#would be to have my own money and my own apartment | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

mysteria157 · 1 day ago

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Pairing: Higuruma Hiromi x Reader (Vicky)

Rating/CW: fluff, smut, explicit sexual content, vaginal sex, oral sex, holiday romance, MDNI!

WC: ~5.2K

Summary: A holiday tale of three Christmases with your neighbor Higuruma.

a/n: As part of the Secret Santa Fic Exchange hosted by @nanamiscocksleeve, I wrote this for my secret santa @sassypossum. This is my first Hiromi fic, so I hope you enjoy!

Divider: @arminsumi @mikeykuns

The first time wasn’t planned.

Most people fill their December evenings with bright parties that have too much alcohol and shopping bags, with wrapped presents and spiked eggnog. But not for you. This Christmas night, you find yourself climbing to the roof of your apartment building, a thermos of hot chocolate warming your hands.

The day hadn’t started great—an alarm that never went off, a train ride that was twenty minutes late, and your favorite tea that you’d spent money you would rather not think about had arrived in a package soaked to the bone, destroying the precious herbs inside. Just being in the walls of your own home wasn’t enough.

So now here you are. The city sprawls before you, and blocks of flickering concrete, reminiscent of your Christmas lights before they blew out from a fuse you still can’t find.

You don’t expect to find him there.

Not too tall, standing at the edge of the roof with his back turned. A suit as black as night and wrinkled along the hem, swept back hair fluttering faintly in the chilly breeze. His shoulders rise just slightly and then relax, a plume of smoke curling into the air. You’d seen him around the building enough to know his name—his habits.

Higuruma Hiromi, a man who consists of late hours fighting endless battles most would consider already lost, exhaustion always clinging to him like a second skin but always sharing a gentle smile when you both brushed past each other in the hallway.

You’d seen him around but barely had the confidence to actually have a conversation. There was something about him that always made you stop short, to open your mouth and then close it again in fear of humiliating yourself just by asking him out for coffee.

“Mind sharing that rail?” you called out, watching him startle slightly before craning his head over his shoulder to look at your approaching form. His small pupils, a deep chocolate brown, focused on you with an intensity you couldn’t quite place, then flickering to the thermos.

“It’s public space,” he resigned but shifted slightly to make room for you. The metal railing was cold against your thin pajama pants as you settled beside him, close enough to smell the tobacco and what might have been a hint of coffee on his breath.

“Rough case?” you asked softly after a few quiet moments, your eyes on the Tokyo skyline as you offered him your thermos.

Higuruma’s tired eyes look from you and down to the thermos in your hands, hesitation flashing over his features before he pops the cigarette in his mouth and uncaps the lid. “Hot chocolate?” The surprise in his voice is enough to make you smile despite his evasiveness.

“With candy canes,” you add. “Christmas tradition.”

His quiet laugh catches you off guard—a warm and low hitching in the back of his throat that sounds misplaced, as if rusty and remembering how to work. “God, I don’t think I’ve had hot chocolate since…“ he trails off, eyes jumping from building to building in order to remember before giving up.

He pulls a heavy drag instead, turning his head away to exhale the thick gray smoke and take a sip of your drink. The city hums with holiday energy, lights brighter than usual, cars honking louder and longer than necessary.

“I usually work through the holidays,” he says finally, cigarette already half gone. The confession hangs in the air between you, heavy with years of solitary Christmases. Of declining parties and get-togethers and finding company in himself and the bed he collapses into after a long day.

You don’t know what makes you say it. The serenity in the air. The subtle jumping of your heart when you watch his lips purse and the embers of the butt illuminate the curve of his nose.

“Well, now you have company this year,” you reply gently, trying to ignore the feel of his fingertips brushing yours when it’s your turn to collect the hot chocolate.

He hums noncommittally; gaze turned back to the city long enough for you to study him. He’s a handsome man with lean features and a strong sense of justice that makes your heart flutter in ways you don’t understand.

You drink the last of the hot chocolate—the peppermint of the candy cane forming a syrupy concoction at the very bottom that slides along your tongue—but you don’t leave. You stay with him until his cigarette is ash, until the bottom of your thermos is dry, until the December air has painted both your cheeks pink.

The next day, you don’t speak when you pass in the elevator, but something’s changed—like the first note of a song neither of you knows you are waiting to hear.

Time flies when you become aware of things, and a year passes like seasons through a window. There are glimpses of each other in the elevator, shared cigarette breaks that become a habit, the way you learn to read his different types of tired. Just like that, winter finds you again, this time in the lobby of your apartment building. A convenience store bag is clutched in your hands, fingers shaking with the prospect of what you want to do, your eyes watching the numbers above the elevator tick down.

Maybe he’ll be there again. Resting on the railing, smoking a cigarette with his gaze on the city skyline. Maybe he’ll smile when he sees you, just like he did a week before when you both checked your mail at the same time—brushing shoulders, a joke passed back and forth, his lips breaking into a smile that lingered long after he was gone.

When the doors open, he’s there—suit jacket missing and sleeves rolled to show sinewy forearms. Those small pupils widen slightly at the sight of you, a year’s worth of rooftop conversations living in the space between you, unspoken but undeniably present.

“There you are,” he says casually, stuffing his hands in his pockets as you cross the threshold of the elevator and slink beside him. The words are simple, but they hang in the air, heavy with an implication that’s enough to still your heart.

The elevator doors slide closed slowly, casting you both in silence, and the subtle ‘ding’ of levels climbed. He turns, leaning one side of his body against the elevator wall, his full attention on you in that intense way you have learned by now is not apathy.

It didn’t take very long to read him, to pick past the perpetual weary expression on his face to take in the ticks in his jaw, the furrow of his brow, the blinding smile he gives when he gets past that initial few minutes of shyness. That sense of conviction he has for his cases translates to everything else in different ways. And now, it’s on you, a look so intense with something warmer. Something sharper.

“Late night?” you ask, trying your best to cast the room into something else other than your nerves that seem to ooze out of your skin like tendrils. You squeeze the handle of your bag, the plastic rustling faintly in the quiet. His gaze flickers down to your hands, taking in the brand stamped on the bag.

“Always.” That weariness is softer now, worn smooth like a river on jagged stones from all the nights you’ve shared his silence. “I take it you have plans this year?” He nods to the bag in your hand.

You try not to think about the resignation in his voice. You clear your throat, opening the bag for him to peek inside. “If by plans you mean a Christmas cake? Then yes, I have plans.”

The elevator dings again, five stops away from your shared floor. He whistles long and low, pulling a snicker from your chest as he pulls out the cake and turns it in his hands to examine. “You sure you can finish this on your own?”

You scoff, feigning offense and snatching the cake away to shove back in your bag. “I’ll have you know that I have a very insatiable appetite.”

“Is that so?” he asks, dripping with so much suggestiveness that you’re convinced you’re just hearing things. The elevator doors slide open, but neither of you moves. His gaze catches yours, steady and unyielding, and suddenly, the air feels heavier, your chest tighter.

“I have coffee,” he offers finally, his voice low, deliberate. The words carry so much more—an invitation, a continuation, a year of understanding distilled into a simple gesture. “If you would like company…for your plans.”

He smells like a hint of cigarettes and cologne that makes you lightheaded, but you pull in a deep breath to let the smell fill your lungs, willingly disorienting yourself.

“Sure,” you say gingerly, your voice catching slightly in your throat. He steps aside, holding the elevator door open for you, and you follow him down the hall.

His apartment is exactly as you imagined—case files neat on every surface, the quilted throw blanket on his couch that he had wrapped around you two days ago on the roof, that cheap coffee maker you’ve heard him defend countless times humming in the corner. But there are new details too—a mug you recognize from the combini downstairs, the one you mentioned liking a month ago. Artwork that looks like it came directly from a museum on every wall, adding a quiet sophistication to the otherwise practical space.

You can only take in so many details before he’s moving, kicking off his shoes and taking the bag from you as he walks to his open kitchen. “How about tea instead?”

He opens one of the kitchen cabinets to display a plethora of neatly arranged glass jars filled with tea bags and loose-leaf blends. The sight surprises you, your breath hitching slightly as he quirks a smile. “You like tea.” And it leaves his mouth as though it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

You do. And the fact that he’s remembered this small detail leaves an electric warmth in your chest that you try not to let show. Instead of responding, you focus on unloading the cake from your bag, carefully peeling back the wrapper without smudging the icing.

Behind you, the quiet clink of jars being opened and spoons measuring tea and coffee into a pot fills the space. There’s a domesticity to it—the ease with which he moves around his kitchen, hovering and reaching around you without invading your space—feels almost surreal. It’s the kind of quiet moment you’ve imagined in fragments, alone in your apartment, in the early mornings when you’re mind is more imaginative than usual, during work meetings that you should be paying attention to. It’s something you’ve thought of, but never quite dared to believe could be real.

When he sets two mismatched mugs on the counter, a tea bag hanging from the one you mentioned, the steam curls between you both like an offering. You look up at him, your heart stumbling over itself at the softness in his gaze. The darkness beneath his eyes is still as intense as ever, but there’s an undercurrent of care painted over his skin that eases your worry.

For a moment, neither of you speaks, the quiet filled with the whir of the coffee maker as it cools down and the warmth of the tea between your palms. He cuts the cake evenly, sliding the entire treat between you both and presenting two forks of equal size.

The first bite of the cake is far too sweet, the tea doesn’t have the amount of honey that you prefer, but neither of you seems to mind. The world feels impossibly small—just this kitchen, just this quiet, just you and Higuruma.

He presses his forearms on the counter, leaning on his elbows and tilting his head to regard you. His dark hair flops over one side, wild and ruffling and itching for you to touch. His curved nose only enhances his features to create a devastating concoction of tired beauty.

“You really brought all this just for yourself?” he presses, voice soft but laced with that quiet amusement you’ve come to expect. There’s no judgment in it, just a curiosity—an invitation for honesty that he already knows if you’re brave enough to give it.

You shrug. “I imagined you had the expertise to solve this kind of question on your own.”

Higuruma snorts, stabbing a corner of his side of the cake. “Uh-huh.”

“Don’t ‘uh-huh’ me,” you playfully hiss, pointing your icing-covered fork in his direction like an accusation.

He takes a slow sip of his coffee, unflinching despite the heat, his eyes locked on yours in a silent battle that you’re definitely losing. The cup clinks onto the counter, cutting through the silence.

“You like me.”

Several things happen at once.

Internally, you’re panicking, heart picking up in speed, stomach coiling with nervous heat, mind screaming at you to abandon ship like a giggling school girl.

Externally, you narrow your eyes, feigning indifference with all the composure you can muster. “Or, I just thought someone could use a little Christmas.”

If he believes you, you can’t tell. That level of apathy you can read has only taken you so far, and without the experience of working with him, there’s no way you can pick apart the mask of a lawyer who has the answer but doesn’t want to give it away.

But slowly, his brow lifts, something in his expression shifting—warmer, softer. “Someone?”

Your fingers tighten around your mug, the ceramic almost too hot to hold. You bring it to your mouth, stalling with a long sip as your chest tightens, and somehow manage a small shrug. “Yeah. Someone.”

He hums, contemplative, accepting even as he forks a piece of cake and presents it to you like a silent toast. “Well, if I were this someone—which clearly I’m not,” he drones, smirking at your rolling eyes, “then I would say thank you for bringing it to me. And Merry Christmas.”

The silence that follows isn’t empty. It’s full of something unspoken, something that hums in the space between you like an unsung melody. You hold your fork aloft, mirroring his gesture, and lightly tap the prongs against his.

“Merry Christmas, Hiromi.”

Outside, the city glows with the soft pulse of winter as Christmas draws to a close, but here, in the warmth of his kitchen, the world feels impossibly still. Just this quiet, just this moment, just you and him.

Time moves differently again.

Too fast, yes, but now when you’re falling for someone in fragments—in elevator rides with your shoulders pressed together, in text conversations that stretch into dawn, in the way Higuruma’s tired eyes seem to hold more light when they find yours. Another year passes like this, in moments you collect like precious things.

Your apartment feels unusually warm, the faint scent of pine mingling with cinnamon from the candle flickering on the coffee table. Your Christmas tree stands in the corner, a decent height with artificial branches fluffed to their best shape, the entire ensemble still missing the final touch—the ornaments scattered on the table beside two mugs of tea.

You glance at the clock nervously, dusting imaginary lint off your sweater. He’s late, not by much, but enough for you to wonder if he’s had second thoughts. You know you shouldn’t entertain it. Higuruma is more than able to text you should anything come up. But still—

There’s a knock—firm and stead, unmistakably him and your heart drops to your stomach. He’s there, of course, when you open the door—suit jacket gone, dark hair messy from running his fingers through it, tie crooked and loose. His dark eyes meet yours, and the weight of them is both comforting and disarming.

“Please tell me you didn’t put it all together without me?”

You roll your eyes, letting him inside and silently swallowing the hint of tobacco that wafts from him. “Saved the best for last.”

It doesn’t take long for you both to fall into a rhythm. The ornaments vary—some old and sentimental, others newer and playful. He’s careful with each one, furrowing with that harsh concentration as he places each bauble on a branch that seems to hold significance. You both work efficiently, a hum of Christmas music filtering through the air, the warmth from the fireplace warming your toes. When you catch a glimpse of him on the other side of the tree, your mind wanders.

You know him better now. Know that he likes his coffee with two scoops of sugar (and a dash of cream when he thinks no one’s watching), how his voice sounds rough with exhaustion after long cases, how he hates when his hair touches the tips of his ears, how his usual detachment melts into something softer when it’s just you two.

“Before you…I hadn’t had a Christmas tree since law school,” Higuruma muses wistfully.

You glance at him, admiring how the firelight softens the perpetual exhaustion in his features—the glow illuminates his face so you can trace his aquiline nose, the slight darkness beneath his eyes, the length of his dark eyelashes that blink slowly.

“Not even those years you won bigger cases? Feels like that’s worthy of time off to enjoy the holidays.”

“Especially not then.” He picks up a small ornament, rolling the metal hook between his fingers. “Never seemed important enough to take the time.”

You busy yourself with pinching the flimsy metal hook of a larger ornament, trying to ignore the resignation you saw in his eyes often during those late nights when he opened up to you. Another victory only meant more time to take on another case, another person with the system automatically turned against them in need of his help. Even with the knowledge, there’s something that still twists in your stomach. Spending every Christmas like this—hunched over a desk, buried in work, alone.

You hold an ornament for him—a tiny racing car from your third year of life— wiggling it like a wad of cash before he rolls his eyes and snatches it playfully from your hands. The tree slowly begins to take shape, lopsided and shedding plastic pine needs, but still beautiful in its imperfection. As you both begin to hang the smaller ornaments one by one, you ask,

“So…before you decided to take on the world, what kind of trees did you have growing up?”

Higuruma pauses, a faded blue bulb hanging from lightly tanned fingertips. For a moment, his gaze drifts, his already solemn expression dipping fractionally, and you wonder if you’ve pushed too far. But then he speaks, his voice softer than before.

“Real ones,” he mutters. “Tall ones that shed pine needles all over the floor and made the house smell like a forest.” He places the ornament on a branch near the top, bending the thin metal hook to secure it. “My mother used to insist on decorating it all herself, though. She had this thing about symmetry.” A small, nostalgic smile tugs at his lips. “I think I preferred watching her more than actually helping.”

You smile softly, picturing a younger Higuruma sitting cross-legged on the floor, hair probably shorter, eyes smooth around the edges and free of sleep deprivation, observing with quiet curiosity. “What about you?”

“Depends on the year,” you shrug, holding up a Spongebob ornament and inspecting its slightly chipped edge. “Some years, we had fake ones like this. Other years, my family would drag a real one home and spend the next six months vacuuming pine needles.”

His chuckle is low and warm, seeming to drift across the room, wrapping around the tree to warm your skin. For a moment, the air between you feels lighter, more familiar.

The tree glimmers by the time you’re done, a haphazard mix of ornaments and lights that somehow works. As he helps you pack up the empty boxes, Higuruma pulls something from the depths of one—a sprig of artificial mistletoe.

You freeze, hair standing on end as he holds it aloft, an eyebrow quirking in amusement. “Were you planning on using this?”

“Not intentionally,” you murmur, rushing to him and reaching to snatch it from his hands before he tilts it away and dangles it above your heads. The sight of where it is, the implication of what it means, makes your throat dry up quickly.

“Isn’t it a tradition?

“It’s cheesy,” you try to reach for it again and sigh when he raises it higher. “And for someone who hardly pays attention to the holidays, why do you suddenly want to follow tradition now?”

Higuruma grins, and the look of it, the way it makes him seem so much younger and filled with mischief, only makes heat spring to life in your belly. Unwarranted and quickly flaming out of control.

“Because for the past three years, you’ve made sure I follow at least some kind of tradition. You want to try this one too?”

You open your mouth to retort, to tell him that you don’t want to kiss him, and spend the next few nights crying because he doesn’t feel the same way. You don’t want to finally put yourself out there and then be so miserably crushed that you’ll probably find a way to break your lease.

But the words dissolve on your tongue when his free hand cups your jaw, his touch warm and grounding with the faint littering of callus. The space between you shortens, the air thin so quickly you can barely breathe, his lips brushing yours so lightly it’s almost asking the question again.

And because you don’t know if you can wait another year to be in this position again, you close the gap. Your hands twist into the front of his shirt as you pull him closer, deepening the kiss, the weight of three years fizzling into nothing as he wraps his arms around your lower back, the mistletoe dropping to the floor.

It’s not enough for your brain to process before you break apart, both of you breathing heavily, his forehead resting against yours.

“Good?” you exhale, the word trembling on your lips.

Those down-turned eyes study you, taking in the curve of your eyebrows, the length of your lashes, and the humps of your lips. He responds by pulling you back into him, his kiss feverish now, mouth pitching against yours until you open with a soft gasp and welcome his tongue.

For as much as he smokes, he barely tastes like tobacco. Your tongue picks up on coffee and spearmint, licking against him and resisting the urge to bite down when the hands on your hips dip past the hem of your shirt, brushing the bare skin of your sides.

When he pulls back again, the sound he makes in his throat feels as if it’s the hardest thing he’s ever done. He presses a kiss to your forehead, your nose, and one cheek. “Is this okay?”

For a moment, you want to be offended by the question. This man, who you’ve wanted for years, is stopping the very thing you want to ask questions. But when your brain puts two and two together, when you realize that, of course, he’s asking for permission, it only makes that heat in your belly curdle.

“Yes,” you breathe against his lips, pulling him into you again. His touch is deliberate yet tender, palms exploring more of your skin and pulling you into him like he can’t get enough. The intensity of the kiss leaves you dizzy, and you barely hold on to his neck long enough for him to hike up your legs and wrap them around your waist.

The journey to your bedroom is hazy. You register when your back brushes against a wall when he stumbles, a sting in your lip when he bites down. By the time you both fall into bed together, the sheets are cold, your skin naked and flush with his and you blink away the arousal enough to take him in. Despite his outward appearance, Hiromi is beautiful. The sinewy muscle that curves a faint impression of abs, firm pectorals, and lean thighs with a thick line of dark hair that collects where he hangs heavy.

He leans down, trailing soft kisses from your lips down the column of your throat, licking the curve of each nipple before taking them in his mouth one by one. You arch into the wet feel of his tongue sliding down your stomach, nipping down your pelvis as he slides large hands under your thighs and throws them over his shoulders. The sight of him there, between your legs, hair mussed and falling in front of his eyes, sends a rush of heat through your body so quickly that you almost choke on a breath.

“You like me,” you can’t help but tease, exhaling in a fluttering laugh when he snorts and presses a kiss to your inner thigh. It feels as gentle as a promise, flaring in importance as he works his way up, the stubble of his jaw grazing your sensitive skin, leaving a blistering trail of fire in its wake.

“I definitely do.”

Your back, which is already unconsciously arching slowly from the feel of his breath at the apex of your thighs, practically snaps when you finally feel him on you, a cry leaving your throat inhibited. The world seems to narrow on the feel of him, the way his thick tongue moves with unrelenting accuracy, the way his lips press and suck, groaning into your folds when you unleash sounds you didn’t know you were capable of making.

“Hiromi,” you gasp brokenly, your hands tangling in his hair and tugging closer as the tension builds in your core. He hums against you, sucking your clit into his mouth, a vibrating jolt of pleasure shooting through your body. It’s too much and not enough, your breath coming in ragged gasps and pleas as he takes you apart.

When you finally shatter, it’s with his name on your lips, your body shaking wildly as waves of pleasure consume you. Through it all, he doesn’t waver, licking you slowly through the aftershocks, his hands stroking your thighs to work you down.

When he finally pulls away, his lips glistening with your essence and dark eyes fixed on you, there’s an intensity in his expression that steals the breath from your already struggling lungs. He trails wet kisses back up your body, hands picking up what’s missed until his tongue slides back in your mouth again. The taste of you is enough to lick that flame back to life again.

“Still okay?” he asks gently, roughened by desire but laced with unmistakable care that makes your eyes sting.

You nod, your chest still heaving from your orgasm, but the weight of your emotions and the look in his eyes demand words. “Yes. Always, Hiromi.”

Something passes over his features at the sound of his name on your lips, soft and unguarded. He kisses you once more, slow and deliberate, as if he’s savoring you. It’s not just want—it’s need, tethered to something deeper that’s been growing between you for years, but you were always afraid you wouldn’t be as strong on his side.

“I need you to know…this isn’t just tonight for me. It’s not just because that mistletoe was in that box.” He swallows, resting his forehead against yours. “I want you…this.”

The words settle between you like the freshly fallen snow that started a few hours ago, soft and weightless but undeniable. For a moment, your chest tightens, a fragile knot of hope loosening into something sure as his gaze searches yours. You cup his jaw, tilting his face so you can look into his eyes through your blurry vision.

“It’s not just tonight for me either.”

The tenderness in his expression melts into something more charged, more finite—lips claiming yours and tip pressing to your entrance before he carefully slides in inch by inch, his eyes never leaving yours until he’s fully seated inside. It’s overwhelming—pleasure and emotion weaving together to make your body tremble beneath him.

It feels like it takes so much time and none at all for momentum to build between you. The heat of his breath, still tinged with your scent, fans across your cheeks as if he’s memorizing the shape of them. His hands dig into your hips and pull your closer to him, curving his cock with a blissful thrust that makes you see stars.

“Perfect,” he whispers, reverent as he kisses up your neck. “So perfect, angel.”

You wrap your arms around his shoulders, nails digging into the meat, yanking him impossibly closer as your throat pitches moan after moan into the hot air of your apartment. Each thrust is slow, deep, and intentional as if he’s trying to show you everything he can’t yet put into words. But you can feel the promise in the way his hips smack against yours. In the way he groans against your lips and swallows your pleas for more.

“I’ll do it right next time,” he whispers. “I’ll take a few days off work. Take you to dinner at the izakaya up the block you’ve been talking about.”

“Hiromi—”

“Three years of wanting you, of pretending—” You can’t answer him, can’t really soothe him when his movements are growing desperate when he kisses you in a way that makes you lose yourself even further.

You’ll muster up the energy later for another round, but right now, you’re rushing to the finish line, whimpering against his lips that turns into a debauched moan when his fingers find your clit, rubbing slowly despite the frantic clap of his hips.

You fall over first, you can’t help it. The whisper of your name from his lips is enough to yank you over with an embarrassed keen. He follows not long after. It’s not just pleasure—it’s the unraveling of three holidays spent balancing on the edge of this moment. Every rooftop conversation under snow cloud-covered skies, every flicker of shared warmth over tea, every stolen glance and whispered joke—all of it spills out now. It’s every lonely Christmas rewritten in the language of him, of this, of now.

He’s holding you through it as your orgasm pulses through you like its own heartbeat but doesn’t let go. In the quiet that follows, you think of that first night—how you brought him hot chocolate and warmth when he thought he needed neither. His lips press soft kisses to your temple, your shoulder, your fingers. His eyes so heavy with the need to sleep but his actions saying everything but.

“Merry Christmas,” he murmurs, his voice filled with something you hope to have a name for in the near future.

You smile, dragging your fingers up and down his back. That unspoken thing finally becomes tangible, a soft tune creating harmony with the Christmas music still playing in your living room.

“Merry Christmas, Hiromi.”

Merry Christmas, @sassypossum!!!

#ncs secret santa #merry ficmas #jjk higuruma #jjk #jujutsu kaisen #higuruma hiromi x reader #jjk hiromi #higuruma #jjk fluff #jjk smut

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star2fishmeg · 2 days ago

Note

Congratulations on getting 1k! 🎉 Can I request FLUFF #13 with Jack Hughes please?

Thank you for requesting <3 - Merry Christmas!

FLUFF #13 "You came." "You called."

📞 dialling…

Nothing could ever go her way. That’s what it felt like, at least. Every Christmas something would go wrong, and she’d be the one left to fix it. If it wasn’t a family feud, it was the cooking or the presents, or somebody got the date wrong and now nobody could fix her problem because she was at the centre of it.

She leant against the marble counter and held her head in her trembling hands, screwing her eyes closed to hold the tears in and listening to the dial tone ring through her kitchen. She needed someone, really needed someone and that was the disadvantage of living alone.

“Hey princess, what’s up?” Jack’s voice called out over the speaker and that was enough for her tears to slip down her cheeks.

“I needed company, is all.” Her voice shook and she wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her hoodie, “Just a bit lonely, right now. Everyone’s travelling and wondered if you were free? If you’re not, it’s fine, I know you and Luke are heading out soon yourselves, I just… I’m sorry, you’re busy.”

“Hey, hey, you’re okay, there’s always time for you. Gimme ten minutes to finish up and I’m all yours. I love you.” He cooed softly and he hung up. And she buried her head in her arms and sobbed until her throat hurt, the apartment so quiet she could hear her own misery echo off the walls and back around to her.

The only thing that snapped her out of her sorrow was the three knocks on her door. At first, she ignored them, but they knocked another three times, and she felt obliged to answer. It was funny how human brains worked like that, you don’t need to open the door, but you do, it’s like an embedded rule of manners people are born with. She loosely turned the handle, sore, red eyes meeting with Jack’s, his smile sinking and his stomach twisting at the tear stains on y/n’s cheeks. Her cold body grew a blooming warmth the second his strong arms wrapped around her, kicking the door shut behind him and hand placed on the back of her head, cradling her to his chest, stroking her hair as she soaked his hoodie.

“You came.” She croaked, pulling away slightly to peer up at him.

He smiled, placing a kiss to her forehead and one hand cupping her cheek, his thumb wiping a tear, “You called. What’s really going on?”

“My family wants to spend Christmas with my aunt in Colorado, but all flights just got cancelled because of the fucking weather and I am not driving across the country.” She sobbed, “Jack, I don’t wanna be alone on Christmas, I don’t know what to do. They’re all asking me to just drive but I can’t do that, I don’t have that kind of gas money either.”

She buried her face in his chest, letting his hands gently sooth over her back and waist as he swayed them from side to side, murmuring sweet nothings into her ear. His stomach dropped hearing her cry, pained him deeply that she spiralled over something out of her control.

“Why don’t you spend Christmas with me and my family? They won’t mind.” He said softly, peeling her from his body and holding her hands in his.

“Not unannounced and I don’t have presents and-”

“-they love you and have been asking about you. Trust me, it’ll be okay. You’re more than welcome and I would rather spend Christmas with you than know you’re sat here, alone. You have your bags already packed, right?”

“More or less.”

“Then how about it? There’s still time to get presents and I’ll take you anywhere you want when we get there. Think of kissin’ under the mistletoe, we can bake those cookies you love, decorate the tree, ice skating…” Jack snaked his arms around her waist, peppering her face with kisses. He had this magic way of reassuring someone effortlessly, perhaps it was because he was an older sibling, used to doing it or maybe it rooted from being so undoubtedly in love with y/n it came naturally.

It didn’t take a lot of consideration before she nodded, a smile breaking across her lips that soon mirrored his, tears drying and the light glowing back in her eyes. Christmas with the Hughes’ didn’t sound all that bad, if Jack had taught her anything, it was that she wasn’t always alone.

"I'd love that, thank you."

#≡megs1kcelly #≡jh86 #jack hughes #jack hughes x reader

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fanficsbysteve · 3 days ago

Text

Jeremy Crow

Note: When I write my BuckTommy stuff, I always draw on my own personal experiences when writing stuff for Tommy. He’s a 40 year old gay man, I’m a 40 year old gay man. His Dad was abusive as shit growing up. My Dad was abusive as shit growing up. So, I feel we could have some very similar stuff happen in our lives. So, I had this thought and figured that in my head this was true. So, enjoy another of my silly little headcanons.

Also available on AO3 if you want to leave Kudos.

***

Tommy took Evan up to his bedroom to get ready for bed, and some other things beforehand but Tommy was not going to push for that. It had been two weeks since they had spoken and realized they were both idiots and decided to try again, just not going at light speed that Evan had been going at. Tommy was going to talk about how things made him feel and wasn’t just ‘trying to keep up’ with Evan’s pace. They were also going to go at Tommy’s pace as well.

Going into the room, Tommy looked at the bed and spotted something sitting in the middle of the bed. Tommy froze. Oh god he had forgotten to put that away. Evan went past Tommy into the room and his eyes also fell onto the bed, “Oh what’s that?” he asked, looking at the bed as well.

Sitting in the middle of the pillows was a stuffed crow. It looked like it had seen better days, its better days being three decades ago. The black fuzz that had been its torso had all but worn away, the paint on its eyes had been rubbed off and was just the white of the eyes now. The only part that seemed to have withstood the test of time was the beak of the crow, “Um…” Tommy started, “That would be Jeremy. Jeremy Crow.”

Tommy looked at the crow sitting on his bed, named after a character from a movie he had watched as a child. He had gotten it when he was around five years old and had been sleeping with him every night since. There was something comforting about having Jeremy with him. He slept better. Tommy sometimes thought that Jeremy kept the bad dreams away. He never had them when he had Jeremy in his arms. He had been trying to hide Jeremy away, not wanting Evan to see him because he was scared of what Evan would think about him. A grown man still sleeping with a stuffed animal from his childhood.

Evan did something that shocked Tommy. Something he hadn’t expected. Evan walked over to the bed, got in, motioned for Tommy to join him, and handed Jeremy over to Tommy, “So tell me about Jeremy,” Evan asked as he lie down.

Tommy took Jeremy and held him close, feeling the comfort that Jeremy brought to him, “I’ve had him for years,” Tommy started, “My Mom had seen him at a Garage sale and bought him for me. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up so things like this were rare. My mom did enjoy going to garage sales though. She could always find the most interesting treasures at those,” Tommy went to lay down fully in bed, “She passed away about a year after she gave me Jeremy. It’s the only thing I have left that reminds me of her.”

Evan pulled Tommy into a cuddle. Wrapping his arms around the both of them, “I’m sorry that happened,” Evan said. Tommy had told him about how his mother had died when he was about 6 years old, and how his home life had gone downhill after that as his father had become an alcoholic, “I’m glad you still have something that reminds you of her.”

Tommy let Evan hold him, feeling his warmth, Jeremy tucked in close to his chest, “I might not have it for long anyways,” Tommy said, “You saw what he looked like. He’s seen better days. I think his best days were back when I was a child. Soon he’s just going to fall apart like most things in my life and I’ll lose the last shred of my Mom.”

Tommy felt tears welling up, but he refused to let them fall. He would not cry over this. He would remain strong, “You won’t lose the last shred of your Mom though,” Evan gave Tommy a squeeze, “She lives inside you. And you will always have her memory. Jeremy is a reminder of those memories but he’s just a thing.”

“I know,” Tommy said, “Doesn’t make it less painful that I’ll lose him. Did you know that he’s the reason I don’t have nightmares all the time?”

“You believe that your stuffed crow stops nightmares?” Evan sounded, “But my belief that I was cursed by a dead cowboy was silly?”

“Oh, leave me alone,” Tommy playfully elbowed Evan, “I have my own beliefs just like you. I don’t believe in curses, but I’ve never had a nightmare so long as I have Jeremy with me. You’ve experienced my nightmares.”

Tommy remembered when he was staying over at Evan’s place a few months ago. He felt he had his nightmares under control. He was very wrong. He had been having a flashback to his time in Iraq, he had joined the military and was working as a helicopter pilot, one of those big troop carrier types. They were flying over the desert when out of nowhere, someone fired a missile at them. Tommy saw it coming but not in time and the back of the chopper had been hit. He did everything he could to get them down safely, but they ended up crashing no matter what Tommy did. Six men died on impact. They were nowhere near a city or town. It took them 3 days to find their way back. Tommy had woken up screaming that night. Evan was freaking out about what was happening. He had no idea the PTSD that Tommy was suppressing every day, “I know,” Evan replied, continuing to hold him.

“Lets just get some sleep,” Tommy said. He was exhausted from having to remember so many things he’s been trying so hard to keep down.

***

Tommy was at Evan’s loft, laying in bed, waiting for Evan to finish up in the bathroom. He was ready for bed, laying in just his boxers, nothing else on. He preferred to sleep like this when at Evan’s loft. Evan kept the temperature up higher than Tommy did at his house, so it was always far too warm for him in the loft. Hot air rising and all that. Evan came out of the bathroom, dressed only in his underwear as well, and crawled into bed, “I got you something,” Evan said as he leaned over the bed to grab something from the side. Tommy was confused, “Since you don’t have Jeremy Crow while over here, I wanted you to have something to hold, maybe to keep the dreams at bay,” Evan pulled up a penguin, the size of Jeremy.

Tommy reached out to take it from Evan. He had tears in his eyes. This was the first time someone had actually not mocked him for having Jeremy. The fact that Evan had taken the time to go out, find this penguin, just for Tommy to sleep with so he didn’t wake up screaming, which meant something to Tommy, “Evan,” was all he could manage to get out as his throat constricted as he wanted to cry.

“He doesn’t have a name yet,” Evan replied, “I figured that you would want to name him yourself. I don’t know any good penguin movies besides Happy Feet. So, I will leave naming him to you,” Evan continued, “And if he works, would you allow me to take Jeremy to someone I found? After you showed me Jeremy, I started falling down a research hole.”

Tommy was just staring at the penguin while Evan spoke, barely hearing what he was saying. Tommy at this moment knew that Evan was the one. The one to spend the rest of his life with. He just didn’t know how to broach the subject now. They had only been back together for three weeks, “Sorry what?”

“I was asking if I could take Jeremy to a repair shop I found online,” Evan repeated. Tommy leaned into Evan, just staring at this new penguin, “He’s got a great online presence, lots of five star reviews on Google. I figured we could make Jeremy last awhile longer if we took him in for some repairs.”

Tommy nodded his head absently at that, “Sounds good,” He said.

“You seem a little out of it,” Evan asked, “Something wrong?”

“Not really,” Tommy replied, “I’ve never had someone care about me so much. Usually, it was open mockery if anyone actually saw Jeremy. You are the first person who actually cared about me enough to not only not mock me about my crow that I sleep with, but you went out of your way to get something so that I could sleep well at your place as well.”

“Well, you are important to me,” Evan said, “I wouldn’t have blurted out about moving in together all those months ago if I didn’t mean it. I want you to feel like you are at home here as well until the day we do decide to take the next steps.”

Now it was Tommy’s turn to blurt things out. He shouldn’t have but he couldn’t help himself. He felt so complete now with Evan, knowing about his nightmares, how to help with them, “I love you,” Tommy said turning his head to face Evan, “I love you more than anything in this world. You are the first person who has ever taken the time to understand me. I want you to be my last.”

Tommy watched as Evan was taken aback by his statement for a brief second, “I didn’t expect that,” a smile broke out over Evan’s face, “I love you too you fool. I figured that out months ago when I asked you to move in.”

“We both agreed we were idiots,” Tommy said as he brought the penguin in for a tight hug. He felt similar to Jeremy, but softer, “But yes you can take Jeremy in for repairs, but only because I have Hubie here.”

“Hubie?” Evan asked about the name.

Tommy smiled, “Yes Hubie. I’m a child of the 80’s and 90’s. I watched a lot of Don Bluth movies. There was one about penguins and the main character is named Hubie. So, it fits.”

“You’ll have to show me the movies that you get your names from one of these days,” Evan said, “But now lets get some sleep. It’s been a long day.”

Tommy turned on his side, letting Evan take the Big Spoon position, holding Hubie close. A content sigh left his body as he felt this soft penguin in his arms, and Evan’s arms pulling him close. This was the perfect ending to a wonderful day.

***

Note: So yeah, I admit that I still have stuffed animals. I have the stuffed Mickey Mouse I had since I as a child still in my bedroom. I also have a stuffed Penguin I sleep with named Mr. Pickles. Just something I need to sleep. If I don’t have one of them, I can’t sleep well. And yes, I am actually a 40 year old man who sleeps with a stuffed penguin. Hate all you want but you won’t change me. For the record, Jeremy Crow came from The Secret of NIMH, and Hubie the Penguin is from The Pebble and the Penguin. Both Don Bluth movies.

#bucktommy #buck x tommy #tevan #tommy kinard #evan buckley #cute fluff fic

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galaxyedging · 3 days ago

Text

This is for the Pedrostories Secret Santa Event.

For the lovely @baronessvonglitter

WC: 5.15k

Warnings: Smut. I don't want to give anything away, so proceed with caution.

Summary: The promotion to VP comes with a clause. Will a year in a small town change our readers' plans?

Featuring Joel Miller and Dave York

Christmas In Paris

“Honeymire, as its name suggests, used to be too waterlogged to expand on when the land was settled.” The opening that sounded great in your head doesn't feel right as you say it out loud. “Now that our surveys show that this is no longer the case, we're hoping to bring new life to the town.”

The rest of the presentation runs smoothly. All the data is there. It all points to a great investment opportunity, with high returns. Still, you can see the investors are on the fence. It's been a while since you'd pitched anything in such a rural location. Maybe it was time to switch things up.

“Look, I have to be honest, this goes beyond great projected profits for me.” Like a guarantee of becoming VP of Sales with a huge raise. “I grew up in a town like this. The memories of being part of a community and something bigger than myself helped me get where I am today.” Everyone knowing my business and thinking they had a right to talk about it drove me to the city. “This isn't just an opportunity to make money, it's an opportunity to make a community whole again, to bring new life to the area and give others a fresh start to theirs somewhere they can call home.”

The investors loved the talk of home and community.

Unfortunately, a little too much you think as you open the curtains in the place that had become your home for the last year. The investors handed over way more cash than the company had been expecting, and that figure had been staggeringly high. Your boss had offered you the promotion the next day but with a caveat, you were to move to the town to oversee everything personally. Once the project was finished, you would be welcomed back with a raise, enough to buy that penthouse apartment you'd been eyeing. Your whole future runs through your mind as you get ready for your day until you are abruptly jarred out of them by a grumpy yowl.

“Seriously? You're giving me attitude? You're not even my cat, you little freeloader.” You grumble at the little ball of mixed fur sitting haughtily in the middle of your kitchen floor. Still, you opened a tin of tuna and placed it in the bowl you bought just for her and refreshed her water bowl. “I'm seeing Joel today. I'm going to have him nail that cat flap shut.” You idly threaten as the ginger and black mottled creature eyes you. “Don't look at me like that. He's just a contractor I work with.” You project onto your four-legged companion. Although even the cat could see that things had changed between you and Joel lately.

Joel Miller had come highly recommended when you were looking for contractors in the area. After his daughters moved out for college, he downsized his business and moved north to be closer to them. He'd settled in the same town as his brother to spend time with his family, including his young nephews. You knew quite a bit about Joel. Divorced single father at a young age. He adopted one of his daughter Sarah's friends when her mom passed away. With his brother Tommy's help and sometimes hindrance, as Joel tells it, he built a great business. Aside from his daughters, Tommy was Joel's only close family left. His parents passed away in a car accident when Tommy was in junior high. Joel had pretty much finished raising Tommy and then started raising his own daughter. Joel was easy to talk to while you planned the finer details of the project. Sometimes well into the night, as you got sidetracked by enjoying each other's company. Joel no longer felt like an employee. He felt like something more, a friend or maybe…that potential spiral into no good thoughts is cut off by a heavy knock at your door.

Once your eyes adjust to the figure in front of you backlit by the morning sun on last night's fresh snow, you take in the well-dressed, broad shouldered man in front of you. He makes no secret of doing the same, removing his sunglasses to let his eyes travel your whole body. When his eyes finally reach yours, he speaks “Sorry to disturb you. I got here early, and the man at the gas station said to just knock here. I'm Dave, Dave York.”

“Oh, Mr York! Hi. Er, I wasn't expecting you….” You suddenly feel flustered. Maybe due to the abrupt arrival of your client or due to the fact that he is even hotter than his voice led you to imagine he was.

“I know, and please, Dave. I just woke up and decided to make the drive early. I figured I could get breakfast here and wait, but the guy assured me that you wouldn't mind me knocking.” Dave told you in earnest.

I bet he didn't. Gus was married to the owner of the diner. The two of them were the biggest busybodies in town. They both had plenty to say about a single woman in her forties.

“It's absolutely fine. I just haven't long been up. I haven't had my coffee yet, so doing business is a shock to the system.” You put on your brightest smile to put Dave at ease.

“Well, in that case, the least I can do is get you coffee. I was going to the diner anyway, maybe you can escort me?”

A cup of coffee had sounded innocent enough. Then Reba, Gus’ wife and fellow busybody, had gotten involved, and the next thing you know, you and Dave were eating breakfast together and chatting the morning away. You had to admit that even without Reba’s help, Dave was smooth and confident enough to keep you here. The attraction between the two of you was obvious. Dave flirted openly, though he managed to keep it subtle and classy. There was an air of mystery about him. Even beyond his CIA work, there was a cool reservedness under his charming facade. There was an intensity there, too. Sadly, there were not many men who you could imagine as your equal or, in this case superior, but you could easily imagine Dave dominating you…the third interruption to your thoughts of the day comes courtesy of Joel clearing his throat.

“Sorry to interrupt. I just didn't want to miss our meeting.” Joel lays on the southern charm as he introduces himself to Dave.

It doesn't take an ex-CIA agent to see it's stretched over an underbed of annoyance. Dave acts just as politely, even with the obvious tension in the air, as he gives Joel his own name and his hand.

After what feels like forever, it's your turn to speak. “My apologies to you both. Dave, it was lovely to meet you. You have your keys. Take your time to inspect the property and get back to me with any issues. I have a meeting with Joel, our very competent contractor, who can handle any last-minute requests for your home. Breakfast is on me, well, the company. Enjoy. Joel, let's head over to the office.” Without looking as you make your way to the door seeking the air that had been sucked out of the room, you can tell Dave and Joel take a moment to eye each other.

When Joel finally catches up to you outside, you offer him another apology.

“Don't worry about it. You were obviously busy entertaining your client.” The set of his jaw as he speaks makes you think about punching him in it.

Joel is an extremely handsome man, even with being at home in the same neutral toned flannel every day, you could see him being able to pull off a variety of colours, unfortunately for him envy green didn't suit. The short meeting was conducted in even shorter exchanges. There were no pleasantries or antidotes. No lingering after business was done just to shoot the shit.

It was barely noon when you got home, but you decided to take a long soak in the tub, hoping to wash away the discomfort of the morning. The bath worked to a certain extent. After some time relaxing on your own, you decide that whatever issue Joel had was on him, and Dave was free to handle it however he liked. Tying your robe at the waist, you watch the last of the bubbles drain and give the claw foot tub a quick rinse. The thought of a hot cup of tea and a book in your cosy chair leads you downstairs without even dressing. The water is simmering when you hear a rap on the kitchen window. You know who it is before you open the door.

“Joel.” You open curtly.

“Listen, I'm not too good with words, but I wanted to say sorry for this morning. I...damn it…I guess I got jealous when I saw you with another man. Lately, I've been thinking that maybe when the job is over, you would let me take you out on a date.” For a big man, Joel seems awfully small while he gets that all out. Adorably so. Part of you wants to kiss the little patch in his beard.

“You did alright with your words, Joel. Apology accepted. As for the date, you're right. I would have let you take me on one, but you know as soon as I'm done here, I'm going home. I have to admit this small town living was pretty nice for a while, but I have a career to get back to.” It was your turn to feel small, a career, and not much else.

“I'm from Texas. We drive hours for a football game. A few hours drive for a date with a beautiful woman is nothing.” The way Joel softens for you makes you melt.

All too quickly, you are aware of how close his broad chest is and how naked you are under your thin robe. Those large skilled hands could be on your bare skin in moments. The air shifts between you, throwing out more heat than the roaring fire in your living room. The times you've imagined Joel taking you in front of that thing on your lonely nights here was enough to make a sinner blush. As if you had slipped into a cartoon, the stream whistle blows on your kettle.

“I better…” You pull yourself away from Joel.

Not having those intense brown eyes looking down at you helps to clear your head. “That's really sweet, Joel. Maybe at another time, I would have jumped at the idea, but I'm going to have so much work to do. I have to get familiar with all of our clients, not just the ones I've handled. I need to research new investors and companies to work with. It's just going to be a lot, and I don't want to lead you on.” As if on autopilot, you pour the water over the tea bag, and it becomes the most fascinating thing in the room as you can't lift your face from it for fear of Joel seeing through you. It's not work that is keeping you from accepting his offer. It's fear. Fear of heartbreak, fear of something between you derailing your future plans, fear of so many unknowns.

“I know when to take no for an answer, but if you change your mind, I get good mileage out of my truck, and I keep the tank full.” You can picture the smirk on his face from his voice.

It breaks through enough to make you turn to him. Sure enough, he has that smirk that breaks into that dopey grin he gets after he makes a dad joke when you smile at him.

“I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for understanding.” It's not on the little bare patch, but you can't resist placing a kiss on his cheek.

The closeness of the two of you as you pull away draws your faces together until your lips meet a soft, tender kiss. When you pull away, there is a wordless exchange between you with eyes full of longing, regret, and understanding.

“I'll see you at work tomorrow.” Joel finally provides trying to make things easier on you.

“See you tomorrow, Joel.” You manage a smile for him before seeing him out.

Your tea, book, and cosy chair are long forgotten in favour of throwing yourself on your bed like some lovesick Disney princess. Instead of birds fluttering around you, self-doubt flies about the space of your room.

The ringing of your phone breaks you out of a slumber that you didn't realise had claimed you. Dave York’s name is on your screen. “Hi, Dave. How are you settling in?”

Half an hour later, you are sitting at Dave’s breakfast bar as he details a few changes he would like. “These are all very doable.”

Instantly, you regret your choice of words when you see Dave’s face. The look on it makes it very clear that he caught your double entendre.”Where are my manners? I have even offered you anything to drink.”

Dave moves around the kitchen like he has lived there for years. Something tells you that Dave would move around any space like he owned it. Including the space between your legs. The touch of Joel's lips on yours and the memory of the heat of his body has you feeling a way as you watch Dave's hands competently open the bottle of wine he retrieved from the cabinet over the fridge.

“Red? Or I have some chilled white?” Dave asks as if wine is the only choice.

“Neither, thank you.” You decline while Dave pours himself a healthy glass.

“Alright. You do seem a little tense. I thought it might help you relax. Is it anything to do with your contractor friend?” Dave's line of questioning has you blinking owlishly at him. “I don't mean to pry. He just seemed a bit put out this morning, with us enjoying each other's company, and you don't usually wear that cologne.” All you can do is sit there stunned. A little angry at the audacity, impressed by his attention to detail, a little relieved that it's out in the open. “Look, I know I just got here, but we've been speaking on the phone for a long time now. The way you handle yourself impressed me. Now I have a face, and body, to go with that I'm even more impressed. I enjoyed our breakfast this morning. I'd like to explore that connection further. If things don't work out with your Cowboy Contractor, you can call me. Or I don't mind keeping you company until they do.” Speechless. Speechless and aroused.

“You know….I think I will have that glass of wine.” No other thoughts enter your head until you have downed at least half a glass of the quality merlot that Dave hands you. “Thank you…for the wine and the interest. I would be interested too. I mean, in you, but I have work…and…and Joel and…I…have to be going to conduct work and…Joel…so goodnight.”

Dave seems amused by your rambling as you make your way to the back door. Smiling broadly, he throws a ‘goodnight’ through the narrow gap in the door before you slam it shut.

Taking to your bed seems like a great option again. Laying there fully dressed, the weight of the day drives you into the mattress. This was not what you needed. Not at this stage in your life or at this time of the year. Tomorrow, you were to help with the Christmas festival and entertain prospective buyers. How were you supposed to be a cheery, innocent Santa's helper when you had thoughts of a different type of ‘ho ho ho’ in your mind?

A quick ‘stress relief’ session, a shower, and a new pair of silky snowflake adored pyjamas have you more in the festive mind before you drift off to sleep.

The next morning is non-stop. Both Dave and Joel crossed your path. Dave exchanged morning pleasantries as he returned from a jog in the light snowfall. You remind him about the festival and how important it is. Joel is helping with the stage, so you managed to avoid any long conversation. Aside from your requests from Dave, to be done in the new year, there really wasn't much you had to say to him. He was only going to be here to set up anyway. Lunchtime rolls around, and your stomach pulls you home from the bustling town square to the leftover soup and remainder of yesterday's fresh bread. The drive to the new development was only a few minutes away. When you get there, you wish that it was longer, so you missed the full-blown display of testosterone on your neighbour’s lawn.

“I told you!” Joel spits.

“What do you want? A fucking medal?” Dave snarls back.

“Hey! What is going on?!” You call as soon as you jump out of your car now parked haphazardly on the street.

Both men visibly calm.

Joel speaks first. “The power is out for the block. Dave decided to hang some Christmas lights.” You can tell it pains him not to add some dig at Dave.

“You said the festival was important. I wanted to do my part.” Dave tries to appeal to your good nature and high standards.

“Which would have been great, I'm sure, if you hadn't overloaded the circuit board.” Joel grits out.

Dave moves first, turning squarely to Joel. Joel doesn't move an inch. He just calmly regards Dave’s stance.

“Enough! You can measure who’s is bigger later. Just fix this. Please.” The two of them morphed from scowling dogs to obedient pups at your words.

“We will.” Joel promises with Dave nodding in agreement.

Thankfully, both your stove and water heater ran off gas, so you are still able to eat and shower before changing into your ridiculous elf costume. White and green striped tights covered your legs, clinging to your curvy thighs. A green and red elf dress and hat made up the rest of the costume, and it was completed with elf ears and sparkly rosy cheek makeup.

At first, when you spot Joel and Dave through your window congratulating each other on getting the power back on, relief floods you. The day was back on track, and they seemed to be getting on well, bonus. Sadly, the relief is short-lived when they see you leave the house. The two of them exchange glances and acquire matching shit eater grins.

“Nope. I don't want to hear it. The power is on. You two aren't butting heads on the lawn. Do not ruin it.” You yell at them while scrambling into your car as quickly as possible before they spoil your mood with any jokes.

The festivities went well. The prospective buyers seemed overjoyed with the place. The current town residents seemed to approve of the applicants. Three new families are bringing eight children between them. The adults include a veterinarian, a teacher, and a nurse. Two well-off, quiet retired couples. The business woman was a no show, but she did travel a lot last minute as she'd told you. Santa proved very popular and you by association. It did warm your heart to hand out candy canes and see the children's happy faces. Best of all, Joel and Dave spent most of the day busy somewhere else and only turned up at the end of the day with some booze laden eggnog courtesy of Reba.

“Wow. That could strip paint.” You comment before taking another healthy gulp.

“Easy. We might have to carry you home.” Joel laughs before taking a cautious sip from his own cup.

“Please. I can handle my booze.” You scoff.

Dave raised his eyebrows in approval before raising his cup. “I'll drink to that.”

A few paint-stripped nogs later, the three of you amble home. You are in the middle flanked by your burly protectors.

“You two seem to be getting on better, or is it just the alcohol?” The alcohol has certainly loosened you up. There was no way you would poke the bear like that sober.

“We talked while we worked on the electricity.” Dave begins to explain.

“I don't think she needs all the details.” Joel tries to laugh the whole thing off. Dave doesn't take any notice as he carries on. “You and Joel clearly have a thing, and he was here first, so I'm not going to muscle in on his territory. We've good.”

Joel lets out a quiet ‘goddammit’ as you come to an abrupt stop. “Oh? We've good are we? You two have decided that? You have decided that Joel can lay claim to me since he's planted his flag?!”

“Really? I just thought you kissed.” Dave quips.

Joel looks like he wants to take a swing at the other man.

“So you two have decided who I want? Well, the joke is on you. I want you both.” Wow, the alcohol has just removed your filter completely. “I don't have time for relationships or dating, but it's been a lonely year here, and I want sex and if you two think you can just choose for me, then I can choose you both.”

The indignant tone in your voice is undercut by the bell on your hat tinkling as you fold your arms across your chest.

Dave stalks towards you like a creature in the night. “When you say both, do you mean at the same time? I mean, I'm game. I don't know about, Tex, here.”

The light brush of his fingers across your cheek makes you tremble. The touch adds weight to his words. That's all this is right now, words. They could just walk about, and nothing would come of it. Then Joel moves, too. With complete purpose, straight at you. The kiss he gives you now is nowhere near as chaste as the last one. It's a burning brand of his desire on you. It leaves no doubt of Joel's intentions towards you. When it ends for a moment, you understand what people mean when they say the earth moved. Until you realised Dave had swept you up in his arms. For a second, that little insecure voice worried about him carrying your extra pounds, but it was left in the metaphorical dust as Dave carried you easily through the snow to your door.

With shaking fingers, you try to retrieve the keys from your tiny green felt pouch. When you can't, Dave shoves the purse at Joel, who quickly opens the door while Dave gets his first kiss with you. It's a precision assault with his tongue. He knows just the right amount to use to have you breathless.

The two muscular men block your doorway for a moment when you pull them both in at the same time. Following your lead and using the momentum, the two of them press you into the wall opposite. Dave’s thigh presses between your legs as the two of them kiss your neck. Joel's work hardened hand is gentle as it cups your breasts in turn, thumbing each nipple as he goes. The arousal the action brings jerks your hips into Dave’s tensed thigh.

“You're needy, huh?” Dave teases with his words, and then his hands as he cups your mound. His fingers are spread just so to tease without giving you friction where you need it most.

“Please.” You whisper against Joel's lips as he kisses you once more.

Joel doesn't tease. His thick fingers hitch your skirt up and dive below the waistband of your tights and panties. The first sweep of his fingertips where you need him has your toes curling in your little elf shoes.

“So we're just diving straight in?” Dave shrugs as he drops to his knees.

His moves are no longer light, but they are just as calculated. Ripping the gusset out of your festive tights, he pulls your panties to the side and fills you with two thick digits. A quick come hither motion makes your knees buckle, and Joel pins you up with his hip. With you nestled into his side, Joel takes full advantage of exclusive access to your lips. These kisses are less urgent. He delicately gets to know what you like. Just as he does with his movements on your clit. He follows every whimper and moan changing his pace and pressure to suit. Dave on the other hand has found the spot he's looking for and is relentlessly pumping his fingers in and out. The noise is obscene in your picturesque little hallway. The cusses that spill from your lips as you come around Dave’s fingers are even worse.

“With a mouth like that, you're definitely on the naughty list.” Joel grins, his eyes full of adoration. They darken for a second before he whispers in your ear. “You need your mouth washed out.”

“I hear Paris is lovely this time of year.” Dave chimes in, in between licking your release off of his fingers.

With a plan in mind, the three of you end up in your bedroom. Clothes had all been shed on the way. Some you'd pulled off yourselves. Some had been torn off by others. Somehow, you had ended up on the bed looking up at the two beautifully naked men. Joel was broad and thick with a dark trail of curls leading down to his long, girthy cock. Dave was more lean but no less muscular. His hair was neatly trimmed around the base of his longer, thinner, curved cock.

After you take your time to appreciate them, you reach for them. They lay on either side of you. Their hands run over every inch of your plush flesh. As they kiss, lick and nibble their way over every curve until you are dizzy with need.

Eventually, Joel's hand skims between your legs.

“Fuck.” He breathes, returning his hand there to feel the wetness pooling.

Dave doesn't need any more feedback. He has you ready on your knees before you know it. His cock waiting at your entrance for any signal that you have changed your mind. The only signal you give him is sliding back down his length. You expect some smartass remark, all he gives you is a long moan as he fully bottoms out. You think you might get a softer side of Dave, until he starts thrusting hard and deep. He is so relentless that when Joel brings his weeping tip to your lips you don't even have to think about your movements, your lips just part around him and the movement of your whole body has your head bobbing around him. Only when his thick head nudges your throat do you think to bring your hand, lips, and tongue into play if only to allow you to breathe if nothing else. Dave’s balls slap against you violently as you cup Joel's gently kneading them. Joel whines at the act and threads his hand into your hair. It's more of a caring gesture than a dominant one. His thumb caresses the side of your head. Dave’s thrusts are maddeningly accurate. The pleasure is building rapidly. You don't know how much strength you'll have left once your orgasm hits. You can already tell it will be all consuming and leave you boneless. Desperately, you work Joel harder with your hand. It glides up and down his girth with ease from all the drool they have forced from you. Sucking him into your throat, you trace the thick vein of his shaft with your tongue. Your moans escalate and come out muffled. Dave grunts are pure filth as he nears his climax. Joel leaves you perplexed when he pulls his cock out.

“Let me hear you, sweetheart.” He pants as he starts fucking his own fist. “Is Dave making you feel good? Is he working my pussy right?”

“Yes. Yes. Yes. Oh, god.” You grip the sheets beneath you hovering on the edge of oblivion.

“Fuck. You know he's just getting a taste, right? That that little cunt is mine afterwards?” The groan that comes from Joel's chest makes you clamp down around Dave.

“Oh, shit. She likes that. Fuck. Fuck.” Dave's movements speed up clearly on the edge of spilling into you.

“Yeah? You like me talking about how that cunt is mine? Be a good girl and milk his cock for all it's worth.” Your body listens to Joel before you even process his words.

“Fuuuuck. Ugh.” Dave gasps as he fills you with rope after rope of his cum. He carries on thrusting until he's soft, driving his seed deep.

“Tongue out.” Joel groans.

You react just in time to catch the second spurt across your face.

“Oh. Ohh.” Joel's hand keeps fisting his cock until he is thoroughly wrung out. His cum covers your cheeks and chin.

As post orgasm clarity sets in, Joel silently hands you his shirt to clean up while Dave wanders off to find his clothes.

The Christmas festival in Honeymire seems like a lifetime ago. In reality, it has only been a year. The cosy chair that once looked out over the town now looks out over the skyline of the city. The view that your promotion bought you in your dream penthouse apartment. Everything had gone to plan. With maybe a couple of exceptions.

“Hey, Mama, we're home.” The familiar voice of your boyfriend calls from the front door while he kicks off his shoes.

“Hi, was my baby good? Were you a good girl?” You coo as you pick the carrier up to check on the furry occupier while she can't sculk away from your affection.

“She was great. The new vet gave her a clean bill of health. I had a hard time explaining why she's called ‘Freeloader’.” Joel kisses your cheek after hanging up his jacket.

“She eats my food, growls at me and has a weird way of showing her affection. What else would I call her?” You shrug.

“In my experience? Ellie.” Joel snorts.

You muse as you let your furry dependant loose. “They do have the same ‘cross me and I'll cut you’ vibe. Even if they are both adorable with it.”

Joel smiles broadly at the thought of the challenging teen who managed to get into environmental law. “Yeah. I'm just glad she's channeling that energy into saving the world.”

The prideful look on Joel's face makes you love him even more. You can't help but cuddle into him. “Speaking of, when are the girls leaving Tommy's after Christmas?”

Joel thinks for a moment. “The 29th. Why?”

Laying your head on his shoulder, you nonchalantly reply. “Nothing. Just Dave texted and asked if we wanted to spend New Year's in Paris.”

#pedrostories #pedrostoriesgift24 #secret santa #joel miller #dave york #smut

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erosjournal · 2 days ago

Text

☆ it's the most wonderful time of the year !

~ leo valdez x jason grace (minor piper mclean x reyna avila ramirez-arellano, and other ships)

~ synopsis : leo really loves christmas , yet jason never really got the chance to celebrate . leo hopes to make this the best first christmas for his boyfriend.

~ tw(s) : none ! just a little mix of angst and fluff !

~ posts that clear stuff up : traveling back and forth , two homes , deleted scene

It was December 1st, the crisp holiday air filled New Rome. Jason had invited Leo over for a walk to get some coffee (hot cocoa for Leo) and just talk. They'd been dating for 4 months and Leo wouldn't have it any other way.

"Jase, how's it been here in New Rome?" Leo asked, wrapping an arm around Jason's jacketed arm and sipping his cocoa. Jason cleaned his glasses, the steam from his coffee blurring his vision.

"It's been okay," He glanced over to Leo, kissing his hair. "Missed you a lot," Leo snorted, nuzzling into Jason's jacket.

"I've missed you too, Wolfy," He laughed. Jason smiled. Leo being happy was his favorite thing ever, he'd trade anything to see it over and over again. Leo glanced around New Rome. The street was flaking with frost, snow threatening to fall.

"So, Jase, what's Christmas like here? I mean, you've been here, like, your whole life, right?" Leo asked. Jason seemed to hesitate, his lip scar twitching.

"Well..." Leo raised an eyebrow. Jason scratched his neck. "I was never really able to celebrate any holiday here, since I was always busy in Camp Jupiter or off on a quest. Never got a holiday break," He joked, but Leo's smile faltered.

"You never got to take a break during the winter?" He asked quietly. Leo couldn't imagine that. Christmas was his favorite time of year. During Thanksgiving, he would have to spend hours being ridiculed by family. While during Christmas, it would be just him and his mom. She'd use whatever money she made to get him a little something as a gift, and they'd go together to the library to rent a holiday movie. The Santa Clause was always his favorite.

Jason shrugged and stopped walking. Leo frowned.

"Well, that we can't have that." He argued. Jason laughed but Leo kept his upset face on. He was determined for Jason to have the best winter of his life.

The first day, Leo decided to take his boyfriend shopping. He pulled Jason into a nearby shop, close to their apartment, which was decorated inside and out with christmas decor.

"Here, let's get some decorations for the apartment, and some sweaters!" He grinned, noticing a wide collection of cute and ugly christmas sweaters. Jason eyed them uneasily and frowned.

"Why would we waste money on this?" He asked. Leo tsked him and smiled.

"It's a silly mortal tradition, buying ugly sweaters." He taught, looking through them. "Though, some of these are too ugly." He scrunched his nose at a bright green one with glowing red lights and bells. Jason chuckled.

"Well, we bought matching sweaters in October, let's get some holiday themed ones." He helped Leo sift through them and stumbled upon a blue one with a snowman and snowflakes, and a brown one with a red hot cocoa mug. Leo looked over and his eyes widened.

"Let's get those!" He yelped. Jason sighed as Leo pulled them off the rack and dragged him towards the cashier, which on their way there, Leo bought as many christmas lights and other decor he could grab. They bought them and went back outside in the chilly air.

"Okay. Well, I bought the brown one in my size and the blue one in yours," Leo informed, shoving the brown one over his head. Jason rolled his eyes and unzipped his jacket, daintily placing it on the frosty ground before putting his own matching sweater on. Once they were done, Leo insisted on taking a picture on his demigod-safe phone ("I made them originally for emergency contact, but Chiron doesn't need to know...").

Leo looked at it, grinning. He immediately changed it to his lock screen, Jason chuckling at how sweet his boyfriend was. He pulled Leo close and kissed his forehead.

"You're so cute," He teased. Leo rolled his eyes.

"Yeah I know, what's new?"

The next day, Leo took Jason ice skating. Leo was actually decently good, for being a demigod whose powers were literally quite the opposite. Jason wobbled a bit on the ice, very hesitant.

"How are you so good?" He asked nervously, frowning. Leo held Jason's arm as he tried to help him get off the wall. His glasses would fog up and Leo thought he was really cute like that.

"My mom taught me when I was younger. Since she liked ice skating, I learned how to so I could skate with her." Jason nodded, trembling a bit. "Here, hold my hands." Leo adjusted so he was skating backwards and Jason was being pulled forwards. Jason still wobbled on the ice, but got the hang of it after a bit. With Leo's guidance, he was able to glide (hesitantly) along the rink by himself.

"Whoo! Look at you, Grace!" Leo teased, watching as Jason pushed along the rink... then fell. Leo broke into laughter before going over and helping him up.

"Don't ever say a WORD about this again, Valdez." Jason flushed, frowning. Leo just doubled over, laughing harder.

A few days later, Leo and Jason were in their apartment in New Rome. They had decided to start decorating for the holidays. Jason helped Leo reach the higher spots on the walls to stick up tinsel and the paper snowflakes they'd cut. Leo was wearing Jason's blue sweater and Jason was wearing Leo's tank top. There were little nicked fire markings on it.

"Hey, Jase," Leo said, his tongue sticking out as he reached on his tip toes. "Can you help stick this up?" He turned and Jason was sorting through a box of other decor. He looked up.

"Hmm? Sure," He walked over and started to take the item out of Leo's hand, who shook his head.

"No, no. Can you pick me up?" He asked, grinning ear to ear. Jason sighed, blushing, but complied. He wrapped his arms around Leo's waist and picked him up, their feet hovering. Leo giggled. "Okay, up higher." Leo commanded. Jason just did as he was told, moving up and down, left and right, wherever Leo asked him to.

When they were finally done, they sat on the couch, looking at the walls covered in decor. Leo smiled, laying against Jason's chest. They'd turn on the fireplace, which was crackling softly in the background.

"We did a pretty good job, Jase." He sighed into the thin cloth of his shirt. Jason smiled and ruffled Leo's hair.

"Yes we did." He responded, smiling. He placed a kiss in Leo's hair as the sun started to set.

"JASE! DON'T FORGET TO PUT ON A JACKET!" Leo yelled from the door, wearing overalls and a sweater. He probably should've worn something more, but the cold hadn't gotten to him yet. He shoved on his work boots, which were also snow/water repellent, and stepped outside. It was chilly, but not enough for Leo to need some more warmth. Jason was good at that too though, a big, cuddly, warm guy.

They were staying at CHB for the time being, since Jason and Leo were going to hang out with Piper and Reyna, along with Percy and others, for the holidays. They'd all been hanging out since the pair had gotten to camp, but Piper had left to visit her dad for a bit.

So now Leo had Jason all to himself again. He took a step on the porch and it left deep, melted prints. Leo looked at it then shrugged, continuing to walk until he got down the stairs and onto the grass. Usually it didn't snow at camp, but Chiron had let the campers enjoy some seasonal weather every now and then. And now that the holidays were right around the corner, the campers had gotten him to let some snow in.

"Uh, Leo?" Leo blinked out of his thoughts about boot prints and turned around. He stifled a laugh. Jason was wearing his sweater, along with a bulky/puffy white jacket, a red scarf, a beanie, and gloves. And some boots. Leo couldn't hold it in longer. He laughed and Jason frowned. "Hey, that's not nice! I'm trying to stay warm!" He argued. Leo walked back over to him and kissed his rosy cheeks.

"Sorry, mon amour, you just--" He broke into a fit of giggles again, Jason's cheeks flushed from the cold and now embarrassment. After Leo calmed down, he walked back inside. He grabbed a much thinner but fleece lined jacket, and took it out to Jason. "Wear this instead, alright?" He shrugged as Jason swapped out the jackets, looking much less restricted in it.

"Thanks," He shrugged sheepishly. Leo smirked.

"I know, I'm the best," He grinned. Before Jason could respond to the comment, his hand was grabbed by Leo's. He started running down the porch, down the stairs, and into the middle of the field of snow. There were a few campers who were playing in it, running around, or taking walks. Then Leo had an idea.

"We should make a snowman!" He exclaimed. Jason cocked his head.

"A what?"

"Snowman! Look," Leo started packing some snow together with his hands, which kept melting. He frowned and it was Jason's turn to laugh.

"Let me try, love," Jason balled up some snow in his hands, and held it up. Leo watched him, mesmerized at how Jason would smooth out each bump, lump, or scruff. It was perfectly round. Leo blinked

"Yeah--Yeah that's good, uh," He blushed, embarrassed that Jason might've noticed him staring at his hands. "Anyways, now we roll it through the snow." Jason complied, rolling the snow ball on the ground. Leo smirked as Jason would be amazed at how much snow the ball collected, becoming larger and larger. Finally, it was about the size of Leo's head.

"Like this?" Jason asked, patting the ball. Leo nodded, his eyes sparkling.

"Yeah! Okay, now we need to make two more--"

"What!?" He exclaimed. Leo rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, we have to make 2 more and then we stack them, like a man made up of snow!" Leo grinned. Jason sighed.

"Leo, I don't think I can make two more, especially bigger ones." Leo pouted. Jason frowned. So Leo fell behind the ball and grabbed a chunk of snow, chucking it at Jason.

"Snowball fight it is then!" He jokingly yelled, Jason ducking the melted snow only by a milisecond. He stood there startled, then his competitive side kicked in.

"Oh, you're on Leo!"

~~~

"What are they doing?" Percy asked, looking out of his cabin, watching Leo and Jason throw snow at each other. Annabeth took a long sip of her tea, sighing. "I thought they were snowball fighting, but Leo's snow is melted and Jason's is... too perfect." Annabeth raised her eyebrows, still sipping her drink.

"They're flirting." Percy looked over at her, looking confused.

"Are you sure?" Percy asked. Annabeth nodded.

"Yeah, they're gay. That's how they do it." She teased, a smirk sneaking on her face.

Leo was sitting in the apartment, wearing Jason's sweater and shorts. He held a cup of cocoa in his hands, which stayed warm since he kept reheating it. He'd lit candles and was now laying on the couch, waiting patiently for his boyfriend to come back home.

Jason had said he was going to pick something up from the stores before heading home, and it was becoming late fast.

Little Festus, or Festie as Leo called him, came bounding into the room. Leo sat up and smiled, scratching him behind the ears.

"Hey boy!" He giggled. Leo had created a smaller body for Festus to live in. He'd connected the mind of Festus and "Festie", so they both had the same memories and thoughts, it was just so he could stay with Jason and Leo in their apartment sometimes. The bigger Festus would usually be asleep in Bunker 9 when this happened.

Festie jumped on the couch, nuzzling Leo. The cold bronze shocked Leo, but he just kept cuddling his dragon while trying to keep the cocoa from spilling. "I hope Jason's safe," He mumbled.

As if on cue, Jason opened the door. His glasses were foggy and his breath was short. He carried a bag that seemed to be filled. He looked at Leo and Festie on the couch, grinning.

"Hey, mon amour!" Jason exclaimed, taking off his snowy shoes. Leo smiled, getting off the couch with Festie bounding at his feet. He walked over to Jason and kissed him.

"Hello Jase," He smiled. He helped him take off his jacket and tried to take a sneak peak into the bag while talking to Jason. "What took you so long? Festie and I were starting to get worried,"

"Oh, don't worry, I got something real special!" He promised. After they finished putting away his snow gear, he held Leo's hand and pulled him to the couch. Leo sat there, waiting impatiently.

"Well," Jason started. "You told me how you and your mom would go to the library to rent movies, so I got some for us," He opened his bag, showing the stack of DVDs sitting inside. Leo raised his eyebrows, pawing through them. Jason watched him nervously. "I just thought it'd be something sweet, you know?" Leo looked up, tears pooling in his eyes.

"Jase, you sap," He leaned in and kissed him tenderly. He sat back, trying not to cry. "You remembered."

"Of course I did. I love you." Jason smiled, pulling a specific movie out of the bag. "And I got The Santa Clause, I know it's your favorite," He blushed. Leo's heart just melted farther. He just stared at it and broke into tears, Jason pulled him into a hug as he cried. Leo felt so loved. Jason remembered the little things about him? That was something he couldn't get around his head.

Once he'd calmed down, Jason went to put the DVD in the player. When he got back to the couch, Leo nuzzled on his chest and Jason pulled a blanket over their laps. Festie jumped besides them and rested on the neighboring couch cushion.

"I love you Jason."

"I love you too, okay Leo?"

Jason inspected the tree, frowning. He was hovering ever so slightly off the ground, the way he did when he was intently focused. Leo watched him and rolled his eyes.

"Jase, I'm sure the tree's fine." He assured his boyfriend. Jason shook his head, still looking it up and down.

"It's just not right! See, this part's missing too many branches, and there's not enough foliage here..." Jason responded, using his hand to puff up parts of the branch. Leo sighed.

"It doesn't have to be perfect, mon amour." He promised. Jason didn't believe him.

"No, it does! If we're going to be doing Christmas the right way, it needs to be perfect." He complained. Leo just gently tugged on Jason's sleeve, causing him to come back to the ground and break his attention away from the tree.

"Jason, listen to me." He said, pulling Jason's head so they were touching their foreheads together. "It's okay. It doesn't have to be perfect, alright? I promise you, I'll love it even if it isn't perfect." Leo muttered between them. Jason closed his eyes, sighing.

"You're right. I'm sorry." Leo shook his head.

"Hey, don't be, okay? I get it, my mom would always have to remind me that I didn't have to get the most perfect thing for her. As long as we both loved it." He kissed Jason's nose. "Do you like the tree? Besides all the imperfections? I think that it makes it more like an actual tree, and not something cookie cutter."

"I mean, I guess. It's kinda pretty like that." Leo nodded. He stood up right and held Jason's chilled hands in his own.

"Yeah, it is. Plus, we can cover the more messy bits with even more ornaments!" Leo exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. Jason sighed a laugh, smiling at his overly excited boyfriend.

"Yeah, you're right. But I think we should keep it uncovered. Reminds us that we don't need to be perfect to be chosen, right?" Leo nodded.

"Yep! Okay, hold on," He dashed off, looking for the owner of the tree farm. "Sir! Sir! Yes! We'd like that one!"

"Oh yes, thank you Mrs. Jackson!" Jason thanked. Leo held his hand, trying to listen in on the conversation over the phone. Jason used his height to his advantage, straining away. "Yes, that sounds great. Again, thank you!" He put the landline down and Leo practically jumped with impatience.

"Jase! What was that about?" He exclaimed, Jason chuckling.

"Calm your horses, love." He kissed his forehead. "Mrs. Jackson and Percy have invited us over to their Christmas family dinners, and the whole Argos 2 crew will be there. Plus Nico and Reyna." He informed Leo and his face glowed with excitement.

"Wait, really! Oh gods! I haven't been at a family dinner in such a long time," He jumped for joy. Jason enjoyed seeing his boyfriend so happy.

"Yup! And it's a potluck, so we have to bring something."

"Don't worry Jase, I got that all figured out! Just change into something... nice but not too fancy." He dashed off then slowly walked back. "Do you think we can bring Festie?"

~~~

Jason and Leo stood nervously at the door of the Jackson residence, both wearing their sweaters and slacks. Jason held the plate of tacos and Leo held Festie's leash. He squeezed the hands they held between them two.

The door opened and the face of Percy Jackson popped out. He was wearing a bright red shirt with Rudolph on it, holding his sister on his hip. "You guys made it!" He grinned. Jason nodded.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." He smiled, squeezing Leo's hand. Leo adjusted his bag, full of mini supplies for Festie, along ear plugs. He and Jason both had their own pair, but he wasn't super concerned since it was a group of 9 kids with neurodivergent tendancies.

"Thank you again, for inviting us," Leo reminded, Percy grinned larger.

"Of course! You guys are welcome here anytime," He opened the door larger so the two (three, if you include Festie) could walk in. It was average size for an apartment, but seemed smaller with the sheer amount of people that were there. Most people were on the couches, talking happily about something. They looked up and greeted the two boys.

Percy lead them towards the table in the kitchen, piled up with food.

"You guys can leave your food here," He said, moving some things to make space. Jason settled it down and they followed Percy back out. Before they even left the kitchen, Piper was up on her feet, jumping to hug them both.

"I've missed you," She cried, squeezing them both extremely tight. Jason couldn't breathe and Leo giggled.

"Me too, Pipes." He mumbled back into her shoulder. After a minute, she finally stood back, looking at the mini dragon. She crouched, petting it's smooth metal.

"Who's this cutie?" Leo looked smug, happy to brag about his child/dragon any day.

"Festie! He's basically a mini Festus with the same chip." He announced, grinning happily. Jason kissed his cheek. He always thought Leo was adorable when he was talking about his creations.

Reyna walked over, holding a glass with something in it (Jason assumed wine at first, then remembered they're 17/18 year old's in America).

"Hey, guys, wanna come join our spot? You guys also should probably get some food," They said, handing a glass to Jason. He eyed it uneasily. "Apple cider with a little bit of nectar," Reyna assured, taking a sip of their own drink. Jason nodded and drank some. It tasted sweet due to the apple juice, and the nectar made it taste all the better. It reminded him of Leo's hot cocoa stained lips.

After a bit of chatting, Leo headed to the kitchen to get him and Jason a plate, while Reyna and Piper took Jason and Festie to the couches. There sat Hazel, Frank, Nico (and Will), Annabeth, Percy, and of course, Reyna and Piper. They all seemed very excited to have everyone together.

Leo came back and Jason rested his head on Leo's shoulder. Leo knew Jason struggled with social interaction sometimes, especially in a huge setting, but he didn't care. He loved his boyfriend and he'd do anything to keep him comfortable. One thing about Leo was that he had anxiety mostly around Percy. Talking to anyone else was either borderline scary or chill, but Percy gave him the most nerves. Specifically because of his blow up after the whole New Rome incident.

Leo did most of the social interaction for them. Jason would occasionally talk to the group, but would go back to enjoying just resting on Leo. After everyone had eaten, they went around sharing stories from their travels and munched on dessert.

"Jason," Leo whispered. Jason looked up.

"Hm?"

"Do you want to have dessert?" Jason saw the rest of the group eating a Christmas log cake. Honestly, Jason had forgotten how exhausting it was to be in a big group like this. And he loved hanging out with them, it was just that sometimes he found it hard. He nuzzled deeper into Leo's neck, shaking his head. Leo nodded.

"Hey guys," He informed the group. "I'm feeling a bit tired, so Jason and I are gonna head off early, is that alright?" The group nodded, saying their goodbyes and the two headed out the door.

Once they got back home, Leo hugged Jason.

"Hey, everything alright?" He asked. Jason nodded, kissing Leo's forehead.

"Just tired. My social battery wasn't ready for all that." Leo nodded. He got that. He kissed Jason back.

"Oh. No problem. Should we cuddle up and watch something? Head to bed?" Jason shook his head.

"How about we make hot cocoa and talk?" Jason offered. Leo smiled, nodding. Jason used to not like hot cocoa that much, but he did after Leo started drinking and making it constantly at their place(s).

"Sure. Go change, I'm gonna boil the milk." Leo moved towards the kitchen and Jason went to his room to change. In their apartment, there were 3 bedrooms. One for Leo, one for Jason, and one for a guest. They usually slept in each other's room, but each had their own just in case they needed some space.

Jason came back in Leo's tank-top and blue pajama pants. He wrapped his arms around Leo as he made the cocoa, which caused him to giggle.

"Jase! You wanna try some?" Leo held up the spoon, which Jason took a sip from. He smiled in approval. Leo poured two mugfuls, with Jason still around his waist, and put whipped cream on his. Jason didn't like whipped cream, but who was Leo to judge?

They sat down on the couch, sipping their drinks. The night was young but neither of them were tired. They enjoyed hanging out with the whole 7, but sometimes it was difficult. It brought back a lot of bad memories along with the good ones. They were fighting for their lives most of the time, anyways.

"I'm sorry I left you to talk for us two," Jason offered. Leo looked surprised. He shook his head.

"No, it's fine! I love talking to people!" He grinned. Jason nodded. Leo had whipped cream on his nose, which Jason wiped off.

They kept talking about their fond memories of their days on the Argos 2, the hardships and the ones that made them laugh.

They talked until the next morning, in which they fell asleep on the couch, cocoa spilled on the floor.

And finally it was Christmas eve. Leo and Piper had forced Jason and Reyna to stay up with them that night, looking for Santa Claus.

"Pipes, he isn't real--" Reyna attempted before Jason shot a hand over their mouth. He squinted.

"Last time I said that, they threatened to put me on the roof for reindeer scouting duty," He whispered. He looked back at Reyna. "Seriously. I'm doing you a favor."

They sighed, peeling Jason's hand off of their mouth, and kept it shut.

Leo and Piper were giggling, thinking they were so sneaky kneeling under the kitchen table. Across from them, Jason and Reyna were sitting behind the couch.

"Does this happen every year?" Jason shrugged at Reyna. They both were going through Christmas activities with their respective partners for the first time.

"Apparently we-- they did this at Wilderness School too." He sighed. Nothing happened for a while, just Leo and Piper going through a sugar crash from being on cocoa and candy canes.

Jason looked at Reyna, putting a finger over his lips. Then he closed his eyes, and snapped. They heard yelping over from Piper and Leo's side, squealing from excitement. Reyna looked over the couch to see what they were so interested in. Snow fell through the chimney, leaving... were those footprints? Reyna rubbed their eyes to make sure they weren't asleep or sleep deprived and hallucinating.

Nope, they were there.

"Jason?" They whispered. He smirked.

"Keeps us from staying up all night." Reyna nodded slowly and sympathetically, not possibly being able to fathom staying up for some fictional housebreaker.

They heard shuffling and giggling, Leo and Piper crawling out from their hiding spot to look at the chimney. The cookies and carrots were gone. All four looked up as footprints were heard on the roof. As always, Piper and Leo tried to rush out to get a glimpse, but never could.

"One day we'll get him," Piper announced, Leo nodding alongside her.

"Yeah! We won't give up!" They high-fived while Jason snicked softly under his breath. Leo and Piper went back to the chimney, observing and plotting for next year. Reyna tapped Jason's shoulder as the two moved to the couch.

"How'd you do it? The cookies and the hoof-prints?" They asked, raising an eyebrow. The snow was something simple Jason could do, but the other aspects confused them. He smirked.

"I had Tempest go and walk on the roof, while I use a little wind to get the treats to go up the chimney. I'll get them tomorrow." He said matter-of-factly. Reyna looked surprised. They couldn't believe how planned out Jason was.

"That's... kinda cool."

"I know right? I told Annabeth and Nico and they both want my help to prank Percy and Will."

"I wanna see that."

"Let's go do it!"

Reyna had wanted to stay with them and open gifts, but had some urgent last minute work to do at Camp Jupiter. So they said their goodbyes.

Leo, Piper, and Jason sat in a circle, gifts in their laps. The tree in Leo and Jason's living space had piles upon piles of gifts, but Piper and Leo had a tradition. They would always opened each other's first, and now Jason joined their bubble.

"Pipes, open mine first!" Leo exclaimed, handing over his gift for her. Piper laughed, sighing.

"Yes, yes, repair boy. I'll do yours first." She took the wrapped box out of his hands. She started peeling the paper back slowly, trying to pull out the anticipation of the gift.

"Hurry!" Leo exclaimed. Jason sighed and rubbed Leo's shoulder.

"Calm down, love," Jason assured. Piper snickered and finally opened the gift. She gasped.

Inside was a glass flower lamp, one which had a steam that could twist and turn to the owner's liking. Leo had been working on it for a while, practicing glass techniques to make it work just right. Even Jason helped, keeping the electricity in the lamp ever going. The petals were a watercolor pink and the bulb a soft yellow center. Piper blinked back tears.

"You remembered..." She whispered. Leo smiled nervously, shrugging.

"Of course. It's not perfect... but," He shouldered her. "You're my best friend. And my sister."

Wilderness School was not for the faint of heart. The place wouldn't let the kids celebrate holidays. The only permitted one was Christmas. This was when all of the kids were excused from classes and were taken to the snow, by bus, to play. That had been Piper's first time seeing snow. Then they'd head back to the school and get "gifts". These usually consisted of minor things, such as a piece of candy, or a stuffed animal. The kids wouldn't dare complain anyways.

When Christmas was just around the corner, the staff had left Leo and Piper on recycling duty. While Leo was sifting through the stack of old newspapers, Piper was sitting on a box reading a catalogue. It was the kind that stores would leave on door steps and kids would circle their favorite items in hopes of getting them for Christmas.

"Leo," Piper said suddenly, causing Leo to look up from his work.

"Hm?"

"Look," Leo stepped over and looked over her shoulder, noticing the beautifully crafted glass flower lamp. It was a pretty shade of pink, something Piper was definitely interested in.

"Wow." He muttered. Piper nodded. She looked up at him.

"When we leave, we should get one!" She announced. Leo smiled fondly.

"We? Pipes, I ain't got that kind of money! Plus, you're the one with the super rich dad," He teased. Piper rolled her eyes.

"Whatever!" She looked back at the lamp. "Just... promise me we'll be friends long enough to buy it?" Leo hesitated. He pressed a kiss on her head.

"Of course." He bit his lip. "When we leave, right?"

"Yeah." She smiled. "When we leave."

After their fond sibling moments, Piper opened her gift from Jason, Chappell Roan CD's, and it was Leo's turn.

"Shit, I should've gotten you something better," Piper laughs, rubbing her eyes. Leo shook his head.

"The fact that you got me something is all that matters, alright?" He opens her gift, revealing a wrench that had been painted pink and had hello kitty stickers. Leo chuckled. "I actually needed a new one of these," Piper grinned.

"I know. I asked Jason," Leo looked over at Jason, who was flushing a light red. He laughed, and kissed Jason's cheek.

"Sweet." He started opening Jason's gift, who seemed very nervous about it.

"I'm sorry if it's bad," He muttered. Leo shook his head, still peeling away the paper at the small gift.

"No, no don't say that Jase. I bet I'll love it." He opened it, his eyes gleaming as they reflected off of the Celestial Bronze surface. In his palm was a fidget spinner. It was heavy, made mostly out of (what Leo guessed) Celestial Bronze and... Imperial Gold? He weighed it. Yup. It was painted dark red, with fire emblems on it. Leo smiled, looking up at Jason.

"You got this for me?" Leo asked softly. Jason blushed, suddenly very interested in a loose thread from his pajama pants. Jason shrugged.

"I asked Nyssa and Harley to, um, help me make it..." Jason mumbled. Leo smiled softly, blushing just as hard. He lunged and hugged Jason, who was very startled by the attack.

I love you. Leo tapped on his shoulder. Sometimes they did that, when someone else was there or they felt too shy to speak it. Jason smiled, and tapped back on Leo's shoulder.

After their hug, Jason went about opening his gifts. First from Piper, another world traveling booklet. Jason had been very interested in traveling the world, especially since he'd only traveled by 1. Dragon and 2. Flying Boat. He'd wanted to explore more, and live the childhood that he never got to.

Then Leo's gift. He opened the bag, which was stained with soot fingerprints, and found an animatronic wolf. It was much smaller than Festie, about the size of his forearm, but it was beautiful. It had silver and gold metals in it, its eyes sapphires. Jason looked up at Leo, who was grinning and nervously biting his nails.

"Leo..." He blinked back tears, trying not to cry. "I love it." He leaned over and hugged Leo, then pulled Piper in. "I love you guys so much."

"We love you too," Piper and Leo said in response, smiling sadly.

They stayed hugging for a bit, just enjoying the company of each other.

Piper left to go back to visit her father. Leo and Jason were back at camp to celebrate with other campers. With Festie their new animatronic wolf pet, they walked around camp.

It was chilly and empty, people heading home for the holidays to spend time with family. Frost flaked the ground. Leo squeezed Jason's hand, smiling up at his boyfriend. They were both drinking cocoa.

"So," He started. Jason raised an eyebrow.

"Hm?"

"How are you liking Christmas?" Leo asked, his eyes sparkling. Jason felt his face melt into a smile.

"I enjoy it a lot." He kissed Leo's forehead. "As long as I get to spend it with you every year." He teased. Leo nodded.

"Of course, Superman. Wouldn't dream of anything else."

Once they got to Jason's cabin, because it was very cold and Leo wanted to cuddle up, they spotted a couple Demeter and Hecate kids.

"What are they up to?" Leo asked, watching them snicker and giggle. Jason looked up. Then he started blushing.

"I-- uh--" Leo cocked an eyebrow, looking up. Oh.

A mistletoe grew from the entrance, green and leafy with little red fruit. It seemed to glow with magic. Leo looked over at the kids, who must've grown it, and rolled his eyes. He held Jason's hands, looking into his boyfriends eyes.

"Well, we gotta stick to traditions, right?" He said, smirking. Jason flushed harder, nodding. Leo grinned and pulled Jason close, kissing him softly. It felt amazing. Sparks of warmth fluttered inside of them. Leo heard the kids whooping, but couldn't care less. He was with Jason. His Jason. The boy who loved him.

Leo stood back, his face flushed and his lips red. Jason looked similarly.

"Well," Jason stammered. "I think this Christmas has been a success," Leo nodded, smiling.

"Me too. Merry Christmas, Jason!"

"Merry Christmas, Leo!"

~ an : aaaaah !! i finally finished this !! this has been in the drafts for like, 3 months and i finally got to work on this !!!! this has been a blast and i am sososososos happy with it !! i think its a cute concept and i love christmas sm and valgrace and alsfjlaskdjf !! i hope you enjoyed this just as much :DDD (i dont have much to say abt this, js i really liked this hehe) 4.5 k words !!!!

ty to everyone who read my silly yaps abt this and voted on the poll!!

i love you all so much, and merry christmas + happy holidays!!!

tag list : @writerthatarts , @ros-amoebas , @emofloofchild

#☆ eros journal entry #valgrace #valgrace fic #valgrace fanfiction #valgrace fanfic #hoo fanfic #valgrace christmas fic #christmas fanfic #leo x jason #jason x leo #leo valdez x jason grace #jason grace x leo valdez #guys pls ignore the tags lmao

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