This might be a little shorter because there's really not much to say about a zoo, but I love it to death and I hope you will too! And hey- I kept my promise to be back with more, didn't I? So enjoy!

Today's actual prompt: Reindeer

~.~.~

Even the ride over to the zoo is a zoo.

Ethan's in the back with Benny, gripping onto his hand like a vice. Rory's on his right, yelling over the sound of Michael Buble singing White Christmas, trying to tell Erica that she's absolutely and completely wrong about everything ever.

"Erica, stop being stupid- you know that the monkey display is the best!"

Erica doesn't even give him the time to turn around and flash her fangs at him like she usually would; she's too busy trying to give herself a "winter look" in the mirror (which Grandma Weir gimmicked to show vampire reflections, much like Benny's camera) with a dark red lipstick.

"Rory, you're high." she tells him bluntly, applying a nice, even coat on her cupid's bow. "The best display at the zoo is the tiger one, and you know it."

Rory makes a sound like he's choking on life. "Erica, just- no. Even the camel display is better than the tiger one, and all they've done in the past two years is write HUMP DAY in green and red lights."

Sarah looks at him through the rearview mirror, and then back at the road, turning on her left-handed signal. "How about we just wait until we get to the zoo to decide which display is the best, huh?"

"The lights are always the same," Benny throws out helpfully. "They've basically been the same since we were kids and they started this whole 'Come walk through the zoo to see Christmas light displays and no animals since they're all in the south and buy some scandalously over-priced hot chocolate on the way towards the Reptile House.'"

Ethan decides to pipe up, as well. "This is correct. Benny has an actual logical point."

Benny grins down at him. "Thanks, E."

After another moment, Rory starts making noises like a wounded cat and thrashes around. "Pull over, Sarah- they're making out now and I think I'm going to be sick."

~.~.~

Benny really is right about the whole zoo ordeal; the displays haven't changed since they were kids, but Ethan's okay with that because it's become a tradition for them all to pile into a car together, walk around in negative asshole degrees, sip hot chocolate, and enjoy the upcoming holidays.

He and Benny are still holding hands, wandering through the zoo with the other three and observing the lights while Erica and Rory continue to bicker about which display owns the others.

"The monkey one actually moves," Rory insists.

"The tiger one actually makes a tiger out of a rainbow of lights," Erica retorts.

Ethan huffs out a laugh at them under his breath, and looks up at Benny fondly.

"I think they're both wrong- the penguin display is the best because the penguins are the only animals that can stay through the winter."

Benny nods in agreement and takes a drink of his hot chocolate, wrinkling his nose cutely. "God, that stuff is still piping hot."

"Just like you," Ethan says offhandedly, and the two blonde vampires take a break from their bickering to yell at Ethan for being gross.

The five of them snake through the zoo like a giant blob of festivity and companionship, pointing out all of the cool lights they've been seeing for the past sixteen years and some of the new displays that the zoo has brought into the assortment. They all seem to like the flamingo display, which is bright pink with a sun and some palm trees.

Eventually, after going through the penguins, flamingos, camels, tigers and lions, the Monkey Cage, and the Reptile House, they make it to another of Ethan's favorite displays.

This one holds a few actual reindeer, who are also accustomed to cold weather and stay in a pole barn during the night. The zoo always decides to keep them for these few weeks to show off the Christmas lights because the customers enjoy seeing an animal that is actually tied into Christmas and stories, and not just random goats and sea otters.

"Let's go feed them," Ethan says enthusiastically, and he and the others pay to get a handful of food to give to the reindeer. They're gentle and sweet, all named ridiculously cliche wintery things, like Snowflake and Peppermint and Nicky, after Old Saint Nick. Ethan gets to feed Snowflake, who nuzzles into his gloved hand like a dog, and snuffles when she eats. Ethan might kind of adore her a lot.

From his side, Benny rests their sides together and flicks one of his hat ends at him. "Hey. Let's get a dog when we move in together."

Ethan's so surprised and delighted by the prospect that he drops the remaining pieces of feed onto the ground, and Snowflake chases after them with her furry snout, grunting and licking them off of the snow.

Looking up at the taller boy, he finds Benny grinning back at him, and he turns into mush without warning.

Smiling back, Ethan curls up him and agrees: "Yeah, let's get a dog."

~.~.~

On the ride home, Erica and Rory are still bickering over the displays and which one beat the other while Sarah drives and generally ignores them being two year olds.

Ethan sits, squished, next to Benny again, still holding his hand and resting his head on Benny's shoulder. The rides home always make him pensive, and strangely invincible and alive. He thinks of the future, the person he's pressed up against, and thinks that his life is absolutely beautiful.

Lifting his head up, he skates his nose over Benny's jaw and leans up to his ear.

"Hey."

He says it softly, just so that only Benny hears him.

Benny tilts his head to look at Ethan, and is just as quiet when he replies. "Yeah?"

Ethan smiles, sweet and syrup-like, and squeezes Benny's hand. "I love you, you know?"

Benny just presses a soft kiss to his forehead. "Yeah, I know. And I love you, too."

~.~.~

Yep. I ended another fic with the I love you thing. What can you do ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

But this went surprisingly well despite the fact that I literally just wrote another fic like a half an hour ago, and I'm highly impressed with myself right now. My brain doesn't even hurt!

This has to be my favorite of the lot so far, so I hope you enjoyed it as well!

So answer me this: What's your favorite animal?

Mine's an elephant because they're huge and majestic and awkward and lovable and loving- just like these two idiots!

And now, I'll really see you guys tomorrow! I love you all!

Tomorrow's theme: Mistletoe (you know this goin' be cheesy so pls prepare urselves)