.

He seems closer now, his coal-like eyes brewing something untouchable. Silence, a soft shift settles, you taking him in, and him doing the same for you.

You don’t know who moves first. But in a blink his lips descend onto yours.

His mustache tickles. His lips hold a hint of something sweet sugary, indulgent, or you wonder if that’s just Joel.

Strong gloved hands clutch onto you holding your tighter against his frame. He tilts your head, allowing him to kiss you deeper, and your mouth willingly opens begging for more of him.

It isn’t lost on you that you’re kissing Santa Claus, like a cheesy holiday song. But it’s the fact that you’re kissing Joel Miller that melts everything away.

Your fingers find his hair, running through his soft gray locks you’ve dreamed about. Joel groans, and you already want more.

With ease, he lifts you up with one arm and you squeak into his mouth. His chuckle vibrates against your lips, ticklish, until he starts to kiss your jaw, nibbling on the path of your skin.

You sigh, closing your eyes and drawing him closer when he places you back on the couch. Your legs curl against his waist, locking him in as you try molding into him, with him, as much as you can.

His lips find yours again, this time there’s a fevered edge to them. His tongue is messy, licking into your mouth desperate. You moan when he sucks on your tongue.

A blazing hunger takes over making your hips grind against him. Feeling his gloved hands slide up your legs, you whine digging into him harder.

Until he suddenly rips himself away, leaving you feeling empty missing his warmth and body against you.

“Shit…Really gotta go, honey. I can’t say.” Joel sighs. His heavy breathing, the tightness of his jaw, this is as hard for him as it is for you.

“Can’t you be a little late?” You softly question rising back up to kiss up his scruffy beard.

He groans when you softly kitten lick at his upper lip.

“Fuckin’ naughty little thing.” Joel growls.

You softly kiss his lips again.

“Guess that means I’m on the naughty list huh?” The joke slips out, and you already want to hide after hearing yourself.

Joel groans, but this time it’s ripe with embarrassment. You hide your face while he snickers.

“That was bad.”

“I know,” you agree mortified.

Even in your embarrassment, Joel presses a kiss to the crown of your head, and every worry melts away.

He stands up, pulling you gently up with him. Gathering you into his arms, this time Joel feels larger than life but also closer than ever, like he’s stitched inside your heart now.

“When will I see you again?” You hate how badly you miss him already.

“Soon, I promise.” He reassures rubbing your back softly, and you nod back.

His hand moves to hold your face again, gently, like you’re a precious treasure.

And you think he might be yours.

Joel kisses you, the softest sweetest press of his lips that melts into your bones. And when you open your eyes, he’s gone.

All that’s left are the faintest hints of snow flurries on your living room floor…

And of course he made sure to take his beer.

When Joel said he’d see you soon, you didn’t think it would be the next morning, Christmas morning.

Softly a hand brushes against your face, slowly waking you. You find yourself back in your bedroom. The soft glow of the winter morning spreads a gentle light that covers your room.

Joel is here, kneeling beside your bed, and immediately you turn towards him.

In this light, his greys look softer, thicker in their shade, like beautiful white streams run from his temples. And his beard looks as if snow flurries have been peppered in more. The red velvet of his suit looks brighter. Your fingers run across the fabric, across his shoulders.

You whisper his name, yet a sadness creeps in again.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” he nods.

“Are you okay… with us?” It’s a stumbled way to ask, but it’s all you can get out.

Is he okay that you’re much younger than him?

“Yeah, of course.” He nods.

“Actually, Ellie and Sarah were the ones who told me to go for it.” He admits fondly, sleepily.

“They said I needed to be selfish for once, let myself have this…”

His eyes watch you as you sit up to reach him.

“Is that why you were so cold when we first met?” You ask.

Joel nods, sighing.

“Felt awful knowing I was doing this to you, someone so dang young, so fuckin’ beautiful. Hated that you were stuck with a mess of ‘n old man like me.”

“I’d pick you everytime.” The words escape fast. You can’t even stop them.

Instantly he swoops in kissing you with an unchained passion that makes you dizzy.

Immediately you tug at him, begging him to crawl onto the bed. You sigh in bliss when he does, making your mattress creak ever slightly with his glorious solid frame.

His kisses are drenched in a poison intoxicating you.

Clutching onto Joel’s shoulders, you lift your hips when his gloved hands tug at your pj pants.

That’s when you hear the faint laughter of everyone downstairs awake. You freeze. Joel senses your hesitation. That gorgeous nose of his nuzzles against your jaw breathing in the scent of you.

“Y’gonna be a good girl and keep quiet for me?” His thick low voice is all you need because you’re nodding yanking at his shoulders to kiss him again.

This kiss dances along the edge of something fierce and wild, like you’re trying to contain it, hold it back before it spreads and someone hears.

Until Joel’s gloved fingers slip inside your wet heat, and you slap a hand over your mouth to hold back a moan. Feeling his black leather glove inside you has your eyes roll back. Then when you rest your head against the soft fur lining of his coat, it creates such a dizzying sensation you want to get lost in.

“Oh fuck.” He drawls, hoarse.

His fingers pump in and out of you, and the squelch of your wetness sounds downright obscene now. Joel revels in it.

“Letting this ol’ man winter fuck ya while everyone’s down stairs waiting…Y’like that baby?”

You whimper, nodding, clutching onto him harder trying so hard to keep quiet. Then he removes them from your pussy and you whimper at the loss.

Until he draws his gloved fingers, shining and coat in your arousal, up to your lips.

“Can ya clean ‘em off for me?” He mutters.

Without hesitation you pull them into your mouth and suck, letting your tongue wiggle across the leather. You moan tasting this union of you and the leather.

“Shit,” Joel croaks like he got punched in the gut.

Quickly he yanks his hand out from your mouth, rips his gloves off and kisses you feverish.

“Need to feel ya.” He sounds drunk as you feel, even more when his bare fingers thick and warm slip into you again.

He makes you come so fast it knocks you breathless, feeling hot even with the cooler temperature in the room. You whisper begging him to fuck you, to take you here before he heads home -

“Can’t darlin’, but soon I will. I promise.” He reassures you kissing your lips over and over.

“And Santa always keeps his promises, yeah?”

That shouldn’t be so hot, but it is. You greedily kiss him, trying to devour him even more.

“Jesus,” he growls, his accent thicker than ever. “Makin’ it so fuckin’ hard to leave.”

“Then don’t.” You beg.

But then the voices downstairs get louder, and the smell of food warming up floats in.

Joel sighs deflated. You know this is the end for now.

Rubbing his wonderful nose against yours, you lean to press your forehead to his. He breathes out your name, and it sounds like a blessing.

“Merry Christmas, honey.” He whispers softly to you.

A knock comes at your door, and in a panic you drag your blanket up around you.

“You awake yet?” Your mom jokingly asks.

You definitely are now. Of course Joel has vanished.

But something tickles the top of your head. Bundles of mistletoe, twisted among so many lovely ribbons, bloom all along your bed frame.

One Christmas Later

“Did I ever show you the shirt Ellie and Sarah sent me last week?” You ask, and Joel, half paying attention, hums.

He pulls his attention away from the Dallas Cowboys game long enough to glance at your phone.

The shirt reads - Mrs Claus but Married to the Grinch

He rolls his eyes, not finding it as amusing as his daughters did.

“Or what about this one.” You show him the next option.

This one, in bright gold lettering, says - Santa’s Sexy Girlfriend

“No.” He flat out pushes the phone away making you laugh and lean against his strong shoulder.

This would be the last night before he heads out on his run. This will also be the first night you get to see him leave, and the first night you’ll get to wait for him now living at his home.

The memories and days that have brought you here are strung up in your heart, luminous multi colored tinsel you never want to take down.

“It’s actually one of the first years we’re ahead of schedule,” Tommy says when you greet him back at the workshop.

“That wife of yours is really something.” Though Tommy talks directly to his brother he makes sure to wink at you.

You’re grateful you got to help out more this year, even enjoyed having Ellie and Sarah around when they came by to visit. But with Ellie now enjoying time with the girl she desperately has a crush on, and Sarah taking the day to spend time with her new boyfriend, it really would just be you and Joel.

A delicious heat crawls in you knowing what you had waiting for him.

But you almost forget about it when you start helping Joel get dressed.

Your throat dries seeing him buckle up his crimson pants, then helping him slide his thick coat on and how broad it accentuates his shoulders…

“You keep lookin’ at me like we’re gonna get behind schedule.” Joel mutters sinful.

“We’re ahead of schedule. We could…mess around for a bit.” You offer light.

“No, being ahead means I can come home earlier.” He very playfully and lightly smacks your ass.

You hate when he’s right.

With a kiss goodbye you send him off returning to the quiet home. You’ll have a day and a half before Joel officially returns. So you spend your time binging multiple movies.

You’re also thankful for the stash of extra cookies you finally found. Joel ‘I ain’t got a sweet tooth’ Miller isn’t so slick with his hiding spots.

The film your best friend recommended is cheesy. But during the scene where the main love interest comes to interrupt the engagement party to announce he loves the bride, cause you to pause.

In theory, you are Joel’s wife. Your mom even jokes that she practically has the most perfect unofficial son in law, if only if she knew the truth. Yet, you don’t have a ring, don’t even use Miller as your last name.

It’s silly, you tell yourself and try not to think about it too much.

So you instead enjoy more cozy snacks and the rare bits of snow Austin is getting this time of year. It’s magical, paints the world like something straight from a Thomas Kinkade dream.

The morning comes when Joel will be home, and you sit waiting on the bed. Don’t even mind you work up early for this.

Earlier confidence surged in you when you slipped into the gorgeous lingerie set. Now it itches on your skin as you sit worried. The bow sitting on your bra might be too much. You almost bought the cute risqué Santa nightgown, but you hesitated.

You didn’t feel like you could truly even joke about being Mrs Claus when you didn't even fully consider yourself Mrs Miller.

“Honey?” Joel announces stepping into the house, and your heart jumps into your throat.

“In here!” You yell back.

Waiting on the bed feels like an eternity passes before Joel opens the door. There’s still snow on his shoulders. His hair is starting to grow out more so it curls around his ears. He’s never looked more gorgeous.

Then his face falls and his eyes become full moons taking in the sight of you before him.

“Oh baby,” he whispers like he can’t believe his eyes.

You grin sleepy.

With eased measured steps Joel walks forward, and you’re reminded of a hunter trying to approach his prey.

He drags his fingers, ungloved, warm and callous from all the hard work he does, up your exposed skin leaving a trial of heat in their wake.

“Can I unwrap my present?” He mutters, allowing his fingers to drift with. Delicate touch across the top of your breast barely kept in by the lace covered bra.

“Yeah, Joel please.” You sigh, closing your eyes when his large hand suddenly grasps, squeezing your breast.

The poor lingerie doesn’t make it out alive.

Now you drift in and out of sleep, naked in his arms. Joel kisses your forehead promising he’ll buy you as many new sets as you want.

“Merry Christmas to both of us.” You dryly joke.

He laughs, but it sounds a bit weak, more like a cough.

“Uh, speaking of Christmas gift… y’want yours now or later when we wake up?”

That makes you bolt up fast from his arms.

“I told you not to get me anything, Miller.” You protest, glaring at him.

Joel rolls his eyes.

“You’re telling me of all people not to get you something?” He scoffs.

“Then I don’t want it.” You stubbornly pout back.

“Alrighty then, I’ll return it tomorrow.” Sleepily he shrugs and turns on his side giving you full sight of his glorious sun kissed bare back. You try not to linger on the scratch marks you left behind.

Now you persistently tell him to give it to you.

“Sounds like what you were saying a few minutes ago.” He teases with a smirk glancing over to you from his shoulder.

Now you roll your eyes.

“Give me the gift Miller, or else.” You shake his shoulder trying to sound somber like Joel himself, but a smile tugs at your lips.

Dramatically, he groans sitting up.

“Making an old man like me get up after the long ass night I had.” He says reaching over to his nightstand.

“Oh please, if I asked you to go another round you would.” You scoff.

“You wanna?” He asks with a curious mutter, and you shove his shoulder again playful.

“Fine, fine.” Joel grumbles.

After reaching under the bed, he returns back with a box…covered in dinosaur wrapping paper.

“Look, it was the only one I had left over here.” He explains seeing your confusion.

“Joel, you work at a magical workshop where there's an endless supply of cute Christmas wrapping paper. Why didn’t you grab some?!” You laugh.

“Didn’t wanna mess up the inventory.” He huffs, grumpy and classically Joel.

“You gonna open it or am I gonna have to hide it again?”

At his words you greedily rip off the paper.

You guess by the size it looked like a shoe box and it is, a familiar box you thought you threw away. Now you’re confused.

Opening it, inside is an even smaller box. This one is classically wrapped in green and red with a shining bow on top.

But when you pick it up, you discover the tiny box is heavy. There’s also a latch at the back begging for you to lift and open.

Inside sits a ring, dancing with a shimmering sparkle.

You already fight back the tears.

Is this what you think it is?

Whipping your face to Joel he seems hesitant, worried, while he keeps his focus on you.

“I know we might’ve done this backwards but…” he reaches for the ring, gingerly pulling it out.

“Wanna make it official now.”

You inhale sharp.

“Honey I’ll get down on one knee if you want, but might take me a while to get back up…” he jokes, but the edge of his voice is watery, shaky, like he’s the one barely holding on.

“But…will you marry me again-”

You don’t even let him finish before you rush to kiss him. The tears come, fast and free like a wave, but they’re beautiful. You embrace it all.

Joel slides the ring in your finger. The weight of the beautiful metal feels wonderful against your skin, but you don’t notice it. Not when you’re swept up in making love to your Joel, your fiancé.

The love bursting through your heart could swallow you whole and you would let it.

“I love you,” he admits against your skin, breathing out like he’s finally found a moment of rest.

“I love you too.” You rub his back soaking in the bliss among the sweat and heat of his body against yours.

It’s just you and your Mr Claus.

“I’m glad Santa granted my wish.” You mutter dreamy, not caring how embarrassing you sound.

That is until Joel lifts his head up, those wonderful eyes of his shine brighter than any northern star.

“Mine too, honey.” He mutters, kissing you tenderly, a sweet promise of more beautiful Christmas days to come.

#I’m thinking this will be for me & three other babes but know me and Santa Joel love you dearly ho ho ho (sorry I had to)#joel miller x reader #Santa!joel #Santa!joel miller #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x you #joel miller fic #Joel 🤎#pedrostories

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misswynters · 19 days ago

Text

Mistletoe

featuring. ekko x reader

apart of the 2024 Christmas Special

‘Tis was the holiday season, and everything around you seemed to shimmer with festive spirit. The streets of Piltover were lit up with twinkling lights that decorated the storefronts, the air crisp with the scent of pine and spices, and the sound of carolers singing filled the background. For you, it was the most magical time of the year. It was a season of warmth, togetherness, and a touch of whimsy that you couldn’t help but love.

And this year, you weren’t alone in celebrating it.

You looked over at Ekko, who was walking beside you, a bit out of place in this festive setting. His usual cocky, confident smile was nowhere to be found, replaced with a mix of curiosity and discomfort as he took in the Christmas decorations. He didn’t quite understand the whole holiday thing, not the way you did. Christmas in Zaun was far from this bright, clean, and cheerful celebration—it was more about surviving, making do, and finding your own joy in the chaos. Piltover was a different world, one that seemed so foreign to Ekko.

Still, despite his usual skepticism, Ekko had promised you that he’d spend the season with you. He’d agreed to take part in all the little traditions you held dear, even if he didn’t fully understand them.

“I don’t get it,” Ekko muttered, looking up at a giant tree in the center of the square, its branches heavy with sparkling ornaments and ribbons. “I mean, this tree is cool, but... what’s the point? Just some big, shiny thing in the middle of town.”

You giggled, nudging him with your shoulder as you both stood on the sidewalk, watching the people bustle around. “It’s not just about the tree. It’s about the tradition, the feeling. You know, the whole spirit of Christmas? People come together, share moments, decorate, give gifts... and it’s all about love and kindness.”

Ekko raised an eyebrow. “And the presents? That’s what I don’t get. People buying stuff for each other just to say they care?”

“Kind of,” you said, grinning at him. “But more than that. It’s about thinking of the other person, showing them you care in ways that don’t have to be big or expensive. It’s the thought behind it.”

He was quiet for a moment, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as he stared at the people laughing and chatting in the square. “Guess I can see that. But, uh... I still don’t get the whole Christmas thing.”

You smiled warmly, reaching out to take his hand. “I know. But that’s okay. We’ll make our own Christmas, right? Just you and me.”

His lips twitched into a small, fond smile, his fingers gently curling around yours. “Yeah, alright. As long as it makes you happy.”

You gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, feeling your heart flutter a little. Ekko wasn’t the type to go all out with grand gestures or public displays of affection. But his quiet support and willingness to make you happy meant more to you than anything.

Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the two of you were curled up on the couch in your apartment. You had just finished decorating the place with twinkling lights, a few candles, and of course, a small, modest tree you’d picked out together. Ekko had been skeptical about the tree at first but had relented after you explained the tradition behind it. He’d even helped with hanging a few of the ornaments—mostly in a half-hearted, ‘I’m here because you want me to be’ kind of way. But it didn’t matter. The atmosphere was warm and cozy, and for once, it felt like home.

“Okay, now we need to figure out what to do for dinner,” you said, leaning against him, your voice soft. The flickering lights from the tree reflected in your eyes, adding to the cozy feel of the evening.

“Pizza?” Ekko offered, glancing over at you with a small, mischievous grin.

You rolled your eyes, laughing. “Pizza? Really? We can do better than that on Christmas Eve.”

“Alright, alright, I’m just saying... pizza’s easy. And we’ve done it before,” he teased, his tone playful.

You snorted, pushing his shoulder lightly. “We’re doing something festive. Something that feels... special. You’re supposed to be making this the best Christmas ever, remember?”

Ekko pretended to think for a moment, tapping his chin. “Okay, okay... How about a nice dinner, maybe some baked chicken and mashed potatoes?”

You smiled, impressed with his effort. “I like it. But we still need dessert.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical about the whole thing. “Dessert? What kind of dessert are you thinking? Not a cake, right? I’ve never been great with baking.”

“No cake,” you said, grinning. “Maybe cookies, though. The kind with frosting on top.”

“Cookies, huh?” Ekko’s voice softened, and there was something endearing in his eyes as he considered the idea. “Alright. Cookies. I can handle that.”

The two of you spent the next hour preparing your Christmas Eve dinner together, Ekko grumbling good-naturedly while you handled the baking. You took your time, enjoying the process, the hum of quiet laughter, and the warmth of having him beside you. It wasn’t anything grand, but to you, it felt perfect.

After dinner, you both settled back on the couch with mugs of hot cocoa, the room glowing softly from the lights and candles. The snow outside began to fall gently, and you leaned your head on Ekko’s shoulder, content in the silence between you. Even though this holiday was different from what you’d grown up with, there was something so special about sharing it with him. The thought of making new traditions together filled you with warmth.

You sat up after a while, your gaze drifting toward the doorway of the living room. There, hanging innocently above the doorframe, was a sprig of mistletoe—something you’d put up earlier just for fun. It was a tradition you’d kept up in the hopes that, one day, Ekko would kiss you under it. You’d almost forgotten about it until now.

With a mischievous grin, you stood up, walking toward the doorway. “Hey, Ekko,” you called, glancing over your shoulder with a teasing smile.

He lifted his head from his mug, raising an eyebrow. “What’s up?”

“Remember that mistletoe?” you asked, pointing toward the doorway with a playful glint in your eye.

Ekko blinked in confusion for a moment before it seemed to click. He froze, his eyes locking with yours as a blush spread across his cheeks. “Wait... You didn’t mean...”

You stepped closer to him, your grin widening. “I did. Come on, Ekko. It’s tradition.”

He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck, his usual confident demeanor faltering. “I... I don’t know, I mean, what if—”

“Ekko,” you said, your voice soft, “It’s just a kiss. It’s Christmas. And... I really want it. I promise it’s not a big deal.”

He looked at you for a long moment, his gaze shifting between your eyes and the mistletoe. There was still a touch of hesitation in his posture, but then, his expression softened. He stood up slowly, closing the distance between you both. His eyes were locked on yours, his hand reaching out to gently tuck a strand of hair behind your ear.

The moment felt suspended in time, and as he leaned in, his lips brushed yours gently, as though testing the waters. But then, with a softness that only he could manage, he kissed you fully, his lips warm against yours. The world seemed to melt away for a moment, leaving just the two of you beneath the mistletoe.

When he pulled back, his eyes were full of something you hadn’t seen before—a quiet tenderness, a warmth that mirrored the Christmas lights around you.

“Happy Christmas, my firefly,” he whispered, his voice soft but sincere.

You smiled, your heart swelling with happiness. “Merry Christmas, Ekko.”

And just like that, it felt like everything had fallen into place. You didn’t need to understand every tradition. You didn’t need a perfect holiday. Because, in that moment, you had everything that mattered: love, warmth, and each other. And that was more than enough.

#✧ ┊ misswynters 2024 christmas special #arcane ekko #ekko fics #ekko imagines #ekko fluff #ekko arcane #ekko x reader #ekko lol #ekko league of legends #ekko #arcane fic #arcane drabbles #arcane imagine #arcane x gender neutral reader #arcane x reader #arcane x y/n #arcane x you #arcane writing #arcane

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holylulusworld · 1 year ago

Text

The Grinch

Summary: We get to know how you and Lloyd got together.

Pairing: Lloyd Hansen x Assistant!Reader

Warnings: Christmas mood, sweet reader, maybe clueless reader, language, a little fluff, a hint of groping

A/N: This is the prequel to my miniseries: Plant Apocalypse

“Put your Christmas sweater on,” you sing along to the music blaring from your phone. You shake your ass and giggle as the snowman you placed on your desk starts singing the moment you pass him by. “Yeah, you too!”

Lifting the box with Christmas decorations you huff. There are so many people around in this house and no one offered their help with the Christmas decoration.

You walk over to Lloyd’s office, smiling wildly as one of the newer agents wishes you happy holidays.

“Cheery and bright, guys,” you coo and wave at the men discussing the next job, or target.

You shrug when they don’t look your way. Whatever they are up to is none of your business. From the moment you started working for Lloyd, you knew it was better to shut your mouth and not ask too many questions about his business.

While you fight to open the door and balance the box in your arm the men get louder. They seem to fight over something the newbie said.

“Hey, no fighting in here.” You yell, and the men stop in their tracks. “Mr. Hansen hates it when you demolish the headquarters!”

“Sorry,” they mumble. No one would believe that five bulky and heavily armored men stopped fighting only because you yelled at them.

“That’s much better. It’s Christmas, team. We should be cheery and happy, not fight. In the kitchen are cookies and later we can have hot chocolate.”

You managed to open the door and walk inside the office, huffing as it looks cold and unwelcoming.

There are monitors on the wall and a desk in the middle of the room. The other wall is grey and undecorated. Nothing is making you sadder than a room without decoration and plants.

“I’ll turn this cold room into a nice office,” you put the box on the couch standing next to the door. “Mr. Hansen will love it.”

You clap your hands and cheer yourself up.

“What the fuck is that?” Lloyd feels like he’s going to vomit rainbows. He looks around his office, shaking his head in disbelief. “I was away for two hours, and someone infiltrated my office and turned it into Santa’s shithole.”

“Mr. Hansen, you are back!” You squeal and walk toward Lloyd. “Welcome to your new office. I decorated it for you to make it look more festive.”

“I-“ He chokes on air as there is a rocking Santa next to his beloved gun shelf. You even dared to sling a fairy light around one of the shotguns. “What did you do? You are…you are…”

He looks you up and down. You’re wearing an ugly Christmas sweater with a snowman and blinking lights.

“I know.” You wrap Lloyd in a hug. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? I got a Christmas sweater for you too, Sir. You’ll love it. It matches your eyes.”

Lloyd opens his mouth. He wants to tell you that you are fired. You violated his sanctuary, his beloved office but he can’t bring the words out. I mean, he killed people for less, but he can’t hurt you, or ruin your festive mood.

“I got you a matching one,” you smile sweetly. “I had hoped you’d wear it when we have hot chocolate and cookies.”

“Cupcake,” he sighs deeply and runs one hand down his face. Lloyd is a cold-blooded man and doesn’t give a shit about people, but he cares for you. “If I wear this thing, my men will believe I got weak and kill me.”

“Oh,” you sniffle. “I didn’t think this through. You’re a dangerous and strong man. Men like you don’t wear Christmas sweaters or kiss a girl under the mistletoe.”

“Mistletoe?” He cocks his head as you point at the mistletoe you hung up above his desk. Lloyd smirks. “So…did you already test the mistletoe?”

“I was alone at your office, Mr. Hansen,” you giggle. “It’s physically impossible for me to kiss myself.”

“Cupcake, you’d wonder about the uncanny flexibility of some people,” he gives you a dirty grin.

You wrinkle your nose. “Gross.”

“Yeah, a pretty girl on her knees is much better than suckin—” You cover his mouth to stop Lloyd from saying something gross.

“Do you like the decoration?” You look up at Lloyd with glassy eyes. “It’s pretty, isn’t it?” Sighing dreamily, you wait for Lloyd’s answer.

“Let’s see.” Lloyd walks you backward until you stand under the mistletoe. “How about we follow the tradition of kisses under the mistletoe?”

He cups your face and presses his lips to yours. Lloyd kisses you slowly, and almost sweetly. A stark contrast to his personality and profession.

“That was,” you whimper against his lips, “nice.”

“Not bad, cupcake,” he steps away to watch you stand on wobbling legs. He hums and almost doesn’t hate the decoration until his eyes land on a plant on his desk. “What is that?”

“Oh…” you smile sweetly. “I love plants, Lloyd. Don’t you love plants too?”

“I should shoot it for standing near my laptop,” he grunts and pokes the plant with his index finger.

“You’ll get used to it. How about I show you the plants at my apartment?” He watches you wring your hands. For months you tried to find the guts to ask Lloyd out and now you got him where you want him. “I’ll cook for you.”

“Hmm…” He is considering your offer. “I hope you know I love dessert the most…” Lloyd grins. He wraps his arm around your waistline and moves his hand to your ass. “Maybe we can have dessert first…”

Steve Rogers/Chris Evans/all CEvans characters Tags

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#lloyd hansen #lloyd hansen x reader #lloyd hansen x you #lloyd hansen x y/n #The Grinch #lloyd hansen x female!reader #female reader

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noirsfantasy · 1 year ago

Text

On the sixth day of Christmas...

𝔐𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔩𝔢𝔱𝔬𝔢 𝔐𝔞𝔡𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔰

𝔭𝔞𝔦𝔯𝔦𝔫𝔤 ➛ Gregory Eddie x Black!Fem Reader

𝔯𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔥 ➛ Fluff

𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔡 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔱 ➛968

𝔰𝔶𝔫𝔬𝔭𝔰𝔦𝔰 ➛ It’s Christmas time, but you felt that there was something missing. It was festive enough. You wanted to do something that would blow your boyfriend’s mind away. So you hid mistletoe in every corner you could reach, and even in some you couldn’t. This is definitely gonna spice some things up.

𝔞/𝔫 ➛ Y’all, let me tell you. Gregory Eddie? He’s so fine and I don’t know what it is about awkward men, but it’s so fun to mess with them. I feel like when I was writing this, some might think y/n is modeled after Janine. But I assure you, that is not the case. Honestly, I feel like, if he were in the real world, his girlfriend would be something like this. It really would be so cute. But yeah, just keep in mind that y/n is a bit on the shorter side. It’s up to you how short😌 Enjoy!

12 Days of Christmas Masterlist

The festive spirit fills the air as I scurry around our home, determined to turn it into a winter wonderland. I've put up lights and every decoration I could find. But my true masterpiece is the rows upon rows of mistletoe. There isn't a single spot without mistletoe somewhere near it. And, despite my short stature, I even managed to get them in the high spots. Of course, as a finishing touch, I placed the final sprig right on top of my head. Brilliant!

One might wonder, why do I need this much mistletoe? But I've got a plan in place. As I stand back to admire my handiwork, I can't help but grin with anticipation. Gregory Eddie, my lovable and slightly clueless boyfriend, is about to walk into the ultimate Christmas surprise. And I'll finally be able to get what I've been longing for. Endless kisses.

I hear the front door creak open and I can barely contain my excitement. I'm currently in the kitchen, having just put some cookies in the oven, but I wait to hear Greg's reaction.

"Um, Y/N?" He calls, setting his bag down by the door as he takes in the appearance of our apartment. "Why does it look like Christmas threw up in here?" I giggle and make my way over to the door, attacking him with a hug.

"Oh, you know, just spreading some holiday cheer! And, uh, just hoping for some mistletoe magic." I say with a mischievous smile as I point to the mistletoe on top of my head. He looks at me with confusion.

"Mistletoe magic?" I nod, deciding it's time to reveal my secret weapon, needing to step up my game to get him to realize. I pull out another hidden mistletoe from behind my back and hold it above my head.

"Ta-da! Now, according to my brilliant plan, you have to give me a kiss." I say, matter of factly. Greg stares at me for a moment, before bursting out laughing at my plan. However, he can't resist my charm either, so he leans down and gives me a sweet kiss. I smile into the kiss, doing a small victory dance when he pulls away.

"So, is this going to happen every time we walk under mistletoe?" He chuckles as I nod enthusiastically. "You and your mistletoe antics, Y/N. You're something else." He leans down for another kiss, this one deeper than before, "I love you, crazy."

"I love you, too!" I reply with a bright look in my eyes. Greg lifts me up into his arms and carries me to the couch, sitting down and pulling me into his lap.

Surrounded by the glow of Christmas lights, Greg eyes the strategically placed mistletoe with a bemused smile. "So, how many of these did you put up?" He asks me. I shrug my shoulders, counting on my fingers and pretending to ponder.

"Well, let's see... I lost count after twenty. But I just figured that more mistletoe equals more kisses."

"You know you don't need to set traps like this to get me to kiss you right?" He tells me, his thumbs drawing circles on my hips.

"I knowww, but at least, this way, it's more festive!" I give him a cute smile as I explain my reasoning. Greg can't help but grin at my adorable face. He pulls me close, pecking my lips.

"Maybe next time, instead of hanging mistletoe, you could wrap yourself in tinsel and wait in a present box for me." He suggests jokingly. I smirk and raise an eyebrow.

"Don't tempt me now." Greg chuckles, kissing me on the cheek.

"You're such a mischievous little monster, you know that? Even when I think I have you all figured out, you always come up with some new devious plan to make me fall in love with you even more."

"What can I say? I am a woman of many talents." I say with a casual shrug. Greg grins back at me.

“That you are… That you are. Do you think you’ll still be pranking me when we’re old and gray?” He raises an eyebrow and sighs, “Who am I kidding… Of course you will be.” I laugh loudly at that.

"I mean, come on, it's obvious this is only the beginning." I give him a playful nudge as I lean forward and wrap my arms around his neck. Greg laughs along with me, pulling me closer.

"And I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you, Y/N, with your pranks and your silliness and your mistletoe and everything about you." I kiss him longingly, enjoying the soft feeling of his lips against mine, even if I've felt it a million times.

"I love you too, Greg... even when you're a little slow to figure out my pranks." I tease causing Greg to laugh again. I pull him in for an exaggerated kiss. It's playful at first, but then it transforms into a deep passionate kiss that causes me to blush. Just when things are getting good, I hear the ding of the oven, signaling that my baking is finished. We break the kiss and I sigh heavily, sliding off of Greg's lap and standing up.

"I need to go get those before they burn," I announce and he stands up, a cheeky grin on his face.

"It's okay, babe, you go get those, I'm gonna go to the bathroom real quick. Then we can get back to the program." He wiggles his eyebrows and I laugh as I nod, heading into the kitchen. As I remove the cookies from the oven and turn it off, I hear Greg from the bathroom.

"REALLY, Y/N?? IN THE DAMN TOILET?!" He shouts, causing me to burst out into laughter. I forgot I left that there.

#fluff #tyler james williams #gregory eddie #abbott elementary #gregory eddie x reader #12 days of christmas #christmas #black reader #black!fem!reader #black!reader #black!y/n #noirsfantasy #black men #black tumblr #black actors #black romance

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writingtraumaforever · 9 days ago

Text

A Courtship Christmas: Chapter 2

Notes: I just reeeeally enjoy writing these two in this universe. And I can't say that enough.

Summary: The gang engages in some Christmas festivities, and then Shadow and Sonic try to convince the Wachowskis to allow them to take a trip together..

Courtship Masterpost!

Link to my AO3!

Start:

After sitting outside and allowing Shadow the time to gather himself some more and come down from his emotional distress, Sonic is eventually able to lead his boyfriend– Shadow’s words, not his– inside to the others. The reception to his arrival is positive as always, everyone having grown quite fond of Shadow. Even Knuckles, who still sees it as his duty to protect Sonic from Shadow, even if just emotionally, has learned to accept the hybrid as an addition to their clan. Even if not an official Wachowski. In fact, Knuckles and Shadow often tinker with their bikes together, and they’ll even go for rides now and then. Sonic will join here and there, racing alongside them on foot. As much as he likes having an excuse to hold onto Shadow from behind when he rides his bike with him, nothing can ever beat the feeling of the wind under his feet.

All this to say, Shadow, despite his relatively standoffish demeanor, is quite a light in their group of misfits these days. Most consider him the calm and observant one who brings reason to the group– which they desperately need since Sonic just acts far too quickly to actually think anything through, Tails gets too caught up in his inventions and is still just a kid, Knuckles doesn’t think in general, Amy often lets her heart override her brain which isn’t always the best balance, and Rouge–.. Well, Rouge is kind of a wild card, honestly. Shadow brings balance and stability. He’s confident, but not too confident. He carries an air of responsibility and loyalty with him that makes everyone breathe a little easier.

This is a stark contrast to when they first met him and all he did was terrify everyone.

Cream, in particular, is very excited to see Shadow. She jumps up and rushes right over to him, weaving her way through legs until she reaches him and immediately engulfs his waist with a big hug. Shadow chuckles at this, patting her head a bit awkwardly since physical affection is still something he’s working on with people outside of Sonic.

“Mr. Shadow!” she cheers, beaming up at him with wide, sparkling eyes, “You’re here!”

“I am,” he nods with a small and sheepish smile, not use to children finding him so approachable. Which is a shame since Sonic has noticed that Shadow is great with kids and seems to like them more than most adults.

He kind of assumes this comes from the fact he was raised alongside Maria, often being her caretaker and comfort..

“I apologize for being late. I see you and your mother have integrated nicely with everyone else and the Christmas festivities,” he adds as Cream lets go to take a step back and look at him properly.

“Everyone has just been so lovely,” Cream swoons with her preciously high voice, her eyes so earnest and grateful, “I really like Christmas. And I think I might like earth some more now.” “Good,” Shadow hums, nodding at her warmly, “I’m very glad to hear it.”

Cream grins at this, “Would you like to sit by me while you make your sweater?? I have a lot of good ideas you could use.” “That would be delightful,” Shadow accepts the invitation by taking her small hand and allowing himself to be led to the table where most are finishing up their sweaters by now.

Sonic smiles and follows along, his heart swooning at how adorable the whole thing is.

Once seated, Sonic sits on the opposite side of Shadow as Cream, Rouge scooting a bit closer from her own seat and muttering to him with a quirked brow, “Everything okay?” “Yeah,” Sonic nods with a reassuring smile, “We’re all good.” “Good,” she smiles in return, “Knew he just needed a talk with you, and he’d be peachy.” Sonic chuckles at this, looking back over to see Cream already handing Shadow some black pipe cleaners she has fashioned to look like tires and handlebars. Apparently they’ll be making a festive replica of hit motorcycle for the front of his sweater, which Sonic finds very fitting.

He gets to work on his own that he never got to finish, having Amy help him to embroider some brown yarn on top of his chilidog to make it look like the chili. He and Shadow get into a very brief glitter fight after Sonic accidentally knocks some onto Shadow’s lap by hitting the container with his elbow. Maddie swiftly puts a stop to this, though, since glitter is pretty impossible to clean up. “Sorry, Mom.” “Sorry, Mrs. Wachowski.” They’re both covered in green flakes of glitter, though, shaking off what they could in the backyard before coming back inside with Maddie giving a defeated sigh at the trail they leave behind them.

They finally are able to get started on the tree eventually, Shadow being thrown off that they pull it out of a box rather than out of the woods.

“Didn’t you and Maria have an artificial tree back on the ARK??” Sonic asks with a tilt of his head.

“Yes, but Maria always said they had real trees for Christmas here on earth that they’d chop down and drag back to decorate,” his brows furrow, seeming confused.

“Oh,” Sonic’s ears droop slightly, hoping this doesn’t disappoint the hybrid too much, “Well, some people still do that. But most just buy reusable ones these days. Less trees chopped down, and honestly?? Real ones have been discovered to kinda be a health and safety hazard most days.” “Really??” Shadow blinks in surprise at Sonic.

“I dunno,” Sonic shrugs, “I think I read a Buzzfeed article on it once. Either way! It’s still super fun putting together and decorating the fake tree! Promise.” Shadow hums a moment, looking back to Tom and Randall who are working together to put the fourth and final section of the tree on top to complete the nine foot-er. He seems to consider all this new information a moment before he offers a small smile and looks back to Sonic, “It’s just a tree.” “Right,” Sonic smiles in return, happy Shadow is deciding not to let this minor inconvenience ruin his perspective of the holiday, “What goes on the tree is what matters most anyway. Like all my pinecones I’ve found!” Sonic dashes over to grab the basket full of pinecones sitting to the side and brings them back over to Shadow to show him, “Back with Longclaw? We didn’t have Christmas. But we did do something similar at the beginning of every year by decorating our homes with candles and pinecones and all kinds of other stuff to celebrate life. The owls called it ‘Beginnings’. Maddie and Tom let me kinda merge some of those traditions with Christmas to make me feel more at home.” Shadow listens to Sonic with fond eyes. It’s not often Sonic brings up Longclaw, but he treasures when the hedgehog opens up and talks about it. He knows it’s his equivalent to Maria in a lot of ways.. Losing a loved one so young. He’s proud of Sonic every time he finds the courage and strength to talk about it, big ways or small.

His crimson eyes look down at the basket to examine the pinecones Sonic has gathered. Some look as though they’ve been dipped in paint, some have red and green glitter glued to the ends, and some are just plain pinecones.

“..They’re beautiful,” Shadow says with nothing but pure honesty, and Sonic’s eyes light up with something akin to pride as well as warmth. “Can I help you put them on the tree?”

“I’d love that,” Sonic replies softly, his smile soft and sweet as he watches Shadow pick one of the plain pinecones and look at the tree as if to find the perfect spot for it.

After about five solid minutes of pondering, Sonic realizes that decorating with Shadow is gonna be a task. The guy is a bit of a perfectionist. But once he places the pinecone on a spot in the center and properly fluffs out the branches around it, the others begin placing their own ornaments, too. And this obviously throws off whatever plans Shadow may have had on pine cone placement. So he very quickly learns that this isn’t an organization game, it’s more of a festive scramble. More about the nostalgia and joy each special ornament brings.

Sonic takes notice in Shadow’s hesitance and how he begins to get a bit overwhelmed by the others’ careless placement of ornaments, so he steps over to him and takes his hand.

“Don’t overthink it, dude,” he places another pinecone in Shadow’s hand, this one messy with glitter and fake snow, “Just put it where you think it fits best. It’ll all come together in the end.” Shadow looks at the pinecone in his hand. Then he looks at Sonic. The tree. Everyone around him smiling and laughing and enjoying one another’s company.

“Yeah,” he smiles a bit, looking back to Sonic, “It will.”

Sonic smiles back, feeling like Shadow is having one of those profound personal revelations Sonic often misses out on but is grateful for regardless. They get back to placing the pinecones together, Sonic playfully poking Shadow with the pinecones’ spines now and then and Shadow retaliating by sticking them in Sonic’s quills messily.

Knuckles had wanted to place grapes in the tree, of course, but Maddie said they’d rot and stink eventually. So they compromised with fake ones bought at the dollar tree, Knuckles putting them here and there all over the tree proudly along with some colorful feathers he tied together. He said they reminded him of his tribe’s armor they use to wear to battle.

Tails didn’t quite understand the concept of ornaments initially and started tying string to wrenches and hammers and all sorts of tools. Tom had to break it to him that they were a bit too heavy to have in the tree, but made it up to him by taking him to a local Christmas Market and letting him pick out all the ornaments he saw and liked. He came back with all kinds: ones shaped like tools, ones shaped like candy, and he even found a fox and hedgehog one! No echidna one, though. To compensate for this, he crafted his own and painted it to look like Knuckles with Maddie’s help. Knuckles cried when he saw it next to the hedgehog and fox one on the tree last year.

‘I am not crying! I just got some fake snow in my gorgeously purple eyes!’

All these ornaments and more went up. Shadow even went and got the ones out of his bike’s bag that he had made at the GUN event with the children. Sonic helped him place those as well, finding perfect spots for them in the front of the tree. One was a bit too high up for him, though, and when Shadow noticed him looking up in thought on how to reach it, he took it upon himself to grab Sonic by the backs of his thighs and crouch down.

Sonic was immediately blushing with wide eyes at him, “What’re you–”Shadow moved his head between Sonic’s thighs and stood up using his legs, careful not to let his spines poke his boyfriend as he hoists him up onto his shoulders with only a small grunt. Like it was nothing. Like Sonic was nothing.

That definitely made Sonic feel things.

“This high enough?” Shadow questions innocently, tilting his head back to look up at the hero now sitting on his shoulders. Sonic, who is now a blushing idiot, just nods stupidly down at him and babbles out something like “Uhhh-yeah uh huh this is good mhm”.

Shadow just smirks a bit at this and watches as Sonic reaches to place the ornament closer to the top.

Rouge watches them from the corner of the room, leaning against the wall with a small smile on her face. They’re really good together..

Her thoughts are interrupted by the sound of Knuckles clearing his throat next to her, blinking as she turns her head to find him standing there with a few feathers in his hand. He’s not looking at her, instead looking away with a very light shade of pink dusting his cheeks.

She quirks a brow at him, her lips pursing in amusement, “May I help you?”

“It is tradition among the echidnas to deem a woman with the remaining feathers of their armor once done decorating,” he explains with his typical confident voice– except there’s a hidden nervousness in the way he keeps his eyes averted from hers, “I would typically deem my mother with such an honor, but she suggested I find another this year to bestow the feathers on.”

“Oh, did she now?” Rouge smirks a bit, her eyes searching out the room for Maddie to which she finds grinning mischievously into her cup of hot cocoa across the room watching.

It’s no secret that Maddie loves Rouge. Despite her stunts she pulls to make Knuckles uncomfortable at times, she thinks Rouge is good for him. Keeps him in line and is strong enough to stand her ground with him. Knuckles is.. Special. Different. A lot. And Maddie thoroughly believes that he’s met his match with the bat.

She keeps him humble and respectful, that’s for sure.

Rouge’s eyes return to Knuckles then, his still averted away.

“And you chose me?” she chimes, her head tilting with a little smirk, “That’s real sweet of you, Knucklehead.” “You are the next strongest woman of the clan,” he explains and Rouge doesn’t miss how he considers her a part of his ‘clan’. “It is simply the way it should be.”

“What about Amy?? She’s pretty strong with that hammer of hers,” Rouge points out, nodding her head to the pink hedgehog who is off in the corner holding cream up to help her put a chao shaped ornament she made on the tree.

“Indeed,” Knuckles nods in agreement, looking to the pink hedgehog as well, “She is very formidable. And scary,” he shivers at the thought, having been victim to her hammer one too many times before. “..But perhaps sometimes strength isn’t in one’s muscle, but in one’s heart.”

Rouge blinks at this, turning to Knuckles with wide eyes to find him looking at her now. Now she was blushing. Her lips purse into a smile, finding herself touched by his words and unexpected profoundness.

“Where’d you hear that?”

“It’s a long story,” he says simply, not sharing any more. He didn’t exactly have the time to send her on a whole quest where she’d receive his story told in musical-number format like Wade Whipple had.

“Well..,” she sighs after a brief pause, “Feather me, echidna.”

Knuckles smiles slightly at this, nodding his head to her head and speaking, “May I?” She nods, staying perfectly still for him as he steps forward to lift the remaining feathers and string to the short fur behind her ear and tie them there. This takes a minute since he’s doing this with giant mittens on. Eventually he finishes and they dangle beside her neck, lightly grazing her wings when she moves her head. They’re a deep aquamarine color, much like many of the ones in his tribe used to be..

“They match your eyes,” he mutters without giving it a thought, to which Rouge looks at him in surprise at the unexpected observation. He blinks wide back at her upon realizing his words, his blushing returning even stronger than before as her lips curl into a wicked little grin.

“Didn’t think you’d notice my eye color,” she chimes teasingly, leaning towards him all flirty.

“Well, I-I am a very observant echidna,” Knuckles justifies with a huff, furrowing his brows at her, “There isn’t much that gets by me.” “Mhm. Sure, Red,” she smirks with a wink, watching as he stumbles back a bit from her close proximity and nearly falls over trying to quickly leave her vicinity.

“Okay well that’s done, goodbye–”

She giggles a bit to herself as he disappears into the kitchen.

Eventually, the tree is done and everyone stands around admiring it in all its glory. Cream and Tails have that innocent childlike wonder in their eyes, Amy sighs happily at its beauty, Knuckles admires it a moment and then lets his gaze fall on Rouge who is smiling to herself as she fiddles with the feathers in her hair, eyes on the tree. Rachel and Randall and JoJo stand together as a family, JoJo holding Amy’s hand to which Amy tears up at. Vanilla stands with Cream, happy to have her daughter friends in this new world. Maddie and Tom stand holding one another, her head leaned on his shoulder as they overlook their family.. Their perfectly imperfect family.

And Shadow and Sonic are sitting by the window looking at it too. And when Sonic looks at Shadow, he can see all the joy and peace in his eyes. Let him have it. He deserves every moment of it.

They have a long next few weeks ahead of them..

When Shadow turns to look at Sonic, he sees the tears in his crimson orbs. Sonic is quick to shuffle closer and cuddle up to him without a word, Shadow resting his head on Sonic’s with a sigh. It’s bittersweet. He knows.

His first Christmas tree without Maria.

But Sonic will be there for him through it. And that makes it all better..

__________

“Okay,” Sonic stands in his living room with the tv behind him, hooked up to a laptop to which Shadow is standing beside prepared to help in their presentation. The time has come to tell Maddie and Tom of their plans to visit the Robotniks together, and they have to nail this if they want to convince them to let Sonic go with him alone. So what did Sonic do??

He made a PowerPoint, of course.

Complete with super cool star transitions and spinning texts and necessary gifs.

“So to start this presentation, we have an announcement,” Sonic says very seriously to which Tom’s eyes widen a bit and his hand moves to Maddie’s in concern. “Oh God–.. You two aren’t.. with child are you??”

This results in a resounding “WHAT?” from both Maddie and Sonic and a very appalled and judgy look from Shadow.

“They’re two boys, Tom!” Maddie huffs with wide and disbelieving eyes at her idiotic husband. “They’re aliens!” Tom defends with his hands raising up in surrender, “We haven’t exactly had the talk with Sonic, how am I supposed to know how their reproductive systems work–” “Ew ew ew– Okay! You’ve lost talking privileges, father,” Sonic gags, blushing at the very idea of him and Shadow having sex– let alone having a child!

“Yeah, for real,” Maddie huffs in disgust at him.

“Very distasteful, Donut Lord,” Shadow shakes his head disapprovingly at him from beside the laptop.

Tom just groans and rolls his eyes, “Okay! Okay. My bad,” he then gestures for Sonic to hurry this up, “Just get on with it.”

Sonic clears his throat, “As I was saying before I was so grossly interrupted.”

They all spare a moment to share one last glare at Tom to which Tom just sighs and shrinks in his spot on the couch.

“We have an announcement,” he nods his head to Shadow who clicks a button on the laptop to have the next slide of the PowerPoint appear.

It’s some random public domain picture of a large family hugging each other with a very poorly drawn Shadow the Hedgehog smiling in the middle of them and a big heart over it.

“Shadow has been invited to the Robotnik Annual Holiday Party!” Sonic grins and spreads his arms out excitedly, Shadow pulling out a small confetti popper and popping it in Sonic’s direction. It falls flat on the floor a few feet away from him, but the effort was there.

“Wait-” Maddie frowns now, her brows knitting up as she looks at Shadow, “What??” “That’s right! Turns out Maria has a sister, and she’s invited Shadow to a Holiday Party to meet him and the whole family!”

Maddie seems extremely concerned, and Tom looks a bit skeptical now, too.

“When did this happen–” “No questions until after the presentation please,” Sonic interrupts to which Maddie sighs and sits back in her seat for him to continue.

Shadow clicks to the next slide. “Shadow is very excited about this whole thing, and really wants to make a good first impression!”

There’s another poorly drawn picture of Shadow wearing a suit and bowtie along, he’s giving a thumbs up and dashing smile.

“But as I’m sure you can understand, he’s also very nervous and scared.”

Shadow clicks again and the art of him smiling turns into a frown and a thumbs down, tears going down his cartoon face.

Shadow, this entire time, looks completely unbothered by this whole thing and is simply going along with his boyfriend’s crazy antics– as always.

“Poor Shadow. Whatever could we do to make him feel better?? Well.. I’ll tell you what..”

Shadow clicks again and the screen star transitions into an explosion with sound effects and all, the large text reading ‘Operation Shadow Impresses The Robotniks And Sonic Is His Boyfriend’ spins onto the screen.

“Operation Shadow Impresses The Robotniks And Sonic Is His Boyfriend is a-go!” Sonic beams, a gif of an audience applauding at the bottom of the screen, “Or OSITRASIHB for short.”

Shadow nods approvingly from his spot by the laptop.

Maddie and Tom just stare at the screen with increasing confusion.

“...Okay, I get the Shadow Impresses The Robotniks part,” Tom points out, “But why the Sonic Is His Boyfriend??” “Oh- because I just really like saying it,” Sonic nods a-matter-of-factly.

Tom nods in return, “Right. Of course.” “Mhm. Anyway! The operation goes like this: we take Shadow suit shopping and get him the perfectly tailored suit for the occasion!” The next slide pops up, a cartoon Shadow standing in front of a mirror in a suit checking himself out.

“Then we get Rouge’s help on getting our hands on the Robotnik’s records so we can buy the perfect present for all the Robotniks!”

A cartoon Shadow is now throwing presents into the air merrily, the presents raining down on the screen.

“And then we get Sonic a suit too because he needs to impress the Robotniks as well since this is my big boyfriend debut, after all–”

“Wait,” Maddie chimes in, leaning forward again now, “You can’t be going–” “I said please save questions until the end of the presentation Mrs. Wachowski, thank you,” Sonic interrupts with a wave of his finger at her. She groans and sits back again, obliging her sassy and over-the-top son for now.

“Once all this is done, we use a warp ring to get to our destination since GUN doesn’t like Shadow using Chaos Control unless on duty– portals opening and bringing more Mobians and all that jazz,” Sonic explains, brushing it off as no big deal to which Shadow just nods supportively at the side.

“We stay for a few days since the party is being held at a mansion, and Shadow is being offered his own room–” “Sonic–” “Mrs. Wachowski, please with the interruptions!” Sonic puts his hands on his hips and taps his toe impatiently at her to which she just rolls her eyes and shakes her head.

He continues, the next slide popping up to show a cartoon Sonic and Shadow now standing amongst the hugging strangers and smiling from ear to ear, “Between my charisma and charm and Shadow’s rugged good looks, we inevitably impress the Robotniks.” “Of course,” Tom nods approvingly, Shadow nodding at him in agreement.

“And they become a big happy family and accept Shadow as one of their own!”

The next slide is another explosion that transitions to a picture of Sonic and Shadow kissing under the mistletoe.

“And then we kiss.” “What?” Shadow blinks.

“What??” Sonic blinks back, dashing over to skip that image and have large text appear over it reading ‘THE END’.

Shadow just smirks and shakes his head at him as Sonic sheepishly smiles and dashes back to his presentation spot in front of the screen.

“I said ‘the end’,” he fibs, “Tadaaaaaa!”

Another confetti popper litters the floor thanks to Shadow who also blows on a party horn for added effect.

Maddie and Tom stare at their son a long moment, processing everything he just threw at them. They then exchange looks at each other. Then at Shadow who is now on the floor very meticulously plucking each piece of confetti from their carpet to clean the mess.

Then they look to Sonic again who is still standing there with his arms outstretched and a big grin on his face.

“...Well?”

“Well..,” Maddie starts, already knowing Sonic is about to be dramatically disappointed, “We don’t really think it’s such a good–” “Yeah, sure, kiddo!” Tom interrupts, beaming at his son with a supportive clap of his hands, “Whatever you need!” “Tom!” Maddie hisses, grabbing his hand to stop his clapping, “Don’t you think we should talk about this??” “He had a solid presentation,” Tom defends with a shrug, Sonic nodding hopefully as he looks at his mother with pleading eyes, “And I think Sonic going along with Shadow to meet Maria’s family is a good idea.” “I don’t think that’s exactly the point,” Maddie argues with a disapproving frown. “Then what’s the point??” Sonic asks genuinely, brows knitting as a frown develops on his muzzle, “Seriously– what’s the problem??” Maddie huffs a little at Sonic’s slight attitude, “The problem is… first off, I don’t know how I feel about you and Shadow going off on a trip all by yourselves. You’re still so young!”

“I’m gonna be eighteen in a few months!” Sonic defends.

“You’re still seventeen now– and that’s just a number. Eighteen isn’t some magic number that just suddenly makes you an adult that’s capable of making adult decisions.” “But it is the age that makes me an adult legally,” Sonic counters with a finger held up matter-of-factly, “And I’m totally capable of making adult decisions! I save the world like– all the time. And Shadow and I hang out alone constantly. What’s the difference in taking a trip??” “It’s different, Sonic,” Maddie says a bit more sternly, “I don’t like the idea of you two sharing a room. You’re both still biologically–” she has to add that in so Sonic doesn’t point out that Shadow is like. Sixty, “--teenagers. And that comes with the hormones and the emotions and canoodling–” “If I may say something Mrs. Wachowski,” Shadow finally speaks, his voice quiet and respectful.

“Yes, Shadow?” Maddie sighs, looking at her son’s boyfriend who is still picking up confetti pieces from her carpet with a tilt of her head.

“Sonic and I wouldn’t have to stay in the same room. From what I’ve gathered of the location of the event, there’s plenty of rooms for him to have his own and I mine. There would be no..,” he clears his throat, “canoodling.”

Maddie sighs a bit at this, feeling a bit better about it all with that bit of information..

But it would still be the first time Sonic has taken a trip by himself overnight like this.. Without Tom, without her..

That’s her baby..

“That.. does make me feel a bit better,” she admits, Shadow nodding and returning back to picking up the confetti mess.

“But that doesn’t change my other problem,” she adds.

“What problem??” Sonic frowns.

“I understand that this is Maria’s family,” she says carefully, not looking to offend Shadow, “...But it’s also Eggman’s. Gerald’s.” Shadow pauses in his motion, freezing up a moment before he eventually continues picking up the confetti..

Tom’s hand reaches for Maddie’s as if to stop her from saying something she’ll regret.

“Yeah, but they’re estranged from them,” Sonic defends, “They have nothing to do with them. They haven’t since Gerald took his granddaughter up to space.”

“I understand that,” she says calmly, trying to choose her words carefully, “But it’s just a little odd that they’ve waited all this time to reach out–” “They didn’t know! They thought Shadow was the reason Maria was gone! They didn’t know the whole story!” “I still don’t know how comfortable I am sending you somewhere with those people,” Maddie argues, her own voice becoming a bit louder now since Sonic’s is. “Why not?? They’re not like them! We can’t just judge them because they have a few loons in their family!” “Sonic, I just don’t see what good can come from a Robotnik!” Shadow disappears. There’s a flash of light, and he’s gone.

Maddie’s eyes widen at the empty spot he was just in, a pile of confetti left sitting on the end table by the couch.

She instantly feels terrible.

Sonic’s own eyes are wide, staring where Shadow had been before he turns his head to look at his mother with a glaring gaze, “Why’d you say that!?”

“Sonic, I didn’t mean–” “You did! You did mean it!” Sonic interrupts, now yelling and stomping his foot.

Maddie points a finger at him, “Hey! Don’t yell at me like that, young man!” “Shadow came from a Robotnik!” Sonic yells regardless, defending his boyfriend with a scrunch of his nose and a curl of his teeth, “And–And regardless of what Gerald has done, I won’t ever consider that a bad thing! I won’t ever think Shadow being created was bad!” “Sonic, I don’t think that either–!” “He already has problems thinking that himself! And then you go and say that!? What the heck, mom!?” “I didn’t mean it like that–” “But you still said it,” Sonic growls low, fists clenched at his sides, “He’s never gonna forget you saying that..” Maddie frowns, knitting her brows up and pursing her lips. She doesn’t know what to say..

Sonic stomps towards the door.

“Where are you going??? We’re not done with this conversation–” “I’m going to find Shadow! And you’re gonna say you’re sorry!” “Sonic!--”

The door slams.

Sonic is gone.

Maddie sighs heavy and drops her head into her palms, rubbing them up and down her face in frustration with her son– but mostly herself..

Tom sits silently with wide eyes and biting his lips together, blinking at how quickly that all just escalated..

Maddie drops her hands into her lap and looks at him with a deadpan expression, “...Well you were a lot of help.” Tom smiles small and apologetically, moving to put his arms around his wife and rub up and down her back as she leans into him, “Sorry.. I just thought you were handling it.” “We’re supposed to be a team,” she mutters with a sniffle, finding herself beginning to cry from being overwhelmed and feeling like shit currently, “Why’d you just tell him he could go without consulting me first??” “I didn’t see a problem with it,” Tom admits quietly, Maddie huffing at this and lifting her head to look at him. “You? You know how many times you personally have almost been killed by a Robotnik??? Several.” “I’ve almost been killed by an Eggman,” Tom points out with a small smirk, “Not the same.” “It is.” “It isn’t,” Tom argues and shakes her a little to which Maddie just groans, knowing he’s right.

Tom sighs a bit and hugs her back against him a bit tighter, “...I know he’s your son–” “He’s my baby,” Maddie whines and Tom kisses the top of her head with a small smile.

“I know.. But he’s not a baby anymore.. He’s been through enough to know how to handle things for himself. And he also knows Shadow needs him right now..”

Maddie just sighs, “What if I need him still??” “Oh, you’re such a boy mom,” Tom teases with a chuckle to which Maddie huffs.

“I am not!” “You totally are.” “Maybe I am, is that so bad??” “No,” Tom shakes his head, “No, it’s not.. Just means you love them more than most mothers ever could.. They’re lucky they have you.” Maddie sighs, sniffling as she wipes at another tear, “Then why do I feel so awful??” “Because you’re looking at this the wrong way..,” Tom points out as he softly rubs through her hair, “You keep.. Looking at this as losing Sonic. Him growing up and leaving us and you can’t protect him anymore.. But you should be looking at this as gaining a son.. We get Shadow..”

Maddie lifts her head to look at Tom then, her lip quivering at that thought, “We get Shadow..?” “We get Shadow..,” Tom affirms with a nod, “And Shadow won’t let anything happen to Sonic. And he certainly won’t let anyone take him from you. He loves you. You know that..” Maddie nods at that, her forehead pressing to Tom’s, “I need to talk to him..” “Yes, you do,” Tom agrees.

“And apologize.” “Mhm.” “I said a really shitty thing.” “You did, but in your defense, Sonic was pushing your limit.” “He was.” “He’s good at that.” “He is.” “He gets that from you.”

Maddie whacks Tom with a pillow at that, Tom chuckling and trying to block her hits with his arms as she scolds him.

“She didn’t mean that..”

“I know..”

“She was just upset and didn’t mean it to come out that way.” “I know that.” “She’d never purposely hurt you.” “I know, Sonic, it’s just–” Shadow sighs and tries to gather his thoughts, not become overwhelmed and unable to communicate how he’s feeling. Communication is key in a relationship. Mrs. Wachowski taught him that.

Sonic sits patiently beside him, his legs swinging off the edge of the rooftop they sit on. The roof of the bowling alley. The spot they had their first kiss.

Shadow sits next to him with his legs crossed, eyes staring down at the ground below.

“It’s just that-.. If she can come to that conclusion so quickly.. What’s to stop Maria’s family from doing the same??”

Sonic’s brows furrow a bit, not quite understanding, “What do ya’mean??” “I just mean–,” he sighs in frustration with himself, often getting annoyed easily with how hard talking could be for him sometimes. How hard feelings could be. Sonic’s hand rests on his. That helps some.

“..If your mother.. Who knows me, knows the whole story.. Can think something like that–” “She doesn’t really think that–” “She thought it enough to speak it.” Sonic frowns at this, not arguing his point..

“...If she can think something like that, then what’s gonna stop the Robotniks from thinking the same?? From believing that nothing good could possibly come from Gerald??” “Nothing is gonna stop them from thinking that,” Sonic says softly, his hand squeezing Shadow’s, “..But you can change their minds.” “How?? I’m not– I’m not good at first impressions, I’m not good at-.. At socializing or communicating or any of it.. I’m only good at fighting. At being a weapon.” “That’s not true,” Sonic says sternly, reaching up to make Shadow look at him by turning his cheek towards him, “Look at what you did for Cream. Huh?? For her and her mom. You brought them together and made them feel safe and welcome enough in a whole new world to attend some strangers’ Christmas party. You managed to become friends with arguably the world’s most ornery bat. You won my whole family over– my brother who hates anyone who dares to intrude on his ‘clan’ adores you. I adore you..” Shadow’s brows knit as he looks at Sonic, his eyes looking puffy with tears that threaten to fall but Sonic knows they won’t. Shadow doesn’t like to cry..

“But I didn’t kill your sister..,” Shadow whispers quietly, Sonic sighing immediately and shaking his head as he presses his forehead firmly to Shadow’s.

“Stop saying that,” Sonic whines, his ears folded back as his noses rubs against his boyfriend’s, “You didn’t kill Maria.” “They won’t see it that way.” “You don’t know that, Shadow. You gotta at least give them a chance. They’re willing to give you one, or they wouldn’t have reached out, right??.. You gotta meet them halfway, Shads..”

Shadow sighs at this, closing his eyes and tilting his head to instead nuzzle his face against Sonic’s neck. Bury and hide himself there seeking comfort. Sonic sighs at this and moves a hand up to rub through Shadow’s quills, petting him there to try and work some of the tension out of him.

“..Come back home with me. We’ll talk this over with Mom, and get started preparing for this trip.” “What if your mom says no??” “Love her, but screw that noise. I’ll go anyway.” Shadow snorts at this, knowing damn well if he dared to help Sonic sneak away on a trip with him without her consent, it would be his funeral they’d be planning next.

“I don’t want your mother not liking me.” “She loves you,” Sonic rolls his eyes, “You’re like a son to her. Moms just happen to get pissy at their sons sometimes. Trust me. I know.” Shadow snickers at this, lifting his head now to look at Sonic properly again.

“...Thank you.” “What for?” “Always finding me..” Sonic has. From the very beginning. From jumping out of that GUN helicopter, to Prison Island, to chasing Shadow down in his own backyard that night to now.. Sonic has never once given up on Shadow.

He’s always found him.

“And for always knowing what to say..,” Shadow says quietly, lifting a hand to Sonic’s cheek. Sonic smiles all soft and leans into his palm. “What can I say?? It’s a gift.”

Shadow rolls his eyes and chuckles at that, shaking his head at him and taking a moment just to stare into the hedgehog’s eyes..

He’s such a mystery, Sonic the Hedgehog. A pure wonder of this world and many others..

A hero. A friend. A brother. A son. A god.. And somehow, Shadow has found himself lucky enough to have been a part of all of that.. To have caught the fastest thing alive.

“...So what was that in the presentation about kissing??” Shadow smirks, quirking a brow at Sonic.

Sonic immediately blushes and laughs all awkward, dipping his head down all shy, “Oh that?? Just a little something I threw in– ya’know? Happy endings and all–” He’s cut off when Shadow grabs his chin and lifts his head back up, a tiny gasp escaping Sonic as they stare at each other. Sonic’s eyes wide and Shadow’s half-lidded and looking at Sonic’s lips. Sonic swallows, his tail wagging again at their very close mouths..

“...Well, I’d hate to spoil your happy ending,” Shadow mutters, Sonic blinking as the hybrid lets his chin go to pat his cheek with a low chuckle. Standing from the ledge, Shadow offers a hand to Sonic to help him stand as well. Sonic just stares up at him with an absolutely bamboozled expression before a pout forms on his lips, taking his hand and standing up with his help. Dusting himself off, Sonic mutters, “The Ultimate Tease, I tell ya.”

Shadow’s head tilts back with a laugh and Sonic’s stomach does flips.

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girl-next-door-writes · 4 days ago

Text

A Demon's Devotion

Characters: Crowley x reader

Summary: Caught between holiday cheer and lurking danger, you find solace—and sparks—in the unexpected devotion of the King of Hell.

Word Count: 1579 words

Prompts: Crowded party. First kiss. Protecting.

A/N: This one is for the amazing @scolfer77. Merry Christmas!

The Christmas lights strung around the room twinkled like stars, casting a festive glow over the bustling party. The air buzzed with chatter, laughter, and the occasional clink of glasses, but none of it mattered to you as much as the man—well, demon��standing in the corner.

Crowley was his usual brooding self, impeccably dressed in his signature black suit, sipping something dark from a crystal tumbler. The crowd parted around him like he carried an invisible force field, and maybe he did. After all, even on Christmas Eve, he was still the King of Hell.

You weren’t sure why you’d invited him, and even less of a clue why he’d actually shown up. Maybe it was the way his dry wit made even the most desperate situations bearable. Maybe it was the fact that, against all odds, he always seemed to have your back. Or maybe—though you’d never admit it—it was because the thought of celebrating without him felt... wrong.

“Enjoying yourself, darling?” Crowley’s smooth voice broke through your thoughts as you approached.

You shrugged, offering him a smile. “I’d enjoy myself more if you looked like you were having fun.”

He smirked. “Christmas parties aren’t exactly my scene. Too much... cheer, not enough deals.” His tone dripped with disdain, but there was a twinkle in his eye that suggested he wasn’t entirely miserable.

“Well, if you’re going to stand there looking like the Grinch, at least hold a plate of cookies to complete the aesthetic.”

Crowley chuckled, a low, rich sound that sent a shiver down your spine. “You’re adorable when you try to boss me around, you know that?”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t fight the warmth creeping up your neck. “Whatever, Crowley. Just try to mingle, okay? This party is for everyone, including you.”

He gave a mock bow. “As you wish, my lady.”

Hours passed, and the party grew even more crowded. You moved through the throng, making small talk and ensuring everyone was having a good time. Every so often, you caught sight of Crowley, always at the edges of the room, his sharp eyes tracking your movements. It was comforting and unnerving all at once.

At one point, you found yourself at the makeshift bar, pouring yourself another drink. A man you didn’t recognize sidled up next to you, his smile a little too wide, his gaze lingering a little too long.

“Hey there,” he said, leaning closer than necessary. “Having a good time?”

“Yeah,” you replied, taking a step back. “It’s been great.”

“I bet it has. A pretty thing like you must get a lot of attention.”

You forced a polite smile and turned back to the bar, hoping he’d take the hint. He didn’t. Instead, he placed his hand on the small of your back.

Before you could respond, a familiar voice cut through the noise. “I believe the lady’s made it clear she’s not interested.”

You turned to see Crowley standing behind you, his expression dark. The man faltered under his gaze, mumbling something incoherent before retreating into the crowd.

“Was that really necessary?” you asked, though you couldn’t help but feel a flicker of gratitude.

Crowley shrugged, his lips twitching into a smirk. “What can I say? I’m a sucker for a damsel in distress.”

“I wasn’t in distress.”

“Of course not. You’re perfectly capable of handling yourself. But sometimes, it’s nice to have a little backup, isn’t it?”

You hated how easily he could get under your skin, how effortlessly he could make your heart race. “Well, thanks. I guess.”

“Anytime, darling.”

The night wore on, and the party showed no signs of slowing down. But something about the atmosphere had shifted. You couldn’t quite put your finger on it, but there was a tension in the air that hadn’t been there before.

You found Crowley again, this time leaning against a wall near the fireplace. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes flicked toward you the moment you entered the room.

“Something’s wrong,” you said quietly as you approached him.

“I know,” he replied, his voice low. “There’s someone here who doesn’t belong.”

“What do you mean?”

Crowley’s gaze swept over the crowd. “Call it a hunch. Stay close to me.”

Your stomach twisted with unease, but you nodded. The festive atmosphere suddenly felt oppressive, the cheerful decorations like a cruel mockery of the danger lurking beneath the surface.

It didn’t take long for Crowley’s instincts to be proven correct. A loud crash shattered the hum of conversation, and the room erupted into chaos. Guests screamed and scattered as a figure stepped forward, brandishing a gun.

“Where is she?” the intruder demanded, his wild eyes scanning the room. “Where’s the girl?”

You froze, your heart pounding in your chest. It didn’t take a genius to figure out who he was looking for. He was the husband of someone you’d failed to save, not through lack of trying.

Crowley stepped in front of you, his posture radiating calm authority despite the weapon pointed in your direction. “I suggest you think very carefully about your next move, mate.”

“Stay out of this,” the man snarled. “She knows what she did.”

“I don’t think she does,” Crowley said smoothly. “But you’re welcome to enlighten us. Preferably without the theatrics.”

The man’s hand shook as he tightened his grip on the gun. “She ruined everything! My whole life—gone! And now she’s going to pay.”

Before you could process his words, the man pulled the trigger. You barely had time to register the sound of the gunshot before Crowley moved.

The world seemed to slow as Crowley stepped in front of you, his body taking the full impact of the bullet. He staggered but remained standing, his eyes locking onto yours.

“Crowley!” you cried, reaching for him as he swayed.

“I’m fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “Takes more than that to take me down.”

But his pale complexion told a different story. You felt a surge of anger and fear as you turned to face the intruder. Before you could act, Crowley raised a hand, and with a flick of his wrist, the man crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

“Problem solved,” he said, his voice strained. “Now, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll sit down.”

You helped him to a nearby couch, your hands trembling as you pressed against the wound. “You idiot,” you muttered, tears stinging your eyes. “Why did you do that?”

He gave you a faint smile. “Couldn’t let anything happen to you, could I?”

“Crowley—”

“I’m fine, darling. Demons don’t die so easily.”

“That doesn’t mean you’re invincible,” you snapped. “You scared me.”

His hand covered yours, his touch surprisingly gentle. “I’m sorry. Truly.”

The room had cleared out by now, the remaining guests either too scared or too tactful to stick around. It was just the two of you, the flickering firelight casting shadows across Crowley’s face.

“You’re an idiot,” you said again, though your voice had softened.

“And you’re annoyingly stubborn,” he countered. “But I suppose that’s part of why I love you.”

“You… what?” Your brow furrowed slightly with confusion, not entirely sure you’d heard him correctly.

“Did I just say that out loud?” he asked softly, not breaking eye contact.

You let out a shaky laugh, the tension in your chest easing slightly. “You really scared me, Crowley. I thought—” You broke off, unable to finish the sentence.

He cupped your face in his hand, his thumb brushing away a tear you hadn’t realized had fallen. “I’m not going anywhere, love. Not as long as you need me.”

His gaze searched yours, and for a moment, the weight of everything unsaid hung between you. Then, before you could overthink it, you leaned forward and pressed your lips to his.

The kiss was soft at first, tentative, but it quickly deepened, the weight of your emotions pouring into the moment. Crowley’s hand moved to the back of your neck, holding you close as if afraid you’d disappear.

When you finally pulled away, you were both breathless. His forehead rested against yours, a rare vulnerability in his eyes.

“Well,” he said after a moment. “That was unexpected.” Crowley chuckled, his voice warm and full of affection.

You laughed despite yourself, the sound breaking the tension. For the first time all night, you felt safe.

The party was long forgotten as you sat together by the fire, Crowley’s arm wrapped around your shoulders. The wound on his side had already begun to heal, his demonic nature working its magic.

“So,” you said, breaking the comfortable silence. “Does this mean you’re sticking around?”

He smirked, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from your face. “Someone’s got to keep you out of trouble.”

“You’re the one who attracts trouble,” you teased.

“Perhaps,” he conceded. “But I’m also the one who keeps you safe.”

You couldn’t argue with that. For all his flaws—and there were plenty—Crowley had proven time and again that he’d do anything for you. And tonight, he’d proven it once more.

“Thank you,” you said softly. “For everything.”

He pressed a kiss to your forehead, his voice low and sincere. “Anything for you, darling. Always.”

As the fire crackled and the snow fell softly outside, you realized that this Christmas, you’d received the greatest gift of all: the unwavering devotion of a demon who, against all odds, had found his heart in you.

#Crowley x reader #gndw Build a fic

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munsonify · 1 year ago

Text

christmas decorations

pairing. eddie munson x gn!reader

summary. you insist on helping eddie decorate his trailer for christmas!

content warnings. pet names (sweetheart, baby), slight swearing, cookies, established relationships.

a/n. the end feels supppper rushed so sorry lol

word count. 913

12 days of christmas - day 1/12

Wayne and Eddie were never ones to decorate for the holidays. They could barely find the time to see each other properly with Wayne working nights, let alone decorate their trailer for each holiday. Besides, they deemed it wasn’t too important to them. They two much preferred the trailer as it was.

You, however, were not having that.

Yes, the trailer was fine just how it was. It was small, but homely. Nevertheless, you decided some holiday cheer was needed inside. At first, Eddie pretended he hated the idea. He grunted and groaned over the thought of moving the already perfectly placed decor for more. You still weren’t having it. With as much insistence as you could give, you finally convinced Eddie that just a little decorations wouldn’t hurt.

So, with the help of Joyce, who had a ton of leftover lights, and the clearance Christmas sections in several stores, you were able to scrounge up enough decorations to put around the trailer. You found a small artificial tree that would fit perfectly in the trailer. Wayne made you promise it wouldn’t shed like a real pine tree. You also found a few small, ceramic reindeer to place neatly on surfaces. You even bought a bag of tinsel you knew would end up braided into Eddie’s hair rather than on the tree.

You proudly lugged everything over to Eddie and Wayne’s trailer once everything was gathered. Your boyfriend could tell you were stumbling with everything in your arms, and made sure he helped bring everything in. His eyes, however, wandered to the plate full of chocolate chip cookies you managed to bring with you too.

“Eyes off the cookies, Munson,” you warned teasingly. “You can have as many as you want after we decorate.”

“You’re so cute when you’re demanding,” is all Eddie said after that, a cheeky grin playing on his face. He helped sit everything down, taking the plate of cookies to the kitchen. As if thinking he was sneaky, his hand reached to grab one right off the top, earning a glare from you.

“Okay, fine,” Eddie grumbled. “No cookies until we decorate! Bossy ass.”

You started with the tree, setting it up neatly in the corner. It was around shoulder length with Eddie’s body, more thin than it was tall. He insisted on letting him hang the ornaments, though you swatted him away when he only put the silver and gold ornaments in clumps.

“I thought you wanted me to help!” Eddie exclaimed, throwing his arms up in the air as you took over.

“Yeah, before you decided to be shit at tree decorating,” you fired back, fixing his clumps and spreading them out properly. After you fixed it, you stood back, and showed him. “Now doesn’t that look better?”

Eddie only rolled his eyes. He began unraveling all of the lights while you were finishing the tree, which he found to be more irritating than fun. He did it anyways, his mind set on those cookies in the kitchen. Noticing his irritation, you kissed his forehead gently, smoothing back his hair in the process.

You noticed how quickly Eddie relaxed. Despite still slightly irritated with the knotted lights, he always relaxed around you. Especially when you show him affection. You caved when you saw his brown doe eyes looking up at you from the lights.

“Okay baby, you can have a cookie,” you giggled, watching him jump up eagerly from his spot. He ran straight to the cookies like a child, grabbing the very top one again like before. And, as if starved, Eddie shoved half of it in his mouth. He knew immediately that they were your homemade ones that you make him all the time.

“God, you’re the best, sweetheart,” Eddie mumbled through a mouthful of cookies. “I promise I’ll help when I’m done.”

That, he did. Cheerfully, too! He grabbed you a chair to stand on as you strung lights up along the walls, holding the wad of extra lights in his hands so they didn’t get tangled with anything else.

You were nearly done with the lights when Wayne woke up for his nap. He usually slept a lot of the day in attempts to catch up from the sleep he loses during the night. With a soft smile at you and his nephew, he decided he’d help, also. He set the ceramic decorations around the house. Some were reindeer, others were nutcrackers. There was even an elf that resembled Dustin just a little too much for Eddie’s liking.

As if the finishing touch, you hung up the wreath on their front door. The red ribbon on the wreath was bigger than the actual wreath itself.

You looked around the trailer after you were done to take in the finished product. There was a pit on your stomach that you couldn’t quite shake. You were forgetting something, you were sure of it. You just weren’t sure what it was! With one glance at the tree, you knew you’d forgotten the star.

“C’mon sweetheart, a frown?” Eddie asked, eyes immediately catching on to your sunken expression. He brought a gentle hand up to your chin, forcing you to look into his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“I forgot the star,” you whispered, a pout on your lips. Eddie couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You’re worried about forgetting a star? Baby, you brought more than you had to! It’s okay that you forgot a star!” His reassurance eased you quickly, just as your touch eased him. You gave him a nod and a smile, which in turn made him smile. You could tell he was happy with what you’d gotten him.

As long as he was happy, you were happy.

#munsonify #eddie munson #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson imagines #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x y/n #stranger things 4 #eddie munson x you #stranger things #eddie munson stranger things #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson x reader fluff #eddie munson x gn!reader

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haleyboook · 1 year ago

Text

Christmas cheer pt.2

warnings: none

word count : 3,431

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

December 23rd:

“You told me you had plans with your family for Christmas.”

“I did. And then Chris convinced me to come here instead.”

Scott becomes white in the face as he stands up and heads towards the kitchen “You repulse me. That’s disgusting. Chris convinced you to come with… sex?”

His voice carries as I nearly jump six feet in the air to slap him quiet

“Scott.” I say with anger in my tone

Chris stares at his mother who turns to hear what Scott says and swallows hard saying “Scott is only teasing. I didn’t do that to get her here— she came when I asked her to come here with me.”

“Like a puppy?” His young nephew teases

Chris feels the air suck into his nose faster as he narrows his eyes saying “Quiet. You all are trying to get me in trouble.”

His mom smiles saying “Have you told her what the weekend prior to Christmas is, exactly?”

“A broad idea. I’ll tell her the plan. She’ll be game for anything.”

Shanna smiles saying “You told her about the play?”

“Yeah. About it, not full detail.”

Scott smacks a hand full of flour right into the side of my head and I gasp as his nephews and nieces squeal with laughter

The moment pauses their making of the cookie batter

I huff air into my face as the flour lifts off a bit at the air blown towards it

“You have a lot of nerve dude.”

He laughs as he hoists the cute child in front of him, blocking my line of shot with the handful of flour dropping down as I say “You’re evil.”

“Hey, this is typical for us. December 23rd is always cookie baking day and flour always ends up in someone’s face. You’re basically an honorable Evans at this point.”

Shanna’s husband clears his throat as he lifts the child from Scott saying “He does this to everyone. My first year he and Chris went overboard with the flour. It took days and four showers to get the flour out of my ear.”

My eyes widen as the three of us laugh and he nods to me as he escorts all the kids out

My hand dives into the flour and flings it into Scott’s face before he can even react. He screams with laughter as he tackles me and we hit the fridge, causing a loud ruckus as all the nieces and nephews giggle loudly

I freeze as I hear Chris and his mother approach, and Scott dumps the bag of flour over my head as I stare at the door

Flour pools over my head and body, I close my eyes quickly, feeling like the flour has already gotten into my eyes

“Scott!” His mother shouts in annoyance as two muscular arms wrap around me and I hear Chris say “I’m so sorry, Scott what the hell is wrong with you?”

I’m moved around the kitchen and Scott is scolded by his mother about the mess and I blubber on about “it’s not his fault. Chris. I’m fine.”

Just embarrassed.

The group of family members break into smaller groups while Chris helps me clean up myself

He wipes at my eyes and the cloudiness disappears from my vision like windshield wipers on a window

I blink a couple times and he smiles lightly saying “So you just went through a Evans family passage, did Scott tell you that? Is that why you’re not angry currently?”

“Shanna’s husband told me.”

He ahh’s and responds “I see, and that’s alright?”

My hand moves up to my eyebrow as I scratch it and shrug saying “Makes me feel more welcomed than your mothers introduction and avoidance of me.”

“She’s trying. I swear, she’s just awkward around new people sometimes.”

My lips puff out as I purse them together “Maybe it wouldn’t have been so awkward if you had told her about me prior to two days ago.”

Scoffing he says “She knew about you before that.”

“Did she?” I question as my hands press to my sides

Sighing and basically admitting defeat he says “She knew I was going on dates with someone. I didn’t explicitly mention you until now. And it’s not because I was purposely hiding you, I just knew she would insist on meeting you and it would’ve been a whole ordeal.”

“Like right now? Hm.”

“Come on, let’s not bicker with each other. My mom has our schedule for the weekend and I’m going to need to go over it with you.”

“Fine. Hit me with it.” I show no amount of excitement towards the strict schedule I know he’s going to present to me

He takes a large breath and starts his speech essentially “December 23rd, 3pm is shopping down at the shops near the theaters for Christmas, 5:15 is check in at the front of the theater where we’ll all go in together, 6 is when the play starts. Intermission is at 7:30. The play ends at 8:30. Then we go directly into dinner at my moms best friends house, she lives just down the street from the theater. She insists on being called aunt whitney. And after dinner we all stay in the living room back home together watching Christmas movies as we all pass out downstairs on the couches and floor.”

I blink in response at his literal word barf he just had

He releases a much needed sigh as he catches his breath from the long set of directions

“That’s all?”

“And an occasional family photo in there. My mom gets a yearly photo of us at the theater.”

“I see.” It’s overwhelming thinking about the detailed plans we can’t stray far from “And everyone has to go to this play?”

He laughs at my joke, not even realizing I had no humor behind the comment as my face remains seldom at his reaction

My nose scrunches in response as I say “It’s required?”

His eyebrow lifts as he rubs his hand down his lips saying “Yeah. Pretty much.”

Getting ready and dressed for the play was a task in itself. My luggage was still not here, I called the airline this morning and they’d told me they put it on the plane over last night, and that it should be here

The customer service claimed it is taking longer for received to be processed but I just think my bags been lost

Chris reassures me saying “You look very cute.”

I grumble as I pull on the itchy sweater around my top half. Shanna and Carly didn’t have much for me to pick through. They gave me a box of their old clothes from their teenage years and each item screamed 90’s.

Chris insisted I needed something somehow related to Christmas and this is what was found

An itchy ugly Christmas sweater with a slightly raunchy icon on the front of it. Chris laughed at the sight of it and Scott was just over the moon with laughter and happiness at the sight of me

“You look ridiculous, I love it.”

My eyes roll and Lisa smiles with a chuckle saying “You’re in luck we’re headed to the stores.”

“Thank god. I think I’m developing a rash from this material.” I say honestly as I scratch my arms and the whole group grows humorously loud with their laughter

Exhaling a breath I push Chris out the front door so we can leave

A few photos was an understatement, Lisa got photos of everything

Scott pulling my braid for example, the slap I gave him to the shoulder shortly after.

Everything.

Even Chris kissing me pretty passionately in the Christmas section of old navy

She smiled and wandered around to take more photos

I’d never shopped at some of these stores. What even is wet seal and why would anyone shop at a store named that?

And alas with Scott and Carly’s help I had found something to wear, not after at least a hundred photos were taken of me in this get up

Carly and Scott watch as I pull the sweater off with the dressing room door left ajar and Scott says “There’s a lock, y’know.”

“It’s broken.”

Lisa stares as she approaches saying “Do you want me to hold the door for you?”

I struggle with the top saying “Y-yeah that’d be great.”

The button catches on my hair and I struggle to fix the problem

She hears me shuffling and struggling “you need any help?”

“God yes. The button is stuck on my hair.”

The door swings open and she pauses for a second as I turn towards her, my arms stuck above my head as the button pulls on my hair

She looks to my exposed top half and says “Wow you are in good shape.”

“Thank you…. It comes with the movie requirements.”

“How’d you manage to get this twisted up?”

“I really… have no idea.”

Chris nudges Scott asking “hey is that jeweler still in business here?”

Carly whips her head towards him, nearly giving herself neck pain as she asks “What?!”

Scott winces at her squeaky voice and Chris says “would you keep it down? I need a necklace or something for mom.”

“Oh.” She says with a deflated tone

Scott nods saying “Yeah. I can go with you. It’s just a few shops down.”

“Can you slow those two down? I don’t want mom to see what I’m buying and if y/n escapes mom she’ll go hunting for both of us.”

Carly nods saying “Can do.”

Scott and Chris wander out of the store and Scott says “You bought mom that stupid espresso machine I thought.”

“I did.”

“Oh my god.” Scott smiles and pushes his brother saying “You little brat! I can’t believe you’re actually committing to something so long term. This is crazy. I mean, I don’t blame you. She’s like a million times better than you and so out of your league but still I’m shocked.”

“You’re a pain in my ass y’know?”

Lisa smiles as she untangles my hair saying “My girls used to always get into predicaments like this all the time. This one time Shanna had woken up and she had chewed gum right before she fell asleep. And she’d woken up with it in her hair, tangled up to the roots. I had to cut her hair. She had bangs all 6th and 7th grade.”

I chuckle saying “Oh boy. I bet she never chewed gum before bed after that.”

“You can bet your behind she didn’t chew gum for years.”

We both laugh and the silence sits once our laughs die down

“You’re a beautiful young woman, y/n. I just… I hate the way he does these things.”

I narrow my eyes to her, growing confused as she straightens out my sweater

“He gets so bright eyed and bushy tailed for a woman and he takes her home to us and soon after their whole relationship crumbles. I blame the divorce, it gave him so many commitment issues. No matter how old your children are divorce still effects them so much.”

I exhale a breath and as it leaves my body it feels jagged and pained “What-what do you mean? How many girls has he done this with?”

“Only a few. I’m sorry. He’d be so angry with me if he knew I brought this up. I just can’t bare to see another girl so broken up about this.”

I blink in response to her, long blinks, trying to keep my resolve. Remembering what she said about me before

Maybe this is just her poor attempt at deterring me.

I swallow thickly and my shoulders raise as I tense and take a step out of the dressing room

I pull the tag off the sweater and Carly says “Find the sweater?”

I nod, feeling dizzy and nauseous all of the sudden

It’s the sudden realization that she either really doesn’t want me in her family or Chris has been lying to me or conveniently forgetting to tell me

As soon as my card swipes and goes through I book it towards the theater and the rest of the family slowly migrates behind me

Following my lead

Chris smiles to Scott as they emerge from the jeweler

“Last minute Christmas gift?”

Chris nearly jumps ten feet in the air at the immediate presence of his mother

The bag jumps in his hand and he squeezes it with both hands. His rapid heart beat growing as he shakes his head saying “Forgot gram. Sorry.”

“You alright? You look flushed.”

Her hand presses to his forehead saying “You don’t feel hot. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine ma. Where’s y/n?”

“Oh she took off quickly, those long legs of hers sure move fast. She couldn’t be bothered to walk our speed.”

Chris sighs at his moms snide comment saying “I’m gonna go find her.”

He pushes the gift off on Scott as he quickly goes to find me

I stand at the theater with the husbands and children, waiting.

“Ready for the ugliest family photo to be taken? Somehow Lisa gets the worst angles of us every year.”

I sniffle a laugh saying “Sounds like my sister. She only posts the flattering photos of herself. I still remember the selfie she took with my sick figure in the background when I got mono in the 9th grade.”

The group laugh and Ryan says “Lisa made me stand in for a family photo when I had a black eye from taking a baseball to the face. Most humiliating Christmas card ever.”

The group of men erupt into laughter again as I join them

“I see you’re getting along nicely with the husbands.”

I shrug at Chris’ grasp on my shoulder “Mmhm.” Is all I give him in response before I hear his mothers voice “Gather up, come on. You know the formation we always do.”

Chris pulls me in the formation and grows distracted as his nephew asks him to tie his shoes for him

Lisa smiles to me saying “Will you be a doll for me and take the photo for us?”

I nod and step away from the family feeling uncomfortable all of the sudden

Like the breath in my lungs dried up and the lump in my throat tripled in size

Scott was late to show up and he nearly offered to take the photo before his mother bickered with him to get in the photo

Chris looks up confused as his mother attempts to get everyone’s attention towards the camera

He says “Why isn’t she in the photo?”

“Married couples only. You know the rule.”

“What rule…?” His voice is drowned out as I click the phone camera and every other device that was pushed onto me

Bickering erupts in the family as the kids push each other off each other and my eyes widen behind the phones and cameras at the chaos

It’s all overwhelming

The family breaks apart as they all grab their devices and a few thank me

Chris finds me shortly after and I push his moms camera and phone into his hands as I go to follow the group

He catches my arm saying “Honey.” He exhales into the nickname and I can tell he’s already thinking about damage control for his next sentence

“My mom gets weird about the family photos, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t care about that. I heard her, married couples only. It’s fine. The play is starting soon. We need to get our seats.”

He drops the devices into his pockets and says “Hold on. They can wait. They’ll save our seats. It doesn’t start for another 25 minutes.”

Not wanting to get into an argument or anything right now I breathe in and say “Look, I don’t want to start anything with your mom or to make her dislike me any more. Let’s just go in. If you still want to even talk about this later. We can. Right now I’m just looking forward to the few hours of no talking and just…entertainment.”

He nods slowly and says “I love you, y/n. I know this can’t be easy.”

I press my hand to his cheek, feeling the tears well up as I nod saying “Let’s head inside.”

He kisses the bare skin on the front of my hand, the base of each finger with urgency and delicacy

The crisp and quick chill in the snowy surroundings cuts through me, ruining the moment as I shiver at the discomfort

No matter the beauty of my surroundings, nothing could get rid of this anxiety and nausea I’m still feeling

Not the beautiful theater that is weathered with age and beauty, could be at least half a century old or older

The wood chipped exterior but it still felt welcoming to the eye with the brightly colored bubblegum pink doors and the Christmas decorations hung so high up that it caused me to question how someone got up there to do that

Chris could see the gears turning in my head as I walk into the theater and grew confused on where to go immediately

His hand found mine the minute confusion etched itself onto my expression

“I’ve been here thousands of times. All of us kids performed here for years. You would’ve loved me as the ghost of Christmas future.”

I shake my head saying “I was in the nutcracker meanwhile.” My smile widens and he says “Much more normal I suppose. Should’ve seen my performance as Christopher Robin. My mom still calls it my best performance.”

My eyes roll as I push his shoulder saying “I’m sure she let that go to your head.”

He scoffs jokingly as the smell of stale popcorn hugs the walls of the building like wallpaper as we walk further into the building

It’s crowded, full of big families

Wives with their hands in their children’s hair desperately trying to tame it, or wives bickering with their husbands, fixing their ties. Tightening them as the husband pulls to loosen it

I grow observant as the room grows loud with voices all around me, babies crying loudly, children arguing with each other.

Old grandparents complaining.

Grandchildren whining.

I grow consumed into their dialogue like it’s a script I need to learn and Chris pulls me back saying “Here we are.”

My attention snaps to the big family as they all sit comfortably in the seats. Lisa is in a row with all her grandchildren

My eyes fall on the only two open seats left. One in one row, and the other in the row behind it. Directly behind the other

I swallow thickly with annoyance as I look to Lisa who appears busy with her grandchildren

“Ma, why didn’t you save us seats beside each other?”

“The kids wanted to sit with me. I’m sorry alright? You two are practically beside each other this way anyway.”

“Two completely different rows…” I mutter, my eyes look for Scott as he’s pressed into the corner of the rows and Chris says “Scott move down here—”

“Chris the play is starting in a few minutes, if you would have gotten here sooner like everyone else we could’ve taken your opinion into account.”

Chris let’s puts out a defeated sigh saying “Miles, you’re sitting on my lap.”

“Chris.” His mom gives him a warning tone and I squeeze his shoulder saying defeatedly as my voice grows quiet “I’m just— I’m going to go to the bathroom.”

“No, that’s not necessary. y/n.” He attempts to reassure me

Carly agrees saying “Scott and everyone can move over and we can make enough room—”

“My mom has been calling me. I think I’m just going to do that.”

I quickly leave and the doors shut quickly after me, Chris is pushed into a seat by the usher and sighs loudly

He looks to his sisters and they shrug. Tears wash down my face as I desperately call my mom

She answers saying “You deciding to finally join us?”

“I want to. Mom this is going so badly, they hate me.”

The line holds the silence as I sit at the bench near the water fountain, crying into the phone

“Why would they hate you?”

“I’m controlling.”

She scoffs saying “Let me talk some sense into them. Where is Scott and Chris? Why aren’t they defending you?”

With the deep exhale as my hand stays pressed under my eyes I say “I didn’t tell Chris. It’s like we’re being suffocated by his family constantly. They wanted me to board with Scott and Chris had to interfere on that. And god… everything is a fight. A fight to include me or anything and everything. It’s all so different from home.”

My mother laughs on the other line, completely setting me over the edge as I feel insane and completely invalidated. My mom was never good with emotions. I don’t know what I expected

She was old fashioned, and the strongest person to exist, but lacked the motherly comfort and care all the others had

Maybe it’s because I was born so late into her life.

Maybe it’s just her

She shakes her head saying “Welcome to life with in-laws. I hated your fathers parents.”

I shake my head and a hand squeezes my shoulder. I look up, meeting Chris’ eyes and sigh as I say “I’ve got to go mom.”

The call ends before I wait for her response, I look up to him saying “This sucks.”

He nods saying “my moms being so difficult I’m sorry.”

“That’s putting it lightly.”

The side of the bench shifts as he sits down beside me, I look to him saying “you’re missing out on the family traditions.”

“It’s either fall asleep during the play or stay out here with my beautiful girlfriend.”

My head falls onto his shoulder and the words that leave my mouth bring the guilt forward for him “I just wish they liked me as much as you like me.”

He holds my hand tightly saying “Give it time. I’ll try harder, and my mom will soften to you in no time.”

“She called me controlling. Said you gave that idea.”

He freezes up and my eyes don’t leave the ground as I can feel him thinking through the ominous silence

“I didn’t say anything like that. My mom claims that those women are my type.”

“How many women have you taken to this play, Chris?”

He tenses under me saying “Too many. I’m sorry.”

“I had a feeling, this doesn’t seem like it’s going to get any easier.”

His hand presses to my head as his fingers tenderly fall through my hair as he exhales “It will, you’re so much more to me than anyone I’ve ever brought home.”

We both melted into each other as my body rests on his as we kiss on the bench, my shoulder hitting his as the play goes on

At intermission we enter the play and as I go to sit in the line seat he pulls me onto his lap and his mom gives him a look “Christopher.”

“Not now mom.” He plays her off

Eventually the kids grow restless and a few move back towards their parents. I rest on the seat beside Chris and we watch the second half

The minute we arrived at Aunt Whitney’s I was immediately evaluated. She smiles widely with her silver tooth shining in the back of her molars.

She squeezed my upper arms as she informed me “You’re stunning.”

I smile to her and she looks to Chris saying “you two are picture perfect.”

“Thank you, aunt whitney. Mom needs influencing, can you..?”

She nods quickly saying “of course.” That was probably the last I saw her that night, every once in awhile we saw the blur of her grayed bob haircut as she nearly glided past us

Once the night dragged on it felt more comforting, Chris was practically glued to my side

By the grace of Whitney, Lisa softened a bit to me. I could tell because the way she looked towards me was different. Indescribable but not negatively

It was fun seeing all the grown ups act like kids when it came time for movie night.

You know the feeling of spending the night at your grandparents house when you’re 7 years old? Where you slept didn’t matter, and you felt comfort just being in the house

I could see why they loved this place so much, and with time I think I could grow to love it too.

“Did he tell you what Christmas Eve entails, y/n?”

“No, should I be worried?”

Scott laughs as Chris glares at him. I look between them saying “shit.”

“As long as you’re fine with snow, caroling, farm animals, and Santa we’ll be fine.”

“Is it a bad time to tell you I’m not good with farm animals?”

He tenses and says “great…”

“the polar opposite of our mother in that department.” Scott laughs and shakes his head “mom is going to have a field day knowing that.”

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

next part ->

another part! I’m so sorry it was delayed. I’m gonna extend the story plot to New Years :) hope you’ll all enjoy it!

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neege · 1 month ago

Text

Das don't get crushes!

A little small something inspired by the snippet I just added to this post.

A universe in which Sirius and Remus are amicable exes turned friends that have a kid together, and James and Sirius are dating.

Also, @lilacella this is for you! Since you started this whole thing ❤️

Hogsmead was a dream this time of year. James closed his eyes softly and let the gentle sounds of the holiday festivities caress his ears. He could just make out the giggles from Lily and Teddy, who were crafting a snowman, and he listened to the sound of the carolers and the little jingling bells that lined the shop doors. He felt tiny snowflakes rest against his cheeks and nose, and breathed in the fresh air and smell of spiced treats being sold by merry vendors.

"You look happy." James shivered at the feeling of Sirius's deep voice pressed against his ear, and smiled as a strong arm came to rest around his waist.

He hummed as a kiss was pressed to his jaw, and opened his eyes to the breathtaking sight of Sirius—with his long dark hair dusted with glittering snow and his steel grey eyes filled with warmth. "I am happy."

They both stood pressed together for a moment, taking in the wintery, cheerful scene surrounding them. It was a week out from Christmas, and Lily had decided that they all needed to get together to go ice skating in the little village. Currently, she was dusting the snow off of her firey hair, laughing loudly as Teddy ran off cackling. Out of the corner of his eye, James could see Sirius watching his son fondly, and his own heart glowed at the sight.

Remus wandered back over from where he had been purchasing himself and Teddy hot chocolates, and at the sight of his friend—red-nosed and absolutely drowning in wool from his hat, scarf, and mittens—James laughed a little. "Having fun Remus?"

He smiled over at the pair of them with a bit of whipped cream on his upper lip. Sirius reached out to swipe it away with his thumb, and was swatted away with a fake scowl from Remus.

There was a point not too long ago where the sight of Sirius and Remus being so comfortable with each other would have made James feel uncertain of his developing relationship with his partner, but after much reassurance from the both of them, he felt grateful that they were able to remain such close friends. Besides, without Remus and Sirius's past relationship, there wouldn't be Teddy, and James loves Teddy.

As if on que, Teddy came running over—Lily trailing at a slower pace behind him—barreling straight into Sirius, who pretended to have the wind knocked out of him before hoisting the boy up onto his hip. "Hey kiddo! Did you have fun with Aunt Lily?"

"Yeah! We made a snowman and Aunt Lily used magic to make him move! I wanted him to throw snowballs but Aunt Lily said that's not very nice!"

Teddy squirmed in Sirius's arms while trying to talk around Remus, fussing over his hat and scarf before handing over the hot chocolate that had been cooling down a bit.

"Yes, well Aunt Lily's very smart, and you should always listen to her Teds, okay?"

"Okay! Did you see me get Aunt Lily with a snowball? I got her right on the head!"

Teddy continued to chatter his dads' ears off while James turned to face Lily.

"Snowball to the face huh?"

She smiled, the red splotches on her face—no doubt from the cold snow—making her look warm and happy.

"He's such a sweet kid. I don't know, maybe you should've knocked me up when we were still together."

"You're kidding, right?" James smiled at her, "I mean no offense at all, but can you imagine us as teen parents?"

She laughed brightly, "Yeah I know. I don't actually know if I ever want kids of my own, honestly. It's enough to whisk Teddy away whenever I'm feeling lonely, but by day three I'm already ready to dump him back with one of you suckers." James laughed.

Suddenly, Lily's eyes widened at something over his shoulder, and he turned around to spot an uncharacteristically flushed Remus being approached by a tall, handsome man wearing a deep maroon peacoat.

"Remus! It's good to see you out and about and not hunched over your work for a change. What are you doing here?"

James watched with interest as Remus straightened up a bit and blinked rapidly up at the man in front of him. He noticed that there was a bit more whipped cream on his lip and had to stifle his laugh.

"Oh! Kingsley! Hi, um, good to see you!"

James, Lily, and Sirius all exchanged subtle glances with each other.

"Um. I'm here with my friends!" He turned awkwardly to the rest of the group, "This is Sirius and Sirius's partner James, and this is Lily."

Sirius motioned to his own lip while Kingsley turned away, and Remus's flushed cheeks intensified as he hastily wiped at his mouth.

Kingsley smiled at the group, shaking each of their hands, "Nice to meet you. Remus and I work together at the ministry, but I almost never see him anywhere except his office."

He looked down at Teddy, who was still being held in Sirius's arms, bending his knees so he was eye-to-eye with him, "And who's this handsome fellow?"

"I'm Teddy! I'm 4!"

Sirius smiled down at his son, "Ah yes, this is Edward, but we call him Teddy for short, he's mine and Remus's little one," and at Kingsley's raised eyebrows, he added on "and the result of one too many firewhiskeys way back when."

Remus's face went Scarlett as Kingsley laughed, and James pinched Sirius's side as a warning to be nice.

"Well, it was really nice meeting you all! Maybe I'll see you on the rink in a little while, I'll be with my sister and niece if Teddy wants a friend. Take care, bye Re! I'll see you Monday yeah?"

Re?

"Yeah! Of course, yeah, bye... Have fun!"

As Kingsley walked away Remus immediately turned and hissed at a laughing Sirius: "What the fuck is wrong with you!"

Teddy's eyes went wide at the expletive, and before he could speak, Remus corrected himself.

"I'm sorry Teds, that's a naughty word, and I shouldn't have said it, just like your father shouldn't have embarrassed me like that in front of my coworker!"

"Oh, coworker huh? That's why you're so flustered? Because you're trying to stay professional?"

Remus sniffed at that. "Yes! As a matter of fact, that man is my supervisor! I don't need him knowing about... my private life!"

James snorted, and Lily cut in, "Yeah right, that man is the sexiest man I've ever seen Remus, and if you don't climb him like a tree, I might-"

"Lily! Oh my god, there's kids! Teds, why don't you go play with Aunt Lily again, keep your mittens on this time, okay?"

And then a cackling Lily was being sent off again, followed by giggles from the remaining two men.

James and Sirius linked their free hands together, and Remus turned to look at them both, a blush staining his cheeks and unable to look them in the eyes.

"Christ, can you believe her?" The couple exchanged a look. "What?"

"Oh come on Remus, you totally like him!" Before Remus could counter, Sirius cut in "You're red as a tomato, and I haven't seen you that flustered since the night you got knocked up."

Remus crossed his arms. He had a pouty look on his face and looked about one second from stomping off—James chose his next words carefully.

"Look mate, I know you love the life you've built and that you want to be a good Da, but there's nothing wrong with a little crush okay? Did you think Sirius was a bad dad when he and I started seeing each other?"

He felt Sirius squeeze his hand.

Remus's eyes softened a little, "No, of course not."

He bit his lip, and continued. "But it's different! You guys have known each other for years and years, you're best friends, and Teddy grew up around you James! I can't just... uproot Teddy's life because of... I don't know. And besides, Kingsley wouldn't be interested in me like that, I mean he's so handsome and intelligent... I don't know."

Sirius sighed. "Remus, you know I care about you. You know I love you, me and James and Lily, we all love you so much. And I don't have to be dating you to know that you're incredible and intelligent and damn handsome."

Remus blushed and gave him a small smile, looking down at his feet.

"But I care about you. You're a great father. The best, better than me at times-" "That's not true-" "-okay equal to me. Teddy loves you, he's so happy and he'll grow up surrounded by people who love him, and that's because of you. But sometimes you use Teddy as a reason to not put yourself out there. You deserve to be happy too Remus."

James placed a hand on Remus's forearm, "And this doesn't have to be forever you know? Teddy will be perfectly fine if you go out with Kingsley for a while and it doesn't work out. Like Sirius said, you deserve to be happy. Or at least, you deserve to get laid. And that man is fucking hot, did you see his thighs? Jesus Christ he's wearing a peacoat and I can still tell he's fit as hell."

Sirius laughed, and Remus huffed a little, turning away from them for a moment before speaking again.

"You really think he'd like me?"

"Yes, but you never know if you don't try. Just go talk to him yeah? Ice skate near him or something. Fall into his big strong arms like the princess everyone knows you are."

He met their eyes with an amused, shy smile—then moved his eyes towards the direction Kingsley had just gone. "Okay. I'll try."

-----

"Alright Teddy bear, let's get you warmed up okay? Your hands are like ice cubes." Sirius held the sleepy little boy in his lap, rubbing his small hands together between his larger ones to get the blood flowing.

"Dad, did you see me? Aunt Lily was helping me skate, and I went in a circle! I even fell only one time!"

"Yeah Teds, you were great!"

They sat together for a moment, a rare, quiet moment where Teddy wasn't bouncing off the walls with excitement. James sat at Sirius's side, his head resting on his shoulder and his hands wrapped around their hot drinks: a hot chocolate for James and a black coffee for Sirius. The two men looked out over the ice rink—sharing twin smiles of delight as they observed their pink-cheeked friend skate clumsily next Kingsley.

"Think he'll be alright out there?" James asked Sirius.

Just then, Remus lost his balance and flailed awkwardly for a moment before falling backwards, only be to caught by strong, graceful arms. James could hear the laughter from where they sat, and the fondness in Sirius's voice when he replied, "Oh yeah, he'll be great. We'll take Teds home with us just to be safe."

As if summoned by his own name, Teddy sleepily blinked across the rink at his blushing father.

"What's wrong with Da?"

James leaned down to look at Teddy's big brown eyes—looking so much like Remus.

"Well Teddy, I think your Da has a little crush."

Teddy pulled a face, like he'd just tasted his least favorite food, before declaring loudly:

"Ew! Das don't get crushes!"

#Christmas fluff #Prongsfoot #ficlet #remus and Kingsley #Lily Evans #Remus has a work crush

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