Title: The Real Meaning of Christmas
Fandom: Full Metal Alchemist
Pairings: MaesEd
Warnings: None
Author's Note: This was a Christmas gift for hikaru_9 over on LJ and Deviantart. She received it on time, I'm just late posting it here.
"I still don't get it," Edward muttered, his head cradled in his flesh hand, his legs folded beneath him as he sat in front of the couch. Edward never sat on the couch, for reasons Maes would never understand.
"That doesn't mean you can't help," Maes grunted, struggling with a particularly tangled strand of lights.
Edward made no move to help, let alone get up. "It's nothing more than a fire hazard you'll just have to take down in less than a month."
"It's more than that," Maes said, triumphantly pulling the strand straight, looping it around the top of the tree.
"It's symbolic of a long dead religion, one that no one really remembers, the texts long lost or in a language we barely understand, the culture expired, and all we have left are these silly traditions that no one understands!"
Maes, instead of responding to Edward's rant, chose to step back and proudly admire his work, before remembering that he had forgotten to plug the lights in, also crossing the room to turn off the room lights.
Edward raised his head, lost for a moment in the bright yellow lights on the pine tree before him. Maes happily plopped down beside him, circling his arm around Edward's shoulder, pulling the younger man closer.
"It's more than your dead religion, Edward," Maes whispered in Edward's ear.
Maes couldn't see Edward's blush, but imagined it all the same as Edward squeaked out, "It's not my dead religion-"
"It's about love. It's about taking a breath at the end of the hectic year and remembering what really matters. Friends, family," -a kiss above Edward's ear- "lovers."
It took a moment for Edward to finally relax in Maes' arms, snuggling his head under Maes' chin, a shy hand resting on his thigh. Maes rubbed Edward's arm as they sat in silent awe of the lit Christmas tree.
The moment didn't last, as Maes suddenly sat up and reached for a nearby box. "And now you can help me hang up the ornaments!"
Edward groaned and buried his face in his hands, but still let his lover pull him to his feet.