Sunday, December 25, 2011.
Sollux threw his arm over his eyes, groggily sitting up in his bed. The smell of coffee already swam around the chilled air and even before Sollux pulled his arm away he knew Eridan was awake. His eyes shifted to the bedside clock and he sighed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"G'mornin'," Eridan mumbled over the edge of his coffee cup. Sollux slipped his feet out of the covers and onto the grey carpet.
"Morning," He responded, getting to his feet. "I'm going to take a shower, you still coming to KK's?" The plan was simple, everyone was going to Karkat and Gamzee's house to open their presents and have Christmas dinner and such.
"Of course Sol," Eridan drawled, sipping from his cup. It hadn't slipped Sollux's notice that Eridan spent more time with Karkat lately. Maybe they had always spent that time together. Sollux always inwardly cringed at the fact he had NO CLUE. His feet dragged across the floor as he made his way to the shared bathroom.
Sollux was careful to lock the door behind him before shedding the black sweats he almost always slept in, along with his black and yellow stripped boxers. His eyes turned to the mirror and he stared back at the skinny boy being portrayed, with a mop of brown hair and one blue, one brown eye. He hated his eyes. The gaze broke and he padded over to the shower, turning on the water. He straightened up, his hands falling to the bandage firmly wrapped around his rib cage, and he slowly un-wound it, letting it drop by his clothing before stepping into the stream of hot water.
When Sollux entered the main room again covered by his boxers and the towel draped over his head Eridan had already gotten dressed. Sollux took a moment to look Eridan up from behind while drying his hair. Black jeans that actually looked comfortable, a purple V-neck and a baby blue scarf dangling off his neck. Eridan turned around and gave Sollux a once over as well before slipping past and into the steamy bathroom.
Sollux slowly turned back to his dresser to sort through appropriate clothing. He slipped on a pair of clean dark blue jeans and selected a long sleeved black shirt. Only there was a problem, he couldn't wrap his rib cage up properly by himself, which meant he had to wait for someone to help him.
He needed Eridan to help him.
As much as he hated the thought of relying on someone else's help, let alone Eridan, he knew it had to be done. With much hesitation he picked up the tenser bandage and their hooks and made his way to the bathroom. Eridan stood in front of the mirror, still as a statue but now his hair was propped up with the elegant purple stripe and all.
"Ahem…" Sollux cleared his throat awkwardly, averting his eyes to the side. "Could you give me a hand?" When he got no response his eyes came back to Eridan's face. There was no mockery in the others expression, no smirk or smug remarks. Only his hands outstretched to receive the wrapping. Sollux handed it to him wordlessly and held his arms out of the way.
Eridan stepped forward, his cool fingers brushing against skin as he started to wrap. His hands were slow and precise but most of all they were gentle, only pulling enough to set his ribs straight. When the hooks were finally fastened his purple eyes raised to meet Sollux's stare.
Eridan's hands were still on his chest and they stayed there. Sollux was the first to break eye contact, looking off to the side again. The hands withdrew from his chest and his arms fell back down to his sides.
"You're welcome."
"So you dick wads actually made it?" Karkat greeted Eridan and Sollux at the door, his arms crossed over his red sweater.
"Nice sweater Kar, now are you going to let us in or let us fuckin' freeze out here?" Eridan asked, Karkat's glare switched to him before he huffed and stepped back to let the two through. The inside of the house already smelt like turkey and whatever other magic they had cooking up in here.
"Hey KK, who's all coming anyways?" Sollux asked, slipping out of his shoes while Karkat took the coats and hung them up in the closet.
"You two, Me, Gamzee and Tavros obviously, Dave, John, Vriska, Terezi, Kanaya, and Rose," he listed, "What were you born in a fucking barn? Close the goddamn door!" he bellowed, grumbling to himself as he brushed back to do it.
"Whoa bro, just leaving us in the cold or what?" The smooth voice came from the front step, Sollux turned to meet the face of one Mr. Strider, a smug grin on his lips and he slid past Karkat and onto the house closely followed by the on Mr. Egbert.
"Hey Karkat!" John beamed, despite the bags in his hand John managed to pull Karkat into a quick hug.
"Get the fuck off me John," Karkat mutter, his arms already moving to return the hug. Dave had already stripped himself of coat, scarf, shoes, and hat by the time Karkat was released. His expression was back to being stoic as ever, eyes covered by his babies called shades.
"Sollux, it's good to see you again," Dave held his hand out and Sollux grinned as her returned the bro hug. At least Dave was one person he probably could never forget. Unlike most people Sollux found Dave to be excellent company. He was actually slightly surprised that Dave was allowed over tonight.
"Well put your shitty ass presents under the tree for now, we'll get to that shit fest after supper," Karkat said, ushering everyone away from the doorway and into the living room. A fairly good sized tree stood in the back corner, adorned with ruffles and ornaments galore. The four men carried their gifts over and shoved them under the tree to join the already large pile.
It wasn't long before the girls arrived, Kanaya and Rose got there with in the next few minutes, followed shortly by the scourge sisters and Tavros. The only person who hadn't made their appearance was Gamzee.
"Hey kk, where is gz?" Sollux asked, a cup of hot chocolate cupped in his hands as he reclined on the loveseat next to Dave. Everyone had found their little spot that they preferred in the room. Kanaya and Rose had slid themselves into the recliner chair, their hands now interlocked modestly. Tavros of course was seated in his wheel chair beside the big couch, where Vriska, John and Eridan were seated. Leaving Terezi spotted next to the coffee table with her legs crossed on the floor despite being offered a chair multiple times, such as the one computer chair Karkat had rolled in to sit on.
"Who else to you think is cooking?" Well that made sense even if most of the food Gamzee made was drugged up pie. He actually had some foods skills under his belt from high school, the only school he'd ever barely gotten through.
"Hey," Dave nudged Sollux's arm with his elbow, cocking his chin at Eridan and John chatting across the room. "That's your roomie right?"
"Yep, that's the violet prince himself. Why?"
"He's pretty hot... You done anything with him?" Sollux started over at Dave, his mouth slightly open at the question. It was hard to tell if Dave was making a joke because everyone knew Eridan was gay or if he was being serious right now. Dave must have felt the stare because he turned his head, raising a pale blond brow, "What?"
"Dave, I'm dating AA. How could you-"
"Whoa what? Since when did you two start dating? More importantly I thought you said you-" Dave stopped mid-sentence and turned his head away quickly.
"Thought I said what?"
"Nothing. I mean you'll figure it out yourself, I'm not supposed to be saying shit you don't remember."
"Fuck." Sollux sighed, "I'm really tired of people having that response. Did me and AA really break up?" Dave was quiet for a moment, occupying himself with his own cup of coco. Sollux was about to ask again when Dave sighed and scratched his head.
"Well yeah, you broke up with her because you realized you were playing for the wrong team. But anyways, where is she?"
"She's with her family." Sollux responded automatically, sipping his drink thoughtfully. Wrong team? Did Dave mean…Oh. OH. He should have realized it sooner, the fact that the way he looked at other men wasn't the way he should have. Or that the way he liked Aradia was more like a close friend then it was a person he wanted to DO things with.
Well shit. This was an odd moment to finally figure it all out.
"Dave," Sollux started, his words being swallowed as Karkat started yelling and sending everyone off to the dinner table. The conversation would just have to wait until after supper.
The dinner table didn't actually fit everybody, so a few people ended up eating at the counter while the island in the kitchen was filled with food but at least everyone was in the same room. Dave, Terezi, Kanaya, and Rose ended up on the counter. Eridan sat at the head of the table with Karkat on his right and John on his left. It looked like those three were actually getting along tonight. Sollux was seated on the other end with Vriska on his right beside John, and Tavros on the corner to his left, right in with Gamzee and Karkat.
The meal turned out to be decent. The turkey was moist and tasty along with the stuffing and mashed potatoes. There was a big selection of vegetables but Sollux mostly stayed away from those, taking some honeydew melon from the fruit tray instead. The best part of dinner though wasn't the food, it was the alcohol that was brought out.
Of course everyone one was full of turkey and pie and booze by the time they got around to opening presents. Everyone fell back into their respective seats while Karkat and Gamzee went about distributing presents to their drunken owners.
"Bro, open mine first," Dave slurred, smacking Sollux's arm as he looked through the small pile growing in front of him. He picked up the red wrapped package and black envelope. Dave flashed a smirk as he set to un-wrapping it. The card was one of those humorous ones about a dead reindeer, it made him laugh regardless.
"Tho what did you get me anywayth?" It didn't matter how hard he tried his lisp always found ways to slip by, especially when he was pretty drunk.
"Open it and see Captor."
Sollux grinned and made quick work of the red wrappings to reveal a mixed CD with a drawn gears cover, signature of Dave strider but that wasn't all in this magic box. There was a pair of aviator shades which he immediately put on, his vision going dark. "Am I cool now Dave?"
"Hardly," Dave chuckled, "Keep looking." Sollux slid the shades from his face to pull out the last item in the box. It was a small photo album, which he instantly flipped open. The first page had a picture of Dave and Sollux holding beer bottles by the fire, and underneath was a date scrawled in Dave's print.
"Dave you…" Sollux flipped the page, going through more dates and forgotten memories. Most of the pictures had just Dave or Sollux in them, but they still gave him an idea of what went on in all those times he was forgetting.
"I didn't put anyone else in because I didn't want to fry your brain… I hope that's okay." Dave still had his usual expressionless mask, but Sollux was splitting into a huge grin. He leaned over and pulled Dave into a full hug, both of them chuckling.
"It'th perfect Dave. I love it." He pulled back and carefully placed everything back into the box.
They both went back to opening presents. Nothing interesting came up until Sollux fell upon a purple bag he'd seen Eridan bring in. He pulled it up into his lap and pulled the card off, flipping it open to read a message written in black pen.
Merry Christmas; I know you don't remember me, but I remember you. I could never forget the things we did and all the time we spent together. More than anything I just want you to be happy Sol.
~Sincerely Eridan Ampora
Sollux gently set the card aside and plunged his hands into the bag. It came across something soft and plush; he latched on to it and pulled it out. A barrage of images assaulted his mind, small glimpses of things he'd done before. This connected to this gift.
"You're welcome, you deserve it." Eridan's ringed hands dropping the bee into his lap in the middle of a mall.
"Hey Sol! Take your fuckin' bee with you!" Eridan standing in the middle of their room, looking pissed and sad at the same time.
"That'th my bee you're thleeping with dumbath."
"Fuck off, I bought it! It smells like you an I like it so whatever." Eridan lying on his bed with the bee tucked under his chin, sticking his tongue out.
A medium sized stuffed bee sat in his lap with big innocent eyes. It was comforting and striped and it was perfect. Sollux looked up to meet Eridan's gaze across the room and he smiled.
An hour later Sollux found himself on the back deck of the house next to Dave sharing a cigarette. The smoke billowed from Dave's mouth in small rings as he drew out the last puff and stomped it out. They had been standing in a comfortable silence for a minute or two before Sollux broke it.
"You're right, you know." He declared, switching his gaze from the night sky to Dave's face. "About me playing for the wrong team."
"Naw man," Dave shrugged and turned his body towards Sollux. "You always knew it, you just forgot you declared it, you know?" Sollux nodded and turned as well, slipping his hands into his pockets.
"I know, but I jutht needed thomeone to remind me why I broke up with her inthtead of everyone puthy footing around the thubject."
"A Strider never pussy foots."
"He doethn't take his glatheth off either, even in the fucking dark." Sollux chuckled and pulled his hands out of his pockets, reaching forward. "Can I? I already fucking know." Dave gave a short nod and Sollux took a hold of the arms, sliding the shades away.
They still made him catch his breath, no matter how many times he saw them. Dave's eyes shone under the moonlight, red and blazing as always. Sollux slowly let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"They're amazing," he breathed, getting a smirk in return.
"So are yours." One pale hand raised to cup Sollux's cheek and before he was aware of leaning forward, the space between their faces was no more. Their lips collided in a kiss, deepening as Sollux wound his arms around Dave's thin waist and pulled him in closer.
Arms snaked their way over his shoulders and around his neck, while a soft tongue explored his mouth, his own twisting in the war for dominance. Fingers were lost in his mess of dark hair and his lips were put to the test of Strider skills. Sollux fisted his hands in Dave's coat and tugged him closer, tipping his head back as lips connected with his neck.
Nothing about this felt wrong. He didn't want it to stop. Lips finally broke free of his neck and breath ghosted against his skin.
"Merry Christmas," Dave breathed, pressing their lips together for a final chaste kiss before drawing away. Sollux loosened his hold but kept his hands on Dave's hips for a moment longer, finding and actual smile on Dave's lips, he returned it.
"Merry Chrithtmath."
So I'm not sorry :| I ship DaveSol so hard, like they so sexy! And well I know it's been awhile for this to come up but I tried to make it as long as possible for ya'll. Thanks for the feedback we've gotten, we always appreciate it!
~Pandora.