Disclaimer: This is the season of miracles, so maybe I'll get the right to DGM in my stocking this year… then again, probably not. As such, I don't own it and I am making no money off of this. Katsura Hoshino owns DGM. At least there's always next year…
Warnings: Mild language, BOYxBOY love
A/N: This is the first in what might become a series of connected oneshots. I'm not sure yet - it depends on how much time I have and what other projects I keep up with.
But It's Tradition!
Lavi trudged over the snow-covered sidewalks of the little town he was currently on assignment in. At least the mission had been simple, even if it had kept him away from the Order at Christmastime. He knew Lenalee had been planning a holiday party for every Finder and Exorcist currently in residence, a party that was probably going on right this very second.
He checked his watch, sighing when he confirmed that, yes, the party was probably going on over there while he was stuck out here, alone in the cold snow.
The redhead supposed he could have stayed inside his hotel room and been warm, but sitting by himself seemed somehow more lonely than wandering the streets by himself. It wasn't as if he had any company out here - this late on Christmas Eve, all the shops were closed and even the worst of stragglers would be home in their beds by now. Even so, he felt somewhat more comfortable out in the open than cooped up in a small room.
However, he could already feel the chill settling into his bones. His Exorcist's jacket was wonderful at protecting him, but it wasn't the warmest thing he had ever worn. His nose felt frozen and his ears were numb - even his fingers, tucked inside his gloves, were feeling the cold. He would have to head back soon, but he didn't want to go back yet.
He kept walking, shivering a bit as the wind picked up and shot straight through him. He half-closed his eye and tucked his head down against his chest, covering as much of it as he could with his scarf for warmth.
A warm glow of light brought his attention back to the front and he lifted his gaze from the blanketed ground.
A large tree, perhaps twice his height, stood at what he realized must be the very center of town. It was surrounded by four plant-covered arches a little more than half its height and was decorated with all manner of colored baubles and lights on strings. A glowing star was perched at the top, swaying slightly in the wind. It was obviously decorated in honor of the holiday and Lavi felt a small smile creep up on his face.
He moved towards the tree, still smiling softly. He'd just take a closer look at it and then head back. Christmas decorations had just been going up when he had left the Black Order headquarters and those same decorations would probably be getting torn down when he returned.
His smile faded at the thought.
Christmas had always secretly been one of his favorite holidays. He knew Bookman would disapprove of his fondness for wintertime on sheer principle - they were Bookmen after all, and Bookman did not have a family to celebrate such a family-oriented holiday with. Still, Lavi couldn't just dislike the holiday or disregard the feeling in the air during the holiday season. The world, though cold, seemed to be a kinder, warmer place during Christmastime.
His steps paused underneath one of the leafy arches surrounding the tree. He leaned against one of the supports, staring absently at the lights and ornaments.
The others were probably unwrapping their gifts now. He could almost picture it - Allen, Yuu, and Lenalee sitting around a tree somewhere in the Order, or in front of a roaring fireplace, passing around brightly wrapped boxes. Yuu would be scowling, though the lack of tension in his forehead and shoulders would mean that he was secretly pleased by his gifts. Allen would be smiling and would definitely be genuinely pleased with anything he got, though he would probably insist that the others open their gifts first. Lenalee would be just like Allen, smiling and happy to simply be participating in the holiday.
His expression grew more distant as he drew himself into that scene. Obviously he wasn't allowed to get attached, but-
The sound of muffled footsteps reached his ears. In the quiet night, silent except for the sound of the branches rustling in the breeze, the noise was loud and almost intrusive. He frowned a bit and turned in the general direction of the noise, looking for the person that made it. Whoever it was, they were probably coming to look at the tree too and were likely just as alone as Lavi was.
His gaze landed on a darkly-dressed figure in a long jacket and a top hat. The person's head was bent forward slightly and the top hat and the night's darkness served to hide the man's face. Whoever it was, they were perhaps fifteen feet away and heading straight for the arch Lavi stood under.
The redhead almost turned back to the tree, dismissing the person as just another lonely wanderer, but then the man stepped close enough for him to see the lower half of his face illuminated by the light from the tree.
His eye widened and his hand instinctively reached for Ozuchi Kozuchi. The hammer was in his hands inside a heartbeat and before the darkly-dressed man had come within ten feet of the arch, Lavi had activated his Innocence and held the weapon ready to strike. No human had skin that particular shade of gray.
"Noah," he bit out angrily, good mood ruined. The man jerked his gaze up, stopping in his tracks at the sound, and Lavi's mood soured further. He narrowed his eye in a glare, tightening his grip on Ozuchi Kozuchi's handle.
Tyki Mikk's surprised expression faded to be replaced by amusement. His golden eyes briefly glanced towards the arch, widening for a split second before his amusement increased tenfold. He straightened up, apparently unconcerned about the weapon leveled at his chest.
"Well, well, Exorcist," he said, lifting his hands to mockingly show he wasn't armed. Lavi scowled. "Would you attack a man, unprovoked, on Christmas Eve?"
"What are you doing here, Noah?" Lavi demanded, not lowering his guard an inch. Tyki shifted his gaze from Lavi to the tree behind him, indicating it with a small nod.
"I came here to enjoy the holiday decorations. Were you not here to do the same?"
The Noah's voice sounded sincere enough, but the Exorcist didn't trust Tyki. Not one bit.
"Do you seriously expect me to believe that?" he asked. Tyki shrugged his shoulders, still apparently unconcerned.
"Believe what you will of me, but I give you my word that I shall not harm you tonight." A sly smirk stole over his features. "It is the season for peace on earth and goodwill towards men, isn't it? I'm sure priests of your Order are spreading that message this very moment..."
Lavi relaxed his grip just a bit, still scowling. Tyki didn't move, still holding up his hands mockingly.
While he didn't believe the bastard - in their very first meeting, the man had cheated Krory out of all of his clothes in poker, so it wasn't as if the man was above lying. Still... he had a point.
Lavi shrunk his Innocence down and shoved it back into its holster on his thigh, still scowling.
"Fine, but go over to that side of the arch. I don't want you standing next to me," he bit out, turning around and crossing his arms as much from pique as to keep warm. The brief burst of adrenaline at having recognized an enemy had kept his mind off the cold, but that had died away and he shivered. He rubbed his gloved hands up and down his arms, trying to warm up.
He could simply leave. He was done looking at the tree, but that would feel too much like letting the Noah win some sort of game and Lavi wasn't about to back down. No matter how cold he was, he was determined to wait until the Noah left before he would even consider-
Warmth suddenly surrounded him and he nearly jumped, stepping quickly to the side and looking over at the Noah. Tyki was walking over to his side of the arch, now coat-less and with a freshly lit cigarette in one hand. Lavi glanced down in wordless surprise, seeing the dark material laid over his own Exorcist uniform. The coat had been laid over his shoulders, covering him almost like a blanket it was so large around him.
"Wh- what is this?" he demanded, spluttering in shock. He turned, glaring, towards the older man as he yanked the coat off of his back with one hand and held it out. His body almost instantly protested the loss of warmth and he shivered as it tried to regain the heat it had lost.
Tyki's gaze turned to him from the decorated tree, a smirk playing at his lips.
"You seemed cold," he commented, lifting his cigarette and taking a long, slow drag from it. He turned back to the tree and breathed the smoke out. "Was I wrong?"
Lavi opened his mouth to protest, but just then a particularly strong breeze rushed passed them and he shivered again, teeth chattering. Resigned, he turned away from the Noah and slid the coat on properly. He held it closed over his chest, noting with a bit of chagrin that the coat was too large for him. It reached a bit past his knees and, if he buttoned it, it would be loose in the chest. He hunched his shoulders, trying to keep as much heat as possible as he stared at the tree.
A scent like warm cinnamon and spice met his nose on his next inhale and his eye widened. He sniffed again, breathing the smell in deeply. He turned his head, trying to locate the aroma's source, but it grew weaker as he lifted his head from the jacket.
Lavi picked up the collar of the coat, turning his head into it to sniff. The scent was strong, meaning the jacket was the source, and that meant, by extension...
He heard a soft chuckle and he jerked his gaze towards Tyki. The man was watching him, smirking in that infuriating way of his. Lavi flushed and dropped his hand, looking away in embarrassment.
"Don't you ever wash this thing?" he asked, crossing his arms again. "It stinks."
Tyki made a noncommittal, amused noise and turned back to look at the tree. Lavi looked at the tree as well, face still red.
Silence, almost companionable, fell between them for several minutes. Lavi's shivers stopped entirely and he almost forgot that the man he was standing with was supposedly his enemy.
He glanced over at Tyki. The man had finished his cigarette and now stood, leaning against the other side of the arch and staring wistfully at the tree. His arms were loosely crossed and his shirt was thin, the loose material of his long sleeves blown gently by the wind. He wore a black vest that clung to his torso, accenting his toned body. Lavi found his gaze fixed on the man's chest, mentally picturing what the man would look like without such articles in the way.
He felt eyes on him and looked up, meeting Tyki's amused gaze. His face flushed again and he looked back at the tree, shifting uncomfortably and refusing to meet the stare he could feel leveled at him.
"Aren't you cold?" he asked, trying to make it seem like he could care less. "You're not exactly dressed for the weather..."
"I was, but then a certain redhead borrowed my jacket," Tyki replied teasingly. Lavi could feel his face redden to the roots of his hair and he turned to the Noah, a biting retort already on his lips, but the man was waving his hand in a dismissing gesture. "I'm warm enough."
Lavi kept his eye on the older man, shifting uncomfortably inside the Noah's jacket. Tyki smiled at him and turned to fully face him, leaning his back against the arch.
"I'm more curious about why you asked. Is it concern? For me?" The Pleasure's voice was mocking.
Lavi glared and looked away. His expression softened.
"I did take your jacket," he replied, shrugging. There was only silence for several seconds and he looked back up, irritated. Tyki was staring at him with a look of surprise on his face and Lavi scowled. "What?"
"It's nothing," Tyki said, glancing towards the tree. He smiled. "I don't suppose you have any holiday traditions at your Order you'd care to tell me about?"
The tone of the question was casual, as though the older man didn't expect it to get answered. Lavi gazed up at the decorated tree and bit his lip, considering whether or not to answer. A bit of conversation was harmless enough...
"Last year we had a huge feast," he said, smiling a bit at the memory. He could practically feel Tyki's surprise and he definitely heard the sound of wood creaking as the man stood and lifted his weight off the side of the arch. "Jerry and the cooks had been working for days to make sure they made enough food. Instead of ordering food, everyone just ate buffet-style from all the holiday dishes from everywhere around the world... Our Supervisor even dressed up like Saint Nick and passed out presents at the party that night. Just little things, but everyone got something."
His voice took on a nostalgic tone at the end and his smile widened, lost in the memory. After several long seconds of silence, however, he remembered who he was with and cleared his throat, looking away.
Tyki was silent for several seconds more, but Lavi could feel the Noah's eyes on him.
"Our holiday parties tend to be less lively affairs," Tyki replied. Lavi looked up, surprised. He hadn't expected the Noah to offer information about himself. "Some noble house is always hosting a ball the night of Christmas Eve and the Earl is always invited. I was fortunate enough to escape it this year. The noblewomen never tire of introducing their daughters to me in hopes that I'll marry one of them."
Lavi snorted at that, hearing the genuine hint of annoyance and exasperation in the older man's voice.
"Marry you? I never knew you were such a catch," he said, teasing.
"I'm so happy my misery amuses you," Tyki replied with a soft chuckle. "I'll have you know I am considered quite a catch, at least by the noblewomen."
Quiet fell for a heartbeat, then Tyki spoke again.
"Christmas Eve is the worst. I have to mind where I stand or else I get caught beneath mistletoe with some young debutante."
Lavi couldn't help but laugh at that. It was strange, how easy it was to fall into a sort-of truce with the man beside him. He felt almost... relaxed now. He was still a little cold, but not nearly as cold as he had been before Tyki showed up.
Perhaps it wasn't the company he would have chosen for himself on Christmas Eve, but it wasn't bad company he found himself in, despite initial impressions.
"Mistletoe, huh?" he said. He had seen it at the Order around this time of year but had never gotten caught under it himself. He did vividly remember the one time Yuu had found himself under the seemingly innocent plant... with Allen. The look on the swordsman's face when he was told he would need to kiss Allen in order to uphold tradition had been priceless. He smiled at the Noah. "I've seen it around, but I've never been under any myself."
Tyki's gaze sharpened with sudden interest and Lavi's smile faltered.
"Really now..." Tyki said slowly. His eyes flicked towards the arch again, seemingly focusing on the plants before a slow, seductive smile spread over Tyki's lips. The Noah straightened up and stepped forward, golden eyes now intent on Lavi once more.
The redhead stepped back uneasily, gripping the older man's jacket with both hands.
"Do you want your coat back?" he asked uncertainly, shuffling back into the wooden support of the arch as Tyki moved closer. The Noah paused with a foot of distance between them and Lavi looked away, moving to take the coat off.
"Tell me, Exorcist, do you know what kind of plants cover this arch?" Tyki asked, looking oddly excited. Lavi looked up, confused, then shrugged.
"It didn't seem that important..." he said, getting a sinking feeling in his stomach. Surely they weren't...
He turned his head, scanning the leaves for anything that would help him identify the type of plant around them. The leaves were a fairly common shape, nothing as distinctive as the leaves of an oak or a willow - besides, the plants were clearly not trees, so...
He stilled, squinting at a barely visible feature he hadn't noticed before. Within the leaves, scattered randomly throughout, were small clusters of little white berries.
Mistletoe.
He turned back to the Noah, face heating and mouth opening to speak. Whether it was to protest or to encourage, he didn't know and it didn't matter. His words were swallowed by Tyki as the Noah stepped forward and closed the last bit of distance between them, catching the Exorcist's chin with one hand and tilting Lavi's head up at the perfect angle. The redhead's cry of surprise was muffled, the Pleasure's tongue slipping into his slack mouth and gently trying to coax Lavi's tongue to dance.
The Exorcist was frozen in shock, arms falling limply at his sides and eye wide open. His mind was totally, utterly blank.
After a moment, Tyki pulled away. He was smirking again and he licked his lips deliberately as he straightened up.
"Tradition," he said, shrugging. "I was going to ignore it, but then when you said you had never been kissed underneath the mistletoe at Christmas..."
Lavi lifted a hand slowly to his lips. They were wet and he could feel the cold wind quickly drying the saliva. He quickly wetted his lips, flushing when he realized that he could taste the older man on them.
Speechless for once in his life, he just looked up at the Noah in shock. Tyki's smirk just widened and he made a mocking little bow.
"I'm afraid that I must leave now, but perhaps we'll see each other again, hmm?" he asked, not truly expecting an answer. "Perhaps at New Year's."
The Noah turned and began to leave, humming quietly and obviously pleased with himself. Lavi stared after him for several seconds before he remembered the coat.
"Your jacket-!" he started, but Tyki just kept moving, turning his head to call back to Lavi as he walked away.
"Merry Christmas, Exorcist," he said before turning away again. Lavi stared wordlessly, still wearing the jacket, as the Noah moved further and further away and finally disappeared from sight. Only then did he look down at himself, staring at the too-large coat keeping him warm.
He smiled.
"Merry Christmas," he murmured, pulling it tighter around himself and walking away from the arch and the tree. It was time to head back to his hotel.
He yawned as he walked away from the arch, blinking tiredly. He could already tell that he would fall asleep the moment he crawled into bed and right he was; he had just enough energy to pull of his boots, socks, and both of his coats before he collapsed into bed.
As his eye slid shut, he reached over and grabbed one pile of cloth off the floor. He pulled it up over his body and the blanket covering him, inhaling deeply and relaxing into the mattress and pillow.
He fell asleep with the scent of cinnamon and spice surrounding him.
A very merry Christmas indeed.
The End
A/N: Well, I hope you all enjoyed the random bit of Christmas mush. If I do decide to turn this into a oneshot series, expect the next one around New Year's.
Yes, I do know that mistletoe is overused in Christmas fics. I wanted to write a fic with mistletoe in it though, so…
Please review if you Favorite!