#cute little fanfic i made while i was waiting for christmas dinner/food

[reallifewriterwrites]

Christmas fic #1 DonnaxDoctor

"Have you never celebrated christmas?”

Donna looked at the Doctor. They were cruising through time and space in the Tardis after another adventure. Donna had just finished setting tea. She and the Doctor were both sitting in their chairs while the Tardis was on auto-pilot.

“No.” The Doctor said. 

Donna almost threw her cup of tea into the air.

“You NEVER celebrated christmas?!” She exclaimed.

The Doctor shook his head. “No. I mean, it was never a thing back at Gallifrey. It’s more for humans.”

“But it’s such an important holiday! We met on christmas, didn’t we?”

The Doctor nodded. “Yes...”

“And you never celebrated it...” Donna put her cup of tea down and jumped up. “Okay, we’re going to make that happen!”

“What?” The Doctor asked.

Donna smiled at him. “Set a course for anywhere where we can shop, martian! We need to do some shopping!”

____________________________________________________________

And so they arrived at Ejun, a planet that was more a mall than a living place. There were aliens that lived there, but not many.

As they walked into the busy mall, Donna’s eyes widened. It was the biggest mall she had ever seen! Everything you could buy was there!

“So...” The Doctor walked besides her with raised eyebrows. “What do we now?”

Donna grabbed his sleeve with a grin.

“Now we’re going shopping! COME ON!”

She dragged the martian to a shop where they sold good things. They had all kinds of Christmas things and gifts.

“Look, how adorable!” Donna grabbed a small snow-globe with a little house in it. 

“Oof, don’t wanna buy that.” The Doctor said. “Those things are dangerous.”

“Snow-globes?” Donna snickered. “Really, spaceman?”

“Yeah, really. I once knew someone who got trapped in one of those things.”

“You really need to be more calm.” Donna walked to a store-clerk with the snow-globe in her hand. “Excuse me, mister, is this dangerous?”

The alien which resembled a huge fly looked at her and the snow-globe in her hand. 

“No, miss. Why do you ask?”

“Ah, well...” Donna grinned and pointed to the Doctor. “That idiot thinks that globes are dangerous.”

“Only the ones you can buy on Opless, but not here.”

“I see, thanks.”

Donna walked back to the Doctor which a teasing look. 

“Told you.” She waved the globe in front of his face. “No danger here.”

The Doctor sighed. “Okay, you were right and I was wrong. Can we leave?”

“Not yet! We need to buy more things and get you into the christmas spirit!”

Donna threw the globe towards him. 

The Doctor grabbed it in his hand and looked at it. He smiled at little at the object. Maybe christmas with Donna would be nice...

______________________________________________________________

The two of them came back exhausted after a long day of shopping. 

They bought a christmas tree, a couple of snow-globes, an automatic small santa doll that was singing, things for in the tree and of course presents for each other. 

“Now we give each other the other their present?” The Doctor asked as he sat down on the sofa.

Donna nodded. “Yes! At Christmas it is tradition to give each other presents. But not all families do this, so it’s not mandatory.”

“Then why are we doing it?” 

“Because we care about each other. Now, scoot over!”

Donna planted herself next to the Doctor. He blushed a little when she sat very close to him. 

He observed how turned around to pull a small wrapped gift from her pocket. When she turned back around she smiled for a second at the present. She put a small stray of her burning fiery red hair behind her ear.

His two hearts sped up a little when she looked at him again.

“Here.”

She handed him the red wrapped gift.

“Thanks...” The Doctor whispered and he unwrapped his present.

A small bow tie fell onto his lap.

“What...” The Doctor took it into his hands and raised his eyebrows. “Why...”

“You always wear a tie!” Donna said. “I think that it would be nice to change your clothes once in a while and a bow tie looks nice on a suit too, right?”

The Doctor smirked. It was stupid, but really cute that she bought something like that for him...

“I have a gift for you too!” The Doctor grabbed his gift from behind his back. “But I didn’t wrap it...sorry.”

“Nah, it’s alright.” Donna took the gift. It was a light brown leather jacket.

“Nice, huh?” The Doctor said. “You can wear this in any weather you want. The inside can cool or heat down according to the weather, so you’ll never feel to cold or to warm.”

“Thanks...” 

Donna moved closer to the Doctor. She put her head onto his shoulder and sighed. 

“This really has been nice, spaceman.” She whispered. “Christmas at my mum’s home is...well, granddad is there, but my mum always forgets to buy gifts for me, so she always give me money.”

The Doctor put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a kiss on her head. 

“I will never take you for granted.” He whispered. 

“Thanks....me too. I’m glad I get to travel with you. I hope we can travel forever.”

“We will!” The Doctor said. He pulled a little back and smiled at her. “You know, there is a market at the planet Shan Shen next week! Let’s go there!”

“Of course space man...maybe after that we can go on a new years holiday for once!”

The Doctor smiled. “Yes...maybe.”

“And after new years, there is valentine’s day....”

Donna’s voice trailed off. She looked up at the Doctor with a worried look.

“What is wrong?” The Doctor asked, a bit confused.

“Doctor.” Donna’s voice had become serious. “What would you do....if a companion had fallen for you?”

“Then...” The Doctor smiled briefly at her. “I don’t know. I mean, I know what love is, but, uhm, I’m not a type to be romantic and affectionate all the time.”

Donna pulled back and held her hands up “Oh, me neither! I don’t have time to be all lovey-dovely!”

“Yeah!” The Doctor said. “Plus, being with me is really a challenge! There are a lot of woman who fall for me...”

“Oi, don’t brag, spaceman. I’m one of the many woman who likes a man who’s a bit tougher.”

“Tougher?” The Doctor asked.

Donna chuckled. She jumped up and stretched her arms out. She looked down at the Doctor who stared up at her.

“Yeah...I like guys who are a bit more...bigger.”

“What?!” The Doctor jumped up with a blush. “I’m fine down there-”

“I meant your body, geez! Really, you’re as thin as they are.”

“Then...you would never date someone like me?”

Donna tilted her head slightly. “Well...only if you had feelings for me...which you don’t, right?”

The Doctor nodded. “Yes, I don’t.” He lied.

Donna smiled a little sadly. “Right...”

“But you are the most important woman in the universe!” The Doctor said. “And I wouldn’t chose anyone else to travel with!”

Donna smiled more brightly and slapped his arm. “Of course you wouldn’t, daft martian...really, if you ever replace me, I’ll haunt you in your dreams!”

“Timelords don’t dream.”

“Okay, depressing......”

Donna yawned 

“Anyhow, I think I’m going to get some shut eye...humans need sleep.”

The Doctor smiled at her. “Sure. Goodnight.”

Donna waved at him as she walked off. 

The Doctor sighed and looked at the christmas tree again.

He put his hands onto his chest and he sighed deeply.

“Really...I’ve always cared so much for Rose, but you....”

He glanced at her bedroom door. It was closed and he was sure that she didn’t hear him. He looked back at the christmas tree and muttered to himself:

“Donna Noble... just how do you make me fall for you?”

But he was wrong. Donna was listening at the door. 

As soon as she heard those words she turned around and put her back against the door. She put her hands against her chest. A blush and a confused smile came to cover her face.

“That martian...” She gulped. “He...he is such a daft martian for saying that...”

She wanted to barge in there and tell him how she felt, but she couldn’t.

Maybe on Valentine’s day.

[theladyofdeath]

City of Starlight {Epilogue}

An A Court of Thorns and Roses & Throne of Glass Crossover, Modern AU fanfiction.

Based on a prompt sent in for the 5k follower contest {winner}, from Anonymous: “Competitive arts school tog x acotar crossover”

Summary:  Velaris School of the Arts is the most prestigious school of talent on the continent. Whoever wants to be someone wants to get in. As her senior year of high school is coming to an end, all Aelin Galathynius wants is to go to the city of starlight and play music. Feyre Archeron, however, longs to paint for the rich and famous. Painters, singers, dancers, actors, and filmmakers come together in friendship, love, and lust, and find that they have a lot more in common than they thought.

A/N: One last chapter written with @snelbz​. The end :)

Warnings: language.

Links:

Fanfic Masterlist

Ask me ANYTHING!

City of Starlight {ACOTAR/TOG crossover}

> Characters Detail Sheet <

Lorcan was driving, and none of them had any idea that he drove so slow. He claimed it was because of the snow, but it was absurd.

“You know, I can drive-.”

“We’re almost there,” Lorcan snapped, cutting Cassian off. 

Elide just chuckled. 

The snow was calming, the big flakes falling in slow, silent streams. The sight was beautiful, mesmerizing. Lorcan drove in it, expertly, slowly as hell, until he pulled up to a little, old house in the suburbs. For a moment after he put the car in park, he just sat there and took a deep breath. 

“Ready?” Lorcan asked, more to himself than the others. 

“It’s going to be perfect,” Elide assured him, leaning over from the passenger seat to press a kiss to his cheek. 

Cassian was a little more hesitant, but he nodded in agreement, nonetheless. 

They were soon out of the car, heading toward the front door on the walkway, their luggage remaining in the trunk. Lorcan led the way, his hand in Elide’s, Cassian trailing just behind.

After not bothering to knock, Lorcan was pushing his way inside of his childhood home. Cassian only hesitated for a moment before crossing the threshold. 

“Mom? I’m home!” Lorcan called, walking down the short hallway before coming out into the open living room.

“We’re all in the kitchen!” a high-pitched, excited voice traveled through the house.

Lorcan shot them both a humored look before leading them through the living room and into the bustling kitchen. 

Five sets of eyes shot their way, and before Cassian could even calm his thoughts, they were all rushing toward Lorcan, then Elide, and Cassian himself. The three of them were wrapped in hugs, and all the women were talking so excitedly at once that none of them could be deciphered. 

It wasn’t until they had all gotten their hugs out of the way that introductions occurred.

“Oh, I’m just so happy to have you all here,” Lorcan’s mother began, her hand over her heart, the sweetest of smiles plastered on her lips. 

“Glad to be here, Ma,” Lorcan smiled. “Everyone, this is Elide, my girlfriend, and Cassian, my...brother. Our brother, I guess.”

The word shocked Cassian so much that he had to clear his throat to bring himself back to reality.

“And this is my mom, Natasha, and my sisters - Delaney, Koda, Becca, and Little Liza,” Lorcan continued. 

“I’m not little anymore, Lor,” Eliza argued, rolling her eyes, even though she hadn’t even hit thirteen. 

Lorcan chuckled. “Right. Sorry. Should I go with Eliza, then? Or, do I need to call you the full Elizabeth?” 

Eliza took a moment to think about it. “Eliza’s fine.” 

“You have a beautiful home, Ms. Salvaterre,” Elide noted.

Natasha smiled. “Call me Natasha, and thank you, that’s very kind. Lorcan should show you the rest of it - no, wait, he’s been gone too long. Laney, give them a tour!”

Delaney’s snort was so much like Lorcan’s that it made Elide giggle. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Elide, you’ll be sleeping in Koda’s room, and the boys will share Delaney’s while the girls share a room with their mama,” Natasha winked.

Lorcan hesitated. “I, uh, thought we were going to stay at the motel?”

Natasha raised a brow. “And miss opening presents bright and early Christmas morning? I don’t think so.”

The look he shot Elide was much more apologetic than the one he shot Cassian. But his girlfriend didn’t seem to mind, not as she fell into easy conversation with the other most important women in his life. She was laughing and Lorcan could see the true joy in her eyes when she glanced over at him every now and again. He couldn’t hide the smile on his face.

“I guess we can go get our bags then?” Cassian asked, clearing his throat.

“Good call,” Lorcan said, looking out the window at the quickly accumulating snow.

The boys were in and out as fast as they could, dropping the bags unceremoniously in a heap at the bottom of the stairs.

Lorcan stepped into the threshold of the living room, where his mother, Elide and Dakota were currently looking at an old, and extremely embarrassing, photo album of Lorcan’s earliest recitals. “Mom, can we discuss the…sleeping arrangements?” He asked, clearing his throat as he leaned against the doorframe.

Elide’s eyes went wide as she looked up at him.

Lorcan looked quickly away, back at his mother.

In true Natasha Salvaterre fashion, she rolled her eyes but followed him into the kitchen, nonetheless, and Cassian quickly joined the others to look at embarrassing photos of Lorcan. 

“Yes, my son?” she asked, the slightest hint of sarcasm laced in her tone. 

Lorcan looked back in the living room at Elide, who was still looking through the book, sitting between Cassian and Dakota. “I really like her, mom.”

Her head tilted slightly to the side. “I can tell. And?”

Lorcan blinked. “So, don’t scare her away.”

Natasha sighed. “Lorcan, you have never brought a girl home to meet me. Ever. Do you really think that I would try to scare her away?”

Lorcan hesitated.

“Girls like seeing embarrassing pictures, they think it’s cute. Besides, you were precious when you started dancing, so hush, I show those pictures to everyone.”

Lorcan gawked. “Everyone?”

“And you should really try and be more welcoming towards Cassian, dear,” Natasha continued, ignoring Lorcan’s comment. “Me and the girls will be as welcoming as possible, but you are both the only boys and one of the only people here he knows. He’s nervous being here, I can tell.”

Lorcan knew it would be interesting bringing Cassian into his home, into his family. It would be an adjustment, but Cassian seemed like he truly wanted to be there.

He nodded, understanding her. “I will be. Speaking of that, he’s going to want some time to himself. To call his own girlfriend and stuff like that. So.”

“So?” Natasha asked, raising an eyebrow.

“So,” he said, clearing his throat. “He can take Koda’s room to himself.”

“That’s very sweet of you to offer to sleep on the couch, the whole break,” she said, pointedly.

“Mom, I’m almost twenty-one. She’ll be twenty in two months. Do you really think we don’t sleep together at school?”

“That’s at school,” she said, sounding decidedly motherly. “You’re home, though, and under my roof. It doesn’t matter how old you are, rules are rules, Lor.”

“We were planning to stay at the motel,” he reminded her.

“Rules are rules,” she repeated.

Lorcan’s jaw locked. “You’re being ridiculous.”

Natasha lifted a brow. “You wanna try that again?”

Lorcan sighed. “I love you, but you’re being ridiculous.” 

“You and Cassian will sleep in the same room,” Natasha said, simply. “That’s final.” Lorcan sucked in a frustrated breath, but Natasha kissed him on the cheek and hurried back into the living room to look at Lorcan’s baby pictures.

Lorcan watched from the doorway of the living room, shaking his head, slowly. Elide was fully engrossed in looking through the photo albums, Cassian was talking with Eliza about her love of dance, and for a moment, everything was perfectly perfect.

The afternoon went about like that, everything falling into place. The perfection of it made the time fly by, and when Christmas Eve dinner came around, Lorcan was actually smiling.

The food was delicious, the laughs were never ending and Lorcan and Laney were half buzzed after sharing a bottle of wine. Cassian was playing piano while Eliza and Becca sang Christmas songs, and Dakota was ogling Cassian from across the room.

“I think Koda has a crush,” Elide said, under her breath to Lorcan, as the couple stood in the corner, holding each other’s hands and sipping on wine. 

“Koda?” Lorcan snorted. “She just broke up with what’s-his-name, Cass is just her rebound.”

“Her rebound?” Elide repeated, laughing quietly.

“Not that she’ll try anything,” Lorcan said, unable to stop his grin. “She just needs a guy to check out in the meantime.” 

Elide laughed, watching as Cassian told the girls that it was time to get ready for bed. It was approaching midnight, which meant that the house would soon have to go quiet and they would all have to retire to their rooms.

Lorcan groaned, facing Elide. “I’m sneaking into your room in an hour.”

She chuckled. “Your mom said no, and I respect that.”

Lorcan groaned, yet again, pulling Elide close to him and pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Be rebellious.”

Elide gave him a mock frown. “But Santa won’t bring me any presents.”

“I’ll still bring you presents,” he mumbled, meeting her lips with his own.

“Break it up you two!” Becca hollered, making her way up the stairs. 

“Come on, Elide!” Eliza followed, excitedly. “We’re going to have girl talk before bed!”

Lorcan snorted, but Elide was smiling up at him. “Gotta go. Girl talk awaits.” 

“Have fun,” he whispered, giving her one more kiss. “Goodnight.” 

“Goodnight,” she winked, hurrying after Lorcan’s sisters. 

Natasha watched them, fondly, as she picked up the plates and napkins that they ate their deserts on around the living room. “She fits in well here, Elide.”

“She fits in well anywhere,” Cassian chuckled, helping Natasha pick up the mess. 

Natasha’s smile widened as she met Cassian’s eye. “You fit in pretty well here, too, you know.”

Cassian’s eyes flickered to Lorcan before returning to his mother. “I, um...I wanted to thank you, Natasha. For welcoming me here for Christmas. You didn’t have to-.”

“You’re family,” she interrupted. “Family spends Christmas together.”

Cassian smiled as he nodded and took the dishes to the kitchen sink. 

“Go to bed,” Natasha said, kissing Lorcan on the cheek. “I’m glad you’re home.”

Twenty minutes later, Cassian and Lorcan were settling down for bed, the former on the bed, the latter on the floor atop a mountain of blankets. 

Lorcan felt like he had just closed his eyes, finally falling asleep when banging on the door had both he and Cassian sitting up quickly.

“ITS CHRISTMAS, D BAGS,” Koda called. “TIME TO GET UP!”

Lorcan heard his mother say, “Dakota Caroline!” as he fell back against the blankets and chuckled. 

“Hope you didn’t want to sleep in this morning,” he said, rubbing his eyes.

Cassian was checking his phone when he laughed quietly. “Seven is a little early for my tastes, but Nesta has been up for two hours, so I should probably call her.”

Lorcan was already climbing to his feet and stretching when he said, “Yeah, Elide isn’t an early riser, so I’m sure she’s still asleep. I’ll see you downstairs.”

“Sounds good,” Cassian said, sitting up and yawning. Lorcan was almost to the door when he added, “Hey, Lor?”

He turned and asked, “Yeah?”

Cassian smiled and said, “Merry Christmas, brother.”

Lorcan chuckled, his smile genuine. “Merry Christmas, brother.”

~~~~~~

Bryce could have gone home for Christmas - probably should have, if her mother had a say in it - but she decided to keep it simple, for once, and remained in Velaris to prepare for the classes she would be instructing. 

She was doing okay spending the holiday alone, until the holiday actually arrived. By the time eight arrived and she’d eaten a stack of holiday pancakes, she was already growing restless. 

By eight-thirty, she had her boots on and was taking a drive to the edge of campus, where a familiar apartment stood.

She’d been checking on him often, daily, although she usually just called or texted him. When she texted, they kept texting for the rest of the day, and when she called, they would talk for hours. 

They were growing closer, again.

It terrified her as much as it excited her.

When he had finally woken up in the hospital, he had no recognition of the hours leading up to his overdose. Nor of the time he was unconscious, including Bryce’s tearful admission.

But his evident relief at seeing Bryce by his bedside had told them both what the other hadn’t said. They needed each other.

She hadn’t told him what she’d said before he’d woken up, instead she wanted to prove it to him, every day.

And she had been trying to do just that.

Now, on Christmas morning, she was knocking on his door. 

She only had to wait a few seconds before he was opening up the door, a broad smile on his lips. He was dressed in jeans and an ugly Christmas sweater, his feet bare.

“I thought we said noon?” he grinned, although the light in his eyes said he didn’t mind that she was early for their Christmas lunch. 

“Figured I’d beat the crowd,” she said, shrugging as he let her in.

He laughed, taking her coat from her and hanging it up by the door. It would only be the two of them, but whatever her excuse,  he wasn’t about to complain.

“What’s that over there?” She asked, her eyes falling on the bright red package sitting on his kitchen counter.

“That’s none of your concern,” he said, picking it up and taking it into the living room. “Until after lunch, that is.”

She began. “About lunch…”

He turned, eyes narrowing. “What about lunch?”

“What if we did Christmas breakfast instead?”

He arched a brow. “If I know you as well as I think I do - which, I do- I know you’ve already had three pancakes shaped like Christmas trees.” 

Bryce blinked. “So?”

“So come on in and help me cook,” he grinned.

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” she crooned, making her way into his kitchen.

They spent the entire morning making pancakes that roughly resembled trees, and by the time Bryce was sitting on his couch, watching Elf, bundled up in her own ugly sweater, it was nearly eleven. When she heard Hunt’s soft footsteps padding into the room, she turned and found him carrying two mugs of hot chocolate.

“I was hoping you remembered,” she said, grinning.

Hunt snorted, handing her a mug and setting his on the side table on the other end of the couch. “Trust me, I’ll never forget to have a box of hot cocoa in my pantry during the holidays.”

A few years back, things had been busy for the both of them leading up to the holidays. Bryce was the lead in not only V-SOT’s Christmas recital, but two other companies she danced for had recitals the same week. Hunt had his own engagements, from the showcase to a Christmas EP he’d been trying to release on time. Somehow, the box of hot chocolate ran dry before Christmas morning and the meltdown Bryce had rivaled that of some toddlers.

After Hunt told her she was acting like a child and she said he was acting like an asshole, they’d screamed at each other until Bryce grabbed Hunt’s face and kissed him. They’d made up pretty quickly after that.

Now, Hunt sat down on the other end of the couch and his attention was soundly on the movie. Bryce looked to where her feet were tucked under herself on the couch. He’d always sat there before, it had never mattered to him.

After a second, she cleared her throat intending to tell him he was more than welcome to sit next to her, but when his dark eyes fell on her, she choked.

“When are we opening presents?” She asked coolly.

He grinned, cocking his head to the side. “You always were impatient.” 

“Not true,” Bryce said, but knew it was a lie. 

“You said presents,” Hunt said.

Bryce blinked. “Yeah. So?”

“That means I get one too?” he asked.

Bryce couldn’t help her smile. “You think I’d show up here on Christmas empty handed?”

Hunt shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know, I’ve been pretty naughty this year.”

Bryce laughed. “Well, good thing Santa was pretty forgiving.”

She got up and went to her bag where she pulled out a gift wrapped in royal blue foiled paper. 

Hunt tracked her every movement as she approached the couch, yet again. “Here.”

He stared at it for a moment before taking it into his hands. “You know, I was just kidding, you didn’t have to get me anything-.”

“Open it, Hunt,” Bryce said, gently. 

He slid his finger underneath the paper, gently pulling the tape loose. “You didn’t spend too much, did you?”

She rolled her eyes. “No, I made them myself.”

Hunt’s eyes flicked up to her. “Really?”

She smiled softly. “Really.”

Hunt looked back at the box and-.

“Fuck!”

He pulled his hand back, blood welling along his finger. “Shit, my bad.”

“Your bad?” Bryce asked, jumping up and hurrying into the kitchen. “Hunt, you’re bleeding!”

“It’s just a paper cut,” he said, sighing as she went into mom mode.

Bryce hurried into the kitchen and grabbed a paper towel before hurrying back to him. She pressed it against his finger. “Just hold it on the cut until the bleeding stops.”

“It’s a paper cut,” Hunt snorted. “I didn’t get stabbed.” 

“You’re bleeding,” Bryce argued.

Hunt scoffed. “Hardly.”

Their eyes met, and suddenly Bryce was rethinking everything. She pulled back, her hands falling onto her lap, instead of on the paper towel she had been pressing into Hunt’s hands.

“Thanks,” Hunt said, at last.

“I’m sorry my gift injured you,” Bryce said, chuckling.

“It’s okay,” he laughed, unceremoniously ripping the paper off. No more paper cuts for him.

The gloves were crudely knitted together. He thought they were supposed to be gloves, at least. Hunt could see that there were four finger holes and a thumb off to the side - he thought, at least. The tips of the fingers were…missing though.

“You mentioned how cold your hands have been getting when you play guitar.” Her words were soft and she’d answered his question before he’d even had a chance to ask. Her eyes were glued to the soft, dark grey fabric in his hands. The stitches were spaced out and when he ran a thumb over one, a callous snagged on one of the strands. He wasn’t even sure they’d hold up when he tried them on, they may just unravel into nothing.

No gift had ever meant as much to him as these shitty, handmade gloves.

“I thought I could buy you some, but, you know, it’s Christmas…..” she shrugged. “I-.”

“I love them,” he interrupted. “Thank you.”

She nodded, slowly, unsure if she believed him or not. “You’re welcome.”

He grinned, pulling the gloves onto his hands, praying they held together long enough that she wouldn’t feel bad. Once they were on, he stretched out his fingers. They really were soft, even if they weren’t the sturdiest. 

He met Bryce’s eyes. “I’m never taking them off.”

Bryce rolled her eyes. “You’re so full of shit.” 

“No, I mean it,” he protested. “Never. Bed, shower, gym, everywhere.”

Bryce couldn’t help her laugh.

Hunt was on his feet, padding over to the tree and picking the package up. He sat it in her lap as he sat back down next to her and Bryce grinned up at him.

She removed the paper with much less care and he was surprised she wasn’t bleeding by the time she held the seek black box in her hands.

There was no writing on it, but as she clutched it, he could tell she knew exactly what was in that box.

She wasn’t breathing.

“Hunt, you’re joking.” Her words were barely a whisper.

If she could breathe, she would have been in trouble. His answering grin was breathtaking. “Open it.”

Bryce lifted the lid with shaking hands.

The satin shoes inside were impeccable and the ribbons slid between her fingers as she picked them up.

“I figured you still wore the same size,” he said, softly. “I had some help picking them out.”

It was true. With the assistance of Cassian, Nesta and Manon, though it was mostly Manon, Hunt had found the perfect gift.

“These are the Graynor Minden,” she said at last. “These are like…the Bugatti of pointe shoes.”

“So I’ve been told,” he said, chuckling. “The sales woman talked my ear off about them. Tried to sell me a men’s pair, too, but I politely declined.”

“Shame, I would have loved to see you in those,” Bryce said, meaning it as a joke, although she had a difficult time putting all the strength into her voice.

He had bought her a beautiful pair of slippers.

“You like them, then?” Hunt asked, quietly, his eyes soft.

Bryce slowly put the lid back on the box. “Hunt, I love them, but you didn’t have to-.”

“You’re going to be an instructor here,” he interrupted, gently. “A new job means a new wardrobe, right?” 

She stared at the box on her lap, unable to grasp that she was living the reality she was currently in. “Hunt…”

She said no more, her words trailing off, unable to form a thought. He was moving her chin, then, with just one finger until her eyes met his. He reached up with his other hand, brushing her fiery hair back behind her ear. 

“I’m proud of you,” he said, quietly.

She wanted to laugh, wanted to tell him that there was nothing to be proud of, but she didn’t have time. Instead, he was leaning toward her for the softest, sweetest of kisses.

It was nothing more than a few seconds, but that was all it took for them both to realize that it didn’t matter what life threw at them, be it career-altering injuries or life changing accidents. Without the other, there was no life. Just an endless sea of loneliness and longing.

When Hunt pulled away, his eyes were bright. Neither of them acknowledged the moment that had passed between, but they both knew. Closing his eyes, he leaned his forehead against Bryce’s and whispered, “Merry Christmas, Quinlan.”

Bryce felt an overwhelming sense of joy as she whispered back, “Merry Christmas, Orion.” 

~~~~~

“On the count of three.”

“Can’t we go inside? It’s freezing.”

“Not until I kick Aedion’s ass,” Aelin hissed. 

Rowan just rolled his eyes. There was no use trying to talk Aelin Galathynius out of a snowball fight. 

“Fine,” Rowan sighed. “On the count of three.”

“One. Two.” Aelin held the giant snowball in her hands. “Three!”

The moment she came around the tree trunk, though, she was met with a giant snowball hitting her right in the face.

“We said the face was off limits, Aedion!”

His reply was brief. “So was the groin. Didn’t stop you!”

Aelin was chuckling as she turned around and shook snow out of her hair. It was true. The second she’d seen Aedion lifting that huge ass snowball above his head, she just couldn’t help herself. With brilliant accuracy, she’d thrown a tightly packed snowball riiiight at the front of Aedion’s jeans.

He’d dropped that big ass snowball directly on to his head and Aelin had rolled around in the snow, laughing for five minutes. Which was coincidentally how long it took Aedion to get up out of the snow too.

“Where are you going?” Aelin asked, as she watched Rowan’s giant frame striding steadily through the snow. 

“Inside!” he called, without looking back at her. “Warmth! Food!”

“I’m with him,” Lysandra agreed, hurrying after Rowan towards the back door of Aelin’s parent’s house. Her parents were in the south, touring the coast of Eyllwe, but told Aelin she could party with her friends in Orynth for a few days for winter break. 

Which is exactly what she did. 

Now, on Christmas day, their morning had been spent decorating a tree they had cut down in Aelin’s backyard and playing in the snow. Aelin had wanted to try her hand at a proper Christmas meal, but settled on frozen pizzas and wine instead.

She wasn’t the best cook.

“Fine,” she groaned and began heading towards the door. “You’re all just a bunch of- AHHH!”

The high pitched scream had both Rowan and Lysandra turning around, looking for an in seen assailant. All they found was Aedion, laughing his ass off, and Aelin, furiously trying to shake the snow out of her shirt.

“That was fucking cold!” She cried, chasing after him, already scooping up a handful of snow. She and Aedion were both laughing, so Lysandra and Rowan rolled their eyes and hurried inside, back to the hot chocolate and toasty fire in the living room. Just a few moments later, they heard another high pitched squeal, which had Lysandra snorting as she watched Aelin take her revenge, a huge scoop of frosty white powder getting trapped in Aedion’s pants.

“They’re as bad as children,” Rowan muttered, sipping from his Rumchata infused hot chocolate. 

“We love them anyways,” Lysandra agreed.

Rowan just chuckled as the two came in through the backdoor. Before anyone could say anything, Aelin was pointed up. “Patio. Hot tub. Necessary. Now.”

She continued on, hurrying up the stairs without another word. Aedion, his teeth chattering, followed. Rowan and Lysandra shot each other a look before following their significant others up the stairs. 

Aelin was slipping on her swimsuit already when Rowan opened her bedroom door with an arched brow.

“I’m so cold I can hardly move,” she said, wrapping a blanket around her body once her suit was secure. “Why didn’t you stop me?”

Rowan simply shook his head with that soft, fond smile he only kept reserved for her. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Only a little,” she said, teeth chattering quietly.

He chuckled, wrapping her up in his arms until she stood shivering. He asked, “Better?”

“Better,” she sighed, forehead pressed against his chest. After a minute she looked up and gave him that dazzling smile that left him senseless. How he’d managed to make this amazing woman fall in love with him, he’d never know, but he thanked the gods every day for her.

“Let me change and I’ll be right down,” he murmured, his lips already brushing hers.

“Mmhm.” She replied, but clearly had no intention of going anywhere.

It was only a few moments later that a fist slammed against her closed bedroom door and Lysandra cooed, “Break it up in there, you two.”

It was Rowan who held his middle finger up to the door and that fact had Aelin laughing. “Go,” he muttered. “I’ll change and be right down.”

“Okay,” she chuckled, and gave him one last kiss before slipping out her door and following after Lysandra. 

Rowan quickly pulled on his shorts before making his way downstairs to the kitchen to grab Aelin’s Grinch Punch. Rowan hadn’t asked what she had put in the pitcher, but from the smell of it, he knew it included a whole lot of vodka. With the entire pitcher in hand, and four glasses, Rowan was walking back upstairs to where the back deck entrance was, and once he was through the sliding door, he was met with the grins of Aelin, Aedion, and Lysandra, all of whom were staring at the punch and not at him. 

“Look who brought the Christmas party!” Aelin winked, gesturing for Rowan to fill her up a cup. He poured them each a glass before slipping into the steaming water. He immediately relaxed, as Aelin scooted closer to him, practically sitting on his lap. Not that he would have complained.

Lysandra sighed happily, sipping on her straw and Aelin asked, “What’s got you grinning? We said the hot tub stayed PG-13.” She narrowed her eyes at her cousin, who held up his hands in surrender.

Lysandra snorted. “I was just thinking about the beginning of the semester versus now. None of us knew each other. Who would have thought on day one we’d be here?”

Aelin and Rowan eyed each other. Definitely not the two of them, not after their first encounter.

“Actually,” Aedion said, after draining his cup and reaching for a refill. “Technically, Aelin and I knew each other before we got there, so your logic is flawed, babe.”

Lysandra rolled her eyes as she elbowed her boyfriend in the ribs. “Okay, except for the two of us that are related, none of us knew each other.”

Aedion grinned as he began his second glass of neon green goodness. 

“It’s been a pretty exciting semester,” Aelin agreed. “I’m pretty excited to see what the rest of the year holds.”

“And the years after,” Lysandra added, lifting her glass in the air. They all followed her lead, raising their glasses high as the snow slowly began to fall from the clouded sky. 

“Merry Christmas,” Aelin said, laying her head on Rowan’s shoulder. “To friends.”

“To friends,” they repeated, and clinked their glasses together before getting wasted on whatever concoction that had come from the festive mind of Aelin Galathynius. 

~~~~~

Nesta had already talked to Cassian twice today, but she still missed him. They hadn’t gone more than a couple days without seeing each other since they officially became a couple, and not being able to see him on one of her favorite days of the year…sucked.

Hence why she’d volunteered to cook Christmas dinner for everyone. She knew Elain and Azriel would be at the soup kitchen until just after lunch and she wanted Feyre and Rhys to relax. Plus, she loved to cook.

She was just finishing up the mashed potatoes when she heard a knock and then her door cracked open. “Hello?”

“Come on in,” she called, trying to keep her sweater’s long sleeves from falling into the fluffy potatoes in the deep pot.

Feyre strolled in carrying a covered bowl, Rhysand just behind her with a bag full of presents.

Nesta lifted a brow. “What’s that? I told you to rest.”

Feyre glanced at the bowl in her hands before setting it down on the counter. “Oh, calm down. It’s just homemade applesauce.”

“Mom’s homemade applesauce?” Nesta asked, lifting the lid to take a peek.

Their mother had always made the worlds best crockpot applesauce when they were kids, before she passed.

Feyre grinned. “Yup. I would’ve had more to bring, but…” she shot a look at Rhysand.

He shrugged, setting the gifts down in front of the tiny table top tree Nesta had put up in the apartment. “What? It’s delicious. Once I started, stopping was hard as hell.”

“Welcome to our childhoods,” Nesta laughed, setting it with the rest of the food. “Except we learned early not to eat too much.”

“You’d get sick?” Rhys asked, raising an eyebrow as he walked back to the kitchen.

“Gods, no,” Feyre laughed. “Mom would ground us by not letting us have any more, even with dinner.”

“That’s just cruel,” Rhys muttered, wrapping an arm around Feyre’s shoulder. “Please tell me you'll use that on our son.”

With a snort, Feyre said, “Absolutely.”

The front door was thrown open and Elain and Azriel entered.

“Merry Christmas!” Elain hollered, then froze. “I sense mom’s applesauce.”

Rhysand lifted a brow. “Alright, that’s impressive.” 

Nesta laughed, opening up the oven to take out the turkey. “It’s for dessert.” 

“Fair enough,” Elain said, grinning as she set her and Azriel’s gifts by the others. “It smells delicious.” 

“Thanks,” Nesta beamed. “I’ve been cooking since eight.”

“That’s longer than we’ve been up,” Feyre said, stretching and perching on the arm of the couch. “This one kept me up all night.” She rested a loving hand on her stomach. Her bump was definitely showing, but at just four months she was still able to conceal it by wearing baggier clothes. Around their family, though, Feyre had nothing to hide. The form fitting sweater showed her bump off and neither Feyre or Rhysand could hide their grins.

“Which is why I’ve been telling you to rest,” Nesta argued, starting to set all of her dishes in the center of the table. “Instead you’re making applesauce.”

Feyre rolled her eyes.

“Anything I can help with?” Elain asked, stepping into the kitchen.

“Oh, no, I’m almost done,” Nesta said, taking a bowl of corn and setting it between the potatoes and the basket of rolls. “All I need is for all of you to sit down and get comfortable, because we’ll be around this table for a while.”

As everyone got up, Nesta’s phone vibrated. She didn’t even bother looking who it was from before she answered.

She already knew. 

“Hey.”

“Hey,” his sweet voice came from the other end. “How’s your lunch coming along?”

“Just got done, we’re about to sit and eat,” Nesta said, smiling as she leaned back against the countertop. “What are you doing?”

“Well,” Cassian began, “we ate the world’s biggest breakfast, so apparently lunch isn’t for another three hours.”

“You’re also two hours behind us,” she laughed. “Have you opened presents?”

“Yeah, and I feel like shit because I only brought one for Elide and Lorcan.” He sighed. “Nes, they all had me something.”

She could hear the emotion in his voice, could hear how confused and overwhelmed but happy he was. “That’s amazing, baby. I can’t wait to give you yours.”

The way her voice lowered just a bit at the end told him that it wasn’t a gift he’d be able to show his friends.

“Speaking of,” he said, and she could tell he was hurrying out of the room. “Have you been in the back of your top left dresser drawer today?”

Nesta’s eyebrows rose and she, too, snuck off to her bedroom. “You mean, my underwear drawer?”

“Is that what you keep in there?”

She could hear the mock innocence in his voice and she rolled her eyes as she opened it and reached her hand into the very back.

Her fingers closed around a box.

“Cass,” she whispered, shaking her head as she pulled off the lid. 

A silver whole note hung on the end of a long, silver chain.

When she said nothing, staring in awe at the thoughtful gift, he said, “Merry Christmas, Sweetheart.”

“I love it,” she breathed. “Cass, I love it.”

“Good,” he said, his smile evident. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she promised, her heart overwhelmed with how much joy was in it.

“With my whole heart,” he added and Nesta couldn’t help the groan as she rolled her eyes.

“That was so cheesy,” she sighed, holding the phone between her ear and shoulder as she removed the necklace from the box and latched it around her neck.

Cassian asked, “But you’re smiling, aren’t you?”

She reached up and fingered the circular charm hanging around her neck. “Yes,” she admitted.

“Good,” he said. “Now, go eat all the delicious food you made for our families and pass out into a much needed food coma. I’ll call you in a little while, okay?”

“Okay,” she breathed, still spinning the charm. “I love you, Cass.”

His answering chuckle was full of love. “I love you too, sweetheart.”

After hanging up, she looked in the mirror and admired the necklace. It truly was beautiful. She had no idea how he had afforded it, something so grand and lovely. 

When she showed her sisters, they were all grinning like fools. 

Just as they had sat down to begin their extravagant meal, Azriel’s phone buzzed, and he only looked at it for a second before shaking his head with a quiet laugh and shoving it back into his pocket.

“Dorian again?” Elain asked, plopping a helping of mashed potatoes onto her plate. 

“Mhmm.” Azriel helped Elain to a helping of turkey before he put some on his own plate. “He went home with Manon for break. Apparently, her grandmother is terrifying.”

“He’s called ten times today,” Elain laughed.

Rhysand was shaking his head. “Poor guy.” 

It was perfect. A perfect meal, a perfect day, a perfect gathering of family and loved ones. After lunch, they sat around the living room and opened their gifts. They laughed, drank, and ate way too much food, but the memories made would last a lifetime. 

And to think, before the school year started, each one of them were living completely different lives.

It was only Christmas.

Nesta decided she couldn’t wait to see what the New Year would hold. 

The End

[sweetchup]

Thanks for the last question! c: 💞 I Also love those two little spiders, they are just cinamon rolls; could you do some Hcs about that scenario? (Sorry, I don't know if I made the request in the right way, I'm a little stupid 😅💔)

“Family” Scenario General Headcanons

Oh you’re not stupid! Trust me I get confused all the time, you should see me during class. Here’s an example for future reference. Ex: Hello! Can I have a Headcanon about what the two sons from your Chrollo fanfic Family think of the troupe? Or Hi Do the boys from Family know that the reader isn’t their real mother?

Yay.... Perfect Family. Two Head spiders, Two itsy bitsy spiders and 12 Aunty and Uncle Leg Spiders that creates an amazing 16 person huge crazy family.

This will all seem super crazy to you. You had expected to be fighting for the boys from Chrollo grasps or, at the very least, forced to come up with some visiting plans to allow him to visit. But, this? The fact that you and your sons are now on the road with the troupe, the other members are now aunts and uncle spiders, Chrollo, your sister’s ex, is now your Husband and Chrollo is trying to get you pregnant.

It also didn’t help that you soon come to find out that Chrollo has been watching you all for 2 years before showing up. He even has pictures of moments of you and the boys such as them opening presents on Christmas and you all going trick or treating. Major creepy vibes. So, you basically wanna just get away with your sons from these psychos as quick as possible.

But, escape plans aren’t going to work out for you since Chrollo has full intentions on having you stay and making you fall in love with him.

So he comes up with a plan that has Kao and August each choose 6 uncles/aunty spiders to go train with and learn Nen off in the world. The boy’s first adventure! Yay... but that allows you two to be left all alone.

So, you’ll be forced to be locked in a room with only your basic needs. The fact you were chained to the bed made it easier for Chrollo to make love to you and isolate you until you experience harsh signs stolkhome syndrome.

Well....., that’s what you imagined he would do.

Chrollo actually wants your real affection, he knows stolkhome syndrome will likely take a small toll in making you fall in love with him but he wants to still try to make it as natural as possible. After all, he has spent the past 2 years watching you all from afar you all being a happy family. It makes his heart clench and his stomach turn every time he has to leave. But, he knew he had to wait. He had to wait until the troupe knew they could trust the new number 4 and 8.

So, while the boys are gone, Chrollo actually ends up taking you out on real dates, to intresting places and attempts to talk to you like an equal. The public would actually end up seeing you two as a michevious and bickering young married couple instead of the actual dark true side of the situation.

Chrollo isn’t in any rush on making you fall in love with him either. He has plenty of time. After all, learning Nen can take a long time, about 6 months to a year for the basics.

Though, even with all this nice things, this doesn’t mean Chrollo is still not a manipulative asshole. He still in charge of this relationship and has no intentions on stopping “making love to you”. He fully intends on getting you pregnant with his third child even if you aren’t in love with him at that moment. Such a doting husband...

Also don’t worry about Kao and August. He’ll take you monthly for a week to see the boys and Machi is doing regular check ups on them. He can’t have his family getting hurt or falling apart can he.

Truly, even if you didn’t like the fact of the boys hanging out with the troupe. You couldn’t deny it was cute watching them interact with the boys. Especially when it came to August trying to play fight Uncle Uvogin or watch Kao sit and play video games on Uncle Shalnark’s lap.

Soon, no matter how much you didn’t want to, you eventually warm up to these psychopaths in about 6 months. You even realize you have felled hard for Mr. Edgelord himself, Chrollo. But, being so stubborn, you fully intended on not wanting to show it. You wouldn’t give up so easily.

Well... not exactly.

It was an early Sunday morning and you were sitting against the old cobblestone wall of the current hideout. The reason you were currently sitting against the cold ground was because you were carefully and slowly attempting to fix Kao’s favorite scarf. It had gotten ripped during his training with Feitan and Phinks so you were trying to get it fixed so he would no longer pout or glare at the two. It was honestly scary seeing Kao so unusually upset.

“Mommy! Mommy! Can me and Kao have Pizza for dinner tonight?” August yells as he and his brother come running over from their play spot. Stopping and looking up at the boys, you sigh. Pizza, again?

“Well, let’s check with your father, okay?”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure the boss finds it okay, (y/n)” Nobunaga chimes in from afar, yawning and stretching from his spot on a tilted pillar. Of course nobu chimes in on this, Pizza is one of his favorite too.

“Well, this is the third time this week the boys have had pizza, Nobunaga. Too much isn’t good.” Franklin says, weighing the options. Thank goodness you have members like Franklin and Pakunoda who think of the logical side of things instead of giving the boys whatever they want. You were honestly worried they were getting too spoil from their aunts and uncles.

“Aww but Uncle Franklin! it’s so gooooood~~” August exaggerates, stretching his arms as far as he could to show that its super good.

Small chuckling and giggles echo around the room from the troupe at the boy’s silliness. You really wished you could give it to them but you really knew it wouldn’t be good for them.

“No buts August. And Kao, don’t huff. I’m sure you remember all the stomach aches you’ve had from not eating the right foods.”

Kao blinks rapidly and looks worried at his stomach. Kao has always had a very sensitive stomach that causes him a lot of pain. At first you thought maybe he had something like a gluten or dairy allergy but, after taking him to the doctors, it was just he had a weird stomach. Kao was actually really good on staying away from the things that upset his stomach but, he hasn’t exactly learn that he shouldn’t be eating too much or too often of greasy food like pizza.

You pat your son’s head, giving him reassurance. “Don’t worry Kao. I’ll find something else you’ll eat if you are worried.”

Kao seemed happy by that answer as he huffs and wormed his way into your lap. You giggle at him, you have such a silly boy for a son. As soon as determined Kao is comfy, you go back to sewing his blanket.

“Mommmm can I please have pizza? Pretty please with a shiny on top?!”

You just shake your head and let out a small laugh. Stubborn August wants what he wants and he’ll contunie to try until he somehow gets it. Though thankfully he isn’t too greedy and you can usually pick out what he’ll want next.

Not looking up from your stitching, you yell for the twin’s father. He’s been sitting on his perch and not doing anything all day so let’s have him deal with this. “Chrollo!”

“Yes? What do you need, my loving wife?”

You snort and shake your head. He’s still at it with that ridiculous nickname. The twins always gag and groan at Chrollo’s yucky nicknames for you. Though, you can’t help but feel your face heat up at them.

“August wants Pizza for dinner.”

You hear Chrollo close his book “Only him? Isn’t this the third time this week too?”

“Well, I really don’t want Kao to eat pizza again this week due to his sensitive stomach. August is fine but, you know, it...”

Chrollo finishes for you. “...it doesn’t mean it’s healthy.”

“Exactly.”

“Well I agree with you on that. I think August should eat something else for dinner tonight.”

“Aww but dad!”

“August.” You warned, playfully glaring up at him. “There’s many different things for you to eat. I’m sure there’s something else you’ve really wanted to try?”

It’s silent for a moment in the abandon building as August thinks. He pokes his chin, a habit he does when he can’t remember or pronounce the name of something.

“Buuu... Bugoli? Bowlgoog....”

You allow him to try it out for a couple of times to see if he can get it. It’s better for him to try and figure it out by himself since it helps him learn and grow. Though, sometimes you do have to help him. No one gets it right all the time.

“Bulgolgi?”

“Yeah! Bulgogi! Bulgogi.... Bulgogi” August says it a couple of times to taste the new word. Probably trying to remember it for next time.

“Well then. I’m sure Feitan knows some really nice places and recipes around here for it.” You look over to Feitan for confirmation and he nods. You smile and give a small thank you before looking down at your other son. “Does Bulgogi sound good for you too, Kao?”

Kao blinks twice telling you a “yes”.

“Well that settles it then. Bulgogi it is.”

“Yay! Bulgogi!”

August runs off outside chanting Bulgogi. Kao wanting to go follow him, slips out of your lap and claps to his chant. The air in the room gets a lot more happier at the boys’ extra silliness and the other troupe members laugh and follow them outside as well. Wanting to see and play with the crazy itsy bitsy spiders.

You sigh at the boys’ antics but still go to stand up to join the others. Though, you notice something unusual. Chrollo wasn’t joining? This isn’t like him. He usually wants to see everything his itsy bitsy spiders are up to and will even sometimes join in on the fun.

“Chrollo?” You softly call out to the man up above and facing away from you. He turns his head at your call and looks down at you, waiting for you to continue. “You coming?”

“Ah yes I am. Were you—“

Chrollo cuts himself off with a hiss as he attempts to stand up. He’s able to move his body to a standing position but, unable to keep it any longer, he soon falls back down in pain.

You stood there in shock. Chrollo was injured? That’s never happened before. Well, atleast not anything major. What happened? Was he okay? Of course he’s not okay, he—

You cut your own thoughts off as you realize Chrollo was attempting to get up again. Quickly, you climb up the broken rumble to get to the higher area to stop him.

Finally, you reach him and grab onto his shoulders to get him to stop. “Hey. Shhh it’s okay. Here, just lean against me.”

Your coos and soft voice seem to work as you are able to make Chrollo lean against you. His back pressed against your chest and both of your pairs of legs tangled, as he heaves.

Slowly, you put a hand up to his forehead. It wasn’t that hot nor cold so he wasn’t running any sort of fever or chills.

“Hey. What’s wrong? What happened.”

“N-nothing. I’m fine.”

“You don’t look or sound fine, Chrollo. Did you get injured yesterday? I heard that was a pretty bad mission.”

It’s quiet as Chrollo doesn’t bother to answer you. For such a logical and bright leader man, he’s unusually very stubborn. You wonder if that’s where August gets it from. But, you need to find out what happened. If he can hardly stand that could possible mean he has something really wrong with his back or, worse, Spine.

“Chrollo. Can you please tell me what’s wrong?”

It’s silent again as you finish. Chrollo doesn’t bother to answer again. Letting out a soft sigh, you lay your chin on top of his head.

“Pleassssseeeee Chrooooooolllloooo.” You whine, making sure to specially exaggerate his name.

Chrollo doesn’t answer again. But, you wonder if he atleast has a small smile on his face. Actually, maybe trying to get him to ease up will be the best way to get him to talk to you.

“Chrrrrrrollllloooo Luuuuuuccilllllfferrrrr!” You whine causing your weird tone of voice to echo off the walls.

Nothing again. You guess you have to step it up a notch.

Bring up your hand you lightly knock on the side of Chrollo’s nogin. “Youuu whooo? Anybody home?”

No response but you, at the very least, get a small chuckle from him. Man, he’s so stubborn. Stubborn. Stubborn!! He’s glad you’re in a silly mood today or you would have just chose to smack him already.

“Hmmmmmmmm.”

You knit your brows in consentration. You were trying to think of a way to step it up from here to make him crack. But, how... what would get him to talk no matter what.

Oh! You could always...

Your face heats up at your train of thought. Was it really the best idea to finally admit your feelings for him? You honestly didn’t think so. Though, there were no reprocrusions for doing so.

“Awwww. Chrollo ain’t home. I really wanted to tell him something!”

Chrollo doesn’t do anything but you know, from experience, that he was definetly curious and was thinking intently on what you possibly wanted to say.

“Welp, I guess I’ll leave a message then. Dear, Chrollo Lucilfer.” You change to bubble voice as if you were writing a letter. “I wanna let you know that...”

You take a gulp due to you being nervous about what you were about to say next.

“... I love you. I really do and I’m not saying that to get you to talk. Or to get you to—“

You cut yourself off as Chrollo moves his head and presses a kiss to your neck. It wasn’t sexual. You could tell he kissed your neck, of all places, because he couldn’t reach to kiss your lips or cheek.

Slowly and Carefully, You move so you two were now face to face. You breath hitches as Chrollo puts his forehead against yours.

“Say it again. Tell me that my darling wife loves me.”

“I love you, Chrollo. I love you with all my heart.”

Finally, Chrollo impatiently leans in to capture your lips with his. You could tell based on the pure passion and need of the kiss that he had been waiting so long for this moment. The moment you would finally tell him you were actually his.

You two slowly pull away, not wanting to stop, but having to due to a stupid thing known as air. Your heart flutters at his next words and the small smile on his face.

“I love you too, (y/n).”

Flustered and face beat red, you attempt to hide your face in the fur of his jacket. You couldn’t help but finally get flustered at all this lovey dovey and fluffy stuff.

“Don’t tell me your embarrassed by just 5 words. I’m sure you remember the worse things we’ve done together?”

Never mind. Moment officially ruined. Damn it...., why did you have to fall for him again?

“Well, you still have to answer my question Chrollo. What happened?”

“You are doing the same as me. You avoided answering mine.”

“No, That isn’t even a question.”

“Sure it is. Not everything has to be answered in what, who, where, ho—“

“Please don’t go off on another rant.”

“Just admit that I’m in the right, my wife, and I won’t try to continue.”

“Right about what? The fact you don’t have to tell me you are in pain?”

“Not exactly. But, you have to follow what I, your husband, says. It’s in your best interests after all.”

“Yeah right. Exactly when has that actually happened?”

“Well, My suggestion of using a plug to keep my semen in has proven very effective so far. We are going to the doctors tomorrow after all to check if you are pregnant. It also was very helpful —“

“Chrolloooooo! Stop rambling!”

[earthafromearth]

Fanfic | Cook a Goat Lamb With the Goat's Mother's Milk 1/3

AO3：https://archiveofourown.org/works/23343103/chapters/55920346

yes i translate my own work just because i know there gotta be more people still want to read some fanfic about those two and I want to make friends, okay? basically any feedback is highly welcomed

and of course im not an english native speaker

so... you know... there maybe some serious English mistake and typo

i cant even type Chinese right for god sake.....

Adolescence was as annoying as that board whose makeup was so heavy that seemed to make her impossible to get up from Charlie’s lap.

Meyer was lying motionless on the bed. He took a deep breath. His mother was cooking in the kitchen, the room filled with that rotten smell of stale beans. The sunlight outside the window was dazzling but without any bit of warm. Meyer pressed his arm against his eyes, hard enough to cause his eye sockets hurt, seeing some scattered sparkles in the dark behind his eyelids.

He had dreamed of Sicily. The window leaked, making every pore in his arm shrank tightly and dry, but the sheet was still moist on Meyer's lower abdomen. Meyer's Sicily was a total fake. He had never been exposed to Italian’s hot sun, New York's sun never brought any bit of heat with it, especially in winter. He had never experienced sweat flowed down his spine into the pants, maybe he should go to Cuba later and get some sun. But Charlie was real, Charlie whose hair was wet with sweat and clung to his forehead; Charlie whose whole upper body naked ,vest throwing on his shoulders causally; Charlie whose belly is tight and soft at the same time; Charlie whose pants hanging loosely on his buttocks ; Charlie, who tasted like lucky strikes but more salty … …Charlie could be real, but Charlie who bit Meyer's throat could not be real. A teenage wet dream. Meyer hated adolescence.

"Mey, are you alright? " Meyer heard his mother's voice and sat up quickly. But before he could shake his head, Jake rushed into the room. "Meyer wet his bed!" Shouted that little bustard. His mother blushed faster than Meyer himself. "Charlie want me to see him later." Meyer said, holding the quilt in a pile and putting it in the large basket filled with dirty clothes of the whole family. If mother noticed that he had purposely straightened his arms and put the sheet deliberately in front of his thighs, neither of them say a thing.

Adolescence made the streets of New York even more noisy, and the woman standing at the alley would wink at Meyer as he passed by, as if she could see through Meyer's wet dream at a glance, while Meyer just happened to notice, really accidentally, that the woman's shabby skirt was folded up and smashed into her underwear. The desire was being hit by a truck head-on, and all of a sudden, his pants seemed to be one size smaller, wrapped around his thighs. He lowered his head slightly and looked at himself, taking each step with extreme cautious, heels landed first then the toes, body moving forward with the toes, walking like a normal person, but he knew he had been founded out.

Meyer should have told Benny that he had seen Charlie dined with a woman at that Italian restaurant a week ago. Those two sitting in the corner of the window, and the woman was leaning her legs to Charlie’s under the table, and her toes were touching Charlie's calf bones again and again. He should have told Benny, so that Benny would chase Charlie over and over until Charlie told him all about it, then Meyer would have known who that woman was, "just a broad." Meyer also knew Charlie would say that. But Meyer didn't say a word to Benny. He just stood quietly across the street and a glass window. He stood there and stare quietly for a moment until he caught himself and hurried away, like a normal person.

Maybe the woman dining with Charlie was also a whore who would stand at the alley and show her thighs. Maybe the woman dining with Charlie was a hot mother of someone bets on their dice, or maybe Charlie was like him, just wanting a head from that woman, touching up and down on that smooth thighs. And that woman would cover Charlie's hand with her skirt. He refused to think about what Charlie would look like at that moment, but he knew at heart that Charlie would hold the woman's ass, hugging her and reaching into her underwear. Meyer wasn't just hit by the truck head-on. He was run over by the truck alive, his flesh felling to the ground, unable to save himself and had to wait for death. Desire was becoming more and more violent.

The hat shop Charlie was working for had a "rest" sign on the door, and Meyer stood still in front of it. He dragged his jacket down, picking up the body crushed by the truck with his bare hands, pieced together a decent body again, and pushed in the door.

"In the back!" Meyer heard Charlie's voice coming from the storeroom. As he walked in, he picked up the cigarette and the match Charlie had thrown on the counter. The door to the storage room was half closed, and the dim light leaked out of the crack. Meyer stepped between the light and shadow cast on the floor. He put the lucky strike it in his mouth, but as soon as he struck the match, Charlie pushed the door open and the fire went out.

Meyer glanced at Charlie. Charlie wasn't wearing his blazer, and his trousers' straps were pulling. Although he didn't roll up his sleeves, he unfastened the cuffs, exposing a section of his wrists, and his carpal was just there, easy to reach. Meyer lowered his head, lighting another match, guarding it with his other hand to lit the cigarette. He took a full puff and let the smoke float out of his nose. Even if Charlie knew that Meyer was delaying his time, he just waited quietly. However, even if he didn't say a word, he couldn't be still. He swayed back and forth, raised his chin slightly and looked behind Meyer.

One side of the hat shop was neatly arranged with men's top hats with little difference in style, and the other side was colorful female hats. On the back wall, facing the door, several popular hats were displayed. Charlie took a low-eave newsboy cap and put it on his head, suppressing most of the curly hair that took a lot of work to tame. Meyer blinked; the lining of the hat must have been stained with Charlie's hair gel. This is the patience of the Italians, superficial efforts which would only cause more trouble.

Meyer caught himself again staring at Charlie's face half blocked by his hat. Charlie was older than Meyer, but still had a little baby fat on his face. That somehow made his cheekbones a little more obvious. He looked like a cub, but the reality was that the fangs had already grown. You think he was cute, however, the moment you reached to him, he would twist his head and bite you so hard you would scream until you lost your voice It wasn't until Charlie took Meyer’s arm and pulled him into the room and the smoke ashes fell on Meyer's hand, he suddenly came back to reality. But the smoke had already fallen to the ground. Fuck.

"Something happened to the joint?" His voice was a little husky. He just smoked too hard. That had to be it.

"There gotta have a problem? I can't ..." Charlie pushed Meyer in front of him. "Just want to have a late lunch with you?"

The storage room had been originally well-organized. Rows of hat boxes had been piled up like rows of walls. Between each row there had been a line of empty space just enough for one person to walk through. Now all the boxes were pushed together, tightly close to the wall. Many boxes protruded or inserted obliquely. However, there were several boxes neatly piled in the middle of the vacated field, like a small coffee table, and there were a few kraft paper bags on it. Meyer glanced at Charlie. Charlie was like a kid squatted next to the Christmas tree, couldn’t help but laughing slyly, waiting for others to open their gifts. Meyer took the bags with different trademarks on it, opening them one by one. Cheese buns, bacon, pickles … … he took out the food and put it on the top of the boxes. Out of the corner of Meyer’s eyes, Charlie smiled like a weasel who had caught the mouse. Meyer took a deep breath and folded the paper bag, neatly lowering it along the edge of the boxes.

Meyer could be seen by whoever was dealing with them as a child whose hair hadn’t grown; he could be seen by a neighbor as a rogue kid who doesn't learn well; and he could even be seen as a shop seconder who could be bullied at will, but he was not Charlie’s prey, the mouse in the weasel's mouth He just was not.

He knew that Charlie wouldn't invite others to dinner for no reason, because he was just like Meyer in his bones and heart. So, what was all this about? I asked you to a fine dinner together so later you would go to a cheap hotel with me?

"It's all kosher." Charlie put a hand on Meyer's shoulder and walked to Meyer's side. He grabbed the cheese from the hat box, and weighed the rectangular bars wrapped in foil in his hand. "Good stuff from uptown." Meyer turned to look at Charlie, and Charlie was smiling so wide that his canine teeth appeared. "Where did you get the money to go uptown and buy food like those?" He heard his voice without a trace of undulation, but Charlie still smiled as if he had secretly hidden lump sugar under his tongue. "I'm good at bargaining.” Charlie threw the cheese on the table, as if it was a hammer from the auction house. Once the hammer is downed, the deal is done.

Meyer squeezed his lips tightly, and Charlie's hand on his shoulders kept him warm for most of his body, as if he was basking in the Sicilian sun. He twisted, and fled stiffly from Charlie to the other side of the table. "You and I both know how you are good at bargaining," he said dryly. He tried to pretend that nothing had happened, but Charlie refused to let him go. He walked to Meyer again, grabbing Meyer's shoulders with both hands, looking down at Meyer, putting Meyer under the newsboy hat he was sneaking on his head. Damn Italian. "What's wrong?" Charlie's hands moved to the sides of Meyer's neck, and Meyer had to raise his head. "Tell me what's wrong, little man, it can't be because of that pile of food."

"You can't cook goat lambs with goat's mother's milk." Meyer whispered, slowing down every byte, as if teaching a baby to speak.

"Meyer." Meyer could feel Charlie holding him harder. It was a warning, a question, and it was Charlie's finger that struck Meyer's skin. Charlie leaned on a fruit tree. The air in Sicily was filled with the sweet smell of citrus and lemon after maturity. He grabbed Meyer's arm and arched his back slightly to lick Meyer's neck and shoulder, exactly where Charlie was holding him now. Meyer didn't know if he was really trembling, but he was trying hard to restrain himself and make him look like a decent businessman, not a stinky boy whose nerves were immersed in hormones. He breathed hard and slowly, taking a small step away carefully. This time, Charlie let go. Although New York is not as cold as Grodno, who had been exposed to a Sicilian’s sun would of course be spoiled.

"I saw you dining with a woman in that Italian restaurant of Masseria." Meyer said fiercely of the word Masseria, but Masseria was not the reason for everything, the name was nothing but said along the way. That’s only Meyer's futile struggle. Meyer knew, obviously Charlie knew as well.

Charlie left out a laugh, and Meyer glared at him. "Little man!" Charlie bent down and patted Meyer's face with his arms stretched out. "It's just a broad, what's the big deal?" Charlie's answer was exactly what Meyer had thought, Meyer knew Charlie, with his eyes closed, his would know where Charlie would go next, which is the worst of adolescent fucking agitation.

Charlie's words were more of an insult than a refusal. Meyer wasn't a captured prey. Meyer wasn't a prostitute standing on the street, bored and playing with her fingers, and Meyer wasn't a cheap whore for Charlie to dine at a fake but fancy restaurant. And now they were in the storage room of a hat shop without even a decent table.

Charlie was still waiting for Meyer's response. Meyer had rushed over. He bumped into Charlie with his shoulders. Charlie was slammed backwards and hit the piled hat boxes. The top boxes fell off, as well as the newsboy hat Charlie wore. The newsboy cap fell on the ground and was covered with a layer of gray ashes. Meyer knew that Charlie would be scolded for this, and Charlie couldn't do anything except to admit it. Good.

Charlie stood up against the boxes behind him. His hair was completely messed up, curled up next to the temple. He arched his shoulders, arms behind him. He was calculating whether to attack or retreat, counterattack or let the matter go. Meyer didn't want to let it go, so he pushed Charlie again. Charlie got to firmly grasp Meyer’s arm this time, Meyer raised his knee and kicked it against Charlie's stomach fiercely. his calf was crippled over Charlie's thigh. Charlie snorted painfully, "Fuck." He heard Charlie scold, and was thrown to the ground almost at the same time. Meyer's back was on the concrete floor tears accumulate in the corners of his eyes, and the hat on the ground deformed in his afterglow. He suddenly wanted to laugh. Charlie's knees rested besides Meyer’s thighs; Meyer's wrists were firmly grasped. Charlie pressed him to the ground, the back of Meyer’s knuckles shattered on the cold ground. "What is this all about? Just because I took a girl to dinner? Didn't I have dinner with you all the time? On your Jewish street!"

"I won't step on your fucking crotch with my feet under the table!" Meyer lifted himself up, but Charlie just pushed him back again.

"Aren’t I sure of that? You just gave me a fucking punch! All because I specially grabbed something nice for you!"

"Fuck you, Luciano!"

This time was Charlie who laughed, short like he choked a mouthful of water. He released Meyer's wrist first. Meyer rubbed the back of his swollen hand. After Charlie saw that Meyer didn't plan to give him another punch, he jumped up to the other side of the room. Meyer sat up on the same spot but didn't stand up. He held his knees to his chest and curled up into a small group on the ground like a child. Charlie turned his back to him, muttering something in Italian, patting his pockets for his cigarette. Meyer took out his own and threw it towards Charlie's back. The cigarette case fell at Charlie's feet. Charlie picked it up, popping one in his mouth, and walked back to sit next to Meyer. "It is not that easy." He handed the cigarette to Meyer. Meyer raised his eyes and waited for him to continue, "You're different, do you understand?" Meyer understands, but at the same time he didn’t understand at all.

"Fuck, I even don't have to tip when I go to Massaria’s little restaurant." They took turns and the cigarette was smoked to its butt. Charlie threw it on the ground and pick another one, "Massaria thinks I'm the next golden boy or some shit." Meyer heard a smirk and said, "Yeah, fuck those old farts!" Charlie finished. He lay down on the ground, picked up the dirty newsboy hat, and nudged it into his chest, but he just pressed the dirt deeper into the texture of the hat, "Fuck." He cursed and clasped the hat on Meyer's head, Meyer immediately grabbed it and threw it out.

"Dairy products are not supposed to be eaten with meat in Judaism." Meyer said quietly. Charlie propped himself up with his elbow. "You can't cook goat lamb with the milk of a goat's mother." Meyer repeated his words before, Charlie hummed, "Then eat the pickles, like I give a fuck."

"You do not give a fuck?"

"Look, I'm only getting these foods because you're Jewish, and I don't give an honest shit about whatever nonsense they say in that book of yours. That book is as thick as a brick, you know." Charlie touched Meyer with his shoulder. Meyer used the half-burned cigarette butt to put on a new one. "I don't care about the shit rules that godfathers or bosses have to follow. I know what I can do. That good enough for me," Charlie snatched the cigarette from Meyer. All of a sudden, no one speak. Meyer heard what Charlie said and his brain just refuse to work.

"Are you going to kiss me or not?” That’s all Charlie can wait,” Or, we could eat ……”

"You fucking dago!" Meyer cursed, grabbing Charlie's collar and dragging him to himself. "Hey! Where did that come from? I didn’t even call you a Kike!."

TBC

[sparklyicecube]

He’d be proud

This is my secret santa present for @maidenofbagend for the Harry Potter Secret Santa! It’s a prongsfoot fanfic that I hope you will enjoy!

“Why must this happen to meeeeeeeeee.”

“Well well, I never thought I’d see you on the bed contemplating life, if I might guess, wondering why you like a certain deer?”

Sirius threw a pillow at the person.

“Shut up Remus. I don’t have a crush on any deer, and it’s a stag not a deer.”

Remus smirked while Sirius’s eyes widened in realisation of his mistake and buried his face in his pillow.

“Oh come on, what is it this time?” Prodded Remus.

“You know, James has done so much for me, taking me in on holidays, pranking with me, being so kind and helpful…” Sirius trailed off.

“I wouldn’t be so quick to give him those last two compliments if I were you.”

“I just,” Sirius sighed, “I want to get him something nice for christmas.”

Remus laughed, it wasn’t often that Sirius let down his cool, smug-like demeanor to show weakness like this, and the fact that this was for his best friend made it even better.

“If it’s just about that I’m sure you can find something great. Remember, it has to come from the heart.” Reminded Remus.

The door flew open as James dramatically walked in, Remus rolled his eyes and Sirius laughed.

“I’m so sorry my dear Sirius but I do quite need Remus for as long as this activity takes.” Declared James.

Remus and Sirius looked at each other, Remus shrugged and got up from where he was sitting on the bed to follow James.

Sirius kept up his cool smirk until the door closed then threw the blankets over himself in an attempt to figure out how to cool his face down.

James on the other hand was in a similar situation, except he now had a reluctant ear for him to talk to.

“Remus I called him ‘dear’!” Wailed James as soon as he stepped out of earshot. Remus wondered why his two best friends were like this. “Remus, I need to get him the best present ever! But I don’t think he even really wants anything!”

Remus sat in a comfy chair in the Gryffindor common with his book that he managed to grab, James spread out on a couch, it was practically midnight and they could talk well without any peepers, as far as they cared at least.

“Remuuuuuuus.” James whined, “What do I get him for christmas?”

Remus’s eye twitched but he didn’t snap.

“I don’t know, why don’t you wrap yourself up in a bow and give him that?” Hinted Remus.

“Best friend status doesn’t carry that far.” James complained. Remus sighed, these two were going to need a lot of pushing to get an inch past ‘best friend status’.

He went back to reading his book before another whine came from the couch.

“Remus, I know me and Sirius are close, and I know I’m irresistible, and you’re helping me but… I think he has a crush on you.”

Remus froze and put his book down, James didn’t know all the nights that Sirius spent ranting about James’s messy hair, dorky glasses, the infuriating dance between him and James that kept them always within arms length, never more never less. However, James had a point, for someone who never knew what was said, who just knew the hours and that Sirius was dying to talk to Remus for some reason, it was quite likely that it could be true. But not in this case.

“Look, I think we both know that’s not true, and even if it were, that wouldn’t stop you from getting him a magnificent christmas present or be stressed about it, so let’s work on one thing at a time okay? Come on, let’s go to bed.”

“You haven’t done your transfiguration homework?” Asked James as he caught sight of Peter’s frantic writing.

“What’s another word for ‘this shows’?” Asked a very stressed Peter.

“Try using ‘this highlights’.” Suggested Remus, taking a bite of the very delicious-looking sandwich.

The four were sitting at the dining table, eating their breakfast and doing their homework and…

“Hey Padfoot, no matter how much you stare at my muffin I’m not giving it to you.” Teased James.

Sirius snapped out of his trance-like state, from staring not at the muffin but at a certain someone Remus observed. He quickly bounced back.

“That muffin? I was just wondering how you never get sick of the same muffin everyday, really, you’re going to turn into a muffin one day!”

“Hah!” Exclaimed James. “You’re saying that but in reality you think my muffin is awesome!” The two burst into laughter.

James leaned over to peep at what Peter was writing.

“Um, I don’t think Minnie wants an essay on changing pizzas into muffins…” Commented James.

“I can’t stand it! I can’t write this! I need food!” He cried.

“I can’t wait until the holidays!” James said, ignoring Peter shovelling food into his mouth. “You guys could come over!” Realised James perking up.

“As much as I’d like to, my mom would freak if I don’t go home.” Answered Sirius with a slightly downed tone.

“Then… send me an owl when you convince her, we could meet up a week before school maybe?”

“Remember, she infiltrates all the owls.” Pointed out Sirius semi-dejectedly.

At that point the bell rang and sent the four scrambling for their books and equipment and imminent doom.

“Cleaning the trophy room is boring.” Declared James.

“Yes but we were 10 minutes late to class.” Pointed out Remus.

“Why did Professor have to split up me and Sirius?” Protested James as he attempted to wipe off the dust on a glass cabinet.

“She had a point, as long as you two were together there’d be no way the detention would be properly carried out.” Remus pointed out.

“Well in that case… Remus I still have no idea what to get him for christmas!!!” James complained, “And not much time to get it!”

“Why not a mirror, so you can feed his big ego?” Suggested Remus.

“A mirror is boring… “

“A phone?”

“What’s a phone…”

“It’s something muggles use to communicate with each other.”

“But that’s a muggle thing…” James’s eyes suddenly lit up, as if struck by a lightning bolt of inspiration. “You’re brilliant Remus! If I get him a mirror that we can use to communicate then there’s no way his mom can take it from him right? All I have to do is make it so that the mirror reflects what the other mirror should be reflecting! And audio of course… You’re a genius!”

“Well when am I not?”

Would a genius push their two best friends, who clearly want to get together, off a cliff? Yes, yes they would. Should he? Yes, yes he should. Can he? No, unfortunately there are not enough cliffs in Hogwarts that are convenient to push people off, and there aren’t any books in Azkaban. Would a genius push together, not just anyone, but Sirius Black and James Potter? The two biggest idiots and pranksters on the planet? No. Definitely not. But he shall do it anyway.

A slight trip and push landed Sirius a spot in James’s arms. It didn't end there though, nothing the marauders did ended at just that, no, James caught him like a fairy tale and spun him around. ‘Where did the rose in James’s mouth come from?’ Questioned Remus in his head. They threw their heads up in a flourish and ended on a showy pose. James looked down for a split second only the other marauders could see from their front row seats and proceeded to drop his best friend on the floor of the great hall, for now their fellow students can go back eating their dinner in peace.

James blinked in surprise then profusely apologised. Sirius made a big show of spinning his head around dizzily.

“Remus, I think I have a headache, take me to Madame Pomfrey.” Sirius then grabbed onto Remus’s hand and pulled him along out of the hall.

“What are you-”

“Remus I can't take it…” Sirius sighed. “Not that close, not that intimate just not that, you know?” Sirius looked at Remus for confirmation, a longing in his eyes.

“Then tell him already for goodness sake! It’s not my place to confess for you, you know?” Remus said.

“I would but…” Sirius looked away, “I don't think he'll say yes.”

“On what basis?” Remus asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Remus, it's so obvious, he likes you.” Sirius stated sorrowfully.

Remus thought back to the time where James basically begged him to help woo Sirius, the time that Remus had to listen to an hour of ranting about Sirius’s amazing comebacks and so on, these two were crazy similar yet surprisingly dense to no one but the other.

“Look Sirius, even if he does for some insane reason have a crush on me, I’d turn him down.” Remus deadpanned. Sirius stared at him.

“What?”

“Well yeah, I don't have any feelings for James and there is someone right beside me who’d be perfect for him.” Remus nudged him with his elbow playfully.

“Thanks.” The two started walking back to the great hall. “You know I’m thinking a scrapbook…”

As they ate dinner Remus thought of possible date ideas, library? They would never. Picnic? Not grand enough. Astronomy tower? Too cramped. Now Remus was starting to reconsider the idea of pushing the two off a cliff, maybe into the lake would be more feasible. Wait, this year they can finally go to Hogsmeade! And Remus knows for a fact that the two have the signatures ready so…

“So, The trip to Hogsmeade is coming up soon, where do you two want to go first?” Asked Remus.

“I don’t know, oh! They said that they have a joke shop! Let’s all go and get materials!” Exclaimed James.

“What about the Three Broomsticks? We can all go-” Started Sirius.

“Actually,” Remus cut in, swinging his arm onto Peter’s shoulder. “Me and Peter have plans for Hogsmeade.” Said Remus calmly.

“We do?” Asked Peter blankly.

“Remember? We have some christmas shopping to do, alone.” Emphasized Remus. James and Sirius shared a mildly suspicious look.

“Better get us amazing presents!” Teased Sirius.

James and Sirius walked into the Three Broomsticks in awe, Hogsmeade was truly magical, even to those who had grew up in it. They snagged a comfy little table, they saw some of their fellow students but when they looked like they might come over they seemed to change their minds. The two were good at keeping up appearances but on the inside both were freaking out, it was so obvious that this was meant to be a cute little date for the two but they had danced this ‘best friend’ dance for so long that it was hard to step out.

“So, how is life?” Asked Sirius in a joking way, putting his face to rest on top of his palm, propping himself up.

“Well,” Began James, mimicking Sirius’s pose. “How is the most handsome person in the world?” The pickup line had been set in place, ready for Sirius to ping-pong it back but…

“Amazing, thanks for asking.” Replied Sirius coolly, making a mental note to try and quell the butterflies in his stomach.

They both laughed for a bit before discussing about a bit of light quidditch then lapsing into awkward silence.

“So… Remus and Peter went christmas shopping huh?”

“Yeah… On that note, have you gotten my gift yet?”

James had a look of terror on his face before replying: “All done and wrapped in time for christmas.” He boasted gleefully. “What about you?”

“You really think you’d be done before me? I finished ages ago.” Sirius inwardly panicked, he had started the scrapbook but it was only half-done.

“That sure is convincing.” James pointed out before bursting into laughter with Sirius.

“Are you sure about this Remus?” Asked Peter. The two of them were under James’s very handy invisibility cloak, Remus was watching James and Sirius walk into the restaurant. Remus finally explained everything to Peter (who was legitimately

unaware of everything that was happening) and made sure their unofficial date was a success. He managed to hand all the other students notes saying to keep away from the two, and was monitoring them.

“Yes. Not really but if I don’t do this now I will have to live more of this nonsense before christmas official comes.”

“Is that their new strawberry cheesecake crumpet?!” Asked Peter, dashing out, pulling off their invisibility cloak off. It was quite dark so not many noticed it but Sirius saw him and immediately made a beeline for him, almost spilling with news. James also got up and started going towards him and Remus panicked.

Remus grabbed Sirius’s hand and with some quick maneuvering managed to get it in James’s, carrying with the momentum a twirl.

“Take Sirius, dance with him, kiss him and shut him up please.” Pleaded Remus.

James looked into Sirius’s grey eyes, Sirius into James’s hazel. The bulk of the restaurant was watching. The moment stretched out and instead of dropping Sirius like the incident before (he is never going to live that down) James pulled Sirius up to connect their lips.

The entire restaurant was clapping and hooting and many stood up to give a standing ovation. There were fireworks in the background and this was truly where the both of them belonged, in the middle of a crowd right next to each other.

James hefted Sirius to his feet and they both had huge arching smiles that haven’t been seen for forever. Remus joined them as they started towards the door.

“Did something happen?” Asked Peter, sprinting to catch up with them.

The Marauders laughed and headed back towards the big castle of Hogwarts.

“Come on.” Whined James. “Your parents won’t allow you to be away on christmas, neither will yours or yours or mine!” Gesturing to all the Marauders. “And I want to see your faces when you  open my presents!”

“He holds a valid point.” Noted Sirius.

“Just Marauder presents though, I am opening all of my other presents on christmas day itself.” Finalised Remus.

The other three nodded with so much enthusiasm that Remus couldn’t help to laugh.

They started opening their presents, shouting with glee.

“A mirror?” Said Sirius quizzically, then immediately started posing in front of it.

“Nope! That’s what you think but actually, you see in this mirror what you are supposed to be seeing in the other.” Explained James with pride.

“We can see each other even when my mother doesn’t want me to!” Squealed Sirius, grabbing James and pulling him into a kiss, which, has been a regular occurrence ever since that date.

“Open mine now.” Said Sirius with excitement, passing the parcel over.

“Is this a… scrapbook?” Asked James.

“Yep! I added as many photos as I could, especially the embarrassing ones!” They spent all night looking through the book, even when the Head Prefect told them that some people needed to sleep. The four of them went home that year with the biggest smiles ever and constantly laughing, two of them with a newfound relationship and happiness.

“I remember that, you gave me and James ‘portable fans’.”

“Yep, a very good decision if you ask me.”

“What was it you said? Oh yes. ‘The next time either of you say ‘I’m so hot’ there is a fan right there.’ Very sassy.”

The two looked wistfully out of Sirius’s window.

“Do you think Harry is going to have a christmas as good as that?”

“Well if Molly gets ahold of him I guarantee you he will, and as long as you are around I’m sure he will also be happy, Sirius.” Sirius smiled sadly.

“I miss him.”

“There isn’t a soul who doesn’t.”

“Death Eaters?”

“They don’t have souls.” The two laughed slightly, not nearly as full or as carefree as they were when they were thirteen but when you are both scarred, scared and in the middle of a war, that is good enough.

“Well I’ve got to go, Nymphadora is expecting me soon.”

“Doesn’t she hate people calling her that?”

“Your point?”

“James would be proud.” Remus gave Sirius a tired smile.

Sirius sat in his room, it was decorated with red and gold, quidditch posters and so on, yes. James would be proud.

[fanficwriter013]

The Tower Holiday Special - Part Two

The Tower Holiday Special: An Avengers Fanfic

Part One | Two

Word Count: 4610

Warnings:   Fluffy fluff.  Some funny dialogue.

Synopsis:   After Tony announces to the world that the Avengers are in a polyamorous relationship together, things become tense.  Elly decides that they could use some holiday cheer and gets all their friends involved.

Author’s Note: As promised part 2, and you only had to wait less than twenty-four hours for it. Written with the salted carmel Sagittarian @emilyevanston. Happy, Merry Festivus.

Holiday Special - Part Two

Since joining the Avengers, Wanda had not had really had anyone to celebrate Hanukkah or any of her holidays with.  It was something that she did with Pietro until they’d unwittingly signed their bodies over to HYDRA.  She still celebrated, but you could tell she missed Pietro.

Because we were celebrating a holiday, when normally they didn’t, I wanted to make sure she knew she wasn’t alone.  That I was her family and if she wanted to have someone to share that with I could be that person.

So on the first day of Hanukkah, I spent the morning cooking latkes, sufganiyot and kugel and left them to cool while I went up to work.  After work, I showered and got dressed and headed over to Wanda’s apartment laden down with food and gifts.  I knocked on her door and heard the words, ‘Just a minute, sweetheart.’  In my mind as the sound of things being hastily moved around happened inside.

The door opened and Wanda popped her head out.

“Happy Hanukkah!”  I said with a big stupid grin on my face and holding up the plates of food.  “I’ve been cooking.”

Wanda kissed my cheek and took the plate stepping out of the doorway so I could come in.  “Thank you.  You didn’t have to do that you know?”

“I know I didn’t.  But I love you, and it’s your holiday.  You’re celebrating ours with us, so…”  I held up two small wrapped gifts.

Wanda put the food down on the coffee table and we both sat down on the couch.  She curled herself into me and took the presents, kissing me on the tip of the nose.  “You’re too sweet.”

“I can’t tell you how hard it was to keep this a secret,”  I said as she opened up the dreidel and gelt.  “I thought we could play.  I know, it’s for kids or whatever, but…”

Wanda put her finger on my lips.  “I could tell you were hiding something when you started singing ‘Sucker for Pain in your head at random times.”  She said.  “And it sounds good, sweetheart.  I would love to do that.”

I let out a sigh of relief as Wanda picked up a latkes and tore a piece off.  “You know there’s better ways to keep things secret from me.  You can ask me not to snoop around.  Or there’s Natasha’s favorite.  Thinking in other languages.”

“I don’t know any other languages.”  I joked, “So earworms it is.”

Wanda rolled her eyes.

We spent the night eating and playing and she taught me the song to sing as she lit the candle.  The following day Sam joined us.  Then Nat and Bucky.  Then Vision.  By the eighth day, the whole group had come to celebrate too.  Wanda and I spent the day teaching Vis to cook.  It felt like something had shifted in the group.  Like they’d discovered that there was another level to what being a family was.

Gift hunting for Tony wasn’t as easy as I had hoped.  For real, what do you buy a guy who has billions of dollars?  He’s not the most sentimental person in the world either.  In fact, the Iron Suits and his cars are the only things that he seems to hold on to.

I kept thinking, I can’t just get him lingerie for me.  That’s so lazy.  Then I got it in my head, the first real date we went on was to Shake Shack.  Maybe I could buy Shake Shack.  I mean, how much money could it be?  It’s a small shack that makes burgers.

Turns out a lot.  It costs a lot.  Not for that venue.  That venue wasn’t for sale.  Nor were any.  It was a publicly listed company.  So then I had it in my head that I’d buy him shares.  However, the shares weren’t exactly cheap and I knew he wouldn’t be happy with just some shares.  He’d want controlling shares.

So after speaking with his lawyers and accountants and everyone giving me the go ahead because it was a growing business with steadily growing share rates I went to see Tony.  Really feeling confident.  Okay, so I wasn’t buying him this exactly, I was investing his money.  My gift was an investment into something that meant something to us.

So I headed into his lab.  He was right in the zone.  Hyper-focused on whatever he was working on.  I went up behind him and just rested my chin on his shoulder and wrapped my arms around his waist waiting for him to acknowledge me.  To my surprise, it happened really fast.  He immediately started closing what he was working on down.   “Hey, no no. You said we weren't supposed to know anything about these things before we did the gift exchange.”

“Oh was that a gift thing?  I didn’t look.  Is it for me?  Did you get me?”  I babbled excitedly.

“It was a gift thing. Not for you.”  Tony said.  “Besides, you were the one that made all these rules.”

“Okay.  Well, I didn't look.  So it's all good.  No surprises ruined.”  I said kissing his cheek and stepping back so he could turn around.  He spun in his chair and wrapped his arms around my waist looking up at him.  It was in this very moment that I realized how fucking insane what I was about to ask for actually was.  “I kind of have... fuck... I don't even know how to ask for this.”

“Whoa, that sounds like something I would say.”  Tony teased.  “What's going on? Do you need lawyers? Your own suit?”

I had a vision of myself flying around and being part of the team in my own version of the Iron Man armor.  I liked how it looked and for a moment I was completely distracted from what I went in there for.  “Is my own suit an option?”  I asked, looking around the room at the different suits.  “No.  Shut up, Elly.”  I said shaking my head to clear it of thoughts of being a new superhero.  “I need money.  Like a lot.   A lot of money.”

Tony looked at me with a mix of curiosity and excitement.  I knew what was going through his head.  I never asked for money.  I hated taking money.  He was about to get the thing he wanted.  He could spoil me for a change.  “What's a lot of money?”

“A hundred million and some change,”  I said spewing the words out as fast as I could and regretting saying it immediately.  I dropped my eyes and tried to pull away from him.  “No never mind.  This is dumb.  I don't even know why I thought this was a good idea.”

He tightened his arms around me.  “Hey, wait.  You know that’s nothing to me right?  It’s like $10 for you.  Pocket change.  No big deal at all.  I just need to get my checkbook.”

I looked at him like he’d lost his fucking mind.  I felt like I’d lost mine that’s for sure.  “You’re not even going to ask what it’s for?”

“No, why would I?’  He asked.  “I told you, it's ten dollars. Not a big deal. I have it, I can give it to you. I'm just really excited that you're finally asking me for money. Wait, that didn't sound right.”

I laughed and buried my face in his neck.  I felt really overwhelmed and unworthy.  I don’t even know where the feeling of unworthiness came from.  It’s not like I’d gotten into some serious trouble.  I’d just had a dumb investment plan.  Still, this man loved me so much that I could ask for more money than most people earned in a year and not even ask me what I needed it for.  He just trusted I wasn’t hiding anything bad from him.  “I love you so much, you know?”

Tony pulled me a little tighter to him and kissed me on the top of the head.  “I know, love you too.”  He said, patting my butt.  “Now let me go so I can go get my checkbook.”

****

The preparation for Christmas dinner started about three days before with Wanda and I, making desserts.  We then cooked pretty much constantly all the way through until the last dish was set on the conference room table completed.  I have never cooked so much food in my life.  There was a mixture of things that included traditional things, like Turkey (there were two full birds served hot and one small turkey roll I’d cooked the night before so Wanda had one), a Ham that was hot and one served cold, potatoes prepared like 4 different ways, green beans, carrots, gravy.  We had cold seafood like shrimp, oysters and smoked salmon.  There were three different kinds of vegetarian imitations meats, including a fake turkey made to look like a turkey.  We had traditional dishes from Eastern Europe like beef salad, and sarmale from Romania and Sokovia and Bobal’ki and Kutya from Russia.

We’d gone overboard but there were a lot of us.  Our family group of Steve, Bucky, Tony, Bruce, Clint, Sam, Wanda, Natasha and myself.  Our little part-timer Thor and his brother Loki.  Rhodey, Phil, Maria, and Scott were there too.  I had no doubt most of it would get eaten.

While Wanda and I had been cooking most of the others had been volunteering in shelters around town.  So by the time that the last dish hit the table we were all so ready to eat.

“I can't believe we pulled this off.  I've never cooked for this many of you at once.  Merry Christmas, everyone.”  I said collapsing into a seat.  “Who wants to carve?”

“Steve should do it,”  Nat said.  “Unless someone else really wants to.”

“I agree with you, Nat.  Any objections?”  I said, picking up the carving knife and offering it to Steve.

Steve glanced around the table.  “Come on, Cap.  No, not Cap.  Who are you now?  The tramp?”  Tony teased.

Steve took the knife from me trying to ignore Tony and started to carve.  “Alright, everyone.  Don't hold back.”  I said when he was done and grabbed a terrine full of potatoes.  

The room broke down into noise and chaos as everyone started to help themselves and dishes got passed around the table.

“Have you spoken to Cassie yet today?”  I asked Scott when our plates were full.

Scott shook his head.  “Not yet. I was going to do a video call in later.  Maybe see if Santa could make an appearance.”

“Oh, that will be so cute.   I bet she'll love that.”  I said.  How good of a dad Scott was always made me happy.  Even though he didn’t always make the best life choices he loved and adored that girl and given that so few people at the table had a decent father, having a friend who was one made me really happy.

He nodded at me, a huge smile on his face and a mouth full of turkey.  “That's the plan.”

I looked over at the two gods.  Loki was picking at a plate of seafood like he expected that they might be poisoned while Thor had a Turkey leg in one hand and was shoveling ham into his mouth and a huge smile on his face.  “How is it?  Different to food on Asgard I guess.”  I asked.

“Much different, but it is enjoyable, Lady Elly. Thank you for your efforts on putting together this feast.”  Thor boomed, sweeping his hands around the room.

I felt myself blush again.  Thor has this effect on me and even though we weren’t strangers anymore, he still could make me blush at the drop of a hat.  “Thank you, Thor.”

“What is that on your face?”  Clint teased, point his potato laden fork at me.

I flicked a pea at him, my face growing even hotter.  “Shut up.”

“Hey now, that's how you start a food fight.”  Clint joked.  “Do you want to start a food fight?”

“No.  I do not want to start a food fight.  Do you know how long I've been cooking this stuff?  I started yesterday.”  I snarked.  

“We actually started a few days ago,”  Wanda said, looking over at us.  “All that baking and then the prep work, and the stuff that needed to set to taste good.”

“Yeah, true.  So no food fights.  At least not until you've all eaten more than you can physically fit inside you.”  I said with a nod.

“That can’t include both of us,”  Bucky said indicating to himself and Steve.  “Because we can eat about half of this together.”

“You forget there's still dessert on the common floor.  And oh my god, we went overboard.  Like there is something from everywhere.  There's pies and cakes and puddings and tarts.  A Yule Log.  have you ever seen a Yule Log?  Anyway... We can eat dessert with the gift swap.”  I rambled

“Okay, so then we need to save some room. Got it.”  Sam teased.

“More food for the food fight,”  Clint added.

“Cookies.  There's cookies.  Oh, there's a thing called a pavlova.  I had to put some things in the walk-in fridge in the cafeteria.”  I continued.

Steve rubbed my leg under the table.  “El, you really went overboard here. But thank you for everything.”

“You're welcome,”  I replied, linking my fingers with his.  “I just... I wanted it to be special you know?”

“I understand.”  He said giving me a soft smile.  “Still, thank you.”

I looked around at everyone.  I felt really happy and loved.  Quite proud of what I’d managed to pull this off.  “Maybe we should have a toast or something?”

“Think that'd be all you, doll,”  Bucky said.

“Alright,”  I said, thinking for a second.  “Well, first of all, I guess I just want to say, how weird it's been since I met you guys.  But I wouldn't change it at all.  I love you all.  And I appreciate that you all made time to come join us for the holiday.  I know most of you already know I call you family, but here right now it's like one big extended family.  So to family.” I said raising my glass.  Everyone raised their glasses, repeating 'to family' as glasses clinked together.

****

After dinner, we cleared up and headed down to the common room.  Dessert was served.  There was way too much, but a lot of people do work in the tower so I was pretty confident it would all end up in someone’s stomach eventually.  We sat around the coffee table.  Some people in chairs, some on the floor.  Clint perched on the back of the couch.  

The room was lit mostly by the fairy lights and the lights of the city filtering in through the window and we all sat eating our desserts and drinking things like hot cocoa and eggnog.  It felt quite magical really.  I looked over at the pile of presents and back to the others.

“Okay, I don't want to go first.  Who's going first?”  I asked.

“Might as well just do this and get it over with,”  Clint said.  He got up and grabbed an envelope and tossed it at Loki. Loki glared at it, and then Clint, before picking it up and opening it. There was the briefest of moments where his jaw dropped before he composed himself.

“You like it?  What did you get?”  I asked Loki knowing full well what the answer was, but wanting to hear him say it out loud.

“It's tickets to a play about me. And it's an alright gift from a Midgardian.”  He answered.  “Does that mean I have to go now?”

I gave a nod and the corners of his mouth downturned ever so slightly. He got up and picked up a big box that had been wrapped in his signature colors of green and gold. He turned around and his eyes swept the room before he handed the gift to Hill. She took the box and opens it cautiously.

“Gotta admit, kinda scared about this one.”  I half-joked.

“Why do you think I'm opening it like this? I don't want something to jump out and stab me.”  Hill joked.  I sat forward in my seat to see better.  She opened the box and stared at what was inside for a moment.

“It's not poisonous. You can take it out of the box.” Loki said.  Hill looked at him before pulling out a beautiful ornamental helmet.

Sam started to laugh earning a glare from Loki.  “Sorry, I'm just thinking about that time. And you had that helmet on.”  He said, in between laughs.  “How it was squishing your brain.”

“Alright, smartass shove it,”  Hill said and turned to Loki.  “Thank you. It’s really lovely.”  She went and picked up a small box from the pile and handed it to Bruce.  “Okay, you can let me know if this isn't something that you'd like and I can swap out some stuff. I had this whole list for you.”

Bruce sorted through the things in the box.  “Hill, this is already like five different things,”  Bruce said.  There was a paper gift certificate, a photo of a well outside a small village, another of a newly constructed hospital, and yet another photo of a condemned building.

“That last one is for Hulk.”  She said.

“Oh my god. You got him somewhere to smash?”  I asked looking at her. “That’s genius.”

“I know. I tried. Plus the place is coming down anyway, so perfectly safe and helpful.”  She said

“I don't even have the words to begin to express enough gratitude. Thanks, Maria.”  Bruce said, looking really touched.

“Man, you are good at gift giving, Hill,”I say putting my hand on my heart.

“Should have taken my bow when I had the chance.”  She laughed.

“Okay, so I got Bucky. And you are not an easy person to get a gift for. So, uh, if you don't like it, you can tell me and I can fix it.  Although, I kinda did the same thing Hill did.”  Bruce said, fidgeting with his hands as he grabbed a small box and handed it to Bucky.

“Remember, Bruce. It's the thought that counts.”  Bucky said as he opened the box.  Inside were VIP tickets to the Natural History Museum, along with VIP tickets to the most recent Neil DeGrasse Tyson tour. Bucky looks at them for a moment before smiling at Bruce.  “These are awesome. Thank you so much.”

“Oh man! I am super jealous, Bucky.”  I said, bouncing in my seat a little.

“Play your cards right, doll. Just maybe.” Bucky teased.  “Okay, so, you guys are never going to guess who I got.”  He said, getting up to grab a big box.  He handed it to Sam grinning.

Sam looked at the box and then glared up at Bucky.  “I don't like your face,”  Sam said, suspiciously as he opened the box.  His jaw set and he pulled out a steering wheel.

“You know because I stole yours? Get it?”  Bucky asked, trying to stifle laughter.

I laughed loudly.  “You do bring it up a lot, Sammy.”

“Doesn't mean that's a suitable Christmas gift,”  Sam said, sticking the steering wheel back in the box.

“And that would be what this is for,”  Bucky said, handing Sam a smaller box.

Sam gave Bucky a look as he opened the box, and pulled out a brand new tactical knife.  “Now this is what I'm talkin ‘bout.”

“Because you're a punk that attacks HYDRA with a knife,”  Bucky explained.

Sam patted Bucky on the shoulder before grabbing a gift bag and passing it to Wanda, kissing her softly before sitting back down again.  Wanda pulled out a canvas with a print of her and Pietro on it. Her eyes started to water as she looked at it.  Natasha put her arm around Wanda’s shoulder and kissed her on top of the head.  Wanda then pulled out a matching canvas but this time of one of the rare photos of us together, not them as superheroes or doing a public appearance.  But just, as the family we were.  Jammed together, arms wrapped around each other as Bucky tried to reach out as far as he could to get us all into the shot.  “Come here, you big softie,”  Wanda said, bursting into tears and launching herself at Sam.  He wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her, holding her to him.  “You’re too sweet.”  She mumbled against his skin.

“Only for my little witch. Don't go getting ideas about me being soft.”  Sam whispered.

“That’s what she said.”  Clint teased.

“Clint! Stop ruining moments!”  I said throwing a hazelnut at him.

He caught it in his mouth and shrugged.  “Come on, I wasn't the only one that thought it.”

Wanda sat down on Sam’s lap and curled into him before waving her hand.  A small box was carried over to me.  I took it and looked it over.  “Oh no, if it’s from Wanda I’m going to cry.”

“Yes, you are. But they'll be good tears.”  Wanda said.

I open the box to see a bracelet with 9 charms each represents one of them. Mjolnir for Thor, a Shield for Steve and so on.  My eyes well up.  “Oh my god Wanda.”  I squeaked and moved to her, hugging her tightly.  “It’s perfect. Can you help me put it on.”

“I can,”  Wanda replied, as she took the bracelet and wrapped it around my wrist and closed the clasp.  “I'm glad you liked it.”

I kiss her deeply but briefly sending her the feelings of love I had.  “I love it. And I love you.”  I said.  “Okay, my turn.”  I got up and grabbed two wrapped boxes.  I handed him the garment one first.  “This is for later,”  I said.  He opened it and looked inside before looking back up at me and raising his eyebrow.

“Naughty girl.”  He teased.

I ran my tongue over my top lip and quirked an eyebrow at him before handing over the wrapped prospectus.  “Also, I made an investment for you.”

“Did you really ask me for money from me to just earn me more money?  That’s not how that’s supposed to work.”   He said as he unwrapped the parcel.  He looked it over and laughed.  “Sentimental are we?”

I immediately started to second guess it again.  Of course, this was a terrible gift.  “Yeah. I thought now you know it will never go anywhere. You’re the controlling shareholder. You don’t like it? I checked with your accountants and lawyers. It’s been steadily growing…”  I babbled.

“Hey, come here,”  Tony said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me into his lap.  “I love it, and I love you.”  He whispered into my ear.  “Don't go pulling that self-doubt stuff, That's my game.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.  “I love you too.”

“Alright, my turn,”  Tony said, pulling out his phone from his pocket and opening up a picture collage that he projected out as a hologram.  “Okay, so most of the stuff I got. You can't really put it in a box.  So this is all for you, Red.  You’ll find it in various places in the tower.

“You didn't. This is all… You went way overboard, Stark.”  Nat gasped.  “An Iron Widow suit, and a whole bunch of stuff for my spiders. Did you build this terrarium, too?”

“I did, super fancy one of a kind spider world,”  Tony answered.  “I know how you feel about those spiders.”

I nuzzled into Tony’s neck and rubbed his thigh.  “That is so cool,”  I whispered.

“Thanks,”  Tony said, resting a hand on my knee.

“Alright, Lang. Your turn.”  Nat handing over an enormous gift-wrapped in Black Widow paper.

He opened it up to find a framed photo of the team in action, Scott in his Giant-Man state.  Along with that was a small action figure of each of them.  “Oh man, this is so cool!”  Scott babbled excitedly.  “I can recreate the fight with, Cassie.”

“I’m glad you like it, bug,”  Natasha said with a smile.

Scott messed around with the toys for a moment before he realized that everyone was staring at him.   “Oh, I got Vision.”  He said, jumping up and getting out a small gift bag. He handed it to Vision.

Vision pulled out a weird headband and turned it over in his hands.  “It's an electromagnetic frequency device.” Vision said.

“Yeah, it'll let you talk to the ants,”  Scott said with a nod.

“That will be very fascinating.   I look forward to learning more about them.  Thank you, Mr. Lang.”  Vision said.  He put the headband back into the bag and floated over, picking up two rectangular gifts and bringing them to Thor.  Thor opened them one at a time.  Both were books.  One detailed Norse Mythology and the other a history of Earth from the time he was last here until now.

“That is very thoughtful. Thank you, friend.”  Thor said looking the books over.  He put them down picking up a long thin gift and handing it to Rhodey.  “Machine of war, I drew you.”

Rhodey took it with a laugh and opened it.  Inside was an ornate Asgardian Sword with Gold Hilt.

“Woah! That’s beautiful.”  I said.

“Yes, it is.”  Rhodey agreed.  “Thank you, Thor. I'll put this on my sword wall.  Rhodey said, getting up and handing a big gift bag to Steve.

You have a sword wall?”  I asked as Steve started opening his gift.

“Well, I do now anyway”  Rhodey joked.

Steve opens the bag and Bucky cracked up laughing.  “A parachute, because you obviously need one. Good one Rhodes.”  Bucky wheezed.  The rest of us all started laughing too.

“Alright, I get it. I deserved that. Very funny, you guys.”  Steve said

Rhodey held up a finger.  “I got you a real gift.”  He said, handing him a medium sized box.

Steve opened it a little hesitantly and revealed an array of art supplies. He looked up at Rhodey and gave him a big smile.  “Thank you, I never would have been able to afford something like this back in the day.  It means a lot.”

“Does that mean we're going to see more art from you, Steve?”  I asked.

“It's a possibility,”  Steve answered.  “It's been a while, though. Not sure how it would look. Okay, Phil. You're up.”  He grabbed a small box and handed it to Coulson.  “I think you’ll like this one.”

Phil opened it and a small smirk crossed his face.  “Vintage Captain America cards.”  He said, picking them up.  “And they're signed.  Thanks, Cap.”  The two embraced, patting each other on the back.

“Well, figured you earned them. You did die trying and all.”  Steve teased.

“Thank you, Steve,”  Phil said with a smile.  “Okay, archer. You're up. But this isn't to be opened in front of the masses.” He handed Clint a box, and Clint peeked inside.  His eyes went wide and he shut the lid.  “Holy shit.”  He said.  “Alright, I already went, so is that everyone?”

“Yep.  That's everyone.  I think that means Christmas is over, everyone.”  I answered, scrunching my nose.

“Alright. We did it, and we didn't kill anyone.”  Sam joked.  

“That's what he said.”  Clint teases.

“Well, that was my best family Christmas yet.  Thanks, everyone.  I really appreciate you humoring me.”  I said, ignoring Clint.

“Even with the birdbrain?”  Natasha asked.

I nodded.   “Surprisingly yeah.”

[mulder-isms]

Everything Now - Thorcid fanfic

A\N: After a long night of hookin’…and after a long block it’s finally here. This fic was inspired by oh so many things, but mostly the Arcade fire new song, Thorgy’s birthday cakes, and my own block. The angst is strong on this one.

I don’t know if I’m happy with the result, but it’s out and that’s what matters. Send me love notes or wake-up calls like girl, stop. I welcome interventions. 

*

Jamin felt the pull of coming back to reality. His sister’s fingers were gently pressing his forearm, her voice echoing in distance. He was dreaming about hybrid sea animals, the ones that lived in the depths of the ocean, maybe ruling Atlantis in their most majestic form.

“Jay?”

Her voice was muffled and bubbly.

“Wake up…it’s time to go”

The voice was getting closer as she repeated the command, and when it reached the highest pitch he opened his eyes, sucking a deep breath. The detergent smell in the corridor filled quickly his lungs, the white walls were blinding. He was probably the only teenager hanging around in the wing of the hospital this late hour. He fell asleep on the bench waiting for his sister. His mother condition was still the same.

He wiped off some dry drool from his left cheek and tried taming his messy blonde curls. He had slept on some of his drawings, and he picked them up and stuffed in his backpack. He noticed the paint stains on his shirt and grimaced frustrated. If Becky wasn’t so tired she would have argued with him. But she just heavy sighed and tilted her head as a let’s go sign.

Jamin continued walking by her side staring at his shoes along the hall.

“You’re running out of clean shirts this week to go to school” she patted on her brother’s shoulder as they were almost reaching the elevator. He just nodded in silence feeling guilty. “But never run out of your beautiful art” she reassured him side hugging the defeated kid.

*

The same way Shane would make Jamin watch the most suspicious so-called art films, he made Shane watch all his favorite 80’s classics. One day he found out the outrageous information that Shane has never seen any of The never-ending story movies. Jamin cancelled everything he had to do and immediately scheduled a movie night.

Jamin knew Shane was having mixed feeling about the cancellation of the Well Strung tour, that things didn’t quite work the way he wanted, and how sensitive he was about the constant frustration of not getting his projects done. But there was a selfish side of him that appreciated the fact he wasn’t going out on tour, and he could have his boyfriend all for himself. With season still 9 happening, the attention was focused in the new girls. They were staying in New York most of the time and could finally settle in to a more normal pace in their relationship.

He didn’t know Ally was staying the weekend in Shane’s apartment, but they were used to each other. The 7-year-old girl had a blunt honesty that Jamin found quite relatable. They needed food supplies for the night, so they went to a sort of pricey grocery store a bit far from Jamin’s neighborhood.  Ally was holding Shane’s hand while he was guiding the trolley glancing at the shelves. From time to time they would stop and check the price and Shane would complain turning his back to Jamin and he’d just nod in agreement while Ally sneakily added more items in the trolley. As he observed them both walking in front of him the scene felt sweetly mundane.

“We were supposed to just get popcorn and some candy bars, not food for the whole month” he called out resting his chin on Shane’s shoulder, sticking his hands inside the pockets of Shane’s coat, their bodies brushing slightly. Shane that was checking a huge pickles jar didn’t even move.

“You’re right!” Shane put back the jar on the shelf and turned to face him patting on his chest then catching Ally in the act putting three cereal boxes in the trolley. “Focus Ally!”

She stopped midway and let go a defeated sign, putting just one box. They continued heading to the cashier and Shane’s hand reached Jamin’s, like in unconscious reflex and they continued walking. The place was from Jamin’s neighborhood. The chances of finding familiar faces were very little and he frankly didn’t care.

When they got to the cashier Ally was excited putting all the unnecessary items they ended up taking. Shane noticed one bouquet of different types of artificial flowers.

“Wai-wai-wait, Ally, what’s with the plastic flowers?” he stopped her chuckling.

“Decorations for the dinner table today” she replied as if it was the most obvious answer. Shane and Jamin exchanged looks. She seemed a young lady with a purpose.

“Well, they do match your colored raw noodles” Jamin pointed out. Shane shook his head letting the cashier lady pass the bouquet in the register machine. She was in her late forties and was amused by the whole scene.

Ally was blonde and had huge blue eyes and a colorful sense of fashion. The woman analyzed Jamin and Ally again, as if she was searching for similarities.

“You two have a cute kid” she added after the last item was out.

Jamin felt a quick swirl in his stomach but laughed nervous along with Shane, yet neither of them corrected her. Jamin could swear he saw Shane’s mouth opening to contest. He reached for his hand again while they watched Ally in front of them running with two plastic bags and twirling.

*

Ally wasn’t interested in The never-ending story at all.

Shane had a salad because he’s been trying to lose some weight, but Jamin made meat pancakes for them anyways. After dinner they were in the living room, watching the movie on the couch. Half hour running and she was sleeping on the armchair by the couch’s side. Shane had the opposite reaction, he was completely focused in the movie, gently caressing the stuffed Falcor figure Jamin had.

The whole time he seemed anxious with the psychological symbolisms of the 80’s fantasy gem. The scene now was the heart-wrenching death of the horse Artaix in the Swamp of Sadness. As Atreyu desperately pulled leash to save his companion Shane squeezed Falcor harder.

“He is not going to die, right? This is a kids movie!” he asked tapping on Jamin’s thigh. Artaix continued sinking in the swamp and Shane carved his fingers in Jamin’s knee looking at the screen mouth open in complete shock.

When Jamin watched it first with Beckie they were kids. Sebastian’s way of dealing with his mother’s death somehow echoed on them. Shane’s eyes were watery and he let go of the fabric of Jamin’s shorts gradually.

“Oh god, you’re really crying?” Jamin asked surprised leaning to check his face closer.

Shane was quiet as a tear rolled down on his cheek.

“I’m glad Ally is not watching this terrible and evil movie” he sobbed taking off his glasses to sweep a tear away with his forearm.

“Thoorg….” he sympathized bringing him to rest on his chest so he could rock him. His meltdown was completely adorable. He kissed the top of his head as Shane continued sniffing.

“This is completely fucked up…” his voice came out trembling and he hugged Falcor harder. “I’m done. I can’t with this movie anymore. Let’s watch Willow again” he turned to face Jamin, their faces inches closer.

“I never thought you would actually take this movie so seriously…I’m so surprised” he continued looking down at Shane’s red eyes. Then he turned to rest his head on Jamin’s chest again.

They continued in silence for minutes, Jamin stroking the hairs of Shane’s arms distractedly. He was feeling the slumber taking over even with Shane’s weight over him.

“You know…I’ve feared Nothing my whole life, I mean, as artists, isn’t this what we fear the most? The lack of imagination. We exist because we imagine”

Shane’s musings brought him back. He completely dozed out because the credits were on the screen. He must have been out for half an hour. Shane sitting straight fumbling for the remote control. Jamin continued in the same position, legs on the coffee table but now he could cross his arms over his chest. It was chilly without Shane’s heat next to him.

“It’s funny that you’re saying this, because when I was a kid…it was my constant fear, that one day I would just stop making art, that it would just fade away while I was sleeping. That’s why I like to-

“…draw during breakfast” Shane finished his sentence. Jamin nodded in acknowledge. Then Shane picked up some of his morning sketches that were on the coffee and softly smiled looking at them. One it was just outline of Shane’s arm, he recognized because of the blue bubbles that looked exactly like his tattoo.

“Still here” he reassured him and leaned for a quick kiss, but Jamin cupped his face for Shane to slow down and take his time. Ally was still sleeping in the armchair across the couch. Shane slowly started trailing down from Jamin’s neck to his chest, their tongues touched shyly to not make any noises, just to bring water for their dry mouths. Jamin pulled Shane by the waist, but Jamin feel him pulling back. No straddling. A growling stomach started to complain loud and cut the steamy mood.

Shane widened his eyes laughing inside Jamin’s mouth. “I’m so hungry!” Shane pouted while Jamin rubbed his stomach trailing hazily his jaw, planting small kisses.

“Stop with this crazy diet” Jamin demanded planting one last kiss on the tip of his nose.

Shane has gained some extra pounds but Jamin didn’t mind at all, especially with the way his ass looked in pajamas pants. His belly was rounder but the extra weight was well distributed in his long figure.

Shane deep sighed peering at the tray still half filled with meat pancakes.

“Fuck it! Bring the damn tray”

He stood up leaving Shane with Falcor. As he fetched the pancakes putting on a plate he observed Shane squeezing his ears and caressing the long tail. He looked like a kid in love with the toy he wanted for Christmas.  He turned his attention to the table, the vase with the plastic flowers decorating the center. Ally was right, he realized softly chuckling that it did bring life to the dinner.

The three of them sitting for dinner at home, with a lovely decoration in a Saturday night. Could he take this picture further in the future? Somehow it was frozen in time.

He joined Shane in the couch and he started eating the pancakes moaning at each bite. He was checking his messages as Jamin’s eyes were locked at him, but his mind far away.  He kept eating the pancakes in a roll with bare hands while the cheese inside kept falling.  The musician had the most beautiful hands, and he was the only person Jamin knew that could rock worn out black nail polish.

Shane suddenly stopped going through his phone and tapped repeatedly on Jamin’s knee in urgency, “Oh shit!  it’s almost 1 am and my cousin is picking me up tomorrow! Remember? I told you that I’m playing in my great-uncle 90 birthday’s party? He is coming from Norway and I haven’t practiced the whole week. Fuck!”

Jamin nodded raising his brows. He knew it. And he knew his boyfriend would forget.

“You must leave early. There’s nothing Thorgy here” Jamin recalled while chewing calmly. Shane grabbed his thigh.

“You have to wake me up. I’m going to tuck Ally into bed, then I’m going to practice in your studio. You HAVE to wake me up, I’m serious, bitch” he ordered pointing as his index finger was pointing at his chest. Jamin rolled his eyes scoffing.

“Thorg, I always do! But you sleep again every goddamn time. It’s so annoying. Besides, I have shit to do too so I’ll leave earlier than you. Are you sure you want to practice the violin now?”

“What are you talking about, it’s the best hour to practice. And in my defense, I don’t go back to sleep every time, at least not when we have sex. We need to fuck first thing in the morning. Set the alarm for 5 am. I don’t want a quickie” he commented as if he was ordering breakfast and continued browsing his phone. Jamin was shaking his head the whole time. “What? Ugh, you’re probably the only person in the universe that doesn’t like morning sex”

“Well, first, I’m not just a dildo you can hump on the minute you want. It’s not how it works” he pretended to be outraged and took another bite in his pancake roll, “And second I do like morning sex. But I hate mornings, so my energy is kinda…off. I prefer to let my mornings for black coffee, scrambled eggs and silent hate”

Shane was not buying at all.

“You are…” Shane searched in his memories, tilting his head. “rougher in the morning. I like it” he bit his lip and gave a little shimmy eyeing Jamin’s pajamas shorts. “And you wake up with the most amazing hard on always”

“It’s a physiological reaction, it’s not because I’m horny” he defended himself putting a pillow on his crotch. “Don’t brag yourself” he dished him but this whole conversation was in fact making him horny. The last time they had sex in the morning they left marks on the wall because of the headboard banging, Shane’s dreads entwined his fingers as he pulled them back like a leash…Fuck. He was getting turned on with the memory.  But he wasn’t going to give in. He cleared his throat and held the poker face.

“Hey, I’ll take it…” Shane continued pretending to be humble, dropping his voice to a sultrier tone. Then he caressed Jamin’s knee distractedly, scrubbing off an invisible lint of his shorts. “Waking up with your morning wood rubbing on my leg it’s the best way to start the day…” his eyes traveled around Jamin’s body until their eyes met and he opened a mischievous smile. “But fine, I guess I can just set the loudest alarm clock…”

“Shane?”

Ally’s voice echoed waking up. Shit. They both panicked with the possibility that she was listening to the conversation the whole time.

Shane stood up, fixing the crotch area of his pants that curled after so much time sitting and Jamin observed him. He felt his cock twitching and he winced annoyed. It had a mind of its own, especially with the vision of Shane in those worn out pajamas. Shane noticed him pressing the pillow harder on his lap.

“Come on, let’s go to bed” Shane helped her getting up.

She was very sleepy rubbing her eyes.

“Is the movie over? We can watch now…” she drowsy yawned as Shane took her hand.

“Take Falcor with you. He doesn’t like to sleep off my bed” Jamin offered the flying dragon figure that was almost Ally’s size and she took it.

“Stay with us a bit… he will miss you, he’s not used to me and Shane” she offered Jamin a hand. Shane threw him an apologetic look of leaving him blue balls like that.

“You two go first, I just need to clean up the mess in the kitchen”

“What’s a morning wood?” she asked rubbing her left eye.

They eyed each other in panic, but Jamin was the one to give an explanation.

“Trees! They usually grow bigger in the morning. Because the…sun exposition and…

“Photosynthesis!” Shane added leading Ally to the bedroom pushing her back. She just shrugged satisfied with the answer. “You’re probably studying this when you grow up…”

Shane looked over his shoulder at Jamin that had his hand covering his mouth resisting the urge to burst into laughter.

*

The TV was on and Ally was sleeping in the middle of them, cradled on Shane’s chest. He was almost falling asleep. Jamin couldn’t shake it off the question that was haunting him the whole night. Shane’s birthday was coming and an invisible tick started in his chest. They were together, in their own way for a year. The last time he had a relationship this long it ended tragically, and he wondered if there’s was something to wreck coming soon. Shane counted on him to be strong, to set the pieces of his scattered mind in order but he often felt unsure of being whole himself.

He was turning forty this year.

Acid Betty was timeless, but Jamin surely was aging. In some level, their drag persona shielded them to think about the ordinary world. As creatures of the night, the pleasures of daylight seemed like a beautiful story in a book: a wedding. A big white house in the suburbs with kids running around. Growing old together. They were never able to see the big picture hiding in the spotlight.

He didn’t even know if Shane wanted any of these things, or even if they made sense for him. He was a child of an unconventional home, but Shane had all these things growing up.

Would he even know what to do?

Don’t wake up, Jamin. Don’t wake up. If you wake up it’s gone.

He peered at Shane by his side almost falling asleep. They belonged in the night, but Shane’s light kept getting brighter…

“Do you think about having kids?”

The question was out before he even trying to stop. Shane chuckled looking down at Ally nested on his chest.

“I knew the cashier comment was going to be a subject at some point…”

Jamin was still curious, but holding the cool exterior, waiting for his answer.

“I don’t know…I’m so focused on myself all the time. It would be nice to change obsessions…I’m terrified and amazed with the possibility, I guess?” he concluded giving a shoulder shrug, fighting the urge to gesticulate too much since Ally was there.

Jamin pondered a bit looking down at Ally peacefully sleeping.

“I don’t know if I would be a good father” he confessed, the hurt in the words weighting on his chest. Saying it aloud was worst. Whoever said that voicing things was the best thing to do was terribly wrong.

They were both avoiding the actual root of the conversation, the frozen picture, them as family.

“You would be a GREAT, father” Shane reassured him completely positive of his answer. Jamin frowned in disbelief but didn’t say anything. They kept staring at the TV for a few seconds sinking the information. Jamin tried hard to see them in this beautiful painting, but nothing, just an empty canvas.

“Do you see us…you know, getting married?” Shane asked hesitating and laughing softly to not sound too interested in the answer.

Jamin never thought for a minute Shane was ever going to ask that. It took him completely out of guard. The picture wasn’t there. He was literally in bed with his favorite person in the whole world. This wonderful, beautiful man, woman, clown. He wanted to be everyday by his side, even if it was too much, and he was trying constantly to not let him pour and gone to waist, because every bit of Shane mattered.

And yet it wasn’t there.

He could feel Shane’s anxiety growing by the minute. He opened his mouth locking his gaze at Shane’s stare but he didn’t answer. He could see the half smile of Shane’s face withering. He wasn’t going to lie. Shane would know, but the more he tried to see the picture, the more it blurred.

“Shane, I- I..” he stuttered and Shane laughed nervously. “I have no idea what’s going to happen tomorrow, I don’t know I-

Shane couldn’t keep quiet anymore and just interrupted him abruptly “I’m just messing with you, girl. We better sleep, Ally is getting restless here…” he replied still avoiding his eyes and turning off the TV. Jamin took a few seconds to acknowledge his biggest fuck up and then got out of bed slowly, his heart heavy.

“What I’m trying to say is that I find it hard to see the future, not only about us, but about everything. I always lived so stuck in the present and the past I-

The more he tried to explain the more the tension was growing as Shane was pulling the covers over him and Ally.

“Jamin, look, it’s fine…we bothered Ally all night” he answered almost in a whisper, his eyes still not finding shore at Jamin’s.

This wasn’t the answer he wanted to give at all. He wanted to say that he never thought he could be this happy, here, now. He loves Shane. So much it blurs his rational thinking. It gives him hope about a future he never thought he could have because he lost so much.  

“Can you turn off the light?” Shane asked closing his eyes and bringing Ally closer to his chest.

Jamin turned off the light and shut the door behind him and slid his back until sitting on the floor.

“Fuck!” he cursed in a frustrated whisper leaning his head on the door closing his eyes.

He didn’t want to fall asleep.

*

When Jamin woke up in the couch everything was still there. His sketches remained on the coffee table. His body was still very much awake when he headed to the bedroom. It wasn’t even 7 am, but Shane and Ally were up. She was dressed to go with her backpack on and holding Falcor sitting on the edge of the bed.

Shane was ready to go picking up his things from the dresser.

“Good morning, kid. Did you sleep alright?” he asked Ally that was grumpy quiet. Shane just acknowledged his presence but continued picking up his things and making sure nothing was messy. This was never a good sign.

“Falcor is a good cuddler, his ears are warm. Shane snorts too much, but not as loud as mom” she sleepily pointed out.

“I do not. I have allergies!” Shane defended himself and Jamin laughed at him but he didn’t respond to the peace offer.

Everything was set and Shane put his brown leather bag on the shoulder, the violin case on the other. Then he put his dreads up in a big bun and looked around the place. Jamin loved to observe his nape on this hairdo, how his long neck made a perfect line with his jaw.

“I’m staying in my folks for my birthday” he warned him with no further information. Five days.

Ally and Jamin exchanged looks. He told her about the birthday surprise. Taking Shane to a small trip to the beach.

“But- Ally opened her mouth and stopped when Jamin cut her before she blew their undercover.

“I thought you’re were staying in New York?” he asked confused crossing his arms in front of his chest.

“Yeah, my dad has this nasty cold and with my great-uncle here, I need to help them”

Shane was lying. This was classic Shane trying to shut him off. Ally put Falcor on the bed and looked and both suspicious, shitting her gaze between the two.

“You guys are acting weird.”

Shane held her hand and they walked out of the room with no goodbyes. Jamin got off their way, Shane’s perfume still lingering in the air. Jamin knew he fucked up.

At the door Ally hugged Jamin while Shane observed tapping his feet on the floor and checking his phone. They weren’t late at all. But he wanted to get out of there. Jamin grabbed his fist before he vanished in thin air.

“Text me when you get there, okay?”

Shane just nodded and they left. Jamin knew his answer was awful but Shane’s behavior of not speaking what he was really feeling and this passive chaos inside of him made him furious. It was getting late and he needed to start his day. Maybe with things to do he would make sense this mess they were in.

*

The silence of the next two days was deafening. Shane being quiet was the worst thing it could happen, but Jamin was feeling tired. He didn’t have the energy to talk to Alvy or any of Shane’s closest friends to find guidance to get to him. It wasn’t the first time. Maybe they needed this distance so Jamin could see the picture and Shane realize that he never meant to hurt him. But how could he ever explain what he wanted if he kept ignoring him?

Jamin’s phone rang. He was sleeping and maybe it was part of the dream, but it was getting loud. He woke up scared, his heart beating fast and his throat getting dry. It was a number that he couldn’t identify.

“Hello?” he answered in short breath.

The voice wasn’t familiar. It was somber, the person on the other line was sounded like a woman still weeping, it echoed something from the past.

*

Jamin knew love by the maybe late age of eighteen years old. He was a British kid that used to paint drawings inspired by The Cure songs. His name was Frederick. They had an intense relationship but Fred was constantly moving countries because his father was a diplomat.

The last time Jamin heard about the ginger boy that became a man, he was married with two adopted kids and led a happy life in Florida as a literature professor.

Until cancer took him away two days ago.

The funeral was beautiful. Fred was suffering in the final stage so his husband was somehow prepared to never be prepared. Death changes everything. It makes you experience nothing is ever certain. Feel it in every fiber of your bone the fleeting weight of time.

Jamin knew many familiar faces. Some of his high school friends flew for the funeral. Fred was deeply loved.

Shane was born the day his first love died.

*

“You should stop drinking, we have a flight to catch in few hours”

Beckie warned her brother. They were at a local bar with some of the people that were in the funeral. Being surrounded with so many people from his past made Jamin realize how much he missed his present. His now. His future.

He tried to call Shane many times but he didn’t answer the phone.

“It’s ridiculous. I…I- how can I even explain what I mean if he doesn’t even speak to me?” he pulled his tie loose. It was one of the few occasions he was wearing a suit.

Becky was sitting on the stool next to him having drinks too, looking tired and half drunk.

“You’re dating Thorgy Thor, you know she’s gonna be extra even in the silent treatment” she scoffed.

“I’m…I’m over it. I’m too old for this, you know? Fred…he had everything and he’s dead. Like, nothing makes sense? I’m still on the way, and yet I feel defeated”

Becky observed her brother getting into Bitter Betty mode as he turned now another tequila shot.

“Nah…you’re not over it. You never are, Jay.”

He looked and his sister and find some comforting in her drunk few words.

“I want to marry that idiot. I just can’t believe it” he admitted defeated. Beckie laughed side hugging her brother.

*

“Bitch, these cakes are awful. This is like street corner bakery at the end of the day in its finest”

Bob cackled as he took another bite of the frost that was melting. They were at Shane’s apartment after his birthday party with the Brooklyn girls. Bob couldn’t go but he managed to drop by to give him a hug, and Shane knew Jamin already had told him what’s going on between their undefined status.

They were at the kitchen’s table, Bob still with full make-up on but wearing Chris clothes.

“You know, you’re like the gay fairy godmother of my relationship with Acid” Shane replied fingering the cake and eating a good amount.

Bob widened his eyes and opened his arms.

“Yes! Oh my god I’m Whitney Houston in that black-wash Cinderella movie with Brandy, I can’t”

They both laughed screamed and Bob felt satisfied of making Shane laughing. Until it was fading away and Shane got melancholic again.

“You guys broke up. Again. Are you guys never not breaking up?”

“We didn’t break up. And technicality we only broke up once. We are just…I have no idea what the fuck is going on to be honest” Shane replied defeated forking his cake. “I- I just feel like I’m not a person, you know what I mean?”

Bob nodded repeatedly and Shane laughed.

“I’m an idea. It has been always like this. All my relationships. Guys sleep with me because I’m crazy, because I’m heartless. They know they can leave, because I’m not someone they can see a future with. I think I was just shocked, because I never imagined that Jamin couldn’t see it too….”

Shane kept fumbling the fork. His eyes weren’t even watery. He was just utterly numb. Bob’s was quiet because he was feeling sorry for his friend. He was the one to never take Shane seriously and always point out how crazy Thorgy is.

“Look Shane” he grabbed his friend arm, “Jamin is not of these fucking assholes okay. He sees you as person. And he loves you, completely, which I will always find it weird and courageous because you are….trigger alert, crazy”

Shane giggled and slapped his arm and he gave his classic raspy cackle.

“He’s just old. He probably is afraid of marriage because when he was born there was only arranged ones!”

“Look, it’s not that I want to get married tomorrow okay. I just wanted the answer. Plain and simple. I wanted simple, just for once. You know what I mean?”

Bob nodded.

“But as your fairy godmother I must remind you: when two extra bitches like you two get together there will always be drama, honey! But I do, I do get what you mean. But the first step to simple is you know, talking to your boyfriend again?”

*

After Bob left Shane read all Jamin’s messages again. He was sitting on the couch staring at them gathering the courage to call him. But there was something still pulling him back. He was going to do it tomorrow. It was too late. He knew Jamin was in town but who knows if he was even awake.

Shane fell asleep on the couch holding his phone. In his dream, nothing had changed. The never-ending story was still happening, and he was the only one that could write it.

*

When he woke up everything was still there. Shane was used to collect people’s phobia and the last days after the fight he kept the habit of drawing in breakfast too. The place was awfully quite with Alvy out of town.

He was quickly sketching on the kitchen’s table when Jamin showed up. First he though he was a vision, the studded black jacket on but a full week stubble covering his face. He had a white box from a pastry shop on his hands.

“I don’t know if you read your messages but I was in a funeral. The day of your birthday. My first boyfriend passed away. It was a sort of enlighten moment.”

Shane stood up quickly picking his phone from the table and his drawings fell on the floor “Sorry, I’ve read them tod-

Jamin noticed that he was drawing in the morning. Just like he does.

“I want to marry you. I don’t know when it’s going to happen or even if I’m cut for it but I want to be with you every day. Now. I still don’t know about the future, but I can give you now. And you deserve to know this. I’m sorry that I couldn’t say it properly at that night and you should be sorry for not letting me say it after”

“I am sorry” he reassured him, his voice trembling. But Shane’s eyes wrinkled with the sweet smile he opened. “My dad says that I take silent treatment as a silent penalty” and Jamin finally laughed. He was relieved that he could still disarm him easily. “Is this a wedding ring?” Shane asked brushing off his emotional exterior crossing arms in front of his chest.

“A wedding donut is a better and sweeter promise?” he offered approaching the table that still had leftovers cake from the last night.

Shane retrieved the box out of his hands and grabbed his face for a deep kiss. Jamin’s whole body ran with electricity, as if his power was restored after a long blackout. His hands traveled under Shane’s shirt caressing his back dimples and Shane pushed him against the fridge.

“You ruined my birthday surprise” he whispered disconnecting the kiss briefly taking off Shane’s shirt as Shane worked rubbing his bulge over the jeans.

“The whole month is mine birthday…” Shane replied dropping to his knees and looking up with a mischievous smile.

“I can see that” he scoffed noticing the two cakes on the table before letting a soft moan when Shane pulled his pants down.

The picture was finally in focus.

They were in a sunny beach, the sparkling water almost blinding, the salty smell of the ocean mixed with sunscreen. Shane holding a Bloody Mary and his shoulder full of tan freckles.