#hey sometimes december can be unusually warm

[hauntedhousemate]

[First] [Prev] [Next]

I have no excuse other than college enjoy Kaytlyn as an alive childe

[stargazer-balladeer]

December 4: Cold Kisses (Persona)

Characters Included: Akira Kurusu, Goro Akechi, Yu Narukami, Yosuke Hanamura, Minato Arisato, Shinjiro Aragaki

Notes: Here comes Persona~ the most wanted Fandom before Genshin Impact HAHAHA- Hope ya’ll enjoy this!

Warning: Slight cursing from me & nsfw (for Akira, Akechi & Minato-) 👀 If you are under age of 18, I don’t recommend reading the three-

December Fics | MAIN PAGE |

Akira Kurusu

It’s a fact that Akira is a tease so he’ll be teasing you in every chance he gets. Cold hands? Already on pressed on your stomach. Breathing on your ear? Already done that and blew on it. Cold kisses? Yep. Akira simply adores your flustered reactions.

This little shit will also drink some cold drinks before kissing you, which makes you squeal from how cold his mouth is.

He will also use the coldness as an advantage when you two are doing it. He loves tracing your body with his cold fingers and lips. Though he may be a bit of a sadist, he will never use ice during these times.

You squealed when Akira pressed his cold lips on your hole before moaning loudly when you felt his long tongue licking the slit. He smirked, his eyes watching as you writhe under his touch. “Oh? Does my treasure love it when my lips are cold? Do they like it when I eat them?” He said in a low octave, which sends pleasure through your veins.

He knew exactly how to turn you on. The right words to use and the correct way to pleasure you. He has you under his fingers afterall. You couldn’t answer as you tried to nod. Which only made you shriek when a hand slap on your thigh. “You have a voice right? Use it.” He growled.

And just like that, your mind is filled with yes and sinful thoughts. You covered your eyes as you moaned out. “Yes! Please eat me! I-I.. want your cold lips please!” Even if you couldn’t see his reaction, you could tell he was smirking. “Atta [Y/N]. Well, your wish is my command.” And with that, he dove in and eat you hungrily. You moaned at the sensation, adding to the fact that his lips and tongue are feezing.

You could tell that you two would be at it for a while..

Goro Akechi

Akechi actually doesn’t like Christmas, it might be because of bitterness or something. But he just doesn’t see the point of celebrating the holidays. He’ll still celebrate it with you, just not with the same enthusiasm as yours.

Akechi is also a tease. His mind can easily think of things that he can use to tease you. One of them being the cold. So during these times, Akechi would sometimes remove his gloves and let it get cold before touching yours. When you refuse to hold hands with him, he would pout as he goes on about being a bad s/o for not holding his hands. He has a fake pout on his face-

Akechi would also use this as an advantage while doing it with you. Trailing his cold lips behind your back and neck while his cold fingertips trace your slit. Its enough to send you shivering.

Akechi smirks as he trails kisses in your collarbone and neck, going down inbetween your chest. You were already heavily breathing, you can clearly see the smoke that your breath is creating. As much as you like watching it gradually disappear, your mind can’t focus on that.

You moan when you felt his cold hands toying with your private part. Your eyes were watering again already, it was too much for you. Having cum already 2 times that evening. How Akechi’s hands and lips remain cold, you don’t know. “Aw.. does my little slut want to cum on daddy’s hand again?” Akechi’s sickening voice cooed to you as he went to one of your nipples and give it a playful lick.

You moan as you arch your back. “N-No—!!” You shriek when you felt his other hand slapping your thigh, rather harshly actually. You whimpered at the pain but pleasure overtook you as his fingers rubs on the red spot. “That’s not the correct answer, love.” Akechi said with an innocent smile on his face.

You sniffled as his hands started moving again. “Y-Yes, daddy! I want to cum on your fingers again-!” Akechi smirked. Without warning, he pushed two fingers in. Making you arch your back as you let out a moan. “That’s the spirit. Now, let’s see how many minutes will past till you cum again.”

Yu Narukami

Yu might not look excited on the surface, underneath he’s bursting with excitement. You can tell if you watch him closely. How his eyes brightened up (and sparkle) as he watches the snow fall from the sky. His smile is even more present during these times. And others. This boi is literally a kid, i kid u not.

I feel like Yu is the kind of guy that eats cold stuff during these times. Like he’ll be eating popsicles, ice cream, cold food, etc. This guy just doesn’t feel the cold (i swear he’s immune to it or something—). And because of this, his body temperature is higher than normal, and colder. And this fucking guy uses this as an advantage towards you-

Yu ioves teasing you with cold touches, surprising you by suddenly pressing his cold fingers on your neck. You always shriek and he’ll always laugh. You’ll pout at him as you scold him but he would just stick his tongue out.

“Yu! You need to stop that!” You huffed as your hand rubbed the spot where Yu’s fucking freezing fingertips touch you. He just laughs as he went near you. “But you’re reactions are so adorable! I can’t help it~” Yu said in a teasing voice as his hand rose to touch your cheeks-

“Nope! Nu uh. No touching!” You said as you back off from him and his fucking freezing body. This guy has the audacity to pout. “But, don’t you love me? Why don’t you want to hug your own boyfriend?” “Not when he’s like a north pole!” You countered back as he laughs.

“North pole? Really?” “What, you want Antartica or something?” “Yeah that sounds cooler.” “.. really?” “Yes.” You sighed while shaking your head, but a smile is present on your face. “I love you, you teasing bastard.” “I love you too~ Now come here to receive your hug and kiss!” “!! NOPE!”

And this results in Yu chasing after you-

Yosuke Hanamura

We all know Yosuke loathes the feeling of boredom, and during this season he was particularly excited. He would drag you outside to do all sorts of activities, like admiring the snow, building a snowman, snowball fightings, ice skating, etc. He will tone down a bit if he sense that you’re getting tired.

But the one thing he hates about this season is the coldness itself. He would wear many layers of clothing just to feel warm, and he always wear gloves. So you don’t have to worry about his cold fingertips. But his lips is another story.

At first, he doesn’t like having cold lips, but now he loves it! When he first finds out about your reaction to his freezing lips, he allows his lips to be cold. He’s loving every reaction coming from you. He loves kissing you unexpectedly in the cheeks.

Yosuke happily wraps his arms around you as you cuddled on his chest. His shoulder was leaning on the couch. You two were cuddling on the couch as the harsh winter wind blew dangerously outside. It was a blizzard outside, which made the cold even more colder.

Yosuke closes his eyes in content as his lips curled into a smile. It was very calm and relaxing, which is unusual for Yosuke who is always on feet. But for some reason, Yosuke doesn’t feel bored. Maybe because he’s with you? Probably. Atleast, that’s the only reason he can come up with.

It was silent for a bit until..

Yosuke squealed when something cold touch his neck. He quickly lets you go and went to the other side of the couch, his hand on the spot where you kissed him. You giggled at his reaction as he shot you a glare. “Hey! What’s that for?!” “A kiss! Duhh!” You playfully rolled your eyes. “Why’dya kiss me on my neck?! You know that their sensitive to the cold!” You smirked at him. “That’s the point.”

Yosuke growled before pouncing on you. “I’ll get my revenge!” “Wha— Hey! Stop!” You gasp as fits of laughter escaped your mouth. He smirked as he continues to tickle your sides. “Revenge is sweet, darling.”

Minato Arisato

Minato is pretty neutral towards the cold and snow. He doesn’t feel anything towards it, having lost his parents when he’s young. So he doesn’t see the point of celebrating it. Though he wouldn’t mind celebrating it with you. As long as you hold him, he’s cool with it.

Minato isn’t much of a teaser, though he would tease you here and there. And having his lips cold as he glides over your neck? Yep. He’s already doing that. And the worst part is, he always doing it unexpectedly so you aren’t prepared for it when it happens. For example, you two are innocently hugging, then the next thin you knew his cold lips is already on your neck.

Minato really loves nuzzling his face on your neck so beware of that. He also loves trailing his lips on your thighs while doing it. The way your thighs tremble from the coldness of his lips, he loves seeing your pitiful and pleasure-filled expressions-

“Oh? You like it when I kiss you here?” You whined when you felt his cold lips going near your hole. He’s being a goddamn tease right now, and you’re hating yet loving it at the same time. It’s not everyday that Minato would initiate doing it with you afterall.

“M-Minato~” you moaned when you could feel the coldness nearing your nether region. You could feel him smirking as he licks your inner thighs. “Hm? Do you want something?” Minato mumbled on your skin as he continues to pepper that particular spot with cold kisses.

“C-C’mon~ I need it-!” You whined pathetically before moaning and your back arched. You felt his cold fingertips touching your hole. Precum was already leaking out of it, throbbing uncontrollably from the lack of attention. “What do you need? I’m not a mind reader, you know.”

He’s so fucking talkative right now. You gritted your teeth, feeling all of the pride you have left you completely as you cried out. “F-Fucking touch my hole already! Suck it, or whatever! Just touch m-me..” you probably look so pathetic right now. Minato only hums in response. “I don’t know. Maybe do it a bit better again?”

This motherfucker—!

Shinjiro Aragaki

Shinjiro likes the snow but his body says no. That’s why he’s wrapped in many layers of clothes so that he won’t get sick- Shinjiro loves watching the snow fall from the sky. But he prefers staying indoors because of his condition.

Shinjiro, similarly to Minato, isn’t much of a tease. He would only be a tease if you tease him first. But other than that, he wouldn’t do anything to you. If he does kiss you with his cold lips, its purely by accident. Though he would find your reaction undeniably hilarous and adorable at the same time-

And since that moment, he would innocently kiss you on the head with his cold lips. If you tell him off, he would act like he doesn’t know what you’re talking about-

“I’m serious! You’re doing it on purpose!” You screamed at him when you felt him press his cold lips on top of your head again. He might have a neutral face on but you can tell he’s trying to repressed his smile. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Shinji answered while looking away.

“You definitely know what I’m talking about, Shinji!” You cried out as you tried to get meet his eyes. “-and my eyes are up here!” He only sighed as his eyes meet yours. “Happy now?” “Not quite-“ “-then you’re happy now. I’m going back to my room.” Shinji started to walk towards the stairs going upstairs. You huffed as you chase after him. “How could you leave your s/o like that? I’m very hurt.” You said with a pout.

“You could handle yourself, you’re strong.” You hummed before freezing. Your mind managed to process his words as your eyes sparkle and a big smile is present on your face. Even though Shinji has his back turned on you, you can tell he’s embarrassed by what he said. “Shinji!! Was that a compliment I hear??” “No, it’s an insult.” Shinji snapped back, and you can confirm he’s definitely embarrassed.

“I love you too, Shinjiii~!” “Shut up, you idiot.”

[lupinblacktheone]

"So, I was thinking": a modern college!AU:

Johnny is bored. He has already finished all of his crosswords; all of his friends are busy minding their own business and won't pick up their phones.

Classes won't begin until next Monday. Johnny arrived at his dorm last night and he doesn't know when his roommate will be there. All he knows about this person is his name: LaRusso, Daniel.

Wondering about this mysterious boy could set Johnny free from his boredom. Is he a nerd? Or a drama kid? Johnny hopes he won't sing all the time. Of course he likes music (who doesn't?), but musicals... he isn't ready for them yet.

It would be nice to have some common likings with him. Maybe horror movies or breakfast for dinner (well, Johnny is so broke that he eats it for all meals, basically).

Remembering the old times, which weren't good, not at all, tugs at Johnny's heartstrings. He doesn't miss arguing with his parents all the time, but he certainly liked not having to iron his clothes himself. And he misses messing around with Tommy, Jimmy, Bobby and Dutch after school.

Oh, and Karate! Johnny misses it so much that it hurts. He couldn't find a Karate club to join (is this a thing? In Johnny's opinion, it should be. There are clubs for everything in this campus. If he can't find one, he'll form one). Maybe he can practice with Daniel and he could be the second member of the Karate club.

"Hello! I'm Daniel!"

Johnny stares at the boy. He's short, dark-haired and has round brown eyes.

"Johnny", the blond boy gets up, approaches Daniel and shakes his hand. "Can I help you unpacking?"

"Please", Daniel sighs and rubs his neck. "My mother just dropped me off and turned the car around. I barely had time to say goodbye. Can you believe it? I think she wants to rent my room while I'm gone, but I don't think I'll be going home anytime soon. How about you?"

Obviously, the first thing Johnny learns about Daniel is: he's a chatterbox. Second thing: he's from Jersey. He lives with his mother and would love to learn martial arts, but her mother wouldn’t let him because she’s afraid he will get hurt.

"I know Karate", Johnny confesses with a little smile.

***

Sometimes, Johnny regrets having told Daniel about his passion for Karate, because the kid didn't stop begging Johnny for some classes until he finally gave up.

Their dorm is too small and they would destroy it sparring there, so Johnny decides to have the class outside, behind the gym. Daniel said he would meet Johnny there after dinner (and yes, Daniel also has breakfast for all meals, since he is just as broke as Johnny).

December is on the way, so Johnny is wearing as much sweaters as he can (including his Cobra Kai jacket). He leans his back against the red brick wall and puts a cigarette between his lips.

Daniel shows up some minutes later, carrying a heavy messenger bag on his shoulder and wrapped in hoodies and coats (he has lots of cool hoodies; Johnny loves to borrow them and he is using the baseball one right now).

"Ugh", Daniel puts the bag down, massaging his shoulder.

"Are you ok?", Johnny asks with a worried look on his face.

"Perfect. Let's do this."

They get on fighting positions and spar for a while. When they get tired, they walk back to their room, peacefully talking about the day.

"Let me carry this for you", Johnny picks the messenger bag, even though Daniel has already bent to pull it.

He places it over his shoulder and Daniel walks beside him, ranting about his lame Calculus professor.

"I couldn't convince Mrs. Warter to postpone the paper's due date", Johnny complains when Daniel asks about his day. "I'll be lucky if I get a C on it."

"Do you want me to help you?"

Yes, please, he almost answers. Johnny enjoys having Daniel around. They don't have many common likings besides Karate and breakfast food, but he really enjoys staying up late with him, sharing their only desk (Johnny begun to work as a cashier in a store near the campus and Daniel writes other people's assignments for money and they are saving money to improve the place) and laptops on study sessions. Or to spend rare and lazy Sundays in their room, doing crosswords (Daniel bought some magazines and gave to Johnny). Or to share breakfast meals in the middle of the night because they can't sleep.

"Are you free tonight?", he asks, his voice sounds desperate, just as his eyes.

"Is this a study session or a date?", Daniel replies jokingly and raises an eyebrow. "Sure. I can help you."

Johnny opens his laptop and shows Daniel what he's working on.

"I mean, it's not bad, but could use some adjustments here and there. Let's get to work."

Daniel presses the keyboard keys hard with strong movements that emulate a pianist, but with perfectly tied hair. His brain is formulating what should be in the text and getting rid of what shouldn't be read by Johnny's professor.

"I think we're done here", Daniel declares.

"Thanks. I'm gonna buy you a coffee tomorrow, with extra cream."

"Much appreciated", the boy winks and Johnny's heart skips a beat. "So, I was thinking..."

"What a miracle", Johnny teases, smiling to distract Daniel from his blushing ears.

"Anyway, are you going home for Christmas?"

"I don't think so. You?"

"Also no. I don't have enough money for a ticket to Parsipanny."

Daniel looks at Johnny for a moment. His blue eyes are usually shiny, but now... he's more than just sad. Johnny looks depressed and scared.

"Are you alright?", Daniel reaches for Johnny's hand. "You can talk to me. I'm here for you."

Johnny doesn't talk. Instead, he goes for a hug. A big and warm hug. He clings onto Daniel as if he was the only thing keeping him from being blown away.

He doesn't want to cry. However, he can't fight the tears anymore. Daniel holds Johnny, trying to keep him together only with his bare hands. He doesn't try to whisper comfort words in Johnny's ear, he just stays there, providing his roommate all the support he can.

That night, Johnny falls asleep in Daniel's arms. He has never felt this safe before.

The next morning, Johnny rushes to the closest cafe shop to get the nicest cup they have. He drops by the dorm to put the coffee on the desk with a note: To the best roommate ever. Thank you for everything. Love, J.

He sends the paper to Mrs. Warter as soon as he takes a seat in the computer lab for his first class, hoping Daniel's help can save his poor ass from failing Warter's class.

A few hours later, Johnny is waiting for the last class to begin so he can get to work. Not that he likes standing up by a counter telling old people where they can find raisins, plum juice and other things old people buy. But at least, he gets to listen to his music and does little pieces of homework between a client and another.

There is something Johnny can't do at the store: see Daniel. Too bad they don't take many classes together, because every time Johnny sees Daniel entering the classroom, the world changes. It becomes brighter and more beautiful. He knows it's cliché, but Johnny is tired of pretending to be the perfect son, athlete... he just wants to be Johnny.

And Johnny is brave.

"So, I was thinking...", Johnny says when Daniel sits by his side.

"That's unusual", Daniel lets out that amusement air through his nose. "What is it?"

"Do you wanna go out? With... with me?"

That is really unusual. Johnny never was this reticent before. Not even when he noticed he had a crush on Ali Mills.

“Yeah, sure. When?”

“How about Friday? My shift ends at 5:30.”

“Sounds great.”

***

Johnny spends Christmas in his dorm, with Daniel. They curl up on Johnny’s bed, wrapped in Daniel’s hoodies, solving crosswords puzzles and drinking tea while listening to Johnny’s music. Neither of them wants to talk about their families.

Growing up as an only child, Johnny never had to share his things. He wouldn’t even allow Ali to read his poetry (he wrote some about her, tho), or let his friends go through his Spotify playlist. Not because he's embarrassed to like these songs, but because the lyrics describe him so perfectly that he's not comfortable with someone listening to it in front of him.

When he met Daniel and found out they could be good friends (maybe more than that? Johnny certainly hopes so), he felt an urge to take the boy on a journey through his world. First, they shared Karate, then crossword puzzles and went on and on, discovering little things about one another.

“Huh… I couldn’t get you anything for Christmas, so I wrote you a poem. Wanna hear it?”

Daniel doesn’t say anything, just gets closer to him as Johnny clears his throat and searches his notebook for his newest composition. Once he finds it, he puts the paper in front of his eyes (he was brave enough to ask the boy out, but not to have that lovely brown eyes gazing at him while he reads his feelings out.)

“I loved it, Johnny. Now get ready for your present.”

Johnny doesn’t close his eyes when his lips are pressed by Daniel’s mouth. It feels so good that they do it again and again until they fall asleep, holding each other.

***

Graduation is almost here. Most students have moved from the dorms or plan to do it soon. Daniel and Johnny, on the other hand, haven’t mentioned the matter yet. As you can imagine, they don’t want to live with their families again. The only thing Johnny wants is to stay with Daniel and he wonders if Daniel wants the same thing.

“Hey, Danny”, it was supposed to be a nice and quiet study session before the finals, but Johnny can’t hold this down any longer. “I was thinking… do you wanna live with me?”

“Are you kidding me? You’re never getting rid of me, blondie.”

[starstruckkittensweets]

December 14th - Decorating the Tree

Pairing: Levi x Reader Words: 1.1k 

A/N: Okay, I know there are A LOT of people out there who are doing a similar writing challenge for Levi’s birth month, and I just want to say that I don’t mean to steal anyone’s idea in any way! I just thought it would be fun to do a little Christmas-themed event leading up to his birthday. 

With that said, this challenge was actually inspired by a “Fun Christmas Traditions for Couples” article that I had found. Originally, I wanted to do a single fic for Christmas, but after reading through this, I decided to go with 12 short drabbles instead (and maybe a longer fic thrown in there sometime down the road). I hope you guys enjoy! 

On the first “date” of Christmas...

The apartment was unusually warm today. Snow fluttered from the gray skies, blanketing the world outside with a thick coat of white. The windows were painted with frost, gleaming in the pale morning sun. It was the perfect day to be shut inside, toasty warm and out of the cold.

You glanced around the floor of the living room. Boxes upon boxes were strewn about, stretching out all the way to the kitchen. On the couch was a fresh strand of shiny red garland, sprinkled with a few bits of silver. Next to them were the Christmas lights, neatly wrapped up and ready to go. To top it off, the pine tree that you and your boyfriend had picked up a few days ago was standing upright in the living room, staring at you—practically begging to be spruced up.

Everything was perfect. All you needed was—

“Hey, stop daydreaming and help me with this damn thing.”

You smiled at Levi as he made his way into the living room, clutching two more boxes in his arms. You were at his side at once, taking the one stacked on the top and placing it down on the couch.

“How many fucking ornaments do you have to have?”

“They’re not all ornaments.” Well, most of them were, but you weren’t going to tell him that. “They’re just all of my Christmas stuff. My parents used to set all this stuff up when we were little.”

“Hm.”

He turned away, but not before you caught the small twitch of his lips. He always did like hearing about your life with your parents and family, about what your life was like before the two of you met. You were the same, but it was always a bit difficult to coax information out of him. Hopefully the Christmas season would help him open up a bit.

At least, that was your wish.

The lights were the first thing to go on the tree. The two of you worked as a team—you held the lights and fed them through, while Levi hung them along the branches. He had a knack for things like this—while it wasn’t as prominent as his desire for cleanliness, he preferred to be organized, and it definitely showed in his decorating skills. Although, you were certain he wouldn’t be decorating right now if it weren’t for you and your influence.

Once the lights were on, you turned to the boxes upon boxes of ornaments. Some had been from Levi’s mother—she insisted when the two of you moved in together—but the majority came from your old family home. Each ornament brought back a flood of memories, and you ended up staring at them for just a bit longer. Well, until Levi’s voice snapped you out of it, of course.

This was especially true when you opened the second box, which was perched right on the couch next to the garland. You plucked out a smaller ornament of two white doves, nuzzled together with a heart around them. Scrawled in the name tag below them were your name and Levi’s name, along with your anniversary date.

“Make sure you put this one higher up,” you said almost dreamily, handing it back to him. “…Or can you reach that high?”

“Tch, very funny.” He flicked your forehead before turning back to the tree. You only smiled and turned back to the ornament boxes. He hated jokes about his height, especially since Hanji had overdone them so much at this point. But when they came from you…he liked them just a little bit more.

A lot of your ornaments had a special meaning to them. There was the teacup one you had gifted Levi back when you were still dating. There was the small cardinal ornament he had given you during your first Christmas in this very apartment, well over a couple years ago. And then there were the photo ornaments—pictures of Hanji, Erwin, and Mike with the two of you over the years. One of your favorites was the snowflake one he had hung right in the center—the one of you and him, with Furlan at his side and Isabel’s arm slung over your shoulders.

Of course he would put it right where he could see it. They were still a huge part of his life, even if they were no longer here.

“I hate to burst your bubble,” he mumbled, hanging another golden ornament on the branch in front of him, “but we’re running out of space. You can only put so much on a tree without it looking like shit.”

You glanced over to the couch with a smirk. “But there’s still a few more boxes.”

“Then you hang them up,” he said with a playful growl. You did your best to ignore the rush of heat that came over your body. “I’ll do the star. Get the tree skirt, alright?”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

Moments later, the star was fastened on top and the skirt was fluffed around the bottom. The two of you stepped back to admire your work—struggling not to trip over the now-empty boxes on the floor. And you had to say, the two of you made a pretty damn good team.

The tree was practically shining as the sun gleamed in through the windows. Ornaments glittered off of one another, illuminated by the lights strung up around the branches. The star twinkled brightly—if it looks this good in the daytime, it’ll look even better at night, you couldn’t help but think to yourself.

Levi was the first to speak. “Not bad.” He crossed his arms over his chest and turned his head toward you. “You picked out a decent tree, kid. It looks good.”

You couldn’t help but blush at the praise.

“…Even if it has all your shitty ornaments on it.”

“Hey!”

He stifled a laugh as you nudged his arm with your elbow. Of course, you expected nothing less from him. He was going to take every opportunity he got to poke fun at the ornaments the two of you shared every year.

“I’m kidding, brat.” As soon as you lowered your elbow, he wrapped his arm around your shoulders, bringing you in for a soft kiss on the forehead. “It looks great. Now all we have to worry about is the rest of your shitty decorations.”

So the two of you made it back to the pile of boxes, pulling out the rest of the lights and trinkets. You didn’t dare comment as you watched him lace the garland around the wall of the room, the faintest smile etched on his handsome face.

[honeybeesiness]

an unholy holiday.

‎slight spoilers for chapters 16+! there aren’t too many spoilers tho, so dw uwu.

word count: 1.7k.

‎

‎‎‎

one fried scorpion sandwich.

A week and a half had passed since Diavolo’s holiday announcement, and with each passing day you grew more and more excited. The butterflies gnawed at your stomach on a daily basis, and you had an extra pep in your step when you would traverse the hallway to your next class. Based on the not-so-subtle looks Diavolo had been giving Mammon at the meeting, Mammon was the one who suggested that they do all this for you. You didn’t think Mammon had it in him to think of others, and you sure as hell didn’t realize that he had picked up on the melancholic homesickness that had rooted itself within you. But you were appreciative of his effort regardless of whether you noticed it before or not; It just showed how much Mammon cared about your happiness. You would be sure to thank him when his selected day came.

Today was the fourteenth of December, and to make the whole event a lot more easier, Diavolo had given you and the others a break from school.

“Don’t students in the human world have a winter break as well?” Diavolo had said to you when you went to thank him for the nearly two weeks off. He wasn’t wrong, and you were glad that he was at least a little in-tune with the usual in human highschools.

On your nightstand, your schedule lay crumpled from being shoved into your pocket too many times, and you swiped it up immediately after you woke up. “Let’s see...” Today was your day with Beel, great! You wondered if he had anything planned, and if he didn’t, then you were sure you could think of something. Beel’s mind was always open as long as food was part of the plan, so there would be a lot of things you two could do. Could he balance? Ice skating might be fun... Did Devildom even have a rink? You’d have to ask Lucifer or Diavolo about that one later. But for now, breakfast was your next course of action before you and Beelzebub would head off.

Once your hair was thoroughly brushed and your “Formerly Anti-Lucifer League” hoodie (courtesy of Belphegor. You, him, and Satan all had identical hoodies in honor of the Lucifer harassment squad you were unwillingly dragged into) was slid onto your person, you kicked on your shoes and went to open the door, only to find that Beelzebub was on the other side, hand raised into a fist like he was just about to knock. How polite, you mused.

“G’mornin’!” You greeted happily with a smile. “You headin’ to breakfast too? Let’s go together!” You took a step forward, but the ginger stopped you in your tracks. “Huh?”

“We’re not going to the dining room just yet. I ha-” He started, but you cut him off.

“What?!” You blurt impulsively. “But Lucifer’s gonna kill us if we don’t go to breakfast! D’you remember what happened to Mammon that one time he skipped breakfast last month?! He looked DRAINED when he sat next to me in Devildom History class!” You had more to say, but you shut your mouth soon after you said your last statement. You sheepishly rubbed the back of your neck, “Ah, sorry for interuptin’.”

Beel’s eyes held no ill-will, and he only smiled. He liked hearing your voice, but sometimes you talked too much. He knew you were aware of the fact that you had a tendency to run your mouth, but at least you knew when to stop yourself.

“It’s okay.” He yawned, and you yawned in turn. You cursed at yourself internally for catching the yawn-disease. “But I got permission from Diavolo to skip.”

“Oooh, is this for our thing today?”

“Yep, but mine’s a surprise. Close your eyes.”

“Oh, fine.” You begrudgingly agreed, doing as he said and letting your eyelids swoop shut. You felt something touch your hand, and you narrowed it down to Beel holding your hand to guide you to wherever he was planning to take you. His hand was warm, contrary to your cold palms, and his practically wrapped around your small one.

The two of you left your doorway, and you heard him close it before you two for real headed off. You thought he would be taking you somewhere farther away, but it turns out that the steps you took were minimal, and you both had arrived before you knew it. You had an idea of where you were, because, well. Come on, it’s Beelzebub we’re talking about here! He always has his mind set on one thing and it was the most obvious thing in the world.

After you heard a heavy door close, you were once more pulled along, and said door was shut behind you.

“Okay, you can open your eyes now.”

And when you did, your suspicions were indeed correct. Beelzebub had taken you to the kitchen, as expected, and you sent him a curious look. “I knew it. What kind of stuff do you have in mind?”

“An eating contest.” He said simply, but at that your eyes widened so much that they nearly bulged out of your head. An eating contest?! Against Beelzebub of all people?! Oh, you were certain that you were going to lose. Why would he pick this out of everything else? Did he like seeing you suffer in defeat after he inhaled practically everything off of his plate in a matter of seconds?! You never took Beel to be the type to relish in your misery, since he was usually pretty peaceful compared to the rest of his brothers, so what was this all for?

You didn’t hesitate to voice your complaints, watching as he turned to rummage in one of the cabinets for who knows what. “An eating contest?! Beel, you know that I’m going to lose, so why’d you pick this?! Are you a...” You trailed off as the man pulled out two large plates, each holding a mountain of cookies, and balanced them on his palms. You were actually pretty surprised that he didn’t eat them already. Were they baked in advance? Did Beel make them? You didn’t know he could cook or bake, but maybe he could. There was also a possibility that either Luke or Barbatos made them, but you wouldn’t know until you asked. You licked your lips, suddenly aware of how hungry you were. “...Hey, wait. Those actually look pretty good.”

“Barbatos made them. I tried one right after the first batch came in, they’re really good.” Beel answered, and you swore you could see the drool forming at the corner of his mouth. He was just as eager to dig in as you were. “This isn’t an eating contest to see who would finish first, though.” He grinned. “I asked Barbatos to bake a jellybean into one of the cookies and randomly place it in the pile. Whoever eats the jellybean cookie first wins.”

You slapped your hands together and rubbed them up and down. Now this was fair! With Beelzebub being a fast eater, you’d imagine that he doesn’t exactly take the time to enjoy his food. You, on the other hand, were sensitive to any kinds of changes in flavor in food (you called yourself the “ultimate taste tester” because of it), and you were certain that you’d be able to tell a jellybean apart from a thick frosted sugar cookie. “Hell yeah, I’m in. What do we get if we win?”

“I want a few dozen fried scorpion sandwiches from Hell’s Kitchen if I win.” Beel sounded certain, but you weren’t surprised. You just hoped you had enough Grimm to pay for it all... “What do you want?”

You thought for a moment. “Hard question. Umm...” After thinking for a few more seconds, a devilish smirk appeared on your face, and Beel fidgeted nervously at the sight of it. If he was going to make you spend your own Grimm on a few dozen fried scorpion sandwiches, then you’re going to ask for something much, much worse as payback. “I want Levi’s Softbun password.”

Beelzebub visibly shuddered. Getting Levi’s Softbun password was next to impossible, since the otaku refused to write it down and had instead committed it to memory. That meant the only way anyone could get the password would be if Levi trusted the person enough to give it to them themselves. But the choice was made, and Beel knew that there would be no way to change your mind.

“You know how hard that’s gonna be.” He said, pushing one of the plates across the table to you. You caught it and positioned it in front of you.

“Yeah, which is why I asked! Are you ready?” You readied yourself, hand hovering over the plate. You looked up at Beel, and he nodded. “Go!”

You then proceeded to shove the first three cookies you could grab into your mouth. They were really good, a perfect representation of Barbatos’ immense skill, but they tasted a lot like the frosted sugar cookies you’d buy at Bullseye, which were just as delicious. Now that you think about it, your dad might like to try these, so maybe after this you could go and ask Barbatos for the recipe. You just hoped that the ingredients weren’t things that could only be found in Devildom...

The cycle repeated again and again. You both would munch on cookies without a single word, trying to find that one jellybean-infested cookie. You were starting to feel full, but you didn’t dare mention it. You had to feel confident in yourself in order to win! You were only able to breathe when you bit into a cookie and it was... unusually squishy. Pulling the treat away from your mouth and eyeing the middle, you gleefully noticed that there was, in fact, half a pink jellybean lodged into the baked dough.

Slamming your free hand against the table, you raised the cookie in the air. “I win! Levi’s Softbun password shall be mine!”

You stood triumphantly as Beelzebub only grinned, though the expression was a bit pained. “Congratulations.”

You took note of the way his smile was not the happiest almost immediately, and you placed a hand on your hip. “What’s that face for? Aww, are you having a hard time coming up with how to get that password? Ha, sucks to be you!”

After surveying the remnants of the baked dessert and popping the cookie in your hand in your mouth, you were beginning to think that maybe Christmas in Devildom wasn’t so bad after all, because this first impression sure was a good one. ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎

Softbun is the Obey Me! counterpart of Crunchyroll while Bullseye is just Target :”)

taglist: @wetleafwrites :: @midnight-moodlet​ 

^^ first time doing a taglist, but just ask me if you want to be on it! i’ll be adding y’all on it starting with the day two post.

[71tenseventeen]

Take My Hand (Take My Whole Life Too)-27

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

Warnings for sexual content, male pregnancy, implied homophobia, non-hockey Sid. Sid and Taylor’s ages have been altered to fit the story.

I literally have a team of betas at this point and I could not do this without them. Much love and so much credit to @ljummen, @visionshadows, @icosahedonist and @queen-alia for taking on different parts of this. 

New update, finally, below the cut. 

Things begin to feel even more settled as November progresses. Sid loves the comfort of his routines and the more established they are, the more secure he feels. 

He gets a feel for Geno’s nutrition requirements and starts cooking several times a week. He fusses sometimes, always worried that Sid will push beyond his limits. But Sid knows him better now, understands why those fears are there and how to convince Geno that he’s truly okay. 

He also starts spending a little more time with Vero, hanging out with her and the kids once or twice a week for what she jokingly calls parenting practice runs. It’s obviously a relief for Vero, more than anything, who is a lot closer to her due date than he is to his and he really doesn’t mind. He enjoys his time with them, even if it’s not so much practice as sitting on the floor while Estelle and Scarlett serve him pretend tea and adorn him in toy princess jewelry and pirate hats.

He and Geno get together with Flower and Vero for a quiet American Thanksgiving dinner on an off day a couple of days after the actual holiday. He’s spent enough time with them that he’s comfortable now. There’s none of the anxiety he feels when he goes to watch Geno practice, where he usually stays tucked away to himself, trying to avoid other players and staff. 

Sidney doesn’t think much of it when Geno is later getting home from practice than he’d expected the next day. As captain, media and other responsibilities often pop up that keep him longer than anticipated so being late on a normal day isn’t all that unusual. 

But today isn’t a normal day. 

Sid has a checkup today and Geno has been adamant about being at as many appointments as possible. When his calls and texts go unanswered, Sid sets about getting himself ready, not really sure what to expect but hoping it’s just a misunderstanding. 

Sid watches the clock, fidgeting nervously as he tries not to worry because this isn’t normal. Geno would never miss a doctor’s appointment without at least a text. He waits as long as he can and is just about to walk out the door when Geno finally calls. 

He doesn’t offer a greeting, just says shortly, “Have to meet you there. Will be a little bit late.”

“Is everything okay?” 

“Fine Sid. I have to go. I see you there.” The connection ends and Sid is left staring at his phone with a sinking feeling in his gut. 

He can’t dwell on it now so he drives himself to the appointment, thanking any deity that will listen that his car actually started. 

Geno is late, bustling in near the end of the appointment looking stressed beyond measure and not quite meeting Sid’s eyes. 

In the parking lot he pauses long enough to mumble, “You tell me about appointment at home,” before he’s climbing in his car. He doesn’t pull away and Sid takes the hint, quickly getting into his own car and leading the way. Geno follows him the whole way home and it should be a comfort to Sid that Geno cares to do that but instead he’s filled with dread. He has no idea what could make Geno act this way but whatever it is can’t be good. 

It isn’t until they’re finally home, walking silently into the kitchen that Geno motions towards the breakfast bar. “Sit, I get us food. We need talk.” 

“I’d rather you just tell me what’s wrong,” he says, trying not to let his voice shake. 

“At least sit.” 

When Sid is finally perched anxiously on the edge of a barstool, Geno runs a hand through his hair before finally, finally meeting Sid’s gaze. “PR call me in to talk after practice.” 

Sid swallows hard. “Okay.” 

Geno sighs. “Family skate coming up. They say they think not good idea if you come.” 

“Oh.” It’s not surprising and Sid can’t figure out why it’s got Geno so upset. They’d already discussed family skate and decided that it is unquestionably too risky for Sid to go. “We already decided I’m not going so it’s not a big deal.” 

“Maybe.” Geno looks uncomfortable as Sid stares at him, confused, until he finally sighs again. “There more.” 

“Oh.” Sid swallows. 

Geno looks down at the counter. “Jen say someone in media see you at practice and ask about you. She say you Vero’s friend but she say if media notice you, ask about you then can be big problem if they realize you also at games.”

Sid’s heart sinks. “Right. So, no more practice for me then, eh?” 

“PR think it’s bad idea if anyone see you at practice or games now you showing more.”

Sid looks up, startled. “Games too?” 

“I’m sorry, Sid.” And he really does look it. “They say you can go but need to sit in private space, watch on TV feed.” 

Sid pushes up from his seat. “There’s not much reason for me to go then, is there? I can do that at home,” he says, trying not to sound bitter. 

Geno grabs his hand, pulling gently. “Am so sorry, Sid. I try hard, make them find better solution but this best they come up with.” 

It’s Sid’s turn to sigh. “It’s not your fault. This is just how it has to be.” 

Sid settles into his new routine of staying home pretty much all the time as a bitterly cold snap arrives in early December. He lies to Vero about the first game he misses but by the second she’s already clued in, probably by Flower. She’s due soon, decidedly short-tempered and Sidney has to talk her down from threats of arguing with management or dragging Sid bodily to the games anyway. When she offers to stay home and watch the next game with him he quickly shuts her down, not willing to let her miss out just because of his circumstances. 

A new tension settles over the house. It’s subtle but palpable—Sid can feel it in the way he awkwardly wishes Geno luck before games, no longer able to say he’ll be watching from the stands. He’s careful now, not to go anywhere with Geno other than to doctor’s appointments and Geno seems on edge, like there’s something simmering just below the surface. 

They still spend time together. It’s not at all unusual for Geno to bring home takeout or cook something to share as they settle in close on the couch. His hands always seem to be moving when they’re close like that—pulling Sid’s feet onto his lap and massaging the ache away or running fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck, long enough now that it’s curling a little. Geno laughs when his featherlight touches tickle Sid, making him squirm. When he’s done teasing, he likes to rearrange them until he’s sitting behind Sid, wrapped around him and pulling him close. More often than not Sid drifts off like that, head resting against Geno’s warm chest while his fingers rub small patterns on his hip or belly. 

But Geno is quiet now, more than he ever has been before. He’s stressed and grumbly after games and practice now, sometimes even after wins and he fights twice in three games. Sid doesn’t have any idea how to approach any of that or even if he should. The one time he tentatively starts to ask, Geno shuts him down refusing to talk about it, though he does let Sid ice his bruised cheek even if he complains quietly about it. 

As pervasive as the tension becomes, their sex life doesn’t seem to suffer for it. If anything Geno seems more affectionate, holding Sid a little tighter as he kisses him senseless. His words seem sweeter as he talks quietly with the unique blend of Russian and English that he only uses when they’re moving together, close to the brink.

Even when they don’t have sex, he still cozies up behind Sid, fingers running over the swell of his belly as they banter quietly about the baby. Sid’s sure he’s never seen Geno happier than he is the night that he rests his face against Sid’s belly to talk to the baby and finally feels a kick in the form of a gentle thump on his cheek. 

As nice as those moments are, they are becoming more infrequent. December brings eight away games and the longest road trip of the season which means not only is Sid staying home most of the time, now he’s alone and feeling increasingly isolated. Vero’s due date is just days away and her mother showed up to stay through the birth of the baby. Sid’s happy for her that she has the extra support but it means he can’t visit the only friend he has that knows about the baby. 

By the last day of Geno’s road trip Sid is going stir crazy. When the weather forecast announces a major storm coming through the next day, Sid makes a beeline for his car. Normally he’d wait for Geno but if he’s going to get snowed in then he has to get out of the house, at least for a little while. 

At first he’s not sure where to go but as soon as he nears the highway inspiration hits and he heads downtown. He may not be able to do a lot these days but he can still treat himself to some comfort food. 

It’s a long way to drive for an omelet but he misses the warmth of the familiar diner, thinking fondly of the times he’d treat himself to his favorite breakfast after exams. As soon as he steps in he smiles, inhaling the enticing smells happily. It’s not too crowded and he gets a seat right away, looking over the familiar menu even though he already knows exactly what he’s going to order. 

He’s just placed his order when he hears the familiar voice ask “Sid?” and he looks up to find Nate, one of his buddies from school grinning down at him. 

“Nate, hey!” Sid returns the grin awkwardly. 

“I’m surprised you have time to sit and eat, what with all the times you’ve been ‘too busy’ to hang out.” His look is pointed but there’s a twinkle in his eye. 

Sid sighs, realizing he’s been caught and pushes his chair back just enough. 

Nate’s eyes widen immediately. “Whoa. No wonder.” 

Sid sinks back down, cheeks heating up but he smiles despite himself. “Yeah. No wonder, eh?” 

Nate nods towards the empty chair across from Sid. “You here alone? Can I sit?”

“Yeah, of course,” Sid agrees, even though he’s sure he’s about to get bombarded with questions. 

Nate surprises him though, giving him a long look after he sits before finally nodding with a smile. “Congratulations, Sid.” 

“Oh. Thanks.” He shrugs but it’s nice not to have yet another person treating this like a crisis. 

“How far gone are you?” 

“Due in March.”

“Wow. So do you like just have night classes now or…?” 

They settle into the conversation, only stopping briefly for Nate to order his food and then again when the food arrives to devour a third of their plates before they pick the conversation back up. Sid’s both surprised and relieved that, though they do talk about it a little, eventually the topic drifts away from the pregnancy. Nate takes the opportunity to catch Sid up on a little bit of gossip and chatter excitedly about his favorite classes and complain about his roommate’s annoying antics. 

His pregnancy doesn’t come up again until their plates have been cleared away. “So are you still in the same apartment? I could drop by sometime.” 

“Oh. No, actually I’m in Sewickley for now.” 

Sid immediately regrets the admission when Nate’s eyes widen comically. “Damn, you got a rich uncle there or something?” 

Sid knows it’s a joke but he drops his eyes anyway as he clears his throat. “Nah. Just staying with a friend.” 

Nate watches him carefully for a moment. “Baby daddy?” 

Sid shrugs and forces a soft laugh, knowing he’s already said too much. Luckily, Nate doesn’t press the issue. 

They make their way out of the diner and slog down the block through the cold mist that’s started to fall, parting ways at the corner only after Nate makes him promise to keep in touch. Sid finds himself smiling on the way back to his car, despite the abysmal weather. He’d almost forgotten what it was like, to just talk to a friend about everything and nothing and while he can’t bring himself to regret the pregnancy, he misses the simplicity of his old life. Still, he feels lighter than he has in a long time and vows to himself that he’ll make the effort to stay in touch with Nate. 

Despite the increasingly rainy, frigid weather, Sid’s good mood sticks with him almost the entire way home—right up until his car breaks down.

Part 28

[madamrogersstorytelling]

From You to Him

Sirius Black/Reader

Winter Celebration #2

Christmas went already, but as the info post for the event said, it’s about winter and holidays, so we can continue this for waaaay longer than Christmas only! And it will, since I still have a few left and I think I won’t be able to finish them before January, so you can expect these fics to come in 2020 too. 

This one was requested by @addictedtofictionalcharacters​ for Sirius Black. Thank you for requesting! I haven’t written for him in a while. I hope you all like this and have wonderful holidays and winter times!

Words: 1579

18. “You are the best present anyone could have”

36. “I have something for you”

40. “Don’t laugh at my majestic sweater”

The snowflakes fell behind the windows. You were still in the middle of them but knew there was someone looking at these said snowflakes; inside, very warm and hardly even knowing how much your hands were freezing in the cold air of December.

Knowing Sirius would be home, waiting for you, you wanted to get there as fast as you could. And since you wouldn’t be able to be with him on Christmas, you had wanted to give him something meaningful as a present. Something that’d take the touch of time well, wouldn’t ever lose its shine.

Like your love for him.

You hurried through the streets, said hello to some people you knew, people who had gone to school with you. It had been a little over a year since you had graduated from Hogwarts and – Merlin’s beard – felt like it had only happened yesterday. You still sometimes woke up waiting to be able to taste the lovely breakfast and perhaps get an owl from home.

Except that nowadays you had to make your own breakfast. Owls still came, that hadn’t changed. At least something had stayed the same, even though it felt like so many other things had changed, not all of them for bad, though.

You had moved in together with your boyfriend.

You couldn’t have been happier.

Except sometimes. Sometimes it was such a pain to live together with him. But most of the times you loved it. Loved him.

That was why you hurried home. Your hair and even your eyelashes had caught snowflakes, and you could hardly blink without feeling like your lashes might fall on the ground. Not that you’d be able to find them, though. You were sure there had to be a spell to get new lashes. There had to, right?

Lashes meant so little to you when you had something you wanted to give to Sirius, when you simply just wanted to be with him, warm and cozy back inside and not outside like this.

When you finally could make it inside and your shoes left wet marks on the floor as you hurried towards the door, you tried to wipe the snow off your scarf, your hair. It had already started to melt, and your hair was more wet than snowy now.

Sirius was inside, indeed watching the snowflakes falling. He sat on the armchair he liked to sit on, legs thrown over the armrest. He had a smile on his lips, and only a few people could find out what he smiled at. But there was no one else inside right now, so Sirius’ smile wasn’t seen and therefore he didn’t have to explain himself.

He leaned his cheek against the back of the armchair and swayed his left leg a little. His gaze fell from the window to the floor and he let out a happy chuckle.

When he got in the thoughts of what you’d look like when you made it home from that snow and wind, he heard the door opening. His head was lifted, and he looked at the direction where you’d come from when you’d come in the small living room of your shared place.

“Sirius!” you called for him in a voice little struck by the wind.

“Here!” he answered to you, smiling. He could hear you kicking your shoes off and waited patiently for you to take off your coat and scarf and mittens you had put on before going outside.

You started to make your way to the living room to Sirius, keeping your wrapped present for him behind your back. The smile on your lips was almost glued on them, you were feeling quite proud of what you had gotten for him.

“Hi,” you said as you made it in the living room.

Sirius looked at you. He didn’t even say hi to you until he started to laugh so much you hadn’t seen him laughing that much in ages.

Your mouth fell open. A sound got free from your lips and you suddenly realized what he was laughing at. You looked down at yourself and then back at him.

“Hey! Don’t laugh at my majestic sweater!”

Sirius was still barking. It looked like he was going to cry any minute if he didn’t stop now. But there was no ending near to it. Nowhere near. He looked at your Christmas sweater you had just bought to keep yourself warm; it had a picture of a black niffler with a Christmas hat.

“Majestic? It’s more like…”

“Ridiculous?” you asked, raising your brows as you crossed your arms over your chest.

“No! Not ridiculous, absolutely not!” he was still laughing. “It’s very cute and it suits you well.”

“Right!���

You still had the wrapped present in your hand, even now that you had your arms crossed over your chest. Which meant that Sirius saw it and stopped laughing.

“What is that?” he asked, eyes slightly narrowed, now in mischief.

“What is what?” you tried to act like you didn’t know. Knowing it wouldn’t trick him, you still tried.

“That,” he pointed at you, throwing his legs off the armrest. He was now sitting properly on the armchair, something you hadn’t seen in a while either. He always sat sideways, in such a poor position you always told him he was going to suffer from back pains before turning 50. “That thing you have in your hand.”

“Hmm?” This was something you couldn’t hide from. You put your arms back down and looked at your hand, the wrapped gift you were holding.

It wasn’t big. It wasn’t something Sirius would guess right away, you knew that. You had made sure to buy something you knew James or Remus wouldn’t.

“I…” You stuttered. Blinking your eyes, you heard how Sirius got up and started to walk towards you, the ends of the laughter still visible on his face, especially on his lips and in his eyes.

“I have something for you,” you looked at him again with this smile on your lips, this sweet and kind one that told all your affection and love for him. It was always visible in the ways you smiled at him; you couldn’t hide it.

No matter how many times you lost your mind because of your boyfriend, you still loved him, for Merlin’s sakes. You loved him so much.

“For me?” he wasn’t teasing you anymore. Presents always got his attention. He hadn’t gotten many presents until he came to Hogwarts, met his friends and you. Then, you all had made sure he was covered in presents during Christmases and birthdays.

He still liked them very much.

“Yes, for you, silly,” you chuckled at him warmly. He stood there in front of you, looking at the wrapped present in your hand and then into your eyes. Blinked his own pair of eyes. He was shy when it came to presents from people, like he should’ve gotten something in return. No one ever asked that of him, he knew it; during Christmases he still made sure to have something for everyone – he had one for you waiting this time as well.

Still, when it came to him…

He didn’t need material, not accessories, new anything. He was totally happy with what he had and where he was.

He had only one wish. But he already had that, so he smiled. He smiled a serene, happy smile that was yet so familiar but so unusual on his still boyish face that it made you smile every time you saw it.

You shared a lot of smiles together. You knew his shy side and always wanted to encourage him to bring it up because there was nothing to be ashamed of.

He placed his hand against the side of your face, the heel of his palm touching your wet hair. “You are the best present anyone could have, Y/N,” Sirius said and leaned in to kiss the tip of your nose. Then your lips. It was a tiny, cute kiss and made you look at him once it was over.

“Really?” That little word had everything you could ever want to ask. Hearing that, after all these years, from him was still something you weren’t used to. From a person you loved the most.

From a person who loved you the most in this world.

“Really,” this time he gave you a proper kiss. You returned it without hesitation, holding the present tightly. “I’d still love to know what you have for me…” Sirius mumbled.

“Not yet,” you said in the kiss and continued it for a while, taking a hold of his warm, soft sweatshirt with your free hand.

When Sirius opened the present, he almost teared up. Remus said he teared up. It was the picture James had taken of you just days after you had graduated, where you and Sirius were happily smiling to each other, not able to look at the camera as you were too focused on looking at each other. You both glanced towards the camera for less than a second but then you were back at looking at each other. You giggled; Sirius laughed.

It was on the nightstand when you saw it the next time. You and him, smiling and looking at each other so happily, so lovingly.

Because the best present ever really is the favorite person in the whole world. At least for the two of you.

*****

Tag List: @padfootagain​ @billrussos​ @jennareedus​ @mamaraptor​ @suchatinyinfinity​ @delicatelilyflower​ @whostheblondegirl​ @carol-damn-vers​ @dylanobrusso​ @keithseabrook27​ @something-tofightfor​ @shinebrightlikeafanbase​ @drinix​ @addictedtofictionalcharacters​

Inform me if you want to be added or removed!

[javocjovian]

Miracle on Lebanon Street -Sabriel Secret Santa

Happy Secret Santa @scrollingkingfisher​!!! I hope you like it :D

Title: Miracle on Lebanon Street Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21865906 Ships: Sabriel, Destiel Rating: G Christmas Tropes: Ugly Christmas Sweaters, White Christmas, Gift Giving, Christmas Feast (it's pie), Mistletoe Summary: The bunker gets an unexpected visitor on Christmas morning, and it's not Santa! Words: 2702

Written for the @sabrielevents​ Secret Santa!

Miracle on Lebanon Street

Sam awoke on the morning of December 25th to find his room freezing cold. Still half asleep, it didn't occur to him how unusual it was for it to be so cold in Kansas, even in the winter; all he cared about was getting warm. He got up and found an old sweater he didn’t remember buying and some warm socks that used to belong to Dean. He got dressed and headed for the kitchen, eager to wrap his hands around a hot mug of coffee. As he walked down the hall, he was surprised to find lights on in the library.

Sam turned the corner expecting to see Dean, groggy and irritated by the drop in temperature which persisted throughout the bunker, but Dean wasn't there. Sam saw the source of the lights and stopped dead in his tracks.

Sometime during the night, The Men of Letters’ library had been transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Everything was aglow with red and green lights, there was a roaring fire in the fireplace, festive wreaths adorned the balcony, and a fully decorated pine tree sat merrily in the corner, complete with an angel figurine on top that Sam noticed wore a tiny trenchcoat.

Once the shock of the scene wore off, reason began to kick in. Sam reckoned that Castiel must have done this. He probably came in during the night, Santa style, and decorated the bunker. Sam smiled in disbelief. This was a gift for Dean.

Dean liked to pretend that he didn’t care about Christmas, but Sam knew better. Dean had always wanted a Christmas like this: full of lights and festive ornaments and family. Sam had to give Castiel credit; it was really sweet.

Despite all the Christmas cheer, Sam still needed coffee, so he resumed his path to the kitchen and began making a pot. 

A few minutes later, he heard footsteps mirror his route and stop in front of the library. Dean appeared in the doorway, a look of sleepy confusion on his face.

“Morning,” Sam smiled.

He gestured to the library. “Did you…?"

“Nope. Why don’t you go ask Castiel?” 

Dean watched Sam pour his coffee, realization slowly waking his features. He suddenly looked up. “It’s Christmas. Cas…!”

Sam scoffed. “You’re just now realizing?”

Dean’s wide-eyed panic clearly meant ‘yes’. Without even taking a coffee he turned tail and hurried out of the room. “Oh shit!”

Sam laughed to himself. He sipped his coffee as Dean ran back and forth pulling on jeans and looking for his keys. “Need anything from the store?” He shouted.

“More coffee.” Sam grinned. "You don't have to wrap it."

Dean gave him the thumbs up, threw a coat on, and headed to the garage. 

Sam shook his head in amazement. He hoped Castiel asked Santa for nude mags and liquor. Although something told him that Castiel already had everything he wanted. 

 Sam finished his first mug and was about to pour a second, but he was suddenly distracted by an odd rustling noise from the library.

"Dean?" He called out. Had Dean forgotten his wallet? 

Sam stepped out of the kitchen to look at the tree. Something was moving at the top of it. 

It took him a moment to realize what he was seeing. He thought it was an ornament at first, but it was  moving  . It wasn’t an ornament at all. There was an actual, living bird  in  the tree.

Sam stared in shock at the small animal. Did Castiel really put live birds in the tree? Just like that, Sam's fondness for Dean and Castiel's budding relationship was gone and he was back to thinking that it was going to get him and everybody else killed.

Before Sam could decide what to do about a bird trapped in the bunker, it took flight, fluttering frantically. A short string of lights was stuck to it and it flew awkwardly around the high ceiling.

Sam put his coffee down. If he could grab the lights he could catch it and.... 

His train of thought was interrupted by the realization that the bird wasn't just fluttering about, it was flying  at  him like a tiny, feathered, Christmas missile.

“Shit—!”

Sam threw his arms up and ducked, but it was too late. The lights caught around his shoulders, wrapping Sam up like a Christmas tree. Then, to Sam’s bewilderment, the bird fell right into his hands.

He froze, staring in surprise at the little creature who, once it had caught its breath, nestled comfortably in Sam's large hands. Sam rose a brow. It wasn’t just a bird, he realized, it was a partridge.

Castiel had found a partridge? In Kansas? That was a little beyond Castiel’s grasp of human culture, Sam thought. Castiel didn’t even know all the words to ‘Happy Birthday’. Skepticism building, Sam looked around expecting to see Dean laughing at him and Castiel looking resigned, but there was no one else in the library. It was just Sam and the partridge that was now pecking curiously at Sam's thumb and ruffling its feathers.

Suddenly, a wild thought occurred to him. He looked back at the bird. “Gab…?”

As if he had spoken the magic words, the partridge vanished in a sudden poof of grey feathers. It was a Christmas miracle that Sam didn’t fall on his ass as Gabriel the Archangel materialized exactly where the bird had been: in Sam's arms. Sam nearly lost his balance as he found himself holding Gabriel up.

“Tada!" Gabriel beamed. "Merry Christmas, Sam!"

Red faced and shocked, Sam hoisted him up with great effort. “Gabriel!”

Gabriel gave him a sly smile. “Miss me?”

Sam's eyebrows contracted. He stood up straight and stared at Gabriel, who looked like he was in a hammock on the beach. 

"You...you did this? The tree and… everything?"

"Yup."

"You turned into a bird?"

"Yup!"

“And flew at me!”

“Oh yeah.”

Sam looked at the Christmas lights wrapped around his shoulders, casting them both into a Christmassy glow. 

"Why?"

Gabriel gave Sam a sarcastic look, then plucked a candy cane from his shirt pocket. "Come on, you're supposed to be the smart one. It's Christmas!" Gabriel unwrapped the candy cane and sucked it with relish. "You boys deserve a Merry Christmas for once."

Sam readjusted his hold on Gabriel. "Well, next time, maybe give me a little warning?"

Gabriel scoffed, looking surprisingly birdlike. "Where's the fun in that?"

Sam stared at him incredulously, but he couldn't help but smile at the look of roguish delight on Gabriel's face.

"There we go," Gabriel grinned. He popped the candy cane out of his mouth, leaned forward, and kissed Sam sweetly. 

Sam's smile melted away as he kissed him back, momentarily forgetting how heavy an archangel was. Gabriel pulled away and, before Sam could speak, put the candy cane in Sam's mouth. Sam gave Gabriel a look.

“Ishere mistletoe aboff us?” Sam mumbled around the candy cane.

Gabriel paused, then snapped his fingers. “There is now.”

Sam chuckled, then leaned back in and kissed Gabriel, sharing the slowly melting candy cane between them.

 A noise from the hallway interrupted them, and Sam lowered Gabriel onto his feet at last. Gabriel picked up Sam's coffee while Sam began trying to extricate himself from the Christmas lights.

"Hey little bro," Gabriel greeted a tousle-haired Castiel.

Castiel blinked at them both. He appeared in the library wearing one of Dean's old band shirts and a pair of striped pajama pants. Sam was used to the sight by now, but Gabriel looked him up and down in merry surprise.

"Oh-ho, someone had a Merry Christmas already." Gabriel beamed, stirring the coffee with the candy cane before taking a sip.

Sam elbowed him, but he needn't have bothered. Castiel didn't understand.

"Gabriel? What are you doing here?" Castiel asked tiredly. 

Gabriel rose a brow. Sam had managed to arrange the lights like a scarf before he gave up. He had a feeling that the lights wouldn't come off no matter what he did. 

“Oh I just decided to fly in and wish you all a Merry Christmas.”

Castiel looked between them, then up at the mistletoe, and sighed. Sam cheeks went red.

Gabriel chuckled and grabbed a large red stocking from under the tree. "Here, I got you something."

Castiel's attention fell on the stocking. He looked at it ominously.

"Oh, come on." Gabriel jostled it at him. "It won't bite."

Castiel gave him an exasperated look, and Sam knew exactly why. That stocking probably  could bite. Still, Castiel reached into the bag.

The stocking was deeper than seemed possible. Sam watched interestedly as Castiel pulled out what looked like a colorful mound of wool.

"Put it on." Gabriel beamed.

Castiel eyed the sweater. He sighed and pulled it on over his head, making his hair even messier. The sweater was charmingly ugly and decorated with little baubles and tiny Christmas trees. Across the chest it said 'Tree Topper'. 

"Thank you Gabriel," Castiel mumbled.

Sam exhaled in relief. For Gabriel, that was a really nice gift.

"No Cas, thank you," Gabriel winked. "Now, where's the third musketeer? Sam already got his present so…"

"What was my present?" Sam asked.

"Me!"

Sam gave him a look.

"Just kidding, you're already wearing your gift."

Sam looked down at his sweater in realization. On reinspection, the old sweater he'd hastily grabbed from his closest was in fact a Christmas sweater. It was red and green and decorated with not reindeer but tiny frolicking moose. Sam closed his eyes and smiled.

"We didn't get you anything," Castiel frowned.

Gabriel waved his hand airily. "Your presence is my presents."

Castiel had to think about that for a moment.

"Although I wouldn't say no to crashing here for a few days," Gabriel added, "to keep up the festive cheer and whatnot."

Sam smiled knowingly. "You can stay, Gabriel."

"Great!" Gabriel slipped his arm around Sam.

 Above them, Dean returned from the store. The front door slammed and they could hear disgruntled footsteps. Dean's face appeared on the balcony and he froze.

"Morning sunshine!" Gabriel beamed.

Dean scowled. He stormed down the stairs and Sam instinctively turned to shelter Gabriel. Sam knew that scowl too well.

"Dean…" Sam began.

"You!" Dean shouted. "You did this?"

Gabriel winked at him from behind Sam’s arm.

Dean was beyond words, so he grabbed the remote from the table and turned on the TV they'd placed in the library to keep up with the news.

"-the weather phenomenon taking everyone by storm this Christmas morning-" A newscaster was talking and giving the audience a curious look. 

Sam, Castiel, and Gabriel’s attention turned to the screen.

"It seems somebody in the Midwest wished for a white Christmas this year. States as far South as Kansas were hit by a freak snowstorm early this morning. Many of these areas have no contingency plans for icy roads, so if you have travel plans today, you'd better cancel them. What do you think of this weather, Tom?"

The newscaster seemed pleasant enough about the snow, but the weatherman, Tom, was speechless with confusion.

"...people keep saying, 'snowstorm,' but there was no storm cell… Radar maps are clear. The snow just… it just  appeared ."

Tom began rambling incoherently and the news feed had to be quickly shifted back to the newscaster. 

Gabriel threw his head back in laughter.

Castiel sighed.

Dean turned to Sam. "You and your boyfriend are scraping the ice off of Baby."

Sam bit back a grin and nodded somberly.

Dean gave Gabriel another stern look, but Dean's demeanor softened when he saw Castiel. He walked over to him, hiding a plastic grocery bag behind his back. "Morning, Cas," he cleared his throat. Castiel smiled at him.

“Oh, you're not getting out of your gift that easily," Gabriel said, still laughing over the befuddled weatherman.

Dean eyed him.

"I got you a sweater, too. Merry Christmas."

Dean stared at him. He'd been ignoring the fact that everyone was wearing Christmas sweaters, silently hoping this moment wouldn’t come, but it had, and Gabriel was now eyeing him roguishly and holding a Santa sack like a lure.

Dean sighed and walked over to him. He understood that Gabriel had decorated the bunker and created the snow, and he wasn't entirely ungrateful, so he played along and reached into the sack. When nothing bit him, he felt around and pulled out a wool sweater similar to Castiel's. It also had little Christmas trees, plus snowflakes and tiny impalas. Like Sam’s moose, they could have passed for reindeer.

Gabriel beamed at him. "Well? Try it on!"

Dean glared at him, then at Sam, but he put the sweater on all the same. Only when it was straightened out could Sam see what was written on it.

'Tree'

Dean read it upside in confusion, until he saw Castiel's sweater. Castiel didn't get it, and was innocently tasting a candy cane, but Dean's expression was hardening.

"So! Dean, did you get more coffee?" Sam said loudly, holding back a laugh.

Gabriel winked at Sam.

"Oh, yeah," Dean set the bag down. "And uh…" Dean looked around. It seemed like as good a time as any. He pulled out a few things from the bag.

“Merry Christmas, Cas.” Dean said awkwardly, offering Cas a few DVDs.

Castiel tilted his head and took them curiously.

"It's what I always watched around Christmas time as a kid. I thought you might like them, too." Dean said gruffly, although his eyes were more gentle than usual.

"Die. Hard?" Castiel read. "This is a Christmas movie?"

"Yes," Dean said firmly. "And there's ‘A Christmas Story’…"

“I remember that one!” Sam smiled. "Dad loved it."

"Yeah, he did," Dean chuckled. "And, uh, this one's about a reindeer who saves Christmas," he said very seriously.

Castiel looked at him skeptically, as if about to ask how a reindeer made out of clay could save a pseudo-Christian holiday.

"I didn't get a chance to wrap them or anything…" Dean added awkwardly.

Castiel's question faded and he smiled warmly. "Thank you, Dean." Castiel put an arm around him and kissed his cheek. 

Dean's ears went red, but he smiled.

"Let's watch Die Hard,” Castiel said.

Dean grinned.

Gabriel didn't comment on this exchange, much to Sam's relief. Just like Sam, Gabriel seemed to enjoy seeing his brother so happy.

Gabriel gave Sam a rare, genuine smile, then said, "Well, why don't we make some hot cocoa and watch a movie?"

"Coffee," Dean corrected him. "Let's make some coffee and watch a movie."

Gabriel chuckled as Dean went into the kitchen with the rest of the shopping and began brewing another pot.

 Castiel opened the DVD and Sam helped him put it in the player. Gabriel kicked back on a love seat and waited for Sam to join him, watching in amusement as Sam tried to instruct Castiel on using the DVD player.

"Sam, did you buy pie?" Dean hollered from the kitchen.

Sam looked up in confusion.

"Merry Christmas, Dean," Castiel said, his eyes twinkling.

Dean stuck his head around the corner. "God I love you.”

Castiel smiled, looking very pleased with himself.

 Overcome with Christmas spirit, Dean decided to share and returned with a tray of coffee and pie for everyone. Sam settled onto the couch with Gabriel, and Dean sat with Castiel. Sam couldn't remember ever being so at peace with the world. For the first time in his life, as he lay in Gabriel's lap and watched Die Hard, he thought he understood why Dean always wanted a real Christmas. If this was a real Christmas, Sam wanted to have one every year. 

“Thank you, Gabriel,” Sam whispered over the movie.

Gabriel smiled and kissed his forehead. “For what?”

“For everything."

Gabriel chuckled and took Sam’s hand. “You know I’d do anything for you, kiddo.”

Sam kissed Gabriel, tasting his sweetness once more, then resumed watching the movie. He caught Dean’s eye, but to his surprise Dean wasn’t glaring at Gabriel like he usually did. Dean looked as content as Sam felt.

Dean held up his mug to toast Sam’s. "Merry Christmas, bitch.” Sam chuckled and toasted back. "Merry Christmas, jerk."

[merry-kuroo]

The Last Embers - A MHA Fic - Chapter Two

Hello. This is my first MHA fanfic and its a AU. I hope y’all like it (or not. that’s cool too.) This is based off a idea I wrote about for my Intro to Creative Writing class almost four years ago and I thought it would be cool to apply this to MHA.

Summary:  Less people in the world are being born with Quirks and those that have  Quirks begin to lose them between the ages of 25-30. This has caused the  decline of Pro Heroes and Villains. Those that graduated from Class A  at U.A. have turned 25 and are beginning to witness the decline of their  Quirks. How will they cope and how will it affect their relationships?  Meanwhile, Izuku searches for the next successor of One For All, even  when he's told its pointless...

Chapter Two: Love Like This; Kirishima and Kaminari Part II

Chapter Summary: Kirishima and Kaminari talk about the loss of their Quirks and their relationship. What happened three years ago, and can Kirishima be upfront with Kaminari about his true feelings?

Read it on AO3 too...There’s some notes on the AU as well

June, 3 years ago

They discovered Lulu’s Cafe during their third year at U.A. Kirishima had been busy at Fat Gum’s Agency and once they were done, Amajiki wanted to show him new parts of the surrounding area. They walked around the neighborhood until they came across the cafe. It was nice, quiet, and the food was to die for. After Amajiki went home, Kirishima went into the cafe and ordered curry.

Kaminari texted and asked him when he was coming back to the dorms, and Kirishima told him where he was at. Twenty minutes later, Kaminari had walked in and ordered the same type of spicy curry as Kirishima. So, on days when Kirishima was busy and couldn’t come back to the dorm, Kaminari was always there to greet him at Lulu’s Cafe. This routine continued until they were twenty-two.

When Kirishima invited Kaminari to dinner with him, he had done it under the pretense of telling him about how he signed with Amajiki's Pro Hero agency...and his feelings.

His feelings for Kaminari started out small. During their first year, Kirishima noticed his face always got warm when he talked to Kaminari, then he got a few butterflies every now and again. Training with Kaminari. Eating lunch with Kaminari. Playing video games in the dorms with Kaminari. Everything Kirishima did with him brought him so much joy.

It wasn't until the beginning of their third year that Kirishima realized he was in love with Kaminari. It wasn't puppy love or a fleeting crush. Kirishima couldn't imagine life without him, and he knew he needed to tell him. Except he didn’t tell him in high school. He thought it was best to wait until they were adults.

So, Kirishima waited for him to show up. He was bouncing his leg up and down nervously. It was entirely unmanly. He had ordered Kaminari's favorite drink, an ice tea. Kaminari wasn't usually late to their meetups (Kirishima couldn't call it a date).

"Hey," Kaminari slid into the booth. Dark bags were sitting under his eyes. His face was puffy and red, like he had been crying for hours.

"Is something wrong?" Kirishima asked.

"No, no. Everything is fine." Kaminari smiled. "Tell me what's up."

"Well, Amajiki-senpai is opening up his own hero agency, and he asked me to join him." Kirishima said.

Kaminari was quiet for a moment, and he took a long sip of his ice tea. Kirishima was expecting a jovial response, and it was unusual for Kaminari to be this quiet.

"Okay, now you have to tell me what's wrong," Kirishima said.

"I lost my Quirk," Kaminari said quietly. So quiet, Kirishima was almost sure he hadn't heard him.

"W-what?" Kirishima said. "But you're not 25 yet. How is that possible?"

"I don't know." Kaminari put his head in his hands.

"It'll be alright. I'll help you." Kirishima smiled. He desperately wished he could provide more comfort for his best friend.

He got the sense that Kaminari didn’t want to be at the cafe anymore, so he paid for their drinks, and the two of them walked outside. Summer had just arrived, bringing with it an intense humidity. There was no one else on this street except for them. Kirishima scrambled with what to say, and how to keep Kaminari with him.

“Kirishima,” Kaminari said. He turned towards him, and the sorrow in his eyes was almost too unbearable for Kirishima to bear. “I’m leaving.”

“Leaving? Where are you going?”

“Well,” Kaminari shifted his feet. “Jirou was with me when I realized I lost my Quirk. So we talked and we are going to move to Yoru City. Jirou is opening up a music store in that area and she wants me to help her run it, and also give guitar lessons as well. I’ve improved a lot over the last few years. Anyway, it’ll give me something to do and--”

“Why?” Kirishima asked. “You don’t have to leave.”

He smiled sadly. “I feel like I do. There is no place for me in this city of Pro Heroes. I want to start over.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to move so far away!” Kirishima cried. “What about Bakugou and Ashido?” He stepped forward. “What about me? You’re leaving me too.”

“We can stay in contact. It's not like we’re going to stop being friends, Kirishima.”

Friends…

“You know we’re more than friends, Kaminari,” Kirishima said, his words were heavy on his heart. He didn’t know if Kaminari would find them true, but they were Kirishima’s truth. “Don’t run away from that. Don’t run away from me. Don’t use Jirou like that.”

Kaminari narrowed his eyes. “I’m not using Jirou. She’s my friend and she’s been really supportive.”

“Then let me support you too! Don’t just pick up and move just because you lost your Quirk. Face everyone and tell them you lost your Quirk. Look, it's going to happen to all of us. It's inevitable. No one is going to treat you differently just because you lost your Quirk a few years before you were supposed too!”

Kirishima reached out and took hold of Kaminari’s hand. Kirishima missed the jolt of electricity that would run through him whenever they touched. “Please, don’t choose her over me.”

The two men were quiet for some time. A hot wind blew past them. Kirishima looked up at Kaminari. When had he gotten so tall?

“You look at me with so much pity, Kirishima,” Kaminari said. His voice sounded strained, as if it was an effort to get the words out. “That’s the difference between you two. Jirou still looks at me the same. You--” Kaminari took his hand out of Kirishima’s. “I’m sorry, Kirishima.” Kaminari hugged him, but before Kirishima could even process what had just happened, he pulled away.

Kirishima said nothing as Kaminari made his way down the moonlit street, knowing that no matter what he said, it would not stop Kaminari from leaving him nor would it provide him with comfort.

---- --

 December 14, Present Day

The waiter placed two plates of curry on the table. Kaminari’s eyes lit up. “Wow, that smells so good! I’ve missed the curry that’s served here.”

 Maybe you shouldn’t have left…

Kirishima didn’t respond, and began to eat. He and Kaminari had talked a bit about their respective lives. Kirishima told him about his plans to become a firefighter, and he even told a few stories about his work as a Pro Hero. Kaminari talked about how he and Jirou’s music store was sponsoring a big music festival in March, and that several of his students were participating.

It felt nice to catch up, but Kirishima didn’t really want to talk to Kaminari about his former Pro Hero life. He finally understood how Kaminari must have felt that day when he told him that he was joining Amajiki’s agency. Three years later and the two of them were both Quirkless.

When they finished eating their curry, Kirishima asked him how he dealt with being Quirkless. “I feel like I’m going crazy. I was so used to using it everyday. It feels weird now that it’s gone.” He explained.

“Yeah. You feel empty, right?” Kaminari said.

“That’s one way to describe it. Yeah, I feel empty. Sometimes my heart feels heavy too,” Kirishima admitted.

Kaminari nodded. “I get that. You should just take some time for yourself. Find a hobby or a new TV show to binge watch.”

Or I can just skip town and ignore my best friend’s messages! Kirishima bit back his retort and just nodded along to what his friend was saying. But Kaminari knew him better than that.

“I know what you’re thinking. No, you shouldn’t skip town like me,” Kaminari laughed. “That...that was a rash decision.”

“Yep.”

“I should’ve talked to you.”

“That would have been nice.”

Before the silence could drag on any longer, Kaminari’s phone buzzed. He checked it and then he sighed.

“Jirou is staying in a hotel.”

“Okay, which one? I can give you directions.”

Kaminari shook his head. “No. I’m not staying with her. I was actually hoping I could hang at your place.”

“Why wouldn’t you want to spend the night with your girlfriend?” Kirishima asked.

“What?” Kaminari’s face turned red. “No, she’s not my girlfriend. I told you she’s just a friend.”

"I believe you. I'm sorry, Kaminari. I'm being petty. But that isn't right. I'm still hurting from the loss of my Quirk. I won't take it out on you."

Kaminari gave him a small, sad smile. "And I should've been kinder to you three years ago. I'm sorry, Kirishima. I'll work hard for your forgiveness."

"You don't have to work--"

"No. You let me know your true feelings and I brushed them aside because I was hurting due to the loss of my Quirk. I should've responded to your feelings and I didn't. For that, I'm sorry."

Kirishima couldn't believe what he was hearing. Kaminari wanted to earn his forgiveness. He was finally going to receive an answer to his confession. He swallowed. "And what is your answer? To my feelings."

Kaminari gave him an award winning smile. “I love you, Kirishima.”

The words didn’t have the impact Kirishima thought they would. He dreamed of Kaminari returning his feelings, but something about this didn’t feel right. His heart wasn't pounding, and there were no butterflies in his stomach. It didn't mean that he loved Kaminari any less, however. Maybe it's the timing...

He was silent as Kaminari paid their bill, and they stepped out into the crisp night air. The two men walked the same path they had walked three years. Kirishima stopped walking, and Kaminari turned towards him. “Did I freak you out?” He asked in a small voice.

Kirishima shook his head. “I’m happy, but maybe establishing a relationship so soon is not the best idea.” He tried to gauge Kaminari’s reaction. He looked disappointed. That was a good sign.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’ve loved you since high school and hearing you return my feelings is a dream come true. But right now, I need to adjust to my new life. You needed time to adjust too, I realize that now. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want a relationship with you. I’m just asking you to wait,” Kirishima explained.

“Of course. I’ll wait for you.” Kaminari blushed. “And we can continue to work things out.”

“We can see each other on weekends,” Kirishima suggested. “Yoru City is only two hours by train, right?”

“Yeah, but I’ll be visiting you. You need to focus on your new career path. I’ll support you no matter what.” Kaminari grabbed Kirishima’s hand, and squeezed. He still missed the little jolt of electricity that came from Kaminari, but the warmth from him was a nice sensation too.

They stood like that for a while; on the sidewalk, grinning like idiots while snow flurries landed on their clothes. Kirishima was the first one to take a step forward, keeping Kaminari’s hand in his.

He was happy things seemed to be working out, but he knew that working on his new relationship with Kaminari would be hard at times. They had both changed in the last three years, and it would take some time to get to know each other again.

But if Kirishima could have more moments like these, where all felt right in the world because he was with Kaminari, then a love like this would be worth it.

[enchantedsugden]

december wouldn't be the same, without the warm soul of you

ao3 link

   December 21st

Robert closes his laptop, deciding that he’s finished with work for the year, the house is still quiet, Aaron out on his last scrap run off the year and Liv has gone out with Gabby doing the last bits of Christmas shopping. Most of his, well their presents are already under the tree, including Seb’s gifts. The three of them had bought the little boy loads, most of it being cuddly toys and cute little outfits. Aaron had gone Christmas shopping for the day with Chas about two weeks ago and Robert remembers him showing off every little outfit he bought their son, “he doesn’t only want to look like a mini you, you know!” and every time a light weighing package came to the door Aaron would know it was another cuddly toy for Seb chosen by Robert, “Aaron feel how soft it is he’ll love it!”

Robert had raised the question whether to actually put his gifts under the tree, seeing as he wasn’t actually here, and he wouldn’t be on Christmas day either.

“He’s part of our family, I’d like to put his gifts under the tree, it makes him part of this too doesn’t it?, it doesn’t matter that he gets to open them later” Aaron had said, squeezing Robert’s arm, a sad smile on both of their faces.

“You’re right, sorry, of course you are right.”

“Don’t be sorry, get wrapping you.” Aaron had grinned, gesturing to all the toys spread out on the table that was proving to be too small for this exact purpose.

Robert flicks on the kettle, very much hoping his husband will be home soon, he just wants to start celebrating the holidays properly. They both have been quite busy lately, and he genuinely misses spending all his time with his husband. No work (or in Robert’s case scheming) for a bit and just spending time with their little family. Sipping his tea he thinks of the last of their presents that still need wrapping, the their still gets his heart fluttering, all of the labels on the presents to Liv, Seb, Chas, Paddy, Vic, Diane and everyone else they got a gift for, saying something like, love from Aaron and Robert, or Love from all of us. It makes Robert almost high on love, the feeling of home, and belong somewhere, finally. His husband insisted on it when he had gotten Robert to wrap one of their first presents.

“Why do I need to do the wrapping?”

“Not all of it, but this one is one of the big ones for my mum and you’re just better at wrapping aren’t you?”

Robert had laughed and gotten on with it, Aaron sitting close to him at the table, soft Christmas music coming from the speakers. He’d grabbed one of the labels, “do I need to do the writing as well then?” Aaron had nodded, grabbing the pen he hovered it above the label “uh what shall I put?”

“Merry Christmas, uh we’ll do some saying from all of us but we’ll do this one from the both of us, if that’s ok?”

“Huh?”

“So love from Aaron and Robert or the other way round I don’t care” Aaron had laughed shaking his head slightly at his confused looking husband.

“Don’t you just want it to be from you though? I mean you’re her son I am-“

“My husband.” Aaron had said firmly “unless you don’t want your name on it that’s fine I just thought-“

No! no- I want to be on it I just didn’t think, well I don’t know-“

“That you should be on it.” Aaron finished for him and Robert nodded slightly.

“We’re a team now aren’t we? Got a ring to prove it and everything.”

“Love you” Robert said, it was all he could say really, feeling slightly overwhelmed by something as small as a gift label but he was a soppy git most of the time and that was fine as long as Aaron was the only one who got to see it.

“Love you too” Aaron replied and Robert felt him pressing a soft kiss to his cheek, Christmas was already looking loads better that the previous one.

He decides to wrap the remaining presents downstairs, they aren’t for Aaron or Liv so it doesn’t matter if they come through the door. There are only a few left to wrap for some of the Dingles, the both of them finally having decided what to actually buy for some of them, food and alcohol always seeming like the best idea.

He hasn’t put all of Aaron’s gifts underneath the tree yet, although the annual Christmas jumper is definitely already there. Aaron had warned Robert not to go to mad for his presents and Robert had tried, realistically knowing they should be saving up for the surrogacy but he couldn’t resist two, rather expensive, John Lewis jumpers that he knew would look amazing on his husband, then there’s also a soppy present, a soundwave print of The Love We Stole, one of those presents Robert never thought he would ever buy, and one of those things that Robert knew Aaron would roll his eyes at but appreciate all the same, something heavy with meaning for them, that they could hang up without it being massively in your face for visitors. He also got him a little framed picture from their wedding day, a casual one that Chas had taken on her phone, neither of them realising the moment was being captured, just in their own little world in the pub before the speeches started. After the wedding things had been so hectic that they hadn’t gotten round to framing photos or putting them in an album so Robert thought he’d make a head start.

He’s sitting on the floor, struggling with the sellotape when there’s a crash and the sound of a mumbled curse at the front door. Robert looks up a warm smile already plastered on his face and seconds later Aaron comes in, still wearing his hi vis vest and cheeks red from the cold. It’s then that Robert realises his husband probably can’t see him, so he jumps up making his way over to a slightly confused looking Aaron.

“Hiya.”

“Hey- why were you on the floor?”

Robert laughed, and squeezed Aaron’s arms “I was wrapping the last of our presents, I’d finished work and was waiting for you anyway.”

“Oh I’ll give you a hand.”

“No honestly, its fine I’m nearly done now.”

“Anyways” Robert continued “happy holidays you.” He leaned forward and softly kissed his husband’s lips, feeling Aaron’s arms squeezing his waist lightly.

“Yes it is.”

“You’re freezing” Robert says letting their noses touch slightly.

“hmm” Aaron mumbles still half melted into Robert’s hold.

“C’mon you” Robert goes to hold Aaron’s face in his hands, cheeks still icy cold, he drops a kiss to his nose and then rubs at his arms, trying to warm him up. “I’ll make you a brew ey, go sit down.” He takes his hand and leads his husband to the sofa before stepping over the wrapped and unwrapped presents still covering the floor.

“Rob?”

“Yeah?”

“Happy holidays to you too.”

“Thank you.” It all sounds a lot like I love you.

They were sitting curled up on the sofa, legs and shoulders touching, Aaron’s hands wrapped around his mug and All I want for Christmas softly playing on the radio. The both of them just sitting quietly smiling at each other every now and then, it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, it never was with them. It was just the feeling of having some time of finally settling in, they had all the time in the world now, Robert dropped his head on Aaron’s shoulder sighing contently. He felt Aaron kissing him lightly on the forehead and he couldn’t help but smile, Aaron had become more and more affectionate now they were settled and married but it still surprised Robert sometimes, but he would always welcome it.

“You’ve heard from Liv yet?” Aaron broke the silence.

“No, I haven’t, she’ll be home later though, I bet she has just been at a café somewhere with Gabby drinking hot chocolate rather than doing any Christmas shopping.”

“Probably” Aaron laughed.

“Right as much as I would love to stay like this forever, I better finish the wrapping, its all laid out now anyway.”

“No stay” Aaron murmured grabbing for Robert’s hand.

“No.” Robert grinned, trying very hard to not just let himself sag back into his husband’s body, “but you can, just have a rest hey, I’ll start tea after this.”

“No, I’m not letting you do all the work, you finished work today as well, we’ll just order a takeout ok?”

“Ok yeah- that’d be nice” he pecked Aaron on the lips quickly, his husband looking adorably sleepy now, “you’ll have a nap or something, I’ll just be over here.”

After a few more struggles with sellotype sticking to the wrong pieces of paper Robert finally started on the last present when he suddenly felt someone coming to sit behind him.

“Hiya” Aaron says squeezing his waist tightly and settling his legs either side of Robert’s and kissing his neck and clothed shoulder. “You okay?”

“Yeah and I am all done now so we can spend some time together, did you have a good sleep?”

He feels Aaron nod and kiss at his shoulder again “Yeah I did, thanks for the wrapping Rob, it looks good.”

“It’s nothing special.” Robert laughs.

“I love you.” Aaron says, holding Robert impossibly tighter.

“You’re unusually clingy today, not that I mind, I don’t at all- I love you too.” Robert says grabbing one of his husband’s hands and giving it a kiss.

“I’ve just been thinking a lot about this time last year- just so happy to have you here that’s all.”

“I know the feeling.” Robert says swallowing around the lump in his throat, he turned around so he was facing his husband, “I couldn’t be happier than I am now, with you here at Christmas, our first one as husbands hey.”

“You deserve it- we deserve it. We finally got to have the Christmas build up here, together.” Aaron said looking around at the mill, decorations everywhere, cards full off best wishes, addressed to the both of them.

“Don’t know what I’d do without you.” Robert says, holding onto Aaron’s hands tightly.

“Good thing you never have to find out then.” Aaron replies squeezing his hands tightly. “But really, this December is already so much better than last year, and that’s because of you.”

Robert looked down, trying hard to swallow down the tears. “Same here, only because of you- last year I-I felt so alone and I know it was all my own fault but-“

“Don’t Rob.” Aaron stopped him, “you’re not alone anymore, never forget that.”

“I know.”

“C’mon” Aaron suddenly jumped up, holding out his hand for him to take. “We have a perfectly fine sofa to cuddle up on instead of a cold hard floor.” Robert laughs, shaking his head slightly.

“Can’t believe I just heard the word cuddle come out of your mouth.”

“Well it’s Christmas innit.”

“It is indeed.”

Robert was combing through Aaron’s hair, lost in thought, the younger man being in a constant state of dozing away or smiling sleepily at him and playing with his hands. Robert was kind of glad that last Christmas had also been on Aaron’s mind, that he hadn’t been alone in those thoughts. Not that he was surprised, December had been a hectic month not just work wise or preparation wise, also his mind had been full of thoughts on how different everything was compared to last year and he brought it up with Aaron a few times, he had to, his husband knowing him too well and not believing Robert’s “I’m fines” for a second.

December 8

“Hi, I am home!” Aaron came through the door, holding loads of bags and Robert rushed from the table to take some of them.

“Don’t look in the bags though Robert” Aaron exclaimed.

“Can I have a look?” Liv asked from the sofa.

“No you’re not allowed either, but I can show you some of the bits that aren’t for either of you.”

“I am not wrapping anything though.” Liv replied.

“Lazy madam.” Robert laughed, she shrugged grabbing her laptop and moving up the stairs.

“So you don’t want to see then?”

“No I guess I’m going to start my own Christmas shopping” she said gesturing to her laptop.

“Don’t spend too much though Liv, most of this is from all of us.” Robert said.

“Don’t worry, you’re not getting anything anyway” she laughed sticking out her tongue at Robert.

Robert rolled his eyes and laughed, turning towards his husband again, “so what did you get then?”

“Most of the stuff is for Seb, clothes and toys- for him to open whenever he is here to celebrate with us.” He grabbed for something in the bag fishing it out to show Robert.

“It’s just cute isn’t it” Aaron was holding two little sheep with bells on them “and so soft, he’ll love it.” Robert gulped memories hitting him.

“Rob? Hey- you okay?”

When Robert looked up again, Aaron was sitting in front of him at the table a concerned look on his face, he touched his knee, squeezing lightly, bringing the older man back to reality.

“Yeah sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, what happened?”

Robert signed feeling absolutely ridiculous, hating how he could feel tears welling up in his eyes, hated even more how Aaron had spotted them and started looking even more panicked.

“Rob? Please, you can tell me. Did I do something wrong?”

“What- no, hell no. it’s just-“ Aaron still had his hand on his knee, waiting patiently for Robert to explain, kind eyes searching his face. He picked up one of the little toys “I- I bought Seb little sheep just like these last year, I didn’t really get to give them to him personally, I had them with me when- well when I got hit by that car.” When he looks up Aaron is looking at him, devastated, exactly what he didn’t want to happen. Aaron blows out a breath, “I-“ he starts,

“No- it’s fine it’s just well- it reminded me of last year, I am fine honestly. These little guys will be handed to Seb in much better shape this year” he laughed, slightly high pitched, but still real.

Aaron grabbed Robert’s hand “Rob look at me.”

“Hm?”

“It won’t be handed over to him this year, he will open it here with us whenever ok?”

“Sorry of course.”

“Stop apologizing, I really didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You haven’t- none of this is your fault.”

“It isn’t yours either.” Aaron replied not even sure what he was referring to, he just hated that Christmas last year happened the way it did, Robert would always be left with those memories and he couldn’t do anything about it. He knew things were better now, but he also knew how lonely Robert had felt, and he didn’t even have Seb with him, couldn’t even give his son his presents for his first Christmas. They hadn’t talked about that Christmas that much, he knew about the dream, Robert sometimes still having familiar nightmares. Aaron didn’t like thinking about any of it if he was honest, he knew he had his reasons that day, and so did Robert, when he told him he would let him go but it didn’t make it less painful remembering how he had told Robert he just couldn’t be with him, not ever, “at least not with you.” Robert had always stayed quite vague about it, indicating that he went through so much that day, and it still worried Aaron, he just knew he had to keep an eye on his husband, to make sure he wasn’t drowning in the bad memories.

“God I ruined all of this haven’t I- he’ll love it Aaron, what else did you get?” Aaron would always be in awe of Robert’s strength, even when he wished he would just stop trying to be strong sometimes.

“Come here” Aaron fell forwards and gathered his husband in his arms, Robert melting into him willingly, “I love you- it’s okay- it’s okay to feel sad about last year and Seb and everything-. I wish I could do something.” Aaron whispered rubbing his husband’s back slowly.

“You do- I mean last year you weren’t here but now you are, you make everything better.” Robert said echoing Aaron’s words from his wedding speech. Aaron smiled sadly, squeezing Robert tighter, “you can talk to me about it whenever you want- about anything really.” Aaron said, he needed Robert to know so badly, didn’t want him to keep anything bottled up.

“I know- I promise, I love you.”

“I love you too.”

It didn’t really come as a surprise to Aaron when he woke up to his husband sitting upright in bed.

“Robert?- Hey you’re fine.” It was dark but he could make out that his husband was trembling and Aaron felt his heart breaking.

“Aaron?”

“Yeah, I am here- can I- touch you?”

Aaron felt fear welling up inside him, Robert had had countless nightmares before and afterwards he always only had good things to say about how Aaron had calmed him down, but it didn’t make the younger man less scared of doing something wrong.

He could make out Robert’s nod and he lightly touched his arm, squeezing gently, letting him know he wasn’t alone. Robert started wiping the tears from his face and his breathing was shaky.

“I am okay.”

Aaron didn’t bother telling him he was lying, “Rob, do you want a light on?”

Another nod- Aaron put his bedside lamp on, the room slowly becoming visible, Aaron knew it was important for Robert to be able to see where he was, and believe it. He slowly reached out to touch Robert’s face wiping the remaining tears away, Robert turned towards him, cheeks blotchy and eyes red.

“I am sorry- I don’t know what happened.” He croaked, “did I kick you awake?”

“Please don’t be sorry- I don’t know, I am glad I am though.” He continued stroking his husband’s cheek, feeling himself growing calmer as he could see Robert was coming back to reality.

Robert moved to lay down again, head half on Aaron’s pillow and Aaron followed him, foreheads touching. “Think it was all the talk today” Robert whispered, “it was happening again, I can’t explain it- all I know is I was hurting everyone again, and I didn’t have you to come home to- I was alone- it was awful.” A few tears had fallen down his face again and Aaron reached out to wipe them away, as much as this broke his heart he was so glad that Robert was telling him about his nightmare, something he didn’t always do.

“You’re not alone, I am here yeah?” It pained Aaron how scared Robert still was of being alone, that he still sometimes thought he’d wake up and be on his own. Robert’s I lost my husband, my best friend, my home still haunted him frequently, the fact he was protecting himself by not getting back with Aaron at first because that feeling of loss had been so awful for him- it made Aaron want to hold Robert and never let go.

“I know.” Robert nodded, and Aaron stroked his hair out of his face, just needing to touch him somehow.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. My best friend and my husband” Robert smiled, the sight lifting Aaron up immediately. “I am lucky to have you as both now” Robert continued, “remember how we said we’d be best friends at Christmas last year?”

“Of course I remember” Aaron said leaning to kiss at his husband’s forehead, scared that this would bring up bad memories again but Robert was still smiling sleepily.

“I still have that, but also a husband, so I am not alone.”

“Never” Aaron replied, he moved to turn off the light and pulled Robert to his chest, dropping kisses to his head, and rubbing his back, waiting patiently for his husband to fall asleep again while feeling safe and sound in his own home.

December 9

He had just grabbed the last three boxes of mince pies left on the shelf when he felt the quick touch of a hand on his back.

“Hiya.”

“Vic! No need to give me a heart attack.”

“Sorry- uh I was just wondering how you were, and Robert I know he’s busy I haven’t seen any of you in ages.”

“Yeah uh- I am not sure if you’re still angry with me, and Rob isn’t sure either, I’ll get him to come have a catch up with you- sorry it’s all been pretty hectic.” He rambled on, still feeling slightly awkward in Victoria’s presence.

“No it’s fine I’ll get Rob to make some time for me soon” she grinned, “anyways I see you’re getting into the festive spirit” she gestured to the mince pies, “it will be very different this year for the both of you compared to last year ey.”

Aaron faked a smile, the subject still weighing slightly heavy on him, on them, especially after last night. Robert seemed fine this morning, but Aaron couldn’t help but still worry about him.

“You could say that yeah.”

“What do you mean?” Vic frowned, and Aaron cursed himself for forgetting that Victoria was a sharp one and could see straight though him, and Robert for that matter.

“it’s just- well you know his accident last year and everything else, he sometimes still has nightmares, I think it’s on his mind a lot now, what with Christmas being around the corner again.”

Aaron watches her face drop and hates himself, he’s also pretty sure that Robert wouldn’t want his sister to know about his nightmares.

“Vic I shouldn’t be telling you this, - it should have come from him, I am sorry- I’ve got to go.”

“No wait, come sit here for a sec.” He follows her to the chairs next to the counter at David’s and waits her out. “You know, he was such a mess after he’d woken up, so upset with himself, determined to change, he said he was a blight on the lives of everyone he met.” Aaron feels his heart sink, his throat clamming up at her words. “He’d said stuff like that before, you know that he’d change, you will have heard it countless times before.” She continues “it was just different like he really meant it, and I guess he did, he’s different now and so much happier. Aaron felt himself nodding along, not sure if he could manage speaking, “I don’t know why I am telling you this, I just- well it’s in the past, but I guess I am asking you to keep an eye on him, which I know you do anyway, it’s just- it was a horrible time for him, and for you as well and oh I don’t know, I just want him happy you know?” When Aaron’s sure she has finished her ramblings he touches her hand “Vic I know- you’re an amazing sister you know? You really are.”

“Thank you.” She smiles, cheeks colouring slightly, Aaron sighs, “I know last year was horrible, and I am keeping a close eye on him. Thank you for telling me this, he’ll hate that I know but thank you, I’ll take care of him.”

“I know you will, you’re good for him Aaron.” Aaron gulps reaches again to squeeze her hand. “I’ll go and pay for these then hey, Rob’s waiting for me.”

He finds his husband curled up on one side of the sofa, book in his lap. “Hey, you were gone long?”

“Hi.” Aaron quickly kisses his cheek and drops down next to him, “yeah bumped into Vic.”

“She alright?”

“Yep, misses you though.”

Robert looks down “yeah I miss her too, maybe I’ll go round later? I was scared thinking she is still angry at me for interfering with that lad but I do miss her-“

Aaron nods encouragingly “she definitely wants to see you.” Not entirely sure how to approach it, he continues “she also told me something.”

“Right?” Robert looks at him questioningly, Aaron goes to grab his hand, knows he’s worrying Robert so he just starts speaking, “she asked how you were and we talked about Christmas and I didn’t mean to but I told her about how you still struggle with the memories sometimes and she told me how upset you were when you woke up.” He’s surprised to find that his husband is still staring at him, seeming calm and not mad at him for telling his little sister private stuff like that.

“You knew about that though didn’t you? That I was out of it?” Their hands are still intertwined and he’s looking at Aaron patiently.

“You told her you were a blight on the lives of everyone you met.” It comes out sounding more bluntly than Aaron had wanted it to and he sees Robert’s eyes widening, he opens his mouth- shuts it again before he can gather his thoughts. “It’s what I dreamt, well- I did think it as well but-“

“It not true, not at all.” Aaron cuts him off.

Robert nods, he’s looking slightly bewildered and Aaron feels bad for bringing it up like that, he just needed to make sure Robert didn’t still think this.

“I know- well, I know it can’t be true. I am better now Aaron I promise. It was just a very low point.”

“Good.” Aaron said squeezing at Robert’s hand, “I know that dream got you to have a different outlook and all- but you only hurting people that’s not true ok and it never was.”

Robert nodded, “I know, please believe me.”

“I do- but I just needed to make sure that you were alright didn’t I.”

“I am” Robert smiled softly.

“Oh-“ the older man continues after a few seconds of letting the silence carry on “we got loads of cards- wanted to wait for you to open them.”

“Soft.”

Aaron laughed putting the cards next to the lit up gingerbread man – something Liv had insisted on buying, it was kind of tacky but it did fit in with the rest of the lights in the kitchen. “it’s looking a lot like Christmas now isn’t it, Liv will be happy.”

“I love it too- because I get to be here.” Robert says and his husband is next to him within seconds, kissing his head, “yeah you are, and I love you.”

“Love you too.”

December 1st

Robert is making Aaron another tea when there is a crash at the top of the landing.

“It’s the first of December” Liv says, appearing with a big smile on her face.

“So?” Robert says and Liv rolls her eyes “well it is Saturday so we have the whole day to put the decorations up!”

Robert looks at Aaron, who shrugs “could be good.”

Liv continues “can we also go to that Christmas market in Hotton, it opens today.”

Robert blows out a breath, he doesn’t know whether it is because he has just woken up but it all seems like a massive task. Aaron laughs at him, “Robert definitely fancies it.” He says.

“When did you become such an excitable person anyway?” Robert asks Liv, he’s used to her being like Aaron, grumpy and silently enjoying stuff.

“It’s Christmas innit.” She replies, “so?”

“Yeah go on then.” Robert says, he looks over at his husband “you’re coming too aren’t you?”

“Yeah course I am, wouldn’t miss it for the world.” And Robert rolls his eyes.

It’s when Liv’s gone back upstairs to get ready that Robert decides to ask. “So, what kind of Christmas decorations have you got-“ he wants to say more but doesn’t know what exactly and he sees his husband frown at first and then he seems to realise.

“We- what decorations have we got.” He corrects Robert first, because it’s what he does know, never lets Robert exclude himself.

“Liv got a few decs last year” he continues, “and mum got me some bits” he shrugs “I wasn’t really in the mood.”

Robert nods, squeezes Aaron’s hand and smiles to let him know he isn’t sad, because he isn’t. “Well, we finally get to have our first proper Christmas as husbands, together, so how about we buy some decorations today hey? All of us- we can finally build up a proper collection.”

“I’d love that.”

The warmth of the Mill is a very much appreciated welcome when Robert closes the door behind them, Liv moves to go upstairs straight away, all of her shopping bags need unpacking. “Liv you want to come down later for some more hot chocolate.” Robert says.

Liv nods smiling brightly- “yeah I’ll be back in a bit.”

Robert smiles in reply and when Liv’s disappeared, Aaron goes to stand in front of him and before he can say anything his husband is kissing him- cold faces touching but Robert melts into him.

“Did you have a good day?” Aaron asks.

“I did.”

“Good.” Aaron nods.

It had been a good day, filled with Christmas music, hot chocolate and quite a bit pushing and shoving but that didn’t really matter. It had also been a day of memories. Aaron caught Robert looking at everything with thoughtfulness, his husband looking beautiful, lights shining on his face, cheeks red, hair wild.

“You okay?” Aaron had asked, “you seem in your own world?”

“It’s just- I can’t believe I am here, I get to have Christmas with you and everything that comes with it. Last year- presents, lights it all just didn’t matter to me and know it does because I am with you, I get to look at it all with you-  sorry I didn’t mean to make you sad.”

“I am not.” Aaron said, sniffing “I am just so happy you get to enjoy it again- I can’t believe it either sometimes you know.” He touched Robert’s face, both of them smiling. He then takes his husband’s hand and leads them back to where Liv is, the girl probably staying away deliberately knowing that the two of them were having another soppy moment.

“C’mon you- I think Liv wants us to fork out for another shiny Santa.”

December 25th

He wakes up to the feeling of someone (his husband) squeezing his hand over and over again. It’s cold and he feels like it must be early but he forces himself to open his eyes and he’s met with his husband’s face close to his, glassy eyes and everything. He’s properly awake in seconds.

“Aaron?”

“Merry Christmas Rob.” He whispers, his cold hand now touching his face.

“Merry Christmas you,” Robert says voice breaking ever so slightly he reaches to touch Aaron’s hand on his face.

“Come here” Aaron says firmly, tucking Robert’s face into the crook of his neck. “It’s still early” he continues, there’s a big sigh and then “last year, I thought you were dying- and now you’re here, and I just want to appreciate it for a bit ok?” Robert nods, well tries to in his position, he kisses at his husband’s neck and Robert feels so content, there’s still loads to do, cooking, presents and visiting the Dingles later, he also wants to call Vic and Diane and even Doug, because last year when everything was dark- they were still there for him and Robert loves them, cares for them and he wants them to know. But he isn’t stressing about that yet, right now he is safe in his husband’s arms, the bad memories from last Christmas already fading away and making room for new ones, like this one.

And there’s more to come even though Robert doesn’t know it yet. He doesn’t know that Aaron will get dressed in the Santa hoodie he got him last year, only to replace it immediately by the new one Robert’s bought. He doesn’t know that Aaron’s gotten them a weekend away in London, a weekend just for them where Robert can show his husband some of the places that used to something to him, only if he wants to Aaron will insist, worry already evident on his face, but Robert will want to, wants to share it all.

He also doesn’t know that Aaron will bring him a very special present- one that will bring everyone even more joy. He doesn’t know that he will get to spend Seb’s second Christmas with him, gets to help him open his presents, because Aaron is amazing and knows how upset Robert really was about not having him here, he also knows how to persuade Rebecca and Ross and Robert loves him so, so much.

This is the first of many many more good Christmases, good Decembers and Robert is so in awe that he gets to have this, but for now a few more hours of sleep laying like this seems like a very good start.

[carmenlire]

What’s in a Name

read on ao3

Damn it.

Alec sits up a little, away from the wall of warmth behind him, and reaches for the nightstand. He refuses to open his eyes as he slaps half-heartedly half a dozen times, hand finally finding his phone to turn off the obnoxious alarm.

He swipes across the screen and the bedroom descends back into silence. It’s totally dark, the December gloom not the only thing to blame. Alec’s alarm goes off at five thirty sharp every day.

He doesn’t want to get up.

As he settles back into bed, Magnus’s arm tightens against his stomach. The two of them lie there for a while, enjoying the calm before the storm.

As the power couple of New York, they rarely have days off and Alec’s schedule is teeming with appointments and a perpetual list of tasks to check off.

Alec isn’t a morning person. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t regularly wake up at the ass crack of dawn, sometimes with as little as forty five minutes of sleep, but it means that he doesn’t like it. He doesn’t get a thrill from having to leave Magnus, warm and pliant, alone in bed. He doesn’t enjoy his feet connecting with ice cold floors and showers where he’s half asleep and swaying on his feet. His morning runs, a necessity and more dreaded force of habit now than anything else, don’t make him think of rainbows and butterflies and puppies.

They make him miss his boyfriend and his bed and just five more goddamn minutes of sleep.

He doesn’t truly feel like Alec, proper shadowhunter, Head of the Institute, until he’s had his morning coffee. Before that, he refuses to be a person.

Alec is three seconds from going back under when he feels lips against his spine.

That feather-light touch is enough to bring him back from the brink. He focuses on Magnus’s mouth, trailing kisses along his shoulders and sighs, content, but just a little regretful as he flips over and sees his boyfriend, sleep-rumpled and adorable. His eyes are closed but there’s a little smile on his face and Alec can’t resist moving in and kissing him. Soft, chaste, just a meeting of lips. When he pulls back a few seconds later, he sees Magnus staring at him with unglamoured eyes, glowing faintly in the dark.

“Morning, darling,” he says, voice raspy as his eyes slip closed, lifting an arm on autopilot so Alec can wriggle closer until his head is tucked under Magnus’s chin and he can throw a leg over his hip.

They lay like that for a few minutes, Alec’s internal clock ticking all the while. This is often Alec’s favorite part of the day. It’s not unusual for him to come straggling back to the loft at midnight or even later. This time, however, these twenty minutes before he has to get up and become one of the most influential people of the Shadow World is precious and Alec often thinks that it’s the only thing that keeps him sane during frustrating meetings and ruthless political machinations.

He doesn’t respond, just noses along Magnus’s chest, breathing in the faint sandalwood scent that means comfort and home and love.

Alec enjoys a last moment or two as he plays over his schedule for the day. He has a conference call with a few other institutes in North America and he needs to reprimand one of his men for insubordination during the morning. Between various administrative duties that never go away, he also wants to squeeze in some time to check in on a few training sessions.

Alec can tell that Magnus has fallen back asleep by the way he’s breathing and the dead weight over his waist, so he carefully pulls out of his hold, cursing under his breath as the chilly air touches him.

He uses the bathroom, splashing water on his face in a valiant effort to wake up before he pads to the closet, throwing on sweats and a hoodie, lacing up his Nikes, and he’s heading out the door.

It’s cold as shit and it takes the first two miles for Alec to warm up. He runs through the streets of Brooklyn, cursing snow and the cold and having to be a productive member of society, but he hits his stride and by the end of his ten miles he’s sweating but energized. He stops by Starbucks and orders an extra hot mocha with an americano before making his way back to the apartment.

He sets the cups down on the kitchen, taking a last swig of chocolatey caffeine, before ducking into the shower. He turns the water to scalding, stripping out of his disgusting clothes and stepping into the hot water.

Immediately, he shivers, but it’s a good feeling, steamy water heating cold flesh and icy bones. He stands under the spray for a few minutes, soaking it in, before he reaches for the shampoo. The rest of his shower is militaristically short-- the one deviation from his time before Magnus is the quality of products. He’s found that he, too, loves the sandalwood body wash and his hair just feels nicer when he uses conditioner that isn’t ninety percent water.

Alec turns off the water and reaches for a towel, scrubbing his hair before wrapping it around his waist. He brushes his teeth and then decides it’s too cold to shave, dabbing cologne onto his neck and wrists instead of aftershave.

He wastes a few minutes trying to comb his hair into submission before going into the walk-in closet and getting dressed. He steps into a pair of boxers before deciding on an olive green cable knit sweater and black jeans. He’s doesn’t have any meetings today so he can dress down a little.

He walks over to the bed, going around to Magnus’s side and just looks at him for a few seconds. He’s on his stomach, face smashed into the pillow with the covers pulled up to his neck. Alec smiles at the sight before leaning down and kissing his hair, running a hand down his back and murmuring, “Bye, babe, I hope you’re dreaming of me.”

Magnus snuffles a little but doesn’t wake up and Alec leaves the bedroom, turning off the lights as he goes.

With the bedroom door shut, Alec moves a little more freely, not afraid of disturbing Magnus. He goes over to the foyer, putting on his combat boots and peacoat, looping a scarf around his neck before going back to the kitchen and grabbing his coffee. He reaches for a post-it note, scrabbling a little message to Magnus before sticking it on top of the americano cup. Humming as he takes a sip of his still hot mocha, his eyes skim the loft, thinking of anything he may have forgotten before he grabs his keys and cell and heads out the door.

It’s just after 7:30 now and the streets are buzzing with commuters as Alec makes his way to the Institute. Alec expertly weaves through the crowd, soaking in New York in all its glory. He’s a New Yorker born and bred, and it warms his heart to see his city in such a way.

It’s a few weeks before Christmas and Alec walks past dozens of storefronts decked out in red and green, adorned in twinkling lights and tinsel.

It makes something clutch in his chest. It’s pretty damn picturesque.

Alec knows he has a reputation to uphold, both among friends and strangers. He’s surly and standoffish and likes to pretend he’s above certain things. The truth is-- and only a few close people know-- is that Alec has a romantic streak a mile wide and he loves the decorations and very feel in the air this time of the year. It’s whimsical and fun and makes having to work twelve hour days a little more bearable.

Alec’s just draining the last of his drink, head tilted back, when a little boy who can’t be more than four years old walks straight into him. He’s bundled up in a puffy coat and jeans, with a bright purple hat on his head. He was holding his dad’s hand but as Alec looks around, he sees that the boy must have gotten distracted with the festive shopping display a little ways down the block.

The boy looks up at Alec in wonder, probably at his height, and mumbles, “Sorry,” looking a little embarrassed.

Alec is set to respond when the dad chimes in. “Hey, sorry man. His eyes must have been wandering.” The dad’s eyes linger on him, but Alec doesn’t notice as he crouches down in front of the boy.

“Hey, buddy,” Alec says.

The little boy grins shyly at him. “ Hi, mister.”

Alec smiles, holding out a hand. “My name is Alec. What’s yours?”

“Antoni.”

Antoni returns Alec’s handshake, chest puffing out at being asked to do such an adult gesture.

Alec points to the Christmas display. “Did you see something you liked?”

The boy’s eyes light up and he starts jumping up and down. “Yeah, I did! It’s the Captain America shield in the window. I asked Santa for one for Christmas!”

Alec nods encouragingly. “That’s awesome, buddy!” After meeting the father’s gaze, seeing his nod, Alec turns back to Antoni and winks. “I have a feeling you’re going to be very happy on Christmas morning.”

He stands up and ruffles the kid’s hair before nodding at the dad and continuing on his way.

Alec doesn’t see the dad watch him walk away or the way Antoni’s eyes are glued to him with awe as he whispers under his breath, “I just met an elf.”

Alec loves kids, he’s always had a soft spot for them, and he always tries to be a little extra nice when he runs into them-- sometimes literally. He remembers what his childhood was like and if he can make a kid smile or feel okay, even if it’s just for a minute, he wants to do it.

He looks forward to having children of his own someday.

Alec ducks into another coffee shop a block away from the Institute, ordering his second coffee of the day, and paying with his Clave-issued credit card. He might hate the bastards, but he can’t deny that they’re generous with work expenses.

Alec’s smiling as he walks across the courtyard in front of the Institute but he lets it die on his lips as he opens one of the ornate front doors.

He might not be a tyrant like Maryse Lightwood in her heyday, but he runs a tight ship. People don’t scuttle out of his path when they see him headed their way but he demands respect and excellence. New York is one of the busiest cities in the world and as such they’re held to a firmer standard than some other locations.

It doesn’t help their case that Alec is constantly trying to implement revolutionary progress-- he needs his shadowhunters to stay on their shit.

It helps that he doesn’t particularly like most people, too. Alec might be happy and soft for a few people but they’ve earned a spot in his inner circle. The few hundred shadowhunters under his command haven’t earned the privilege of knowing him.

Alec takes a sip of his latte as he nods to a few people who glance in his direction. He keeps up his stride though, not stopping until he meets Jace near one of the computers.

“Hey, what’s up bro?”

Alec shrugs. “Nothing much, just the usual. I have a few calls to make this morning.” He pauses. “Actually, have you seen Bluefield?”

Jace thinks about it for a minute before shaking his head. “No, he hasn’t come down yet. Hang on a sec, let me check the schedule.”

Jace turns back to the screen, typing in a few phrases and entering his password again. Once that’s done, the Institute’s schedule pops up, a list of everyone’s shifts available by the day, week, or month.

Both of them take a few minutes to look it over and Alec raises a brow as his eyes go cool.

He and Jace share a look.

“Bluefield was supposed to be in the command center almost an hour ago.”

“Isn’t that right.”

Alec’s lips quirk in an approximation of a smile and Jace can’t help but feel a little bad for the bastard.

Alec looks over at Jace, “Would you--”

“Yeah, I got it. He’ll be in your office in ten.”

Alec grins and claps Jace on the back before turning to make his way to his office.

He slows a few feet away, looking over his shoulder and calling out, “Remember, we have a meeting at six to discuss strategic planning for the next quarter.”

Jace rolls his eyes, shaking his head. “Yeah, I know, I’ve gotten an email alert and everything. Go do your Head of the Institute thing, Lightwood.”

It’s Alec’s turn to roll his eyes as he resumes his walk.

Izzy’s probably still in bed-- she wouldn’t have gotten in from patrol until almost dawn-- so Alec makes it to his office without interruption.

He unlocks his door, sweeping it open and walking in before letting it close behind him. He shrugs out of his coat, hanging it on the rack immediately to his left, unwrapping his scarf and doing the same.

He shoves the sleeves of his sweater up before going over to the fireplace and throwing a log onto it, igniting it and standing for a minute or two as the fire builds up, as it eases the chill from the air.

Alec’s always loved the hybrid mix of technology and traditional decor shadowhunters favor. This Institute has weapons and innovation decades, if not centuries, ahead of mundanes but there’s something to be said for iron framework and ornate heirlooms and fireplaces that are impractical and inefficient in the twenty first century.

Alec sits at his desk, booting up his computer, and reaches for his coffee, taking a lingering sip as he waits to log in.

Resignedly, he looks at the corner of his desk where there’s a mountain of mission reports to approve and Alec wishes he could get a secretary.

It’s definitely not out of the realm of possibility and he laughs as he imagines Jace in the corner of his office working at a miniature desk, permanent scowl on his face as his eyes glaze over in boredom.

His thoughts break off as his computer chimes the start-up menu and he’s entering his password when his phone vibrates with a text.

Alec fumbles to take it out of his pocket but he’s rewarded. The text is from Magnus and when he opens it, it’s to see a frankly adorable selfie. Magnus is in the kitchen, holding the americano up to his lips as he pouts at the camera. The attached message says thank you, Alexander. A cup of coffee doesn’t make up for you abandoning me this morning though :(

Alec snorts a laugh and is just in the process of responding when his door opens unceremoniously, revealing a bleary-eyed Bluefield. It looks like he’s just rolled out of bed as he takes a few steps into the room.

“What do you think you’re doing.”

Alec’s voice freezes him in place. There’s steel in his tone and ice in his eyes.

Alec is not amused. He is the Head of the Institute and anyone with half of a functioning brain cell knows not to simply walk in without permission.

Especially when the door is closed.

Especially when they’re already on extremely thin ice.

Bluefield looks confused, offering, “Jace told me you wanted--”

Alec cuts him off. “I know what Jace told you. Jace told you to come to my office. He didn’t tell you that you were invited in. You knock when entering a Head’s office, Bluefield, and you wait until they tell you to come in.”

Bluefield immediately takes a defensive approach, copping an attitude. “Look, I don’t know why you wanted to see me--”

“Let me stop you right there,” Alec cooly says. “First, have a seat.” He waves a hand in a gesture that only a few would know was sarcastic and waits until Bluefield is sitting before he continues.

He raises an eyebrow, clinically. “You don’t know why I wanted to see you? Why I might have requested this meeting?”

Bluefield jerks his shoulder in an approximation of a shrug.

“Answer me when I ask you a question.” Alec’s voice whips through the room.

Alec dreads insubordination meetings. It’s always because the person in question is just an asshole or occasionally because of that plus they have personal issues with him. It’s a pain in his ass to deal with because those people just don’t change. Very rarely is the problem something that is a misunderstanding or something easily fixed.

But, Alec’s always been the number one bitch in the New York Institute and he can match surliness in spades.

Plus, now he has authority on his side.

Bluefield looks down at his shoes and Alec patiently waits. Silence doesn’t bother him and it’s one hell of an effective tool.

After a long minute, Bluefield mutters, “I don’t know.”

Alec looks at him expressionless as he starts to talk. “Well, let’s see.” He ticks off each item as he recites it.

“You’ve blatantly disobeyed mission orders I’ve given you, putting yourself and your team in danger. You’ve disrespected Ms. Lightwood, the Weapons Master at this Institute, calling her undeserving of her position and disregarding critical information she gave you about your seraph blade. You’ve missed several shifts, claiming a variety of excuses, and you’ve shown nothing but contempt for me as the Head of this Institute, talking back and denigrating me behind my back.”

Alec leans in, one elbow on his desk as his eyes bore into Bluefield. “Now, I don’t give a flying fuck what you think about me. You can think I’m the devil incarnate for all I care but you will respect me. You will obey me when I give an order and you will listen to anyone who is your superior-- which, considering you’re a new recruit, is basically everyone.

“You’re part of a team. Even if you leave New York, your new institute will become part of your team, too. You’ll be one among dozens, if not hundreds, and everyone needs to do their part. I’m not talking about the sanctimonious ‘shadowhunters are the last line of defense against the apocalypse’ line of bullshit that they like to spout in Idris. I’m talking practicalities. I’m talking about the fact that you might be the thing standing between another person and death. You might be the only thing that keeps someone-- shadowhunter, downworlder, mundane-- alive out in the field.”

Alec’s voice hardens further. “How do you expect anyone to want to work with you when you’re such a goddamn asshole that you can’t make sure you bring a working weapon with you on patrol? How do you expect me to treat you when you can’t pay me the simple courtesy of not lying to my face?

“I don’t care what you do on your own time. You work the same amount of hours as everyone else and you get the same amount of time off duty as everyone else. Use those hours as you want. I don’t give a shit who you fuck or where you go. Do whatever the hell you want. But you will show up on time, you will put that Academy training to good use, and you won’t be dead weight in this Institute, Bluefield.

“You were assigned to New York. You’re here for the next two years unless I decide otherwise and let me tell you, shadowhunter,” Alec pauses deliberately, not letting Bluefield break eye contact as his voice drops threateningly. “If I decide to transfer you, you will not like it. This is my city and my Institute and I have high standards. I refuse to let those standards slip because an inexperienced recruit with a stick up their ass thinks they need to act tough or whatever the shit. We’re going to hammer out your attitude right now or I can send off those transfer papers to Wrangel Island within five minutes. Your call.”

Alec relaxes back against his chair and waits for Bluefield’s next move. The little shit isn’t so smug now, Alec thinks, and he takes a sip of lukewarm coffee as the silence continues.

He can do this all goddamn day.

Finally, Bluefield raises his eyes and meets Alec’s stare.

“Sorry,” he mumbles.

“I’m sorry. What was that?”

Bluefield clears his throat, voice louder as he repeats, “I’m sorry for the way I was acting, sir.”

Alec’s expression doesn’t change but there’s a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. “That’s what I thought. Now, tell me what the issue is and we’ll see if we can fix it.” Alec takes a minute to look over Bluefield. He notes the rumpled hair and wrinkled clothes. He’s set to resume talking when he sees Bluefield’s hand. It’s bruised and refuses to close.

Alec’s quiet for a long moment as he thinks through the past twenty minutes. His voice has lost it’s glacial edge when he starts again.

“Look, I’m really not a bastard to my people just for the sake of being one.” His mouth quirks as he continues, “Bigoted assholes? Sure. But if there’s something going on here that I’m unaware of, then you need to tell me. I’m not a mind reader but I do my best to be a fair leader. When my people talk to me. Otherwise, I just have to go on whatever information I am given and if that creates another issue, I don’t know until someone tells me.” Alec takes a quick sip of coffee. “Is there anything you’d like to tell me?”

Bluefield is quiet for several minutes but the silence this time around is different. It’s not hostile or defensive. It’s contemplative and Alec inwardly cheers when Bluefield straightens a little, when he plucks at his shirt a little, self consciously.

“I, uh, I didn’t want to be transferred here.”

“Why is that?”

Bluefield doesn’t say anything for a moment and then his gaze flips up to meet Alec’s, like he’s searching for something. He must find what he was looking for because he takes a deep breath and says, “My boyfriend was assigned to Budapest and it’s hard being away from him.”

Alec nods slowly as he thinks about what he’s just learned. Ah, to be young and in love.

Alec’s only twenty five but just the thought of being separated from Magnus by such a distance makes his heart rebel. He can only imagine what it would be like if he had just turned eighteen and was fresh from the Academy.

“Well, Connor, thank you for telling me what’s wrong,” Alec says, soft note in his tone. “It doesn’t make what you did okay, but at least I have a reason for your behavior now. Is there anything else you want to tell me while we’re here? Something with me or my staff in particular?”

Connor swallows hard. “No, sir. New York is actually pretty amazing. It just sucks being so far away from him, especially since everything is so new and he’s so far away. I guess I was just mad and taking it out on everyone.”

His eyes are downcast as he continues. “I didn’t mean for Caitlyn to get hurt yesterday. I tried to deflect with something else when my blade fractured but I wasn’t fast enough. I checked on her last night and she’ll be fine but I’m so sorry I let her down-- that I-I let you down, Mr. Lightwood.”

Alec sighs before standing up and going around the desk, half sitting on its edge as he pats Connor’s shoulder. “I might come across as cold, Connor, but I really am here for everyone and while I won’t say that everything’s okay, I will say that I understand how you’re feeling and that these things can happen. Just, next time you go in the field, make sure that you’re properly debriefed and that all of your weapons are in perfect working condition.

“Thank you for confiding in me and I’ll see if there’s anything I can do about your situation to make your term here with us easier. You were at the top of your class, Connor, and I thought having you here would be a benefit. Now that we’ve talked this out, I want to see the Bluefield that earned top marks in Idris, alright?”

Connor smiles, just a little, and Alec pats his shoulder again before he jerks his chin toward to door.

“Dismissed.”

Connor gets to his feet, nodding to Alec before he leaves, closing the door quietly behind him.

Alec blows out a breath as he returns to his seat.

Fuck, if it’s not one thing then it’s another. Alec adds contact Budapest Institute to his mile-long to do list and swears as he sees the time. He has six minutes before his conference call with North America and he uses that time to run to the restroom and log into his email, getting a quick look at just how much shit is waiting for him.

The conference call lasts two hours and in that time Alec bangs his head-- quietly of course-- against his desk fourteen times.

He keeps count.

There were half a dozen institutes on the call and every Head except Atlanta is a long-winded ass. The purpose of the call was to discuss how to improve Downworlder relations across the entire continent and while Mexico City and Atlanta were enthusiastically on board, the others were taking a lot of convincing.

Alec was supposed to be point leader, brought in by Chicago, but the call was getting more frustrating by the minute. He had projections and his own experience to extrapolate on but he couldn’t get a word in edgewise without Vancouver talking over him.

Everyone’s tempers were rising and when Toronto makes a snide comment about Magnus, Alec cuts in.

“Excuse me, gentlemen, but we’re here to discuss shadowhunter business and our relationships-- professional, Mudwick, so get your head out of your ass-- are important to maintaining peace within the Shadow World and, in fact, improving it. I won’t tolerate insults against my character or that of my boyfriend’s.

“In fact, I think this call has dragged out long enough and we’ve attained all the progress we will for the day. I bid everyone adieu and I hope our next talk will be more productive with a more equal percentage of input from each party. I’ll email everyone the notes and we’ll continue this next Thursday. Goodbye.”

He hangs up, ignoring Vancouver’s blustering, and spends the next forty five minutes typing up the call minutes and sending out annotated versions to each participant.

He’s just hitting send on the last email and opening up his inbox to start going through his email when his office line rings.

“Lightwood.”

“Howdy, Lightwood. That was one hell of a meeting, wasn’t it?”

Alec grins, relaxing in his chair, as he tucks the phone between his shoulder and ear.

“It was indeed, Jackson. Can you believe Canada?”

Jackson laughs on the other end. “Of course I can,” he says sarcastically. “They’re always a pain in the ass but if we want to do this thing we need to get them on board, too. Much as it pains me to admit, Canada has a lot of territory and their downworld population is a little more concentrated. I think they have twice as many vampire dens as I do here in the south.”

Alec hums, thinking. “Isn’t Sheffield supposed to be stepping down next month? We can only hope his successor isn’t such an uptight, bigoted douchebag.”

Jackson barks out a laugh, quiet for a moment before he speaks. “I couldn’t agree more, man. We’ve always had comparatively friendly relationships with the downworld down here in Georgia and I just don’t understand why y’all yankees have to be such a thorn in my side.”

Alec chuckles. “Well, hopefully I’m one yankee that you don’t have to worry about.”

“If that ain’t the truth.”

The two of them talk for a few more minutes, going over goals for next week’s meeting and catching up in general-- with Alec promising that he’ll bring Magnus down for a long weekend soon-- when his other line beeps.

He ends the call, switching lines to see that the South Africa Institute wants to discuss new training opportunities. He spends the next hour and fifteen minutes in an involved conversation with their Head, discussing possibilities for the summer and debating different ways to keep their shadowhunters entertained in their yearly training refresher.

After that call concludes, Alec stands up, stretching out the kinks in his back before drinking the last of his coffee, grimacing as it’s gone cold and kind of gross now. It’s almost two and Alec runs a hand through his hair as he makes his way to the door. He walks along the corridor, stopping periodically for mission updates or to sign documents and finally makes it to the training room.

The Academy is out of session for three weeks in December and the students take turns rotating through Institutes, training in different locations and seeing how real operations look. This week New York is hosting the six to eight year olds and Alec stops in the door to watch the proceedings.

He laughs as a little girl takes her opponent to the ground and immediately does a little victory dance. The instructor is working with another group near the front of the room and Alec watches as one of the pairs near the back try a sequence a few times, frustration increasing every time it doesn’t work out.

He walks over to them, crouching down as they all turn to take him in.

“Hey, guys, what’s up?”

There’s a girl in pigtails with a missing front tooth that steps up, explaining, “We’re trying to spar with the new move the instructor showed us but we just can’t get it right.”

Alec makes a point of looking thoughtful. “Why don’t you show me what you have to do and we can see if we can work it out?”

The girl immediately goes into a combat stance, feet shoulder width apart and fists up. She lunges forward and Alec tries to look appropriately cowed as he gently matches her, not letting her get him on the floor immediately. After a few minutes, though, he realizes what she’s doing wrong.

Sometimes people just need a win, though, to buoy their confidence, so when she roundkicks his stomach with particular vengeance, Alec goes down in dramatic fashion. He stays down for a few seconds, moaning pitifully, before he rolls over to his back.

The pair is looking at him with wide eyes but he sees satisfaction in their gaze and he smiles a little, internally. Fuck knows that he could’ve done with some encouragement when he was their age and if they think they took the Head of the Institute down, it will give them some incentive to get even better.

They listen attentively as he tells them what they did wrong and how to improve-- and what they did well. Alec never understood harping just on the bad things when someone could do a hundred things right but just one thing wrong. He stands up, wincing exaggeratedly for show, and holds up his hand for high fives, which the pair return enthusiastically. He nods to acknowledge the instructor looking over in his direction before turning back towards the doorway.

Magnus is standing there, looking at Alec with soft eyes, and Alec flushes a little.

He slides an arm around Magnus’s waist as he reaches him, pretends that he doesn’t hear the girl who took him down yelling cooties as Magnus tilts his face up to meet for a greeting kiss.

“Good afternoon, darling,” Magnus murmurs.

“Hey, babe,” Alec replies.

Alec guides Magnus down the corridor and they walk to his office. They pass the weapons room and Alec sees Bluefield listening attentively as Izzy lectures him about the seraph blade laying on the table between them.

They enter Alec’s office and Alec heads to his desk, seeing a dozen more mission reports in the tray. He sits down. Magnus stands across the room, giving Alec a once-over, before he walks over, going to where Alec is, pushing his chair back and moving until he’s half sitting on the desk, legs bracketing Alec. Alec’s eye level with Magnus’s stomach and he rolls his chair forward until he can rest his head against Magnus, his boyfriend running a hand through his perpetually-disheveled hair.

Magnus usually doesn’t visit the Institute unless Alec’s missed plans or they have a lunch date-- or he’s there in an official capacity.

Which is when Alec remembers what today is.

He pulls back and Magnus just looks at him with an arched brow.

“It’s the fifth.”

Magnus chuckles, smiling a little quizzically at him. “It is.”

Alec glares at him in mock affront. “You’re here to update the wards.”

Now Magnus looks confused. “Yes?” He pauses. “What did you think I was here for?”

Alec knows he’s pouting but he can’t help it. He mumbles under his breath.

Magnus huffs out a laugh, reaching a hand out to stroke down Alec’s cheek. “I’m sorry, love, but I didn’t quite catch that.”

Alec looks up, feels heat climb up his neck as he says, “I thought you were just here to see me.”

Magnus’s eyes go soft and he hums a little, thumb brushing against Alec’s cheekbone. “As lovely as you are, Alexander, I’m here as the High Warlock of Brooklyn, not as the luckiest boyfriend in the world.”

Alec smiles a little as he places his hands on Magnus’s hips, pulling until he gets the hint and straddles Alec.

“What was I thinking,” he murmurs. “You must be so busy, Mr. Bane, that there was nothing but business on your mind when you came by.”

Magnus grins as he settles against Alec, winding his arms around Alec’s neck and leaning in until his breath brushes against Alec’s lips.

“I am a busy man, Mr. Lightwood, but I always make an exception for my most loyal client.”

“Should we discuss price then, Mr. Bane? I know you demand exorbitant rates-- only fair since you guarantee complete satisfaction.”

Magnus eyes dip down to Alec’s mouth and his tongue dips out to wet his own lips as he whispers, “Oh, I think we can come to an understanding, Mr. Lightwood.”

“Mr. Lightwood?”

Alec jerks upright as his heads whips toward the door.

Damn it.

Jace is standing at the door, face impassive, but his eyes are dancing with glee. Alec has just opened his mouth for a biting retort when Jace doubles over, laughing so hard that he’s wheezing. It takes him a few minutes to get himself back under control and in the meantime, Magnus shares a silent conversation with Alec.

They both roll their eyes at Jace, agreeing that he’s a child.

Once the wheezing has stopped, Alec feels it’s safe to start talking.

“What the hell, Jace, how many times have I told you to knock--”

Jace gets defensive, offering, “That rule is for everyone else. I’m your parabatai--”

“That rule is for anyone whose name isn’t on the damn door, you insufferable dumbass--”

“I didn’t think that applied to me, though--”

“I don’t even feel bad for what you saw or heard,” Alec says, firmly. “This is my office and the door was closed, so really you brought this on yourself.”

Jace squawks as Magnus smoothly climbs out of the chair, hand going to Alec’s nape and playing with the hair there as he observes Jace with an impassive expression.

“Always a pleasure meeting with such an esteemed leader, Mr. Lightwood. I look forward to future negotiations but I really do have to update those wards now.”

He winks at Alec before strolling casually past a sputtering Jace and out the door.

Alec glares at Jace. “Get out,” he says without ceremony. “I have eighty emails and three dozen reports to sign off on before our meeting.”

Alec turns towards his computer before he looks back over at Jace. “What the hell did you want anyway?”

Jace shrugs. “I was bored-- the meeting isn’t for another three hours and I’m not on the patrol rotation today.”

Alec looks at him, deadpan. “Take Clary out for a late lunch and get out of my hair.” He holds up a sheaf of papers. “Unless you’d like to help me with the spring budget numbers?”

Jace hightails it out of his office and Alec just shakes his head, clicking on an email and starting sloughing through his inbox. It takes him two hours and leaves a dull headache.

People are such idiots, Alec reflects, and no matter how high their position there’s always room to annoy. Alec answers inquiries about basic protocol, follows up with the various committees he’s part of, and answers a dozen questions about his operation in New York in particular. There’s an email or two that requires special research and he prioritizes those for tomorrow morning.

Alec looks at his watch and sees that he has forty five minutes until the meeting. With that time, he goes through the mission reports, skimming before signing off on them. There’s nothing of interest except for the incident with Caitlyn last night and Alec’s glad he’d worked late last night as he was there to talk with her after she’d been to the infirmary.

He was a more hands on leader than his predecessor and he liked checking up on his people, especially when they were injured, to show that they were appreciated and that he actively cared about them as people, not just soldiers.

He sets the last report on top of the pile and takes out his stele, drawing a rune and the pile disappears, off to the archives in Alicante. He makes a few notations for his own records and when that’s done he slouches in his chair before seeing that he has ten minutes until Jace and Izzy will be in his office.

He takes that time to grab a cup of coffee from the kitchen and when he rounds the corner he sees Isabelle walking to his office from the other side.

“Hey, what’s up? You’re five minutes early?”

Izzy laughs, “I wanted to update you about the weapons budget before we began. Nothing formal, I just wanted to let you know that the Iron Sisters made these sweet dual wielding blades and I wanted to purchase half a dozen-- but they’re about twenty percent more expensive than the traditional blades so I’ll be a little low for next month to compensate.”

Alec nods as they walk into his office. Izzy follows him over to the desk, stopping in front of it as Alec walks around, reaches for a pen and post-it to jot the information down to deal with later this week.

Jace walks in as he’s fixing the note to the bottom of his computer screen, shutting the door behind him with his foot, hands full with a folder and eating a cookie.

“Where did you get that,” Izzy commands. “The ones in the kitchen are stale.”

Jace grins and speaks, crumbs flying everywhere. “I took Clary to this bistro for lunch and they had a bakery section.”

He holds his arms up as Izzy advances on him. “I bought a dozen.” His head jerks in the general direction of the kitchen. “I left the box on the counter with strict instructions to leave you one.”

Izzy stands down, looking mollified and Alec lets out a deep breath.

While Jace didn’t have an official position, everyone knew that the Lightwood siblings were close-- Alec regularly met with the two of them to discuss problems or prospective plans he was thinking about.

The three of them head over to the seating area in the corner, Izzy and Jace sharing the couch while Alec settles into the chair opposite them.

“Alright, I want to talk about some plans for the spring. Really, I just need to run some ideas by you guys about combat training and budgets--”

Alec breaks off as his door opens without warning, smile immediately coming over his face as he sees Magnus stroll in.

“Hey, you.”

Magnus looks over his shoulder as he closes the door, takes in Izzy and Jace. “Hey, yourself. If this is a confidential meeting, I can head out. I just finished with the wards and wanted to let you know--”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Alec says, waving a hand to gesture him over. “You know you’re always welcome here.”

Alec misses the look that passes between Jace and Izzy but Magnus doesn’t. He walks over to his boyfriend, notes the shadows under his eyes, and resolves to whisk Alec out of here as soon as he’s done with this little meeting.

Alec’s head tilts back as Magnus comes closer and when Magnus places a hand on his neck, thumb stroking over the deflect rune, he sighs, relaxing into the touch.

Magnus grins. Alexander is just a tall teddy bear, really, and he tunes out the conversation as it ebbs and flows around him, focused more on Alec than whatever vitally important topics his boyfriend needed to discuss.

Alec rarely excludes Magnus from meetings or about work concerns, but Magnus likes to keep things in perspective-- he knows most shadowhunters and the Clave wouldn’t appreciate just how much Alec has shared with him.

It helps that he could observe Alec for centuries and not grow bored. Magnus is in the middle of thinking about what to have for dinner-- he’s feeling takeout seeing as Alec looks exhausted and his own day hasn’t been a breeze-- when Alec reaches up and takes the hand that was still on his neck.

He doesn’t stop talking, his authoritative voice doesn’t pause as he continues his diatribe on whatever, but all the while he’s interlacing their hands, playing with Magnus’s fingers in an unconscious move that betrays his familiarity and comfort with him.

It’s not surprising, for fuck’s sake everyone, especially Jace and Izzy, knows how devoted they are to each other but it makes something warm bloom in Magnus’s chest all the same.

It’s not particularly surprising to him, after all. Lilith knew Alexander loved physical contact, he soaks up affection like a sponge, but when he looks up Magnus sees Izzy’s eyes glued to their joined hands. Magnus raises a brow but Isabelle just shakes her head, smiling a little as Alec winds down.

Jace responds and Alec looks thoughtful as he brings their hands up to his face, running them over his cheek, ducking a quick kiss to Magnus’s knuckles before he’s shutting down whatever Jace had just said.

Magnus loves this boy so much. He’s a constant surprise of the very best kind and Magnus never gets enough of how demonstrative Alec is when he’s comfortable-- their loft, on dates, with just his family as witnesses-- and increasingly in public.

It makes it all the sweeter that Alec doesn’t even realize what he’s doing, his focus on hammering out whatever him and Jace are discussing.

The dichotomy of Alec is endlessly fascinating to Magnus. He knows-- was confronted once upon a time-- that Alec is surly and can be downright brutal, his temper running hot or icy depending on the situation.

He can be blunt to the point of being rude and standoffish and frighteningly cold to whomever hasn’t earned his respect. He’s a consummate professional, a brilliant leader and tactician, but there’s no denying that his boyfriend can be a bit of a dick.

Truthfully, Magnus finds it adorable and just a bit funny. Alec’s wrath and annoyance is never directed at him and it’s too entertaining-- a little hot if he’s honest-- to see Alec freeze anyone in their tracks with his abrupt manners. Authority screams from his voice and posture and that effortlessly displayed power is lovely to see.

Oh, Magnus knows that Alec will always be grumpy in the mornings or menacing when he doesn’t get enough sleep. But, it’s endearing. Morning Alec with his boyfriend is sleepy and just wants to cuddle before facing the world. Magnus loves being the eye of the storm for Alec, the safe harbour, the place of comfort. Magnus has laughed more than once when Alec had gone directly from being clingy and achingly soft with him to a commanding leader or snappish big brother.

Magnus doesn’t take that privilege for granted.

His thoughts break off as Jace and Isabelle stand up, Alec having obviously concluded the meeting. He nods to both of them and they leave the room within the minute.

The office is silent. Alec leans back in his chair, probably ruminating on whatever they’d discussed and Magnus moves until he’s directly behind Alec. He leans down, wrapping his arms around his neck from behind, puts his mouth to Alec’s ear, whispering, “Ready for home, darling?”

Alec startles a little, turns his head until he can look at Magnus. He smiles, but it’s a tired smile, full of love and relief as he noses along Magnus’s cheek.

“Home,” he confirms.

Magnus sneaks a kiss onto his nose before stepping back, letting Alec stand up. Alec pauses when he’s upright, looks over his office before putting on his coat and scarf. He puts the fire out and turns to see Magnus waiting for him.

Goddamn, he’s tired.

Magnus reaches a hand out and Alec meets him halfway, lacing their fingers together.

“How do you feel about pizza for dinner, love?”

Alec’s stomach chooses that moment to growl and he smiles sheepishly at his boyfriend. “Great. I’m starving. I haven’t had a chance to eat anything today.”

Magnus tsks before waving a portal. Still holding hands, Alec follows Magnus and they land in the loft.

Alec looks at him, deadpan. “If I had known how we were traveling, I wouldn’t have put my coat on.”

Magnus shrugs. “I have to keep you on your toes. It wouldn’t do for you to grow bored with me.”

Alec’s gaze warms as it roves over Magnus’s face. He tugs on his arm, pulling him close, before murmuring, “Never,” and kissing him. It’s soft, and lingering, and a balm to another exhausting day.

Alec pulls back as he smells pizza wafting through the loft. He arches a brow. “Really?”

Magnus just smiles. “We’re starving and you look dead on your feet.” He turns towards the bedroom, calling over his shoulder. “You know you love it, Alexander.”

Alec mutters, “I love you,” but he doesn’t think that Magnus hears him as he follows. They change into pajamas without delay, and Alec feels the weight settle over him. He loves his job but damn if it isn’t demanding.

He walks into the bathroom and sees Magnus taking his makeup off. He takes a few steps until he’s standing behind him and hooks his chin over his shoulder, wrapping his arms around his waist.

He sighs again, but this time it’s like a breath of fresh air.

Magnus hums as he finishes, reaching a hand back to run through his hair. Alec just stands there, supported by Magnus and waits until he’s finished.

Once he is, Magnus turns in Alec’s arms, widening his stance so Alec can lean into him more.

“Ready for dinner, darling,” he asks, softly.

Alec makes an unintelligible noise in confirmation before he’s pulling back. They walk to the kitchen island together and each take a few pieces, settling on the couch. Magnus puts on a rerun of a nineties sitcom and Alec eats mechanically.

The pizza is delicious and he knows he needs the fuel since he’s only had a few cups of coffee today, so he eats with single minded focus.

When he’s done though, he sets his plate on the coffee table and then moves so he can wrap around Magnus, who’s now enjoying a glass of wine while watching tv.

Magnus chuckles a little as Alec slings an arm around his waist and throws his legs between his. He takes a sip of wine and his other hand goes to Alec’s hair, smoothing it, scratching lightly at the scalp.

It feels so good and Alec melts against him, eyes slipping close. They sit there together in the low light when all of a sudden Magnus is shaking him.

Alec’s eyes open and he blearily looks at Magnus who’s smiling softly. “Go to bed, Alexander. You’re falling asleep on top of me and you know how uncomfortable it is for your lanky ass to sleep on this couch.”

Alec just burrows deeper into Magnus’s side, shaking his head. “No. Comfy.”

He’s already over halfway back to sleep when Magnus shakes his shoulders. He huffs out a dramatic sigh, aggrieved. Magnus laughs.

“C’mon, up, darling. I refuse to listen to you complain in the morning when there’s a crick in your neck.”

Alec stands, swaying a little, and shuffles to the bedroom. He stops at the threshold when he realizes Magnus isn’t with him. He turns around to see Magnus filling his wine glass.

“Aren’t you coming?”

Magnus looks up, shaking his head. “It’s only eight. I want to work in my study for a few hours. I’ll join you later.”

Alec nods before walking into the bedroom and shutting the door behind him. Magnus was more of a night owl than his own early bird and Alec knew it might be after midnight before Magnus retired for the night.

He all but falls into bed, thinking that sleeping for the next ten hours sounds heavenly. He hadn’t gotten back to the loft until almost two in the morning the night before and today had dragged on, no matter that he’d kept busy.

His last thought before he falls back under is that he doesn’t mind as long as he always has Magnus to come home to.

Magnus, for his part, has half a dozen orders to fulfill for tomorrow. His own day hadn’t been too demanding, just a few clients and a meeting with a Siberian warlock about a petty dispute with another high warlock.

When he finishes the last potion he sees that it’s half to midnight and he puts his materials and ingredients away.

Magnus never minds when Alec goes to bed early-- he’s usually grateful. Alec operates on much less sleep than he needs and it gives Magnus some alone time to do his own thing a few nights a week.

He turns off the light and makes his way to their bedroom, carefully opening the door. It’s a full moon and through the gauzy curtains, Magnus sees Alec face down in the bed, hugging a pillow.

He climbs into bed and barely has time to settle before Alec is moving, shuffling towards him in his sleep. He has a faceful of hair as Alec moves half on top of him and Magnus laughs, silently, at how much of a damn octopus Alexander is, even in his sleep.

Magnus breathes deep, letting it out slowly as he thinks about tomorrow and next month and next year.

As long as he has Alec, he’ll be okay.

He drifts off with those thoughts, at the knowledge that he falls more in love with his shadowhunter every day.

He pulls Alec closer and falls sleep with a smile.

[tylermagnusenvest]

“So... Tell me about this boy.”

It was Saturday morning. Saturday the 27th December 2014. Tyler had come down not ten minutes ago, hair still damp from his morning shower, navy jumper hanging a little big on his frame- actually, maybe it wasn’t even his jumper, it was hard to tell sometimes- having just settled at the table with a steaming mug of tea when his mother had leaned over the kitchen island and hit him with a question that had him nearly knocking over his mug.

“What boy? There’s no boy.”

His mother raised a brow and, as if right on cue, a voice came from half way down the stairs, “Oh, there most definitely is!”

Loxley appeared in the kitchen a moment later, wearing an identical navy jumper that looked a little too tight on his broader frame- a fact that had Tyler stifling a laugh despite the fact that his friend had swept in to stick his nose in where it didn’t belong. The younger boy greeted Ardelle with a warm smile, she smiled back and without saying anything aloud she went about preparing him a coffee, he fetched the milk from the fridge for her and then they both settled to lean over the island. Loxley took a long sip from his coffee, it was steaming hot but he didn’t seem to notice, and when he put the mug down he had the biggest shit-eating grin on his face, which just always spelt trouble.

“His name is Jeremy Lockhart, something of a catch in the castle, Captain of his Quidditch Team and everything.”

“Really?” Ardelle’s mouth hung open in the biggest surprised smile. Not good.

“There is no boy.” Tyler insisted quickly, “Jeremy Lockhart isn’t- we haven’t- we’ve barely spoken to each other.”

“That so?”

“Yes, nothing to make a fuss over.”

“That’s funny,” Loxley said it in a way that made Tyler sure it definitely wasn’t, and used a tone far too casual to actually be considered such, when he added, “He’s been asking about you.”

“What?”

He spoke at the exact same time as his mother, hers a gleeful exclamation and his a disbelieving whisper. Tyler didn’t really understand why, Loxley clearly had to be joking, this whole thing was completely ridiculous. For as long as Tyler had even known about Jeremy Lockhart it was clear they had absolutely nothing in common, they shared a handful of classes perhaps but it wasn’t even as though they spoke then, they didn’t even sit near each other- or at least they hadn’t, this last month or so one might say there had been times the Hufflepuff had slid into the seat beside him in class... but it was nothing, they still barely spoke.

“Practically all the time, keeps going on about him, asked me all this stuff during the last week about our plans and stuff over the holidays. I told him he should just ask you but apparently he tried and he wasn’t entirely sure you were interested- something about you not talking to him much in class?- but I don’t really see why you wouldn’t be considering he’s one of the best people I know. Anyway, I just told him to hang in there, said I’d talk to you about it but we were free most of the holidays regardless.”

At some point Tyler had lifted his mug and just held it mid-air, completely dumbstruck by the unloading of information Loxley had just put him through- why hadn’t he mentioned any of this at school? What a complete idiot, if he’d said something sooner then... well, then he wasn’t entirely sure but Merlin, now he thought about it he had definitely done a good job of not talking to Jeremy whenever he saw with him. Tyler didn’t even mean to, it’s just he liked to concentrate in class and when boys like Jeremy Lockhart sat down next to you it was best not to look at them much or risk being completely distracted. Hypothetically. Tyler definitely hadn’t thought about it, or him for that matter, much. Was he blushing? He could feel his face was hot and knew too well to pretend it wasn’t, his mother never missed a trick and if she did then Loxley would definitely point it out anyway, he knew all of that but still he quickly brought his mug to his lips and tried to push away the fluttery feeling in his chest while he sipped at his tea.

“I’m going to change,” Tyler announced abruptly when his tea was finished, standing up from the table. “I need to go to Diagon today and pick up a few things.”

“Let’s all go!"

“I’ll have to pass,” Loxley chipped in. “I’ve got some Herbology stuff to work on, not the easiest this time of year, I’ll stay here and be on official plant and cat duty.”

“Alright well dad and I will still take you, sweetie, I need to pick some things up for New Years anyway.”

Tyler hesitated before sighing, “Fine.” At least he could escape this conversation.

“And while we’re there you can tell us more about this Jeremy Lockhart, I’m sure I’ve heard Lox mention him before anyway but I’m sure your dad will want to hear all about him, maybe we could even have him over?”

“No, thank you.”

Fair to say he literally ran up the stairs.

Diagon Alley was always busy after Christmas and he always had a funny feeling about being there with his parents. If they felt anything about it then they certainly didn’t show it, he spared a glance over his shoulder to check they were keeping up and they were walking arm in arm, his mother’s head resting against his father’s shoulder and a joyful laugh leaving her as he pointed out some odd, discounted decorations a shop over. The attack felt distant in times like this, and it was now, something from a long time ago but something that had always stayed with him regardless. It was just odd, he looked at them in moments like this as they weaved through the crowds, completely happy and radiating it, and in the back of his mind there was a whisper of remembrance to the brief time he thought he’d lost them. All of this could be just a dream, some very wonderful dream, sometimes he worried he’d open his eyes and find himself back in the alley with his parents broken on the floor in front of him, except this time no one came to help them, no one found him, he’d just watch them leave and- well, he didn’t know what would happen to him then, it wasn’t something they’d ever spoke of afterwards, all of them focused instead on the fact that they did still have each other.

He thought about it a lot. If he didn’t have them. Where he’d be, how different things would be, if he’d even have days like this where-

“Tyler?”

His head whipped around at the sound of his name and he came to a sudden stop, barely a few inches from walking straight into...

“Jeremy.”

“Hey, it’s good to see you, I wasn’t entirely sure I had the right person at first but I’m glad I do.”

“Oh, yes, well...” Tyler spared a glance back over his shoulder and immediately rolled his eyes at where his mother had dragged his father off to the side, just a few feet away, pretending to be looking over some hideous wand cases. His father looked completely puzzled as his mother whispered into his ear and then, completely lacking discretion, they both glanced in his direction curiously. He took in a deep breath and chose to ignore them, looking back to Jeremy instead when he added softly, “It’s good to see you too.”

“Yeah? Good.”

He smiled then and Merlin, any attempts to previously ignore the sheer magnitude of loveliness the Hufflepuff gave off just about fell apart. Jeremy was ridiculously handsome, sandy hair and eyes that were so bright and blue they shouldn’t have felt as warm as they did, he was a good height too and sparing glances on brief occasions might have given Tyler the impression that Jeremy Lockhart took care of himself- at least his shoulders definitely suggested as much- and all of that was completely wonderful yet didn’t even begin to compare with the spiral of fluttering that filled his chest when he smiled. It was just so much. When Jeremy Lockhart smiled his whole face lit up, all that warmth he carried around with him just sort of spilled out of every pore, he smiled and everything around him just seemed to sort of disappear. And it had. So many times. So many more than he wanted to admit. Jeremy Lockhart was the sort of boy who only had to smile at you once and you never forgot the way it made you feel, not after years of classes and clubs and almost conversations.And this wasn’t good because Tyler was sure he was staring- gazing, for Merlin’s sake- in the middle of the street like an idiot and losing himself completely in the nonsensical joy he felt when Jeremy even so much as looked at him. Which he was, actually, looking at him with this wonder Tyler wasn’t sure he’d had before- or at least not that he’d noticed. Which could only mean he knew he was staring? Merlin, things couldn’t get any worse. Somehow they did. Because Jeremy was looking at him, watching him intently and then his gaze wandered, dipped down his form in a way that made heat creep up Tyler’s neck... then completely explode onto his face when the boy’s gaze travelled back up towards his face and his tongue darted out to lick his lower lip.

Fuck.

“How was your Christmas?” Jeremy completely interrupted his train of though, or what he was trying to piece together of it, with a question so terribly normal he was pretty sure he was just a complete idiot who was reading into things far too much because Loxley had a big mouth.

“It was good, thank you, busy but I just spent it with family so it was nice. Did you have a good Christmas?”

“Yeah, the same really, I’ve only really seen my family since the holidays.”

It seemed unusual. Jeremy was so popular. Everyone just liked him, Tyler had always seen it, ever since first year when even then the boy gave off this bright, positive energy that people were just drawn to. He had a lot of friends too, people were always around Jeremy, even more than they came to him and Tyler was Head Boy.

“It’d be nice to get out and do something now Christmas is over though,” Jeremy started again, rubbing his hands together in the cold and casting a look about the street before his gaze fell on Tyler again and he suggested, “We could do something?”

“Oh... Oh, well, right now, I’m-”

He was panicking- why was he panicking? Tyler wasn’t the type to panic socially, he was quiet in nature and enjoyed a good book more than actively socialising, but he generally tried to be an approachable person and he held conversations well, no one could ever say that Tyler Envest wasn’t good with his words, yet somehow that was all just disappearing. He gestured a hand behind him blindly, some attempt to gesture at his parents as an excuse, though he wasn’t sure why he needed one other than the fact that Jeremy Lockhart- a boy who he might possibly have thought completely wonderful from a distance for years- was suggesting they spend time together and he didn’t know how to process that.

“Oh,” Jeremy had followed his gesture and must have got the general idea, his smile dropped so quickly that it actually surprised Tyler, a clearly disappointed look crossing the boy’s face. “What about tomorrow?”

Before Tyler could say anything a familiar voice answered for him, “He’s free tomorrow!”

He was going to kill her.

“Really? Great, alright,” That smile was back, fuck. “I can pick you up?”

“No! I mean, I’ll meet you somewhere, anywhere.” Tyler reached for his pocket, partly just because he could feel the heat in his face and wasn’t sure he could stand to look at Jeremy any longer. “I’ll give you my number, you can send me the details, or call me... or just text, whatever’s fine.”

“I actually have your number-” Tyler paused. Loxley. He was going to kill him too. “But I just didn’t want to use it, I guess, until you said I could. But that’s great, I’ll let you get back to your parents and I’ll call you later?”

“Ok.”

He watched Jeremy tuck his hands into his pockets and walk the first few steps backwards, a grin on his face even when he nearly walked into someone while trying to look a little longer, it was unbearably cute and Tyler had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing at the boy. When he disappeared into the crowd Tyler found himself looking longer than he should too, lingering there for just a heartbeat more than necessary, but when he whirled around he immediately furrowed his brows at his parents. His father gave him a completely innocent look as his mother held her hands up in surrender, still smiling though when she nudged her husband in his side with her elbow.

“I knew he’d be cute, didn’t I?”

Tyler was so nervous. He didn’t often get nervous about things, honestly, his parents had always done a good job of encouraging him to be confident and he’d taken school in his stride but the whole dating thing- if he even dared call this a date- was not something he was used to. He just didn’t see a need to date yet, he’d always focused more on his studies and had assumed that everything else would come after school, and though he might have liked people before it wasn’t something he acted on. Admiration from a distance was a lot simpler. But this wasn’t going to be from a distance, this was a complete removal of any distance, and Tyler didn’t want to be overthinking anything but he’d spent the better part of two hours that morning picking out an outfit, that was completely covered by his coat anyway, and nagging Loxley to put some small plaits in his hair, which though lovely and swept back from above his temples to pin together at the back and keep hair out of his face, were also just covered by a hat anyway. Stupid winter and all it’s layers. And more stupid Tyler, for thinking so much about something that was probably nothing anyway. Jeremy was probably just bored, just being polite, maybe he wouldn’t even show up and Tyler would feel like an idiot for getting his hopes up so much- and for being unable to sleep for hours last night after a ten minute phone call that was mostly made up of timing discussions.

“Tyler!”

He’d been looking at the floor, having arrived at least twenty minutes early and deciding shortly after that Jeremy wasn’t going to show and he’d have to find something to do for the next few hours or risk sending his mother on a rampage, it was cold too though and part of it had been wanting to bury the bottom half of his face down into his scarf. He didn’t notice Jeremy until he heard his name, startling him more than it should and sending a scattering of blush to his face when he looked up, praying the fact that it was so cold would be excuse enough for his rosy cheeks. Jeremy was wrapped up too but he still looked unbelievably handsome, crossing the road in a confident jog and stepping up onto the pavement in from of him with an easy smile on his face, he stepped right up into his space and did that thing again- that agonising thing- where for a brief moment his gaze wandered and his smile grew when their eyes met again.

“You look lovely, I’m glad you wrapped up, I almost forgot it still gets so cold down here. Have you eaten? We can grab something, if you want, though where we’re going there’ll be plenty of food and I was thinking we could just look around and pick things up as we go?”

“That sounds fine- good, I mean, I’m not that hungry so that’s good.”

If the ground wanted to open up and swallow him he’d probably be grateful. It didn’t though and as they started walking he was glad Jeremy seemed so much more at ease with all of this, they walked and Jeremy talked about... well, about everything and anything. He spoke about the things he’d done over the holidays so far, throwing in short stories about his family, and when he asked questions Tyler did his best to answer them without growing completely flustered. It felt so stupid, it wasn’t as though he hadn’t been around Jeremy before, they’d known each other from a distance for years but all of this just felt different. In class Tyler was confident, when talking about school work he had no worries, and he supposed there was something formal but easier to deal with about being at school, wearing a uniform, being able to focus on other things. This was just different because there were times, as they walked, where Jeremy just looked at him with this quiet curiosity that made Tyler’s head swim and heart pound, because Jeremy looked at him sometimes as though he didn’t see anything else, there was just him, and Tyler didn’t quite know what to do with that. He didn’t know what to do when they were walking or when they hopped on the tube, when despite his balance being excellent and him being perfectly confident in not wobbling over at every stop, Jeremy still stood barely a few inches from him and placed his hand on top of his on the rail. And he couldn’t stand the fact that because he was the tiniest bit taller it was incredibly difficult to drop his gaze and avoid catching Jeremy just looking at him.

They ended up at Hyde Park, that was always bustling but this time of year was thriving. Being as early as it was there were less people than he’d expect later but still, the markets and activities here at Christmas were a spectacle and Tyler found himself unconsciously smiling as they wandered through. Jeremy had an excitement that was rather contagious, he jogged up to stalls that caught his attention, mused over tiny decorations or looked on in awe at more intricate designs. He pointed out food stalls too, they tries steaming mugs of mulled wine and selected sticky, sweet pastries and cakes with tiny decorations on them from various stalls. They went to the Magical Ice Kingdom after they’d had their fill of various treats, Tyler had never been in before and as they went Jeremy explained the various themes they had. He wasn’t sure what the theme was this year but it was incredible regardless, there were huge sculptures carved from ice at every turn, butterflies and an array of other creatures that Tyler was in awe of. It was freezing too, he could’ve logically expected that but it still surprised him, a few turns in and he was shivering despite his best efforts not to. He was eager not to draw attention to it but apparently he completely failed, for the rest of the walk through Jeremy was stood right behind him, at times the boy’s hands would appear on his waist, encouraging him to stop so he could point out a particular structure, standing so close Tyler was sure if he relaxed back even a little he’d feel the boy flush against him. So of course he didn’t, even the idea of it had his face burning, which granted did help with the cold so perhaps that wasn’t such a bad thing. They wandered around a little more after that and, even though Jeremy fell into step beside him, every now and against he’d place a hand on the small of Tyler’s back and guide him between the growing crowds, an action that never failed to make Tyler blush. At least ice skating he felt confident with, he’d been with his parents numerous times and was actually fairly good at it, so when they stopped at the huge rink he felt a little more at ease. For a short period, anyway, he took a few confident glides onto the ice only to spin around and find Jeremy looking a little wobbly- not what he’d expected from a Quidditch player who needed a lot of balance, he’d admit.

“Here,” Tyler skated back over, unable to help smiling as he offered his hands forward, Jeremy took them both without hesitation. “We’ll go slowly?”

“Sounds good.”

Tyler wasn’t sure why Jeremy would choose to ice skate if he wasn’t any good at it but maybe he didn’t mind too much, not when Jeremy was holding onto his hands and inching across the ice slowly but surely, even less when the boy wobbled and tensed his arms up, pulling them closer together. Somehow he wasn’t a nervous as before, when he had some kind of purpose he didn’t mind having Jeremy so close, didn’t mind the warmth of the boy’s hands in his, it was easier to pretend all of this wasn’t completely overwhelming when he had something to focus on beside the fact that Jeremy Lockhart was rubbing his thumbs over his knuckles and hanging onto his every word. Maybe he was a little too relaxed because one minute he was fine and the next he was stumbling, nearly knocking into someone who whizzed past behind him, but before his legs could give way Jeremy’s hands pulled free of his and the boy shot forward to grab hold of his waist and steady his balance, holding him up on his feet with ease. And Tyler clung to him on pure instinct, curling his fingers into the front of the boy’s coat, relieved at first when Jeremy pulled him right up against his chest and for a moment they just stayed there, holding each other tightly with heavy breaths ghosting between them- everything tender and warm and made all the more perfect when Jeremy sighed in relief and pressed their foreheads together.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m-” He paused, a realisation sinking in and he quickly pulled away to put a little space between them. “You can skate.”

“Ah, well...” Jeremy’s smile turned sheepish, he looked down for a second, but his hold on Tyler’s waist didn’t relax and despite his accusation Tyler still clung to Jeremy’s front. “Yes, I can, but I wasn’t trying to- well, I wasn’t meaning to lie. It’s just you seemed nervous all day and then I brought you here and you were so excited and so confident, it was so cute that I thought I’d let you show off a little? I am sorry though, it was really sweet that you tried to teach me, you’re good at explaining things, I can see why so many people want you as their tutor. Then again you being exceptionally cute could have something to do with that.”

“T-That’s-” Fuck, he was stuttering, fighting the blush that just kept rushing back.

“I really am sorry, it was just nice seeing you so relaxed.”

Ah, crap. Whatever upset he might of felt over Jeremy lying at all, even over something stupid, had pretty much dissolved. Tyler would like to say the flattery played no part but it did just a little, maybe because though Jeremy was definitely trying to get back in his good books there was nothing teasing about his tone, when he said things like that Tyler could almost think he actually meant it.

“It’s alright,” He said after a moment, pulling his lower lip between his teeth as he glanced down at the little space between them, his hands still on Jeremy’s chest, and awkwardly pushed a little more space between them. “It doesn’t matter so much.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Good.”

That smile was back and Tyler couldn’t help but smile a little himself, even when Jeremy released his hold on his waist and instead offered him a hand to hold, which he took in a gentle hold. They stayed on the ice a while longer, until the sky grew a tad darker and their stomachs were rumbling, they headed back to collect their shoes and when they left the park to get something proper to eat he found their hands linked together again.

They got Italian food- his favourite though he hadn’t told Jeremy so, maybe he’d asked Loxley about it, he didn’t mind either way- and shared slices of garlic bread and pizza, tasting bites of each other’s food and even though it made him flustered, which in turn made Jeremy laugh, he couldn’t help but get caught up in the whole day. He wasn’t sure he’d ever smiled so much for so long, not because he wasn’t happy, but because no one had ever made him laugh like that and no one had ever looked so pleased for managing to do so. They debated over the cheque, he was surprised how stubborn the Hufflepuff was about it but Tyler could definitely be worse, in the end they decided to split it evenly. It was dark by then, he wasn’t sure he’d ever spent so much time with anyone beside Loxley, yet when Jeremy suggested they grab something warm to drink he agreed with a smile, not quite ready to leave him yet and heart a flutter when his agreement was met with a gentle squeeze on his fingers. They stopped off at a small cafe that was warm and cosy inside, even at the restaurant he hadn’t taken off his scarf and cardigan but the moment they found a table and Jeremy stood up to order shrugged off the layers until only his sweatshirt remained. He took off his hat too and was sure his hair was a mess, he spared a glance at the counter when he sat back in his seat and immediately wanted to sink down to the floor when he caught Jeremy watching, the smile that pulled at the corner’s of the boy’s mouth making his knees weak- thank Merlin he was sat down already.

“I never notice how long your hair is before,” Jeremy commented when he sat back down, a hot chocolate with a frothy top placed in front of him and a tea pushed over towards Tyler. “Plaits suit you.”

“Loxley did them, I’ve never been good at doing them myself so I don’t bother unless he has the time.”

“Yeah, he mentioned that actually. It’s funny, we’ve always been good friends and I realised the two of you were always close but I didn’t realise until a few years ago that you live together? At home, as well as at school, I mean.”

“Ever since second year,” Tyler nodded, lifting his tea to take a small tip. “My parents always wanted more children, I think, but fostering suited us all better. They considered it before and when I mentioned Loxley it just seemed like a good idea- it was a good idea.”

“He’s practically your brother then?”

“Erm,” Tyler considered the question as Jeremy took a long sip from his mug. “No? Not really, it’s complicated.”

Jeremy didn’t say anything and Tyler shifted uncomfortably in his seat, unsure how else to answer something like that. Jeremy seemed to consider his answer with his mug pressed to his lips, when he set it back down on the table there was a stretch of cream over his top lip, without thinking Tyler sat forward and reached across the table to swipe it away with his thumb. Jeremy licked it before he could, which was horrifically embarrassing, he made a quick more to retract his hand but Jeremy reached up and caught it instead, stretched his fingers out between Tyler’s and brought their joined hands down to rest on the table.

“You and Loxley aren’t... together, right?” His tone was softer, more serious than he’d ever heard it.

“No,” Tyler replied quickly. “It’s not like that, it’s just- it’s just he’s not my brother either. I don’t know how to explain it, he was becoming my friend before my parents started fostering him, and perhaps had we been younger and grown up together it’d be different but it just doesn’t feel that way. We’ve become a lot closer and I care about him- I love him, really- but it’s not like that, it’s just different. He’s my best friend, he knows me better than anyone, I’m grateful he’s such a huge part of my life but I’m not in love with him.”

“Oh.”

“That- It probably doesn’t make sense, sorry.”

He tried to pull his hand away but Jeremy squeezed his fingers and shook his head.

“No, it does. I get it, he’s important to you, but I’m glad you’re not together.”

He wasn’t sure what to say to that, the way Jeremy said it made his skin hot. Jeremy Lockhart’s glad I don’t have a boyfriend. If that wasn’t a thought that was going to keep him awake at night then he didn’t know what was. And it still all felt so ridiculous to him because he didn’t understand where any of this had come from, why all of a sudden this incredible, gorgeous boy seemed to be so curious about him. They were such different people, before this they’d barely spoken outside of class. Tyler was studious and fairly quiet, he had small groups of good friends he’d made through being together in the library, or in clubs, or even as a prefect but other than being Head Boy he was quite sure most people didn’t know much about him. Everyone knew Jeremy Lockhart. Jeremy was Captain of Hufflepuff’s Quidditch team, Jeremy was funny and kind, he was the life of all the parties and if that wasn’t enough he was just so handsome. He’d literally seen people fawn over Jeremy, seen people go to Quidditch games just to watch him, and despite the entirely different worlds they came from even Tyler, at times, had found himself sparing glances at him from a distance. So many people would be happy to date Jeremy, a lot of people had been happy dating Jeremy, even people he broke up with didn’t have bad words to say about him and somehow he was here with him.

“Can I walk you home?”

“Oh, well, I’m going to apparate?”

“Then... Can I walk you to Diagon Alley, where you can apparate us both to yours, so I can be sure you got home safe?”

He was doing that smile again and Tyler, completely weak against it by this point, just found himself nodding.

Fuck it.

He wasn’t sure how late it was when they appeared at his front gate, only a short path’s walk from his house, Jeremy’s hand in his. It was dark but there were lights on in the house, he had no doubt Loxley would be up and it wouldn’t surprise him if his parents were up too, if only so they could bombard him with questions about his day- or his mother would bombard, his father would listen intently with quite encouragement.

“This is me,” His breath ghosted as he spoke.

“It’s nice.”

“Thank you.”

Tyler glanced towards the house, very aware of Jeremy’s hand in his and the odd knot in his stomach at the thought of letting go. Which was so silly, it was all so ridiculous, he probably wouldn’t see the boy for the rest of the holidays now and by the time they got back to Hogwarts all of this would be a distant memory anyway. He turned back to Jeremy and gave a small smile, tried not to let it show that he was completely disappointed that this was over, and reached behind himself to take hold of the gate.

“Today has been... today was wonderful, thank you for taking the time to see me.”

“You don’t need to thank me, Tyler.”

“Alright but I’m grateful anyway, I had a lot of fun.” There was a moment of silence, during which Tyler hesitantly pulled his hand free from Jeremy’s hold. “I hope you have a good rest of the holidays, Jeremy.”

He turned to go, about ready to run up to his room, bury his face in his pillow and scream. This all felt so very stupid, he barely knew this boy and still the idea of not seeing him until school made his chest ache, and the idea of seeing him then but not being able to be near him, to talk to him like he did today, to hold his hand, made him want to cry. All very stupid, completely ridiculous, which Tyler was neither of. So it was best he just hurry up and forget about all of this anyway but he’d barely took a step before he was spun back around and Jeremy’s hands were on his hips, keeping him in place.

“Wait, I just- I need to say some things and I’m not really sure where to start but I need to say them now or I’ll be thinking about it for the rest of my life. Can I?”

Tyler just nodded.

“I just feel so, I don’t know, so stupid? Because you’ve just always been there, in classes and in the castle, for the last seven years you’ve been so close and I just never really knew- it’s just that Loxley talks about you all the time, and because he thinks so highly of you I think I always knew you had to be a decent person, but he would say things about you and it just didn’t fit with the image of you I had. And I didn’t know you but that was alright, just hearing about you through Loxley was alright, I didn’t even think much about it until Halloween-”

Oh. He supposed it wasn’t entirely true that he had never spoke to Jeremy properly. Halloween felt like a long time ago, Tyler had thought about it since but it hadn’t seemed so important, at least it hadn’t seemed important to Jeremy. It was nothing really, Hogwarts always through a party and when that one was over it wasn’t unusual for the older students to continue it elsewhere, it had been in Slytherin this year so Tyler had gone for a short while but in the end he’d headed back to his dorm early. When Jeremy showed up for the dorm he wasn’t even looking for him, apparently Loxley had lost a bet and was meant to wear some ridiculous costume but Jeremy hadn’t seen him in it yet, and Tyler had informed him simply enough that his friend wasn’t there. He hadn’t changed out of his costume yet, fluffy white ears still atop his head and tail swaying behind him, Jeremy was part way through asking about it when Alice came out from under his bed and the boy quickly caught on that, rather embarrassingly, he’d dressed as his own cat for Halloween. Tyler had been horrified really, quite sure his entire face went red when Jeremy laughed, laughed so much he nearly stumbled over actually. It really was nothing, Tyler had just brought him in, let him sit down and given him a glass of water. Jeremy had asked him about the open book on his bed and he’d briefly explained something about it, perhaps why he liked it so much, and then Jeremy left. And maybe Tyler had asked Loxley to check on the boy the next day and to pass on some hangover potions if he needed them.

Even thinking about it now made him flustered.

“And then things were just different, I don’t know how to explain it, it’s like everything Loxley said about you that I didn’t understand was suddenly ridiculously obvious. I saw you everywhere all of a sudden, in class or in the corridor, I’d notice you in the Great Hall and get so caught up watching you I’d forget to eat. You had always just been there and you weren’t doing anything differently but it just became more and more obvious that you do so much, you work so hard and look after everyone else, you’re always studying and are probably miles ahead of half the class but every time a professor asks a question you let other people answer first. You read all the time though, all kinds of things, I’d catch you reading poetry or fiction and when you concentrate on something you really love there’s this hint of awe in your eyes I’d never really noticed before. You rarely laugh but you smile to yourself when people say things you like, you smirk when Loxley complains and play with your hair when you’re tired.”

Christ. He looked to the floor, biting his bottom lip as his skin prickled with heat.

“And you chew your lips when you’re nervous, which is hardly ever, I’ve seen you do that more today than ever before. You take exams in your stride but you hate to fly, you’ve never come to a Quidditch game. You look down when you blush, and sometimes when people say something good about you it’s like you don’t believe it.”

“Jeremy-”

“But you should. I wasn’t looking for it before but, Tyler, you’re completely, terrifyingly wonderful and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you for months. Now I’ve spent today with you I don’t think I’m going to be able to stop thinking about you ever, I’d be an idiot if I did.” He paused, his breathing was heavy, ghosting between them and Tyler was doing his best not to just melt right there. Jeremy stepped closer, pressing their foreheads together and Tyler could feel his heart pounding. “I don’t want to wait until we go back to school, I don’t want to stop seeing you. Tyler, I like you, in fact I might be just the tiniest bit crazy about you.”

Fuck.

That was a lot to process, more than he’d ever expected, the mere idea that Jeremy noticed him so much made his thoughts a mess. He didn’t know what to say but maybe that was good because Jeremy cupped a hand to his cheek, tilted his head with his thumb and, just when he was sure he couldn’t be more enamoured with the boy, he kissed him. So very softly. Jeremy’s lips were wonderfully warm- not to mention his fingers, that slipped back through his hair and came to rest at the nape of his neck- against the winter air. Maybe it was only a second or two but it was enough to make Tyler’s skin burn, enough that his eyes closed and when the boy pulled away even a little the softest, disappointed sigh left him. He was so sure he was going to pull away, going to let that be the end of it, which was just not good at all. He couldn’t help it, Jeremy’s nose brushed against his and when he felt the boy’s weight shift even just a little Tyler pressed forward, chasing his mouth eagerly. He could feel Jeremy smiling against his lips, and the boy’s hand sliding down his back and then pulling him forward, and all of it was so much he had no choice but to cling to him, to grip a hand at the boy’s chest and slip the other arm up around his shoulder. He was so aware of Jeremy’s hands pulling him in that he was surprised by the heat of his mouth, the taste of his tongue, he gasped and stumbled a step forward but Jeremy pressed him back. Right back until the fence was digging into his back, it clattered when he fell against it but he didn’t care, how could he care when Jeremy was pressing forward against him? And Merlin the way Jeremy kissed. He kissed hungrily, desperately, biting at his bottom lip and tasting his mouth. When Tyler got even half a second to breathe he was moaning, pulling him back in, so eager for Jeremy’s mouth on his and the boy’s hands pulling him impossibly closer. He didn’t even know how he did it but at some point Jeremy’s hands found their way inside his coat, up under his layers until his fingers were freezing against his skin, splayed out on the small of his back and pressing them together. Tyler’s fingers were up in the boy’s hair, his chest rising and falling rapidly, he was quite sure he’d completely melt if they kept this up and when Jeremy took a moment to groan his name, Tyler just about died.

“Jeremy-” He breathed, practically mewled, lips brushing together even when they were completely out of breath. “Fuck.”

“On the first date? Don’t tease me, Tyler.”

It was impossible to blush more but he still felt the heat rise in his face, even if he smiled against the boy’s mouth regardless.

“I should... this is n-not the time for this, I should be inside.”

“I don’t know, now seems pretty perfect.”

He laughed softly but shook his head, “Jeremy, I can’t.”

“I know, unfortunately. I just...” He kissed him again, unbearably briefly. “Can I call you?” Tyler could barely think, when he nodded it was barely noticeable but Jeremy still smiled and added in a deliciously soft tone. “Tonight?”

He nodded again, more eagerly this time.

It felt wrong to untangle from each other as they did, even now, outside his house where his parents were probably waiting up for him and about to grill him on his day with a boy whose mouth was still pressing brief kisses to his. He missed Jeremy's hands on him the moment they weren’t there, sighed unhappily and pressed himself close to the boy again when Jeremy took a small step back to give him space. He didn’t want space. He uncurled his fingers from Jeremy’s hair, ran his hands down the boy’s chest, found his lips again in another kiss, smiled when he pulled back and Jeremy let out a frustrated groan. He was sure his lips were swollen, they were warm and tingly against the cold air but Tyler didn’t care, Jeremy was looking at him with this achingly wonderful longing look.

“I’m glad I got to see you home safe,” Jeremy whispered, his tone playful. “I would’ve liked to see more of you but that can wait.”

“I’m not the type to rush into things,” Tyler countered, his voice softer, tinged with a seriousness that didn’t match Jeremy’s.

“I know.” The boy just nodded. “That’s alright.”

“Ok.”

Tyler wasn’t sure how to say goodbye after that, after all of it. He felt fluttery and giddy, it was completely stupid but he just didn’t really care, and even though they were barely touching now he still found Jeremy’s mouth for one last brief kiss. Then he had to physically tear himself away, turn around completely and unlock the fence, letting it fall closed behind him to create a physical barrier between them, quite sure otherwise he’d find himself falling back against the boy in a matter of moments anyway. He got half way down the path before he turned around to see Jeremy watching him, he twisted himself around to walk the rest of the way backwards, smiling to see Jeremy waited until he was right up on the doorstep before he mouthed ‘I’ll call you’ and then disappeared. Tyler gazed at the spot he stood for a few moments before sighing and turning to open the front door. He stepped into the hall and let the door close behind him, no sooner had he done so did he hear footsteps running along the hall upstairs. He leaned back against the door just as Loxley appeared on the stairs and his parents walked through from the kitchen, all of them looking at him expectantly. Loxley had that annoying grin on his face again.

“Well? Was I right or not?”

Tyler took in a deep breath, wanting to roll his eyes but instead finding he could only drop his head back against the door and sigh.

Fuck, he could really fall for this one.

Tyler groaned.

“There’s definitely a boy.”

[via-lactea-meum]

Loving you - Chenle

Chenle x Reader

Genre: Fluff

Wordcount:1350

You nervously went through your room. From time to time you’d ruff through your hair and constantly you would be biting your nail. That’s what you do when you are nervous. The bare thought of you sleeping at you boyfriends place for the first time made you freak out. Extremely and totally. Your friend would be sitting on your bed watching you having your mental breakdown. She already gave up comforting you since you don’t listen anyways. “What if it turns out to be horrible, Y/F/N?” “Oh my god Y/N! Calm down you agreed on sleeping at hus place not marrying him and I thought you weren’t planning on sleeping with him so what’s your point?” You started walking again shaking your head it almost seemed like you didn’t pay attention to your friends motivation speech. “ I know Y/F/N. And I won’t sleep with him we’re only 6 month together. But still what if I can’t suppress my anxiety and he sees how awkward the whole situation for me is.” Your friend now stood up walking towards you. She slightly squeezed your arms looking you deeply in the eyes. “Okay Y/N listen to me...this boy loves you more than anything he would do anything to make you happy and I can’t remember a single situation in which you had been awkward with each other. Have a little bit more faith in yourself, okay? I gotta go now I love you and my phone is switched on the whole night so if you need something just text me or call me whatever.” She hugged you tightly before she left the room and you remained alone with your thoughts and concerns. You knew she was right and that everything was going to be alright but still there was this little annoying voice inside your head that wouldn’t let you relax. But you kind of didn’t have a choice because you wouldn’t leave chenle hanging. You knew how much he had been looking forward to this evening. He especially arranged an empty dorm which was pretty much impossible...but he still did it...for you. You packed your stuff slowly but determined and headed for the door. When you received a message from Chenle saying: Hey sweetie I can’t wait for tonight I bought popcorn and borrowed some movies...you can pick :) See you soon! Once more he managed to love him even more although that was not possible. You left your apartment. It took you about 15 minutes by foot to reach your destination. Enough time to think and just enjoy the nature. While you were walking you remembered the day you and chenle met for the first time in school. It was your first school day after you and your family moved to korea. Chenle was a class above you. But you had to go past his class everytime you had science which was three times a week. Clumsy how you are you dropped all of your books on the first day directly in front of his feet. You were red as a chili pepper but he stayed cool and helped you pick everything up. In the meantime he started talking to you and you noticed that he was smiling at you. And this is how your friendship began. Noone would sit next to you during lunch-break....Chenle would. You became so close that he would walk you home from school whenever your lessons ended at the same time eventhough his house was in a total other direction. And you remember how he confessed to you in December last year. It was snowing heavily when you were walking home neither of you would have an umbrella...But he didn’t want you to be cold so he held your hands in his trying his best to keep them warm. When you reached your house he would just look at you and confess...that’s chenle easy-going and direct....the things you love so much about him. Your chin would drop to the ground and you would try to stutter out what you have to say but everything that left your mouth was a “Uuhu” after some seconds to catch your cool again you would give him a proper response and since you’ve liked him since the first day the thing was pretty much settled. You were a cute couple that was undeniable you weren’t afraid of showing him how much you worshiped him and neither was he. Holding hands in public wasn’t anything unusual. Halfway at his apartment you started remembering your first kiss. The butterflies in your belly and the smile on Chenles face afterwards. It was shortly after you had come together. It was a star-clear night and in the news they announced that there’ll be shooting stars visible for the whole night. So you tugged yourself in layers over layers of blankets and armed yourself with tea and hot-packs. You sat on your balcony for 7 hours. It was the most miraculous night of your entire life. You spotted over a hundred shooting stars and after the first one Chenle told you to close your eyes and make a wish. And then he kissed you. Without a warning. But with some much love and passion you could’ve died. You remember how he leaned back again and told you proudly how his wish just came true. You couldn’t help but chuckle since it was the same thing you were wishing for. “Mine too” you replied placing your head on his shoulder. Actually this wasn’t the first time you spend a night with Chenle. But it was the first time you slept at his place and now the security of your own 4 walls was missing. Nervously you chewed at your nail again as you rang the doorbell to the dorm. Soon you heard the noice telling you the door was opened. Almost shaking you pulled the door open and went inside the elevator. Your thoughts were everywhere you weren’t able to think clear. “Heey beautiful.” You heard Chenle say the moment you came out of the elevator. It was like magic. You saw how his smile lit up the moment he spotted you. Your fears leaving you all of a sudden. The warmth of his smile flowing through your entire body. You hugged him tightly while he placed his head on yours. “I’ve missed you” you said while almost crying. You didn’t know why. You were just so relieved and happy to see him and the love for him sometimes overwhelmed you a bit. You went inside where Chenle had cooked pasta for the both of you. The evening went chilly as always. You laughed continuously. Because that’s what you do. Having an amazing time whenever you meet. You just understood each other. Together you decided to watch Star Wars ||| because that’s also a thing that the both of you do. You probably have seen this movie a hundred times but with Chenle everytime was as special as the first time. You felt yourself getting tired halfway through the movie. Chenle noticed it. “You wanna go to bed, sweetie?” You shook your head and the next thing you felt was how Chenle placed a pillow on his lap and how he laid you on it. You could feel how he stroked through your hair a few times before you fell asleep. After the movies was over Chenle tried to wake you up but you were too tired so he carried you to bed. Where he laid himself beside you after he brushed his teeth. He kissed your hair and cuddled himself up behind you. You heard him whisper half asleep. “Y/N, I knew you were something special since the beginning. I feel so home when I’m with you eventhough I’m far from home. Loving you is my favorite adventure. You smiled and tugged yourself closer to him feeling the warmth of him even more. “I love you too” you said and you fell asleep with him holding you tightly in his arms.

[majiksart]

The ultimate OTP Advent Calendar

This is an advent calendar for the OTP’s of me and my friends. Odd numbers are Marvel OTP’s and even numbers are for other OTP’s. So everyday you’ll get a drawing and a story, that you can find below :) x

Day 01 - Stony. Day 02 - Drarry Day 03 - Winterwidow Day 04 - Superbat Day 05 - Les Hawkeyes Day 06 - Destiel Day 07 - Clintasha Day 08 - Johnlock Day 09 - Frostiron Day 10 - The Impossibles Day 11 - Science Bro’s Day 12 - Merthur

Day 03 - Winterwidow

Natasha sighs and looks around. It’s cold outside. While thats nothing unusual in December, Natasha still hates it. It reminds her of her days as a kid, when she would’ve like to be outside in the snow, but couldn’t. She shakes her head slightly.

„Hawkeye? Status.“ She whispers into her comm. She really hopes the mission is over. The last three days were exhausting and she just wants to come home and…

„Nat? We are all clear. Everybody got out.“ Clint answers immediately and he sounds happy for the first time this week. Natasha smiles a bit, because nobody can see her and she doesn’t even correct him on the name. No real names in a mission, but whatever. It’s Christmas.

„Good. I’ll meet you outside in 5.“ Natasha answers and she puts her weapons back in her suit. There are blood splatter and dirt everywhere on her clothes and she curses quietly.

„Yeah. Coulson will cover the rest.“ Clint says and Natasha doesn’t reply to that. She groans a bit, cause her ankle hurts like hell, when she walks, but what did Steve say? Walk it off. She is just outside the old building, when her phone vibrates.

Natasha looks down and takes the phone out. Only one person can write her while she is on a mission.

„Hey Doll. Are you still on the mission? I didn’t hear from you the last 12 hours. Miss you.“

Natasha rolls her eyes at the nickname and snorts at the last two words. He misses her? It’s still hard for both of them to talk about feelings. But Bucky is so much better at it than her. She sends „Me too.“ anyway.

„So ready to go home?“ Clint asks, when he finally leaves the building, too. He looks horrible. His left eye is a dark blue and swollen. A deep cut on his underlip makes the look perfect, but Clint is smiling.

„Yeah… I can’t wait.“ Natasha whispers and she smiles at her phone. She really missed Bucky the last days and she really can’t wait to see him again.

Clint laughs loudly and wraps an arm around her, Natasha allows it and Clint grins even more. Natasha knows he has someone waiting for him too and Clint’s excitement makes her excited, too. Even though her body doesn’t show any nervous signs at all.

*

Natasha looks into the mirror again. She feels much better now. All the blood and dirt is gone and she is wearing her favorite black dress. She takes a deep breath and checks her watch again. It’s actually still Christmas, but only for one more hour.

Sometimes she wishes for another job, but… she loves it way too much. Natasha leaves her bedroom and goes over to the big living room. As expected nobody is here. They are all with their families. And Natasha…well.

„Hey.“ Bucky whispers from the doorframe. He is wearing a dark nice shirt and some dark pants. But the apron is it, what makes Natasha smile widely. God she knows why she…

„Hey.“ Natasha says equally quiet and Bucky smiles softly back at her. It’s their first Christmas together and even though they only have one hour left, they are both happy. Natasha is glad that Bucky isn’t angry that the mission took them so long. But she never was afraid he would be, since Bucky is an Avenger as well now.

„I uhm… I meant what I wrote.“ Bucky says and Natasha imagines a light blush on Bucky’s cheeks. But maybe she just looks to closely. Assassin Habit.

„I know.“ Natasha says and she takes a step closer. She wants Bucky to understand, that she missed him, too. Bucky ducks his head a bit and then nods towards the kitchen.

„I got a surprise for you.“ He says then and without another word he turns around. Natasha waits a tiny second and then follows him. The kitchen is a mess. There are ingredients everywhere and even the floor is covered in flour. In the middle of the mess is Bucky, still wearing the apron but now also some oven mitts. In his covered hands is a baking sheet with some cookies.

Natasha can’t help it and starts laughing. She only realizes now that even Buckys hair is covered in flour. It’s a real laugh and she can’t even stop. Bucky seems confused for a moment, because normally Natasha doesn’t lose her control like that. But Bucky was as always the exception.

„Those are just chocolate chip cookies… I wanted to make your favorite ones. Prjaniki but… I messed them up.. a few times.“ Bucky seems really embarrassed now and he points at the counter. There are a few… well Natasha isn’t sure what it is. Burned cookies maybe.

„Oh god.“ Natasha says and she has to wipe away some tears. She can’t remember the last time she laughed that hard.

„Is that… are you okay?“ Bucky asks and he frowns at Natasha behavior. Natasha takes a deep breath and nods. She goes over to Bucky and smiles up at him.

„Better than okay, actually.“ She says and Bucky smiles back at her. He looks good like that. Even with flour in his hair and that stupid apron. Natasha puts her hand on Buckys cheek.

„So you like them?“ Bucky whispers. He seems a bit frozen, now that Natasha touches him. His skin is warm under Natasha’s palm and she leans closer.

„No. I love them.“ Natasha says and then she kisses Bucky’s warm cheek. Bucky sputters something, but Natasha concentrates on their touch. How did she deserve a man like Bucky?

„Oh thats… good.“ Bucky coughs slightly and this time his smile is breathtaking.

„And I love you. Marry Christmas, James.“ Natasha ends and then takes a step back.

This time she knows for sure, that Bucky’s face is burning.

[hollywayblog]

2017 or How To Be A Depressed Piece of Shit and Still Get Stuff Done

I’ve been putting this off. Partly because I’ve accomplished so much this year I just know I’m going to forget to include many of those accomplishments in this post. But mostly because this year has been fucking hard. It’s impossible to look back on all my achievements without also feeling how lost, angry, lonely, confused, betrayed, anxious, depressed, bereaved etc. I was while conquering these goals.

I could go into the nitty gritties of it all, but this isn’t a self-pitying post. This post exists because no one – including me – gave enough of a shit when I actually did these things, which I did while grieving, while battling mental illness, while trying to be a good person, while living in a situation that does everything it possibly can to deter productivity. And fuck, man, I am choosing now to fucking appreciate myself and all the amazing things I did this year. Things I only ever dreamed of doing in some distant someday.

I am also making this to provide a little bit of motivation for anyone who is in the same position I was in a year ago – thinking “I would love to actually make a living as an artist but I’m too scared to share my work.” Well, here are a few tips for you, including:

1.       Don’t be a fucking idiot. If you’re too afraid to share your work you will never get recognised. You will never get feedback. You will never get better. There is no magical time where you’re going to feel 100% ready. Sit down, work on something you care about until it’s done to your standards – or as close as it’s ever gonna get – and choose someone to share it with. Bonus points if it’s someone you know will be honest with you.

2.       Whatever your craft is, practice every day. If you’re a writer you must write every day, even if it’s just keeping a journal. Practice does not make perfect and it would be boring if it did. Practice simply ensures that every day you’re alive you are getting better. Besides, the consistency with which you work makes the difference between a professional and a hobbyist. Decide which one you really wanna be.

3.       Support other artists. Subscribe to Patreons. Watch people’s YouTube ads. Like and reblog/retweet. Share the things you love – and make sure you include the source. I’m going to write a whole article about this, but what goes around comes around. DO NOT expect people to support you if you’re living in your own little bubble not making an effort to support anyone else. (But also don’t expect the people you support to give your energy back to you. You can’t control other people. Support because you genuinely want to and not on an unspoken quid pro quo basis.)

4.       Make sure you take time to study your craft. This is different from practicing. For example, as a writer and future director I watch many film analyses, and when I watch TV and film or read a book my brain is always combing through the details. If you’re a painter, for example, take trips to the museum and study – actually study – paintings. You should also switch off sometimes and just exist. Just feel life, textures, colours. Breathe. You cannot be outputting content all the time. But with that said…

5.       Work motherfucking hard. There’s a terrible saying, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” It’s utter bullshit. Most people who are passionate about their career work harder, longer and with more mental awareness than almost anyone. Caring about the thing you’re working on is fucking exhausting, and if you’re not prepared to work hard then see above; you may be a hobbyist and not a professional. That is perfectly fine. In fact I wish I had the luck to be able to continue writing in that capacity, where it is just a fun personal project and not a succubus consuming my life. But alas.

6.       Deadlines can help with projects, but don’t put time constraints on your success – whatever that is to you. Even working harder than anyone has ever worked will not grant you instant gratification. I have been a serious, working writer for almost a year and I am not earning a living AT ALL. That is not unusual. I have laid the foundation for my career, and that ain’t nothing, but that’s something I have to remind myself every day. These things take time. And with this in mind...

7.       The work must be the reward. I’ll say it louder for the people in the back: THE WORK MUST BE THE REWARD. Probably a lot of this is to do with my mental illness, but when I first held Crying on My Birthday – my book of poems – I felt… nothing. Same when I finished National Novel Writing Month. Same when I finished the first draft of my first novel. Same when I finished the first draft of my second novel. Same 90% of times people tell me they couldn’t stop reading my stories. I acknowledge those things on a logical level, but they don’t warm me. But you know what did feel like something? Cultivating those works. Writing those poems, getting to know those characters, those moments when the story just opens up to you and tells you where it’s going. I also feel a certain satisfaction when I reread my own work after a long time; a kind of, “Oh. I wrote that?” The point is that just like New Year’s and Christmas, the big moments rarely feel like they should. If you hate the process of writing, don’t be a writer. As challenging as it is, I love writing. It’s one of the only times when my mind is focused on only one thing and not an exhausting swirl of every problem ever posed to mankind. And hey, maybe one day I’ll reach a milestone that feels significant, but to be honest I doubt it. In general I suck at feeling what I’m supposed to. The. Work. Must. Be. The. Reward.

So where did these principles actually get me in 2017? In just under twelve months, here’s what I made happen:

-          Conceptualised, wrote, edited, formatted and published an anthology of poems all within three weeks.

-          Completed National Novel Writing Month (50,000 words of a novel in the month of November) then proceeded to complete the almost 80,000 word first draft by mid-December.

-          Finished the in-depth episode outline of the television series I’m writing with my sister.

-          Edited and formatted my sister’s novel.

-          Got published in HighGloss Magazine, became a regular contributor of articles and poetry.

-          Joined a writing group, met other writers, published an anthology together which featured my short story.

-          Began to edit the charity anthology I’m publishing. (Still accepting submissions.)

-          Got offered a job as a copywriter. (Stay tuned.)

-          Wrote my first ever short story which I entered in a competition (didn’t win, whatever).

-          Wrote two more short stories.

-          Wrote a thriller novella which I published on Wattpad on a chapter-per-week basis.

-          Wrote, edited and published several poems online. I won’t go into how much each one of them means to me and how much courage it took to share them.

-          Wrote a poem for my friend Sarah, still one of my favourite things I’ve ever written.

-          Wrote a piece of fiction for my friend Hayley.

-          Hosted the “1KADAY” challenge, which went on to become the online writing group I run.

-          Created my first short film.

-          Took up film photography, something I am so ridiculously in love with.

-          Returned to/fell back in love with the gym after so many years of letting my anxiety get in the way.

-          Read twenty novels, probably a quarter of which became some of my all-time favourites.

-          Vastly improved my French.

-          Curated some bomb playlists that people loved.

-          Drove again for the first time in years, got closer to getting my license.

-          Read my poems out loud to people I care about.

-          Learned several songs on my shitty keyboard, learned to play badly and sing without shame.

-          Wrote a tonne of lyrics.

-          Somewhat maintained this blog. Somewhat.

-          Got up the guts to make a Patreon.

-          Helped others with their writing whenever I got the chance.

-          Made art that helped people. Made art that helped me.

-          Never gave up.

-          Proved to myself what an unstoppable badass I am. Like seriously what the fuck I’m amazing.

-          Survived this fucking year.

P.S. I won’t be making a 2018 goals blog. I realised that what I achieved in 2017 differed so greatly from (and far excelled) what I intended to do that there was no real point projecting into the next twelve months what might happen. I find it much more productive to sit down at the start of each month and week and get my priorities straight.

[madamrogersstorytelling]

The concept is familiar from last year: winter is finally here, so what would be better way to celebrate it than playing a little? Snowball fights, sledding, building snowmen... Or, we could write drabbles! Actually, you request, I write. The numbers are also familiar from last year but I got so attached to them I don’t want to change any of them.

So that this celebration would meet as many of you, my dear friends, we’re not here to celebrate only Christmas or winter, since I know some of you may not celebrate Christmas and I want to respect that. This time of the year is for being together with the ones you love or hold dear, time no one should have to spend alone. That’s why this is winter and Christmas but also holiday celebration, we can celebrate New Year as well! Whatever we can think of!

You’re welcomed to spend this holiday and winter season with me, my friends. May it be good to you all.

H O W ?

You can find cute prompts under the cut below. Simple as that; choose from 1 to 5 numbers and a character or an actor from my masterlist and send to me via ask. You can also add something you’d especially like the fic to have (something about the scenery, a song, an object, something to happen, whatever you can think of). You can request more than once but do it via separate asks.

I take requests on and off anon, so it’s fine to be shy. I have the whole December for these, so I might keep this open for just as long, depending how many requests I get and how much time I have. I’ll let you know when I close this if I do. So requests for this celebration are open for now.

I N   S H O R T

-          You can choose from 1 to 5 prompts from the list and choose whoever you want from my masterlist

-          If you have something in mind for the request, add it. It’s only nice to have some special things to write in them

-          You can request on and off anon, but there’s no need to be shy, I promise to be kind

-          Requests are open for now, you’ll be informed about closing – this is supposed to last for December

-          Enjoy this beautiful season, stay warm and remember to tell people you care and love them, it’s something we all need to hear sometimes and we should say it more <3

P R O M P T S

1.   “Look! Snow!”

2.  “Climb on my shoulders”

3.  “I can’t even feel my toes!”

4.  “Hey, did you just…?”

5.  “Who drank my cocoa?”

6.  “Here, have a cookie”

7.  “Did you make these?”

8.  “There’s a mistletoe… Should we… You know?”

9.  “It’s very slippery. Can I hold your hand?”

10.   “Is this for me?”

11.   No, you didn’t. Tell me you didn’t”

12.   “Don’t put it there!”

13.   “Kiss me”

14.   “My embrace is warm. Come here”

15.   “I still won”

16.   “Did you drink it all?”

17.   “What are you wearing?”

18.   “You are the best present anyone could have”

19.   “Make a wish? I already have all I could wish for”

20.   “Can I ask you something?”

21.   “When was the last time you were sledding?”

22.   “No, seriously. Come here”

23.   “Merry Christmas, love!”

24.   “If you die, I’ll bury you in the snow”

25.   “I think we’re stuck here for a while…”

26.   “Nice. My flashlight died”

27.   “This is the best Christmas I’ve had in years”

28.   “We should bake cookies. And then we can eat them all at once”

29.   “My stomach hurts. I ate too much cookies”

30.   “Look! I put lights outside”

31.   “I wanna have a snowball fight”

32.   “I feel like a child once again”

33.   “If I didn’t love you so much, I’d get angry at you now”

34.   “Who ate all the chocolate?!”

35.   “You… This…”

36.   “I have something for you”

37.   “Let’s end this one and start the new year together”

38.   “Like this”

39.   “Kiss me, I think I’m dying”

40.   “Don’t laugh at my majestic sweater”

41.   “It’s snowing!”

42.   “They used to say it’s the time for love… I love you”

43.   “Only one blanket? We can make it”

44.   “Maybe we should share the bed?”

45.   “Where did you come from, Elf?”

46.   “I don’t want to be sick, it’s Christmas!”

47.   “Do you look different or do the lights…?”

48.   “I didn’t want you to be alone”

49.   “I wish you could be here”

50.   “YOU DID WHAT?!”

51.   “I think I stood on your frozen toe. Did it fall off? I’ll check”

* * 

52.   Someone doesn’t have anyone to spend Christmas with

53.   A Christmas card arrives in the mail years after it was delivered

54.   Someone goes to their beloved’s door to sing them a Carol

55.   Two strangers get stuck during a blizzard and they have no other company

56.   Someone gets home for Christmas after all

57.   No, he’s not Santa but he has a good reason for breaking into the house

58.   A snowball fight has an unexpected ending

59.   The New Year’s Eve

60.   Someone comes over as a friend but leaves as a loved one

61.   Someone can’t make it home for the holidays but they’ve made sure the other doesn’t feel lonely

62.   Someone is in a hospital but they’re not left alone

63.   Stargazing in the snow

64.   An unusual “Secret Santa”