So, as a way to challenge myself a bit, I have decided to write a series of twelve mini-oneshots, one on each day leading up to Christmas. Each one will have a different ship. I hope you enjoy! The first will be Fox/Velvet. I have no idea what their ship name is…
Velvet closed her eyes as her wet, near-frozen ears began to thaw under Fox's gentle hands. A low hum vibrated in her throat as the fur was smoothed out and the tips were warmed by lingering palms. "That feels nice, Fox," she sighed.
"You shouldn't have gone out with your ears uncovered!" Fox scolded, his sharp voice contrasting with his tender touch. "You could get an infection, or frostbite." He could feel the chill beneath her soaked fur. A few more minutes outside… He decided not to complete that thought.
"My hood ripped during our last mission, remember?"
"So, put socks on your ears, or something," Fox shot back.
"I'd rather freeze than face the ridicule that would have brought." Velvet's voice was bitter as she spoke. She blinked as she realized her tone. "I'm sorry, Fox. I didn't mean to snap." She turned her head slightly to look at her teammate. His sightless eyes were pointed toward the wall past her face, and his sensitive hands had paused in the act of rubbing her ears. Her face flushed a little at how close they were, and she was thankful that his hands weren't near her cheeks.
Fox breathed a sigh. Of course Velvet didn't want to give people something else to laugh at. He had heard enough stories about people using socks to make fun of her while she was in primary school. "Don't apologize. I know it's frustrating," he said, feeling the space next to him until he found the washcloth he had grabbed for this purpose. "I just don't want you hurt." He began carefully running the cloth across her left ear, squeezing a little to get more of the water out.
Velvet didn't even wince at the slight pressure. She had long since stopped being nervous whenever Fox touched her ears. No matter what, he never hurt her. That alone was a miracle, considering how sensitive her rabbit ears were. They had often ached after a careful brushing from her mother when she was young. Fox's touch, however, was so light and soothing, she found herself craving it at times.
"I really do appreciate this," she murmured, suppressing a happy noise as Fox ran a cloth-covered hand across her right ear. "You really don't have to."
"I know. I want to, though," Fox said before blushing, realizing that he might have said too much. Truthfully, he was fully aware that he didn't have to do this. It didn't stop him, however. It hadn't stopped him the last time Velvet had chilled her ears, either. Or the time she had gotten cold fingers while training outside, due to her gloves getting wet.
Or any other time that gave him an excuse to touch her, honestly.
Velvet noticed the flush that spread across Fox's face and felt her own cheeks darkening further. She cautiously leaned into his side as he continued rubbing, smiling when he shifted to make both of them more comfortable.
Once the rabbit Faunus's ears were sufficiently dry, Fox placed the washcloth to the side and stood up, pausing to allow Velvet to sit up. "Maybe this will help. I was going to wait till closer to Winter Break, but you probably need it now."
He walked over to his closet and felt around until he found a smooth gift bag with a bow on the handles. Returning to the bed, he placed the bag in front of Velvet. "Happy early holidays, Velvet."
Velvet stared at the bag before looking at Fox. "Thank you," she whispered. "I don't have your gift yet, though."
Fox shrugged. "That's fine. Just open it." He smiled at the sound of rustling tissue paper. "Coco helped me pick out the fabric and Mom did the sewing."
Velvet let out a gasp as she withdrew a handmade hooded jacket. It was chocolate-brown and lined with dark gold-colored faux fur on the inside. "Oh, it's beautiful," she breathed, running her hand over the soft inner lining.
"Check the hood," Fox urged. "There are pockets inside for your ears, so they can stay warm without slipping out."
A quick inspection of the hood revealed the pockets, which felt easily big enough for her large ears. Placing the jacket on the bed, she stood up and hugged Fox tightly. "I love it! Thank you, Fox. And thank your mom for me, too."
Fox readily returned the hug, smiling at the scent of her flowery shampoo and the warmth of her slender arms. "Glad you like it."
The warmth surrounding her, combined with the lingering tingle on her ears, was starting to make Velvet feel a little giddy. Smiling softly she drew back a little while still keeping her arms around Fox. "It'll be a few weeks before I can get to the store, but until then…" she touched a warm kiss to her teammate's cheek. "Happy holidays, Fox!"
A nervous flutter entered her chest when she saw the dumbstruck look on Fox's face. Her ears drooped a little and her face flushed. I can't believe I just did that!
Fox, thankfully, recovered quickly. Unable to suppress a smile, he leaned in to peck Velvet's cheek in return. When he found himself kissing her lips instead, he knew that it was only partially accidental.
I'm not sure what the next ship will be. We'll just have to see tomorrow. Happy holidays, everyone! Stay warm and peace out.