#sanders sides grinch au

[mycatshuman]

The Emo Who Stole Christmas Masterlist

Coming Soon!

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Ao3 Link

[noperopesaredope]

Fics That I Really Like A Lot

So, I just wanted to make a post uplifting some really great fics I’ve read/am subscribed to or still keeping up with. I like to let people know about other creators, and I just wanted to mention some works I think people should check out.

(Note, this post was made on Sep 2, 2021, so when I say something is recent, I mean compared to when I made this post)

Tangled the Series Fics (Mostly Varian Fics):

Walls of Stone (Finished)

Varian and Whumptober 2020 (Series) (Finished) (Sidenote; I really like this author in general, but there is just so much great whump and extreme angst in this series! Says they are but a humble freshman, but I say they are a very skilled freshman!)

How Pneumonia Stopped a Stubborn Alchemist from Descending into Villainy (Finished)

Screw Treasure, I got Trauma (Finished)

Tangled One-shots (Series) (Finished? I Think?)

Voluntary Manslaughter (Finished)

I’ll Always Lend an Ear (Finished)

Drown Your Past, Burn your Future (Series) (Unfinished, but still going strong)

Scars of a Child (Series) (Unfinished)

Unrelenting Silence (Finished)

Where was the happily ever after? (Finished? Unsure)

All our Dreams (Down the Drain) (Unfinished)

Not All Falling Stars Grant Wishes (Finished)

Alchemy Lullaby (Series) (Finished)

Insignificant (Finished)

Second Chances (Almost finished)

The Pawn Decides Its Fate (Finished)

Unsaid Emily (Finished)

Today, Today (Finished)

The Pride in Your Eyes (Unfinished, but still somewhat new)

Monster (Finished)

You Are Enough (Finished)

An Alchemist’s World (Unfinished, but the first four chapters could definitely work as a standalone fic, so, in my eyes it’s finished)

Too Smart for Your Own Good (Unfinished, going strong)

To find the Sundrop (Unfinished)

There’s More in You (Unfinished)

The Science of Love (Unfinished, going very strong)

Season 2 But Gayer (Unfinished, going strong-ish)

On My Honor (Series) (Unfinished, going extremely strong with consistant updates)

A Prince and His Bodyguard (Series) (Unfinished, going strong)

Rocks, Wolves, and the Moon (Series) (Unfinished, going strong)

Return to Me (Unfinished, going strong)

Perilous Night (Unfinished, possibly discontinued, but worth a bit of the read)

Nomad (Unfinished, author is working on multiple projects, so IDK)

No Reward for Second Place (Unfinished, but fairly new and somewhat well updated)

Oath of the Lawbreaker (Unfinished, possibly discontinued)

New Quest for Varian (Unfinished, fairly new)

My Dear Son (Unfinished)

Insignificant (Finished)

Indentured (Unfinished, same author as Nomad)

Enter the mind, remove the sins (Unfinished, going pretty strong)

Darkness exists to make the light truely count (Unfinished, going strong. Updated about every month or two, with consistency)

Creeping Crystals (Unfinished, but going somewhat strong)

Blood of My Brother (Unfinished, going as one of the strongest in its fast updates)

Cyclorama (Finished) (Companion to Blood of My Brother)

Chemistry in Motion (Unfinished)

Away from Home (Unfinished)

Alone? (Unfinished-ish)

It’s just a mild inconvenience (Unfinished, possibly discontinued)

Gauze in the Wound (Unfinished, pretty consistent last I checked)

Blood Makes the Knife Holy (Series) (Unfinished, but each part could work as their own fics, and it’s still going)

A Progression of Events (Unfinished)

He Needs Me (Unfinished, going strong)

Or So They Though (Unfinished, going pretty strong)

The Long Road Back to Home (Unfinished, hasn’t been updated in a bit, but is pretty long and each chapter could take about a couple months to finish, and even longer if the creator is stuck/has other fics. Still worth the read)

The Road Home (Different) (Unfinished)

Reunion at Sea (Unfinished, going strong)

Elements of Angst (Unfinished, probably updated soon)

Arson (Unfinished, every time it think that maybe it’s been discontinued, it comes back)

Unconventional Family (Unfinished, possibly discontinued)

To find the Sundrop (Unfinished)

Wayward AU (Comic) (Unfinished, pretty consistent)

RWBY (Mainly Oscar Fics):

It’s Venomous (Finished)

Will you stand and be brave or be broken? (Finished)

Oscar Gets Himself a Coat (Finished)

Who You Belong To (Finished)

Imperfect Light (Finished)

Shell (Finished)

Blood on Both Hands (Finished)

Tell Me that I am a Fool (Finished)

If i believed in destiny i'd have to hunt it down and punch it in the face (Series) (Unfinished, can have the occasionally long hiatus, but the creator comes back)

Is Oscar okay? no but the answer is b (Finished)

Running From Memories (Finished)

Rescue Me (Unfinished)

Souls of Love and Bravery (Unfinished, relatively consistent updates)

Revert To Last Save File (but it's the wrong file) (Unfinished, but still going)

Broken Body and Souls (Finished)

Camp Camp:

David’s Family (Unfinished, possibly discontinued)

Horror Camp (A little too much child whump for me, but it’s very whumpy) (Unfinished)

Inconvenience (Unfinished)

Still Here (One of my favs) (Finished)

Hetalia (Mainly America and Canada Centric):

Recovering the Broken Pieces (Unfinished, possibly discontinued)

Hetalia 2020 - WWIII and more (Unfinished)

(More fics in the crossover section)

She-ra (Quite a few Kyle ones):

The Chronicles of Kyle (Unfinished)

Sunflowers (Finished)

She-Ra: In the Wake (Unfinished)

Princesses and co. work through their issues (Unfinished)

What is Heard (Cannot be Unheard) (Finished)

Long Way Home (Unfinished)

The Hollowed of Etheria (Discontinued. For now at least. Author might revamp it)

Hordak and the Orphans of the Horde (Unfinished)

Big Sis (Finished)

Ex-Horde (Finished? Pretty good on its own though)

Prisoner of Conscience (Unfinished, still going strong)

Tales of Arcadia (Mostly Douxie Fics):

The Immortal Bonds (Unfinished, going strong)

I Can Make RotT So Much Worse (Unfinished, going strong)

Not After 900 Years (Finished)

A Different Path (Finished)

Half-Remembered (Finished)

Shattered Timelines (Unfinished, going strong)

In the Fullness of Time (Unfinished, updated recently)

One Last Time (Unfinished, updated recently)

Tales of Arcadia Watch Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans (Unfinished)

Crossover Fics:

Sold (TTS/HtTYD) (Finished) (Author is really good at angsty oneshots that should be made into full fics)

Varian’s Mysterious Transport (TTS/Infinity Train) (Unfinished, unexpected updates)

Of Rocks and Robots (TTS/Big Hero Six) (Series) (Unfinished, very consistent)

(Like the moon) I'll sway the tide and lead you astray (TTS/HtTYD) (Unfinished, haven’t read in a while)

Heathers and other fandoms react to stuff (Multifandom Crossover Fanfiction) (Unfinished, confusing update schedule, not every fandom gets much spotlight, still incredibly fun)

Chemistry in Motion (TTS/Big Hero Six) (Unfinished)

The Weight of Both Worlds (Hetalia/RWBY) (Series) (Finished) (My favorite fic ever)

Infinity (Hetalia/BNHA) (Unfinished, possibly discontinued)

G8 china in UA, 1-S class! (Hetalia/BNHA) (Unifinished, possibly dicontinued)

That Which Makes Up This Land (Hetalia/ATLA) (Unfinished, author is editing and reposting all their series, which could take about a year, but it will be back)

A Waterbending Quirk (ATLA/BNHA) (Unfinished, going strong)

Other Fics:

Earth is Odd Enough (Sanders Sides) (Unfinished)

UA Faculty Tiktok OCs (BNHA) (Webtoon) (Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63lWYueDsek&t=208s, she’s amazing) (Unfinished. The Tiktoks, on the otherhand, are very much still going)

Harry Potter and the Lack of Lambsauce (Harry Potter) (Finished)

Grinch x Tony the Tiger (You know) (Unfinished)

Flowey is Not a Good Life Coach (Undertale) (Finished)

It Wears a Mask (MCU Spiderman) (Finished)

A Different Fate (Harry Potter) (Finished)

A crack in the glass (eye) (ATLA) (Finished)

Identity Saga (MCU Spiderman) (Series) (Unfinished, author is very dedicated to fic and is incredibly determined to finish it, so highly unlikely to be discontinued)

Bakery Enemies AU (Miraculous Ladybug) (Comic) (Unfinished, going strong)

Authors I Like:

AquaQuadrant aka @aquaquadrant (probably know them if you’re in the Varian fandom. Ridiculously talented)

bethhigdon (in the TTS fandom and the Big Hero Six fandom, but also other stuff)

Cate_9xBlue aka @cate-9xblue (known best for their TTS fics)

Royalsciencenerd (Writes amazing TTS Varian fics)

HoneyxMonkey aka @honeyxmonkey (Writes TTS fics and talks a lot about Tales of Arcadia on their blog. Has some great ideas)

Sand_wolf579 (Has a large and varied catalogue)

ExploretheEcccentricities aka @exploretheeccentricities (Lots of TTS fics)

ShadowSnowdapple aka @shadowsnowdapple (RWBY Oscar fics that are amazing)

Widowfics (Great TTS writer)

AMax76 (Wrote the amazing Blood of My Brother)

violetsaren_tblue (has some great TTS fics I like)

Time Traverser (Excellent Hetalia America and Canada Fics)

Aloneintherain aka @captainkirkk (Just started reading their stuff, SO many excellent Spider-Man fics)

So yeah, just giving some appreciation for all the fic creators out there and their creations!

[havinganfois]

Fandom List!!!!

(In absolutely no particular order...)

- Orian High School Host Club

- My Little Pony (including movies)

- Gravity falls

- Diabolik Lovers (anime, manga, and games)

- St Onisan (anime & manga)

- Amphibia

- House MD

- Once Upon A Time

- Community

- Winx Club

- Sing 1 & 2

- Encanto

- Saiki K

- A Series of Unfortunate Events (books, movie, TV series)

- Sanders Sides

- The Midnight Gospel

- Russian Doll

- Steven Universe

- Sonic 1 & 2

- The Grinch (2019)

- Sherlock

- Umbrella Academy

- Misfits

- Psych

- The Owl House

- Shameless

- The Magicians

- Centaur World

- You

- The Mitchell's VS the Machines

- Haters Back Off!

- Q-Force

- The Good Place

- Total Drama

- Our Flag Means Death

- Critical Role (Campaign 1, 2, 3)

- The Crown of Candy

- Fantasy High

- The Unsleeping City (seasons 1, 2)

- Undertale (+ most AUs)

- Deltarune

- The Big Bang Theory

Note: This list is constantly evolving!

[the-edgy-enby-shitposter]

Hi random pinned post I guess um go check out my other blogs if you wanna-

@the-edgy-enby-shitposter: this blog, also my main blog, for shitposting and random reblogs (think biggest-gaudiest-patronuses but slightly less cursed (sometimes) and absolutely NO big-brain moments or Grinch x Tony fics), asks and submissions open

@the-edgy-enby-artist: art blog, asks and submissions open !!Note: currently taking requests!!

@ts-cryptid-au: an unfinished Sanders Sides AU blog where the sides are cryptids, asks and submissions open

@alexander-not-your-hamilson, @an-anxious-bitch, @ssself-care-bitchesss, @the-intrusive-creativithot, @pattonthecatton, @loganhill, @coffeeeslutt, @yourcartoonytherapist, @stayathomo24: character-run blogs for my Sanders Sides cryptid AU, asks and submissions open

@edgy-enby-ocs: blog for me to rant about my OCs if you’re interested in that for some reason idk why you would be- asks and submissions open

@agere-edgy-enby: random blog for when I’m age regressed, asks and submissions open

@ask-those-demigods: an askblog for the Riordanverse characters that needs a lot more interaction please- you can ask the characters directly, asks and submissions open

@hyperfixated-image-ids: a blog for writing image, video, and gif IDs for posts that don’t already have them, asks and submissions open

[homeforchristmas-au]

Here’s a lil somethin for this au cos y’all haven’t been getting content lmao I really need to work on this au ;^^

Characters: Logan, Patton, Remus, Roman, Virgil, Janus

Pairing(s): married logicality, familial... everything else basically

Warnings: a bit of fluff, there’s hot chocolate, uh mentions of die hard, nightmare before Christmas, and bad santa, not sure what else to warn for but lemme know if I missed anything!

Word count:

~

Patton and Logan were wrapping presents in their room for their kids. Logan was precise and meticulous in his wrapping, making sure it was perfect. Patton on the other hand... did his best.

"Patton, what on Earth happened?" Logan asked amusedly as Patton added what had to have been a third layer of wrapping paper to one of Virgil's presents.

"I wish I knew, Lo-Lo," Patton replied with a giggle. "Virgil might need some help with opening this one."

"Every year it's like you've never wrapped a present before," Logan joked with a smile. "And birthdays, too. Hell, I've seen Remus wrap presents more efficiently."

Patton feigned offence at that, though couldn't stop from smiling. Logan returned the smile and softly chuckled.

"Remus wraps his presents with toilet paper!" Patton exclaimed.

"And he does a fairly good job of it!"

They both couldn't help but laugh, Logan covering his mouth to contain his merriment. It didn't help that the sound of Patton's laughter always filled his heart with glee and he never knew what to do with that.

"Alright, then," Patton began once his giggles subsided. "How do I master the art of gift wrapping, Mr Gift Wrapping Expert?"

"Well, first of all, it's Dr Gift Wrapping Expert," he joked with a wide smile. "And second of all, there's a certain... science to it."

"Oh, is there?" Patton asked with a grin. "Then educate me, Doctor."

Logan blushed as he continued to smile. He took one of Roman's unwrapped presents and went over to Patton's side of the bed so they stood next to each other.

"There are a couple methods to wrapping boxes like this one, but I personally favour the diagonal wrapping method."

"Ooh, what's that?" Patton asked, Logan smirking.

"I'm gonna show you."

He placed the box on the wrapping paper, cutting out a piece that seemed too small and explaining what he was doing as he went along. He then made sure the box was in the centre of the wrapping paper and the flat sides of the box were perpendicular to the edges of the paper.

"Once you've found a place on the wrapping paper where you can pull up each corner of the paper and cover up every corner of the box, that's your starting point," he explained, showing Patton what he meant.

"That's so clever!" Patton exclaimed with a smile. "How are you so smart?"

"You're smart too, Patton. Just in different ways. I learned gift wrapping from my mother, when I started getting gifts for my sisters. My dad... well, he was always pretty useless when it came to wrapping presents."

He chuckled halfheartedly as he remembered hearing strings of expletives from his parents' room as his father tried and failed to wrap everyone's gifts. It became somewhat of a running joke in the family; whenever Logan or one of his sisters saw something poorly wrapped they'd jokingly say it must've been wrapped by their dad, or if he was there they'd ask him if he wrapped it. It always got a laugh. Even from their dad.

Maybe he was laughing now, wherever he was, that Logan married someone who was just as bad at wrapping as him.

Logan continued showing Patton how to wrap different presents, who paid close attention. He was even able to successfully wrap a box on his own, which Logan was proud of him for.

Patton topped the box with a bow, and then took another bow and stuck it to Logan's head. Patton smiled, sticking his tongue out slightly, and Logan couldn't help but grin.

"Why did you do that?"

"Because you're my present," Patton replied simply.

Logan's heart swelled with love as his smile grew tenfold. He brought Patton's lips to his, holding him close as they kissed.

"Eww, dad cooties!"

The unexpected sound of Remus's voice nearly caused Patton and Logan to jump out of their skin, pulling away and looking at the eight year old twins, who stood in the doorway.

"How'd you boys get in here?" Patton asked. "The door was locked!"

"It was, but I have a credit card!" Remus held up a distinctly green card, smiling mischievously.

"Where the hell did you get a credit card?" Logan asked, a bit flabbergasted.

"In the game of Life in the hall closet!"

"Remus is the one who roped me into this!" Roman rushed out, pointing an accusatory finger at his brother, who scoffed.

"Nuh-uh! This was your idea!" Remus returned the finger pointing.

"Nuh-uh!"

"Yuh-huh!"

"It doesn't matter who started it," Logan interrupted. "I'm finishing it." He held out his hand towards the two, palm up. "Hand it over."

Remus sighed heavily and gave Logan the fake credit card. He crossed his arms as Logan pocketed it.

"So what'd we get for Christmas?"

"You're too late for peeking," Patton replied. "There's only one present left, and it's Janus’s."

"What'd you get him?" he asked excitedly as he began looking for the present, Patton quickly grabbing him by the waist.

"Nope, not telling." He carried Remus to the door and set him down outside, gesturing for Roman to follow. "Now you boys stay out here and don't get into trouble! Why don't you go play with Virgil?"

"Virgil's no fun!" Remus whined. "He just cries a lot!"

"He likes colouring, why don't you go get a colouring book?"

"We've already coloured in all of them!" Roman replied.

"Then watch a Christmas movie! You can never run out of Christmas movies!"

"Can we watch Bad Santa?" Remus asked excitedly.

"No," Patton firmly denied. He softly sighed and turned back toward Logan with a sympathetic smile. "You can wrap the last present yourself, right? These two are clearly gonna be a handful."

"I got it," Logan replied with a grin. "No worries, go take care of our demon spawn."

"Hey!" Remus shouted. "I'll have you know, I am full-on devil spawn! No damn second-rate demon has anything to do with me!"

"Watch your language," Patton reprimanded as he ushered the twins out of the doorway, though he was still smiling as he closed the door.

"Janus is allowed to say that word!" Remus fired back.

"Mind you, Janus is also fifteen years old."

"That is age discrimination, and I'm not here for it."

Patton sat the boys down at the couch in the living room and got all of the Christmas movies they had on DVD. He had them look through the options, and there was a bit of bickering over what to watch, which Patton kind of anticipated. After a few minutes of debating between Jim Carrey's How The Grinch Stole Christmas and Disney's The Santa Clause, they managed to compromise on The Polar Express.

Patton went to get Virgil, who was playing with his Code-a-Pillar Twist toy, and asked if he wanted to watch the movie, to which he excitedly nodded his head. Patton carried him out of his room, going to Janus’s door and knocking. He opened the door and popped his head in when Janus replied with a quick "What?"

"We're gonna watch The Polar Express, you wanna join us?" he asked, Janus looking up from his phone. He thought for a brief second.

"Will there be hot chocolate?" he asked, Patton grinning.

"You better believe it!"

"Then who am I to decline?"

Janus grabbed his forearm crutches and followed Patton out to the living room, where Roman and Remus were in the process of building a castle out of the DVD cases. Janus sat in the armchair by the couch and leaned his crutches against the wall behind him as Patton set the four year old down by the twins.

"You boys want hot chocolate?" he asked, Roman and Remus gasping loudly and quickly yelling yes.

"Marshmallows, too?" Virgil asked quietly.

"So many marshmallows, kiddo." Patton smiled and kissed Virgil's head. "Marshmallows for everyone I'm guessing?"

Once it was confirmed that everyone was taking marshmallows, he went to the kitchen to prepare their drinks, including his own. As Patton began heating up the milk and water — as there was a variety of preferences — Logan walked out of the bedroom with a handful of wrapped presents to go under the tree.

"Oh, Lo-Lo!" Patton called. "You want hot chocolate?"

"I'm good, Patton, thank you."

"Okay, do you need help with presents?"

"Focus on the hot chocolate, Patton," Logan replied with a grin as he carried the presents to the living room where the tree was, the children getting rather excited.

"Are those mine?" Remus shouted.

"I bet they're mine, they're ginormous!" Roman exclaimed.

"Mine!" Virgil cheered, making grabby hands towards the presents as Logan set them down. He smirked at them as he stood upright and adjusted his glasses.

"They're Janus’s."

"Ha, suck it," Janus teased with a grin as he scrolled through his phone, Remus and Roman both making offended scoffs.

"I better have a million presents!" Remus declared, Janus rolling his eyes.

"You wish."

Once all the presents were under the tree and the hot chocolate was made, it was finally time to start the movie. The twins sat on the couch between Logan and Patton, Remus next to Logan and Roman next to Patton. Virgil sat in Janus’s lap, who was helping him not make a mess. Patton's heart swelled at the sight and he couldn't help but smile.

This was going to be Janus’s first Christmas with them since they began fostering him in June. He'd gone from foster home to foster home for quite some time now, and had mentioned it probably being due to his amputated leg. Patton didn't want to believe it was true, but didn't really know what to believe.

They were more than ready to properly adopt Janus and make him an official member of the Sanders family. It should happen soon, if all went according to plan.

Once The Polar Express was over, the kids demanded another Christmas movie. Even Janus seemed to like the idea of another movie. When Patton asked what everyone wanted to watch, Virgil quickly yelled "Jack and Sally!" which everyone knew exactly what he meant.

"Ugh, really?" Remus complained. "The Nightmare Before Christmas? Again?"

"It's an amazing movie, Remus!" Roman declared. "Don't you dare insult Disney!"

"We watch that movie all the time! Christmas, Halloween, Virgil's birthday, basically all year long! Let's mix it up with some Die Hard!"

"That's not even a Christmas movie!"

"Is too!"

"Boys!" Logan interrupted their bickering. "We are not watching Die Hard, and since you two picked out The Polar Express, I think Virgil and Janus should pick out what we watch next."

"Jack and Sally!" Virgil demanded, clapping his hands together.

"Uh... I'm good with The Nightmare Before Christmas. Sounds lit."

"You're only saying that 'cause Virgil's your favourite!" Remus accused, pointing a finger at Janus.

"Nuh-uh, I'm his favourite!" Roman argued.

"No way!"

"Yes way!"

"You're both wrong," Janus interjected with a smirk. "Logan's my favourite."

"What? No fair!" Roman exclaimed. "I demand a recount!"

"That's— that does not mean what you think it means, Roman."

"I don't care! Recount!"

"I'm just gonna put the movie in now," Patton said with a small laugh, getting up to put the DVD in.

As the movie began, Virgil could barely sit still, clapping his little hands together with the biggest smile on his face. Then the iconic song began, and even Remus couldn't help but join in on the singing. Logan, however, remained silent, merely watching his family with a small smile on his face.

Seeing the way they all smiled so freely, especially Janus, who usually had his guard up, filled Logan's heart with pure, unadulterated joy. He wouldn't trade any of this for the world.

By the time the movie came to an end, everyone had fallen asleep except for Logan. Janus was curled up in the armchair with Virgil in his arms, Remus had his head resting on Logan's thigh, and an obnoxiously snoring Patton had Roman curled up in his lap, gripping his shirt ever so slightly.

Logan turned off the TV with the remote before carefully scooping Remus up in his arms and getting to his feet. He gently tapped Patton's shoulder.

"Patton, sweetheart," he murmured. Patton inhaled sharply as he lifted his head to look up at Logan with bleary eyes. "Patton, I love you, but you sound like a lawnmower."

Patton blinked a few times, yawning as he rubbed his eye.

"Huh?" he muttered, Logan quietly huffing in amusement.

"Never mind. We need to take the kids to bed."

Patton's half awake mind seemed to finally register the sleeping eight year old in his lap. He lifted Roman in his arms and he and Logan carried the twins to their room, laying them down in their respective beds and tucking them in with a kiss on the forehead.

"I'll get Janus and Virgil, you go to bed," Logan said softly, resting a hand on Patton's bicep.

"You sure?" Patton mumbled.

"Yeah, I got it. I'll join you in a minute."

"Mmkay." Patton pressed a quick kiss to Logan's lips. "Love you."

"Love you too."

As Patton went to bed, Logan went back to the living room, smiling slightly to himself as he gently took Virgil from Janus’s arms. Janus stirred slightly, stretching his arms and looking up at Logan.

"You should get to bed," Logan said softly.

"Nah," Janus replied, curling up a bit more and getting comfortable. "I'm good right here."

Logan scoffed amusedly and shook his head as he carried Virgil to his room, tucking him into bed and kissing his forehead.

He went back to the living room and grabbed Janus’s crutches before carefully lifting him from the chair. He flailed a bit in surprise before wrapping his arms around Logan's neck, his face turning beet red as Logan carried him to his bedroom.

"Whatever, way to flex your muscles on me, old man," Janus grumbled, Logan softly laughing.

He walked into Janus’s room and set him down on his bed, propping his crutches between the nightstand and the bed where they usually resided when not in use.

"You didn't have to carry me," Janus said as he crossed his arms.

"I didn't have to. But I did it anyway. Goodnight, Janus." Janus didn't respond as Logan turned off the light and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

He went to his and Patton's room, where Patton was already asleep. He took off his glasses and set them on the nightstand before removing his shirt and jeans, climbing into bed by Patton's side.

That night he fell asleep with a smile on his face.

~

Home For Christmas taglist: @mostpeopleannoyne @penguinkool @mavi-main @luckybanana948 @angels-and-dreams

[dragonleesupporter]

Do You Hear Something? (Sanders Sides Wings AU)

O-ho! Here we go!

             Summary: Virgil and Logan discover Roman loves being tickled and use this knowledge to destroy him after an awkward, low-self-esteem day for the prince. (Warning: Tickle fic) (some Logicality and hints of Prinxiety)

           Why? Why did he have such a weakness? Such an embarrassing, humiliating, shameful weakness?! Roman sighed as he fell back onto his bed. Fantasies were running through his mind faster than his heartbeat.

             The whole ordeal with discovering Virgil’s wings had left the prince yearning for something he knew he would never be brave enough to ask for. Watching the resident emo laugh hysterically, Roman had felt jealous of how happy and free he looked. Now that he thought of it, Roman hadn’t openly laughed for a long time. Whenever he laughed, it felt forced to him, but it was some part of him he couldn’t stop. He had to put on a show for the other three! Joining in and laughing even when he didn’t feel happy, just to keep everything afloat. Not that he could sink anything if he sunk alone…

             He knew he wasn’t worth the others’ time in that sense. They had already been so patient with him, he felt it would be dishonorable to ask anything more of them. He never let this show… however, the face he always put on was hurting him more and more.

             “It’s such a silly game…” He whined under his breath, more fantasies teasing his mind for what he knew he couldn’t have. “Why can’t I just get up and ask them to tickle me?” Just saying it out loud made Roman flinch as his face heated up.

             He could just imagine someone ghosting their fingers over his sides or his ears… scratching their nails into his belly or his feet- He flinched again at that thought. His feet were always such a weak point. Thank god only his brother knew, but at the same time… only his brother knew…

             “Hrrr… why am I so confused?” He growled.

             As he plucked a sleek amber feather from his wings, Roman decided to go into full daydream mode, making his imaginations into images in front of him. He used the feather to swirl them around, and change them up. Little did he know that he had forgotten to lock his door, and that a little someone was peeking in at all those images being created to Roman’s liking, the prince even giggling anxiously at a few relating to his feet.

             The spy smirked, and slinked away.

             “Hey kiddos! Guess what time it is!” Patton shouted happily as soon as everyone had finished their dinner.

             “It is 6:30, what are you impl-”

             “It’s cookie time!” Patton cheered, interrupting Logan.

             “Oh. Of course. Another use of nonsense-o-clock terminology.” Logan rolled his eyes, annoyed.

             “Oh, Logan don’t be like that!” Roman crossed his arms with a smirk.

             It dug into him… even more this time. That smartass smirk that he knew didn’t belong on his face, but there it was. Him smirking at Logan for… really no reason.

 “Yeah! I made a special cookie for you!” Patton brought out the plate with an array of different cookies on it, a very different-looking cookie on top of the pile.

             “Please don’t tell me it’s an unhealthy snack…” Logan massaged his temples.

             “It’s a cookie, Logan. What do you expect?” Virgil stretched out his wings as he nibbled on one of the snickerdoodles.

             “Fine. If it’ll make Patton happy, then I guess I’ll to listen to the heart…” Logan mumbled, slightly flushing at his own sentence.

             “Here you go Logan!” Patton handed a thick, pale dough cookie to the logical trait.

             After shrugging and taking a bite, Logan’s eyes widened. His black wings, which had been tucked firmly to his back suddenly fell limp.

             “Is- is there C-C-C-Crofters in this cookie??” He exclaimed, taking another bite.

             “Of course! Got the last can of it from the pantry!” Patton smiled.

             “Wait. Aren’t there spiders down there this time of year?” Logan raised an eyebrow at the light blue trait.

             “Y-yep!” Patton’s voice cracked. “I’ve decided I’m going to do something special for each of you this week! I already know Logan likes Crofters, so I started with him! I think it was fun to bake his present since Logan’s such a smart cookie!”

             Logan’s used his wings to cover his face, which was no doubt turning red from both embarrassment and fury at the pun.

             “Let me know what I can do for you kiddos sometime soon so I can give each of you something!” Patton’s wings started folding in and out with pride and his smile grew as his whole body started glowing with happiness.

             Virgil gave a genuine smile, knowing this was Patton’s way of coping with receiving things. He’d give his gifts first, making it easier for him to receive his gifts afterwards.

             “Well-” Roman stopped himself. What was he thinking? Of COURSE, he couldn’t ask for that! The experience he just saw had softened him up. Making him even consider telling the others how badly he wanted to laugh and admit everything he’d been through behind his door. But, realizing how vulnerable that would make him, he backed out. His head dropped slightly, and Roman started hoping his blush wasn’t that easy to see.

             “Oooooo, what is it Princey?” Virgil growled with a concerning amount of sarcasm. “What do you want to happen?”

             The whole table was staring at him now.

             “N-nothing! I just realized Patton has already given me puppies!” The prince’s voice squeaked as he could feel the color draining from his cheeks. His smile became nervous but still ever frozen on his face. If it wasn’t obvious that Roman was hiding something before, welp it sure was now.

             “Wait, if I recall correctly… YOU gave PATTON puppies.” Logan pointed a finger suspiciously.

             Roman giggled nervously as each of the sides looked confusedly at him… except Virgil for some reason.

             “Ehehehe- I’m going to my room now!”

             And just like that, Roman was gone.

             “Well, that was concerning.” Logan placed his hands together.

             “He didn’t even have a cookie.” Patton mumbled sadly.

             “I got this.” Virgil suddenly got up and left, leaving the other two even more confused.

             “Virgil. Mind if I follow? I’ve had a theory for a while, and don’t want to see this opportunity to prove it go to waste.” Logan got up as well, finishing his cookie and quickly licking his fingers to Patton’s delight.

             Virgil nodded silently as both the anxious and logical trait left Patton to clean the dishes.

             “So humiliating! I don’t know if it would even work! But I want it so badly, it’s going to drive me nuts! They’ll think it’s something my brother gave me…” The muffled voice of the prince was heard from the other side of his door.

             “I don’t understand… what could be a desire so vile that he would hide it from us?” Logan thought out loud. “I thought we were over all of that.”

             “Ehehehe…” Virgil chuckled darkly before whispering into Logan’s ear, formulating a plan to both help and wreck their prince.

             …

             “Hrrr…” Roman growled into his hands, still overtaken by his lee mood. It hadn’t gone away all day. He had been able to hide it for the most part, like everything else, but it was also eating at him, like everything else.

             He heard his door creak open and looked up to see Logan and Virgil walking toward his bed, Logan taking to the left side, and Virgil taking to the right side of his bed.

             On the fake smile went.

             “Hello, sub-astute teacher, and raider of the lost snark. ~” He mused, but the other two didn’t react.

             “Before we start… just say ‘stop’ and we will.” Virgil grew a grinch-like smile and grabbed one of Roman’s ankles.

             “Yes. A sufficient safe word. However, if you enjoy this session of bonding, you will not use it.” Logan, despite his efforts, also smiled as he grabbed Roman’s other foot.

             No… Roman’s thoughts began to wander. No, it couldn’t be. They didn’t know… did they? How?

             His fears/hopes were proven true when Logan and Virgil began wiggling the fingers of their free hands, and ascending them down to his soles. A wobbly -yet REAL- smile made its way to Roman’s face and his legs started shaking with anticipation as the fingers were paused now centimeters away from his feet.

             “So, how’s your day been, Logan?” Virgil started nonchalantly.

             “Quite alright and fulfilling, though slightly stressful as usual. After Thomas slept in and made a lazy day for himself, I’d assume your day has been good?” Logan added, their smiles fading as if they were having an actual serious conversation with a shaking, ticking time bomb of laughter underneath them.

             “Ohohohoho gohohohod…” Roman let a few giggles lose, to see Virgil break character and smile slightly, but played it off like it wasn’t a big deal.

             They weren’t even touching him yet and he was already breaking!

             “I suppose so… I never actually feel like a day is a good one. I just think of it as ‘not bad,’ ya know?” Virgil raised an eyebrow at the squeaking prince.

             After talking for some more time, silent pleas escaping the more-red-than-usual trait’s lips, the fingers finally made contact.

             Both Virgil and Logan had to use their legs to stop Roman from yanking them back as wild cackles exploded from him.

             “OHOHOHOH NOHOHOHOHO! WAHAHAHAHAIT! EEEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEE!” The prince thrashed either which way, but the two tormentors were stronger than he anticipated. He was also WAY more ticklish than he anticipated! It was unbearable! It was unexplainable! An it was… AMAZING. His chest felt light with laughter as he was overcome by an odd sense of safety, despite him having no control over his torment.

             “I suppose that would be an accurate way to look at it.” Logan offered to add to the conversation that Roman would’ve actually found interesting if he could hear it over his own shrieks and screeches. The two switched from spidering in one place to raking up and down his whole foot, which was even worse/better!

             His brain started to overload with happiness as all he could do was just sit there and laugh, still trying to avoid the word ‘stop.’

             “AAHAHAHAHAHA!! G-GUGUGUGUYS!!” He desperately called as his right arm started to pound his bed sheets.

           “Hey Lo, you hear something?” Virgil teased maliciously as Logan gave him a look of confusion.

             “Huh? I don’t hear anything.” He responded calmly, moving his fingers up to Roman’s toes.

            “NAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! AEEEEE!! PL-PLEHEHEHEHEASE!” Roman’s voice grew hoarse and tears filled his eyes as Virgil also moved to that spot.

             His whole body felt like it was burning up and since he was pretty sure he would go insane if the tickling continued, he called out the safe word.

             “MAHAHAHAHKE IHIHIT STOHOHOHOHOHOHP!!!!” The fingers at his toes immediately halted and the other two got off his legs.

             “Hope you feel better now Princey.” Virgil smirked and held back laughter as Roman stared at both of them, dazed, still giggling like mad as he attempted to rub away the tingling on his feet.

             “H-hohohow… hohow did yohohohou knohow?” He asked bashfully.

             “You know, you really ought to lock your door sometimes.” Virgil almost snorted as Roman turned fire-engine red with realization.

             “But don’t worry. I’ll tell Patton for you, but then you REALLY ought to lock your door unless you’ll suffer from cardiac arrest.” Virgil winked and left leaving Logan to wish Roman well before he, too left.

             For a while, Roman thought that he had just dreamed up the scenario, until Patton barged into his room the next day, wiggling his wingers with an evil smile.

             Roman learned to lock his door, unless he was feeling lonely…

   @cefsticklestoo

[inadaze4ever]

Look At Where We Are

A/N: My first birthday fic! Happy birthday, Virgil! And yes, both of my Sanders Sides fics are named after Hamilton songs. And also Satisfied will be updated soon. Although my soon may mean “maybe by the time the next Sanders Sides episode happens.” Anyway, enjoy! (Also can I just say I think Virgil would love making references and would totally go off on mental tangents.)

Summary: Human AU. It’s Virgil’s birthday and Patton, Roman, and Logan have a surprise for the disaster gay.

Pairings: Platonic LAMP, lightly implied romantic Prinxiety and Moxiety

Word Count: 924

Warnings: Fluff, food mention, dark humor, falling (no injury), embarrassment at said fall, and obnoxious Hamilton (and other) references

Virgil moaned as light managed to get through his closed blinds. He opened his eyes and turned to see his clock. Nine in the afternoon morning is way too early to wake up on my birthday, even if I actually did manage to sleep well last night.

He laid there for a few more minutes before deciding to get up. Virgil shuffled out of bed, trying not to trip on the purple shaggy rug that he kept meaning to get rid of and piles of clothes. He grabbed his Christmas sweater that Patton made him from the chair in the corner of the room and slipped it on over his now shivering pale torso before putting on some fuzzy socks. His room was as cold as his soul.

As he slowly walked down the upstairs hall, he heard a commotion downstairs. Something was cooking and Roman was playing music. The smell of warm breakfast and Patton’s giggles tempted him downstairs. He felt a lot like the Grinch after his heart grew two sizes (Metaphorically, of course. If it had actually grown two sizes Virgil knew he wouldn’t be commenting on breakfast. He mentally sighed, he really needed to stop watching Film Theory right before bed). A soft smile was behind his still bedraggled bangs as he walked down the stairs.

Or attempted to, at least. “Damn you, slippery wood stairs and frictionless socks.” He cursed under his breath as he missed a step and slid into a pathetic pile on the floor.

“Virgil, are you injured?” Logan was the first one over as he hadn’t been preoccupied making breakfast.

“Only thing hurt is my tough appearance, but thanks, L.” Virgil muttered into the cool wood, refusing to get up.

“Virge! Are you okay kiddo?” Patton came running over, concerned. Roman made an offended sound and loudly dropped whatever Patton had shoved into his hand and rushed over too.

Virgil finally pushed himself off the floor dramatically, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine, guys, thanks.”

Roman held out his hand, ‘Do you need a prince to rescue you?” He teased.

Virgil rolled his eyes but took Roman’s hand, who lead him to the kitchen. Patton and Logan followed. “Happy Birthday!” his friends cheered.

“Awww, thanks, guys. You didn’t have to come here so early, though.” Virgil sat on the table.

“Patton and I thought it best to get here early as to provide the utmost time to prepare breakfast and then decide on other celebratory activities,” Logan explained.

“I wasn’t too happy about the time, either. But for you, My Chemically Imbalanced Romance, I came along.”

Patton came over to Virgil with a plate of purple-dyed blueberry pancakes and kissed Virgil on the forehead, “The pancakes are for you and the kiss is for your fall.” He giggled, his curly hair falling in front of his face.

“Thanks, Patt, they look delicious.” Virgil put the plate in his lap and tore off a piece of the brightly-colored bread. It definitely tasted purple. And like something magical— the slightest hint of chocolate.

“Did you put cocoa powder in these?” He asked, still eating them while sitting on the table. Roman rushed over to try and took a bite like an anime girl. Virgil laughed, and he saw Logan holding back a smile as he rolled his eyes.

Patton made a shhh sound and winked, “My secret ingredient.”

Logan coughed to call attention to himself, “So, Virgil, seeing as today is your day, what would you like to do?”

“I don’t know, hanging out with you dorks is enough I guess.” He smirked as Patton giggle some more. Patton’s giggles would probably be the cause of his death. “Maybe we could have a gingerbread decorating contest later and put on The Nightmare Before Christmas, but it’s still too early—”

He was cut off by Roman, who was holding a spatula like a microphone. “Well, I think we should take some time to appreciate you, Virgil. Two years ago—I think, maybe, I’m not good with time—you came into our lives as this angsty emo who rarely spoke unless it was sarcasm and hissed when Logan tried to debate you. We didn’t know you, or how you were suffering from anxiety, until Patton and Logan found you hiding in the prop closet. We didn’t know you were in the metaphorical closet, either, until I came out and that allowed you to know you could trust us. We’ve had our spats, and I’m sorry that I antagonized you, but I would like to dedicate a song to you.”

Roman pressed play on his phone, and a pretty piano instrumental drifted into the kitchen, “Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now. Look around, look around…” Roman sang beautifully before speaking again, “I remember our first real words, ‘How long have you known?’”

Virgil softly replied, “You could’ve told me…’”

“I knew you’d hide till the world was gone.’”

“‘You could’ve told me…’”

“I’m not sorry.’”

They both sang the next line, “Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now.”

Roman took the chorus,  Look at where you are, look at where you started, the fact that you’re alive is a miracle. Just stay alive, that would be enough.”

Virgil interrupted the sappy song, “No promises.”

Roman laughed and Patton shook a disapproving head, but smiled. Logan just simply said, “We… We love you, Virgil. Happy Birthday. You have come far, as Roman’s lyrical rendition said.”

“I love you guys, too.”

Taglist (stolen from Satisfied): @olivey-oily @dailyanalogicaldoodle @kenapiece-main @dailypattondoodle @dailyvirgildoodle @fandersfic-virgil @fandersfic-roman  @fandersfic-patton

[mycatshuman]

The Emo Who Stole Christmas

Chapter 2: A Secret Relationship and Truths Revealed

Word Count: 3,634

Warnings: crying, misunderstandings but they are resolved, talk of past bullying, discrimination against hair color for being "unnatural", and an asshole mayor, cursing, let me know if I missed any.

Pairings: Pre-established Prinxiety and Logicality and Demus

Masterlist | Previous | Next | More Chapters

Thanks again to the wonderful @icequeenoriginal for being such a marvelous co-creator. This fic exists because of her so send her some love. 💜

❄🎅🎄❄🎅🎄❄🎅🎄❄🎅🎄❄🎅🎄❄

Emile frowned as they pulled up to their house with their dad. The house was dark and looked intimidating compared to the houses around it as they were lit up with lights of all colors and sizes. "No lights on. Your Pa must be out shopping." 

A head popped up on the roof. "Oh! Good! I'm so glad you're home!" Emile and Patton looked up to see Logan up in the roof, wrapped in a long coat as he held a strand of lights in his arms. "I can feel it, Patton!" He exclaimed. His eyes alight with determination. Emile frowned as they watched their father. "When the town asks who has the most spectacular of lights in Whoville, they're going to say, 'Mr. Logan Lou Who!!' This is the Year!!" 

Patton chuckled fondly at his husband. He glanced to the side and noticed something a bit concerning. He reached forward and lifted the object carefully. "Is this the Chandelier from our dining room!?!??!" Emile's frown deepened. They found their unease about the holidays taking root deeper. 

"Its all for the cause, Honey," Logan called out. He had to be superior, he just had to be. "Oh! Emile, Honey bee! Could you be my little helper and unscrew the lightbulb from the fridge?" Emile blinked rapidly, trying to determine if their father was in fact serious. "I somehow missed that one." 

Emile peered closer at their dad and noticed his tie tucked firmly in place and decided their father was in fact serious. Emile forced a smile onto their face as they walked inside carrying a small stack of presents. 

"Every. Single. Year." Logan muttered as they grabbed light strands and began moving them trying to set them up. "Mr. Roman May Whovier has the best lights. But not this year! This is the year I am going to defeat that prim, perfect, prissy little prince-" Logan was interrupted by the man himself. 

"Logan! Hello!" Roman called out dramatically. 

Logan looked over to see Roman in a deep holiday red Santa dress with white trim, Santa hat and matching red boots, tights, and gloves. Logan frowned. "Roman." 

Roman chuckled. "I've never seen so many fabulous holiday lights, Nerd!" Roman shouted from his spot on his front porch. He was just a little disappointed that he was stopped momentarily from his journey but couldn't help but tease his next-door neighbor. 

"I'd probably blow every single fuse if I tried to keep up with you, Roman May!"

Roman smirked and picked up a beautiful sparkling antique. It looked almost like a large heart-shaped Christmas tree ornament, though it was missing the top. Each part sparkled individually when moved. At the very end, there were large gold tassels that Roman ran his fingers through. "Isn't this darling? It's handcrafted and near 100 years old!" 

"Oh! Wow!" Logan muttered to himself, sarcastically. "I'm really impressed!"

He set it back down in its gift box carefully and turned to something covered in a sheet. "However, this is new." He turned the machine on and aimed it towards his house. Then he shot a stream of lit holiday lights up at his house and they quickly caught onto the house and strung up in a perfect line, giving his house a magazine perfect look. He walked around and blew out the smoke. He turned back to find Logan barely concealing his dropping jaw. He smirked. "Well, good night Logan!" He shot Patton an unseen sympathetic smile and snuck off with a box. 

---

Logan rushed to answer his phone as Patton came behind him with a candle. "Hello?" He asked. 

An unfamiliar voice answered, "Is your sub-zero chillibrator running?" 

"Hold on, let me check." Logan paused and listened and heard the slight hum of their refrigerator. "Yes, my sub-zero chillerator is indeed running." 

Virgil snickered, "Well then you better go catch it!" He yelled into the phone and hung up the payphone. (On the other end Patton snorted as Logan stood frozen, the dial tone blaring out from the phone speakers.) Virgil turned to Remy with a smile, "I think I broke ‘em." He chuckled. "Alright, let's go home." Virgil and Remy climbed into a trash chute. Virgil hit the side of the chute and the two of them were sucked through the chute as the lid slammed shut. As they tumbled through the tube leading up to the top of the mountain, Virgil groaned. "There has got to be a better way to do this." Soon they fell out into a pile of garbage. Virgil huffed. Then they heard rumbling from the chute. "Oh, wonderful! More trash!" Three bags fell into his lap and he rolled his eyes. He grabbed a bag as he stood up. "What is that stench?" He asked nobody. "It's absolutely fantastic!" He exclaimed sarcastically. He grabbed another bag and began dragging them behind him as he began walking home. "Come on Remy, let's go home. We can come back for the rest later." He huffed. "It's amazing just how much the Whos throw away. They really could do a lot better with recycling." 

He sighed. "But it all falls to me, as always." Remy frowned in his own cat way. His father was so depressed. And he wished he could do more to help him. 

------

Emile sighed as they looked around their room at all the holiday decorations and frowned. "Where are you Christmas?" Emile sang to themselves softly. "Why can't I find you? Why have you gone away?" Emile moved over to their window and looked out at Mountain Crumpet. "My world is changing. I'm rearranging. Does that mean Christmas changes too?" Emile sighed and moved to their desk where a letter for Santa sat unfinished. "Where are you Christmas? Do you remember? The child you used to know? You were so carefree! Now, nothing's easy. Did Christmas change? Or just me?" Emile hung their head and moved to get into bed, A fitful night ahead of them. 

----

Virgil sighed as he opened the door to his home. He set the two bags of garbage he grabbed onto a catapult and pulled the lever. The bags slammed into a blown-up poster of Mayor Anton Who. Virgil smirked. He really did not like the Mayor. He moved away and hung up his cloak on a hook. He used his homemade elevator to get to the ground floor of his cave. "The first floor, factory rejects." Virgil stepped off the platform and moved behind a screen to get changed. He pulled off the suit and pulled on sweats, a t-shirt, and his favorite hoodie. As he walked past his phone, he checked for voicemails. "Any calls?" 

"You have no new messages," the voice from his phone said. 

Virgil frowned. "Odd. Better check my outgoing." He flipped a switch and his voice with a hint of Tempest Tongue came out through the speaker. "If you utter so much as one syllable, I'll hunt you down and gut you like a fish!!!" Virgil blinked. "If you'd like to fax me, press the star key." Virgil shrugged. He ran down the stairs and jumped into his couch and picked up a bag of chips. "I don't know why I ever leave this place, Remy. I have all the company I need right here." 

Remy rolled their eyes, a strange feat for a cat but the amount of bullshit that came from Virgil's mouth, half the time Remy was so in need of an eye roll that the laws of anatomy had to be defied. Virgil opened the chip bag and stuffed them in his mouth. "Am I just eating because I'm bored?" 

"Oh, you’re bored? I can change that~" a husky voice whispered in Virgil's ear, causing him to jump a mile high. Roman grinned and came around the couch and hopped into Virgil's lap. 

"Roman!" Virgil coughed out. "Don't do that!!" 

Roman chuckled and snuggled into Virgil's neck. "But it's so fun. And you look so flustered!"

At this, Virgil's blush only went darker. "Roman!" He exclaimed, his voice an octave higher. 

Roman grinned and pressed a kiss to Virgil's neck before pulling away. "I got you something today." 

"Ro…" 

Roman huffed. "Yes, I know what you're going to say. But I really, really, want you to have this!" Roman quickly pulled out a box and set it on his lap. Virgil sighed but pulled his arms away from their place around Roman's waist. Roman pouted slightly at the loss of contact before holding his breath as Virgil pulled out the antique he had shown Logan earlier. Virgil's eyes widened as he realized how fragile the gift his love had given him. 

"Roman...this is…"

Roman bit his lip. "Do you like it?" 

Virgil gulped, wanting to look at Roman to answer but too scared to look away from the gift for fear of dropping it. "I love it...but-" 

Roman shook his head. "I didn't, as you would say, "waste any money" on it. Although, how can anything be a waste of money if it's for you~" Roman said with a wink towards Virgil. 

Virgil raised an eyebrow and smirked. "So you stole it then?" 

Roman made an offended Princey noise. "No!" He exclaimed and then calmed down. He looked down at his hands and fidgeted. "I-um…This was in my family for decades. And it was passed down to the firstborn and they are supposed to give it to the person they want to marry." 

Virgil blinked as he tried to process what exactly was happening. "Wha….are you…." Virgil blinked rapidly as he felt his eyes getting watery. "Are you? Is this a marriage proposal???" 

Roman bit his lip. "Maybe," he whispered. 

"I-" Virgil paused. "Can you take this?" He asked as he handed the gift back to Roman. Roman blinked rapidly. Is he saying no??!

Virgil picked up Roman and set him on the couch gently before running off to grab something. He came back to find Roman in the same position only with tears running down his face.  "Love??" Virgil asked and he kneeled in front of Roman. He reached forward and wiped away Roman's tears. "Why are you crying, Ro?"

"Are ...are you saying 'no'?" 

Virgil's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "No! I'm not-" Virgil groaned and facepalmed. He brought out a small box. "I'm- not." 

Roman looked down at the box and let out a gasp. He carefully set the antique down as quickly as he could. He picked up the box with trembling hands and opened it to find an extravagant ring with a blood-red ruby and gold plated band. It looked like something out of a fairytale. Tears streamed down Roman's face as he put the ring on his ring finger and launched himself at Virgil, tackling his lover to the ground. "Yes!! Of course, I'm going to marry you!!! Yes!! Yes!!! Yes!!!" Roman exclaimed as he planted kisses all over Virgil's face. 

Virgil giggled as he held onto Roman's hips to stop him from falling over. Once Roman stopped, he laid down on top of Virgil as the other's arms came up to wrap around his boyfriend-his fiance's torso. Roman sighed. "I love you, Virgil."  

Virgil smiled dreamily as he snuggled closer to Roman (if that was even possible) and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "I love you too, Roman."

Eventually, the two moved to the bed and cuddled underneath the covers as they fell asleep to the soft hum of music. 

-------

Emile sat at their desk as they frowned. They had many questions in their curious heart. Why did the Grinch hate Christmas so much? Where did it all start? They had their Pa's blabbacorder and they had used it to gather as much information of the Grinch as they could.

Emile pressed play and was taken back to earlier that day when they stopped to talk to the elderly couple who had raised the Grinch. 

*Flashback*

"In your own words, please tell me all that you know about the Grinch." 

The couple in front Emile shared a glance, not used to being asked about their son. "Well," they started. "First, you should know we didn't name him Grinch. We named him Virgil," Remus said as he knitted a green sweater. 

"Virgil?" Emile asked. 

Damien nodded. "Yes. Virgil. Now, he came the way all the Who children come." Remus perked up about to say something only for Damien to cut him off. "On calm nights, Baby Whos drift down from the sky in their own pumersellas." 

"So that's how it works!" Emile exclaimed. 

Damien nodded and elbowed Remus to stop him from shaking his head. Remus frowned but nodded and picked up where his husband left off. "It was Christmas Eve, and a very strange wind blew that night! It was tasty!" 

Damien rolled his eyes fondly at his husband. "We were having our annual holiday get-together, while Virgil landed right at our doorstep. Nobody realized he was out there until morning came. But when we saw him, we knew right away he was special."

"How did you know?" 

"Well, his hair was the most vibrant purple we had ever seen!"

"Purple??" Emile asked. It was not a natural hair color for Whos. 

Remy's nodded! "Yeah! Very purple! And that morning, we tried to give him cookies! We came over with some cookies on a Santa plate. Then he said Santa!! His first words were Santa! And then we let him hold the plate and he took a bite out of it!!" 

Damien rolled his eyes. "It near gave me a heart attack but he didn't get hurt and he actually tried the cookie and he liked that better. After that Remus learned how to cook and made things into weird shapes and Virgil would eat it so I was very grateful for it." 

"We raised him the best we could." 

*End Flashback*

Emile paused the recording and switched to a different one, trying to listen in a different order than they had first heard them. They pressed play and they were taken back to when they first talked to their neighbor, Roman May. 

*Flashback*

"The Grinch?" Roman asked Emile. Emile nodded. Roman bit his lip. "He...was a very quiet child. I hardly remember him though. I was way too busy with my studies to socialize." A memory of Roman staring at Virgil in class dreamily flashed through Roman's mind. He bit his lip. "The class we were in was going to have an annual holiday gift exchange…"

*End Flashback*

Emile paused the recording and switched to another one. They remembered their interview with Mayor Anton Who.

*Flashback*

"The Grinch...he liked Roman. Now, Roman was my boyfriend." Emile kept their face as passive as they could, but they found it hard to believe that Roman really was the Mayor's boyfriend. "You know, I really dislike discussing this Grinch business so close to Christmas…But maybe if you hear the truth, then you can understand why…" Anton stopped and glared down at his assistant who was cleaning his shoes. "Put your back into it!" Anton turned back to Emile found it really rude of the mayor to treat his assistant so cruelly. "I took the Grinch under my wing." 

*End Flashback* 

Emile paused the recording and unpaused another one. Damien's voice came out through the recording.   

*Flashback* 

"Virgil told us that he was picked on by most of the students In his class. He told us Anton Who was picking on him the most for his crush."

Remus frowned. "He told him, 'You don't have a chance with him. You're 8 years old and you have purple hair!' It really upset Virgil." 

*End Flashback*

Emile frowned. They paused the recording and skipped to a moment they remembered in the Mayor's interview. They pressed play and the Mayor's voice came through again. "He had this…unnatural hair. It wasn't right." Emile paused the recording again. They turned back to the recording of their interview with Roman. Emile was transported back to what happened during this part of their recording. 

*Flashback*

"Did I have a crush on the Grinch??? Of course not!!!" 

Emile raised an eyebrow. "I didn't ask you that." 

Roman panicked slightly. "Right…..umm" 

*End Flashback* 

Emile stopped the recording. I think I'm on to something! They quickly pressed play on the recording with Virgil's parents. Remus's voice came through the speaker. "Virgil came home that day before his classes gift exchange and he was even more in the spirit of gift-giving than before."

"It's not that he doesn't like Christmas," Damien's voice broke in. "It's just, he doesn't like how commercialized it has become. And that whole evening, he worked on creating a gift for his crush. But the bullying from Anton made him buy cheap brown hair dye. He came home that day, just before we all moved up into the mountain-" 

"You moved up into the mountain?" That was their voice. 

"Yes," came Remus's voice. "Just until he was old enough to live on his own. But he told us that his teacher had asked if everyone had given their gift, Virgil called out that he hadn't and stepped out where he had hidden behind the coats."

"He had a bag over his head to hide his hair and the teacher told him to take it off. He did and hid behind an open book. She told him to set that down too. And then she told him to take off the hood on his hoodie. After that, everyone laughed at him. Even the teacher." 

Emile stopped the recording and switched to Roman's. "He was so upset. He ended up throwing the gift he made for me, it smashed into the wall. Then he picked up the tree and threw that as well!" Emile paused the recording as he remembered something the mayor and his assistant had said about this moment. "The anger." That was the mayor.

"The fury!" said the assistant. 

Emile frowned and pushed play on Roman's recording again. "The muscles!" A pause. "It was such a horrible day. They were so cruel to him." A barely concealed sob. "I could hardly bear it … that was the last time anyone ever saw him. The very last time." 

Emile stopped the recording. "I need to talk to Roman again," they said as they stood up and prepared to go talk to Roman again. 

-----

"Emile?" Roman asked as he opened the door. "What are you doing here? Did you forget to ask a question?"

Emile shook their head as they stepped inside and Roman closed the door. "No, I was curious." 

"About?" Roman asked as they sat down across from each other. 

"What..what do you really think about Virgil?"

Roman froze. He subconsciously played with the ring on his finger sitting beneath his gloves that he had hurriedly pulled on before answering the door. "I-" Roman bit his lip, debating with himself before he pulled off his gloves.

Emile frowned, unsure how this was relevant but paused as they noticed the ring. "Did-did the Mayor give that to you?" 

Roman sighed and shook his head no. "Virgil did. I...lied earlier. Virgil is…" Roman sighed as he got this far way dreamy look in his eyes. "Virgil is the only man I could ever love. Unlike most of the Whos in this town, Virgil sees me. Actually sees me. I'm not just some pretty face or voice. Virgil loves me for me." 

Emile's eyes widened. "So...are you saying the Grinch isn't bad??"

Roman frowned. "Grinch! Ugh! It's such a horrible name! One that Mayor Anton started. Virgil is the kindest person I have ever met. He just wants to be left alone. And he likes being our local cryptid." Roman sighed, starstruck. "Isn't he the greatest?" 

Emile smiled softly. "You really love him."

Roman nodded. "I do. We-" he looked down at his hand. "We're engaged now!" 

"Congratulations!"  

Roman smiled. "Thank you." 

"When…did you see Virgil again after that day?" 

Roman sighed. "It was sometime 8 or 9 years later. Anton had asked me to the school dance. And I was so furious with him. I would much rather go with Virgil. Plus, he had played a big part in driving him away. So right after school, I grabbed the gift Virgil had made me, I had kept it in a box all those years, and I marched up Mount Crumpit in the hopes I would be able to see where he might have gone. And then I found a door. I knocked, and his parents opened it." 

Roman paused. "I was in such a shock. And I asked to talk to Virgil and they, although suspicious, let me. And Virgil fixed the gift after I apologized for not standing up for him. After that, we just…kept in touch. I would visit him at least once every week. And eventually, after his parents moved back to town for good, we went on a date. And…” Roman smiled fondly. "The rest is history I suppose." 

Emile smiled. "I think...I might want to make him the holiday cheermeister."

Roman blinked. "Oh hun, I don't know. He has anxiety and probably won't accept." 

Emile shrugged. "It's worth a shot." 

“You’re right about that…” Roman grinned. "I'll help you convince him!" 

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome." 

Emile stood to leave only to pause before they reached the door. "Where's the gift he made you now?" 

Roman smiled softly. "Its sitting right beside my bed." Emile smiled and nodded before leaving. The Grinch wasn't bad. He wasn't even a Grinch after all. He was just a victim of bullying. As Emile walked home, he decided he was going to make the town see the real "Grinch". 

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Everything Taglist: @spxced-oxt @superwholocked-for-life @mirror2thespirit @aroundofapplesauce @lyditist @little-euro-girl @unicornofdarknessstuff @maryann-draws

The Emo Who Stole Christmas Taglist: @logical-princey

[mycatshuman]

The Emo Who Stole Christmas

Chapter 3: Virgil Is Meme-Worthy, the Mayor Is an Ass, Roman Is Very Gay, and Emile Just Wants a Happy Holiday

Word Count: 5,534

Pairings: Pre-established Prinxiety and Logicality and Demus

Warnings: sympathetic Remus and Deceit, anxiety, nervousness, past bullying mention, Virgil being treated as a joke, peer pressure? Brief mention of fire, cursing, let me know if I missed any.

Masterlist | Previous | Next | More Chapters

Thanks again to @icequeenoriginal , the co-creator of this fic and the comer up of the amazing title. Be sure to send love her way. 💜💜

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So, because Virgil was just petty and meme-worthy enough, he stood outside his cave home hating the Whos.

Virgil huffed as he glared at Whoville through his telescope. He turned around and stomped inside to grab his phone. He stomped back outside and scowled as he stared down at the town. "Let's do it alphabetically. Aardvarkian Abakenezer Who...I HATE YOU!" The wind howled as it carried his shout off. Virgil smirked. "Aaron B. Benson Who, I hate you." Then Virgil went down the list. "Hate, hate, hate. Hate, hate hate. Double hate," He paused as he came to the Mayor's name. "Loathe entirely!" He growled and shoved his phone in his pocket. He crossed his arms and pouted. As he stood there, the wind whipped and brought a cheerful melody along with it. Virgil's eyes widened and he gasped. "Nutcrackers! Shit! Fuck! It's their Whobilation!"

He snarled with a sneer. 

"Tomorrow is Christmas! It's practically here!" He said and whirled around, racing inside he shouted, Remy! Please get me my sedative!!" Virgil raced around until he found a large mallet. He stood in front of his bed and stared at the object in his hands like it was his salvation. "Now, to get rid of those pesky memories!" He quickly slammed the mallet against his face and fainted, dropping the mallet and falling back into his bed. 

Remy stood atop his cat tree constructed of boxes and just shook his head. 

-----

Emile watched as Whos dressed up as candy canes ran past excitedly singing. "Whobilation, plentiful with candy canes and pies. I can't wait to get there and eat some google fries! Whobilation! Whobilation!!" Emile bit their lip, they were dressed in a red dress with a checkered apron and big blue fluffy mittens. They turned back to their Dad as they followed them to the nomination ceremony. "Dad?" They asked nervously. 

"Yeah?" Patton asked as he carried a pile of presents. 

"I've been thinking about the Whobilation and I may do something drastic."

Patton nodded. "That's fine, Emile. Just ask your father." 

Emile frowned and glanced around. "Umm, where did he go?" The two stopped as they heard Logan's distance voice. 

"Honey!! Honey! Look!! I just found the cutest little light for my Christmas display!" Emile's eyes widened as they noticed their father carrying a traffic light. They opened their mouths to say something with the distant sound of a horn blaring and undeniable crash of a car. Patton jumped and turned his worried face behind them when Logan grabbed his arm. "Come on, we're gonna be late!" Emile stared after their parents in disbelief before shaking off their shock and running after them. Most of the Whos in Whoville (those that celebrated Christmas, Whos who celebrate other holidays had separate days for their Whobilation celebration, depending on when their holidays started) stood in a big crowd surround town hall. On the steps stood a red and green podium. Whoville band stood off to the side and Roman May right in front of them dressed in a large poofy red dress with green trim and gold details along the bodice. His eyelids were dusted with silver and gold eyeshadow and his lips were a deep holiday red. His face bore a kind smile but for anyone who truly knew him, they would notice the sorrow in his eyes at not being next to his loved one.

Mayor Anton stood beside Roman, his pristine white-gloved hands gently holding the edges of the podium as he waved at his town. Behind him, a red cape sprawled out trimmed with white and black fur. If anyone knew any better, they would say he was trying to emulate a king. A very rich king who only saw them as his lowly subjects. 

"And now!" Anton exclaimed once everyone had settled down. "The nominations for the Who among us all who best represents the best qualities of Whodom and Whodery! The Whoville holiday cheer-meister!!"

The crowd erupted into loud cheers and applause. Mayor Anton smiled as he soaked up the attention like a greedy sponge. Roman spared a glance at the man and his nose wrinkled in disgust. The image of a younger Anton laughing as he made fun of a young Virgil ran through his mind, making him more upset. "Do I hear a nomination?" Anton, a knowing smile as he prepared to act shocked upon hearing his name. 

"I nominate the Grinch!" 

The Whos all drew in a loud collective gasp as they all whirled around and split a clear path to Emile Lou Who. "The Grinch??" Patton and Logan whispered to each other as they looked at their child with dropped jaws. Roman allowed himself a fond smile as attention was drawn away from the steps that led into the town hall. "The Grinch?" Mayor Anton asked slowly. Roman's eyes widened and prayed that he wouldn't insult Emile. "My, my, my!" The mayor exclaimed as he looked up at Patton and Logan. The two parents gulped, authority intimated them. They didn't want to be outcasted. Not like the kid in their class so many years ago. "What an altruistic child you have there!" 

"Thank you," Patton replied nervously. 

Anton gave a tight smile to Emile as he walked around the podium to come to stand in front of it. Emile slowly walked up, scared yet feeling exhilarated at the same time. "Let me quote a verse from the Book of Who." The mayor's assistant hefted a heavy book over and placed it in the mayor's arms. "Thank you." The mayor quickly opened the book and flipped to the page he was looking for. "Ah! 'The term 'Grinchy' shall apply when Christmas spirit is in short supply''. Now, I must ask: does that sound like our holiday cheer-meister?" 

Emile cocked their head to the side. "True, Mr. May-Who. But the Book of Who says this too: 'No matter how different a Who may appear they will always be welcomed with holiday cheer.’”

Anton panicked slightly as he heard the crowd began to whisper their agreements with Emile's quote. Roman felt his heart swell with joy. His love was getting a chance to prove them wrong! "Ah! Yes, it does..but it also says…" he frantically looked through the book trying to find anything to help him. "It also says 'The award' cannot go to the Grinch because…' sometimes things get the lead-pipe cinch.'" He quickly closed the book and tucked it under his arm.

"It doesn't say that! You made that up!" Emile raised their voice, they would have known if it had after staying up all night and studying the text front to back to make sure they were doing everything legally. The crowd's head whipped back to look at the mayor. 

"No, it does.." Their heads whipped back to Emile. 

"What page?" 

Anton's eyes blew ridiculously wide as the crowd whipped back to face him. He fumbled with the book for a few seconds before going, "I, uh, lost my place, but it's-it's in here!" 

Emile frowned. "But the book says, 'the cheer-mister is the one who deserves a back slap or a toast. And it's supposed to go to the soul at Christmas who needs it the most.' I believe that the soul is the Grinch." Emile turned away from the mayor to face the crowd. "And if you're the Whos I hope you are, you will too." 

"They're right!" A voice called out. The crowd cheered. Patton and Logan placed a hand to their hearts, pride for their child bright on their faces. 

Anton frowned but quickly forced a small smile to their face. "You want to waste a perfectly good nomination of the Grinch, that's up to you. But I'm telling you! The Grinch will never come down!" 

"And when he doesn't, the mayor will wear the crown!" The mayor's assistant exclaimed. 

Anton blinked, seemingly surprised. Roman knew he wasn't. "Well...more or less." 

The crowd erupted into song again and ran through the town to begin the festivities.  

-------

Virgil lay flat in his bed. His covers pulled up his chin as he stared sleepily at the ceiling. "'Tick, tock, tick, tock. Counting down the Christmas clock. Old, young, big, small-ALLLL!" Virgil shot up and quickly pulled the pillow down over his ears. "Blast this Christmas music!" He exclaimed as he fought to keep sound out of his head. "It’s loud and triumphant." He flung himself out of his bed and up to the second floor. "Must! Drown! Them! Out!" He yelled as he poured nails into blenders and closed them, turning them all on high. "It's not working!!!" He cried out helpless, feeling overwhelmed. 

----

The wipper-winds whipped, high above the Who town. A trip or a slip, you'd slide all the way down.

Emile looked out over their town as they climbed the mountain and huffed as they moved higher.

But this child had a mission. They knew what to do. They would invite the Grinch themselves, that brave Emile Lou. 

Emile knocked on the Grinch's door, a loud sound pounding through the metal. After getting no answer, Emile decided they were going to open the door, unaware of someone down in the town noticing their absence and preparing to follow them. 

As Emile walked inside, the door closed shut behind them, the biting cold outside becoming extinguished in the warmth of the Grinch's home. Emile glanced around at the big open area and noticed a ledge over a lower level. They looked down and saw a tall pale figure with rich purple hair. They quickly located the stairs and rushed down to see the Grinch- Virgil standing in front of the toy monkey. Each time the monkey clapped the symbols together, they slammed around Virgil's head. Emile winced. "Mr. Grinch?" They asked, unsure if they were allowed to use his real name or not. They reached forward and tapped on his shoulder. 

Virgil shot up and closed his hands around the monkey's holding them there until the toy broke. Virgil slowly turned his head to face Emile. "Hello, little child." He turned completely, as he realized that he wasn't wearing his Grinch suit and was dressed in sweats and a hoodie, something not really intimidating, he decided he would have to play it up if he wanted to keep his reputation. "How dare you enter, the Grinch's lair!?!?!" Remy rolled his eyes and began to groom himself as all cats do when their pet is being ridiculous. 

"The impudence! The audacity!! The unmitigated gall! You called down the thunder, now get ready for the boom!" Virgil tried to twist his facial features into a scary grimace. "Gaze into the face of fear!" 

Emile raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. They sighed. "Mr. Grinch, my name is Emile Lou Who-" 

Virgil began feeling his heartbeat pick up with panic as he realized this child wasn't affected. He tried harder to be scary. "Even now! The terror is welling up inside you." 

Emile giggled. "I'm not scared of you." 

"Denial is to be expected in the face of pure evil!" Emile shook their heads. "Doubt! Another unmistakable sign of the heebie-jeebies!" Virgil yelled jumping around trying to scare the child. "You're doomed now!!" He quickly pulled a random white shirt on over top his hoodie and worked on ripping it open. "Run for your life! Before I kill again!" He exclaimed as he ripped the shirt off and began dancing around like a maniac. "I'm a psycho!" Virgil paused as he still got no reaction from Emile. He frowned. He began hopping around shouting, "Danger! Danger! Danger!" 

"Maybe you need a time out?" Emile replied, trying desperately to talk to the man before him without hurting his feelings. 

Virgil stopped and blinked. He crossed his arms and frowned as he looked off into the distance muttering to himself. "Kids today, so desensitized by movies and television." He whirled back to face Emile. "What do you want?" He asked wearily. 

Emile smiled. "Mr. Grinch, I would like to invite you to be a holiday cheer-meister." Virgil raised an eyebrow and glanced down at the invitation Emile held out to him. 

"'Cheer-meister. Celebrate with friends,'" He read. He laughed. "That's a good one!" He turned and stalked off as he tried to push down the hurt he felt at being pranked so bad. 

Emile followed quickly. "Look, I know you hate Christmas!"

"I don't hate Christmas," Virgil muttered to himself. "I just hate all the commercialism." 

"I myself am having some doubts! But if you reunite with the Whos and be a part of the holidays-"

"Maybe if you reunite with the Whos and be a part of the holidays," Virgil mocked. "Grow up!" He yelled back as they walked up the stairs. 

"Maybe it'll be okay for me too!" 

"I'm sorry, your session is over. Please make another appointment on the way out!" Virgil sneered. 

"Please! You have to accept the award!"

Virgil paused. 

"An award? You never mentioned an award." 

Arms wrapped around Virgil's torso as a head lay softly on his shoulder causing Virgil to jump before he realized who it was. Emile smiled fondly at Roman and Virgil. Virgil blushed furiously. 

"Please, darling? Emile here was able to convince the town to accept the nomination. I think they're willing to give you a second chance!" 

Virgil bit his lip. "I don't know…" 

Roman smirked and kissed Virgil's cheek. "Mayor Anton wasn't happy," he whispered. 

Virgil eyed lit up with mischief. "He wasn't?" 

Emile shook their head. "No, he was actually trying to find a law that said we couldn't nominate you." 

Virgil smirked. "Well, if it really bothers him, I suppose I can show up ...maybe…” 

Roman grinned and gave Virgil another kiss before turning to Emile. "Come on, we gotta get back down there before people notice we're missing." 

"Okay." Emile turned and handed the invite to Virgil. "I really hope you come, Virgil."

Roman and Emile made to leave before Virgil's uncertain voice stopped them. "If I were to go…should I wear the suit?" 

Roman shook his head. "I think it's better if you don't. It will show you're willing to take this second chance." 

Virgil nodded. "Okay...maybe I'll see you later." 

Emile and Roman grinned before going over to stand right behind the front door. Virgil walked over and waited for both of them to prepare for the drop. 

"I love you, V." 

"Love you too, Ro." 

Virgil pulled the rope and the floor beneath Roman and Emile gave way to a chute. The two dropped down and slid through the tube laughing and giggling. Then they shot out of one of the chutes for trash and landed in a pile of snow. Roman stood up and helped Emile up. "Go find your family."

"Will he actually come?" Emile asked. 

Roman blinked before giving Emile a soft smile. "I'm pretty sure we wore him down. But even if he doesn't, I know he really appreciates your gesture. And he's really anxious so don't take it personally if he doesn't, okay?" Emile smiled and nodded. Roman grinned back and turned to get to his place. "See you later, Emile!" 

"See you, Roman!" 

------

Virgil pouted in his recliner. "The nerve of them! Inviting me down on such short notice!!" He set the invite down on a side table. "Besides, even if I wanted to go, my schedule wouldn't allow it!" He turned and opened a big book and read his schedule out loud. "'4 o'clock, wallow in self-pity. 4:30, gaze into the abyss. 5 o'clock solve world hunger, tell no one. 5:30, jazzercise. 6:30 dinner with me. I can't cancel that again," Virgil said as he bit his lip. "'7 o'clock, wrestle with my self-loathing.'" Virgil paused. "I'm booked!" He sighed and bit his lip, knowing just how pathetic he sounded as he looked at Remy's unamused face. "Well, if I bumped the loathing to 9, I would still have time to lay in bed and stare at the ceiling as I slip slowly into madness." He paused again, feeling excitement bubble up in his stomach. "But what would I wear!?!"  

Virgil jumped out of his chair and ran to a nearby table piled with junk. He gripped the edge of the table cloth beneath it and yanked hard as he walked away. After noticing nothing fell off the table, he quickly turned around and shoved everything off the table and then tipped it over for good measure. He stood in front of his mirror and stared unsure at the skirt he had fashioned for himself out of the table cloth. He frowned and ripped it off and ran to his closet. "Stupid!" He cried out as he threw articles of clothing behind him. "Ugly! Out of date!" He stomped out of his closet. "That's it, if I can't find something nice to wear, then I'm not going!" 

Remy knocked a box off of a table near the door creating a loud thud. Virgil jumped and turned to face whatever had happened and noticed a rectangular box wrapped in crimson red and sparkling gold. He frowned. He didn't remember that. Curiously, he walked over and gingerly picked up the box. It wasn't until he noticed Roman's fancy script that he felt safe to open it. He let out a gasp as he saw the plum-colored dress shirt and midnight black dress pants. He carefully lifted them out and noticed a purple and red plaid vest and silver converse. He picked up a note and quickly read through it. 

Virgil, I would love to see you at the Whobilation, but if you don't want to you don't have to. However, if you do, I would adore finding you in this~.

Virgil quickly ran to put the outfit on. He nervously looked at himself in the mirror and found he actually liked what he saw. He struck some confident poses before walking away with a pout. "That's it, I'm not going." 

-----

Mayor Anton stood in front of the crowd again with a broad grin. "It's time for our Holiday Cheer-meister of the Year Award!" The crowd erupted into cheers. "Congratulations, Mr. Grinch!" He turned to the spot next to him but there was no one there. He let out a sarcastic sound of surprise. "He isn't here?" He didn't show?" The crowd frowned and began talking amongst themselves as Emile tried to stay hopeful. "Who could have predicted this?" The mayor asked. Roman found himself wishing he could just choke the heck out of him right then. 

----

Virgil bit his lip. "Okay, I'll swing by for a second, allow them to envy me, grab a handful of popcorn shrimp and blow out of there," Virgil said as he walked over to leave. Suddenly, he paused and spun around dramatically. "What's if it's a cruel prank? What if it's a cash war?" He gasped. "How dare they! Okay, I'll go...but I'll be fashionably late...no. Yes. No. Yes! No! Yes! Nope! Definitely not!" He spun back towards the door. "Alright, I have made my decision! I'm going! And that's that!" He raised his hand. "Oops, I had my fingers crossed!" 

Remy quickly pulled the rope before Virgil could move and Virgil dropped through the floor. "Maybe I should have flipped a coin!" He screamed as he shot through the chute. 

-----

"I guess the award goes to the runner-up," the mayor said. 

His assistant quickly moved to speak into the mic. "That's right! A man for whom Christmas comes not once a year, but every minute of every day! A man who has had his tonsils removed twice!" 

The mayor laughed. "Now that is an interesting story! You see what had happened was-"

He was cut off by the sound of screaming. In a blink, Virgil shot out of the trash chute and bounced off a banner before bouncing off of a trampoline and then flying over the crowd towards Roman who looked both scared and happy. He braced himself for impact as Virgil collided with him and they fell back against the steps leading to the town hall. "Hello, Roman," Virgil mumbled, his voice muffled as his face was smashed into Roman's chest. 

"He made it!" Emile exclaimed happily. Patton and Logan pulled them back as Virgil hopped up and stared at the crowd causing everyone to lean back in fear. Some of them confused, this couldn't be the Grinch, he wasn't hairy at all. He looked just like them aside from his unnatural purple hair. Roman sat on the steps trying to get some oxygen as he realized just how hot his fiance looked in the outfit he picked for him. He bit his lip, maybe he shouldn't have picked that out. It took all of Roman's self-control not to grab the other by the collar and yank him into a scorching kiss. 

"Boo." The crowd screamed as Virgil spoke. Someone even fainted if the tell tall thud that followed was anything to go by. Virgil smirked. "Hot crowd, hot crowd." He sighed as Roman carefully stood up. "I believe I am here to accept an award of some kind?" 

The mayor masked his face of disgust and grabbed a mic. "Don't worry, Mr. Holiday Cheer-meister, you'll get your award! But first, a small family reunion." Virgil's eyes widened. "They nursed you! They clothed you! Here they are, your parents!" Damien and Remus ran up to their son with a large sweater and quickly pulled it over before Virgil could argue. 

"Aww!" Damien and Remus cooed. "You look so adorable!" 

Virgil flushed and bit his lip before glancing down and screaming. Let's just say, the sweater was way too colorful for Virgil's taste. 

"Put him in the Chair of Cheer!" Someone exclaimed. 

Virgil's eyes widened. "Chair of cheer? What's the Chair of Cheer? You didn't tell me about the Chair of Cheer!" 

"Please, Mr. Grinch. Please!" Emile called out adorably. And Virgil found he couldn't argue. But that didn't mean he would put up a fight. 

"No, it's too much! Too soon!" He cried out as he was shoved gracelessly in the chair. Roman stifled a giggle and blew Virgil a quick kiss and a wink. Virgil pouted. 

"Yes! It's that time of year! The Cheer-meister's ride in the Chair of Cheer!" The Mayor exclaimed with reluctant cheer. 

"Put me down!" Virgil exclaimed as he was carried around in the chair. "I mean it! I will get a lawyer! There will be Hell to pay!" 

"First, we'll put your taste buds to the test with the Who pudding cook-off!" 

Virgil sat as a bunch of people swarmed him all trying to shove pudding into his mouth. He nearly choked multiple times as no one gave him time to swallow or even taste the different puddings. 

"Christmas Conga!" The mayor exclaimed as everyone gathered in a line behind Virgil as he led them in a dance. He bit his lip. 

"Would you look at the time. I really should be getting going!" No one listened. And to be truthful, Virgil was actually enjoying himself and didn't want it to end. 

"Fruitcake, tra-la-la!" Everyone swarmed Virgil once again to stuff his face with their fruitcakes. "Fudge Judge!" 

This time, Virgil was ready. "Bring it on!" He called out as people swarmed him again. "Bring it on! Is that all you got?! Is that all you got?!" 

Then Virgil competed against a bunch of kids in a sack race. "No child can beat the Grinch!" Virgil exclaimed. Roman screamed excitedly and then stopped to compose himself as he looked around at the other cheering Whos. He didn't want to give anything away with Virgil, knowing Virgil wasn't ready yet.

"He won!" Emile exclaimed excitedly. Patton and Logan smiled at their child as they smiled with a real and bright smile. 

Everyone began lining up everywhere holding a present and Virgil watched as he stood in between Roman and Mayor Anton. "And now, it's time for the moment we have all been waiting for! It's time for Present Pass-it-on!" Virgil's eyes widened and he quickly looked for something to give Roman as the Mayor waited for the Whos to stop cheering excitedly. 

Roman smirked. "You already got me something, dearest." Virgil paused, his face twisted in confusion. Roman wiggled his fingers on his left hand, the glove covering the ring but Virgil knew it was there. He flushed as he remembered and Roman found himself once again having to practice a titanic amount of self-control to not pull him into a kiss. 

"As always, we start with our Cheer-meister." Virgil gasped as the mayor handed him a box. He quickly tore it open, excited. It seemed as if they really were giving him a second chance! He dumped the object inside out into his hand and blinked. Emile's eyes widened as they noticed the object and Roman found himself trying to stop himself from ripping the mayor's head off. Virgil's fingers curled slowly around the bottle of brown hair dye. Damien had to hold his husband in an iron grip before things got bloody. "The gift of a Christmas dye." 

Virgil felt his mind flashback to his childhood. "Look at that dye job!" A young Anton's voice rang through his head. He thought they were giving him a second chance. He thought, maybe, Anton felt bad for what he did. Virgil should never have been so naive. 

"Good times! Good times!" The mayor exclaimed as he gave the Grinch a pat on the back. "And now, I have something for the love of my life." The mayor's assistant quickly handed him a small box and the Mayor got down on one knee as he opened it in front of Roman. Virgil's eyes widened in shock, surprise, and hurt. Roman felt his eyes blow wide as fury erupted in his gut as he stared at the hideous three diamond engagement ring. Emile bit their lip as they watched. "Roman May, please become Mr. Anton May-Who." 

"Anton-" Roman started through gritted teeth. 

"When you agree to be my husband, you'll also receive, along with a lifetime supply of happiness, a new car!" The crowd parted as a new car moved in all squeaky clean and new. Roman stared horrified. Virgil frowned as he realized his fiance was beginning to feel overwhelmed. "Generously provided by the taxpayers of Whoville! You've got 20 seconds on the clock, what do you say Roman." The kahoot sound played as the crowd waited for Roman to accept. 

"I really don't-these gifts are quite dazzling," Roman stuttered. 

Virgil's face twisted in concern as he heard his love's automatic response, something that happened when Roman unconsciously tried to be what everyone wanted him to be. He stepped forward and took a nail then dragged it over the car's surface. The Who's covered their ears at the screech before directing their attention to Virgil. 

"Of course they are. That's what is all about, right?" He asked his voice raising as he began to get worked up. "That's what it's always been about!" He chuckled humorlessly. "Gifts! Gifts, gifts, gifts." He yelled with distaste. Roman stared at him as if he was his hero and Virgil decided, he would do whatever it took to help Roman find a way to skip out of any more festivities. "Do you know what happened to your gifts? They come to me. In your garbage. Do you see what I mean? In your garbage!" Virgil exclaimed. "I could hang myself with all the ugly holiday neckties I found in the dump!" Virgil turned and pointed an accusing finger at the Mayor. "And the avarice! It never ends!" Virgil hopped from foot to foot as he mocked the Whos. "'I want golf clubs' 'I want diamonds' 'I want a pony so I can ride it twice and then sell it to make glue!'" The crowd watched in stunned silence. 

"Now, I really don't want to make waves, but this whole Christmas season is stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" Virgil shouted as he pointed at different Whos. One of them startled so bad they fell over. Virgil paused in his rant and turned to face the mayor and Roman again. "There is, however," he started as he slowly crept up the stairs towards Roman. "One teeny-tiny Christmas tradition I find quite meaningful." Virgil quickly pulled Roman into a kiss and dipped him to the crowds’ loud gasps. Mayor Anton himself looked absolutely furious. Virgil pulled back and ripped the plant off the top of the ring box Roman held in his hands. Roman found himself trying to compose himself after having a serious case of Gay Panic™ at his fiance's stunt and finding himself again overwhelmed with just how hot Virgil was. "Mistletoe!" Virgil exclaimed as he dangled it above his head before whirling around and bending over. He dangled the plant above his butt. "Now, pucker up and kiss it Whoville!" Outraged and terrified gasps rang out as some people fainted. Roman decided, why not? And "fainted" along with them. Maybe he would be able to get out of the rest of the celebration and be able to go visit Virgil. 

The mayor turned to quickly help Roman up before Virgil grabbed ahold of his shoulder and whirled him around. He took his "gift" and squirted the dye all over the mayor's hair. "Somebody looks fabulous!!" Virgil exclaimed and dropped the bottle of hair dye before going off to cause more chaos. Whos all ran for their lives screaming. 

"Let’s go!" Patton exclaimed as he picked Emile up and carried them to safety despite their screams of "No!" 

"Hey, Remus-dad!" Virgil exclaimed as he slid up to stand next to them. "Mind if I wet my whistle?”

"Of course!" Remus nodded eagerly as he handed his flask to his son despite his husband's tired protests. 

Virgil took a gulp before tossing the flask back at Remus and taking the lighter Damien held out to him. With that, he quickly turned to the towering Christmas tree standing in the center of the square. And then he quickly caught the tree on fire. All Whos halted and watched in horror as their tree burst into flames. The ashes raining down in a pile, the star topping landing in the pile. "Burn, baby! Burn!" Virgil grinned wickedly as he spun in a quick circle in the middle of the chaos. "Oh, the Whomanity!" He then ran off, unaware of Roman's eyes on him. His fiance in awe at the fact that all that had to happen was for someone to hurt him and then Virgil would destroy everything. It made him feel like a damsel-in-distress and Virgil was his knight. Roman sighed fondly. 

----

"Taxi!" Virgil called as a taxi blared past him. "It's because I'm angry, isn't it!?!" He asked. It wasn't his fault someone decided to press his jealous button and then put his fiance in an uncomfortable situation. He frowned and stepped out into the road and stopped a small car. "Halt!" Two tiny sized Whos stared up in fear. "Evening, folks! Mind if I tag along?" He turned and went to sit causing the two to scream and run. "You did the right thing!" Virgil took the car and took off. "Out of the way!" He shouted as he noticed a child pushing a stroller. They froze and he jerked the wheel to the side causing the car to spin out of control until it crashed. He landed in a heap and groaned. "That is soo gonna hurt in the morning." He looked down and noticed sparks and leaking gasoline. His eyes widened and he quickly fled. "It’s gonna blow!" He was thrown into the snow as an explosion erupted behind him. 

-----

Mayor Anton stood in the middle of the ash from their tree. "I'm hurt. And I don't hurt easily," he said as Whos gathered around. "I am so disappointed in you, Emile." 

Roman stomped over about to say something before being cut off again. "Can't we just get back to Christmas the way it's supposed to be? Grinchless?" He picked up the Cheer-meister's crown and pulled it onto his head. He turned to the crowd and left Emile behind. "Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!" 

Emile's family looked between each other and quickly ran up to their child. Emile looked down. "I just wanted everyone to be together for Christmas," they cried. Tears spilled over their cheeks as they remembered the way the mayor treated Virgil and how everyone laughed along with his idea of a joke. 

-----

Virgil laughed as he moved to climb into the chute leading to Mount Crumpit. "I quite enjoyed that!" He chuckled humorlessly. "I hope I get another invite soon!" He paused and looked over to see the Whos carrying a spare Christmas tree in. He groaned and raised a fist in defeat. "Son of a bitch! They are relentless!" He cried out and slammed his fist on the side of the chute and was sucked in and began the bumpy ride up the mountain. A bell chimed. 

"Only four hours until Christmas!"

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Everything Taglist: @spxced-oxt @superwholocked-for-life @mirror2thespirit @aroundofapplesauce @lyditist @little-euro-girl @unicornofdarknessstuff @maryann-draws

The Emo Who Stole Christmas Taglist: @logical-princey @mostpeopleannoyne

[mycatshuman]

The Emo Who Stole Christmas

Chapter 5: Take It Easy Guys, Gals, and Non-Binary Pals, Peace Out!

Word Count: 1,640

Warnings: mentions of sleigh losing control, almost crash, anxiety attack, cursing? Let me know if I missed any.

Pairings: pre-established Prinxiety and Logicality and Demus

Masterlist | Previous | More Chapters

Again, a titanic thank you to @icequeenoriginal you are the best!!💜💜

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Emile landed in a pile of trash and giggled before standing up and catching a glimpse of the towering sleigh at the summit of Crumpit. They smiled and began climbing. 

-----

"Now," Virgil began as he looked down at Whoville, his arms wrapped around Roman as he rested his head on his fiance's shoulder. "Their wailing will be like...music to my ears." Roman rolled his eyes at his dramatic love and snuggled deeper into his embrace. Virgil's grin widened as he waited. And waited. And waited. Virgil's smile faded. Then the wind carried a sound up to the couple. 

The Grinch heard a sound rising over the snow. It started in low, then it started to grow. But...the sound wasn't sad. Why, this sounded merry! But it was merry. Very. Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, were singing, without any presents at all. He hadn't stopped Christmas from coming. It came. 

Virgil frowned and unwrapped his arms from around Roman's torso. Roman glanced at him worriedly. "What..I-I don't understand. How? Somehow or other it came just the same!" Virgil jumped down and landed on the ledge that led to his home, barely hearing Roman's exclamation of fear for Virgil. 

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, Stood puzzling, and puzzling. 

"How could this be so?" Virgil pouted. "It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!" 

And he puzzled and puzzled until his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something, he hadn't before. 

"Maybe...maybe they actually listened…" Virgil whispered. His voice is barely audible. He froze as he felt a sense of pride well up for them in his heart. His eyes widened. He dropped to his knees. "Help me!" He cried out. "I'm-feeling!!" 

Of course Virgil had felt before, however, he was a dramatic emo and decided he simply had to react in such a way. Either way, Roman found he appreciated the show. Although the Whovilles all explain this as the Grinch's heart growing in size. However, they never stopped to wonder if maybe he just finally allowed himself to show his love more so than he did. 

Up above on the summit, Emile finally came across the sleigh. "Virgil!" They called out. After staring up at the sleigh for a while and finding no way of getting around it safely, they decided the next best option was to scale the mountain of bags in the sleigh. Probably not their brightest idea, but they were doing their best. 

They are so precious!! 

Roman turned from where he was watching Virgil to look at the sleigh. A noise caught his attention and now he was scanning over the sleigh to make sure everything was okay. "Virgil! Roman!" A young voice called out from somewhere on the sleigh. Roman gasped and raced over and began scaling the sleigh's cargo trying to find Emile and get them down before they got hurt. 

Below, on the ledge, Virgil glanced up and remembered the sleigh. "Oh no! The sleigh! The presents! They'll be destroyed! And I care! What is the deal?!" Virgil began scaling the mountain as he spoke. "This can't happen! It shouldn't! It couldn't! It mustn't! It wouldn't! Not now, not then, not ever again!" Virgil leaped up and tried to pull the sleigh back onto the top. But try as he might, it seemed he couldn't find the strength. Vaguely wondering where Roman was, he looked away only to have his head whip right back to the top of the sleigh at the call of his name. 

"Virgil!" 

"Emile?!?! Roman?!?! What do you think you're doing up there??!?!" 

"I came to see you. I just wanted to say Merry Christmas." 

Roman glanced behind Emile before turning to Virgil. "And I was trying to help them down. But it seems I got myself stuck here as well."

Virgil would have chuckled at his love had the situation not been so nerve-wracking and dire. He grabbed ahold of the bottom of the sleigh and began to slowly lift it off the ground and carefully place it back down on the sturdier ground. Roman stared down at Virgil once again experiencing Gay Panic™ "My husband is fucking strong!" 

"Language," Emile called out before sliding down into Virgil's open arms. Roman blinked and grumbled before following them. He quickly planted a kiss on Virgil's lips before racing around to get into the front of the sleigh. 

"Come on! Let’s ride down!" Roman called out as he took hold of the handles. Virgil rolled his eyes as he slid in beside Emile, making sure the young child was secure between them before allowing them to push off down the hill. They rode down the snowy hill for some time before getting close enough to Whoville that they needed to start slowing down. Roman grabbed the brake handle and began to pull it back. It didn't go so well. "The brake!" He shouted over the rushing wind. "It broke off!" 

"What?!?!" Virgil exclaimed. He quickly switched places as he inspected what used to be the brake. He felt his chest tighten as he realized, there was a real risk of crashing. "WE'RE GONNA CRASH!" He screamed. 

Roman pulled Emile closer to him. "He's just being dramatic. Don't listen to him," He whispered before turning back to Virgil. "Come on, calm down Virgil. We got this. Name five things you can see."

"Impending doom," Virgil replied immediately before he actually tried. "Um, snow, trees, Whoville, my hands, you." 

"Four things you can feel." 

"The wind, snow, your hand, and...my clothes?"

"Good, now three things you can hear."

"The wind, you, Emile." 

"Very good. Two things you can smell."

"Umm…peppermint andddddd cinnamon."

"Almost done, now one thing you can taste." 

"Uhhh snow, I guess?" 

"Very good. Now, just breathe. We are going to be okay." 

"Okay...okay. Yeah. We..we should probably give Whoville a heads up."

Roman nodded. "Yeah." 

"HEADS UP WHOVILLE!!" Virgil hollered. 

Down in the town, Logan and Patton gasped as they heard Emile's sudden scream. "Emile!" Logan quickly raced over to a strand of lights. He ripped them off the side of a house and tossed one end at Patton. "We'll hold this up to try and stop them." Patton nodded and they pulled the strand taut just as the sleigh ran into them only for them to be jerked along as the sleigh barreled ahead. "Out of the way!" Virgil screamed. "I have no insurance!!" 

"Run for your lives!!" Roman yelled, hoping to cause less damage. "Watch out! We can't stop!" 

Damien and Remus shared a glance before stepping out in front of the Christmas tree and in the direction the sleigh was heading and held up their hands almost as if that would stop the out of control sleigh. 

Virgil's eyes went wide. "Dads! Move!!" 

"Dads, move it!" Roman exclaimed in worry and fear as he held Emile tighter to protect them. However, the sleigh came to a slow and stop right before it pushed Remus and Damien and the tree over. Virgil let out a squeak and dropped into his seat. Emile scrambled out of Roman's embrace to check and make sure Remus and Damien were okay as Roman checked on Virgil. 

"Emile!" Patton and Logan exclaimed as they pulled themselves up and raced over to pull their child into a relieved hug. Roman carefully helped Virgil stand. "Merry Christmas!" They exclaimed together despite Virgil still feeling a little shell shocked at almost running over his parents. 

Out of the crowd stepped the sheriff who crossed her arms. "What do you have here?" 

Virgil glanced at Roman and quickly pulled away, before hopping out of the sleigh. "You got me officer!" He exclaimed as he pulled off his grinch gloves. "I'm the Grinch that stole Christmas!" Virgil let out a sigh. "And I'm sorry." He held out his wrists. A few moments passed before he spoke again. "Aren't you gonna cuff me? Put me in a chokehold? Blind me with pepper spray!?" 

Anton shoved through the crowd. "You heard him, officer! He admitted it!" The mayor leaned in closer to the sheriff. "I'd go with the pepper spray," he whispered. Virgil gasped and glared at the mayor.

"Yeah, I heard him quite fine. He said he was sorry." Virgil stopped his glaring to blink at the sheriff in an attempt to comprehend what she just said. "Besides, it looks to me as if everything is all here and accounted for." 

Mayor Anton blinked. "But…" he turned to look at the other Who's. "Help me out here. Anyone? Roman? Roman!" 

Roman's head popped up from the top of the bag mountain after having rifled through to find the thing he was looking for. "Merry Christmas, Anton May-Who! Fortunately, I do have something for you!" Roman then slid off the mountain and stumbled as he tried to regain his balance once he hit solid ground. Virgil moved to help him before thinking better of it, but stopped as he worried the mayor might attack him if he even went near Roman. Roman held out the ring box Anton has proposed with. "Your ring back." He turned to face Virgil. "My heart belongs to someone else. It always has, you just never respected me enough to listen." Roman moved forward to embrace Virgil, the engagement ring Virgil had given him sparkling bright on his finger. 

Emile smiled at the two as they stood with their family. This was going to be the best Christmas ever. 

----

So he brought back the toys and the food for the feast. And he- he himself, the Grinch, carved the roast beast. 

And they all lived happily ever after. Take it easy guys, gals and non-binary pals. Peace out!

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Everything Taglist: @spxced-oxt @superwholocked-for-life @mirror2thespirit @aroundofapplesauce @lyditist @little-euro-girl @unicornofdarknessstuff @maryann-draws

The Emo Who Stole Christmas Taglist: @logical-princey @mostpeopleannoyne

So, Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! I hope you liked this fic. I tried to be as inclusive as I could but since I myself celebrate Christmas, I wouldn't want to incorrectly represent a different holiday. But I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday season! Thank you for reading!!! Also, if you really liked this fic, go say thank you to @icequeenoriginal for helping out with this fic and being a co-creator. Seriously, some of these moments wouldn't have happened without them.

Anyway, Happy Holidays everyone!

[mycatshuman]

The Emo Who Stole Christmas

Chapter 4 : You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch or Virgil and Roman Are Done With the Who's and Decide to Get Back at Them.

Word Count: 3,477

Warnings: stealing of Christmas, may be some cursing, grown adult blaming a child for their problems, let me know if I missed any

Pairings: Pre-established Prinxiety and Logicality and Demus

Masterlist | Previous | Next | More Chapters

Again, a big thank you to @icequeenoriginal for being the co-creator. This was a mother-daughter effort and I love it.

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Virgil stood staring down at the Whoville in the ice-cold snow. 

Yes, the Grinch knew that tomorrow all the Whos would wake bright and early and rush for their toys. 

"And then, the noise! Oh, the noise! Noise, noise, noise!" Virgil exclaimed as he stomped around. "They'll bang on tong-tinglers. They'll blow their floo-flounders. They'll crash on Jang-jinglers and bounce on boing-bouncers!" He held his hands to his ears as if he could already hear the horrific noise. 

Then Whos young and old would sit down to feast. 

"And they'll ready and they'll feast. And they'll feast, feast, feast, feast!!" Virgil exclaimed as he stomped around. "They'll eat their Who pudding! And rare Who roast beast! And that's something I can not stand in the least." Virgil paused in his ranting. "Oh no!" He exclaimed horrified. "I'm speaking in rhyme!" He cried out. "Blast you Whos!" He exclaimed as he fell to his knees. 

The more the Grinch thought of what Christmas would bring…the more the Grinch thought...

"I must stop this whole thing!" Virgil exclaimed as he stood up and paced. "For year after year, I've put up with it now! I must stop this Christmas from coming! But how?" Virgil blinked. "I mean, in what way?" He let out an annoyed growl and turned to walk inside. He opened the door and was hit with a blast of cheery Christmas music. 

"Christmas is going to the dogs!" Virgil blinked as he watches Remy lazily bath himself to the music. Virgil opened his mouth only to close it again confused. He quickly jumped at the sound of his door opening and turned to find Roman dressed in sweats.

"Roman?" Virgil asked concerned. "How are you feeling?" Roman shuffled forward and fell forward into his lover's arms. Virgil's arms came up to wrap around the other and envelope him in a hug. 

"Virgil…I want to live with you. I don't want to be down there anymore. Not with the way they keep treating me, like some ornament meant to be stared at or ignored! Please! I don't care if someone finds out, I can't live there anymore!”

Virgil blinked rapidly. "Love," he started. "Are you 100% sure about this?" Roman nodded. Virgil sighed and ran his hands through the other soft curls. 

"Virgil?" Roman asked softly after a while. 

"Hmm?"

"I want to make them pay. I want them to understand. I don't-I want them to-" Roman groaned and hurried his face in Virgil's chest, ironically too emotionally exhausted to deal with his emotions.  Virgil frowned and snuggled the other closer trying to provide as much comfort as he could. Then, his mind began to whirl. 

Then the Grinch got an idea. An awful idea. The Grinch got a wonderful awful idea. 

Virgil pulled away from Roman and announced. ”I’m going to steal Christmas.” Roman blinked as Virgil smirked. "They want to hurt you so bad, they'll lose Christmas. And if they want a monster, then I'll show them a monster!" 

Roman hopped up, finally finding some energy. "Yes! I'll go make the costume. You work on the sleigh!" He turned to Remy only to stop. "And you just keep bathing yourself." Roman ran off and began working while Virgil started on the monstrous sleigh. 

”With this coat and this hat, he'll look just like Saint Nick!" Roman exclaimed. As they worked, Roman's voice sang a little song he had composed from all of the stupid rumors about the Grinch. "'You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch,'"  Virgil chuckled as he heard the other sing. "'You really are a heel. You're as cuddly as a cactus, You're as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch! You're a bad banana with a greasy black peel!" Roman walked over to Virgil with the hat and place it on his head as he sang and place a quick kiss to his cheeks before going back to work on the jacket. "'Just face the music, you're a monster, Mr. Grinch, yes, you are. Your heart's an empty hole. Your brain is full of spiders. You've got garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch. I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole.'" Virgil snorted as Roman danced around with the jacket before sitting on a table out of his way so he could work on the pants. "You know, if you ask the Who's Who of Whoville, No one's denyin”  Virgil spared a glance at Roman and smiled. Boy did he love him. 

"'You're a vile one, Mr. Grinch." Roman picked up the song again. "'You have termites in your smile. You have all the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile, Mr. Grinch. Given the choice between you, I'd take the seasick crocodile!" Virgil giggled as Roman tossed the pants over to the same table. He closed the front door behind him after having moved the sleigh outside and walked over to Roman. He wrapped him in a hug and kissed his temple. Roman hummed happily. Virgil hated to have to wipe the smile from his face. 

"Roman," Roman made a small noise of acknowledgment. "I'm going to need you to go home. Just for tonight."

Roman ripped himself away from Virgil. "What?! Why?!" 

"I can't have you helping me-" 

"No! You can't--no!" 

"Roman, please-"

"No! No! No!" 

"Roman, I can't have you getting in trouble. I want to make sure if you ever want to go back, you can! I can't bare to have you help and then regret it and then want to leave but you can't because you've been shunned. Please, Roman. This is all I ask. Just this one night. Please." 

Roman stared at Virgil for a while before reluctantly nodding. "Okay," he whispered. He wasn't happy about it, but he knew it would make Virgil feel better about everything. "Okay, just-" Roman moved forward and placed a hand on Virgil's cheek. "Be careful, okay?" Virgil nodded. "Thank you." Roman pushed up on his tiptoes and gave the other a light kiss. "I'll see you later." 

"See you later," Virgil promised

-----

Virgil sat with Remy watching Santa through a telescope. "He should be finishing up anytime now. Wanna talk about a recluse? He only comes out once a year but does he catch any hate for it? No! He probably lives up there just to avoid the taxes." Virgil ranted. He paused as he watched as Santa flew away in his sleigh. "Whoops. I forgot about the reindeer…" 

Did that stop the old Grinch? No, the Grinch simply said: 

"If I can't find a reindeer, I'll make one instead." Virgil turned around and faced Remy. "Remy!" Remy rolled his eyes and prepared himself to wear a headband with antlers. Virgil quickly found a reindeer headband and placed it on his cat's head before placing a red nose on his nose. "Okay, you're a reindeer and your motivation is that you're a deer with a red nose and nobody likes you. One day, you save Christmas-" Virgil paused. "Ignore that. We'll just improvise. You hate Christmas! You're gonna steal it! Saving Christmas was such a lousy ending. Okay and action!" 

Remy glared at Virgil before knocking the red nose off. Virgil blinked and then he gasped. "Brilliant! You regret your own nose because it represents the glitter of commercialism! Why didn't I think of that?" Then Virgil walked off and climbed into the sleigh along with Remy. 

Virgil flipped the switch and the sleigh came life, vibrating with power. "That feels good." Virgil turned to Remy "Here goes nothing," and he pressed the bottom to start actually start moving. The sleigh rose up in the air and Virgil grinned. "Wow! It actually works! Okay! Let's go! On, Crasher! On Thrasher! On, Vomit and Blitzkrieg!!!" Virgil screamed as the sleigh shot off and began spinning violently, turning over and over. "We're gonna die!" Virgil shrieked. "We're gonna die! I'm going to throw up! And then we're gonna die! Mommy, tell it to stop!!" He cried, eventually he was able to wrangle control of the sleigh and they flew smoothly through the sky. Virgil stayed frozen for a moment before allowing himself to slightly relax. He let out a sigh of relief. "Almost lost my cool there." 

All their windows were dark. Quiet snow filled the air. All the Whos were all dreaming sweet dreams without care when he came to the first little house on the square…

Virgil slowly brought down the sleigh on top of the roof of an overly decorated house. He noticed a traffic light among the variety of lights. "Weird." He turned back to Remy. "This will be our first stop."

The old Grinchy Claus hissed. And he climbed to the roof, empty bags in his fist. He'd slide down the chimney, a rather tight pinch, but if Santa could do it, so could the Grinch.

Virgil stood up and tied a rope around his waist. He stepped up onto the edge of the chimney and prepared to dive. "He's planning a double-twisted interrupted forward-flying 2-and-a-half with a combo tuck and like. A high degree of difficulty," Virgil muttered and jumped and dove headfirst down into the chimney. 

He got stuck only once, for a moment or two…

Virgil groaned quietly. "Stupid suit," muttered, referring to the furry suit of the Grinch. Something that helped him scare kids off and leave him alone now was slowing him down from his biggest scare of all. He huffed.

Then he stuck his head out of the fireplace flue. 

"A little more stealth, Thomas, please." 

Thomas lowered his voice. Where the little Who stockings all hung in a row. 

"These stockings," he grinned. "Are the first things to go." The Grinch opened a jar and turned it upside down, shaking out moths. "Alright, fellas, chow time." The moths quickly gobbled up the stockings. 

Then he slunk to the icebox. 

"Slunk?" 

He eyed the Whos' feast. He took the Who pudding. He took the roast beast. 

"Hike!" Virgil called out as he launched the roast beast through his legs like a football player. 

He cleaned out that icebox as quick as a flash. Why that Grinch, even took their last can of Who-hash. Then he stuffed all the food up the chimney with glee. 

Virgil threw the bag up the chimney and spun around to face the tree. "And now," grinned the Grinch. "I'll stuff up the tree!" And the Grinch grabbed the tree and he started to shove, when he heard a small sound like the coo of a dove. 

Virgil turned to find Emile and grimaced. He felt really bad about this….

"Excuse me" Emile called softly. 

The Grinch had been caught by this tiny Who child, who'd got out of bed for a cup of cold water. 

"Mr. Santa, what are you doing with our tree?" 

But you know, that old Grinch was so smart and so slick, he thought up a lie, and he thought it up quick. 

"Why my sweet little tot!" Virgil exclaimed grandly. "There's a light on this tree that won't light on one side. So, I'm taking it home to my workshop, sweet child. "I'll fix it up there, then I'll bring it back here."

Emile narrowed their eyes. "Santa, what's Christmas really about?" 

"Vengeance!" Virgil exclaimed before remembering he was supposed to be pretending he was the perfect Who Santa. "I mean...presents, I suppose." 

Emile frowned. "I was afraid of that." 

And his fib fooled the child. Then he patted their head and got them a drink, and he sent them to bed. 

Emile paused their journey up the stairs. "Santa?"

"What?" Virgil asked. 

"Don't forget the Grinch-" 

Virgil couldn't take it anymore and walk out from behind the tree. "I'm sorry." 

Emile blinked and furrowed their brows. "Why?" 

Virgil bit his lip. "To show you all what's more important ...and to get back at everyone for upsetting Roman." 

Emile nodded. "Okay. Well...good luck, Virgil." 

And when Emile Lou went up with their cup, the Grinch went to the chimney and stuffed the tree up. Virgil quickly shot the tree up the chimney and grabbed everything else before climbing back up the chimney. And the last thing he took was the log for their fire. On their walls, he left nothing but some hooks and some wire. And the one speck of food that he'd left in the house, was a crumb that was even too small for a mouse. Virgil reached down and picked the mouse up deciding to allow it to eat something so long as it wasn't in a Whos’ house. Then he slithered and slunk with a smile most unpleasant, around each Who home and he took every present. 

Virgil took a saw and cut a circle above his head and the floor fell through along with the Christmas tree and its presents. He stepped up through the hole and smirked. "They're in sale. Everything must go." And he began to take it all. 

------

Virgil froze as he stepped into the bedroom of a magazine picture-perfect house. Oh. This was Roman's house. He glanced around at the decorations and found himself smiling fondly. He should have known. Everything just screamed Roman from the abundance of reds, whites, and golds. He carefully walked over to the bedside table and noticed the ring box the mayor had given Roman. He nearly growled as he went to take it before noticing something else. It was his gift. The one he had made for Roman all those years ago. Virgil's eyes watered and he forced himself to blink the tears away. He shook his head and quickly snatched the ring box off of the table. He went to move only to be stopped by a tan hand yanking him down and lips crashing into his. Virgil blinked in surprise before happily giving into Roman and allowing the other to wrap his arms around his neck. 

Roman pulled away after kissing Virgil senseless. "Virgil," he asked softly. "Please, let me help." Virgil bit his lip. "I suppose..." He started. "You can help...but...just promise that if we get caught, you say I forced you to do it, okay?" 

Roman's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait! No! I can't-" 

"Then I can't let you help." 

Roman blinked. "I-okay," he sighed in defeat. "I'll tell them you forced me." Virgil let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you." 

-----

Roman froze as he finally dragged the attention away from Virgil's hiding place. He hadn't realized the Whos would put out guards to guard the path leading to Mount Crumpit after everyone went to bed to protect from the Grinch. From Virgil. But Virgil ran out of fuel for his rocket sleigh and he had to drag it up the mountain himself. But they were losing moonlight, and the long way around wouldn't work. So Roman offered to try and distract them. But now, he was very nervous. The Who guards had rounded on him. Accusing him of being in league with the Grinch. Of course, he was, but Virgil had made him promise and he wasn't about to break his promise. 

"You really think I'm in league with the Grinch?" Roman asked the guards. 

They nodded. "Yeah, why else wouldn't you have immediately said yes to Mayor Anton's proposal?” 

Roman grimaced. He really hated the mayor. 

"If I really hated the Grinch, would I do this?" Then Roman started his song. "'You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch. You really are a heel, You're as cuddly as a cactus, You're as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch. You're a bad banana with a greasy black peel. Just face the music, you're a monster, Mr. Grinch, yes, you are. Your heart's an empty hole, Your brain is full of spiders, You've got garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch. I wouldn't touch you with a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole. You know, if you ask the Who's Who of Whoville No one's denyin'. You're a vile one, Mr. Grinch. You have termites in your smile. You have all the tender sweetness Of a seasick crocodile, Mr. Grinch. Given the choice between you, I'd take the seasick crocodile.'" 

As Roman sang, he watched Virgil carefully carry the sleigh behind the two guards and try to rush up the path until he wouldn't be noticed. 

"I suppose not," one of the guards said once Roman's song was done. Then they both turned back to face the mountain. 

Roman blinked. Surely it can't be that easy! But it seemed it was. So he turned and quickly found the nearest garbage chute and took a ride to the top of Mount Crumpit. Prepared to meet his love at the top. 

----

3,000 feet up, up the side of Mount Crumpit, he rode with his load to the tip top to dump it.

Virgil grunted as he set the sleigh down carefully in the snow and turned to face Roman who was standing before him. "We did it!" He exclaimed excitedly. Roman grinned, leaped into his arms and wrapped him in a tight hug. Virgil placed a kiss to Roman's lips before setting him back down on his own feet. Virgil turned to Remy. "That wasn't so bad, was it Remy?" 

Remy rolled his eyes as he remembered at least 30 different breakdowns Virgil had had along the way. 

Roman turned towards the horizon. "They'll be waking up now," he said. "I know just what they'll do. All of them down in Whoville will all cry!”

----

"What an embarrassment! I've been robbed!" The sheriff of Whoville exclaimed as she rushed out of her house to her car. She climbed in and turned the siren on blissfully unaware of the rope attached to her bumper. She quickly drove off. 

Mayor Anton awoke with a start and suddenly, his bed crashed through the big window in his room with him in it. As Whos came out of their homes they watched as the mayor slid past on his bed. As the sheriff made a turn around the Christmas tree in the middle of town, the Mayor's bed slid around and came to an abrupt stop.  

The sheriff stepped out of her car and stopped as she noticed the mayor. "Mayor May-Who?" 

The mayor quickly jumped out of bed and pulled on his robe that was luckily still attached to the bed. He looked around noticing the damage. He frowned. "I wonder who could have done this," he said as he noticed Emile and their family come into view. "I'll tell you one thing: Invite the Grinch destroy Christmas." He raised his hands and beat on his bed. "Invite the Grinch destroy Christmas!!" He paused to take a breath and Emile frowned. "But did anyone, anyone listen to me?" 

"I did!" The mayor's assistant piped in but the mayor ignored him. 

"No. You choose to listen to a little not-to-be-taken-seriously child. And they haven't even grown into their nose yet." Anton shook his head. "Emile, I hope you're very proud of what you have done." With that, the mayor turned around. 

Emile frowned and looked down as tears welled in their eyes. 

"If they aren't, then I am!” 

Mayor Anton turned around to see Patton, Emile's dad, and Logan, their father had stepped in front of them. "What?" He asked, not sure if he had heard correctly. 

"I said, if they aren't, then I am. I'm glad he took our presents."

Who's around all gasped as the Mayor gawked at them. "You're glad? He's glad!" The mayor shouted to the crowd. "You're glad that everything is gone.? You're glad the Grinch virtually wrecked…? No, no. Not wrecked, pulverized Christmas. Is that really what I'm hearing?" 

Patton sighed. "You can't hurt Christmas, Mr. Mayor. It's not about the gifts, or contests or the fancy lights." He turned and gestured to Emile who's face showed hopefulness. 

"That's what Emile has been trying to tell everybody. "

The mayor blinked. "What is wrong with you!?! This is a child!" 

Patton pulled Emile close against his side. "They're my child. They happen to by right by the way." Patton turned towards his family. "I don't need anything more for Christmas than what's right here, my family."

The Who's all erupted into cheers and began telling each other Merry Christmas. Emile smiled brightly. They finally understood. Logan grabbed a hold of Patton's robe. "Merry Christmas honey!" He yanked Patton into a kiss. Missy and Pranks covered their mouths like they were going to be sick as they moved away from their parents. 

"Give me a break!" The mayor cried out as he turned away. 

Meanwhile, Emile was looking up at Mount Crumpit before they moved to find a garbage chute. "No one should be alone on Christmas," they whispered as the hit the side and started their ride to the top of the mountain. 

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Everything Taglist: @spxced-oxt @superwholocked-for-life @mirror2thespirit @aroundofapplesauce @lyditist @little-euro-girl @unicornofdarknessstuff @maryann-draws

The Emo Who Stole Christmas Taglist: @logical-princey @mostpeopleannoyne

May I suggest listening to this song as mom or you know @ icequeenoriginal showed it to me saying this is how extra Roman is singing the song and I quite agree.

[mycatshuman]

The Emo Who Stole Christmas

Chapter 1 : Story time!

Word Count: 3,068

Pairings: Pre-established Prinxiety, pre-established Logicality, pre-established Demus

Warnings: Commercialization of Christmas, falling down the mountain, Grinch used as an insult? Small car crash with no harm, brief mention of playing with matches, mentions of messing with mail? Almost getting crushed by a stamp, child being wrapped in wrapping paper, that might be it I'm not sure and I know these sound weird but I'm just being careful.

Remus and Deceit don't come in until the next chapter.

Thank you so so much to @icequeenoriginal !!! You are basically the co-creator to this fic and it really would not be as good as it is without you. And I also have to thank you for coming up with such and ingenious title!!💜💜

Masterlist | Next | More Chapters

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Snowflakes fall through the dark sky. A sparkling flake flies close and then we zoom inside the snowflake, watching sparkling crystals fly by as we start on our journey. 

Storytime! Inside a snowflake, like the one on your sleeve, there happened a story you must see to believe. The clouds break away and we see snow-covered mountains and evergreen trees dotted across the landscape. 

And in that snowflake, way up in the mountains, in the high range of Pontoos, lay the small town of Whoville: the home of the Who's. Ask any Who, And they'll say: "There is no place like Whoville around Christmas Day!" 

Every window was flocked, and every lamppost was dressed and the Whoville band marched in their Christmasy best! Or holiday best if they celebrated a different holiday. Who's run through the town as the snow falls around them, their arms full with bags and gifts and decorations. 

Arbor Day was fine, and Easter was pleasant and every Saint Fizzin's day, they ate a Fizz pheasant. But every Who knew, from their twelve toes to their snout, they loved Christmas (or other winter holidays like Kwanzaa and Hanukkah) the most, without a single Who doubt.

------

A man with dark skin hurriedly says "Farfingle's welcomes you! Thank you! Happy Holidays! Thank you for shopping at Farfingle's!" The man is looking a little pale as he tries to keep up with the sales as people shove money at him to pay for gifts. No one stopping to take their receipts, causing the man to become exhausted and fighting to keep his smile on his face. 

Patton walked around as he stared at his long gift list. "We got a snoozlephone for your brothers Stu and Drew, a muncle for your uncle, fant for your aunt, and a fandpa for your cousin Critic. That means we just need….." Patton paused and looked around, realizing he couldn't find his child. "Emile?" He called out.  "Emile? Honey?" He turned to find a set of legs sticking out from under a square of presents. He crouched and pulled a wrapped gift from the middle and his child's face peered out at him. Their face was pinched slightly and they seemed uncertain about something. "Doesn't this seem like a bit much?" They asked as they glanced at the presents. 

Patton chuckled heartily. "Oh no! This is what Christmas is all about!" Emile scrunched their nose as they looked at their father. "Can't you feel it?"

Emile shook their head and sighed as they left the store getting ready to head to the post office, where Patton worked. In the background, the sound of the store clerk’s increasingly exhausted voice sounded. "Wait! Don't forget your change!!!!!" 

Outside, the loud bell tolled and everyone froze. The Counter shouted, "Another Minute Closer to the Holidays!"

"And now, for the next ten minutes only, 99% off!!" A store owner shouts out into the busy streets and everyone rushed forward to try and get as much as they could from the store. 

-------

Yes, every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot. But the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville, did not.

-----

Four Who teenagers climbed up the mountain quickly laughing and giggling, on their way to cause mischief. Or so they thought. "Come on! All the good mistletoes at the top! Missy! I'll race you!" Emile's brother Pranks shouted. 

"The last one to the top is a stinky old Grinch!!" Missy shouted as he raced past his brother. 

"Where are we?" One of the teens said as she climbed up alongside her sister. "I think we should go back before something bad happens."

"What? Are you scared of the Grinch?" 

The other sister huffed and grabbed her sister's arm and marched up to the door and hesitated. "Go on! Touch the door!" Pranks cried out. The sister gulped and reached forward only for the door to swing open and a huge ugly purple face with piercing fangs stared at them with malevolent eyes. A thundering growl sounded from the pit of the beasts' throat. The teens screamed and turned around only to tumble down the mountain head over heels. 

"Remy!! Look at them run!! Scared them so bad they fell right off our mountain!!" A deep voice laughed as he picked up an apple. "It serves them right. Those Yuletide-loving sickly-sweet, not-sucking cheer mongers! I don't like them. I really don't." The voice paused as they stopped and a flush spread across their pale face. "Well, most of them."  The voice moved out the door and stood looking down at the town of Whoville. "Remy! Sass master! Get my cloak!" The figure grimaced as he looked down at the town. "I've been too tolerant of these delinquents and their "innocent, victimless pranks." The figure's frown deepened as he glared at the town. If looks could kill. "So, they want to get to know me? Do they really? Want to spend a little quality time with the-" the future's nose scrunched in disgust. "Grinch!" He spat out the name as if it had hurt him. And maybe it had. He huffed and then turned to his cat Remy who sat next to his midnight colored cloak. A wicked grin spread across his face. "I guess I could use a little...social interaction." 

---------

A dark clothed figure walked through the town, A small dark grey cat trotting along beside them. Well, maybe walking wasn't so accurate. The figure seemed to glide and float across the ground as if it was an otherworldly spector. However, none of the Who's seemed to notice this different looking figure. "Happy Holidays!" A person called cheerfully as they walked past the figure. Virgil grimaced. "Yeah, yeah, you bet. Ho, ho, ho, and all that stuff or whatever." If any Who had stopped to peer closer at the hooded figure they might find a weird creepy mask and a lanky body covered in dark purple fur. It was a suit Virgil used to frighten the Whos more. It also to stay warm in the biting cold weather. 

A horn blared as a car crashed into a pole and Virgil gasped overdramatically. "Oh no!" He exclaimed and looked down at Remy. "Someone must have vandalized that vehicle. Don't you see, Remy? This city is a dangerous place!" He snickered after he confirmed his little trick hadn't hurt anyone.

The Grinch hated the holidays. The whole Holiday season. Or maybe he didn't. Maybe it just hurt to remember what the Who's had done to him. But please do not ask why. No one quite knows the reason. Aside from one other.

Virgil stopped two children and handed then a play saw, perfectly harmless but looked very real. "Here's a present for you two! Now be sure to run real fast with it! Double time!" 

Some believe it's because his head wasn't screwed on just right. Or that his shoes were too tight. But they think the most likely reason of all is, maybe his heart is two sizes too small.

As Virgil was walking a man stopped him from moving any further. "Hey, there stranger! Won't let you go until you buy a chapeau!" Virgil lifted his mask and hissed. The salesperson who had stopped him fainted out of sheer terror. Virgil held back a snort and he and Remy were on their way. 

-------

Patton carried presents alongside his child, Emile as they made their way to the post office. "Oh boy! Nothing beats Christmas! Right kiddo?" 

Emile frowned. "I don't-I guess." 

Patton frowned and turned to look at his child. "You guessed?" He asked, concern lacing through his words. 

Emile shrugged as they looked down. "I mean, I look around and see you and Pa getting all kabbabled and doesn't it seem...superfluous?" 

Patton opened his mouth to say something when a loud screaming reached his ears and he froze, turning towards the source of the noise as everyone around them did the same. 

"DAD!!!!" Missy and Pranks raced into the town square as the Mayor came out of his office along with his assistant to see what the commotion was about. 

"What happened to you?!?!" Patton asked panicked. The two boys were covered in frost and snow as they tried to stutter out a response. "It was the Grinch!" 

Virgil looked up. "What do you want?" He froze, "I mean.." He pitched his voice higher. "'Grinch? Oh, no!'"

"Did you say Grinch?" The mayor, Anton Who said as he stalked over to the family. 

Patton froze.“H-Hello Anton, M-Mayor Sir.” Patton said as he moved his children behind him. 

Anton sighed "Patton, I don't think I need to remind all of you that this Christmas marks the one-thousandth Whobilation."

"Whoville's most important celebration!!"

"As you know," the Mayor began as he pulled out a very large and thick book. "The Book of Who says very clearly, 'Every size of Who we can measure knows that Whobilation is a time we must treasure!'" He closed the book, perhaps a bit too quickly. "Now, Patton. Please tell me that your children have not been up on Mount Crumpit provoking one and only creature within a billion bilometers of here who hates the holidays!"

Missy and Pranks began speaking quickly, "But it was the Grinch-" 

Patton stopped them by covering their mouths, terrified of what the consequences may be for them and their family if they kept talking. "No, Mayor. They didn't see no Grinch. They were probably just up on the mountain playing with matches or defacing public property or something…" 

The Mayor let out a sigh of relief as he placed his gloved hand on his chest. "Oh! That is such a relief." He turned his extravagant cape dragging behind him. "All right! You heard the man! There is no Grinch Problem here! Happy Holidays!" The mayor called cheerfully. 

Virgil frowned and raised his mask and stuck a straw between his lips and spit a ball of paper at the Mayor. The mayor frowned and whipped the ball off his face, disgusted. Virgil chuckled as he pulled his mask down and went off again. 

-----

Roman May let out a sigh as he realized he still had four hours until it was dark enough to leave town. So he just rolled his new purchase home, slowly, hoping to kill more time. He paused at the post office however and let out a faint chuckle as he noticed the end of a cape and a cat's tail slipping through the crack in the door as it fell close. He sighed dreamily. "That's my love," he muttered fondly to himself and walked away with a lot more pep in his step than before. 

-----

Emile frowned as they watched their dad walk down a long hallway with envelopes and presents as he stuffed them in small cubes lining one wall that leads into the room on the other side. "Dad, I just- I don't understand something."

"Hhm?" Patton asked as he continued working but made sure to give his child the attention they deserved. 

"Why so everyone so against talking about the Grinch?" 

Patton huffed quietly, a little admirable of his child's fascination. "You kids and the Grinch…” he said softly. "You see, Emile, the Grinch is a Who, who always…." He paused. "Well...he's actually not a Who. He's more a..." 

"A what?" 

Patton nodded. "Yeah, he's more a what who doesn't like Christmas or any other holiday." Emile's face pulled down into a frown as they listened to their dad. "Just take a look at his mailbox. Not a single card, in or out. Not ever!" 

Emile looked at the empty mailbox that had seemingly been empty for so long that cobwebs filled the dead space. "But why?" They asked as they turned to look at their dad, unsure why someone wouldn't have at least been kind enough to try and include him. 

Patton opened his mouth to answer his child only to be cut off by people crowding around the front counter. "Patton! I got the wrong mail!!!" Someone cried out frantically and Patton gave Emile an apologetic smile and walked to the counter. "I'm coming!" He called out. "We can sort this all out!" 

-----

Virgil grinned wickedly as he stood in the mailroom and looking at the mailboxes from the other side. "Oh, this will take them years to sort out!" He began to grab envelopes and switch them around. "This is his and now it’s yours. This is hers and now it’s his!" He giggled gleefully and turned around. Picking up a stack of bright yellow envelopes he spun around. "And for the rest of you!" He flung envelopes into random mailboxes with great force as he chuckled madly to himself. "Jury duty! Jury duty! Jury duty! Blackmail! Pink slip! Chain letter! Eviction notice! Jury duty!" Remy watched unamused as Virgil tried to wreak havoc. He rolled his eyes, as well as a cat could. Virgil may seem threatening but in all actuality, he was just a hurt soul trying to hurt those who hurt him but was too nice to do so. At least he had Remy to keep him in check. 

-----

Patton walked over to Emile and held out a small stack of envelopes. "Hey, Emile, would you mind helping me take this to the mailroom?" Emile nodded and took the envelopes from their father. Patton smiled and ruffled their hair. "Thank you. Now be careful of the sorting machine, alright?" 

Emile nodded with a small smile and turned around and opened the door to the mailroom and glanced over as they watched the conveyor belt drop presents down a hole to have Fragile stamped on the side. They set the mail down and turned to leave only to hear a loud splat. They turned around and frowned as they noticed an ugly, overly happy mask sitting on the floor. They bent over and picked up the mask and inspected it. 

Virgil and Remy stared down below at the small Who child that had entered the mailroom. They were squished into the corner of the ceiling, trying to stay perched where they were until the child left. Then Remy sneezed. "Gesundheit," Virgil muttered. Emile gasped and whirled around, their gaze going to the ceiling. "Whoops."

Emile stuttered as they stared at the purple fur of the Grinch and the dark grey cat and screamed. The Grinch screamed back. Emile screamed again, and as the Grinch let out another scream they slowly composed themselves.  "You're the...the...You're the..."

Virgil jumped down and leaned forward into Emile's face. "The Grinch!" He snarled. Emile screamed and fell back into a pile slowly falling through the hole in the floor leading to the conveyor belt for the sorting machine. Virgil blinked as he tried to calm his racing heart. "Well...I guess that worked out..." He quickly turned towards the door, terrified of getting caught. "Remy, let's go. Our work here is done." 

"Help!! Help me! Please! Somebody!" Emile screamed as their head fell closer to the conveyor belt. Remy stopped just short of the door and gave Virgil a look that said, 'I know you're gonna feel guilty about this. Go help them, gurl.' 

Virgil huffed at being called out despite not actually hearing what Remy said, he was pretty good at telling what his cat was thinking. "All the bleeding hearts of the world unite! Ugh!" Virgil turned around and grabbed a hold of Emile's ankle before pulling the child out and quickly turning them upright. "There!" Virgil exclaimed. Although he turned his voice down at noticing the slightly shocked face of the child. He huffed and yanked the mask from them. "Give me that! Don't you know you're not supposed to take things that don't belong to you?! What are you, some kind of wild animal?!?!?" 

Emile blinked, desperately trying to process what exactly had just happened. They quickly found their voice as they vaguely heard the Grinch say something about leaving to their cat. "Thank you for saving me!" 

Virgil froze and slowly turned around to face the child again. "Saving you?" He asked slowly, carefully. "Is that what you think I was doing?" Emile nodded. Virgil huffed. He couldn't have this getting out, who knows how many teens would come up to bother him then! He grimaced. "Wrong-o!" He glanced to the side and noticed a roll of wrapping paper on a wrapping paper holder. He glanced back at the child. They can't know where I'm going. I have to make sure to stall them. "I simply noticed you weren't properly packaged, dear child." 

Emile stepped back only for the Grinch to began rapidly wrapping them up in the shiny red wrapping paper. "Hold still!" The Grinch exclaimed. Then he turned to his cat. "Remy! Pick out a bow!" Then the Grinch paused. "May I use your finger for a moment?" After a few more moments, Emile felt the Grinch's presence move away. They heard a snap and an "ow" at what, Emile assumed, was the Grinch putting his mask back on. 

Emile stood silent for a few moments after the Grinch left before they began shouting. "Hello! Hello!"  

Patton frowned as he looked for his child. A small "hello" drew him towards the mailroom and he opened the door. "Emile?" 

"Dad! Daddy!" Emile called out as they sensed their father moving closer. 

"What ...?" Patton was speechless as he noticed a figure wrapped in wrapping paper around the size of his child. "Emile? Is that really you?" He asked again and began removing the wrapping paper.

Once Emile's head and torso were uncovered, they grinned excitedly at Patton. "Dad! It was astounding! Th-"

"You have been practicing your Christmas wrapping!" Patton exclaimed, eyes twinkling. "Oh, Emile! I am so so proud of you!! That's the holiday spirit!!" 

"O-oh…" Emile train of thought halted as they took in their father. His black-framed glasses and the grey cardigan pulled tight over his postal uniform. The smile that was wide on his face, beaming with pride. Emile subconsciously rubbed at the grey material of their school uniform. 

Kind little Emile didn't know what to do. In their head, a conflict or two humbled around their brain. 'If The Grinch was so bad, then why did he save me?" They thought. "Maybe he wasn't as bad as they say." Maybe. Just maybe. 

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Everything Taglist: @spxced-oxt @superwholocked-for-life @mirror2thespirit @aroundofapplesauce @lyditist @little-euro-girl @unicornofdarknessstuff @maryann-draws