Author's Note: Hi everyone :) Had no plans whatsoever for this, but... IT'S CHRISTMAS! Tis the season for sad, lonely people to comfort themselves using their imaginations XD. Just a short, light story. Hope you enjoy :)
Disclaimer: Characters from Matsuri Hino's Vampire Knight.
A figure was hunched over the study desk, head resting on crossed arms, sleeping quietly.
Kaname had been up all day, waiting.
Waiting for Zero to come home.
There had been no promises when he left, of course. There never was. Zero never knew how long his missions would take, and Kaname would never dream of requesting that he specially returned just for something like this.
Even though deep in his heart, he would secretly wish for it.
It would have been too easy for Kaname to just reach out for his lover through their bond. To find out where he was, and when he would be returning. It would take mere seconds for Kaname to travel to his side, to hold him in his arms and whisper the season's greetings in his ear.
But of course, Kaname wouldn't do that. He would never do something that embarrassing and sappy to Zero, no matter how much he yearned to.
So all he could do was wait. And hope.
Even though there was a very high chance that Zero would not return in time, Kaname had had the tree prepared in the living room, complete with colourful, twinkling lights. Various presents sat waiting underneath the giant tree, just waiting for Zero to peel them out of their wrappings. Kaname had made sure to get lots of mistletoe, pasting them all over the house. Not that he needed any excuse to smooch his hunter, but he would not waste any opportunity to touch him. Zero would probably roll his eyes, exasperated, as Kaname kissed him every time they entered and exited a room (an ingenious plan, if he did say so himself), but he wouldn't deny him. Zero never did, no matter how (admittedly) annoying he got.
Unable to sleep, Kaname had forced himself to sit at his desk in his study, hoping to clear at least half of the work he needed to. However, it had been pretty damn near impossible for him to concentrate. Despite his continued attempts not to get his hopes up, he had been unable to stop his gaze from flitting out the window, searching for a black motorcycle speeding through the winding roads that led to their house.
But hours had gone by quietly.
No bike. No Zero.
Finally, without realizing it, fatigue had crept up over Kaname. He nodded off at his desk, dreaming of an adorable snow-covered Zero in the new, body-hugging sweater sitting in one of the boxes under the tree.
XXX
It was just after 2pm on Christmas day that the roar of an engine cut through the peaceful silence of the winter afternoon. Lost in his dreams, the pureblood did not stir.
When he woke up a few hours later, a familiar black motorcycle was back in its usual place.
Kaname slid out of his study, a huge grin on his face.
XXX
'Do you know what day it is today?'
'Nnngh..?'
Twinkling sienna eyes met bleary, lavender eyes as they slowly opened after way too few hours of sleep.
The hunter yawned, rubbing his eyes wearily. From the dim glow of light reflected through the room, he could tell it was early evening, probably around 4 or 5. It's still so early, he groaned mentally. He had been planning to sleep for a little longer before forcing himself to crawl out of his welcoming, luxurious bed...
Zero had been away on a mission from the Association for a fortnight, only just returning a couple of hours ago. He had immediately crashed on his bed, so drained that he had not even been able to muster up the energy to remove his shoes.
'Well?'
Zero's attention snapped back to his lover, who was hovering above him on the bed expectantly. The pureblood looked a little tired and too thin, most likely because Zero had not been around recently to remind him to take his meals. God only knew how many meals he had skipped while caught up in work. It wasn't as if anyone else in the house would dare to force him to stop and eat, no matter how much Zero wished they would. It sure would make him worry a lot less about leaving Kaname for long bouts of time.
Gently cupping the pureblood's cheek, Zero did his best to force away the lethargy weighing heavily down on him. A tender smile crept over his lips as he gazed up into those familiar, soul-trapping eyes. It was so good to be able to be with his lover again. He had missed him so much the previous two weeks. Missed his presence, his touch, his smile... heck, even his smell, perverted as that sounded.
'I know Kaname, it's Christmas, isn't it?'
It had almost seemed as if he would not be able to make it back in time. The den he and Kaito had been sent to clean out had seemed like easy work initially, but then they realised that the few Es that had managed to escape were all ultimately running in a specific direction, as if there were another hiding spot somewhere. It had taken them days to finally track down the other den, and then another few days to finally eradicate every last vampire.
It wasn't that he particularly enjoyed Christmas, especially with the cold, winter wind and the throngs of people flooding the streets no matter which way you turned. However, he knew that Kaname enjoyed spending time with him during this holiday, and he didn't want to disappoint him. He had been somewhat relieved he had managed to return right on time.
Kaname beamed down at his lover. He had been half-expecting Zero to frown up at him with a confused expression, going 'huh?' That would have been an adorable sight, needless to say, but the pureblood was truly glad the hunter hadn't forgotten. Zero wasn't one for the sentimentality of such occasions, everyone knew that, but it seemed as though, for Kaname's sake, he was trying his best to change.
'Yes, it is,' murmured Kaname appreciatively, before lowering his head to press his lips lightly against his lover's. Two weeks without Zero had been absolute torture, but at least his silver-haired angel was finally back in his arms, right in time for Christmas, no less.
Zero smiled into the kiss, arms hooking around the pureblood's neck to pull him closer. The room wasn't exactly cold, but his lover's body heat was especially welcome right now, seeping right into his bones and keeping him comfortably toasty. He could almost have gone back to sleep, if not for the fact that he was trying his best to stay awake for Kaname's sake.
As a different kind of warmth spread through Kaname at the close proximity of his lover's body, he pulled away ruefully. If they kept going like this, it would definitely lead down that path, and he could tell that Zero was barely awake enough to speak.
'What did you have planned?' murmured Zero, eyes half-closing despite his best efforts. Damn it... He wanted so much to make his lover happy by doing whatever he wanted today, but he was just so tired... If only he could sleep for a little longer...
Kaname chuckled at his lover's admirable struggle. But Zero's obvious desire to please him warmed his heart, even though the boy was hardly capable of following through with it.
He had made plans, should Zero return. Go out for a meal, a show, maybe, but... Zero was clearly too out-of-it for that, at least for now. And what did it matter what they did, really? Just the fact that Zero had come back for Christmas made him unbelievably happy. As long as they were together, anything was fine, even if it was just lying together.
Kaname settled himself on the bed next to Zero, arms weaving around his lover lovingly. 'It's okay, let's just stay like this for now...'
Zero turned so that he was facing the pureblood, tucking his head into the crook of Kaname's neck and deeply inhaling his lover's scent. He would make it up to the pureblood later, he promised silently. He let his eyelids flutter shut, nuzzling closer to his lover. Kaname's arms tightened around him, holding him close.
Only his lover's embrace gave him this much comfort and security, this much love and acceptance. If only he could stay here like this forever... But even if not forever, at least for now...
A faint smile played on the hunter's lips as he drifted off to sleep, lulled back into his dreams by the safety of his lover's arms and his steady breathing.
Kaname stayed motionless as Zero's breathing evened out, chest rising and falling rhythmically. Only after a few minutes did he dare to shift, pressing a tender kiss against his lover's soft, silver hair.
'Merry Christmas, Zero,' he whispered. 'I'm so glad you're home.'
XXX
As the first snowflakes fell lightly outside their window, lightly dusting everything for miles around with a sprinkle of pure white, the two vampires remained asleep under the warm covers, bodies and hearts entwined together.
I'll be home for Christmas, you can plan on me.
I'm might continue this, to their actual date after they wake up... Tell me what you think about this :) Send me your reviews as Christmas gifts, guys :D Would deeply appreciate it :)
The title and lyrics at the end are from Bing Crosby's I'll Be Home For Christmas. Such a beautiful, sad song.
Merry Christmas, everyone! :)
