#anyways merry christmas and happy holidays i hope everyone has a good holiday season

[viatrix-glow]

merry switchmas !!!!!!

#my art #enstars #fun fact according to my canvas info this took 25 hours #also i started it on december 4th. it has nearly been an entire month . one drawing for all of december #anyways outfits were designed based on the easter carnival ones bc i love them #i started this after wishing for switch christmas climax and then trickstar was announced like two days later so #anyways merry christmas and happy holidays i hope everyone has a good holiday season #i know it can be rough for people so i genuinely hope everyone finds just one thing to make them happy #and in advance i hope everyone has a lovely new years :)

[mrzombielover]

Hi! Idk if you take requests or even like, emergency requests but, it's obviously Christmas time and I'm feeling really down bc I'm spending it alone. I was wondering if you could write something with Ghost and König's friend calling them and asking them if they could spend the holiday together? Up to you if you wanna make it friends to lovers kinda thing but honestly anything fluff and sweet is more than enough. Thank you so much, and Merry Christmas!

hii i normally don’t take emergency requests (cause i’m not good at themsbahhd) but this prompt is cute. hope headcanon format is okay, that’s the fastest way i could get this out

sorry if this sucks, i wrote it really quickly and didn’t edit it lol

hope your christmas gets better anon :,(

most people are thrilled to get time off for christmas. it’s heartwarming to see dads reunite with their kids during the season, when the majority of people get time off. ordinarily, around this time of year, you’d drown yourself in work and missions to try and take your mind off it, but captain price insisted you guys get this time off to go home and relax. honestly though, you were dreading going back home. it just depresses you.

at the airport, boarding was about to begin, and you found yourself fighting tears. everyone around you seemed to be waiting anxiously, wanting nothing more than to get to your destination. as the minutes went on, you were filled with more and more dread.

at the very last minute, just as they were about to call your group, you found yourself running away from the gate, phone in hand, thinking of anyone to call so last minute.

- simon “ghost” riley

ghost was similar to you in that he also dislikes the holiday season. he’s got no one to celebrate with and nothing but bad memories of it.

when he picked up your call, he told you he hadn’t left the base, and didn’t really plan to soon.

at first he was apprehensive, but he quickly found that he really likes having you on base with him. there were some christmas decorations, but the base was almost entirely empty.

for the first time, ghost was enjoying his holiday break, and quickly got used to your presence.

you guys binge movies in the rec room to pass the time, make a ton of food from whatever’s left in the kitchen, and once you’ve exhausted everything else, you even get a little work and cleaning done.

it’s been a really nice distraction having eachother around. you don’t need to explain anything to eachother, simon will silently accept and comfort you.

the cold pushes you guys together, you’ll cheekily ask to stay in his room to “warm up”, and spoon all night. cuddling while watching movies and forcing him to try your hot cocoa.

some days pass, and even though you didn’t really talk about christmas with him, he got you a gift anyway. it would be something small but sentimental, probably from a mission you were both on or the country where you met. a souvenir or piece of jewelry, or something useful, like a watch. he thinks he isn’t great at giving gifts, but it’s the thought he puts into them that makes it special.

just a few days until you’ve got to go back to work, and you’ve enjoyed an actual relaxing winter holiday. before you go, he’ll catch up to say goodbye, before realizing you’re under the mistletoe. he’ll plant a gentle, almost cautious kiss to your soft lips, letting his hands cup your face, as if begging you not to go. the two of you agree to do this every year.

- könig

(his family life is p much all my headcanon btw)

whenever he has the chance, könig goes back to austria over breaks. he becomes incredibly homesick, especially around the holidays, and when you called, he was ecstatic to show you his beautiful home and share traditions with you.

it made him so happy when you asked to spend time with him, and he was so glad you felt comfortable enough to open up to him about how hard the holidays are for you. he silently vowed to change that for you.

he immediately showed you all his favorite local restaurants and cafes, food he’d been craving so bad during the months he was deployed. you guys did typical touristy stuff along with local traditions and experiences.

he insisted you have dinner at his parents house for christmas, and helped you pick out last minute gifts. horrible at wrapping presents though, that was all you.

his parents are so nice, especially his mom, even though she teased könig about finally bringing a partner home. you made biscuits with her, but she wouldn’t let you help clean, insisting that you were a guest.

after you thank him for making this your best christmas, he’ll tell you how great it was to have you here, and comment on how you should make it a tradition. with christmas lights in the background and snow flurrying around you, you’ll finally make it official.

#guys please read my rules lol #!asks #simon ghost riley #ghost x reader #simon riley x reader #tuck how do i tag this #könig x reader #konig x reader #call of duty #cod x reader #könig #simon riley #ghost #simon ghost riley x reader #!my stuff #my little meow meow

[strongsassysexysloane]

Christmas Mistletoe

AN: Hi friends. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Hope you have a great day weekend! Sending you all the cheer and love!

Sum: Reader has a crush on JS, obviously, and it's the Christmas work party and Kasie has an idea with Ellie's help... And something happens under the mistletoe.

. . . . . ❄️ . . . .

The Christmas season had snuck up quickly. Exactly like last year and the year before that. It shouldn't shock you anymore but here you were at the holiday work party. It was very festive, mostly to do with the two Christmas elves called Kasie and Jimmy. The Director had left it up to them this year as last year's one had been so flat. Plus, Kasie was building up a good track record for parties over the past year.

It was much too cheery for your current mood but that may have something to do with the person hanging off Jack Sloane's arm. You weren't aware that she had a date or that she was dating someone and you hated that it bothered you so much. There had been a plan on bringing a date but no one seemed to stay longer than a month lately and you didn't want anyone to read into that. And by anyone you didn't want Jack to meet them. Especially after the first one. She'd quickly left right after you introduced her to Jack.

Here she was smiling, laughing and touching their hand. You downed your drink and walked up to the bar. At least there was unlimited alcohol at these things and that included the good stuff because of Gibbs. Thankful he actually started showing up to these things over the last few years. Apparently the season got to us all, eventually.

"Maybe alcohol and jealousy doesn't mix." A soft voice came up beside you. It was Ellie.

"Shut up." You groaned and took a long sip. "I'm not jealous." Even as you said it, you didn't believe it.

Her raised eyebrow and half smirk didn't help. It was well known knowledge by now that you had a small, maybe not so small, crush on Jacqueline Sloane. Head shrink at NCIS but she'd kill you for calling her that.

"Ok so maybe…maybe I'm a little, tiny bit jealous but who wouldn't be?" You rolled your eyes and downed the rest of your drink. The bartender tried his best not to look shocked as you were ordering the hard stuff but lined up another anyway.

"You know that's just her old friend who's in town for the holidays. They aren't actually -"

You put you hand up to stop her. "It's whatever. Doesn't…" The alcohol was finally taking effect and you looked down at the next one. "Maybe I should slow down."

"Yeah let me give that one to Gibbs." She took it before you could say anything. "Can she have a glass of water or two." The bartender smiled and passed over two glasses of water.

You took one with a forced smile. "Thank you.

Ellie passed your glass to Gibbs who was sitting off to the side of the bar watching his team mingle. You and Bishop were the ones that stopped by the most.

The night went on, the dance floor started to pick up but you kept Gibbs company for a while. Really you stole his spot in the corner while he spoke to an old friend before Kasie dragged you onto the dance floor for a song. It was fine until the upbeat tune ended and a slow song started. You saw Jack dancing with her friend and quickly ran off the dance floor and parted the crowd, heading for the bar.

You watched from the bar as Jimmy was busy snapping pictures of everyone. He especially took advantage of the ones he caught under the mistletoe they'd snuck up in certain spots.

A HR nightmare waiting to happen.

However you'd managed to find both of them early on and kept your distance. Although you swore someone moved one from earlier.

You ignored the tug of your hand at first. Drinking your latest swill and watching the crowd but the tugging became more insistent. You had caught site of Jack mingling with other Agents, her date laughing with someone you didn't recognise.

"COME ON!" Kasie was begging now. Possibly drunk or just trying to make you happy. It was obvious to everyone that you weren't having fun. Everyone, except Jack, who had hardly said anything to you since you arrived, had tried in some way or another to cheer you up. Nick had shimmied his way over to help Kasie get you back on the dance floor.

"Come on! Everyone will be looking at Bishops bad moved anyway." He wiggled his eyebrows before receiving a well deserved punch to the arm. "Ow!"

"Jerk." She mumbled and took the drink from your hand.

With no more excuses you let Kasie drag you back onto the dance floor. "If a slow song comes on-"

"Don't worry, I'll save you." Her voice made your whole body shiver.

Kasie smirked and you rolled your eyes before turning to see Jack dancing with her friend. She wasn't on the dance floor the last time you checked.

"Jack." You didn't know what to say. This was the first time you'd spoken since work yesterday.

She did her perfect smile and wink. "Hey to you too. Oh this is Jeremy, an old -"

"Not that old." The charm seeping in his tone. You watched as his arm wrapped around her waist and your face didn't hide your distaste well. Jack's eyes questioning you when you finally looked up at her. The raised eyebrow added to make a point.

"Sorry, I'm Y/N."

"Oh you're the Agent I've heard so much about! Nice to meet you, feels like I already know you. Sloaney here wont-"

"That's enough from you." Her hand went up to his shoulder to push some distance between them and you saw the pink tinge her cheeks, felt Kasie nudge your back. She too was on your plate about how Jack likes you but you couldn't see it.

Or refused to.

The moment in front of you had you confused. Why would Jack speak to him about you? She seemed awfully flustered all of a sudden.

"Let's get another drink Jer before you say something I may injure you over." She grabbed his hand and your heart rate picked up again.

"See you around Special Agent." He smirked and you couldn't be more confused.

"That was weird." You turned back to an amused Ellie and frustrated Kasie.

"Seriously?!" She almost stomped her foot. "You two are infuriating."

Ellie leaned over to Kasie and whispered something in her ear. You watched her face light up and feared for your life.

"No to whatever just happened. Just no."

"Why aren't we dancing?" A tipsy Jimmy slid his way over and distracted you from the two women scheming. He was loose, probably the first night off from being a Dad in a while.

You danced along with your friends and couldn't see Jack anywhere. The music picked up and you forgot about her for a while, dancing and laughing with your coworkers but more importantly, friends.

One song finished and a slow one came on, you tried to exit the dance floor but Bishop wrapped her arms around you, making you laugh and you slow danced together. You were too busy laughing about it to notice Jack stop half way to the dance floor, finally gaining the courage to ask you to dance. She saw you two laughing and stopped in her tracks before turning and heading to the bar.

Kasie watched it all happen but didn't know what to do. Her plans with Ellie may have been snagged but she was determined to make it right. She just needed more help.

"What is the matter, my dear?" Ducky had just walked up, saw the frustration on his friends face but as Kasie heard her friends voice her face lit up. He was the least suspect person to help out in such a scheme.

"Ducky! Just the person I need. Jimmy would blow this plan before it even began." She whispered a bit too loudly.

The old doctor looked worried but waited to see what was happening. He had been to enough of these things over the years and nothing was ever boring. Especially with team Gibbs. He could write another book just for this team, more importantly family. One big, strange family.

"Here's the thing…" She continued to explain how they were trying to get Jack and you together for the past month, maybe more and tonight was the night. They just needed to get both of you together under the mistletoe. So very festive and romantic but no clue on how to do it. She had moved the Mistletoe a few times throughout the evening so far but you and Jack seemed to be avoiding each other.

It, now obvious that Jack thought something was up with you and Bishop but Kasie knew that wasn't the case. You on the other hand seemed to be blind to the fact that Sloane liked you, liked you and just sat back and self imploded anytime anyone remotely seemed interested in Jack or vice versa. It was doing her head in as well as Bishop's, not to mention Nick's and probably McGee's too.

"Ah.. " He pondered, "Leave Jacqueline to me. Just make sure Y/N is there in exactly one hour." Tapping his watch with a glint in his eye and looking at he Mistletoe under an archway near the bar.

She beamed, not at all surprised that he would be on board with such a scheme. "You're the best. One hour." She confirmed before making her way back to you as the song came to an end.

"Be right back." You excused yourself and made a beeline for the toilets, trying to escape from Bishop but also because you needed to go.

That left Kasie to relay the plan but you were oblivious to such things.

The toilet wasn't busy to your surprise. Letting you sit for a moment before going back out into the night. You heard the door open and laughs come in, distracting you from your thoughts. The second laugh you knew too well. It was Jack. Now you could either hide in the cubicle or hopefully not make an awkward appearance by the sinks.

"She seemed to be enjoying herself with Bishop earlier."

Decision made, hiding in the toilets it was.

"They did look like they were having fun but you don't think.." A voice you weren't familiar with replied.

Too confused and stunned to move, you just sat and listened. Intrigued to hear what Jack thought of you and Bishop.

She sighed, "Some days it seems like they're just friends but… I don't know. She deserves to be happy."

"That she does Jack but with Bishop? I don't see it."

Jack leant against the sink while her friend finished up in the cubicle. Oblivious to the closed stall down the end that you were in. She had had many cups of punch tonight. That she would get money on Nick or Gibbs spiked. "They are close, I know from… She spent a week at Ellie's place a month back. Since then they've been hanging out more. Closer."

"Jack that was because her place was being bug bombed. Ellie was being a good friend."

You couldn't believe what you were hearing. Jacqueline Sloane was jealous. She liked you. It took all of you stealth and will power to sit still. If you burst out now who knows how she'd react. She'd either punch you or kiss you. The latter seemed ok by you.

The toilet flushed and the rest of the conversation was muffled by the sounds of the bathroom. You sat there stunned to move. The sound of the door closing restarted your brain.

"Wait…" You breathed.

The door opened followed by, "Y/N? You still in here?" Kasie whispered but she knew the answer. A big grin growing on her face because she passed Jack in the hallway and knew you'd be too chicken shit to speak to her in the bathroom.

You coughed, flushed and exited the stall looking more than a little sheepish. "Hey."

"You overherd something didn't you?"

"How?"

She laughed and watched your brain work out the words as you washed your hands. "She… she think Ellie and I-" The words didn't make anymore sense coming out of your mouth than they did hers.

Kasie rolled her eyes. Everyone spilled too much tea in the bathroom. "I may have seen her going to the dance floor as Bishop and you were making the best of a slow dance before."

"Oh shit. Kase!" You wanted to bang your head against something solid.

"Hey. Look. So…" Now did she want to spill the plan and hope you'd go along with it or still leave it a secret.

You wiped your hands and waited.

She thought it best to see where you were at first. "How do you feel now?"

Confused? Excited? Nervous? All of the above. Jack Sloane was jealous of Bishop because… "She likes me?"

Now Kasie wanted to shoot you. "How is it you're one of the best investigators at NCIS and previously the FBI but for some reason you can't see the obvious right in front of you?"

You didn't want to say it out loud. She knew why. Been turned before, too scared to open up again. "Kase.."

She sighed. "Yes, she likes you. A lot. Glares daggers at anyone who she thinks you may like. That being Bishop for quite some time. Wrong blonde. She's a genius but -"

"Her heart is guarded."

"Like someone else."

"Yeah. I just don't want to ruin our friendship."

"Or you could make it the best friendship that NCIS has ever seen? You're both adult enough to get through that. Change the what if from a bad ending to a good one. Isn't that worth finding out?"

She was being really convincing. The alcohol may have been helping her along. "Do I want to know what your plan is?"

"What plan? There's no plan." It spilled out way too quickly.

You laughed. "Sure, sure."

The bathroom door swung open and made you both jump.

"Here you two are!" Ellie looked relieved.

"What's the plan, you two?"

She looked confused. "What happened? Usually you'd be angry at knowing we have a plan.."

"She hid in the bathroom cubicle and over heard Jack speaking with Susan about how jealous she is over you and her."

It was almost spot on so you left the explanation alone and nodded.

The young blondes face lit up. "oh boy! So you'll meet her under the mistletoe?"

You looked back and forth between them. "That's your brilliant plan?!" A deep laugh took over.

"Hey! A simple plan is a great plan! Ducky even agreed to it!"

That was a surprise. "You got Ducky involved?" Actually that was a great idea. He'd be able to convince Jack to do anything, probably. She wouldn't suspect him at all. You thought it over a bit and realised the one big thing in this plan. Now you were in the know, you'd be the instigator.

"I think we've lost her."

"Is it the knowing you will be kissing her or…"

You stared wide eyed at Bishop.

"It's the kissing bit." Kasie beamed. "Can you at least try to act normal for the next little bit? We really should leave this bathroom."

You nodded and followed them out. "Bar." Was all you could say. Your eyes betrayed you and scanned the room for her. Her back was to you but you found her instantly and stopped.

"Y/N!" Kasie hissed and grabbed your hand. "God, I don't know what's worse. When you hated knowing we had a plan or this. Close your mouth."

"Here." Bishop held in a laugh.

She placed a cup in your hand and you closed your lips around the straw. The cool burn distracting your nerves. "So…"

"Just drink and we'll handle the rest."

For some reason that didn't calm your racing heart. Time moved slowly, you were over thinking it but followed Kasie without thinking then she stopped and turned around with a grin.

You could do this right? Did she even like you? The things she said in the bathroom lead you to think so and you'd been replaying every moment you ever interacted with her in your head for the last ten minutes with open eyes. There was only one way to find out. Kasie said something but you couldn't hear her anymore. Not when you heard Jack's voice from behind you. She was talking to Ducky about something but all you heard was her.

"Hello Y/N." His greeting made you turn around.

You smiled at him. "Hello Ducky." But your eyes quickly moved to Jack.

She was smiling at you and then looked back to see Duckys almost sheepish smile. "Doctor, you wouldn't be involved in any elaborate childish plan this evening would you?"

"I don't know about childish, my dear Jacqueline but a plan for two people who care about each other deeply to see themselves more clearly. Something may be a foot." He smiled at you both and looked up.

You knew where you were standing but it took Jack a second to realise.

She smiled, that pure, shining light that made your insides tingle. "Jack." It came out as a whisper and you watched as Ducky walked away.

Her hand found yours and your whole body shivered at the touch. "Did they put you up to this?"

It shocked you that she hadn't backed away. That even after she saw the mistletoe tpe above your head that she stepped closer. Maybe everything everyone else saw was true, that what you had hoping for, for so long, was finally coming true. "Not entirely."

She raised her eyebrow with a smirk. It took a beat, your cheeks turned pink and her other hand came up to curl a loose strand of hair behind your ear. "What is it?" Her voice so soft and comforting you couldn't help but lean into her touch.

The words got stuck in your throat and all you managed to say was, "bathroom."

Now it was her turn to turn pink. "Oh god. You were in there?! Why didn't you say anything?" She was embarrassed, it was the first time you'd ever seen her like this and it made you laugh.

She bowed slightly, her eyes finding her feet but you brought your hand to her cheek and guided her back to your eyes. "Because I was so nervous, so shocked to think to finally hear you could possibly feel something for me that I was rooted to the spot. Jack, I-"

"Do you really think it's that crazy? That, impossible for me to… Y/N, it drives me crazy whenever I see you with someone, dating someone else that I-"

With your hand still on her cheek, her eyes glistening with emotion, you couldn't help but cut off her words. Her lips were soft pillows against yours, you felt her hand squeeze yours so tight, your hand still cupping her cheek held her in place and the world drowned away.

She moaned when you pulled away which made you laugh. "Can't say anyone's cut off my words like that before."

"Seemed like the right thing to do." Your cheeky grin was wiped from your lips as she rolled her eyes and kissed you. This time with more motivation, the same fireworks happened as before but her hand slid out of yours and grabbed your shirt, pulling you flush. Her lips moved and her tongue asked for entrance, your moan granted it. She made every nerve in your body on edge before she pulled away and you finally heard it.

The applause from all round. She laughed and you his your face in her neck. "I forgot about them." You mumbled and she wrapped her arms around you.

"So did I." She squeezed you. "Ok, ok. We get it. Thank you." She hushed the crowd but you didn't move.

"You can thank us later." You heard Bishop yell over the music that had picked back up.

You felt Jack tense slightly then ease. "Yeah, you never had anything to worry about there." You chuckled, kissing her neck before looking up at her.

"How much did you hear in that bathroom?"

You grinned. "Enough for Kasie and Bishop to let me in on their plans."

"I see." She tried her best to fake being mad but you saw straight through her.

You pecked her lips repeatedly before she caved. "I see right through you Sloane."

"Took you long enough." She smiled and kissed all your worries away.

It had been a whirlwind of an evening. What started out as something you'd been dreading for weeks turned into everything you've wanted for months. You walked hand in hand around, giving everyone your well wishes for the holidays and without saying anything about leaving you both were on the same page. No one questioned it, although Nick snickered clearly when you left him and McGee. The taxi ride home was quiet but filled with comforting glances and touches. You didn't care where you ended up as long as Jack was by your side.

She led you up her pathway to her front door. Your hands found her waist as she was fiddling with her keys and your mouth found her skin.

"Mmmm, let me get us inside first." She hummed, struggling with the lock. "Y/N!" Her tone was stern but you knew by her body that she wasn't all too angry.

The door swung open and you lost your footing. Before you could catch yourself, your back found the wall and Jack found your mouth.

Her lips teased over yours. "Merry Christmas." She smirked at how quickly your self control was dwindling.

"Is it?"

"It's about to be." Her lips claimed yours and every single word left your brain and body under her touch. There was nothing else to say.

This may have been moving fast but after months of wanting. Months of dancing around each other, second guessing the other and basically torturing yourselves by doing nothing. This was a long time coming. Your bodies did all the talking for the rest of the evening and you never wanted to second guess yourself or Jack Sloane again.

. . . .

Ta daaaa :) hope you enjoyed. Merry Christmas!

#jack sloane #jacqueline sloane #jack sloane x reader #ncis reader insert #fem!reader #wlw #jacqueline sloane x reader

[arakaei]

24th

i have never felt special on my birthday, probably because it was the day of christmas eve and it has always been and will always be about christmas. i always thought of how inconvenient it is to be born on this day since it will never feel like it is my day so i somehow hate it haha. not to mention the christmas rush so there were always lots of people everywhere but good lord i am not complaining haha. probably its a good thing anyway since i always kinda hate it being the center of attraction, tho i lowkey wish i get to experience it one day.

the only thing that i liked most about it was that it always has this festive season vibe where it just usually feel nice because of holidays. you can feel the cold breeze of december kiss your face that felt nice and warm and then you'll suddenly feel alright. the gift giving and the christmas spirit feeling that you will feel around people that will tell you its christmas and everyone is just feeling happy and merry.

but growing up i figured it changes since you'll end up thinking about the expenses and what to give as christmas gifts to everyone and it is just stressful as fck. then it will just become another ordinary day and you just cant wait for it to be over.. also, i suck at giving gifts (as well as being an adult).

well, tbh, i never had a dream. i never saw myself being a 24 years old person or even reaching this age. and even if i ever pictured myself, i thought everything was better or at least wil become better once you were in your 20's. i just found out it isn't. sorry to disappoint you 14 year old self, but life isn't always that easy. here i am still struggling to live and make peace with what happened years ago. still no improvement.

hoping i wouldn't spend the next year in another state of misery and something will somehow change. at 24, i am nothing but just a tired adult trying to survive a neverending day to day battle with myself.

cheers to the better days that will come, hopefully.

#december thoughts #december #birthday #24 on 24th #photo diary

[tabsterfm]

Merry Christmas, everyone! It's been a bit since I've done my last v-pet log, huh? Well, once these too kicked the bucket, I decided to take a small break from raising anything. Now that it's Christmas, I've decided "why not bring some beautiful digital monsters to this world?", so I've decided this time to crack out my favorite v-pet, the Digimon Pendulum 20th!

Shame that Tyrannomon got cucked from the title card. I guess it makes sense they've been replaced on account on them SADLY not being in this roster. Oh well. If only I were in the timeline where Greymon didn't overshadow Tyrannomon

Anyways, here are the eggs I'm going to be running for this run, my two favorite eggs from each device! The right one may be familiar to some of you who've seen my first two runs, but the left one is a first for my blog. Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to my favorite category of Digimon, the Deep Savers! Now, let's crack these bad girls open and ge-

D'oh what the FUCK!!! Talk about a Christmas anti-miricle.

Sometimes, pressing the reset button when the battery gives that low indicator makes it work again, even if only for a bit, so let's see if that works out in my favor. In the spirit of Christmas, I shall name the left monster Holly and the right monster Jolly! I'm pretty glad to be using devices that don't have cut-ins for me to synch up to get a good picture- finally, I get a well-deserved break around here.

Oh what the fuck. I guess Holly is just gonna be in a digicoma for a while. Oops. Shoulda asked Santa for some new batteries instead of no oil in the sink.

Not to worry, though! On the Version 20th devices, you can raise TWO eggs at once! Now, doing this will mean they won't be able to fight each other, but thats okay. Let's spare some sibling in-fighting this holiday season, huh?

I will no be stripping Holly of her name while she's in a coma. Instead, this lil one is gonna get her own name, Chrissy!

Another fucking peak thing about 20th devices (pendulum 20ths moreso) is that both of the 'mons can be on screen at once! Not only does it add the immersion that they are both being raised at once in the same general spot, but it's ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE AAAAUUUGH I WISH THEYD BRING THIS BACK!!!

Because of Holly falling into a coma, these two's evolution timers aren't gonna be the most synced, but thats okay! It's more fitting that it's like that, considering the circumstances of Chrissy's birth.

And with that, a new run starts! Thank you for checking this latest entry of my log out! I hope everyone out there has a Merry Christmas and a happy week-until-new-years!!!

#tabster raises #digimon #virtual pet #pendulum 20th #pitchmon #choromon #bubbmon #mochimon #caprimon

[mercy-burning]

Love Thy Neighbor (Christmas Version)

Pairing: Caleb Sullivan x fem!Reader Summary: Y/N stops by to see her neighbor, hoping to spread some holiday cheer. Category: Smut (18+) Content: Religious themes and references/during smut, strong language, blowjob, facesitting, brief mention of death of a parent (in the first paragraph, nothing detailed!) Word Count: 3.2k

MASTERLIST

NOTE: So I found Trash Fire on DVD at a used movie store, then I got to talking with Pom about a Christmas fic because we were thinking about Caleb, and now this exists. Happy Christmas Eve Eve. Also, this is a continuation of the Halloween fic I did, but you don’t have to have read it to understand this one.

———

Considering her current plan, Y/N finds it ironic that her favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night. It doesn't matter which version, really, but ever since she watched Home Alone two Christmases after her mother died, the song has been a small beacon of light in an otherwise dull and dreary tunnel that only ends when the holiday season does.

Yeah. Christmas is most certainly her least favorite holiday.

It doesn't help that for the past three years her neighbor has been slipping pamphlets and flyers under the door, advertising Christmas church services. It's likely that he did it to everyone in the building, or at least the floor they were on... But she's always thought that it might be some target on her, given how she never gets along with him.

Well... Lately she supposes they get along just fine.

Which is just a nice way of saying he's promptly avoiding her, and has been since she made out with him and grinded in his lap until he came in his pants on Halloween (the least holy of holidays).

In fact, she hadn't even gotten a single piece of paper under her door this year, and Christmas was next week.

Which is why she stands outside his door right now, wrapped in a long coat, hoping he'll provide her a distraction.

Caleb opens the door and his face drops immediately. Usually annoyed at her presence, this time he seems only slightly panicked. But just for a second before he puts on a brave face and pretends to be irritated again.

"Oh. It's you."

"Merry Christmas to you, too."

"Did you need something?" He sounds bored, but she picks up on slight hint of hope, most likely that she'll give up, say, "No," and then leave him alone.

But he should know by now, she's more stubborn than that.

"Just felt like dropping by. You haven't left any Church propaganda under my door this year, I thought maybe you died or something."

"Ha," he deadpans. "I just figured it's no use. You wouldn't come anyway, and even if you did you'd probably catch fire the moment you walked in."

She rolls her eyes. "Well, I really did just want to stop over and say Merry Christmas... It's not particularly my favorite time of year, but I know you like it, so I just figured—"

This time his laugh is truly genuine. Caleb looks amused, and when she asks him what's funny, he only shakes his head.

"You're telling me you actually thought of saying something nice to me? Out of the goodness of your heart, even though you're The Grinch?"

"So what if I am?" Her voice is a bit stern now, her body temperature on the rise.

"You hate me!"

"Who says I hate you!"

"Oh, so you think that since you ambushed me in my home and made out with me and I didn't kick you out that everything's all okay? That I'm magically going to just like you? You're even more delusional than I thought."

"Wh—"

"You can't seduce me into liking you! Whatever mind-trick you're trying to play on me, I'm not falling for it."

"You ever think maybe I feel bad for doing that to you?" she asks, taking a step closer. "That I might spend every day thinking I've totally destroyed any chance I had at making you think I'm not really this horrible, shitty person?"

"Why should I believe you?"

"Oh, please! You're telling me you have faith in someone you've never actually seen, but you won't have faith in me?"

The way she says it, her voice nearly breaking and her eyes wide with desperation, makes him take a step back. He studies her for a moment, the air between them thick with this tension he's been trying to ignore since Halloween.

He'd be lying if he said he wished she wouldn't show up with more of her antics, giving him an excuse to stay and fight with her once again, and here he is, getting his wish. Though, he sees something in her that shows less of a game and more sincerity. It's a bit perplexing, but quite honestly a nice change of pace— one that may or may not have his insides growing regrettably warm.

But he doesn't want to do anything about it. Not right now, at least. If she's truly apologizing for what happened and trying to be nice, he should at the very least return the favor.

"I'm sorry," he says quietly, clearing his throat and rubbing the back of his neck. "It... was a nice gesture, you coming over like this. I shouldn't have assumed the worst right away."

The way her eyes light back up and a small smirk starts to grow on her lips has him adding on rather quickly, "But to be fair, you don't really give me many reasons not to."

She laughs then, playing with her thumbs. "Yeah, that's... That's fair..."

Maybe Caleb could have ignored the low simmer in his belly at the way her eyes peek out beneath long lashes at him, but she's right there, their friendship (if you can even really call it that) is in a fairly non-lethal place, and if there's any time to fall under her charms, now would certainly be the nicest one.

The smarter part of his brain is telling him to say, "Goodnight," and turn her away on good terms, but the bigger part that's been through three marriages and too many not-so-Christian thoughts about many women in-between (and even during, let's be honest) can't seem to let her go just yet.

So his voice comes out asking her warmly to come inside, and the way she looks at him is suspecting.

"Why, so you can ambush me?" her words are teasing, and so is her tone, but mostly it's teeming with the same warmth that his had held just seconds before.

"Maybe..." he says, and that's when he knows there's no turning back. The look in her eyes is too enticing, too eager for him that it's impossible to turn her away now.

He reaches for her hand and pulls her inside, where the smell of some type of mint attacks her nostrils. It's not peppermint or spearmint, but it's pleasant all the same. The gentle hum of Christmas music acts as a background to the main event, a joyful soundtrack to more sinful activities.

He's more forthcoming this time around, confidently pressing her back to the door as his lips lean into hers and kiss her with purpose. He's less hesitant—less guilty in the moment, she observes—and she likes it. It's in the way he glides his tongue over hers, how his hand expertly unties the front of her coat with no fumbles or frustrations.

She chuckles when the coat finally comes loose and slides down her body, onto the floor at their feet. Caleb pulls away and looks down between them to see what she'd hidden underneath. It calls out to him in the form of green and red lace, glitter, and two small bows that sit pretty on her chest, hardly concealing anything, but enough to quicken his pulse and desire to peel it away.

"Ohhh, you whore..." he grumbles, pressing his forehead to hers and cautiously gliding his hands over her arms.

She laughs, nudging his nose with her own before purring, "You're one to talk... Looks like you fell for it..."

There isn't anything else he can think to do but groan and kiss her out of frustration. It is too late to take it all back, after all, and by this point he'd never get rid of the heat he feels for her even if he did.

She returns his kisses, meeting his tongue with sweet avidity and matching the pressure just perfectly. It's strange, and a little concerning to Caleb, just how well they meld together, like it's what they've always been meant to do. The heat of the moment might just be filling his brain with these blasphemous thoughts, but it feels true as ever, especially as his hips involuntarily press against her own and he welcomes the reaction she has— A whimper and the squeezing of her hands as they sit over the curve of his ass.

They slide up a bit then as her lips break away and travel to the column of his throat. Pretty soon, at the mercy of manicured, nimble fingers, the buckle of his belt is coming undone, and the sound more than anything else is what breaks through his clouded thoughts.

"We... We still can't..."

She sighs over his skin before she kisses him again, her fingers slipping under the band of his pants while she whispers against his mouth, "Loophole."

Ah, yes. His favorite word as of late.

The two of them have only found themselves in a position like this once before, but it's pretty clear now that once is all it takes to catch on to the rules.

Her body shifts downwards, her touch following and leaving a thin blanket of shivers in their wake. As she starts tugging down his pants, he wishes she'd turned them around first, so that he might be able to use the door as an anchor when she inevitably starts to unravel him.

It seems she can guess what he's thinking (because of course she can), a smirk creeping up on her lips. Her face is dangerously close to the bulge in his underwear, her breath hot even through the material. "Stand still for me, okay? Or..." She presses her lips to the tip of his cock through navy fabric, feeling him twitch. "...are you gonna be a naughty boy this year...?"

He decides then that he's going to close his eyes very tightly and just stand there, not even looking down to see her. Otherwise, all it'll do is give her ammunition to tease him, and as fun as that can be, his ego doesn't want to lose. Not now, not again.

So even when she tugs down the final barrier between them and moans deliciously as she licks up the length of him, Caleb stands his ground and crosses his arms over his chest so tightly it feels hard to breathe. He focuses on the harmonies thrumming through the speakers behind him, hoping to find some sort of distraction while his neighbor swirls her tongue over the tip of his cock and holds onto his ankles for leverage.

It works for a little bit, but she must have realized at some point that all she's doing is tasting his dick and merely hoping to break him. He's not even looking down at her. Half the fun of doing this with him is seeing him lose every semblance of control and restraint in his being. Seeing him visibly guilty at the things he's willing to let her get away with.

So she gets messy, opening her mouth all the way and bobbing forward to get him to the back of her throat. Still, without using her hands, she rocks back and forth, bobbing along his length and gagging and moaning to her hearts content. Maybe it's overexaggerated, but that's what she wants. He did call her a whore, after all, so why not play into it?

She looks up at him while holding herself forward, slacking her jaw just as a groan leaves his chest. He's biting his lip so hard, she wonders if he'll draw blood. His skin is flushed, his body stiff and tense, and she knows he's getting closer to breaking.

Her disadvantage comes from lack of words, so she draws away from him and uses her hand to jerk him off while she near-whines, "You don't look like you're having fun..."

His throat moves, but he stands still all the same, refusing to budge.

"Don't you want to open your eyes? To see me sitting pretty while I play with your cock?"

It's not so much the words themselves, but the fact that she's talking at all, spewing filth like it’s second nature. He supposes that's been her plan the whole time, but at this point he's too wound up to care, too frustrated at the lack of attention she's giving the sensitive tip of him. The sooner he gets off, the sooner they can move on, and so he huffs, opens his eyes, and looks down at her.

The smile he expects to appear on her face never comes. Instead, she hums with approval and blinks up at him, removing her hand and taking him in her mouth again. Only this time, her lips carefully attach to just the tip of him. She bats her eyelashes and flicks her tongue along the slit, almost like she's egging him on, encouraging him to take control.

The word loophole replays in his mind, and in an instant, his arms go uncrossed and he falls forward, reaching out to rest his hands on the door. Subsequently, Y/N gets a throat-full of his cock, and she chokes, moving her head back only slightly to catch her breath. But she's obviously pleased with this move, because she continues blowing him with short, concise movements that have him hitting the back of her throat nearly every time.

By now Caleb's lost all control, grunting out as his stomach tenses and his knuckles go white. He comes sharply, and the woman on her knees takes it all down, moaning contentedly and trailing her fingers kindly along the inside of his thighs as if to say, "Atta boy..."

As soon as he's given it all he has, he pulls back and goes for his pants, quietly getting re-dressed and avoiding his neighbor's eyes.

She grins, though, getting up off her knees and sliding her panties down her legs in one swift motion.

"Tell me... What's your favorite prayer?"

Still high off the rush of endorphins to his brain, Caleb raises a lazy eyebrow. "What?"

She takes a few slow steps toward him, stepping out of the undergarment as she goes along. "Your favorite prayer... Would you mind reciting it for me?" Her hand snakes over his chest and lands on his shoulder, putting a little pressure on it as she tilts her head up to meet his gaze. "On your knees?"

His eyes widen at her request, knowing full well what she's about to do. It should disgust him, send him into a scolding as he kicks her out of his apartment and threatens to call the police if she bothers him again. It should anger him to the depths of his very being, and yet, all he can think to do is obey, dropping slowly to his knees and looking up at her with all the desire he's ever harbored in his whole God-given life.

Y/N's finger comes down and tilts his chin up, adjusting his face so she can get to him at a good angle, and he swallows.

"Pray for me, baby..."

She only lets him get out a couple words, a hushed and shaky, "Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name..." before raking her fingers through his hair and sliding herself over his mouth.

His lips are moving just barely, like they're afraid to betray him and get distracted by the fruit at their surface. Luckily though, she's counted on this. So she keeps the grip in his hair steady as she rolls her hips and moves of her own accord. She's pleased him, and now she's going to please herself, getting off not only on the friction beneath her but on the notion that he's completely at her mercy, probably questioning just about everything there is to question.

Tiny groans and whimpers escape her the longer she moves, and as far as she can tell, his lips are still moving. Whether he's actually still praying or not is beyond her, but he hasn't pushed her off or tried to stop it from happening, so she couldn't really care either way. All she knows for sure is that his tongue will dart out from time to time, catching on her clit, and it brings her closer to the edge every time.

Her ministrations get more frantic the nearer orgasm approaches, and by now her curses and cries are drowning out anything he may be saying. She can't even hear the Christmas music anymore, only the sound of her own voice calling out to Caleb, praising him for being nothing but a vessel for her own pleasure.

A low groan sounds from beneath her as she comes, making her smile as she calls out his name in the most devilish way possible.

And then she's loosening the grip in his hair and he's retreating quickly, leaning his body and falling back on his hands.

She looks down at him with a satisfied grin, stepping back and taking in the image of his heaving chest, blown brown eyes, and a small dark patch on the front of his pants.

"Ahh," she drawls with a laugh. "So that's what that sound was... Did I make you come again?"

He'd find a way to tell her to stop asking questions she obviously already knows the answer to, to tell her he doesn't appreciate her making a fool of him, but for one thing, he's lost the fight in him, and for another, she already has.

The worst part is that he doesn't even feel anger. All he knows is the taste of her cunt on his tongue and the warmth of his lust blooming through his lower half. Maybe after the high has worn off he'll come to his senses, but this isn't even like the last time. Now he knows he's well and truly fucked. Would God even begin to know how to save him now?

Probably not. If He had, perhaps Caleb would have had the strength to resist her in the first place.

In another show of irritating kindness, she reaches her hand out to help him off the floor, and in turn he grabs her coat on the way up with the other. She grabs it with a smile, throwing it on and tying it tightly around her waist.

"I did mean it, you know," she says with a shrug. "This time of year always sucks for me, but... It was nice knowing someone still cared enough to leave me a pamphlet or two."

"Yeah, well... I only ever did it to annoy you..." he admits lightly.

Her laugh is bright and joyful, and he hates that he likes it. "Yeah, I know... But that's what I mean. I've grown to love that you care about me enough to wanna annoy me."

It could be the word "love," or perhaps even just the genuine smile on her face as she confesses this to him, but... God if it doesn't make his heart race.

What the fuck is this? he thinks as she turns to leave.

Before she does, though, she turns around, winking at him. "Don't ever stop."

The soft click of the door as she leaves him alone is what finally gets Caleb to take a proper breath, but the sight of her underwear still laying there—bright white in contrast with the dark wooden boards beneath it—nearly takes it away again.

He's going to have to throw them out.

Or burn them...

But for now, on the off-chance that his provocative across-the-hall neighbor might stop by and ask for them back, most likely resulting in another rendezvous, he decides to tuck them away in the top drawer of his dresser, right next to his Bible, where his favorite prayer is written on the front inside cover in red ink.

And coincidently, it isn't the one he tried (and failed) to recite earlier when she asked.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

———

TAGLIST: (tags not working are struck out)

@starrylang @xoxospencerreid @mrsobrien888 @awesomebooklover17 @yourmisosoup @gubswh0re @big-galaxy-chaos @this-is-doctor-and-its-calm @umbreonwolfy @hotchandspenceraredilfs @spencerreidsmommy @abby2661 @youabitchhhh @reidsbabe @shemarmooresfedora @donald4spiderman @moonlight-2-6 @chaoticcatie @flipperpenguins @muffin-cup @centiaaa @foreveryoungxx3 

If you would like to be added to or removed from the taglist, feel free to message me or leave a comment and I’ll get on it right away!

#caleb sullivan #caleb sullivan x reader #caleb trash fire #mgg characters #mgg smut

[j3tblackw1ngs]

Saiki K Christmas Headcanons

Kusuo Saiki

☆ as usual, Saiki will pretend not to care about the holidays at all

☆ yet despite “not caring,” he still ends up celebrating with you at a Christmas party

☆ for the most part, he’s in the corner drinking hot chocolate and watching everyone celebrate

☆ but when you guys put on a movie (and everyone shuts up lmao) he actually gets really invested

☆ i feel like he probably loves Christmas movies because they’re dumb and somewhat unpredictable, and there are so many of them so he won’t get spoilers

☆ he won’t admit this if you ask

☆ you don’t expect him to get you a gift, but despite everything he says, he really cares about you

☆ you don’t know how it gets there, but on Christmas day you find a present with your name on it under your tree

☆ he didn’t put his name on it, but it’s definitely from Saiki

☆ and it isn’t fancy or extravagant but it’s thoughtful and kind of perfect

☆ (you thank him with coffee jelly later)

Kaidou Shun

☆ he thinks about what he’s going to get you a long time before Christmas

☆ he wants it to be completely perfect so you know just how he feels about you

☆ (ask him though and he’ll say something about how Christmas is “just for mere mortals” or how he’s celebrating it to uphold his human identity lmao)

☆ the gift he gets you is thoughtful, but his Christmas card is what stands out

☆ Kaidou really has a way with words, and he pours his heart into it

☆ when you thank him he’ll get really flustered, but he’s overjoyed that it made you happy

☆ (i also feel like he really loves Christmas songs, but he tries to keep it a secret because it’s not “cool“ or whatever. but one day you catch him belting out Mariah Carey and he gets so embarrassed ajsfsjdkjdsf)

Nendou Riki

☆ honestly i feel like Nendou gives really weird gifts 😭

☆ but it’s really the thought that counts, right?

☆ he’s a good cook, so i also like to imagine that he bakes Christmas cookies during the holidays

Kuboyasu Aren

☆ i feel like Christmas probably wasn’t a big thing when Aren was in his gang

☆ so he’s really excited to celebrate it with all his new friends

☆ he’ll entertain you and anything you want to do with him

☆ it’s not that he’s disinterested, it’s just that seeing you happy is what he appreciates most

☆ when it comes to his gift, he doesn’t want to disappoint you

☆ he knows that you’ll be appreciative about anything, but he wants it to express everything he feels about you, as he isn’t the best with words

☆ (considering how he acts in the episode where he gets the confession, it’s clear he takes his relationships really seriously)

☆ i feel like he’s the type of person to get you something you mentioned wanting offhand once

☆ something you wouldn’t have expected him to remember or notice in the first place

☆ of course, you love it and that makes him feel so proud of himself

Teruhashi Kokomi

☆ Teruhashi would give you exactly the right gift

☆ basically just what’s expected of her (she is the perfect pretty girl after all)

☆ she stops by your house to drop it off, but she ends up roped into some activity because of course your family loves her

☆ but she’s secretly really happy about it because she wanted to spend time with you

☆ she catches you under the mistletoe multiple times just by sheer luck

Yumehara Chiyo

☆ i feel like Yumehara loves the whole Christmas season and the romance of it

☆ she definitely watches a lot of cheesy Christmas romcoms

☆ she makes you a really lovely card and a thoughtfully made gift

☆ she also tries to strategically place mistletoe for you to “accidently” find yourselves under

Aiura Mikoto

☆ of course, Aiura always makes it known how much she loves and cares about you

☆ Christmas is no exception

☆ i feel like she goes all out for these kind of things

☆along with a main present she gets you little stocking stuffers

☆ little keychains or lip gloss if you wear makeup

☆ and she definitely gets all her friends little good luck charms, probably based of your zodiacs or something

☆ she won’t let you say that it’s too much

☆ "don’t worry about it, i get tons of cash from fortune telling anyway!”

☆ she also definitely loves singing Christmas songs with you

Mera Chisato

☆ she’s really poor, so she can’t get you anything extravagant

☆ her favorite part of Christmas is obviously the food

☆ she works extra shifts to get gifts for her siblings and one for you

☆ she’s worried that it’s too small, but you love it

Saiko Metori

☆ Saiko has probably been giving you things all season

☆ like a twelve days of Christmas kind of thing

☆ he doesn’t take no for an answer when you tell him it’s too much

☆ (but he pretends he’s only doing to flex, despite not getting anything for anyone else)

☆ on Christmas day, you think that he’s probably lonely in his big house with only his body guards to keep him company

☆ so you suggest that he spends Christmas with you

☆ of course, because he’s still kind of a jerk, he’s like

☆ “why would I want to spend Christmas with you instead of in my huge mansion with all my presents and money?”

☆ “Christmas isn’t all about presents and money. it’s about spending time with the people you love”

☆ he kind of short circuits when you say that, because he can’t believe you love him or that it’s separate from his money

☆ so he spends Christmas at your house

☆ it’s one of the best he’s had in a long time

A/N: Merry Christmas everyone! 

I know it’s technically not Christmas anymore (it’s just past 12am where I am), but I really wanted to post this. Thankfully I’m finally free from the shackles of school (at least for a bit), so hopefully i can write a lot more (i’d love to hear any requests you have). if you don’t celebrate, i hope you had a great day anyway <3

#saiki k headcanons #the disaster of psi kusuo saiki #the disastrous life of saiki k. #saiki k x reader #saiki kusuo no ψ nan #saiki no psi nan #saiki kusou no psi nan #saiki kusuo #kaidou shun #nendou riki #aren kuboyau #teruhashi kokomi #yumehara chiyo #aiura mikoto #saiko metori #mera chisato #saiki kusuo x reader #kaidou shun x reader #nendou riki x reader #aren kuboyasu x reader #teruhashi kokomi x reader #Yumehara Chiyo x reader #aiura mikoto x reader #saiko metori x reader #mera chisato x reader #saiki k

[nerdzzone]

Only For A Moment: December

Summary: A series of shorter one shots from Chris and Whitney’s life together throughout the pandemic. Some happy times, some harder times, some fluff and some things a little more sexy - they work through it all as they try to get settled in their new and blossoming relationship.

Chris Evans x OFC

18+

Part of the Once Bitten/More Hearts series

Only For A Moment: November [part two]

Note: This is the last part of this section of the series! Thank you to everyone who has read, liked, reblogged and commented so far, I really appreciate your support and love reading all your thoughts! There will be more, focusing on their lives as the world starts opening up again, but I’m not sure when it will be posted.

-----

December 2020

December was a somewhat bittersweet month.

There were quite a few positives as Christmas always brought plenty of joy - and it brought Scott back from L.A. which was a nice treat for everyone - and there was also the big announcement of an approved vaccine. The roll out wouldn't be immediate, of course, but there was hope on the horizon and a clear sense of relief.

However, there were some negatives as well. I still had my concerns about how well we'd adapt our relationship to the realities of real life and, as excited as I was about Christmas, the holiday season was making me miss my family more than ever.

Chris' family was a great substitute - especially as the case numbers were low enough that we were allowed to have small family gatherings which meant they could all to stay over at our house on Christmas Eve as they had the year before - but I hadn't seen any of my own family in over a year and I missed them terribly. It made me so sad to think of how much Grayson had grown since they last saw him and knowing that I had a little nephew that I'd never even met was starting to break my heart.

In an attempt to ease the ache caused by the distance, we had a video call on Christmas Eve since my family were all together too and I was relieved that our friendly, confident three year old had no problem making conversation with the grandparents and uncle that he could barely remember. It was heart-warming and refreshing to have that time with them even through a screen, but it wasn’t the same and it left me wanting more. I wanted to see them, to hug them, to help my mom make Christmas dinner and beat my brother at the card games we always used to play. I wanted to be less than three thousand miles away and it was starting to weigh on me.

I held it together pretty well, not wanting to put a damper on the happy festivities we were having, but later that evening, when I was alone with my thoughts as I finished tidying up the dishes from dinner, it was suddenly overwhelming. I leaned on the counter as my chin dropped to my chest and the tears finally came. I wasn’t going to let myself have more than a few minutes to wallow in my sadness, but almost as soon as the tears started, a voice from behind me interrupted.

"Whitney?" Lisa quietly announced her presence. "Are you okay?"

I sniffled and quickly wiped my eyes before turning around to see her standing in the doorway with Scott, concern on both of their faces.

"I'm fine," I smiled weakly, but Scott wasn't going to let it go that easy.

"What's wrong?" He asked. "Why are you crying?"

"I just miss my family. It's hard not getting to see them at Christmas," I admitted. "I know I didn't get to see them last year either, but it's been so long now since I've seen them at all. I guess that's just made it harder."

"Oh, honey, that's understandable," Lisa assured me. "I can't imagine how I'd feel if we hadn't been able to be together at all for as long as you've been away from your family."

"Usually I'm fine," I insisted. "I think just seeing them all together and not being there got to me a little bit."

"Well their loss is our gain," Scott informed me. "Because we're really happy to have you here. I know it's not the same, but you're part of our family too."

"I know and I'm so grateful that I have all of you," I rushed to assure them, not wanting anyone to think I wasn't happy to be spending the holidays with them. "It's been so amazing how you've all taken me in and let me be a part of your family. I know things were complicated with Chris and I, but you've always been so good to me."

"You've been a part of this family from the moment we found out about Grayson," Lisa said firmly. "Whatever happened between you and Chris never mattered to us. We're glad you've sorted yourselves out now, but we've always thought of you as family."

Scott nodded in agreement and their kind words brought more tears to my eyes.

"That really means a lot," I choked out, blinking frantically to stop myself from crying anymore. It took a moment to compose myself, but eventually I let out a laugh and wiped my eyes again. "Sorry, I'll stop blubbering soon. I don't think I realized how much I missed them until now and once I get all weepy, it's hard for me to stop."

Lisa crossed the kitchen quickly and pulled me into a hug.

"If you need to let it out, then you go right ahead."

I returned her hug and was about to inform her that it wasn't necessary when Chris - who had been upstairs putting Grayson to bed - appeared in the doorway and interrupted our little moment.

"What are we letting out? Why is Whitney crying?" he asked. "What did you two do to her?"

"We were just letting her know that none of us would judge her if she wants to dump your ass," Scott lied, a smirk on his face. "And now she's crying tears of joy."

"Scott!" Lisa scolded despite the laugh that fell from her lips as she let me slip out of her arms. "That's a horrible thing to say."

"It's not true," I assured Chris even though I was sure he'd figured that out. "I just had a little sad moment. I miss my family so your lovely family members were reassuring me that I'm part of yours."

"You absolutely are," he agreed, coming over and slipping his arm around my waist before pressing a kiss to the side of my head. "I'm sorry that you're sad, but do you remember what I told you last year?"

I'd spent a lot of time trying to block out the memory of last Christmas in the months after it happened and apparently I'd done a good enough job to not know what he was talking about.

"No," I shook my head. "What?"

"There's no time for worryin' at Christmas!" He reminded me. "Let's get you a drink and turn that frown around!"

"Alright, that sounds good," I laughed as I slid out of his grasp. "Lisa, can I get you another glass of wine?"

"Oh, yes, that's actually why we came in here," she smiled. "We were sent to get everyone another round."

"Perfect," Chris grinned as he opened the fridge and started pulling out supplies.

He poured drinks for everyone, but held me back as his brother and mother left the room with as many drinks as they could carry. He pulled me into his arms again before I could pick my drink up off the counter.

"Are you good?" He asked, rubbing his thumb on the exposed skin just above my jeans. "I'm sorry that you miss your family."

"I'm fine," I smiled up at him. "It was just hard seeing them all together tonight and not being there. I do miss them, but I'm okay. I'm happy to be here with you and your family."

"As soon as things get better, we can go and visit," he promised. "I think I'll have to head to L.A. in the near future anyway. Now there's a vaccine and things might start to improve, there's more talk of starting The Grey Man."

While the thought of a trip to L.A. was encouraging in theory, it made my stomach turn. Travelling while the pandemic was still around seemed very stressful - if Scott's journey home for the holidays was anything to go by - and the thought of Chris returning to work was something I wasn’t eager to think about. I knew he was trying to make me feel better though so I stretched up and placed a kiss on his lips.

"That would be nice," I smiled. "I'd like you to get to know my family a bit more."

"I'd like that too," he nodded. "As soon as we can, I promise."

As I slipped out of his grasp, I tried to focus on that hopeful promise and push any sad feelings from my mind.

-

The rest of that evening was pretty lowkey. We knew that the kids would be up at the crack of dawn as they were the year before and went to bed early in preparation for that. It was a decision that I was very grateful for at six thirty the next morning when Grayson woke us up by launching himself onto our bed.

“Merry Christmas!”

His little voice cut through the silence of the room, ruining any possibility that we might have been able to sleep a little longer.

“Merry Christmas, Gray,” I heard Chris answer as I rolled over. Just as I turned to face him, Chris dragged him down from where he was bouncing on the bed and pulled him against his chest. “Let’s go back to sleep. Okay, buddy?”

We all knew that wasn’t going to happen and Grayson proved it as he giggled and wiggled around, squealing loud enough to ensure that no one in the house could possibly still be asleep.

“Gray! Shhh,” I laughed, pulling him out of Chris’ arms and into my own. “Merry Christmas.”

I kissed the top of his head and he pulled back, grinning up at me.

“Santa came, Mama!”

“Did he?” I gasped. “That’s so exciting!”

“There’s so much presents!”

“Wow, I guess we should go see who they’re for!”

“Probably me,” Chris teased Gray. “I bet they’re all for me and maybe one for your mom.”

“And for me?”

The hope in Grayson’s voice had me interjecting before Chris could tease him any more.

“I’m sure there are some for you,” I assured him. “I bet there’s some for everyone.”

“Even Uncle Scott?”

That question earned a howl of laughter from Chris, but I nodded.

“Even Uncle Scott,” I smiled. “He’s been pretty good this year, hasn’t he?”

“No!” Grayson giggled. “He scared Daddy! And me!”

I laughed, thinking back to the incident he was referencing. Ever since Scott returned from L.A., he and Chris had created some kind of ‘scare war’ where they were competing to see who could scare the other in the best way. They posted the videos on Instagram and their fans loved it, but it had gotten a little out of hand. Scott caught Chris off guard when he came home from a walk with Dodger the day before and got an excellent reaction from him, but he didn’t realize that Grayson was with him too. The poor kid was terrified and cried for almost fifteen minutes afterwards. Scott had been incredibly apologetic and tried to make it up to him, but apparently Gray wasn’t feeling particularly forgiving.

“He did scare us and that wasn’t very nice,” Chris agreed. “He’s probably on the naughty list!”

“Yeah!” Grayson grinned at his dad. “Let’s go see!”

He scrambled off the bed almost as quickly as he’d climbed up in the first place. Once the sound of his heavy footsteps faded as he ran down the hall, Chris pulled me into his arms.

“Merry Christmas, Win.”

“Merry Christmas,” I smiled up at him. “Crazy to think that we woke up like this a year ago too.”

“Almost exactly like this,” Chris smirked. “Until you snuck out of bed as if I wouldn’t know we’d been cuddling all night.”

My jaw dropped slightly.

“You knew?”

“Of course, I knew!” Chris chuckled. “I’d been awake for almost half an hour before you woke up, but it felt so nice cuddlin’ you that I didn’t wanna move.”

“That’s so embarrassing,” I laughed, burying my head in his chest as he assured me that it wasn’t. “But it’s so strange to think that if there hadn’t been that snow storm and I hadn’t stayed over that night, maybe we wouldn’t even be here now.”

“Do you really think that?”

“It’s hard to say,” I admitted. “I think we would have ended up quarantining together, but if we hadn’t had that slip up at Christmas, we wouldn’t have had the same incentive to talk about things during lockdown.”

“But that slip up showed that the feelings were there,” Chris pointed out. “So, maybe it would have happened while we were locked in this big ol’ house anyway.”

“I like to think so,” I smiled. “Either way, I’m happy it did.”

“Me too,” Chris placed a kiss on the top of my head as the sounds of excited children floated down the hall towards us. “I guess we should get up before they come looking for us.”

I reluctantly agreed and we dragged ourselves out of bed to join the festivities.

-

Christmas morning was much the same as the year before. The kids were overwhelmed with excitement at all the gifts, but very grateful and appreciative of everything they received. Chris bought me some new cameras that I’d mentioned wanting to buy before my work picked up again, but it was my gift to him that I was really excited about.

I watched as he opened the box that I’d carefully wrapped and pulled out the photo album that I’d put inside.

“Wow,” Chris murmured as he flipped through the pages with a soft smile on his face. “Are these all of me and Gray?”

“There’s some of Dodger too, but yeah, mostly it’s you and Gray,” I informed him. “I just thought, it’s been such a crazy year and there’s been a lot of stress, but there were some good moments too and I wanted you to have some memories of those.”

“This is amazing…”

He flipped through the pages that I’d filled - in order by month - of all the pictures that I’d taken since the start of the pandemic. There were some of him helping Grayson ride his bike, some of them reading together and doing puzzles, some of them playing in the pool, some of them raking leaves in the fall, carving pumpkins at Halloween, cooking dinner together, curled up on the couch watching movies and pretty much every other day to day activity that they did together through the lockdown. I was amazed by how many pictures I’d taken when I started compiling them, but I knew it was a gift that he would appreciate.

“That’s one of my favourites,” I giggled, pointing to a picture of bath time one night when Chris had fashioned them both beards made out of bubbles.

“I love them all,” he smiled, looking up at me with glassy eyes. “Thank you, Winnie. Thank you so much.”

I leaned in to place a soft kiss on his lips as Lisa moved to stand behind her son and sneak a peek at the album.

“That’s such a wonderful gift, Whitney,” she gushed. “Those pictures are beautiful.”

“Thank you. If you look through it later and pick out your favourites, I can make you some copies.”

“That would be great!” She grinned. “I would love that, if you don’t mind.”

I assured her that it would be no trouble and made notes of a few that I thought she might want as Chris and I spent the next half an hour flipping through the album and reminiscing on the happy moments we shared as a family during a very dark year. It was a rather odd feeling that such a bleak time had also been such a happy one for us. I was beyond grateful that our families had been relatively untouched by the virus plaguing the world and was more than happy to join Scott in his toast to all our continued good health when he brought out the mimosas as soon as all the presents were unwrapped.

-

The rest of the day was filled with plenty of love and appreciation of our little family and the opportunity to be together. As we had the year before, we called all the relatives who lived too far away to join us before spending most of the day playing games, drinking fancy Christmas cocktails and eating delicious food. We had learned something from the previous years celebrations though and didn’t let ourselves get quite as intoxicated as we had back then.

All in all it was a lovely day and my heart was feeling very full by the time we said our goodnights and headed to our room that evening. I was refreshed by the opportunity for such prolonged socialization and had a little extra pep in my step as I pranced off to the ensuite bathroom to brush my teeth.

However, when I came back out, I was surprised to find Chris sitting on the edge of our bed. He glanced up when I walked in, a soft smile on his face, but there was an air of nervousness around him that immediately put me on edge.

"You okay?"

My question was simply met with a nod as he beckoned me over. He grabbed my hand as soon as I was close enough and kept me standing in front of him.

"I have one more present for you," he informed me after a moment of quiet. "But I want to preface it with an explanation so you don't freak out."

I laughed nervously at that statement, wondering what kind of gift could possibly make me freak out. A car? A new house? A puppy? My mind was instantly running wild.

"Okay..."

"I know you're still nervous about things going back to normal and how we'll handle it - I can see it on your face every time it gets mentioned," he started, his words so far offering no explanation. "I've been trying to think of something that I can do to reassure you, something to prove just how committed I am to you because I am all in here, Winnie. From the moment I met you, I knew you were something special and it sounds a little cheesy and over the top, but you really are the love of my life. It took a little soul-searching and some brainstorming, but I eventually came up with something I think might help us both..."

He paused then and reached behind his back, pulling out a little box that made my heart start pounding in my chest.

"Oh my god," I gasped out as he slid from the bed to kneel on one knee in front of me.

He opened the box and looked up at me with hope written all over his face.

"Will you marry me, Winnie?" He asked, the question bringing tears to my eyes. I was biting my lip to hold myself together and didn't realize that I hadn't answered until he launched into some further reassurances. "We don't have to get married right away - we can wait as long as you want - but taking this step, making this extra promise and commitment, I thought it might give us both some comfort."

I was still stunned, completely blindsided by his proposal, but I took in his words and appreciated his reasoning as a grin slid onto my face.

"Yes, Chris! Yes, I will marry you."

Chris visibly relaxed at my acceptance and, with noticeably shaky hands, he took the ring from the box and slid it on my finger. As soon as it was safely in place, he sprung to his feet and pulled me into a breathtaking kiss.

"Holy shit," he let out a deep breath, moments later when we finally parted. "That was terrifying. I thought for sure you were going to turn me down and tell me that I'm insane."

"You kinda are," I smiled. "And everyone else is definitely going to think we've lost our minds."

"Well, we've never done things the traditional way and it just makes sense, doesn't it?" It was a question, but he didn't wait for an answer. "It hit me when we were talking in New York and you made a joke about me proposing, that it wasn't a bad idea, that it was something I wanted to do. I know we've technically been together for less than a year, but I haven't wanted anyone else since the day I met you so what's the point in waiting? I'm not gonna make decisions based on what everyone else thinks we should do - that would be crazy."

I smiled at his anxious rambling and stretched up to place another kiss on his lips.

"That would be crazy," I agreed. "And I don't care what they think. I don't want to be with anyone else either."

He matched my smile as he squeezed me even closer.

"And I mean it, we don't have to rush into anything or start planning a wedding right away," he assured me. "But I thought this extra step might make you feel better about things changing. I'm in this one hundred percent and I'll do whatever it takes to make this work for us."

I didn't need a ring to know that Chris loved me and wanted to make this work and being engaged wouldn't make any of the challenges that were ahead of us any less difficult to face. But there was something about how fearless he was in making such a commitment to me and something about the way he was so determined to reassure me of just how invested he was in our relationship that did put me at ease and fill me with confidence.

The fact that despite all the things we'd been through and all the things we still needed to work on - including my own insecurities - Chris was willing to marry me and make that lifelong commitment had my heart about ready to burst in my chest.

"I'm willing to do whatever it takes too," I assured him. "I love you so much, Chris."

"I love you too," he grinned. "And god, I'm so relieved you said yes."

"Of course I'd say yes," I insisted. "You know I love you."

"I do, but I also know you're worried," he reminded me. "And I didn't want you to think I was using a proposal as a band-aid or something. I know that it won't always be easy and we'll have to work hard."

"We will," I agreed. "But now, at least when you're away, I'll have this pretty ring to remember you by."

I pulled my arm back from around his waist to look down at my finger. I was grateful that it wasn't a massive, showy ring, but it was beautiful and seemed fairly unique.

"It's alexandrite," he informed me. "It's one of the birthstones for June which I thought was fitting for both of us. I was gonna use Gray's birthstone, but apparently April is diamond and I wanted something different. There's diamonds on either side of the big stone though so he's in there too."

"It's beautiful," I smiled as he grinned proudly.

"I didn't think you'd want something too over the top, but I wanted it to be something nice."

"Well, you nailed it," I assured him. "I couldn't have picked a nicer ring myself."

He captured my lips in another kiss and I leaned into it, trying to wrap my head around what had just happened.

"Have you told anyone?" I asked once he pulled away. "Does my family know?"

"I told them last night," he nodded. "I called them back after I tucked Grayson in to let them know. And my whole family knows because I was stressed about the whole thing and couldn't keep it to myself. Oh, and Hannah because she scares me and I thought she'd be mad if she didn't know."

I laughed, letting my head rest against his chest.

"She would have been mad," I agreed. "But I can't believe she scares you, she's like a little chihuahua. She's all bark, no bite."

"She cried on the phone when I told her," he admitted, earning another bubble of laughter from me. "She assured me they were tears of joy, but swore me to secrecy about it so let's keep that between us."

"Oh, no way!" I giggled. "That is too good not to tease her about."

"Well, it'll be your loss if she kills me."

"Again, all bark and no bite," I reminded him. "Did your family know you were going to ask me tonight?"

"Yeah," he nodded, looking a bit sheepish. "I think they're all waiting in the living room to see what you said.”

“Then let’s go share the good news,” I smiled, moving to link my arm with his. “Then we can come back in here and celebrate properly.”

I shot him a wink to emphasize what I meant and he let out a low growl of approval before dragging me out of our bedroom.

-

Of course, his family were thrilled that I’d said yes, even though it didn’t seem like any of them were particularly surprised. I called my family and Hannah as well before sharing a celebratory drink with my soon to be in-laws.

But it wasn’t until we laid, curled up in bed after our more private celebrations that it really started to hit me.

Sure, some people would think we were moving a bit too fast and they might have been right, if we had any intention of actually getting married right away. But for us, it was just another layer of reassurance. The ring on my finger was like a little security blanket, a memento of support for when things got hard and our schedules grew busier. It was a reminder that we were determined to make this work no matter what happened and it had me feeling much more hopeful about the new year ahead of us.

Things would change, there was no doubt about that, but we could get through it and come out stronger in the end. I knew it wouldn’t always be easy and there would be times when we felt like giving up, but with a little love and perseverance, I knew our relationship - and eventually our marriage - would only benefit and grow from our efforts.

-

Tags:  @maggotzombie @moonlacebeam @mizzzpink @zaylaugh @flowery-mess @flowerjewels @njrronaldo7 @hockeychick10 @partypoison00 @theladybiers @sidepieces @firoozehmoon @patzammit @sparkledfirecracker @mytbel0st @chvntelle-99 @mjey12

#chris evans #chris evans fanfiction #chris evans fic #chris evans fan fiction #chris evans fanfic #chris evans fluff #once bitten/more hearts #only for a moment

[cacoetheswriting]

lonely this christmas

Pairing: Spencer Reid x fem!Reader Warnings: mild mild cursing, mainly just fluff !!! Word Count: 2.9k Summary: Reader admits to Spencer she will be spending the holidays alone but he’s got other plans.

A/N: starting off the month of december with a christmas centred fic!! hope you like it <3

-

Being alone on Christmas wasn’t unfamiliar to Spencer. In fact it was pretty much the opposite. Being alone on Christmas was typical, ordinary. 

The nature of his job being what it was, he usually ended up working over the holidays anyway. Therefore he never made any plans with his mom because most times he just ended up disappointing her. Being alone at Christmas was fine. Being a disappointment however, completely different story.

As years went by Diana stopped noticing his absence. Of course if Spencer was to visit her at the sanitarium over Christmas she would welcome him with open arms, but he never does. He used to feel incredibly guilty about it, but that too passed with time. 

There was no indication that this year would be any different so he kept his schedule clear. However, the twenty-fifth of December approached fast. Very fast. The closer it got the more it was shaping to be the first holiday season, in a long time, the team would get to spend with their families. And even Spencer found himself considering going home to Nevada; seeing his mom. 

A tab of the airline website was constantly open on his desktop. He checked it regularly; hovering over the option to buy a ticket. 

That’s how you caught him one day. 

You observed from your own desk as Spencer leaned back in his chair, one hand still holding the mouse. The wheels inside his brain clearly turning; evaluating all of the options and possible outcomes.

“Hey, doctor.” You called out grabbing his attention. “If you spend any more time thinking about whether you should go home for Christmas, all the good seats will be gone.” 

He chuckled. “I guess you’re right.” “As always.” You shot him a playful wink as he turned to once again look at his screen. 

“There. Bought.” Spencer exclaimed after a brief moment of silence. “My mom will be happy.” “When was the last time you seen her?” You asked curiously. “It has been more than six months at this stage.” He answered while standing up. 

“Coffee?” He gestured to the empty mug on your desk. You nodded. “You read my mind.” 

The two of you walked towards the kitchenette in the office. It was quite late on a Friday night meaning everyone had cleared out for the weekend. Only the usual suspects remained; Spencer and you.

“When was the last time you were home for Christmas?” “Three years ago. How about you?” Spencer asked, tilting his head slightly to look at you. “Oh, I honestly don’t even remember.” You replied shrugging your shoulders.

“So your family must have been happy to hear you were getting the chance this year to spend the holidays with them.” The brunette doctor switched on the coffee machine and leaned against the wall while you elegantly hopped up onto the counter. 

“Actually, I didn't tell them.” 

Spencer furrowed his eyebrows. “How come?” 

He watched intently as you chewed on your bottom lip - a bad habit you failed miserably to break. In that second of silence you wondered whether you should tell him the truth. He was always so open with you, honest. It would only be fair to repay him with the same sincerity. So you took in a quick breath, and exhaled it quietly before looking up to meet his amiable gaze. 

“My mom and I got into this huge fight a couple of weeks ago. She tried to set me up with this guy because in her eyes it’s unacceptable that I’m single. She doesn't think it’s right that my younger sister is getting married next summer and I haven't had one relationship in my life that lasted longer than a month.” A soft sigh escaped you. “I told her to butt out, using much harsher language than that of course.” Your mouth twirled into a smile; trying to make light of this conversation. Being no stranger to your frequent use of profanity Spencer smirked. 

“We haven't spoken since. She hasn't formally invited me over for the holidays which she always does, even if she knows I won’t be able to make it, and whenever I bring it up with my dad or my siblings they change the topic so.” You shrugged once again while nervously dangling your legs. “It’s easier not to go.” 

Spencer nodded slowly, taking in all of the information you just unloaded. Shaking your head you reached over to grab the coffee pot and poured some into your mug. 

“I’m sorry doctor. I didn’t mean to just lay it all on you like that.” 

He stepped towards you. “Don’t be.” Holding his own cup in front of him, he smiled kindly. “Thank you for telling me.” You began to pour the black hot liquid into his mug; a slight shake to your hand. “Thank you for listening.” “Anytime.”

Spencer placed his full cup on the counter beside you and began to rummage through the cupboards in search for sugar. “Y/N I gotta ask, and obviously if you don't want to answer me you don't have to.” He cleared his throat as you took a sip of your bitter black coffee. “Why didn’t you want to go on a date with the man your mom suggested?” 

Once he successfully located the sugar, he straightened his shirt and plopped two cubes into the hot beverage. He offered you one but you shook your head, taking another sip. 

“I get that it’s not really my place but it just seems a small price to pay for being able to spend Christmas with your loved ones.” 

“If you must know doctor, I prefer to meet people through work. Prison systems and such.” You joked, a wide smile gracing your features. Spencer rolled his eyes. “And how is that going for you?” “Surprisingly well. I have a date shortly after we’re back from the Christmas break.” He arched his brow and smiled at you; playing along as you continued. “Solid guy. Only murdered five people.”

You beamed at the brunette doctor who was grinning back. “Maybe I should consider adding prisons to my dating pool.” You let out an over-exaggerated  gasp and placed your free hand over your chest. “Is doctor Spencer Reid really on the market?” 

Spencer shook his head. His light curls bouncing finely, matching his every move. He lowered his lips to the brim of his mug and took a sip of his coffee before focusing on you. “No, but for the right girl I’d consider it.” 

Without thinking you raised your free arm and adjusted his tie. Flattening down the edge of his collar, you could feel his eyes on you. Yet for some reason you were suddenly afraid to look up and meet his gaze. Strange. Or maybe not so strange.

“Lucky girl.” You said in a mere whisper. Letting your hand fall, you stepped off the counter with a light bounce. Spencer cleared his throat and the two of you walked back to your seats. 

The next few hours were spent working in silence. You tried to focus on the mountain of paperwork on your desk, yet instead found yourself glancing at the young doctor every other second - secretly hoping he would also be peeking up at you. And he was. Just not when you were looking at him.

“Y/N if you want you can come with me to Nevada, spend Christmas with me and my mom. ” Spencer proposed out of the blue. He got up out of his chair and grabbed his jacket, slowly putting it on. You smiled at him. “Thank you doctor but I will honestly be okay alone.” Pause. “Plus, I wouldn't want to interfere.” 

He was about to protest, say you wouldn't be interrupting, but he bit his tongue. He didn't want to seem pushy. “If you change your mind, let me know.” He reached for his bag and threw the strap over his head. “Just do it quickly or all the good seats will be gone.” He teased. You giggled. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. ” 

The brunette agent hesitated. He swayed on his heel for a moment before approaching your desk. “Can I give you a ride home?” He asked, eyes locking with yours. “There’s still a couple of things I want to get done but thank you for the kind offer.” Spencer nodded. A faint look of disappointment appeared on his face. “Goodnight Y/N.” “Goodnight doctor.” 

Christmas was upon you in the blink of an eye. On the last day before break the team exchanged Secret Santa presents before enjoying a pizza party. This year you had Penelope who squealed over her gift as everyone watched in amusement; you included. Resting against the wall, you observed as the blonde jumped around the room with joy. Her smile made you smile. 

“Good job on Penelope’s gift.” Spencer appeared beside you holding two plastic cups filled to the brim with eggnog. He handed you one before making himself comfortable next to you, his arm pressed gently to yours. “I don’t know what you're talking about doctor.” You responded, tilting your head slightly to look at him. 

“I like your Christmas sweater.” A small smile circled your lips as you reached out to flick the little bell sown onto the top of the Santas hat on his jumper. Spencer chuckled. “Thank you. You know, I really couldn't decide between this or the one with the Home Alone reference.” “Ah, the trusted Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal sweater.” “That would be the one, yes.” The two of you beamed at each other. 

“I’m surprised you know what Home Alone is doctor.” You teased, nudging him playfully in the arm. Spencer laughed. “If I’m being honest, I was more intrigued by the booby traps than the plot of the movie.” He retorted as you sipped on the eggnog; slightly rolling your eyes at his response. “Of course you were. Don’t tell me you tested them out too?” 

He averted his gaze without responding, clearly a little embarrassed. “Well...” 

You couldn't help but giggle. Slowly, you leaned in towards him so that your lips were now at his ear. The brunette agent shivered as your hot breath hit his skin, however he didn't move away. 

“Don’t worry doctor, I did too.” You whispered. 

Instantly, he turned to look at you once again. His face was now inches away from yours, and as he stared oddly into your eyes the air caught in your throat. The two of you hovered right there for a moment, not moving and quite soundless, simply feeling each other's presence - as if there was no-one else in the room, no party. 

Eventually you broke the eye contact and took a step to your right, moving away from him. Suddenly feeling timid, you took another sip of your beverage while your free hand ran through your hair. Spencer also looked away. His mind racing a million miles per hour; he should have kissed you, right? No. Not in front of all these people, your colleagues. That would be bad. Unprofessional. Would you have even wanted him to kiss you? Did you like him like that? He hoped you did.

The party soon drew to a close. You were lost in conversation with Emily while Spencer was trying to teach Morgan and Rossi some card tricks. Your gaze kept averting in the direction of the young doctor every once in a while; Emily of course noticed. “Tell me again why you’re not going to Nevada with our resident genius?” A puzzled look now present on your face. “How did you-” 

“Reid told Morgan who told Garcia who told me.” She interrupted. You laughed at the ridiculousness of what she just came out of her mouth. “It’s like I’m in high school all over again.” She laughed under her breath.

There was a brief moment of silence.

“So, why aren’t you going?” Emily pried. A quiet sigh escaped your lips. “Like I told him, I don’t want to interfere.” She rolled her eyes; not buying into your bullshit. “He wouldn't have invited you-” “Fuck, please I don’t want-” She raised her hands in front of her. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” 

Glancing at the time, you excused yourself wishing Emily a wonderful and happy Christmas. Quickly and quietly, you headed to your desk and put on your winter coat. As you grabbed your handbag you turned to face the remaining partygoers: “Happy holidays everyone!”. Your eyes briefly locked with Spencers who shot you a shy smile as you mouthed ‘Merry Christmas doctor.’ before hurrying out the door. 

Two days later it was the twenty-fifth of December. You woke up on your couch, having fallen asleep during Christmas movie marathon, to the sound of your phone ringing. 

Yawning, you reached for the device. Spencer. Answering, you pressed it to your ear and croaked; “Hello.”. 

“I hope I didn't wake you.” “You did actually.” You responded yawning once again and gradually scrambling to your feet. You ambled towards the kitchen, straight for the coffee maker. “But I could never be mad at you doctor.” “I’m glad to hear that.” 

There was a short pause.

“How are you?” He asked, his voice kind. “I’m okay, no need to worry about me. Shit-” “Y/N?”

“Sorry. I just realised I’m out of coffee grounds.”

Spencer chuckled on the other line. “It’s not funny doctor. I’ve no coffee and everything is closed because it’s Christmas.” “You could always switch to tea for the day.” Rolling your eyes, you smirked. “Right, because I’m such an avid tea drinker.” 

There was another short pause.

“How was your flight? How’s Nevada? How’s your mom?” You asked changing the topic, making conversation. The young doctor didn't respond. “Hey, are you there?” The line cut-off. Weird.

‘He’ll call back later.’, you thought and headed for your bathroom.

An hour later you were showered and dressed. You switched on the lights on your poorly decorated Christmas tree and were about to make yourself comfortable on the sofa when a knock on the door caught your attention. You scurried over, without looking through the peephole to see who it was, you opened it.

“Spencer.” 

“Merry Christmas Y/N.” 

The brunette doctor smiled as you furrowed your brows. “What are you doing here? I thought you were in Nevada.”

“I was. I got back early this morning.” 

He waited for you to invite him in before shimmying passed. He set down two tote bags on the kitchen counter before turning to look at you once again. Lost for words, you locked the door and approached the young doctor. Slowly you peeked inside the bags. “Supplies.” He simply stated while taking off his coat. 

“You didn’t really think I’d let you spend Christmas alone, did you?” 

Your heart skipped a beat. “You didn't have to do this doctor.” “I know.” He shrugged before reaching into one of the bags and unpacking the items. “I wanted to.” He held up a bag of coffee grounds and you couldn't help but giggle delicately. 

“Thank you.” Your fingers brushed his as you grabbed the bag sending a shiver down your spine. Spencer froze feeling the sensation too. Nervously, he let his hand fall but the half-smile on his face remained. 

“Where did you get this stuff anyway?” You asked as you walked around to the coffee machine. “I packed what I had at home.” Nodding, you began to prepare two cups. As the appliance whirred, you turned in your spot. “What about your mom? Wouldn't she have wanted to spend Christmas Day with you?” 

Spencer continued to unpack the bags, neatly placing each item on the counter in front of him. “We spent all of yesterday together.” Pause. “And besides, she’s the one that urged me to come here.” He peered up at you, resting his palms down on the kitchen counter. The second his hazel eyes locked with yours, the flush of your cheeks turned a slender pink. 

Not really thinking you ushered back towards him. The brunette doctor watched you attentively. Gently, you placed one hand on top of his and gave it a tender squeeze. “Lucky me.” You whispered staring deep into his eyes. 

Spencers smile spread wider in unison with yours. After a few seconds of pure comfortable silence, he cleared his throat. “Do you think your prisoner boyfriend would mind if I asked you out on a date?” A faint giggle escaped your lips as the shade of your jowl turned from pink to bright red. “Even if he does-” You took another step towards Spencer, closing the space between you. “-I think you could handle him.” 

Spencer chuckled. Using his free hand, he placed a loose strand of your hair behind your ear. His thumb stroked your cheek in the process and you angled into his pleasant touch. 

“Thank you for being here.” You muttered, unintentionally chewing on your bottom lip. 

He cupped your face as his gaze moved briefly down to your mouth before once again locking with yours. “Thank you for having me.” His voice soothing, not quite matching the fervour in his eyes. 

In the space of a single heartbeat, he leaned down and his lips crushed against yours passionately. You let go of his hand and placed both your palms on his chest; tugging lightly at his shirt to try and pull him in even closer. Spencer did not waste a second, his now free arm moved elegantly around your waist.

The two of you pulled away breathlessly. He gently pressed his forehead to yours as you smiled. “Merry Christmas doctor.” “Merry Christmas Y/N.”

-

masterlist

#criminal minds #criminal minds fanfic #criminal minds fic #criminal minds fanfiction #criminal minds fandom #spencer reid #dr spencer reid #spencer reid fanfic #spencer reid fic #spencer reid fanfiction #spencer reid fluff #spencer reid angst #spencer reid x oc #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x you #spencer reid x y/n #dr spencer reid x reader #dr spencer reid x you #dr spencer reid x y/n #christmas fic #christmas headcanon #christmas fluff

[seylumdarklight]

Cold (Corpse Husband X Reader)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! As a gift, I present this story as a present. I apologize for any grammar and spelling errors, I had been trying all day to finish this but my family seem to make it there mission to keep me from working on it.  I hope that everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday! Pairing: Corpse Husband X Reader. Fluff fluff Maybe the cold wasn’t so bad. _______________________________________________________________ It was safe to say Corpse was a Cali boy. The sunny, warm city of San Diego has been his home for all his life. The only differences in the seasons were that the temperature dropped about ten degrees in fall and winter. Corpse was west cost boy through and through. You, however, came from the northeast United States. Hot, sunny summer days on the beach and cold, snowy winters were the beloved memories of your childhood. You loved the orange and reds that painted the trees in fall and the colorful flowers that sprung up in spring. The changing of the seasons was a hard loss when you moved to the west coast. You were okay with it, you had amazing friends and a wonderful loving boyfriend but the holidays didn’t feel quite the same. You were a little down when you say the Christmas decorations and the temperature were in the high sixty. There had always been the idea of going home for the holiday but you didn’t want to leave Corpse alone. No one should spend the holidays alone and you two had spent the holidays together since you first moved to the west coast. Your family had been asking for you to bring this wonderful boyfriend you mentioned so much home so they could finally put a face (and name) to the man and what a better time than the holidays right? As much as you wanted to, you always turned down the invitation and idea of going back home for the holidays. Traveling was stressful, especially when it was to another state. Add on the stress of the usual stress of the holidays and meeting your family on top of that and you worried. Corpse already had a bit of a hard time going outside and you didn’t dare put that kind of stress on him. You were content with spending the holidays in your little apartment with Corpse. That was until he brought the idea up himself. “Are you sure you are okay with this?” You asked for probably the thousandth time. The two of you were getting ready to head to the airport. Suitcases were by the door and you were doing one last check around the apartment before you left. You figured that it would be best to get an overnight flight because they were less likely to be crowded and less chaotic. Your question had been one that you had asked over and over again. “For the hundredth time, I’m perfectly okay with this, Y/N.” Corpse said, hiding his shaking hands in the pocket of his hoodie. “It’s too late for us to cancel anyway.” Tucking the envelope with the tickets into your purse, You walked over to Corpse and looked into his eyes. After two years of dating, the two of you were pretty good at reading each other. You could see his anxiety was through the roof but Corpse was trying to keep a brave face for you. Reaching up, you wrapped your arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. His breath fanned against your neck and he wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close. “I love you, Corpse. If you don’t feel okay with this, we don’t have to go. My family will understand.” You told him as you pulled back slightly.  Corpse tilted his head down slightly, gently pressing his forehead against yours. “Honey, I want to do this.” He said before kissing your forehead. “I’m curious to see where you grew up and meet your family. You’ve done so much for me, Let me do this one thing for you.” You blinked away the tears that were threatening to fill your eyes. “I don’t know what I did to deserve someone as wonderful as you.” You said. A grin spreads across Corpse’s lips and he chuckled. “I wonder the same thing every day. Come one, we better go before we’re late.” Stealing one last kiss from each other, the two of you locked up the apartment and headed downstairs. Corpse felt your hand slide into his, warm fingers lacing with his cold ones, and gave it a gentle squeeze. He squeezed back, smiling softly. His nerves and anxiety were still pretty high but with you by his side, it didn’t seem so suffocating. ________________________ It was cold. Really cold. Corpse groaned slightly as he slowly woke up, his body aching slightly. The familiar warmth and scent of vanilla told him that it was you cuddled against his side. Out of habit, he lifted a  hand and ran it through your hair. With his other hand, he sluggishly felt around on the side table for his or your phone. He grabbed it and brought it close to check the time. The brightness of the screen made him flinch and let out a mumbled curse as he fumbled a bit to turn it down. Once he managed to do it, Corpse saw that it was three am. Well, he had managed to get at least a few hours of sleep. The two of you had been at your parent’s house for three days. It hadn’t been bad. The plane ride and meeting your parents had been the most stressful. His hands couldn’t stop shaking and he had been breathing a little faster than normal but you managed to keep him grounded. You never let go of his hand, constantly reminding him that you were there. Your family was very welcoming. Your mother had wasted no time to break out the baby albums and show Corpse the pictures of younger you cover head-to-toe in the mud with a bright grin on your face. Your father had been prepared to give Corpse the whole “Protective father talk.” but one look at you and Corpse’s intertwined hands and the way you were towards each other, he knew that his daughter was in safe hands. You couldn’t be more ecstatic that your parents love Corpse and you could slowly see Corpse relaxing around them. A sudden chill ran down his spine and Corpse held you a bit closer. The cold was one thing he was not a fan of. He was from San Diego. The lowest it ever got there was in the fifties and when you two-step off the plane, it was freaking thirties. It sucked! He pulled the blanket up higher, trying to salvage some of the warmth underneath. It made his body ache, his nose runny, he could feel the tips of his fingers or his toes and it was just...cold!! Looking towards the window, he noticed something. He shifted a bit to get a better look. Outside, in the soft yellow glow of the streetlights, snowflakes slowly danced down to earth. It was a steady flurry, not too light yet not a huge snowstorm. Corpse watched the flakes descended from the sky. He had never seen snow in real life before. “It’s pretty isn’t it.” Corpse looked down to see you awake and watching the snow with a sleepy smile on your lips. “When I was younger and I knew it would snow, I would stay up to see the first flakes fall from the sky. There something about seeing those flurries that just makes me happy..” He hummed softly, fingers lazily running through your hair. You melted slightly as you turned your head to nuzzle him. A smile tugged on his lips and he pressed his face into your hair. You were right in a way. While it didn’t give him the excitement you mentioned at the moment, maybe because it was late and/or he was still overly tired from being. However, watching the snowfall in the warm, yellowish glow from the nearby streetlight and having you snuggles against his side sent this calmness over him. He closed his eyes, pulling you close. You had already drifted back to sleep, a content smile on your lips. For a moment like this...maybe the cold isn’t so bad. I hope you guys enjoyed it. I think its pretty decent for having been slightly rushed. If anyone wants to be added to a future tag list, let me know. Now I’m off to bed. Merry Christmas to all and too all a good night.

#corpse husband fanfic #corpse husband x reader #corpse x y/n #reader instert #corpse husband #merry christmas

[crystaljins]

Finding Christmas again

Characters: Taehyung x Reader

Word count: 21K

Synopsis:  After a lifetime’s worth of turbulent and miserable Christmases with your family, you finally make the executive decision to spend this year’s Christmas alone. 

However, when you take home a box of old Christmas decorations from your friend’s shop, it seems that this Christmas is set to be different from the others.  

ChristmasScarecrow!Tae x human!Reader

Notes: Here it is!!! My contibution to the @thebtswritersclub​ secret santa (and also their monthly holiday prompt, Holiday/festival)!!!  And my secret santa is.... *drum roll*....

Hi @pars-ley​​, Merry Christmas!!!!! I hope you enjoy your secret santa!! 

Anyway, I know the premise sounds weird but bear with me!!!! It’s kinda cute, I promise!!

Rating: PG13

Genre: Fluff, angst

Warnings: Mentions of divorce, fighting, alcoholism, depression, mean step-siblings (OC’s family). Mentions of house break-ins, some kissing and some ANGST, santa is real, really poorly explained world mechanics that are kind of glossed over because I’m lazy LOL

For you, the start of the Christmas season is always marked by Seokjin unboxing the stock for his December-long Christmas sales. Any stock from the previous year that didn’t get sold gets lined up along the shelves along with a few new trinkets here and there. He pulls out a series of dusty cardboard boxes, soft and collapsing from age and within are numerous fraying, gaudy Christmas decorations he likes to string around the shop to give off a bit of a “festive” atmosphere. Of course, an overstocked, tacky dollar store can only be so “festive” but Seokjin never seems deterred. 

This year, however, marks a change. You sit amidst towering, overflowing shelves whileJin beams at you over the counter of his tacky dollar store and slides the first of the decrepit and infamous cardboard boxes towards you. 

“If you’re being stubborn and insisting on spending Christmas alone this year, at least put up some decorations.” He insists. Hesitantly, you peer inside- the tinsel has lost some of its magnificent sparkly mane, but it’s still passable and there’s a few tangled lights that you know from experience may have a bulb or two blown but are still somewhat useable. 

“I guess I could,” you reluctantly agree. Your small apartment could definitely do with a little apartment sprucing. “You’re not going to decorate this year?” You question. Jin shakes his head and beams, gesturing to a series of brand new cardboard boxes, freshly shipped. They’re crisp and upright in a way that makes the old boxes look even more soggy and pathetic.

“I’ve done a little bit of online shopping this year and thought it would be nice to freshen up my decorations. And I know you could use some decorations so I knew my babies would be going to a good home.” He announces, positively giddy with delight. Christmas always leaves Jin on the edge of manic. Starting the month off with his birthday and then finishing it off with the entire world decked out in festivities is like giving him a month-long sugar rush. Nothing says festive season like the terrifying sparkle to his gaze.

“Well... thank you, I guess.” You say. You’re hesitant but grateful. You’re not the kind of person who hates Christmas or thinks the grinch was a victim, but it’s always been a season that didn’t ring as joyful for you as it seemed to for everyone else. After all, for you, Christmas had consisted of you hiding upstairs while your parents had screaming matches while they were still together, and then it had been a mix of being picked on by your step-siblings the years you were stuck with your father, and nursing your mother after she’d get drunk over eggnog and cry over her broken family when you spent it with your mother. Perhaps this is your chance to reclaim the season. “I can load these up in my car and then we can get started hanging up your new decorations?” You suggest, as Jin finishes balancing the till. 

Jin nods absently, counting under his breath, before leaning against the counter with a smile. 

“That would be absolutely fantastic. Your santa hat is in my office- don’t forget it!” He reminds you. You groan. 

“Do we have to do this every year? It’s demeaning.” You complain. Jin nods and then ignores your grimacing, returning to counting the day’s takings. 

With a heavy sigh, you take your time loading the boxes into your car, parked out the back of the shop, before ducking into his office. Sure enough, two embroidered Santa’s hats sit haphazardly on Jin’s desk. You tug one over your head and grab the other for him. 

You’re not sure when this tradition of helping Seokjin set up his shop for Christmas began. If you’re being honest, you’re not even sure when you started being friends with him, but this has been a yearly tradition since he started the shop, and the closest you’ve ever gotten to Christmas cheer. Your job is to string out the decorations in the least gaudy manner possible while Jin arranges his Christmas stock on his already overflowing shelves.

Back in the shop, Jin has just finished locking up when you come down the stairs at the back. He turns to you and beams, before gesturing to the boxes filled with new decorations. 

“Time to put that interior decorator eye to good use, (Y/N)!” He cries, clapping his hands enthusiastically together. You wince- it would take a lot more than some Christmas lights to fix the mess that is Seokjin’s shop. Even a professional interior decorator couldn’t fix this chaotic mess. His shop is ten years past a clearance sale.

Still, you walk over and begin to open up the boxes, sorting through the decorations until you come across an older box. You thought you’d loaded them all, but it looks like you’ve missed one. 

“What’s this box, Jin?” You ask, peeling back the lid to find a series of old, musty decorations. Jin pauses in his detangling of some dangling star lights to look over your shoulder. 

“Those are the decorations I put up for sale every year that never seem to go. Even the words “clearance” isn’t enough for people to want them.” He sighs, and he’s surprisingly melancholy as he looks upon the unwanted decorations. You’ve never had much to do with the things he chooses to sell- frankly you’re a little afraid with the things you may find should you venture into the labyrinth of his dollar store. Curious, you peel back the cardboard flap and peer inside at the myriad of unwanted decorations. 

Oddly, it makes your heart twinge a little, to see the stock that has been stuck gatherinf dust for eleven months. As dramatic as it sounds, you know a thing or two about being unwanted. 

Not that your parents ever implied you were unwanted! It’s just hard not to feel that way when you’re born to a couple who want nothing to do with each other. The constant back and forth between your two feuding parents had constantly made you feel more like a “pass-the-parcel” package than a human being.

And when your dad had remarried, he’d always insisted that you were welcome, but it’s not difficult to see how happy he is in his new family. How his stepchildren’s achievements made him smile or how he’d finally achieved the noisy, warm household he’d always dreamed of. The household he never had with you. And now even your mother is trying new things- she’d asked you to come with her to meet the family of her new boyfriend, but you couldn’t bring yourself to suffer through the awkwardness. 

That’s why you’d chosen to spend this Christmas alone- because you can’t seem to shake the feeling that you’re an afterthought when it comes to a holiday that involves spending time with your family. You exist, and you share their blood, but they have plans with people they actually chose to be in their lives. You’re welcome along, but not really wanted. 

Jin watches the expression on your face with mild interest. 

“Do you... want any of them?” He questions tentatively. “They’re a bit gaudy, but you could give them a home?”

You grimace at the ugly decorations- it’s not hard to see why no one wanted them. Tacky, corny baubles and cheap little mantle ornaments that a even a seventy year old grandmother would turn her nose up at.

But despite your general distaste, a tuft of red wool at the corner of the box catches your attention. You reach forward and tug it free.

A Christmas-themed scarecrow toy smiles back at you. Tufts of red, woollen hair peak out beneath his little santa’s hat, and two sewed on black buttons make up his eyes. His mouth is a simple stitched black line, a little upwards curve, and a little paint on upside down triangle makes his nose. He’s dress in a flannel shirt and overalls, but the overalls have a little christmas tree embroidered on the front and his flannel shirt has fluffy cuffs like the ends of a santa shirt. He’s sort of charming, if a little strange- why a christmas scarecrow? What an oddly specific decoration. 

“I can kind of see why no one would want these.” You snort, though you don’t put him back. Jin nods sympathetically. 

“This little guy has been with me for years. All the other decorations I bought with him eventually got sold but this guy is still unwanted.” He admits, taking the scarecrow from your hands to examine it fondly. “I even tried giving him away for free once but they didn’t want him.”

You bite your lip at that. The two button eyes stare up at you longingly, and for some reason you feel a sense of camaraderie with this stupid, gaudy christmas scarecrow. 

If you’re taking a bunch of decorations, why not this guy? He clashes with every instinct you have in terms of decoration, but the thought of him sitting on a shelf, unwanted for a month only to go back in this dusty old box at the end of the year is too depressing for you to handle. With a sigh, you take him back from Jin. 

“Might as well, since you dumped all your other old decorations on me.” You sigh.

And you miss the way Jin winks at the little scarecrow when you’re facing away from it. 

++

You actually forget about the decorations for the next few days. They sit in your car, unpacked. You’re busy with work as they rush to wrap up the end of year projects before their deadlines. And it’s not like putting up decorations has a deadline, right? You put them up some time before Christmas and hopefully remember to take them down before February hits. 

It’s when Autumn finally draws to a close and the first of December hits that you’re finally motivated to put them up. You’re in a deep clean kind of mood and when you duck out to your car to chuck out the various wrappers and old papers you’ve built up over autumn, you recall the boxes in your boot. 

The little Christmas Scarecrow is the first thing you pull out once the boxes are unloaded into your home. The little button eyes gaze up at you mournfully, as if scolding you for leaving him unattended in your car for so long. 

“Sorry little guy.” You sigh, straightening and setting him atop your mantle. He looks a little out of place with your decor but it feels right to place him there for some reason. This way he’s in full view of any guests that walk in. “Here. This can be your spot. Front and centre.” You tell him, and from this spot his button eyes look a little less mournful. With a smile, you begin puzzling out how to assemble Jin’s ratty old Christmas tree. 

You’re in the middle of a youtube tutorial on how to make your tree appear fuller when your phone lights up with your mother’s contact image. 

It takes you a few moments to steal yourself to answer her.

You aren’t on bad terms with your mother or anything. It’s just... for a few years after the divorce, when you probably needed her most, she just wasn’t your mother. And she’s done really well and gotten a lot of help and she’s in a really good place right now, but it’s still hard. It’s hard to talk to either of your parents, really. 

“Hey mum.” You finally say as you answer the phone. You can guess what she’s going to ask- every since she found out you wouldn’t be going home for Christmas, she’s been doing her best to convince you otherwise. 

“I was just at the store this morning,” she greets you. “And I saw all the ingredients for that christmas cake we used to make when you were small. Do you remember? And we always made it snowman-shaped and you’d cry when we’d eat it.”

You smile at the memory- it’s one of the very few fond ones you have on Christmas. When you were a very young child, before whatever your parents had between them went sour. Before life transitioned into hiding upstairs and trying to block out the sounds of shouting and being bounced back and forth between opposite sides of the country because your mother and father couldn’t even handle being in the same city together. 

“I do remember.” You say.

“We could make it!” Your mother urges. “Just think- wouldn’t it be so fun? John has a daughter your age, and she loves to bake! She’s so eager to meet you too- we could-“

“Maybe next year, mum.” You say. “I’m just absolutely slammed at work this year. Besides, I’ll be down for your birthday soon. I’d just rather spend Christmas at home, this year.”

Your mother is silent for a moment. You know she didn’t miss the implications of your statement. When you had first moved out for studying, returning to your parent’s place had been “going home”. Even you’re not sure when avoiding your family for the holidays had morphed into “staying home.”

“I... I’m sorry. I know I keep bringing it up, but I heard from your father that you weren’t going to spend it with him either and I... I don’t like the thought of you alone for Christmas.” She finally says. “I know I’ve failed you in a lot of ways, but I don’t want this to be one of them. John’s wonderful and his family would love to have you. We could make room for you.”

You go quiet for a moment. Your mum is trying her very best. You know that- you know that so well and yet you can’t. You just can’t do it. You don’t have it in you to brave through Christmas with either of your parents and play happy families and pretend that the years of misery didn’t happen. You don’t want a Christmas where people are “making room” for you. You want to have a place that is just inherently yours.

“Next year.” You promise. Next year you’ll have steeled yourself. Next year you’ll have it together. Next year you can try again. Next year you’ll be a little stronger and more resilient and then you can face the mess of your broken family.

Your mother sighs on the other end, in a sad, disappointed sort of way. 

“Next year.” She finally says, and there’s a promise in her words. Next year she’ll be better too. She’ll keep trying. 

You stay on the phone a little longer, and when you hang up you just spend a moment in your empty apartment. Boxes are sitting, strewn around you and currently the only decoration is your little Christmas Scarecrow. 

Oddly, he almost looks judgemental as he peers at you through the buttons. 

“Don’t look at me like that.” You sigh, getting to your feet and beginning the process of organising the Christmas decorations. “It’s complicated. You don’t know my mum and I know she loves me and I know she’s trying... but it’s... it’s just complicated, ok?”

You continue to ramble as you finish up your decorations. It’s quite therapeutic, talking to an inanimate object. It almost feels like he’s listening- there’s something warm in the little stitched mouth and button eyes. You and your scarecrow, both unwanted on Christmas day. You tell him about your parent’s divorce, about your past Christmases. About Jin and your friendship with him. About your decision to be alone for Christmas this year because neither of your parent’s offers seemed particularly appealing. 

By the time you’ve finish, your apartment actually looks decent. The Christmas tree sits in the corner, decorated with baubles covered in chipped paint and balding tinsel. There’s lights strung across the ceiling and across your mantle and maybe there’s one or two missing spots, and maybe it’s just a little tacky, but it’s warm. It’s home. You’ve carved out a little home for yourself in this apartment, and maybe it’s not perfect, but you like it. 

When you fall asleep on the couch, exhausted, you dream of ringing sleigh bells and cheerful Christmas tunes. 

++

You awaken suddenly. Your heart is in your throat. 

There’s someone in your apartment. You can hear them rummaging around in the kitchen. You don’t know how they got there, but terror fills you. 

The first thing you do is discreetly reach for your phone. You want to call the emergency number but you don’t want the intruder to know you’re awake in case they retaliate. Instead, you shoot a text to Jin. 

There’s someone in my house. You text. The response is almost immediate. 

I’m on my way. He responds. You resist the urge to groan. You’d told him so that he could call the police, not so that he could play hero. 

You roll off the couch and sneak closely to the wall. A metal bat rests there- a housewarming gift from Namjoon when he first learnt you’d be living alone. You never thought you’d have to use it. You never forget to lock your doors and surely no one has the guts to scale a building and come in through your balcony, right?

Still, you’re grateful for it now as you grip the handle tightly between both fists. 

Hesitantly and quietly, you inch towards the kitchen. The light is on and you can make out a figure bustling inside. 

With a cry, you rush forward, swing the back in a downwards arc. 

Only for your terrified intruder to whip around and catch the bat with the palms of his hands. Ignoring the fact that he just caught the full swing of a metal bat without flinching, you try and pull your bat back to tru for another swing. 

But he merely tightens his grip on the bat and this gives you time to take in his appearance. 

There’s a lot of striking things about the man’s appearance. Bright, brilliantly red hair, the colour of Christmas ribbons and raspberries, a straight, prominent nose. A sharp, well-defined jawline and two warm, dark eyes, almost familiar in their dark shade. 

It’s hard to know what to take in first. His startlingly handsome face, his brightly coloured hair, or his outlandish outfit. You don’t think you’ve ever seen someone look cute in tacky, Christmas themed overalls or a flannel shirt that’s an odd mix of a Santa’s hat and a farmer’s uniform. Complete with the Santa’s hat and the bright red hair, the man could almost be twins with your Christmas Scarecrow. 

“Who are you?” You demand. You attempt another futile tug on your bat, but the man’s grip is firm. 

“Don’t panic, (Y/N)!” He urges. His voice is deep and velvety but edged with a little terror. Your eyes widen. 

“How do you know my name?” You demand. If you weren’t afraid before, you are now. 

“Seokjin said it! In the store, a few days ago!” He cries, still pressing firmly against your metal bat. Despite you pressing your whole weight into it, it doesn’t budge a centimetre closer towards him. 

“So you’re a stalker?” You cry. 

“No!” He counters. “It’s me, (Y/N)! The scarecrow!”

That startles you enough to relax your grip on the metal bat. He senses the lapse in your grip and tugs the metal bat free. He holds it away from you and approaches you slowly, cautiously. 

“I was just making you some hot chocolate.” He says slowly. “You seemed sad after your phone call with your mum and I wanted to comfort you.”

He’s crazy- a crazy guy has broken into your house and has been listening to your conversations for who knows how long, and has been stalking you before that. 

“How long have you been stalking me for, you psycho?” You demand. His eyes widen in horror. 

“I’m not a stalker!” He insists. “I’m your scarecrow- turn around and I can prove it!” 

“What? So that you can stab me while my back is turned?” You demand. You make a grab for the bat. “Get out of my house!”

He manages to throw the bat backwards and grab both your shoulders as you lunge for him. With impressive strength he presses on your shoulders and spins you around. In the same motion, he shoves you forward a few steps and you stumble to re-gain your balance. 

Enraged and terrified, you whip around, ready to retaliate.

Only, he’s gone. Where a weird red-haired man previously stood, your kitchen is now empty. 

The counters are scattered with objects- your milk is out, and an open tin of cocoa, a few of your spice jars are laid neatly next to the pile of pots. 

And, sitting neatly where the man had been not a moment before, is your little Christmas Scarecrow. He smiles up at you, button eyes gleaming like he knows something you don’t. 

You can’t help it- you crumble before it. The post-adrenaline crash hits hard and you stare dumbly at the embroidered smile for a moment. 

“It’s a dream.” You finally conclude to yourself. “This is some messed-up nightmare and tomorrrow this haunted scarecrow can go right back to Jin’s store.” 

You grab it and hold it at a distance, your arms outstretched like it smells bad. 

“This is fine.” You assert. “It’s a dream. Just. Just go back here. And I’ll go... run into a wall or something. And this will all be some sort of fever dream.”

You settle the Christmas Scarecrow back into its rightful spot on your mantle, before turning around. You take a deep breath, mentally preparing yourself to run full speed at the wall just opposite. 

“‘Haunted’ is a little much, don’t you think?” The same velvety voice from earlier asks, and you turn to find the very same intruder leaping off your mantle onto the ground. “I’m not a ghost, or anything.”

He comes to stand in front of you, arms folded and lips pulled into a frown. Looking upon him now, you see the similarities to the Christmas Scarecrow- even the loose thread in the embroidered tree of his overall pockets is identical. It... it really is your Christmas Scarecrow, standing before you in human form. 

You nod to yourself, a peaceful wave of acceptance washing over you and- 

No wait, never mind. That wave is nausea- you’re blacking out.

++

When you come to, you’re arranged neatly on your couch with your scarecrow hovering over you. You almost want to faint again, but you hold strong. 

“You’re awake!” He cheers, waving a damp towel around. He’s been dipping it in a bowl of cool water and pressing it against your forehead and you flinch as his actions send icy drops over water scattering across your face. 

“And you used to be a scarecrow.” You grumble, sitting up. You squint and lean in closely, taking in every detail. Each mark on his skin, each strand of bright red hair, the smooth curve of his smile... it’s so human. Probably the most ethereal and beautiful human to walk the planet, but still human. One of his eyelids is a monolid and the other is a double lid and one of his front teeth is just slightly longer than the other and yet the effect is that he’s just so charming. Far too beautiful to be sitting in your tacky, poorly decorated apartment and far too beautiful to be spending most of his time as a cringe-y christmas-themed scarecrow that Jin probably fished out of the bottom of a clearance basket at a thrift shop and thought he could get away with re-selling. “You have maybe thirty seconds to explain before I call the police. Or an exorcist. Or both.”

He holds up his both his hands in surrender.

“Wait. Please.” He pleads. The desperate way he says the words makes you pause. Honestly, the sane thing to do would be to kick him out. Leave the weird, haunted scarecrow out on the street to fend for himself and go about your days as if this particular little supernatural incident never occurred. 

You sigh. 

“Just... please tell me what’s going on.” You finally say. “I won’t do anything drastic, but at least explain.”

Relied and gratefulness shines in his eyes and he clasps your hands gratefully between his own. Your attention is momentarily caught by the way his large hands dwarf your own. The bony prominences of his knuckles catch your attention- they shift and glide beneath his skin as his grip around your hand tightens. For some reason, the tiny action seems huge. You lift your gaze slowly to meet his eyes, which are round and warm. 

“My name is Taehyung.” He explains. “And I’m a Christmas Spirit.”

“Christmas Spirit?” You echo in bewilderment. Taehyung nods eagerly and sits forward. He pulls his legs together so that he can sit cross-legged and wraps his hands around his ankles. 

“Yup!” He says, and he’s surprisingly nonchalant despite the supernatural implications of his statement. “We’re beings that come about from the magic of the season. And our job is to spread Christmas cheer to whoever welcomes us into their home.”

As if that’s just a normal thing that someone can spring on you and not expect you to panic! Yet he announces it like he’s a five year old excited to explain the drawing he made of you in school that day. All you can really manage is to nod mutely for a moment. Despite the absurdity of his words, it certainly sounds like what you had done- taken a tacky, unwanted Christmas decoration and welcomed it into your home. 

“And that’s you, (Y/N).” He says warmly, and the way he says your name is so fond. Like you’re his oldest, most valued friend. It startles you- you don’t think you’ve ever had the syllables of your name pronounced with such care, like they are a precious gift. “You are the first human to ever welcome me into your home. All my friends eventually found people to take them, and I’m the last one to remain. I’ve never gotten to fulfil my duty, not even once.”

“Why not?” You croak out. Why was there a random little christmas ornament in Seokjin’s store that held this kind of power? Why did it end up with you? Who was this mysterious man in your house, gazing at you like you’re the best thing to ever happen to him?

“Well, it’s probably not hard to tell.” He admits, rubbing awkwardly at the back of his neck and then adjusting the santa’s hat atop his head. “Not many people want a Christmas-themed Scarecrow for a decoration. At least not around here.” He sighs. But then he turns to you and his gaze is bright. It’s a little blinding, his mega-watt smile, and it’s certainly overwhelming to have the full force of it directed at you. “But you gave me a chance! You took me home!”

“So... you spread Christmas cheer for me? What does that even mean? What happens when you finish?” You say, leaning back just a little to give yourself room to breath. His scent fills your nostrils and it’s overwhelming. A pleasant mix of christmas scents- gingerbread, cinammon, peppermint. It sits thick in the back of your throat like the pleasant burn of a hot, sweet drink. 

He looks surprised at the line of questioning and a frown replaces the warm, glowing look he’d borne just moments earlier. 

“Well, I’m not sure. I suppose when I finish then you put me away for a year or you pass me on to someone else.” He admits. “This is my first time, so I’m still learning the ropes.” He’s a little sheepish as he admits it. But then his gaze lights up again and he pulls himself up onto the couch so that he can sit shoulder-to-shoulder with you. “But spreading Christmas cheer is just helping you enjoy the season! You haven’t had a great experience with Christmas, right? I can help!”

You stiffen as you recall earlier that day; you had essentially aired all your dirty laundry to what you’d thought was an inanimate object. Taehyung now knew more about you than even some of your closest friends did. You’d unintentionally opened up and made yourself vulnerable to some guy you hardly knew. The thought has you recoiling. You’re not against the idea of opening up- certainly when people ask the right questions, you’ll answer honestly. But people rarely ask and you’ve never volunteered. No one has has access to every dirty detail like Taehyung now does. 

And for some reason that thought has you terrified.

“I’m... I don’t mean to burst your bubble, Taehyung.” You volunteer quietly. Taehyung stiffens at the tone of your voice. “You seem like a nice enough guy. Or spirit. Or scarecrow. Whatever you are. And I hope that one day you’ll find someone you can give lots of Christmas cheer to. But I didn’t sign up for this. I don’t want any of it- the “Christmas cheer” or the festivities, or anything. I’m just...” you inhale deeply. “I’m just trying to make the most of what I have.” 

You get to your feet, your back facing him. 

“You can stay the night, but I’ll take you back to Jin in the morning. I’ll see if I can convince any of my friends to take you, if you like.”

A slight tug on the sleeve of your jumper stops you from leaving. You glance down at your wrist. Taehyung has just the tip of your sleeve, pinched between his fingers. It’s not enough pressure to stop you from leaving. The slightest tug would liberate you from his grasp and you’d be free to go back to your room. 

“No one else will.” He admits quietly. There’s a sort of heart-aching tone to his voice that makes that tiny grip feel like he’s handcuffed to you. “I waited for five years in that store. I’d sit in a box for eleven months of the year, and hope that this year would be the one someone chose me and every day of December that passed I’d watch people walk right past me. And before that, I was passed around from store to store. People would keep me in the store until they realised I’d never sell and then they’d palm me off to someone else. They didn’t even have the guts to get rid of me. And I’d watch as the objects around me got chosen. They got sent to good homes. But never me. I have waited twenty five christmases for someone to let me in. You’re the first.” He quietly admits. He hasn’t changed or adjusted his grip on your sleeve. Just that tenuous, fragile grip, that little bit of hope that can be snapped at any moment keeps you in place. “Please.” He breathes. 

You stare at his fingers, at the tacky cuffs of his sleeve, at his hopeful, pleading expression. 

You don’t have to do this. He’s asking you, but he won’t force you. You can say no and have the bleary, lonely Christmas you’d originally planned. You can keep pushing everyone away and forever allow Christmastime to be a holiday of heartbreak for you. 

Or you could let this random Christmas Scarecrow and his sparkly, bright eyes into your home.

“Ok.” You finally say. “My work hasn’t shut down yet so I’m gonna be super busy for the next few weeks. But in between you can give it a go.”

The answering smile he gives you in turn has your heart fluttering in anticipation. 

Maybe Christmas won’t be so bad this year.

++

Although you had had every intention of welcoming Taehyung into your home and applying yourself to the festivities as best you could, your workplace dials everything up to eleven over the next few days, just as predicted. Taehyung, to his credit, doesn’t whine or complain. He spends most of the day while you are at work in his scarecrow-form or binging netflix on your account and he spends his evenings stretched on the couch, or beaming at you over dinner. It’s kind of like having a loyal golden retriever to come home to, but maybe with better manners.

It’s actually kind of pleasant. You occasionally catch him humming Christmas tunes and he keeps leaving his Santa hat in strange places but otherwise he’s a rather nonintrusive roommate. He even makes you dinner on occasion and he’s not a terrible cook.

 It’s only as the weekend approaches and you’re contemplating how to spend it that it occurs to you that Taehyung hasn’t left the house once. It’s not like he can just wonder down the street in his scarecrow outfit- it’s not exactly designed to withstand subzero temperature. And you’ve been so slammed at work that it never occurred to you that you’d essentially let the poor guy stay with you and then left him to the equivalent of house arrest.

“Do you do much during the week?” You ask Taehyung across dinner that night. You had quickly learned that he does need to eat and shower and sleep like every human but he can stave it off by staying in his scarecrow form, and so dinner time had just become a shared meal most evenings. He had even waited in his scarecrow form for you to get back on the days you had finished late that week. He pauses through a mouthful of pasta and looks up, cheeks bulging. 

“Not much.” He confesses, after a noisy swallow. “I don’t really have anywhere to go.” He reminds you. 

Guilt churns in your stomach and sours your dinner. You had promised him you’d give him a chance, and yet here you were a week later, making him fend for himself in an unfamiliar and empty apartment with nothing to do but watch netflix and raid your pathetic excuse of a pantry.

“Right.” You sigh, thoroughly chastened. “I... forgot. I’m sorry- work just hit me really hard.”

“It’s fine.” Taehyung dismisses. “It’s my job to entertain you, not the other way round!”

You stir awkwardly at your food, still unable to dispel the guilt.

“Even so... we could go somewhere tomorrow, if you want? I have the weekend off.” You offer as nonchalantly as you can. “If you’re here for the rest of the month, you’ll need clothes. And proper bedding. We can pick that stuff up and then do some other things.” 

He positively beams at your offer and it’s jarring. You aren’t used to such joy at such simple things. It’s so easy to win a smile from him, but rather than make his smiles seem meaningless, it just seems to make them brighter. You’re not used to earning such easy affection for so little and it leaves you unsure what to do with yourself.

“Really?” He questions eagerly. “The whole day?”

You duck your head slightly to disguise your fluster. You’re not even sure why your heart seems to race at his smile. Perhaps because you’ve never seen such a beautiful person smile quite like that. 

“The whole day.” You reassure him. “I can make up for this week- I really didn’t mean to ignore you like this.”

Taehyung shakes his head. 

“Don’t be silly!” He scolds you. “You told me that work would be busy. It just means we have to make your weekend even more enjoyable to make up for a missed week.”

He gets abruptly to his feet, wiping pasta sauce from the corner of his mouth. 

“Oh, I have so much to plan! Can I borrow your laptop? I have to plan our day!” He asks. A little startled, you merely nod at him in bewilderment and he grins determinedly to himself. “Ok! My first day on the job. Here I go.”

He storms off and then performs a quick u-turn. 

“After I clean up my dishes.” He recalls sheepishly. 

The next morning you shuffle into your kitchen a bit bleary-eyed and still in your pyjamas. Taehyung never seems to be tired or grumpy no matter what time of day it is, and so it’s not surprise that he’s up and humming to himself as he cooks breakfast for the two of you. 

He hears you shuffle in the kitchen and glances over his shoulder to smile at you and it catches you off-guard for some reason. You’ve gotten used to him cooking meals, to his singing, even to just his general presence, but you can’t seem to get used to the way he seems to just smile so easily. Something about the way the wintery sun streams in through the windows and catches the tips of his hair and gilding the sharp edges of his handsome face is just ethereal. You can believe he’s not a human in that moment- he’s too gorgeous to be one.

“You’re up!” He cheers. You shake your head to try and rid yourself of your strange thoughts and shuffle forward to scrutinise the breakfast he’s preparing. 

“I’m making a Christmas classic.” He informs you when he notices you attempting to peer over his shoulders. “At least, according to her.” He gestures to your ipad on the counter, where he has one of those food blogs run by stay-at-home mums that write essays on their blogs instead of the actual recipes. This one seems to have a picture of tacky santas made from pancakes and whipped cream. 

Looking at Taehyung’s progress so far, it actually looks fairly similar to the picture, but that’s not saying that much considering the quality of the picture. 

“Isn’t that like cannabalism for you? Isn’t eating Santa basically eating your coworker?” You point out. Taehyung laughs, a full-bodied laugh that makes his eyes curl up into little crescent moons. 

“He’s actually my boss more than my coworker. But he loves Santa-themed decorations. He says it makes him feel jolly.” He tells you. 

There’s a lot to unpack there and so you choose to ignore it by occupying yourself with the cleanup. 

“So I was thinking that we can get some clothes for you today and maybe some other necessities if you’re going to be staying here all month.” You inform him. Taehyung nods distractedly, gently nudging one of the santa pancakes onto a plate. He reaches for a bowl of blueberries, arranging them into eyes and then spraying whipped cream in the shape of a beard. It kind of seems like he’s not very interested in your schedule for the day.

“Tadaa!” He exclaims, showing off his creation. He then reaches for a blueberry and pops it in his mouth. “They’re not bad for frozen fruits.” 

“Looks great.” You praise him. “But the plan for today-“

“(Y/N).” Taehyung cuts you off. He looks a little stern, but there’s still a warmth to his expression that softens the harsh edges. “I told you I’d plan today. It’s my job to make your Christmas season enjoyable. I’m not here for you to babysit- got it?”

Chastened and surprised, you nod meekly. He grins. 

“Good. Now open up.” He says, brandishing a blueberry menacingly between his fingertips at you. Your eyes widen.

“But Tae-“ you protest, and he’s shoved the blueberry into your mouth before you can finish your counterargument. This time, when he smiles, it’s a little smug.

“No “buts”.” He sighs. “Just sit down and enjoy breakfast and trust me. We can pick up some

clothes since the Christmas overalls are a bit weird, but after that, then I take over. Ok?” He demands, and you chew through the blueberry, a little disconcerted.

“Ok.” You finally agree reluctantly. 

Breakfast is a peaceful affair, with the two of you enjoying the pancakes. Cleaning up with Taehyung is almost domestic- there’s something pleasant about having him stand shoulder to shoulder with you, drying the dishes as you wash them. 

Outside is a frigid affair- it hasn’t quite hit the point where it’s snowing outside, but temperatures are definitely creeping lower and lower and Taehyung nearly glows blue in the short sprint to your car. You fix it by blasting the heater the second the two of you are safely secured in the vehicle. 

“So, if you’re planning the agenda for today, what are we doing after we grab you some clothes?” You ask conversationally. Taehyung pauses from where he’s flicking through your phone, scrutinising your spotify playlist like he’s studying it for an exam. He looks up, his eyebrows still furrowed in concentration. 

“Well, I called in a favour from an old friend and booked us a free Christmas bauble painting workshop.” He announces, looking pleased with him. You squint at him and grimace just a little. 

“I don’t know if you know this, Taehyung, but I am terrible at drawing. I’m so bad that in highschool all these kids signed a petition to ban me from it.” You say, completely serious. He stares at you, bewildered for a moment. 

“Surely it can’t be that bad?” He wonders aloud. You just shake your head grimly at him.

One shopping trip later, Taehyung discovers that it is, in fact, that bad. 

“What did Rudolph ever do to deserve this?” He questions in abject horror. You feel your cheeks heat as you curl your hands protectively over your glass bauble. 

“It’s not that bad!” You insist. And then you hesitate. “Is it?”

Taehyung pries your fingers back to expose your masterpiece- splotchy brown paint, sparkles, and a lovely dollop of red paint in the centre. 

“(Y/N).” He says seriously. “It looks like someone walks into Santa’s stable, massacred all the reindeer and then scattered glitter over the scene of the crime.”

You squint at your painting, and, depressingly enough, his description is more accurate than what it’s meant to be. It was meant to be Rudolph, smiling happily through the glass of the bauble. 

“Forget it.” You snap, setting the glass bauble down and moving to get up. “This is stupid, anyway- we still have to pick up a mattress protector for your bed.”

“Wait!” He laughs, grabbing at your sleeve before you can make a hasty retreat. A firm tug from his has you landing back in your seat, face to face with the awful paint spill you call a painting. “I’m sorry! Just relax, ok? This is supposed to be fun.”

“I’m not having fun.” You sniff. “I told you I wasn’t good at painting and now you’re laughing at me.”

Taehyung winces. 

“Well... it’s not totally unsalvageable.” He finally compromises. He picks up the bauble, examining it for a moment. And then he picks up the paintbrush, and with quick, precise strokes of his paintbrush, he morphs the brown splotch formally known as Rudolph into a sort of sleigh-shape, and the red-splotch is rounded into the curve of Santa’s belly. “There.” He says, satisfied. You blink in wonder at the new creation. It’s still a little ugly and a little streaky, but it definitely doesn’t look like someone went on a Christmas-killing spree. “How’s that? Now you just have to decorate the sleigh an add sparkles. Surely you can’t mess that up.”

“You underestimate me.” You deadpan at him, and to your surprise, he snorts with laughter. A couple of the other people painting baubles glare at you, and Taehyung merely offers them a merry grin. 

“There used to be an elf like you at Santa’s workshop. No matter what he did, he’s somehow always mess up painting the toys.” Taehyung recalls, shaking his head fondly. “The two of you would get along.”

It’s the second time he’s mentioned it, and this time you can’t keep your curiosity at bay. 

“So... does that mean you’ve met with Santa? The Northpole and all that is a thing?” You ask. Taehyung nods. 

“It sure is! It’s where all Christmas Spirits grow up. We get raised there and taught about the best ways to spread Christmas cheer and then we get sent out to spread the cheer.” He sighs warmly. “I was top of my class.”

You grimace as you picture it. Dozens of Christmas Scarecrows, sitting at tables, studying books on how to paint the perfect Christmas bauble. 

“And so you just... get kicked out after a certain age? They raise you and send you out to sit on a shelf for eleven months of the year and then follow silly Christmas traditions for the last one?” You question him, and for a moment you’re horrified by the loneliness of such an existence. “Wouldn’t you... just get sick of Christmas? Spending your life only ever being in Christmas mode?”

“I wouldn’t know.” Taeyung reminds you as he sprinkles glitter over his painting of a snowman. He doesn’t seem particularly bothered by the idea, but you feel like he’s slapped you. “This is my first official Christmas on the job, remember? I haven’t had a chance to get sick of it yet.”

That makes you go silent. 

Taehyung seems to pick up on the way the mood has shifted. He stops detailing the buttons of his snowman painting and glances at you. Your eyes are wide and slightly misty.

He’s never felt particularly sorry for himself. Sure, the many years he’s spent gathering dust on a shelf have been lonely. He missed his friends, and all he could ever dream of was getting to sit on a mantle as he watched a family enjoy Christmas. That would be the closest he’d ever get, and that’s been his dream for so long. 

But for some reason, with you looking at him like that, the ache that he’s sought so hard to push down resurfaces. It’s like a damn breaking; it’s soothing. To have someone look at him and actually be acknowledging how hard and lonely and painful what he went through was. 

“I’m ok now.” He reassures you, though his voice is a little hoarse. The sheen to his eyes is a little less brilliant, and your heart aches for him as you process the twenty-five year wait that Taehyung has endured. “After all, someone welcomed me into their home, right?”

You blink- that someone is you. You’ve welcomed Taehyung into your home. Christmas is perhaps even lonelier for Taehyung than it is for you, and yet all he seems to want to do is make it enjoyable for you. 

You duck your head, distracting yourself by stirring the tip of your paintbrush in the bright red paint. 

“I guess so.” You finally say. You offer him a tentative smile. “I guess I have a responsibility to make this your best Christmas ever, then.” You resolve. 

Taehyung is silent for such a prolonged moment that you’re forced to face him again to ensure he hasn’t died. When you do, what you find is him gaping at you like a Christmas tree just sprouted from between your eyebrows. 

“What?” You question, a little defensively. It’s hard to interpret the look on his face. 

He shakes himself, coming back to his senses. 

“Nothing.” He reassures you. “I just realised that you’re a bit rare to smile, is all.”

Something about the look in his eyes has you feeling flustered- your fingers tremble enough that you knock over the glitter and it spills across Taehyung’s newly bought trousers. You get up quickly, horrified, but he laughs it off. 

“I think we’ve done enough damage to these baubles.” He says with a warm smile. “We still have things to buy, right?”

The rest of the day passes in a blur. Taehyung drags you from store to store, excited by the smallest things. He stares at a Christmas-themed hot chocolate for so long that you end up having to buy it for him. The look of gratefulness in his eyes is unparalleled and almost makes up for the fact that you literally have to plead with him to buy actual clothes and not just ridiculous Christmas Sweaters. In the evening, you wonder the shopping district, appreciating the lights that line the main street in brilliant arrays. 

When you slump down on your couch beside Taehyung that night, showered and ready for bed, you’re exhausted to the bones. Oddly, it’s not the same kind of tiredness you feel after a long week at work or after you’ve had a long argument with your mother. Instead, it’s a satisfying fatigue- like you’ll drift off quickly and dream of christmas lights and children’s laughter. 

“How did I do for my first day?” Taehyung yawns from where he is sprawled on the couch in a similar position to you. 

“Good.” You say, turning your head to glance at him. The dim light of your living room softens the slope of his nose, and his dark eyes catch flashes of the light that makes it seem like his irises are tiny little galaxies. There’s something so inherently peaceful about the warmth of his presence beside yours .

“I’m glad.” He says, though his lashes flutter and you too find yourself fighting off the comforting waves of sleep. He shifts and turns his head so that his cheek rests against the couch and he gazes at you. “Hey (Y/N)?” He calls gently. 

Your eyes are closed by this state. 

“Hmm?” You hum, in acknowledgement of his statement. He’s quiet for a moment before he ask.

“Why did you want to spend Christmas alone?” He asks. You blink open your eyes and look back at him. His gaze is steady and unwavering. But it’s not scolding or judgemental- instead he just seems curious. 

“You told me about your parent’s divorce and all their fighting on Christmas... but I heard the way you spoke to your mother on the phone too. You want to spend Christmas with her, don’t you? You just... can’t?” He asks. “You said you didn’t want the Christmas cheer... but you still took me home and decorated for Christmas. You painted the baubles and drank the hot cocoa and did the Christmas shopping... why do you pretend to hate it all?”

If it were anyone else, you would probably stop the conversation there. You have no interest in delving into your long, complex family history only to be met with looks of confusion, or worse, pity. 

But somehow, in the short space of a mere week, Taehyung has become someone you feel safe opening up to. Perhaps it’s because he’s already heard your whole story already. Or maybe because of the way he genuinely just wants to see you smile despite there being no substantial gain for him other than job satisfaction. Or because he’s proven himself trustworthy in the little ways he’s slotted himself into your life, like sharing meals. Whatever the reason, you don’t clam up like you usually do. 

“I don’t pretend to hate it.” You tell him softly. “I just got sick of trying to love it.”

Taehyung is silent for a long period of time. For a moment, it’s just the two of you, exhausted and sleepy. The weight of your confession hangs in the air, and the moment is strangely intimate. 

Then he smiles. 

“Then I’ll keep trying for you.” He promises. 

The two of you don’t manage to stay awake for much longer. Eventually the long day catches up to you- you drift off first, with one of those rare but peaceful smiles on your face, and Taehyung follows suit soon after.

++

The week that follows is one of the worst you’ve had in a while. You’re putting in ridiculous amounts of overtime and everyone is a little on edge from sheer exhaustion and the mounting stress of deadlines. 

And in that time, Taehyung is honestly a lifesaver. It’s remarkable, being able to come home from another hellish day at work to find him with dinner ready and a crappy Christmas movie set up. You spend your evenings laughing and unwinding. It’s not like you don’t have friends who will come rushing if you tell them you’ve had a bad day, but there’s something special about the way Taehyung does it. With bright smiles and easy laughs and an infectious joy that seems to chase the fatigue that plagues you away. 

It’s towards the end of the week that you hit your limit. You’re not really the type to cry much. You’ve always been fiercely independent, and your upbringing meant that you were the kind of child to retire to your room and work things out for yourself when you felt the need to cry. It’s not like crying ever really achieved anything. Maybe the occasional sad scene in a movie would get you, but usually you’re the kind to feel sad internally.

But after this particular day, you’re close to tears. Your boss had yelled at you, one of the major projects you had been working on just hit a major snag, and you found out your favourite coworker was leaving. 

All you can thing about as you walk in the door is spending another peaceful evening with Taehyung. You’ve been thinking that maybe it’s time to expand his taste past cheesy Christmas movies and had even made a list of films he may like during his lunch break. You swing open the door to your home, eagerly rushing in and calling out to Taehyung so that he knows you’re home. 

And that’s when your phone goes off. 

It’s your father, probably the last person you want to talk to right now. 

Unlike your mother, who at least was trying to make up for the ways she’s screwed up in your upbringing, your father has never acknowledged his part in their divorce. It was always what your mother did wrong, how she let him down, how it was because she changed and wanted different things. He was the kind of man who always wanted a big family, and he had adored your mother at first. But her pregnancy with you had been difficult and you had, admittedly, been a sickly child. She’s never outright said the words, but you suspect postpartum depression might have played a part in her downward spiral. Either way, she had resolved to have no further children after you, something your father was heavily against. 

You suppose it can’t have been easy- your father had been in love and the two of them had agreed on the kind of future they wanted together- the kind filled with children, a quiet suburban life not far from either of their parents. And for your mother to change so suddenly and drastically would have been devastating and incomprehensible to your father. 

Still, you can’t help the resentment and hurt you feel towards him. Why did you have to get caught in the crossfire of his heartbreak? And then the icing on the cake was his remarriage. 

His wife is a lovely woman. Coming into the marriage with three children of her own, she had treated you with the same love and kindness she expected of your father towards her children. Her children, however, were not bound to such conduct, and made it their personal mission to make your life a living hell. Perhaps they felt insecure over the fact that your father was related to you by blood and they weren’t.

Either way, it put him in a difficult position- perhaps he felt he couldn’t tell them to back off without it coming across as favouritism. But he could have done something- spoken to his wife, or chosen you before the family he married into. But he didn’t. He ignored it and turned a blind eye and to this day he continues to pretend that things are normal. Especially after the birth of your half-sibling.

“Hi.” You say, as you answer the phone. Taehyung has stepped into the entryway with you, watching curiously as you answer the phone. 

“Hi sweetheart!” Your dad calls on the other side of the line. You wince at the unwelcome nickname.

“To... to what do I owe the pleasure?” You ask. You can hear a loud racket in the background. Its probably your half-sister. She’s always been on the louder side, even as a baby. 

“Nothing! I was just thinking it’s been a while since we last chatted. You haven’t been returning my calls.” You have no doubt the sadness in his voice is genuine, yet somehow it feels insincere. 

“I’ve just been really busy at work.” You lie, rather than admit you had seen the missed calls from him and not even bothered to listen to the messages he left. “I haven’t had a chance to call you back.”

“Right... right. No, that’s fine. I’m sure your very busy.” He rushes to reassure you. “I was just calling because your mother contacted me. She was hoping I could convince you to spend Christmas with us.”

You stiffen at the familiar topic. You had thought it had been a little too quiet on her end. Perhaps she had thought that if she couldn’t convince you to come home, maybe your father could. She’s always had this idea in her head that maybe you aren’t close to her because you prefer your father, and it’s not like she can handle having a long enough conversation with him to find out she’s wrong. It’s surprising she even managed to let him know your plans for Christmas. 

“It’s fine. Like I told mum, I’d really much rather spend it here this year. Besides, I thought you all were going away for Christmas this year? We already spent Christmas together last year.” You say, pointedly trying to remind him that Christmas isn’t even a yearly thing with him. He does the contractual every-second-year with you, and then plans fun events with his family on the years he isn’t stuck babysitting. 

“That’s true. But that’s why I’m calling! It took a bit of convincing, but there’s a spot on this trip with your name on it, if you want it.” He tells you. He almost sounds excited, like he’s really done something thoughtful and kind. Not just made some last-minute attempts to shoehorn you in. The invite hadn’t been there to start with, after all. It’s only as an afterthought that he’s made any attempt to add you in- a chance to pretend like things are good. Like the two of you aren’t on rocky terms the rest of the year. Like you’re close enough to go on holidays with your stepfamily. 

“I think I’m fine dad.” You finally say. Taehyung is watching the expressions play across your face with mild curiosity. He probably can’t hear your father’s voice on the other line, but he can see the anger on your face, and hear the wobble to your tone. “You have fun on your trip. I’ll make do here.”

There’s a beat of silence and you hear your father sigh. You grimace- that’s his pre-scolding sigh. The sigh he gives before any lecture he thinks you’ve earned. As if he has any parental claim to scolding you. 

“(Y/N),” your father begins. “It’s Christmas. Don’t be like this- you should be spending time with your family-“

“I did.” You cut him off, and you surprise yourself with the way tears fill your eyes. You squint, trying to keep them at bay. Taehyung watches with alarm as he registers the way you are on the verge of crying. “I spent every year. With you and mum. And then you and then mum and then you and then mum. I tried for so. damn. long. to do the family Christmas thing, but all it ever ended in was the two of you letting me down. Mum was too drunk or you were too busy. And yeah, maybe you guys were going through your own stuff. But don’t you dare try and tell me that Christmas is about family because if that’s what family is, I don’t want it. At least if I spend Christmas alone, neither of you can let me down.” You snarl into the phone line. 

Your father is silent after your outburst. Taehyung watches you, waiting for your response. 

And the tears finally spill forth, rolling down your cheeks. 

“Well, if that’s how you feel, then I won’t stop you.” Your father finally says. He sounds hurt, as if you’re the one who’s hurt him. “I guess we’ll see you in the new year. Your sister’s birthday is coming up and Rachel wants to have a big party since she’s ten this year.” 

“I’ll see you then.” You say, your throat raspy and your voice small. 

You’ve barely hung up the call before two strong arms have wrapped around your figure. You go stiff in Taehyung’s arms. This is probably the first time he’s hugged you, and it isn’t unpleasant. Instead, the scent of gingerbread and peppermint fills your nose and it’s strangely soothing. You shift and turn your head just slightly so that your face is buried into the soft cream of his jumper, one of the fresh purchases from the other day. 

“You can cry if you like.” He tells you, and you feel the words rumble from deep in his chest. “I won’t look.” He promises. “That was painful for me to hear, and it’s not even my dad- if you want to cry, then cry.” His voice cracks on the end of his sentence, and you abruptly realise that Taehyung is crying. He’s known you for just a short couple of weeks, and the only nice thing you’ve done for him is not drop a tacky Christmas Scarecrow back into a box of junk, and yet he’s crying just from hearing your half of a painful phone call. 

Perhaps it’s the permission you need. For all of the long, lonely years you were stuck in the middle of feuding exes, you never gave yourself permission to cry. Instead, you’d retire to your room, pressing a pillow to your ears to drown out the sounds of screaming. 

For a long time, you just stand there, sobbing into Taehyung’s arms. He runs his hands soothingly over the back of your hair, and eventually the steady rise and fall of his breathing lulls you into a sense of peace. 

Taehyung is quick to act from there- before long, you are forcefully seated on your couch with a mug of hot chocolate and a blanket wrapped around your shoulders. Taehyung crouches before you, swiping at the tear trails on your cheeks with his thumbs. 

“Do you want to talk about it?” He asks cautiously. You grimace and shake your head. 

“It’s just the same old stuff.” You reassure him. “Long day at work; daddy issues; the usual standard.”

Taehyung smiles and settles himself beside you on the couch, tugging the blanket from your hands so that he can curl under it. 

“Good thing your personal Christmas Spirit is here to save the season.” He whispers conspiratorially. He leans forward towards the coffee table and grabs your iPad, before pulling it into the safe cocoon of your blanket. “I’ve been researching all day! Tomorrow’s your day off, so it’s week 2 of spreading Christmas cheer.” He announces, unlocking the iPad and scrolling through the internet page he has open. 

You nearly choke on your hot chocolate. 

“Taehyung,” you rasp. Your oesophagus is probably blistering as you speak. “That’s a page for date ideas. This stuff is all for couples.”

“We are a couple.” Taehyung answers, confused. He points to himself and then to you. “A couple of people.” And then he grins at you and you realise he was teasing. 

You snort and can’t hold back your laugh. Taehyung’s smile softens and he leans into your personal space. 

“There it is.” He remarks. Wonder fills his tone. “That lovely smile.” He taps the tip of your nose fondly. 

The smile slips off your face at his words. Lovely? Your smile? He thinks your smile is lovely?

A weird, electric feeling fills you at the thought, and you lean away from him quickly before your stupid heart can get any funny ideas. He didn’t mean anything by that compliment. He’s a Christmas Spirit- it’s literally his job to make you smile. You won’t overthink it and ruin this strange but precious arrangement you have going on. 

Taehyung, to his credit, doesn’t look hurt or uncomfortable at the way you’d blatantly pulled away from him. Instead, his smile widens. 

“Good idea. You gotta rest up those smiling muscles for tomorrow or you’ll get a cramp.” He tells you. He then gets up and and stretches, letting out a tremendous yawn. He glances over his shoulder at you with a wink. “Prepare yourself for the best day ever.”

++

Said “best day ever” begins with you staring listlessly up at your ceiling. Taehyung had talked big the night before, promising you a day of fun and enjoyment. 

But you just can’t picture it. You’ve spoken to coworkers and friends before, about the excitement of Christmas. How they see lights or hear carols or even smelling gingerbread triggers this warm, nostalgic and joyful feeling deep in their hearts. But you’ve always felt nothing. Christmas has always been just another day, to you. 

With a sigh, you roll out of bed. 

Out in your living room, Taehyung is fidgeting with your smart tv, trying to get it to play what looks like Mariah Carey’s rendition of “All I want for Christmas is you”. He’s mumbling to himself, and his santa’s hat droops lower and lower on his head. The little white pompom at the end brushes his nose, and the bright red strands of hair that peak out from beneath the cap stick out in every direction. 

Apart from the santa’s hat, he’s dressed remarkably stylishly. That had been a big surprise on your little outing the week before- his impeccable fashion taste. Today he’s wearing a soft, fuzzy red cardigan over a large white t-shirt and tan trousers. 

“The volume’s off.” You inform him. He starts, glancing at you in surprise, before confirming that he has accidentally managed to turn the volume all the way down. “You operate technology like a grandpa.”

Taehyung grins as you take the remote from him, adjusting the volume and selecting the song so that the familiar opening begins to chime through your speakers. 

“You say that like I didn’t catch you yelling at your printer two nights ago.” He chuckles. “Are you ready for our ultimate Christmas adventure?”

He must catch the way your guard goes up, because his smile softens from something amused into something more gentle and comforting.

“Nervous?” He asks. You hesitate, just a moment, before offering a terse nod. 

“Sorry.” You finally settle on. “I just... I’ve tried the “christmas cheer” thing. And it didn’t work Tae. I just feel like... Christmas is just another day.”

“That’s because it is just another day.” He reminds you. “But if you give it a chance, it can be more.”

 You bite your lip hesitantly, and he shakes his head. 

“What if you didn’t think about it like Christmas?” He asks. “How about, today is a day for me to cheer you up after a long week. We’re gonna do fun things and enjoy ourself because we want to. Does that sound doable?”

It does. It’s strangely reassuring and low pressure, and something about his words and the patient, warm light to his eyes puts you at ease. You don’t know why you feel so much pressure about enjoying Christmas but maybe it’s because you don’t want to let Taehyung down. He has so much riding on this Christmas and you don’t want to be the person who ruins Christmas for him. Who makes its a tedious, miserable event like your parents did for you. 

And maybe a small part of you wants to enjoy the season for you. To claim back the years lost to misery and fighting and to share in the merriment that everyone else holds.

“Ok.” You finally agree. “Lead the way.”

Taehyung beams in response. 

First on the agenda seems to be in the park in the centre of your city. Not every year in this place has a white Christmas- some Christmases are just cold and muddy, with a thin layer of ice over dirty pavements. This particular Christmas has been quite frosty, and quite early on- the first snowfall had been earlier that week and now a thick layer of snow coats the ground and clings to thick winter coats. 

“Tadaa!” Taehyung proclaims, waving a hand out towards your first activity of the day. An open carriage, decked out in sleigh bells, and two gorgeous white horses, standing tall and sleek in their crystalline surroundings. 

You creep closer, and their handler spots you. He’s a cheerful man in a formal suit, offset by the bright red santa hat atop his head. He matches Taehyung, who seems reluctant to part with his beloved accessory no matter the time of day.

“You must be (Y/N),” the old man cheers, crowding closer. His horses snort and stamp their feet at his excitement, but he pays them no mind, instead skittering forward to greet you. “Taehyung has told me all about you! Come, get yourself seated and we’ll begin the tour.”

You glance at Taehyung, who merely shoos you encouragingly towards the carriage. 

“How did you afford this?” You hiss at him. He shrugs and smiles. 

“Christmas spirits have connections.” He whispers, before placing a hand on either side of your waist. You smother a yelp as you feel him practically lift you up the first step, and it doesn’t take you much encouragement to scramble onto your seat from there. It’s a vain attempt to distract yourself from the feeling of his large hands encircling your waist. 

“All seated?” Your guide questions. Taehyung nods as he scoots in close to you and that’s really all the warning you get before the carriage lurches forward. 

You steady yourself with a yelp, and an arm around you from Taehyung keeps you upright. You glance at him in surprise and are momentarily caught off-guard by his profile. A thin, delicate smattering of snowflakes has been caught on the breeze and they catch on his hair and lashes. The tip of his nose has gone endearingly red in the cold. 

He turns his gaze when he feels your stare and he grins. 

“Enjoying the sights?” He wonders innocently. You grimace and look away. He merely laughs. “Let me explain to you the logic behind our first activity of the day. First of all, it came as a package with the activity my friend got me for free. Secondly, I thought that it might help you see how little perspective can make the things you see every day so much more special.” He finishes his explanation by pointing an arm across you to gesture at the scenery of the park. He’s right; you’ve seen this scenery hundreds of times, across all seasons, but there’s something special about it in the moment. The warmth of families, covered in thick, puffy jackets, the flutter of chilly snowflakes against your skin, the sheen of frost over the pond on the far end of the park. It’s all familiar and yet in that moment, surrounded by the glimmering sound of sleigh-bells and the stead thud of horse shoes against the pavement, the park you’ve known since moving to this city is different, magical. 

The carriage pulls to a stop beside a crowded pavillion. On the other side, you can glimpse people taking advantage of the outdoor figure skating rink thats set up in the park over winter. 

“Is this our second stop?” You ask Taehyung, as he helps you alight from the carriage. Oddly, though he grasps your hand as he helps you down, he doesn’t release it once you’re on solid ground. Instead, he keeps his fingers wrapped around yours as he waves farewell to the carriage driver. 

“You guessed it!” He congratulates you. “Stop number two; appreciating the fun of winter! Nothing screams winter wonderland like a figure skating rink.”

“Can you skate?” You ask him as he leads you to the skate rental counter. 

“No?” He asks. “But how hard can it be, right? It looked really easy on all the videos I watched in preparation.”

A short while later, you get to bear witness to Taehyung learning just how hard figure skating can be. 

“It’s just like walking.” You attempt to soothe him, all the while wincing at the vice-like grip he has on your hands. “Just keep standing upright.”

“Have I always been this tall?” Taehyung breathes. He’s gone deathly pale, and you don’t think the cold is the reason behind it. “Why is the ground so far away?”

“You can do it.” You urge, still allowing him to cling onto your forearms like he’s about to plummet off a cliff edge and you are the only thing keeping him from certain death. “Come on, Tae.” 

He shoots up straight, eyes widening at the sudden nickname. Unfortunately, it’s the wrong move, because he topples forward, and the only thing keeping him from lying face-down on the ice is you. You’re toppling backwards before you can stop yourself. 

Taehyung yelps and you brace yourself for your head to impact against the hard ice, but it never comes. Instead your head lands in the firm cushion of Taehyung’s palm. Somehow, in the chaos of slipping, he’s landed on top of you but managed to stop you from banging your head. 

You blink open your eyes and for a moment, your senses are overwhelmed with the scent of peppermint and the warm brown of his eyes. He looks just as startled as you are. You feel your face heat and his breath puffs warm against your cheeks, contrasting the chill of the air.

“Maybe figure skating isn’t for me.” He volunteers sheepishly. 

You can’t help but offer a crooked smile. He’s so silly but it’s strangely endearing. He looks surprised at your smile, and it seems that’s the moment he abruptly realises the position you’re in. Quickly, he scrambles off you and helps you into a sitting position. 

“Sorry.” He says glumly. “I thought it would be fun, but clearly I overestimated myself.”

You get to your feet and offer a hand to help him get up. He looks nervously at your outstretched hand. 

“It is fun.” You reassure him. “And it can still be fun. Just hold on to me, and trust me ok?”

Something in his gaze softens and he accepts your outstretched hand. It takes a bit, but with an arm around his chest, you manage to stabilise him between yourself and the wall of the ice-skating rink. 

He peeks up at you through his bright red fringe. His santa’s hat sits lopsided on his head. The smile he gives you this time is different from all the other ones. It’s not as ecstatic or joy-filled. This one is more reserved, almost shy; you feel a bit like you’ve been punched in the chest for some reason when you see it. 

You stretch out your hands again, your hands flat and palms extended skywards, and he place one hand into each of your palms. Even through your thick gloves, your skin feels oddly warm when he holds you. 

Gently, you take slow, gliding steps backwards, while he follows with much smaller, much more jilted steps. 

“It’s just like walking, but smoother.” You explain, and the words are forced through a tight throat. Perhaps the cold is getting to you- that’s the only explanation you can think of for why you suddenly feel so short of breath. 

Taehyung nods, focussing hard on the ice. He gives a big exhale that releases in a huge, cloudy breath, and presses one foot forward. And then the other. It’s not long before he’s gliding along before you. 

“That’s it!” You cheer. “I’m going to let go of one hand now, ok? I can’t keep skating backwards or I’ll crash into someone.”

Taehyung looks a bit fearful, but then he nods with determination lighting his eyes. Slowly, you release one hand and spin so that you’re standing shoulder to shoulder with him. He still maintains a death grip on the hand that’s still grasping his, but he manages to stay upright and not go tipping forward. 

“Ok, here we go.” You say, and you take one step forward, followed by a second, and then a third and before you know it, you and Taehyung are drifting across the ice, albeit slowly and with lots of breaks to allow Taehyung to steady himself on the wall. 

It’s actually quite fun, and relaxing, gliding across the ice like this. Music crackles through the speakers, and the people around you are all enjoying themselves. Surrounded by the bright flurry of December snow, it’s easy to smile and let loose and enjoy the season. 

Eventually, the cold does manage to catch up with you, but Taehyung’s quick to press on to the next scheduled activity before you can feel too sad that the ice skating is over. 

He crowds you off the ice, eagerly urging you forward with a hand planted on either shoulder.

“Hurry! We’re going to be late!!” He informs you. You deliberately slow down at that and he gets so huffy and impatient at your silliness that you find yourself laughing. 

After warming yourselves up with a hot chocolate and some lunch in the warmth of a well-heated cafe, it’s starting to get a bit dark by the time Taehyung leads you to your final activity. He refuses to say what it is- instead he leads you in an increasingly convoluted route on public transport. He gets more and more amused the more unfamiliar with your destination you become, and by the time you step off the bus on the snowy outskirts of the city, you’re starting to think the whole Christmas Spirit thing was an act designed to murder you in a forest somewhere.

Particularly when he claps a hand over each eye, obscuring your vision. 

“Taehyung,” you sigh. “If this is how you’re going to murder me, can’t you at least let me see the knife coming?”

“I’m not going to murder you.” He scoffs, though with gentle pressure, he leads you forward, his chest pressed protectively to your back. “I just want to surprise you.”

“I’m very easily surprised.” You remind him. “I don’t need to be blind in a forest to be surprised. Just give me a box of chocolates after a long day of work or something.”

“Hush.” He shushes you. “Just walk, and trust me.”

You take a deep, inhaling breath and your lungs fill with what has become the calming, warm scent of peppermint and cinnamon. It’s Taehyung, you remind yourself. He’s had plenty of opportunity to hurt you or scam you or even kill you but instead all he’s done is wait eagerly for you to return home and watch tacky Christmas movies with you. 

“Ok.” He says, against your ear, and you shiver at the heat of his mouth tickling the cold tips of your ears. “Are you ready?”

Words fail you for some mysterious reason, so you settle for nodding mutely. 

Taehyung drops his hands from your eyes and it takes you a few blinks to adjust to the sudden onslaught of light. 

What lies before you is a long, brightly lit pathway. Market stalls line the paths, with vendors brandishing their wares. Fairly lights string across the stalls, in various tones ranging from warm-toned white lights to festive blues, greens, reds. Overhead, brilliant archways decorated with marvellous, intricate arrays of Christmas lights mark the path.

“What... what is this, Tae?” You breathe. Your chest hurts a little and this time you’re willing to admit that it has nothing to do with the cold. 

“This is the Annual Christmas Markets.” He announces proudly. “Brought to you by your local council and sponsored by Subway (sandwiches not included).”

You take hesitant, wondering steps forward. You don’t really have any words for the strange, ballooning feeling in your chest. Like your heart is so full it’s about to burst. You feel on the verge of tears yet at the same time you feel free and light and happy. 

“It’s so... pretty.” You say. Taehyung beams and steps in close so that he’s shoulder to shoulder with you. 

“Pretty magical, huh?” He asks you. “I found it on google! Did you know the city throws this event every year?”  

You shake your head wonderingly. 

“I had no idea.” You admit. He tilts his head towards the festivities.

“Then let’s explore!” He cries, tugging you forward with a hand wrapped around yours.

There’s lots to do around the markets. There’s christmas light sculptures scattered around, like a scavenger hunt of sorts. Taehyung’s favourite is the one of a santa formed from wires twisted together, skiing across the snow on a sleigh, two reindeers are standing tall. Your favourite is probably a tunnel of lights, tightly woven together to create an archway as people weave through it- you like the way it turns Taehyung’s bright red hair into brilliant licks of flames, and how his eyes look like they hold the entire night sky within their depths. 

There’s a mulled wine stall, although Taehyung pulls a face at the taste and you have to buy him a hot chocolate to get him to forgive you. 

“I just don’t understand how anyone can dislike Christmas carols!” Taehyung protests across his hot chocolate as the night progresses. You’re nearing the edge of the market stalls, which open up onto a big open space, paved with asphalt and with the snow scraped off it where various families and groups of people are starting to gather. Most of them are in parked vehicles, all facing towards a central stage that hasn’t been lit up yet. 

“If you talk to anyone who works in retail, they just get repetitive after a while.” You explain. “I mean, “Last Christmas” is a good song in theory, but not after the six repeats that played before your lunch break.” 

Taehyung “tsk”’s and shakes his head. 

“I think you just have the wrong associations with the songs.” He sighs. “If you associate it with work and bad things, of course you won’t like it! You have to make positive memories and think of those when you hear the songs.”

The stage lights up ahead of you and a small band starts to take the stage. You gaze at the performers as they prepare.

“Any suggestions?” You ask softly. You surprise yourself, and when you look at Taehyung, he looks a little stunned to. “To make positive memories. What should I think of instead, when I hear those songs?”

He searches your gaze for a moment, and then the corner of his mouth quirks in a little half smile. 

“Follow me.” He urges, leading you across the asphalt towards the stage. You have to duck between parked cars where people have makeshift little dens to enjoy the show from. He brings you to a stop where there’s a bit of a space just before the stage. A few couples have already taken advantage of what is essentially a dance floor. He spins around and pulls you in close. You stumble a little, not expecting the movement, but it seems he was expecting that. He steadies you with a hand against your waist and tugs one of your free arms up to rest on his shoulder. “When you hear this song... you can think about today.” He tells you with a smile. “And about all the fun we had!”

He begins to sway you back and forth in a slow turn. You wonder why his weird Christmas Spirit school taught him how to slow dance. Up on the stage, the singer begins to croon the opening notes of “have yourself a merry little christmas”. You tell yourself its the cold that urges you to shuffle in closer to Taehyung as he sways you from side to side. He’s so warm, and solid. Unbidden, your heart starts to beat a little faster, and when you raise your eyes to meet his, something about the warmth in those dazzling depths has you feeling light-headed. 

“What do you think about when you hear them?” You ask him, changing the subject in an attempt to overcome the strange, overwhelming emotion you suddenly feel weighted with. He spins you out in a twirl, before tugging you back in. 

“Hmm...” he contemplates. “I think about hot chocolates, and snowball fights, and the smell of Christmas trees. And Christmas lights and Christmas bells.” He lists, his gaze hazy as he thinks through his list. It’s a bit of a scary thought, but you could honestly stay here forever, watching Taehyung list the things he loves, being swayed gently in his arms. And then he glances down at you and there’s something so warm and fond in his expression that you feel your face heat. “And I think about your smile.”

A funny thing happens in that moment, after his confession. Your heart goes on strike for a moment- even she seems shocked at the sudden turn of events. And then suddenly the air is electric, and all your senses are just filled with Taehyung. His smell, his eyes, his hair, his warmth... his lips.

It’s a sudden revelation, like being struck by lightening. The look in his eyes seems to thread into your veins, leaving burning trails in its wake. His scent washes into the very bottom of your lungs. You like him. In a very short amount of time, he’s wiggled past all your defences and now here you are, standing in his arms, and you realise you want to stay there. You want to keep seeing his smile and keep spending time with him and you don’t want this Christmas to end. 

The songs draws to a close and you step away from his embrace. He seems to sense your sudden change in mood. 

“Is everything ok?” He asks you and you nod, smiling in a way you hope is reassuring. 

“Yeah. I just noticed how cold it’s getting, is all. Shall we head back home?” You ask. Taehyung blinks and glances around as if he’s just now realising how cold it is. He shivers and steps in close to you. 

“Yeah, you’re right.” He admits. “Let’s head home.” He wraps his arms around you, rubbing his hands up and down your biceps to try and warm you up. “Did you have fun, though?” He asks eagerly. 

“Yeah.” You say, and this time the smile isn’t forced. “Yeah, I did.”

++

A week later, you’re stressed and bustling around the kitchen like a madwoman. 

“Is it golden brown yet or is it just the oven light?” Taehyung wonders, attempting to peer into your oven without opening the door. “Are you sure we shouldn’t just check now?”

Your realisation of your feelings hadn’t changed too much around the apartment. As work for the year finally drew to a close this week, you hadn’t really had a chance to overthink it, and then you’d been busy planning a pre-Christmas dinner upon learning that Taehyung has always wanted to try a family Christmas dinner. You’d insisted upon throwing one despite his protests that he was the Christmas Spirit, not you. Finally, he had relented, and you were keen to return all the memories he had given you tenfold. 

Only a couple of your friends had still been without plans, this late into December. Jin always manages to make time where food is involved, and Dahyun had had to cancel flights back home for the year. She’s also dragging along an old friend of hers, Jungkook, and then Nayeon had invited Namjoon and Jihyo. They’re all good friends of yours, but there’s something about organising a home-cooked Christmas meal that is just inherently stressful.

“The recipe says another ten minutes.” You remind Taehyung in between your attempts to both whip the cream for dessert and finish placing all the appetisers into sufficiently aesthetic containers. 

Taehyung frowns, and straightens. He watches you dance around in a frazzled manner for a few minutes, before catching you by the shoulders. 

“Hey.” He scolds. “I know I said I wanted a Christmas dinner, but not at the expense of your sanity. I don’t appreciate you undoing all my hard work of making you enjoy Christmas.”

You stiffen at the warmth of his palms against your shoulders before taking a deep breath. 

“You’re right.” You finally say. “I’m sorry. I just... I want you to have a good time. I’ve had so much fun these past few weeks and I want you to feel what I feel. I never thought I could ever look forward to something like Christmas, and yet here I am, throwing an entire Christmas dinner.”

“Seeing you enjoy Christmas and smiling like this makes me feel happier than you can imagine, (Y/N),” Taehyung reassures you. “This dinner is just a bonus. I’m grateful for it, but what would make me feel the best is if you’re having a good time.”

There he goes again. He’s remarkably smooth for a strange mystical being that was raised in the North Pole. He’s just so good at making your stomach feel like it’s filled with butterflies and making your heart forget to beat. With a deep, resigned sigh, you nod to him. 

“Ok. I’ll chill out.” You promise, before returning to your preparations in a far more mellow manner. 

Guests start trickling in. Jin just barely manages to avoid a throttling when you see him, after his stunt where he didn’t show up when there was an intruder in your home. It all worked out fine, but it’s always offensive to learn that your friend would leave you to die because he had “an oven emergency”. Jungkook and Dahyun come in bickering over the intricacies over some meme they’d seen, and Jihyo drags in far too much alcohol for the night. 

The night settles into a comfortable sort of atmosphere- people scatter across the living space of your apartment, catching up and just generally enjoying the vibe. Taehyung gets a few probing questions into the nature of your relationship and Jin seems to develop some sort of facial tic with all the eyebrow wagging he’s doing, but otherwise things go smoothly.

At least until it becomes apparent that Jin had taken the liberty of doing some decorating of his own while you were setting up for dinner. 

Namjoon and Jihyo are the first of the victims to the numerous mistletoes Jin has concealed around your home. Luckily, they are dating and so it’s just a quick peck between them to the sounds of laughter and hooting. 

At least until the other attendees realise that if Jin has hidden multiple mistletoes around your home, at any moment they could fall victim to a dreaded mistletoe kiss, with a completely undesired partner. 

From there, things devolve into a terrified, suspicious sort of scavenger hunt. Jin thinks it’s hilarious, watching you all scour the place like sniffer dogs, comfortably reclined on the couch as he shouts out hints that could be true or could be total lies. It’s always hard to tell with him. 

Of course Taehyung, poor, sweet naive Taehyung, had missed the dramatic revelation of Jin’s prank. He had been in the kitchen, dutifully monitoring dessert as it slowly cooked in the oven, and he had only stepped out to check with you when you thought it would be done. 

You feel him tap your shoulder in the middle of combing through your mantle, making sure Jin hadn’t hidden anything amidst the photo frames and decorations that sat there. You jump, surprised, and turn to face him. 

Only for Jin’s screeching laughter to reach you. 

“Victims number 2!” He calls triumphantly. Taehyung looks confused, and you grimace as you finally spot the offending object. A small bit of mistletoe twisted in amongst the tinsel lining your ceiling. You’re not even sure how the madman actually got it there without anyone noticing. 

“Mistletoe!” Dahyun chants, from where she’d been pressed into a corner and snarling at anyone who dared walk close enough to her lest she too fall victim to the mistletoe. “Mistletoe. Mistletoe. Mistletoe.” Slowly everyone joins the chant until your apartment sounds a bit like a cult. 

“Let’s not be hasty!” You plead. “Think about it. If you let me off, then we can all ignore this silly tradition.”

Taehyung, interestingly, has gone very still upon realising the two of you stand beneath a mistletoe. 

“(Y/N).” he calls, audible only to you beneath the chanting. “We can’t leave. It’s a mistletoe- I have to.”

You squint at him. 

“What do you mean? It’s just a silly tradition, why would you have to-“ you begin, before trailing away as it occurs to your that Taehyung is actually not a human. This isn’t two friends caught beneath a mistletoe and talking their way out of a silly tradition. Taehyung is a Christmas Spirit and thus bound to different rules to you. “Oh.” You breathe. “So I have to... do that?”

With a deep blush that nearly rivals the brilliant red of his hair, Taehyung nods. You wince and let your gaze drop. His mouth is a soft pink- one of the first things you’d bought on that first shopping trip had been lip balm after he’d seen you applying your own. He applies it meticulously and his lips are always faintly glossy and soft looking. This close you can count the tiny moles that sit against his skin like little stars, and you feel a little bit like your heart is in danger when you finally draw your gaze back up to meet his. 

His expression is a little hard to interpret, but you don’t let yourself overthink it. You slide your palms up around the back of his neck and tug his mouth down to press against yours. 

Taehyung makes a little surprised noise when you do, and it makes you blush. The smell of peppermint and cinammon is strong but captivating, and you wish you could stay there. You wish you could keep kissing him, but you know it’s wrong.

With a sigh, you pull back. Taehyung’s eyes are round and mystified and the blush sits high on his cheeks. His tongue darts out to swipe his lips and he clears his throat awkwardly. 

“I...” his gaze flickers down and then he averts his gaze quickly. Around you, your friends let out a few wolf whistles before returning to the panicked search for any other offending items. Taehyung’s breathing seems a little faster and you can’t say you’re in much better state. “I just came out to ask you about the dessert.” He finally manages, though his voice comes out a little raspy. You nod, hoping he doesn’t think much of the way you mirror his fierce blush. 

“Right...” you say awkwardly. “I’ll just... go and check on it.”

You dart around him, heading straight for the kitchen. 

When you are there, you take advantage of the lack of other party guests and bury your face in your hands. It was just a mistletoe kiss, it didn’t mean anything and yet your traitorous heart is rioting in your chest, threatening to go on strike. Your mind can’t help replaying the moment- his lips on yours, his familiar, striking scent, the scratch of his ugly Christmas jumper beneath your fingers. The size of this stupid crush is embarrassingly enormous. 

It takes a few moments, but you manage to regain your composure enough to discover that the dessert is very slightly undercooked, which you know Jin will bitch and moan about, but everyone else won’t mind. It’s nothing copious amounts of ice cream or custard won’t cover up. 

When you step out into your living room, it seems the panic over the mistletoes has settled. Jungkook had smothered Jin until he caved and gave up all the locations and now your living room has devolved into a ridiculous Christmas dance party- Jin and Dahyun belt out the lyrics to Last Christmas with absurd amounts of drama and gravitas, and Jihyo and Namjoon are curled up on the couch, murmuring to each other softly. Jungkook has gotten ahold of Taehyung and is currently trying to teach him ridiculous tiktok dances, and all-in-all it’s kind of a dream vibe for a Christmas party. No pain, or fighting, or tears. Just warmth and laughter, and a shared camraderie of the season. 

You find yourself smiling as you finally admit to yourself that maybe Taehyung was right. 

Christmas isn’t so bad after all. 

++

After everyone goes home, you and Taehyung are left to the cleanup. 

It’s a bit awkward, standing shoulder to shoulder after the kiss. His movements are slow and hesitant, like if you move too quickly he’ll get frightened and bolt. But gradually you settle into a kind of rhythm, tidying things up together and you can’t resist asking him about the party. It had been for his sake, after all.

“Did you have fun?” You ask. Taehyung jumps from where he’d been gently working the sponge into a lather and a clang rings through the kitchen. The silence seems more pressing after the loudness of your party. 

“Um... it was good.” He says, though his voice is a little high and squeaky. “I had a lot of fun- your friends seem nice.”

“It’s not really a family dinner.” You admit sheepishly. He pauses and offers you a smile, and the pleasant expression on his face seems to thaw through the lingering ice in the room. 

“No, don’t be silly.” He tells you. “It was everything I could have hoped for. Except for Jin’s interpretative dance to Santa baby. I feel like I could have gone without that.”

You laugh and shake your head, stepping in close to pluck plates off the drying rack and drying them off. 

“This was nothing. Wait till lizzo comes on and then you’ll see peak Seokjin.” You sigh. But then your expression changes and you offer Taehyung a smile. His eyes drop for just a fraction of a second, so quick you think you’ve imagined it, before raising quickly back to your eyes. “I’m glad you had a good time.”

He nods, and hums, still making his way through the pile of dirty dishes. 

“What about you?” He asks. “Did you enjoy yourself?”

You pause to think about it. The laughter of your friends, the silly Christmas carols, the snap of Christmas bonbons.... you did. You really, truly enjoyed yourself in a way you didn’t think you could and it’s thanks to the man before you. The man who patiently waited for you to come home each evening to eat dinner with you, and who dragged you across the city to places he thought you’d enjoy... he’s truly a magical person. 

“I really did. It’s gotten me so excited for the rest of the year, to be honest. Are there any other Christmas traditions we can do? Christmas is almost here, but what about New Year’s? We could do something fun then too.” You suggest. Suddenly the season seems so bright and exciting, and the fact that there’s a whole week and a half left to December leaves you unbelievably excited. 

Taehyung pauses from where he scrapes at a stubborn crumb on your baking tray. 

“What?” He asks, and his voice goes strangely soft, and tentative. You blink- something about his tone makes you uneasy. 

“For after Christmas.” You clarify. “You’ve already got Christmas planned out for us, right? So I can plan something for New Year’s. Return the favour.”

By now, Taehyung has completely stopped cleaning. He doesn’t look at you, and stares straight ahead. 

“There... there isn’t an “after Christmas”, (Y/N).” He confesses. Your heart drops into your stomach. He turns to face you, and for once, his eyes aren’t bright, and filled with joy. They’re dark and miserable. 

“What?” You breathe, trying to speak past the sudden shattering sensation in your chest. “Why... why not?”

“I’m a Christmas Spirit.” He reminds you. “I bring Christmas Cheer and then I go back in a box for the rest of the year.”

You blink- you feel like you aren’t hearing him right, or just not comprehending things. 

“Why? I can just not put you away. Why can’t there be an “after Christmas”?” You urge. You step in close, fighting past the sudden panic in your chest. “How could I just put you back in a box for the rest of the year? That’s crazy! Just, don’t go in the box.”

“It’s not that simple.” He protests. “There are rules, (Y/N). I can’t just ignore them. My job is to make you happy during Christmas and then that’s it. That’s what I was born and raised to do. That’s what I spent 25 years waiting for.”

Your eyes widen.

“But surely there’s another way? Surely you don’t want to be in the box.” You cry. You step in close and grab his hand, pulling it towards you pleadingly. 

“It doesn’t matter what I want.” He says, and there’s a resigned note of finality to his tone. “After Christmas, that’s it. I lose the strength to turn into a human. You can keep my out of the box, but it doesn’t make a difference. It ends on Christmas night.”

That makes you fall silent as you finally learn the full truth. You’d been so busy having fun that you hadn’t thought about what comes next. You’d stupidly let yourself believe that you could just keep having fun with Taehyung. You hadn’t thought about the logistics or the long term of it. You feel like you’ve been slapped. 

Christmas has an end date. 

Taehyung spots the tears forming in the corners of your eyes before you do, and his expression softens at the sight. 

“It’s not fair.” You rasp. Somehow, he manages to pull a smile from somewhere, though it’s tinged with a deep sadness that makes more tears spill forth. He steps in close and pulls your face into his chest. 

“I know.” He soothes. “It is. It’s unfair. I want to... I want to stay. But I can’t.” 

You can’t keep your composure after that, and the sobs come in in full force. 

“I wanted to keep having fun with you.” You bawl, and he just shushes you with a tighter hug. 

“I did too.” He confesses. “But it just means we have to have even more fun until Christmas. Can you do that for me, (Y/N)?” He breaks the hug so that he can gaze into your eyes, smoothing the tears from your cheeks. “Please.” He begs. And you see the way his own eyes are red and moist. 

You want to tell him you absolutely cannot. That if he’s going to make Christmas fun and then leave you at the end, he can leave right now. Before you fall even harder. Before it’s too hard to say goodbye. 

But you’re a fool. A masochistic, lovestruck, weak fool. You can’t look into his eyes and tell him no. Not when you know what this means to him; you can’t take away his first Christmas for selfish reason. 

“Ok.” You finally rasp. “I’ll do it.”

You’re walking off a cliff face with your eyes wide open.

For once Taehyung’s smile isn’t enough to comfort you.

++

Christmas day dawns cold and subdued. The days following dinner had been warm, but quiet. Reserved. Like you both knew a goodbye was coming and didn’t want to acknowledge it. You spend one night curled up in your car at an outdoor theatre, laughing along to some silly Christmas comedy, and another day is spent going bobsledding. You both go through the motions of merriment, but it’s clear that neither of your hearts are in it. It’s hard to be enthusiastic and merry when each precious moment that passes is one step closer to when he turns back into a scarecrow. 

When you step out in the kitchen, Taehyung is making breakfast already. He sees you and smiles. 

“Good morning.” He calls. “Merry Christmas.”

It triggers a pang in your chest as his words confirm that this is truly your last day with him. 

“Merry Christmas.” You yawn, attempting to conceal the way your heart aches by settling into a chair at your table. 

Taehyung scurries over, a plate in each hand. 

“Breakfast is ready.” He declares. He’s gotten quite creative in his cooking- he can now manage a fairly decent semi-scrambled omelette and his bacon is surprisingly crispy. You’re eager to see what he has prepared for Christmas Day.

When he sets it down in front of you, however, you glimpse the Santa pancakes he made that first day. Your face falls. Two familiar blueberry eyes stare dolefully up at you and even the banana smile seems less curved and cheerful. It’s clear Taehyung had been a little distracted making them, because they’re not as carefully put together as that first meal. But the sentiment behind them still stands; that Taehyung cooks for you. He likes seeing you smile and he goes to absurd lengths to get you to enjoy yourself and he has for the entire month of December. He’s come to mean so much to you in such a short span of time- somehow he’s made a season that previously only meant cold and misery become a time of warmth and laughter. And now you have to say goodbye, before you’ve even started. There’s so many adventures the two of you could go on together, and yet you don’t get to. It’s so cruel. You’re alarmed when the tears come, unbidden. 

Taehyung watches the expressions play out across your face, before wordlessly reaching out with the sleeve of his sweater to wipe the tears that fall away. His touch is gentle and his expression somber. He hasn’t even donned his usual Santa’s hat.

“I’m sorry.” You say, in a small voice. “I know I said I wouldn’t cry.”

He shakes his head and smiles, pulling his chair up so that it’s seated as close as possible to you. 

“It’s ok. Just means I have to work a little harder. I wanna see that pretty smile, before I go.” He reassures you. You sniff and scrub at your eyes before staring determinedly at your pancakes. 

“Ok.” You say. “Let’s do this, then.”

Taehyung searches your expression, and you’re not sure what he sees there, but it seems to satisfy him. You feel that the last few days, his smiles had been duller and decidedly less genuine, but this time he hits you with the full force of his dazzling smile.

“First things first, we have to open presents!” He cheers. You frown. 

“But I don’t have any presents-“ you protest, but Taehyung cuts you off with a sharp rush of air through his teeth. 

“Then what’s that?” He questions innocently, gesturing to your ratty Christmas tree. 

And sure enough, beneath it is laden with presents. You stare at it for a long time. 

“I didn’t get you anything.” You finally admit. Taehyung laughs. 

“You enjoying my gifts is the present.” He says dismissively, before crowding you towards the tree. “Anyway, it’s a universal Christmas tradition to open your presents after breakfast, and I have failed you as a Christmas Spirit if we don’t do that.”

He slides the first gift towards you and eyes you coyly. “Open this one first.” He urges you. 

They’re all small gifts, relatively inexpensive. You’re not expecting Swarovski crystals from Taehyung considering he’s an unemployed Christmas Spirit. But each gift is thoughtful and sweet and bought specifically with you and your tastes in mind. By the time you open the last of the presents, you’re fighting off tears again.

“I didn’t get you anything.” You lament, sniffling slightly as you set the last gift aside. Taehyung’s eyebrows wrinkle together and his mouth pulls into a pout. 

“I already told you. Just being here is a gift for me.” He insists. “Besides, it’s not like I can use anything you give me for eleven months.”

That causes you to fall silent. You bite your lip as you look away. You had been determined not to acknowledge the elephant in the room, but you can’t do it. You can’t spend the day pretending you’re not on the verge of tears.

“I know I said I wouldn’t. But I can’t keep pretending this isn’t going to happen, Tae.” You say, and when he looks at you, you know it’s the first chink in his armour. He’s held it together considerably better than you, and you’d thought maybe it just didn’t bother him. After all, you were the one with feelings, not him. “At least... you can answer questions, right? If I know more, maybe it will hurt less.”

But looking at him now, you realise that he’s been fighting to stay composed to. 

“What do you want to know?” He finally says, and he’s quiet. Defeated. So unlike the optimistic, cheerful being you’d come to adore. 

“Are you trapped? Will it be be uncomfortable?” You question. “Can you still hear me? Will you... will you be lonely?”

“Not exactly.” He reassures you. “I look like a human but I’m also a glorified Christmas ornament. Time and events are different when I’m a scarecrow. It’s hard to explain.... but it’s not so bad. It’s just... how I am. I’m waiting, but I’m not trapped.” He explains vaguely. “I can hear and see what’s going on, but I just process things differently. Time just... feels different.”

You nod, a little comforted that at least you’re not sending your friend to be trapped in a prison of his own body for eleven months.  

“Am I meant to pass you on to someone else?” You ask. “Or do I keep you here?”

“I guess...” He looks uncertain, and tentative. “I guess it depends how your year goes. Eleven months...” his voice cracks and he clears it awkwardly to hide it. “It’s a long time. You can keep me here, and I’ll see you next December, if you need a little extra help enjoying the season... or you can pass me on to someone else if you don’t need me anymore.”

He’s right. Eleven months is such a long time. Long enough to forget Taehyung and his bright smile and cheery disposition. Long enough to spend next Christmas with your family and pretend like things are ok between you. Long enough... long enough to forget just how much your heart aches today, and fool yourself into doing the exact same thing next year. 

“What do you want?” You finally settle on. It’s the last question of the interrogation. After this, you can pretend everything is ok. You can go on like nothing’s wrong. 

Taehyung’s eyes go wide. He points at himself, bewildered by your question. 

“What do... I want?” He echoes, as if he’s never heard the words before. You nod. 

“I want you to spend Christmas happy.” You confess. “So where do you want to be, next Christmas?”

He’s quiet for so long you’re worried that his brain has stopped functioning or that his weird Christmas Spirit voodoo has kicked in. But when he finally looks at you again, his eyes shine with so much emotion that your heart aches in your chest at the sight. 

“I want to be here.” He finally says. “I want to spend Christmas with you again. There’s so many things we still didn’t get to try, and I want to do them all.”

Your throat goes tight, because yet again, you’re signing yourself up for heartbreak. If you do this, you’re the only one who will be hurt. Pining alone for most of the year for a season you used to hate. The irony of the situation is not lost on you.

But you’re helpless to him, to his smile and his sweetness and his warmth, and you can’t say goodbye. 

“Ok.” You agree. “Then you’ll stay with me. Now let’s have some fun.”

++

The day must inevitably draw to a close. Though you and Taehyung linger at every activity, attempting to draw out each moment, the point in the day comes where the two of you are back at the apartment, with the time drawing closer and closer to midnight.

You unlock your apartment door with trembling fingers and inhale a shaking breath. You glance over your shoulder at Taehyung. He’s a broad-shouldered person, tall and imposing were it not for the warmth of his eyes and his puppy-like demeanour and normally he just seems larger than life. But in that moment, he’s so small and uncertain. 

There’s so much you could say. You could plead with him; try and see if there’s a way to bargain out of the inevitable goodbye. Or you could thank him, from the bottom of your heart, for the first enjoyable Christmas you’ve had in your entire life. Crying feels like a viable option too, or getting angry. Your heart can’t seem to settle on a response and so instead it’s settled on numbness. Like it’s cold, lifeless hunk of metal rattling around in your ribcage.

“Do you want to watch a movie?” Is what you finally settle on. He stares searching at your expression, before nodding to himself and squaring his shoulders

“Yeah. That sounds fun. I’ll make us some hot chocolate as well.” He says, stepping past you into the foyer. 

You eventually settle on watching the Polar Express. When you sit on the couch, Taehyung sits far too close and tugs a blanket over both your laps. He hands you a mug of hot chocolate and the two of you settle into a peaceful quiet, opposite from the laughter and activity of the daytime. The evening melancholy seems to have settled in. The whole movie, you don’t really pay attention, instead trying not to think about the way the clock on the wall seems to be moving quickly. 

“(Y/N).” You’re startled when Taehyung calls your name. It’s out of the blue, and you hadn’t noticed the way he’s steadily edged closer until the words are said almost directly into your ear. You’d been watching the clock instead of the movie, and you think for a moment that he intends to reprimand you. You turn to look at him and the proximity startles the breath out of you. “It’s almost midnight.” He tells you, as if you haven’t been glaring the clock down for most of the night. 

It’s true, though- the minute hand is edging closer and closer to the dreaded twelve. It makes you realise that he’s been eyeing the clock as well. 

“So it is.” You acknowledge, and he’s so close that his breath skates against the skin of your cheeks, staring at you with an intensity you don’t understand.

“Did I... Did I do a good job?” He asks you. You press your lips together; in a way he did. You think you may have smiled in this month alone more than you have the entire year. But you also know that the rest of the year will now pale in comparison; the rest of winter will leech by, depressingly dreary, and summer will come and go in muddy heat. The year will both inch and speed by and that whole time you will have the special month of December in mind. The times you spent with Taehyung. 

“You did.” You finally say. “I... Christmas was always so lonely and miserable to me. Where we tried to pretend that things were ok and merry and it would just dissolve into screaming matches. But with you, it wasn’t. You helped me make it into something warm, and beautiful. And even though...” your voice cracks, and it takes you a moment to reclaim your composure. “Even though the ending will be lonely and sad, you gave me all these wonderful memories. I’ll hear a Christmas carol and think of you from now on, Taehyung.” 

When you finally gain the courage to meet his gaze, you’re startled to find tears pouring down his cheeks. He’s been sad and a little misty-eyed ever since he admitted he wouldn’t be around after Christmas, but he’s also been frustratingly composed. 

But in that moment, he’s anything but. He looks devastated as he brings his hands up to press into his eyes in a vain attempt to stem the flow of tears.

“I’m sorry.” He gasps. “I tried so hard but... I never imagined Christmas would be like this. I was only supposed to make you smile and then go back to being a scarecrow and that should have been enough but it’s not.”

He’s full on sobbing now, and you can only stare in bewilderment as tears form in your own eyes. 

“I want to spend New Year’s Eve with you, and start the New Year together. I want to see you on your birthday. I want to see you on happy days and sad days. I want to...” he rubs his eyes clear and stares straight at you. “I want to make you smile the whole year.” He confesses. 

And that’s when your phone goes off. You’d set an alarm, earlier in the morning, so that you’d know the exact moment midnight hit. You glance away, for just a moment, dread hitting you full force like a sledgehammer. 

And when you turn back, it’s too late. The familiar little scarecrow stares up at you from the couch, where Taehyung had been seated just moments before. 

And you finally let yourself break down at the sight of the familiar button eyes.

And just like that, Christmas is over. 

++

“Why does your apartment smell like someone’s been dumped?” Jin sniffs as he steps through the threshold of your home, uninvited as usual. You’re not sure how he got in, but he probably had a copy of your key made somehow without you noticing. He’s prone to doing invasive things like that.

“Being dumped doesn’t have a smell.” You snap, from where you had been curled up on the couch under a mound of blankets. 

“Yes it does.” He insists. “It smells like...” he pauses to take one long, obnoxious sniff to the air before wrinkling his nose. “B.O. and cheetos.” He recites. 

You sigh, still not bothering to shift from your blanket nest. You’d been expecting his visit, to be honest. It’s the day before New Year’s Eve and you haven’t responded to his annual New Year’s Eve Bash invite. He’s very intense about RSVPs.

“What do you want, Jin?” You ask. He picks his way delicately towards you, navigating his way through your semi-dissembled Christmas tree before settling before you in a crouch. You’d made it part-way through the post-Christmas clean up before you’d been too upset to continue.

“Well, you aren’t answering my texts or calls. Zero activity on social media, no RSVP to my party... So I thought I’d make sure you hadn’t choked on a piece of tinsel.” He looks around your apartment with distaste. “I’m actually not sure if I’m relieved that you’re ok if this is what “ok” looks like.”

You ignore him, choosing to focus your attention back to Netflix. His expression softens, just a fraction.

“Tell me what’s going on, (Y/N). And where’s.. where’s Taehyung?” He questions tentatively. 

You’re unable to conceal the way your shoulders stiffen, just slightly, at the mention of his name. You’ve been doing your best in the five days since Christmas to bounce back and return to normal life, but you can’t seem to. It’s easier to lounge around on the couch than to muster up the emotional energy to pretend you’re ok. You’ve spent too long pretending you’re ok. There isn’t a single drop of you left that can even try to do so. 

“He had to go.” You say, hating the way your voice goes abruptly raw with tears. Jin’s eyes widen just slightly, and he shuffles closer. 

“What do you mean he had to go? He’s-“ As he said the words, his eyes had been darting wildly around the apartment, but he abruptly cuts himself off when he spots the scarecrow on your mantle. “Why is Taehyung...” he begins, before his gaze flickers to you. 

“Oh.” He exclaims simply, understanding dawning in his eyes. “Oh, (Y/N).” He says, his voice filled with sympathy and sadness on your behalf.

You’re surprised when Jin engulfs you in a hug. You’ve never had that sort of friendship- he prefers to show his love by nagging you. But it’s weirdly comforting and you melt into his embrace. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t RSVP.” You say glumly. “I didn’t feel like celebrating.”

Jin pulls away and scrutinises your expression. 

“Forgive me if it seems probing, but I don’t understand what happened. You guys seemed like you were going great at dinner the other night.” He says. “Why... why didn’t you use his wish?”

You pull back and blink at him in confusion. 

“His... wish?” You echo. Jin nods. 

“All Christmas Spirit receive one wish for their entire career. It was instituted recently, though, maybe only in the last twenty years or so, so maybe Taehyung didn’t know about it?” Jin wonders. 

Your eyes widen. 

“Christmas Spirit?” You splutter. “You mean you knew?”

For someone who’s dropping a bombshell, Jin looks remarkably deadpan. 

“Of course I knew. You think I wouldn’t notice a Christmas Spirit living in my store for five years?” He questions you with exasperation. 

You stare at him incredulously. 

“And you never thought, just once, that it would be a good idea to tell me what I was bringing home?” You demand. He rolls his eyes. 

“Oh please. Like you would have believed me.” He says dismissively. “Little Miss Grinch, hates Christmas, told her weird Christmas Scarecrow is actually a special Christmas Spirit? I’m a simple man, (Y/N). I see an opportunity for a great Hallmark movie, I take it.”

You stare at him in rage, and then something occurs to you. 

“That’s why you never came when I texted you that night! You knew it was Taehyung!” You realise in horror. “What if you had been wrong?”

At least he has enough sense of propriety to look sheepish. 

“Taehyung would have helped you if I was wrong.” He offers meekly. The change in pace of conversation has you deflating. 

“If you knew... why did you let him go home with me? I could have spent Christmas at home, alone, and not be dealing with any of this.” You confess, and Jin softens just a little bit. 

“Well, because I didn’t want you to spend Christmas alone.” He admits. “Every year, you’re so miserable. And I thought Taehyung could change that. And honestly, I didn’t think it would end up like this and even if I did, I thought Taehyung would use his wish.”

“What wish?” You ask. Jin shrugs. 

“Every Christmas Spirit gets one wish throughout their career. Usually it ends up being that they become human, but I know of some who have wished for other things.” He admits. You brows knit together as you gaze at your friend. Where is all this knowledge coming from?

“Jin... just who are you?” You ask hesitantly. He smiles awkwardly and rubs at the back of his neck.

“I’m Jin. The same Jin you’ve known for years. But before that, I was a little Christmas bear who spent years trying to make people happy on Christmas day.” He admits. “And one year... I’d had enough. So I wished that I could be human. And here I am today.” He smiles at you. “And it’s not too late. Taehyung can still do the same.” He glances over at your mantle, where the motionless Christmas Scarecrow sits. “Anyway, I have to get going. I was just coming to make sure you were alive.” He gets up and dusts off his pants. “Maybe give the apartment a clean, and then you can sit down and have a nice, long chat with that scarecrow over there.” 

He makes to leave, but can’t resist tossing one last comment over his shoulder. 

“I’m just going to assume you’re bringing a plus one. I’ll change your response to “going” on the fb invite.” 

++

One clean apartment later, you stand before your mantle, gazing into the button eyes of the scarecrow. It’s weird to know that behind them, Taehyung watches you. What is he thinking? Is he sad? Lonely? Trapped? Is he listening? 

You’re strangely nervous. Taehyung had told you that he’d wanted to spend the rest of the year with you, but maybe he changed his mind. Maybe watching you lounge around your apartment the past five days made him realise how lame you are. And if he only gets one wish in his entire career, why would he waste it now? He’s only had one Christmas to live out his purpose as a Christmas Spirit- maybe he’s not ready to give it up yet. Maybe you’re asking too much of him. It’s only been a month; to ask him to become human and face the horrors of the human world is maybe the cruelest thing you could do.

But your heart yearns, and ultimately that it what gives you the courage to begin speaking. 

“I... don’t know how much you heard of what Jin said earlier.” You admit. “He pretty loud so you probably heard at least some of it. But the basic gist... is that you get a wish. Only one wish, so once you use it, that’s it. So, you have to use it wisely.”

You look away and squeeze your eyes shut. 

“And, I understand if you want to save it. You’ve only just started out and maybe you want more time. But I was thinking... if all that stuff you said before is true... Maybe you can use it now. To be a human.” You inhale shakily. The offer is out in the open now. 

The scarecrow doesn’t move. 

“I mean, maybe you didn’t. That’s ok. I’ll be ok if you don’t actually want to spend the rest of the year with me. It’s a lot to ask when it’s only been a month. But I want to.” You squint and you feel the hot prick of tears forming at the corner of your eyes. “This has been the best Christmas I’ve ever had. I’ve never smiled so much before, and so easily. Something about you makes it so easy. And I was never brave enough to say it, but I like your smile too. I like it so much. It’s ridiculous that you can say my smile is lovely when you can look in the mirror and see what your smile looks like. And I... I don’t want to only get to see it on Christmas. I don’t want to spend eleven months waiting for you but the ridiculous part is that I will.” You admit. “I’ll just keep comparing things to the time I spent with you. I’ll spend eleven months of the year waiting for you’re smile. And that’s because... I really like you, Tae. So much- no, too much. I like you too much.” You’re full on crying at this point. “So please. Spend it on me. Wish to be a human. Wish to be here the rest of the year.”

You fall silent, and still, the scarecrow stares at you. Unmoving, unchanging. 

You smile helplessly, before scrubbing at your eyes. He doesn’t want to use his wish. That’s ok. He doesn’t have to. It was stupid of you to think that he would.

You sniffle and open your eyes.

Only to be engulfed by two arms around your body.  

“I like you too much as well.” Taehyung gasps. It takes you a moment to process- your face is smushed into his chest and his arms hold you securely. “I didn’t know about the wish. But... I want to keep spending time with you. I’d have spent it on you a hundred times over if I’d known.”

You go to pull away so that you can see his face, but he doesn’t give you the chance to because his lips are meeting yours. 

It’s a sweet kiss but also a little clumsy and eager. Like he’s worried time is running out. 

Gradually, the urgency fades and he pulls away. At this proximity, you can see the way his lashes frame his bright eyes, and the way his eyes crinkle into little tiny half moons. It’s a little surreal, being able to gaze upon him so freely when just last week you’d been prepared for a goodbye. 

“So... you’re a human now? You get to stay?” You ask. He pulls back and squints at himself. 

“I guess so. I can’t seem to turn back into a scarecrow so I guess... that I’m human now.” He says.

You kiss him again, after that. It’s soft and sweet and perfect. When you pull away, his eyes are hazy and his expression is unfocused. He looks adorably dishevelled and distracted, and then he offers you that smile, the one that makes your heart feel like it’s about to burst. His fingers come up to delicately trail over the paths of your face, like he’s trying to memorise what you look like. 

“You’re smiling.” He breathes, his tone filled with wonder. His thumb comes up to reverently trace the curve of your lips. “It was your smile.” He confesses. You blink up at him in confusion and he chuckles in response. “It threw me off guard. At the ornament store. Up until that point I’d been so nervous whether I was in over my head with the whole Christmas spirit thing. And then you smiled at me and it wasn’t even because of anything I’d even done and suddenly I wanted to keep that smile on your face.” 

You flush, a bit flustered by his admission, but he isn’t finished, apparently. 

“It’s so pretty. You’re pretty.” He insists. “When you kissed me under the mistletoe I thought my heart was going to burst and then I remembered what I was. That I’m a Christmas Spirit and that I don’t get to do this. I get your smile at Christmas and then that’s it.” He smiles self-deprecatingly at himself before it shifts into something warmer, and fonder. “But now... now...” he trails away, too emotional to continue and he settles for pulling you into another tight embrace, tucking his face into the crook of your neck. All you can smell is that comforting scent of peppermint and cinnamon, and you melt. “Now I get your smiles the rest of the year too. I can’t wait to spend the rest of the year with you.” He confesses, a soft, whispered confession into the warm crook of your neck. 

And there’s lots to do, and things you need to work out now that Taehyung is by your side as a human. Your relationship with your parents isn’t fixed, and he doesn’t have a job or a source of income, and there’s still some remaining Christmas decorations that need to be placed in storage. 

But that’s ok. You’ll both work all that out together eventually. After all, you have the rest of the year to do so.

#thebtswritersclub #kim taehyung x reader #taehyung x reader #castlebangtan #taehyung fluff #writing #secret santa

[catxsnow]

CHRISTMAS MORNING D.G.

Request: I would like to request a soft Christmas morning with Dick where everything feels right. There's snow falling outside, nowhere to be and he's just get babied by his love, he deserves it.

Warning: fluff

A/N: Merry Christmas everyone! I hope everyone has a wonderful day today! Sending my love to every single one of you :)

Word count: 1.4k 

Dick Grayson loved to spend Christmas mornings with you. From the moment that he woke up to the moment he went back to sleep - he loved the entire day with you. It was the only day of the year that it seemed he could go uninterrupted with you and he put good use to it too.

It was cold that year in Gotham. The snow that never seemed to end, frigid winds that always had you pulling him a little closer at night for warmth. Christmas day was no different. Snow fell from outside your apartment's windows. Dark, gray skies allowed for your small tree to shine bright in the cramped space.

The presents that were once perfectly wrapped under the tree were scattered around the living room. Dick, as always, managed to find a way to spoil you. He didn't care about the value of the gifts, just the sentiment behind them. Besides, being with you was all that he could really ask for.

Some cheesy Christmas movie played on your TV, but at the moment your attention was solely on Dick. He laid in your arms, snuggled into the crook of your neck where his warm breath sent chills up your spine. Without even needing to see his face, you knew he had that loving smile plastered on it.

He was already half asleep once more. Between your fingers massaging at his scalp and the warmth of being in your arms he was ready for a nap again. It had been an early morning too, Dick had woken you up just past the crack of dawn with excitement of finally being able to give you the gifts he had been so desperately waiting for.

"We can go back to bed, babe," You chuckled as he hummed with content. The couch was far too small for the both of you but he still managed to trap you on it every other day. "You seem tired."

As if he wanted to defy you, Dick popped up. He no longer looked exhausted but rather full of energy once more. December always reminded him of his time with his parents and the circus. The extra bright lights, joyful music - not to mention there were always more people at their shows.

As hard as his first holiday season without them was, he was sure as hell glad to have you to enjoy them with now. Every year it brought out the kid in him and it was always great to see him filled with so much joy.

"Babe, if I go back to bed now we're not getting back up at all," Dick joked. He pecked your lips before climbing off of you completely. His hand extended to grab yours - and just to get the warmth of him back - you accepted. Dick twirled you around to the music playing from the TV.

He swayed you around the living room, one hand on your hip and the other enclosed in yours. After all the years of being in Bruce's home, Dick had perfected the art of slow dancing. As cheesy as it was, you were glad that he had the skill for moments like these. Just the two of you, and nothing but an intimate moment.

As the song came to an end, Dick dipped you. He brought your lips to his when pulling you back up. He tasted of the hot chocolate that he had made for you both earlier. "Pretty out there today, huh?" you asked. The snow fell in large flakes, covering everything in its path white.

"It is," Dick agreed. He wrapped his arms around you from behind so he too could appreciate the view. It wasn't much, but it was your home. "However, I'm far more glad to be here inside with you where we can be nice, warm, and cozy." He kissed the side of your face. The hoard of blankets on your couch proved that.

There was a plethora of blankets everywhere. Your living room, bedroom - hell there was even one in your kitchen half the time. Dick loved to pull you into him and cocoon the blankets around you both. He had you snuggled up against him that morning with three extra blankets covering you both.

He was stuck between wanting to get up and a deep desire to hold you for several more hours. After several kisses and promises that you were his for the whole day, he allowed you to get out of his arms and the intense warmth of your bed.

"Do you think I can pull off making Alfred's candy cane hot chocolate?" Dick asked, pulling you out of your thoughts of your morning with him.

As much as you loved him, whenever he tried to mimic a recipe of Alfred's it always ended in failure. However, you weren't particularly in the mood to visit the big bat and his manor that day - which meant one of two things: let Dick try to make it or get no hot chocolate at all.

"Give it your best shot, my love," you reluctantly agreed. Dick kissed your cheek once more and dragged you to the kitchen. The two of you rummaged through your cabinets to hopefully find the right ingredients to make it. Although it probably wasn't what Alfred used - Dick threw it all in a pot anyway.

His phone buzzed - probably a text from the big man himself. Dick asked you to check it as he (struggled) to make the drinks. Just as you expected, it was a text from Bruce wishing you both a Merry Christmas. You tossed one of the Santa hats resting beside you over to your boyfriend and put the other one on.

His chin rested on your shoulder and a huge grin was plastered on his face as you got ready to take a photo of you both. As soon as the flash of the camera was gone, Dick peppered your face with kisses. "Hey, come on. I'm trying to send this to Bruce," you giggled at his distraction. "Awe, look how cute we are."

"You're the one making us cute, babe."

"Oh shut up, Grayson," you rolled your eyes at his flirting. Before he could distract you again, you send the picture off and wished Bruce and Alfred a Merry Christmas back. Dick still rested against your shoulder, arms tightly around you. "I hope Damian likes the gifts we got him."

"He will," Dick assured. He was close with his youngest brother, and by that point, he knew that the new Cheese Vikings game was going to be the best gift he was going to get. Besides, Damian would love anything that came from either of you. "So will Bruce, and Alfred, and everyone else we bought for - now stop worrying. We're supposed to be enjoying today."

"I am," you spun around in his arms. Any moment with Dick was an enjoyable one - especially on days like those. You kissed him once more that morning, showing off your love for him in ways that words simply couldn't. "I love seeing you happy like this, you know."

"I'm always happy when I'm with you," Dick told you. He opened his mouth to speak once more but a smell had caused you to cut him off.

"Do you smell something burning?"

"The stove!" Dick panicked. He completely forgot that he had turned the stove up to high to get the hot chocolate heated. Lumps of melted chocolate stuck to the bottom of the pot and the milk that was in it was tinted dark from being overheated. As upsetting as it was that your drink was ruined - it came as no surprise. "This was not my fault! You distracted me."

Your mouth fell open in shock. Your fault? As if. "Look at that you've ruined Christmas, Dick," you joked. Dick set the pot back on the counter and reached his arms out to grab you. Thankfully, you expected him to pull this kind of move and ran out of the way just in time. You stood on the opposite side of the tiny island as him.

In one swift move, Dick leaped over the counter and captured you with ease. Your laughs echoed through the apartment. They stopped when Dick's playing ended and he pecked your lips.

"Don't worry babe, I know how to save our Christmas."

#dickgrayson #dick grayson imagine #dick grayson x reader #dick grayson oneshot #dick grayson #nightwing #nightwing imagine #nightwing one shot #nightwing x reader #dc #dc imagine #dc one shot #batfam #batfam imagine #batfam one shot #christmas imagine

[popculturebuffet]

Star Vs: Stump Day Review or The Why Are You Booing Tom He’s Right Holiday Special

Before we start a special credit to @jess-the-vampire​ who I discussed the episode with during the writing process and brought up a LOT of good points that ended up going into this review. She clearly hates it as much as I do and had even more good reasons for it.  Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Everybody! And today we got a big, fat, grotesque lump of coal to smash to pieces. And after a long, draining, if worth the effort scrooge review, and with this being something I needed to cross off my to do list this holiday season, I put this one here as I could use the cathariss of giving this steaming bowl of elephant piss a good thrashing. As you can tell unlike my usual reviews, I do not like this episode. This isn’t the FIRST i’ve not liked i’ve covered, but it is the first rather infamous one to me i’ve covered and not just a dead possum of an episode I ran into while reguarly covering an otherwise good show like “Quaraller’s Pass” or “Strife of the Party”. This one’s had it coming, making my top 8 worst christmas specials list last year, and while not the series worst outing, that’s a toss up between the finale and marco jr, it’s easily one of them. So while usually I like diving deeply into something good and picking apart while it’s good, if not ignoring any bad aspects, here i’m just going to take a hammer to this thing to explain why it dosen’t work and why it sucks dirty ass in thunderstorms. I might be overstating it a bit but probably not.  Nothing really new has happened since the last episode so the only new thing to cover is why i’m doing the episode here instead of after Monster Bash. And the simple reason is that like the Ducktales Halloween and Christmas specials, this episode clearly does not take place in the same time frame of the episode before or after it, with the next episode, The Bog Beast of Bogabah, taking place the day after Monster Bash. It’s most likely they simply held this episode over till Christmas and it dosen’t really fit in AFTER the huge game changer that is monster bash, especailly since the next three episodes after this all take place in rapid sucession, two on the same day one the day after them. So yeah i’m doing this one first and putting it ahead of monster bash on my episode guide for clarity’s sake. 

Good, so with all that settled, let’s unwrap this complete works of pauly shore shall we? We open on the titular Stump Day, essentially mewni’s christmas complete with Cocoa, carols and a gay couple and their equally adorable child. And Star, unsuprisingly is giddy for it as the actual chlidren, and wearing an adorable santaesque dress complete with horns on her santa hat. Seriously you cannot tell me tom didn’t get that for her. Fucking precious. Marco is more just confused and has his hood up and one of Star’s cousins asks uncle river to tell him the origin of stump day. River’s response.. is easily the best joke of the episode. 

“(in a jolly tone) ha ha, you don’t tell me what to do”

He does so anyway though: Basically when settlers arrived on Mewni they found themselves cold and griping with each other, and soon found a blizzard had struck.. but by huddling together under a magic stump, they all learned to get along or something like that and now once a year everyone gathers in warmth and camraderie.. or else. Before Marco can understandably question what “or else” means in this context, Star butts in when one of her cousins chastises the younger one who asked river the question for beliviing and says he’s real. It’s a nice touch as it fits star perfectly to still belivie in mewni’s horrifying version of santa. I forgot just how adorable and likeable the character was before the final season shot that to hell. How her energy could be infectious and how Eden Sher really brought her all to the performance, which is still the performance of her career and hopefully like Rider Strong she’ll do more voice acting eventually.  So that night as Star tucks in after wonderful  night of sleep, and to avoid her dad’s usual drunken chorus of Tom Jones “Sex Bomb”, and gets woken up by Marco who leads her to the dining hall because a windows broken to fix it with magic. Star entirely buys this flimsy story.. but as Jess pointed out, and as I missed hence the credit up top... she dosen’t bring her wand. She.. dosen’t bring her wand.. to go fix something with magic. Now i’ll grant next season shows she CAN fully do magic without it, and while not as powerful like her mom still has plenty of punch behind it.. especially when she does the rainbow fist thing. But it’s still.. weird she dosen’t think to grab it and feels out of character. While Star’s learned by this point not to rely on it, and as we’ll see gives it up entirely, one of the few bits of her character development that actually sticks, it still seems resonable she’d take it with her wherever she goes.. and usually SHE DOES. And her jammies, which are also adorable, seem to have pockets so the animators had no reason to not just stuff it in one. It would’ve made their job harder yes.. but then don’t have marco use an excuse that directly requires it then and draws attention to the fact the wand is missing, and the fact you blatantly just hoped we’d forget about it as it’d ruin the climax. 

It’s far from the worst thing in this episode..trust me we’re almost there. But this does bring me to a point.. so far the episode is GOOD. The comedy’s good, the setup for what’s about to happen is good, the holdiay setting is warm and inviting but weird enough to perfectly fit mewni, and River, much like his VA and homosexual talking boat portrayer Alan Tudyuk, is a national treasure as always. Whelp it’s all down hill from here bitches! Giddyup. 

So Marco announces a SUPRISE PARTY! And everyone’s there: Tom, Kelly, Ponyhead, Starfan14... oh yeah this is the first ep i’ve coverd with Starfan14 isn’t it? Starfan14 is star’s insane fangirl, voiced by series creator Derfron Nercy herself, who star happily tolerates despite clearly wanting to wear her skin. We’ve all been there. Also Jackie is transparently missing, though at least it’s SOMEWHAT reasonable as she and marco broke up a few .. months ago? I mean it is winter on mewni for this episode but the end of season 4 and the series is set at the start of summer, yet months still pass..... 

Confusing timeline aside, Jackie has every reason not to attend a party thrown by her ex for the girl who confesed she had feelings for said ex and it’s probably the only good decision Marco makes this entire episode that he wisely decided to give Jackie some space. And it says something a decision made entirely off screen that was probably because the creators genuinely forgot Jackie once she was out of the way so they could shift the love triangle stuff to Tom, Star and Marco instead of you know.. not doing that because most love triangles are annoying at best and utterly insufferable at worst. Case in point this episode but I can give out more about this aspect of things in a bit with more context. 

And to his credit, and as Jess backed me up on, Marco’s gesture is genuinely throughtful.. at least to start with. He got her a choclate fountain, brought all of her friends, and geninely just thought Star never celebrated her birthday on her birthday because it was you know the same day as christmas. As someone whose birthday is a week before christmas, December 16th if you were curious, I understand the pain of having your birthday in the same month as christmas. Of having all your presents clustered at once and of having to manuver around a very stressful season, though it does sometimes have perks like getting to celebrate your birthday and christmas, it also means your birthday is secondary and always will be to most people due to proximity. And Star has hers ON mewman christmas, so it’s even worse. So from Marco’s perspective, TO START, his best friend constantly had to share her birthday with her faviorite holiday and just wanted to do something nice. SO FAR, he’s done nothing wrong and just means well. That’s... about to end.  Star.. instead of being greatful.. starts muttering no before going on an manic rampage and destroying everything including hte band’s insturments. And apparnetly star’s gotten some flack for her behavior.. but I understand it. To her the stump is VERY real, and will be very angry if someone else celebrates so to her all she’s doing is saving her best friend from the holiday equilvent of the trees from evil dead, and when Marco asks about it she GENUINELY is sorry, getting he meant well, that he was being sweet, and that he did a lot of nice stuff for her.. she just can’t celebrate not because she loves the holiday but because again, from her persepctive, the stump will kill them all if they don’t support it. She is genuinly affraid for her friends lives and given she could go grab her wand and fight it, clearly thinks she, with all her CONSIDERABLE powers, cannot win this, and neither can tom whose powers are almost entirely fire based. Star is just trying to protect her friends from being horribly murdered. And she turns out to be entirely right about it so no, star was not a jerk here. A bit over the top, but she was not insensitive, she was not mean, she just didn’t want a party for understandable reasons.

So let’s get to actually insensitive shall we?! Marco’s reaction to this is at first confusion as he didn’t realize the stump was real, though Tom, Kelly and Pony are convinced it’s not. Also this episode implies Kelly is from mewni, but she turns out not to be so why she knows about the stump I genuinely don’t know. They think it’s just a baby thing.. though in Tom’s defense he dosen’t phrase it that way, thinks star still beliving is cute, which for a teenage boy finding out his girlfriend belivies in santa is very sweet and mature of him, and is trying to be nice about it even if he doesn’t believe.  But Marco.. his response to his friend having a good reason for not wanting to have the party.. is to complain about how much effort he put into it and try to guilt and bribe her into having it by mentoining he got her faviorite cake flavor, rainbow. Just.. WOW. I’ve seen some bad turns from characters, but WOWWWWWW. Holy shit.. I mean at least other jerkass marco episodes before this had SOME reasoning to them. Sophmore Slump had him clearly sublimating his feelings for star combined with the usual obnoxiousness of someone having gone abroard for the first time, which as Letterkenny recently went into, the only thing worse is Stillborn Puppies. Nothing else. 

And with Lint Catcher while he was presumptive and not blameless.. river still outright lied to him. Here? It’s clear star dosen’t want this, cake can be refigirated, he only takes a loss on the choclate fountain and he could still just let everyone have some and say it’s for stump day to appease her. He dosen’t have to take a loss on this finacially or morally and there would be no harm done. But that’s.. not what HE wanted, not waht HE set up and he wants what HE wanted, which was to impress star with a thoughtful gesture. But that’s the thing bud: Gestures aren’t about you or what you get. Their about doint something nice for another fucking person. It’s the whole point of christmas and birthdays: To just give someone something to be ncie and to celebrate the day and them respectively. If she dosen’t WANT your gift for understandable reasons and isn’t being rude about it you don’t have any leg to stand on you seflish twatwaffle. 

So already Marco is not coming off well.. and if you know this episode you know it gets worse. Oh god it gets worse. So first PONYHEAD of all people calls out Marco.. and for once, PONYHEAD, the most selfish, most unresonable and a character whose tolerablity varies on the episode, tells him he’s being selfish and is only pressing on because of his need to control things. So not only is Ponyhead right but the episode LIKELY wants you to feel she’s wrong because she’s pony which is not how this work as she knows star well and thus, while unaware she still belivied in the stump, which tracks as while it’s obvious she does Pony is so up her own whatever she has that functions as an ass, it’s understandable she’d miss some details. So no Pony’s right, and the fact PONY is one of the more resonable people in this episode is both a sign of the apocalypse, which is thankfully starting to recede, and a clear marker of just how bad Marco’s being if someone who torments him and disagrees with him out of principal is entirely right. 

Oh but it gets worse as next up, Tom steps in and tries to get Marco to back out, admitting he told him this was a bad idea. Now granted Tom did mess up by not stepping in to stop this a bit.. but he A) didn’t know how much his girlfriend genuinely belivied in the stump and B) Probably assumed Marco meant well, as would I before he whined about not getting his way, and decided it was worth a try. So he’s not that bad, and while it is a bit ehhh to try and take back credit for this when he participated, it’s still minor and Marco is still being a huge dick who refuses to help shut things down when it’s clear the party is only causing star to have a panic attack and assault some humble marachi players. He sees nothing good is coming from this and just wants what star wants. Also it paints Marco in a worse light as he was warned about this, and was so obssed with making it a suprise party because that’s how his plan went, he refused to just.. talk to her about it. Hell he could’ve just casually asked “Why do you never celebrate your birthday on your birthday”. It’s an easy question, dosen’t give the game away and allows him to gage if this is a good idea or not BEFORE baking a cake , hiring a band and getting a chocolate fountain. Instead he just went ahead with it.  And he did so.. because this ISN’T about making Star happy. This is abotu HIM making star happy. Him showing her how thoughtful, and considerate and sweet he is and how he’s always been there for her and how maybe she should be with him instead of Tom. I mean it just comes off that way.. he made it a suprise party because in his head that’s how it worked and she was super impresed and left tom that day to be with him in some elaborate fantasy. Granted the episode dosen’t say this.. but it sure as hell acccidently implies hte hell out of it by having marco act like a selfish ass who refuses to take what STAR wants into consideration, and just wants to get his fantasy back on track. What supports this to me is how he treats tom, you know one of his best friends: He, again, accuses him of forgetting.. then calls him a bad boyfriend.. a bad boyfriend for NOT wanting to force a celebration on his girlfriend she does not want, and for not forcing it on her. For you know GROWING AS A PERSON.  Beacuse here’s the pickle pumpernickle: This thing Marco’s doing? Is exactly the kind of thing a pre-character development TOM did, that was rightfully framed as bad. Being controlling, wanting things to go JUST a certain way instead of letting them flow naturally, not getting the hint star isn’t intrested, and not caring about what she wants and only what you want. Marco is doing the same thing Tom used to do. And for starters i’ts already bad because you know MARCO WAS THE ONE WHO FINALLY GOT IT THROUGH TO TOM THAT THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR WAS TOXIC AND SELFISH. But apparently when it’s Marco himself doing it it’s fine. If there was ever any clear evidence Marco regressed as a character, there it is.  Him actively unelarning a lesson he taught someone else and then getting combative when that person rightly tries to call him out. Marco is just insufferable in this episode: He’s being selfish, creepy and posseive and he’s apparenlty supposed to, at least on some level BE RIGHT.  But.. we will get to that. Consider a pin put in this rant. 

So Tom overreacts, and throws some fire at marco, which is genuinely wrong and Kelly’s right to call him out, and then headlocks him asking marco to say he’s a good boyfriend. Marco screams out ‘NEVVVEEEERRRR”

I just made this, by hapinstance, while watching the video I put up there. I.. I did not think i’d get to use this so soon but my god. Just my god that’s a terrible thing to say.  So the party soon breaks down elsewhere as Kelly is mad at tom for.. understandable reasons again the guy she has a crush on was just nearly set on fire, even if i’m still on Tom’s side overall here, it’s still not right. Janna points out it’s probably because she has a crush on marco, which while acurate dosen’t mean she was wrong and Tad pops out to be upset about that. Even though you know you two are broken up and as Kelly points out he needs to move out. Pony is mad she’s not getting any attention and Starfan is mad because star’s mad. Star results to desperate measures, opening the windows to try and repeate the act of the settlers.  She didn’t however count on the Janna factor as she throws the stump in the fire, which is in chracter. What’s not, and again I give Jess full credit for this one, is that everyone just starts.. warming around the stump and not caring like a bunch of jackasses not caring about their close friend, and in tom’s case, girlfriend’s feelings. Also tom and marco apparently stopped fighting just to be this stupid. 

But naturally burning the symbolic stump is a bad idea and the real one attacks. Protip: If you live in a world of magical nonsense, maybe don’t discount the magic stump. Everyone’s captured, including moon and river, with River also being suprised and replying to Star’s annoyance at him not beliving with “Sweetie it’s a stump!”. Alan Tudyk is a god and I feel you all should acknowleddge that. But yeah everything seemsm to be bad but everyone apologizes, if not for the right things in Marco’s case, and Tom says “I’m sorry i’m a bad boyfriend!”. You .. you aren’t. You did nothing wrong. I feel like this is tom for the last agrivating 6 minutes of the episode

He did SOME THINGS wrong but he is NOT a bad boyfriend. He is throughtful, kind and while he has flaws, SO DOES STAR. He is not a bad boyfriend for not wanting to repeat past abusive actions! GAH. Let’s just get on with it. They all hold hands, they thiunk this is what made the stump go away but Star is sure it was just going to kill them, Moon and River have a thousand yard stare as they realize they both have to get repairs for this room now and do an extra big stump day next year to make sure it dosen’t come back. And Marco apologizes to star.. for not beliving her. Not for forcing this on her, not for causing all of this, not at all to tom, but for not beliving her while star FUCKING APOLOGIZES TO HIM.  Pin removed, bullshit falling to the floor... Trunks if you would. 

Thank you. Star DID NOTHING WRONG. Tom DID LESS WRONG THAN MARCO. WHY ARE THEY APOLOGIZING. Why is this little shithead getting everything he wants as the party happens after all, if a day later, and he gets to dance with star, while everyone else is painted as being in the wrong? That’s what makes this special so putrid: that MARCO is apparently in the right for doing the same , if on a smaller scale, manipulative shit tom used to do before he grew as a person, yet the episode sides with him, props him up and teases Starco. If it’s Starco it’s okay apparently and that’s.. not okay. You can’t .. build a ship on a character acting like a jackass. That’s not how this works. Marco was wrong, he was bad and he should FEEL bad. Instead he’s just a creepy jerk this entire episode, being entitled, manipulating star, screaming at tom.. and gets REWARDED FOR IT. Fuck this episode. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: I believe I said Fuck this episode.  This is easily one of star vs’ worst episode and much like the season after this episode it gets worse the more you think about it. I put it on my worst holiday episodes list for a reason.. and frankly even with the decent first 4 mintues it should be higher. It’s an unplesant mess that throughly ruins Marco’s character and takes him from a kind, upstanding, polite and bright young man to a creepy manpiulative jackasss. Fuck this episode and have a happy holidays. 

#Star Vs the Forces of Evil #star butterfly #marco diaz #Tom lucitor #tomstar #starco #kelly #lilica ponyhead #starfan14 #christmas #holidays #holiday #stump day #bad episodes #reviews #animation

[harrieserendipity]

hey everyone, i thought about making a long post and i thought about not making a post at all, and then i tried to make a short post but it’s become kind of long anyways. anyway, i’ve decided i won’t be on here much anymore. i may pop in now and again, to see if anything’s new or check my messages, but for the most part i’ll be leaving this account. i’m not going to delete, just because i’ve had this account for years and it’s kind of a time capsule for me.

it’s not any one big thing that’s caused this decision, really just several small things built up over time, but nothing to worry about. i’m still very much in love with stevebucky, and harry styles, as this account has kind of switched between them lately.

for the most part i’ve enjoyed my time here this year. i’m really not sure what this year would have looked like for me without stevebucky, without tumblr, and without some of you. much of what’s happened on here this year will stay with me forever, and a lot of it will be happy memories. through the good and the bad, i’m grateful for what harrieserendipity has been to me, and all of you who’ve stopped by my blog along my journey and cared to get to know me.

i may queue a few reblogs of this over the next few days, so everyone who’s meant to see it will.

so this is goodbye for now. have the best holiday season and happy new year. my wish for you is that you go into 2021 with hope, and that you’re finishing this year a better person than you started. merry christmas ❤️

- willow

[crimsonheart01]

This Time of Year (Juice Ortiz x Female!Reader)

A/N: Thank you to my sweet @svintsandghosts​ for this request! Hope you love it! 

This is random but 8 Crazy Nights has always been one of my top three Christmas/Holiday movies. Elf comes in first and Jim Carrey’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas is one of the others. Anyway the song for this fic comes from 8 Crazy Nights. I’ll say this, it’s not that happy of a song. 

Prompt: 8. “Merry Christmas” “I don’t celebrate Christmas”

Word Count: 1.7K words

Playlist: Davey’s Song - Adam Sandler

Warnings: SOA Spoilers. If you haven’t seen the end of Season 6 or all of Season 7, reading this will give away a huge plot point for the last season. 

"Well I'm a snowmobile stealing No 'tis the season' feeling Kind of guy (kind of guy) This time of year sucks So I take my numchucks And make sure every snowman dies" Davey's Song – Adam Sandler

Juice had his snapback pulled low over his face and hoodie zipped all the way up. He trudged down the streets of Frisco, trying to keep himself occupied while he waited out the storm. With his hands firmly planted inside his pockets, he kept the burner wrapped uptight, on the off chance that it rang and gave him the all-clear. He knew it was a pipe dream, but he could hope. If this time of year brought him anything, it was that hope was something he'd always have.

He didn't bother to look up often, keeping his eyes on the sidewalk and other people's feet. He managed to manoeuvre himself without any second glances. It was both a testament to his stealth but also a light shone on the darkest part of city life. No one noticed anyone outside of themselves. No one bothered to take a closer look. No one got involved.

Finding himself in a spiral, he decided he needed a break. None of the Sons ever came out this far. He was safe. The Mayans kept to the other side of the bridge, in Oaktown. He could afford to lift his head this once. Take in some of the scenery around him. It may not be the snowy December of his youth, but there was still an obvious spirit in the air.

He found himself blow sideways by the sheer amount of people out and rushing around. With his head up and eyes taking in the streets, he was surprised he hadn't run into anyone. People were rushing in every direction, swerving left and right. He paused, to his detriment and was immediately knocked off balance by a self-important, suit-wearing man.

Juice opened his mouth to shout at the man but in the very next second, he was gone. Swallowed up by the crowd. Juice took this moment to slip off the main walkway and stand next to an overly decorated city tree. He slouched down, inhaling and running both his hands down his face.

There was a time when he thoroughly enjoyed this type of hustle but since making his way to small towns in the west, he'd grown to prefer the slower pace of the communities. Being in the city made his anxiety peak. Not to mention he was actively on the lamb. Hiding. With a long sigh, he perched on the side of the concrete planter, spending his time people watching.

It wasn't the best way to pass the time, but it was better than walking around aimlessly and dwelling on his current situation – the hole he'd dug himself into. Squeezing his eyes shut, he pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes to rid himself of his past, attempting to focus on this moment, right here, right now.

His wallowing was interrupted by a woman dressed head to toe in the most festive red overcoat that he'd ever seen. He was taken by her because she was merrily walking – no, skipping – down the street, with a smile so large he thought it likely had to have her cheeks sore. She was handing out little tokens to the passerby's as she went, offering them a jauntily holiday greeting to anyone who would listen.

It wasn't until she was standing directly in front of him that he realized he'd been staring. Enough that she'd noticed and come over. She pulled out a postcard and handed it to him but he didn't reach out to take it. Instead of appearing slighted by his non-response, she slipped the item back into one of her pockets before regarding him again.

"Merry Christmas!" She smiled at him.

He did a double-take, unsure if she was actually speaking to him. It startled him that even after he'd been openly dismissive of her advance, she was still willing to offer him something kind in return. Even if it was just a small wish for a happy season.

He gave a minute shake of his head, before mumbling, "I don't celebrate Christmas."

That one threw her, she paused, her eyebrows pulled together. He felt a strange feeling overcome him at her dilemma. She hadn't been expecting an answer, never mind the one he gave. He had to actively push down the sensation growing inside him. A smile. It seemed so foreign to him. He couldn't recall the last time he had a genuine reason to even bother with the gesture. She blinked a few times before grinning broadly again.

"Happy Hanukkah!" She tried again.

This time he couldn't hold back. She was determined.

He let out a small laugh, "I don't celebrate that one either."

She huffed quietly to herself, dumbfounded. Her brow furrowed as she tried to figure out if any of the other December holidays were a right fit. He could see the battle she was waging to herself and stopped her.

"I have no reason to celebrate Christmas, so I don't." He explained, as briefly as he could.

He couldn't very well go into the dirty details about his predicament. Ultimately. that's led him into this situation in the first place. His own inability to keep his mouth shut. He was startled out of his thoughts when she sat down next to him, primly brushing away any leaves before getting comfortable.

He stared blankly at her for a long moment, at a loss. He truly thought their exchange had ended with his last comment. It was a clear shutdown, or at least, he thought it was. She turned to look at him then away as though she hadn't even taken any stock of him before she whipped back around.

"What?" She exclaimed.

Now he was really lost. She was acting like he was the one being strange. Without the right words, he continued to stare. She stared back but with a grin slowly forming. Eventually, she tilted her head to the side, really assessing him and his appearance. He shifted away from her, uncomfortable under her scrutiny. His hiding away only made her bolder in her company. He nearly flinched when she started talking.

"You looked like you could use some company," He watched her shrug before continuing, "No one likes being alone on any holiday, but it gets pushed into the spotlight around December when everyone is out here acting like chickens with their heads cut off. Searching and rushing for the best trinket to give someone else, reinforcing the societal obligation to participate in this particular holiday season."

Now it was his turn to be dumbfounded. Without gauging his own reaction, he heard himself say, "What?"

She laughed at that and he felt his heart palpitate at the sound. How long had it been since he'd heard the soft laughter of a woman who willingly put her into his company? He was smacked with more than just missing the brotherhood he'd lost. He missed the feeling of family, the feeling of a significant other, the feeling of being connected.

She must have seen the turmoil in his expression because at that exact moment, she reached out and caught his hand with hers. He jerked involuntarily at the gesture and she immediately loosened her hold. She didn't want to be too forward, he noticed, she was only trying to offer him comfort. He relaxed and gave her a small nod of his head, indicating to her that he was good and she was okay with her offering.

She gave him another small smile before wrapping her fingers around his again and placing their connected hands into her lap where she cupped her other hand around theirs.

~(SOA)~

They sat there for what must have been hours. He thought to himself countless times that there had to be somewhere that she needed to be but she never wavered. Her hand held his tightly, never yielding. As the sun started to set he couldn't fathom the thought of keeping her any longer. Not to mention it wasn't the safest bet for him to be out wandering in the middle of the night. There was no telling what he could accidentally witness, or who he could happen upon.

He flexed his fingers underneath hers, pulling her attention towards him and began to unwrap their entwined hands. He pulled his hand to his chest

"Thank you," He murmured, "I don't have any way to repay you."

She brushed him off by waving a hand dismissively, "Nonsense, it was my pleasure. I have enough holiday cheer for a marching band. You needed to borrow a little and I had more than enough to spread."

He nodded. Her words held a lot of truth. He could feel the positive energy radiating off of her. It was why he hadn't run away earlier. They both stood up, brushing their pants off before preparing to depart. She stepped towards him, zipped up his hoodie a bit more, then patted the sides of his shoulders. She preened his shoulders, making sure there wasn't an ounce of dust on them. He felt his heart grow inside his chest at the tenderness of her actions, the familiarity.

"Take care of yourself." She told him, offering him a bright smile, "No one deserves to be lonely."

He was stunned by her words. They hadn't exchanged any conversation, yet it was as though she knew exactly what he was going through. She winked over at him before turning on her heel and disappearing down the street in the opposite direction she'd shown up in. He stood stock-still, watching as the people on the street started to disperse and her with them.

He had no idea who she was, where she came from, or why she chose to take pity on him, but it helped. She reignited the hope that was dwindling within him. She made him believe that there was redemption down the road for him. With that new belief in mind, he turned and made his way back to his safehouse with more purpose.

#juice ortiz #juice ortiz imagine #juice ortiz x reader #sons of anarchy #sons of anarchy imagines #sons of anarchy imagine #soa imagines #soa imagine #samcro imagine #samcro imagines #12 days of ficmas 2020 #holiday prompts

[chiaki-translation]

New Year! Red and White Kakushigei Tournament! Event Translation Ch9-Epilogue

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! My bf got extra holiday during christmas and I ended up spending more time with him, thus the delayed translation. At least I can still make it before new year~

Anyway, I hope that everyone have a great holiday ahead! Here’s the final part of the new year event, enjoy~

New Year! Kakushigei Tournament Ch1-4 / / Ch5-8 / / Ch9-Epilogue

Disclaimer:

A3! is owned by Liber’s Entertainment

Azuma:

“It’s the season of pure white snow.

Everyone, as per tradition, let us make some snow bunny.”

Hisoka:

“Yeah. Let us offer our prayer, for the weather not to be too heavy.”

Juza:

“Surely, the snow bunny will deliver our thoughts and prayers to heaven.”

Chikage:

“Then, I’ll start gathering snow. Will you help me.”

Banri:

“Yeah, of course.”

Tsuzuru:

“I’m leaving it to you.”

Tenma:

“Let’s make them, so the snow bunny can run under this winter sky.”

<Short Time Skip>

Banri:

“Oi, why are you wandering around our little hut.

Are you here to steal our food.”

Tenma:

“What are you saying.

I’m just trying to shovel the snow on the road back home.”

Banri:

“So suspicious, don’t lie.”

Tenma:

“What the. You too, aren’t you planning something!”

Banri:

“What…! This guy!”

Tenma:

“Bastard…!”

Banri:

“Ugh!”

Tenma:

“Woah!?”

Banri:

“…!”

Chikage:

“What’s this noise about!”

Juza:

“…! The snow bunny’s statue…!”

Azuma:

“What a disaster. The snow statue that offers our prayer is destroyed…”

Tenma:

“It’s not my fault! This guy…!”

Banri:

“No shit, it’s him!”

Hisoka:

“Stop it, the two of you!”

Banri & Tenma:

“…”

<Short Time Skip>

Tsuzuru:

“This is bad, the snow never stops.”

Juza:

“If this continues, what should we do.”

Hisoka:

“It’s, it’s cold…”

Azuma:

“Soon, the crops will be affected too.

The village might not be able to survive…”

Banri:

“Ah, as I thought, the heaven is looking down on us.

I’m sorry for raising suspicion on you.”

Tenma:

“No, me too, I’m sorry.”

Banri:

“Let’s try to fix the snow bunny statue together.

From now on, to be considerate with each other. Let’s offer our oaths and prayers sincerely with a dance.”

Tenma:

“Yeah, let’s do that. Let’s put all our thoughts, and dance.

…”

Banri:

“…”

Azuma:

“Those feelings of yours, I’m sure it will be delivered to the snow bunny.”

Chikage:

“Us too, let’s dance to offer our prayers.”

Juza:

“Yeah. I hope for the snow to subside, for the crops to continue growing, and everyone in the village to prosper.”

Chikage:

“…”

Audience A:

Woah… So beautiful…!

Audience B:

It’s so dignified, it’s wonderful!

Audience C:

The atmosphere around them is so wonderful, I’m so fascinated.

<Short Time Skip>

Director:

Everyone, good work.

The performance and dance were great!

Hisoka:

Thank you.

Banri:

Well, this much is easy.

Tsuzuru:

Eh? Speaking of which, the snow stopped before we realized…

Azuma:

Maybe it’s the power of the dance.

Tenma:

Well, looks like it.

Muku:

Everyone looks so cool!

It’s so wonderful and fascinating.

Homare:

Yeah, what an artistic performance!

I’m overflowing with inspiration.

Guy:

The dance was very elegant. The thoughts and prayers were conveyed properly.

Chikage:

More than anything else, I’m glad that the audience seems to enjoy it.

Priest:

Everyone, thank you so much!

The performance and the dance were wonderful.

Juza:

Thanks.

Tenma:

I’m glad everything went smoothly.

<End of Chapter 9>

Omi:

Next will be the result announcement for the Kakushigei right.

Masumi:

Will the red team win, or is it going to be the white team…

Sakuya:

I’m feeling kinda nervous now.

Kazunari:

Settzer’s tablecloth trick and Chikchon’s miracle magic were wonderful, surely it’s the red team win right!

Banri:

It will be great if that’s the case.

Yuki:

The audiences are pretty excited too.

Priest:

Without further ado, I will announce the result of the Kakushigei tournament.

The winner is… White team!!

Kumon:

Alright---!!

Taichi:

Yeay! It’s the white team win--!!

Priest:

Both teams were wonderful, the voting results were close too, but among them, Citron-san’s belly dance from the white team is very popular.

Citron:

I did it! Everyone gets it~!

Itaru:

Seriously.

Misumi:

That’s too bad.

Chikage:

Well, I guess this kind of thing happens.

Omi:

Well, it’s true that Citron’s belly dance has the impact and it’s pretty interesting too.

Kazunari:

I’m a bit disappointed, but everyone did their best and I was able to see a lot of different performances!

Kumon:

Yup! It was so much fun~!

<Shifts to Bonfire>

Tasuku:

The festival’s going to end soon.

Director:

It’s going to be over before we know it.

Staff:

It’s amazake. Please take one.

Azami:

Hmm, are you giving out amazake.

Taichi:

It screams end of year, it’s great!

Staff:

Everyone, would you like one too? Please take it.

Director:

Woah, thank you so much.

Tsumugi:

It’s warm and delicious.

Sakyo:

Yeah, not bad.

Chikage:

… There you go, Banri. We got some amazake.

Banri:

Thanks.

It’s been a while since I drank amazake with Chikage-san like this.

Good work for the Kakushigei, the performance, and the dance.

Cheers.

Chikage:

Good work. Cheers.

…

Banri:

How does it taste?

Chikage:

Just drink it.

Banri:

… Ugh, it got ginger huh.

But well, it tastes a bit better than what I remember from my childhood.

That time, I could only think of it as disgusting.

Chikage:

Hmm, isn’t is just the thing about growing up.

Banri:

But as I thought, I prefer the sweet one.

…  About my family too, I think I’ll show my face when they’re back from their trip.

Chikage:

That’s great.

Citron:

The two of you, what were you talking about!

Let’s go pull omikuji together!

Banri:

Don’t you pull omikuji at the beginning of the year?

Citron:

Pulling omikuji at the end of the year is also good!

Banri:

There goes the nonsensical stuff again.

Chikage:

Well, it seems that it’s actually fine to pull it at the end of the year.

Citron:

Come on, let’s go~!

Banri:

Fine fine.

Then, let’s go.

Chikage:

Yeah.

<End of Chapter 10>

Epilogue: The fate of the Victor

Citron:

Alright, it’s finally the long-awaited end of year party!

Let’s have fun and get excited today!

Taichi:

Yeay!

There’s also ‘that thing’ that we’ve been looking forward to!

Tenma:

Right.

Kumon:

It’s the highlight of today’s party!

I’m so excited~!

Omi:

Everyone, it’s ready~

It’s the white team’s request, ‘Sukiyaki’.

Muku:

Woah, what a great smell…!

Citron:

It’s the prize of winning the Kakushigei tournament, it’s the winning sukiyaki!

Yeay!

Tsuzuru:

We were deciding what’s good for the main dish for the end of year party, even though it became a draw between crab pot and sukiyaki…

The red group for crab pot and the white group for sukiyaki, it was decided through the Kakushigei tournament in the end.

Azami:

No one who watched the Kakushigei tournament would have thought that it was actually held for this reason.

Tsumugi:

Ahaha, you’re right.

Kazunari:

But the shrine was bustling with people, the audiences seem to have enjoyed themselves too, it’s great wasn’t it!

Director:

Yeah, Mr. Priest seems to be glad too.

Kumon:

Thanks to the gift cards from him, we were able to upgrade the meat for sukiyaki too!

Citron:

Then then, first of all…

Everyone, good work for the Kakushigei performance and the dance!

Congrats to the white team for winning! Cheers!!

Troupe Members:

Cheers!!

Sakuya:

Woah…! The sukiyaki is very delicious!

Juza:

Yeah, it’s great.

Taichi:

It feels different from the usual one! It’s the best!

Homare:

Everyone from white team, congratulations on winning.

Kazunari:

Sukiyaki is lit~!

Banri:

Well, I’m for the crab pot, but I don’t mind as long as I can eat delicious food.

Misumi:

Fuh… fuh…! It’s so delicious~!

Omi:

For Hisoka-san, I’ve prepared a main dish with broiled tofu and vegetables, I’ve put some mochi inside too.

Hisoka:

Thank you, Omi.

Tenma:

Ah, oi! I was about to eat that meat!

Citron:

No no, the faster hand got it

Tsuzuru:

Calm down, we still have a lot coming.

Itaru:

The sake that Azuma-san prepared has a nice fragrant, it suits sukiyaki pretty well.

Azuma:

Fufu, right? I was interested in it, I’m glad I got it in the end.

Sakyo:

This sake is delicious too.

Takato, you should try it as well.

Tasuku:

Thank you, I’ll try some.

Sakuya:

The Kakushigei tournament was so fun.

Guy:

Yeah. I’ve seen the others practicing sometimes, but seeing the real thing properly for the first time is different.

Masumi:

Director, did you enjoy my Kakushigei performance?

Director:

Yeah! Masumi-kun’s pretty good at ventriloquism.

Manager:

I got surprised by a lot of tricks too!

The venue was also an exciting one~!

Yuki:

The dance was fantastic too, it was beautiful.

Muku:

It’s so elegant, I was impressed!

Chikage:

I’m glad everyone enjoyed it.

Juza:

I also learned a lot from it.

Citron:

The tension’s up! By everyone’s request, I will do my belly dance encore~!

♪~♪~♪~

Kazunari:

As I thought, Ronron’s belly dance is the best~!

I also took a video!

Taichi:

Yo, white team’s general! Japan’s MVP~

Misumi:

I’ll dance together too~!

Tenma too, Kumon too, let’s dance~!

Tenma:

Me too!?

Kumon:

Ahaha!

<Short Time Skip>

Director:

Ah, is it time for the go-home group to leave?

Tasuku:

Yeah. Then, I’ll be going.

Omi:

Thank you for your care this year.

Looking forward to next year too.

Director:

Thank you too.

Looking forward to next year with everyone.

Tsuzuru:

Everyone, have a good new year ahead.

Sakuya:

Yeah, have a great new year!

Juza:

We’ll be going too.

Muku:

Yeah!

Kumon:

Ah, Banri! Since Big Brother won’t be here for a while, don’t just eat the snacks he has in his room okay!?

Banri:

There’s no way I’ll eat them!

Juza:

Don’t eat them.

Banri:

I told you there’s nooooooo way!

Itaru:

If you miss everyone, you can play the games I have in the room, senpai.

Chikage:

I will refrain from doing so.

Tsumugi:

Masumi-kun too, have a good new year.

Remember to keep warm.

Masumi:

Yeah.

Homare:

Then, see you next year.

Yuki:

We’re going off.

Kazunari:

We’re going off!

Director:

Have a safe trip!

<Shifts to Balcony>

Banri:

…

Chikage:

Banri.

Banri:

Oh, Chikage-san.

Chikage:

You’re reading the script for your new year performance huh.

Good work.

Here, I brought some new year soba.

Banri:

Thanks.

… Eh, this is a curry soba isn’t it?

Chikage:

It’s the director’s hope.

Banri:

Right, I remember she said something about arranging them.

It is indeed a very strange new year soba.

*phone vibrates*

Hmm?

It’s from Big Sister.

… Eh, she took the time to send pictures from Hawaii.

Look, there.

Chikage:

Hmm… Your Big Sister looks just like you.

Banri:

Geez, that’s so random.

Don’t just send me this kind of thing every time.

Chikage:

Well well. She might be worried about her lone Little Brother that she left in Japan.

Banri too, why don’t you try to send her a picture?

Banri:

I don’t have any picture…

Then, why don’t Chikage-san take a picture together with me?

Chikage:

Me?

Banri:

With that reasoning, she won’t be worried anymore if I take a picture with someone else right.

Misumi:

Ah! There you are~!

Sakuya:

Banri-kun, Chikage-san!

Banri:

Hmm?

Citron:

We will be starting the new year countdown soon.

Banri and Chikage too, let’s do it together!

Banri:

Ah, it’s already that timing huh.

Chikage:

… Anyway, it’s not only me who’s here, why not take a picture together with everyone?

Banri:

… You’re right, this kind of new year’s eve is rare.

Misumi:

The two of you, quick~!

Banri:

Then, should we go.

Chikage:

Right.

<End of  Epilogue>

#a3! act! addict! actors! #a3! event #a3! translation #utsuki chikage #settsu banri #mikage hisoka #sumeragi tenma #hyodo juza #minagi tsuzuru #yukishiro azuma