Author's Note: Thank you for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following! Enjoy!
Chapter 14:
Fever would have never guessed that North would be one to make alcoholic eggnog. She expected virgin drinks or even hot chocolate. But as she takes an appreciative sip of the traditional drink, she detects a burn within the vanilla spice flavor, and it makes her glance at him suspiciously.
"You spiked this." She says, and North grins.
"It is my specialty. It's good, yes?" Fever just stares at him, and then glances at her brother, who downs his enthusiastically. Jack just tips his glass to her in a celebratory salute, and the other two girls are already giggling. Obviously the drink had been flowing while they had been putting the children to sleep.
"It's delicious. Cheers to another great Christmas, North!" Val says, and moves to the table piled with deserts to refill his glass. Fever shakes her head in disbelief and stares down at her own. Sandy taps her arm and gestures for her to join in, but she sets it down on the table instead. She didn't drink too much in her mortal or immortal life, but when she did, she knew that she became very uninhibited. She didn't mind having drinking competitions with Val back in Cyprus because they were always alone and she could never embarrass herself among others. But she was around the Guardians, and even though she didn't believe in Spiritual hierarchy, she didn't want to ruin her reputation with them.
"I don't really drink." She lies, and at the same time Truth and Val both break into mocking laughter.
"Bullshit!" Truth yells, and Fever's jaw drops. Never had she heard the angel utter a profane word, and now she was doing so loudly and proudly.
"North!" The older man just shrugs and grins, lifting his own glass.
"She's just scared that she'll end up saying something personal." Val says with a smirk. "She's no stranger to debauchery."
"Of that I have no doubt." Aster says, and she glares at him. He pours himself a goblet full of eggnog, and then picks up hers, handing it to her. "Get rid of this illusion of propriety, baby doll. And throw out that G-rated view of us while you're at it. If there's one thing about Christmas that I don't mind, it's celebrating with my friends." At that, he hands her the drink, and smirks before taking a swig of his own. Fever stands there and glances at the others, who are now involved in their own conversations, laughing and having fun. Usually she didn't succumb to peer pressure, but the idea of being the only sober one in the group and having to listen to their raised voices and incoherent babbling sounded extremely un-fun. It would be more logical to drink as well, in order to preserve her sanity… right?
She looks back at Aster and raises her glass to her lips, enjoying the flavor against her taste buds and the slight burn of alcohol in her throat. She begins to lower it, but Aster's paw moves to tip it up further, forcing her to swallow more. With every gulp Fever knows this is a bad idea, but by the time the first glass is gone, she is ready to see how the Guardians really party.
xoXox
"Jingle bells! Jingle bells! Jingle… uhh… bells!"
"All the way!" Tooth giggles and corrects Val as he tries to remember the song. "You lose! My turn!" She flies as best she can in front of the group and stands on the carpet, trying to think of a carol to sing. "Okay! Um… Dashing through the snow!"
"That's the same song!" Jack laughs, and the others join him. They were playing a game where you sing a Christmas song, and if you forget the words, the next person to finish them gets to go next, and so on and so on. The first few songs had gone well, but by the time everyone had had at least one drink, there was more fumbling and less winning rounds.
"Does anyone really know the real words, anyway? I mean, most of the songs aren't that good." Truth asks, and North glares at her for treating the songs dedicated to his holiday so disrespectfully. "I'm just sayin."
"I propose a new game!" Val says, and Fever groans, knowing what game he wants to play. "How about 'Person Most/Least likely?'"
"What's that?" Tooth asks, curiously.
"It's a personality game. You name something, and everyone has to choose who they think would most likely or least likely do said thing."
"Sounds boring." Jack says, making Val smirk.
"It doesn't have to be. For example, you can ask, who's most likely to enjoy painting an egg? The answer would obviously be Bunny." He nods toward Aster, and then shrugs. "Boring. But you can ask a better question like, who's most likely to have watched two strangers have sex? That would be Fever."
"Hey!" She glares at him and shifts uncomfortably at everyone's stares. "Who's most likely to stay single for the next two hundred years?" She raises an eyebrow at him and a low "oooh" goes through the group as the gauntlet is dropped. Val just smirks and nods, raising his glass.
"And the game begins." He says, and points to Truth on his right. "Your turn." They all shift slightly so they're in a circle, and then North jumps up and grins.
"Wait! I have an idea!" The others watch him curiously as he leaves the globe room into the workshop, and when he returns he is holding multiple small dry erase boards and some markers. "This will make it more fun."
"Ah, good idea. This way there will be more mystery added." Val says, and he helps North pass the boards and markers around the circle. "Alright, go Truth."
"Okay. Who's most likely to lie?" It isn't as racy as the first, but it makes them all smile and write on their boards. After a few moments, Truth raises her own, prompting everyone else to do the same.
"Oh, come on! I don't lie!" Jack says with a glare toward everyone. All of their boards have his name in different colors and handwriting.
"We didn't say you lied. We said you'd be most likely to lie." Aster says.
"How do you figure that?"
"Well you are the most mischievous." North replies. "Doesn't mean you're a bad person."
"I want to know why you chose me?" Val says to Jack, who rolls his eyes.
"Because you're the one who always tries to get out of conflict. I have no doubt that you'd lie to do so." Val opens his mouth to protest, and then shrugs.
"Fair enough."
"Alright, it's my turn." North says with a grin. "Who's most likely to get into a fight?"
"Does this count as a two-person question?"
"Sure." There is silence as everyone writes, and then the boards are flipped, and laughs erupt. Aster and North are the pair that win the round, but there is also a Fever-Aster bid, as well as a Jack and Aster bid.
"So needless to say, Aster is the one who starts all of the fights." Fever smirks at him and he glares at her, only making her laugh.
"I do not."
"Do too."
"You totally do." Jack interrupts, and Aster turns his glare on the Winter sprite.
"I only fight with you when you mess with my season."
"I'm only doing my job."
"And I'm trying to do mine."
"How long do these last?" Val whispers to Tooth, who just laughs.
"When one runs out of breath."
"Who's least likely to stay awake through their bickering?" Fever asks, and everyone else raises their hands, resulting in the fight ending and the two men nursing their feelings with a fresh glass of eggnog.
"This is moving into the boring realm again. Let's mix it up." Val says, and Fever shakes her head.
"You just can't get your mind out of the gutter."
"Hello pot, my name is kettle."
"Oh shut up. Who's most likely-"
"You already went."
"Don't care. Who's most likely to pass out first?" At that moment Sandy's head drops, and he doesn't move. North tries to poke at him, but it doesn't do anything, and so he just smiles and lies Sandy's head down on the floor, allowing him to rest more easily.
"Who's most likely to lose one of the triplets?" Tooth asks, and a groan goes through the group.
"Definitely Aster." Fever says with a pointed look.
"Hey! You couldn't even catch Cooper!"
"I did, didn't I?"
"Well I caught Logan!"
"A miracle, that." It turns out to be a tie, and then it is Aster's turn to ask a question. He takes his time thinking about one, and then waits until Fever is taking a sip of eggnog to pose it.
"Who's most likely to enjoy being tied up?" He smirks when she inhales and chokes on the liquid, and Val begins to beat on her back to help her.
"Whoa, what's that sis?"
"You son of a bitch." She gasps, glaring at her boyfriend.
"Now we're getting into the good stuff." Jack smirks and North laughs at the blush on Fever's cheeks.
"It was just a simple question." Aster's eyes are innocent, and he shrugs.
"Simple question, my ass." Fever grumbles.
"Don't be embarrassed, there was this one time that I-" Tooth begins to speak, not at all self-conscious, and it is at that point that Truth raises a hand and grins.
"I have a better idea. Since we're getting into the realm of dirty little secrets, how about we change up the game a little?"
"What do you mean?" North asks, and the angel laughs.
"We play 'I Have Never,' and we add a little bit more alcohol to it. Secrets flow more smoothly that way."
"This is a dangerous game." Aster says, gaining Fever's attention. She was desperate for revenge, and his nervousness makes her even more greedy to see him embarrassed.
"I'll get more eggnog." She rises from her spot next to Aster, who sighs.
"Good. We're going to need it. We'll go around the circle. The person will say one thing they have never done. If you haven't done it either, you're fine. But if you have, then you take a drink. But there's also a catch. If only one person drinks, then they have to expand on what they have done."
"Ooh, I love this game." Jack laughs, rubbing his hands together mischievously.
"Me too. Who will start?"
"I will." Fever says, and she smirks at Aster. "I have never had to tie down a woman to make her have sex with me."
"That is not fair! I didn't make you do anything!"
"Drink up, Aster." She grins as he obeys with a scowl.
"Wait a minute. Was this your first time together?" Val asks, and Fever detects a hint of protectiveness in his posture. She smiles at that and shakes her head.
"No, it was after some practice, so relax."
"Me next." Tooth chirps. "I have never kissed a girl." All of the men drink, as they had in their past lives, and then Truth drinks, shocking them.
"Are you serious?" Jack coughs, and Truth shrugs before glaring at Fever, who is purposefully staring into space. The angel clears her throat and raises her glass, and Fever sighs before taking a sip. "No way!"
"Long story! More than one person drank so we don't have to explain. Go!"
"Aw, come on-"
"Go!"
"You two are no fun." Jack pouts, and rolls his eyes. "I have never touched someone inappropriately while working." No one but Tooth drinks, and it makes everyone gasp in disbelief. She seemed to sweet and innocent that it was unimaginable. Still, after she finishes drinking, she raises a hand to stop the incoming questions.
"It was an accident, okay? I was going for the tooth under their pillow, and for some reason they were sleeping with their rear end at the head of the bed! My hand touched their butt, I didn't mean it!" She says in a rush, and laughs are shared all around at her misfortune. It had sounded so dirty when it was admitted, but it was so fitting that it was a mistake. "I have never caught someone masturbating." Tooth says, and North drinks with a slight blush.
"Another accident. I was delivering presents and the kid got bored waiting for them, I guess." He says, and Tooth nods in understanding. You never knew what you would walk in on at night.
"Ugh, all of these accidents. I want something juicy that can be used for blackmail." Val says, and grins at his sister. "I have never kissed Fever…" he pauses and shakes his head as Aster begins to drink, "while I was a girl." The others laugh at his sneakiness, and Truth and Fever groan.
"Seriously, Val?"
"I'm dead serious." He says, and smirks at his plan having worked. "Tell the story." Truth shakes her head and sighs, drinking her entire glass to gain the courage.
"Okay, so it involved alcohol, of course. We were just having a girls' night shortly after she'd become a Spirit, and… oh jeez, Fever, help?" Her eyes are desperate, and Fever can't handle letting her take the fall alone.
"We decided to see how intense my powers worked, so I hit her with my best shot, and it caused her to get a little friendly. That's it. Completely artificial lust, so don't get so excited." She glares at Aster in particular, and he just smirks.
"But you should have known what would happen, right? Apparently you weren't so worried about kissing her."
"Who gets to say they've kissed an angel? I'm not ashamed." Fever raises an eyebrow and Truth giggles. The guys all shift a little bit and it gives her inspiration. "I have never gotten an erection while working." The game had gone from somewhat innocent questions to those with motives to out people's most embarrassing secrets, but no one bothered to try to stop it. It was far too amusing. Jack tips his glass up, and Aster flat out laughs at him.
"It wasn't my fault. The cold was making her nipples show out of her shirt." He says with a blush.
"Oh yeah, and I'm sure you stopped right away when you noticed, right?" Tooth smirks at him and he turns even redder. "We aren't just pieces of meat you know. We have feelings."
"Yeah, and it's not so much fun for us when that happens. If it's really cold, then you chafe and trust me, that is not so much fun." Truth adds.
"Oh, please! Don't talk to me about chafing until you've nursed three newborns!" Fever says, and Val instantly groans.
"Why do you have to take it in that direction? Here we were talking about breasts and nipples and you have to bring up children."
"Would you rather have chafed nipples or be punched in the breast as hard as possible?" Truth asks with a grin.
"Punched. The pain doesn't last as long." Fever answers, and Tooth nods in agreement.
"Who the hell would do that?" Jack asks, and they all shrug.
"It was more of a hypothetical question. Like, would you rather eat cookies or potato chips?"
"Cookies." North laughs as if the question is the most ridiculous he has ever heard. "That's too easy."
"Alright then. Would you rather make all of the toys for next year singlehandedly, or allow the elves to make them?" That makes North cringe, and he takes a swig of eggnog as if to dismiss either option.
"Those poor elves deserve a vacation after what they went through today." Tooth says with a sympathetic frown. "Who knew your kids had so much energy?"
"They get it from their father." Fever mutters, and Aster blushes under his fur, fully catching the implication and the teasing glint in her eyes. She leans into his side, smiling and reaching up to tap his nose with her finger. "You're just like a little energizer bunny, never running out of steam." She giggles and he uncomfortably moves her hand away from his face, clearing his throat.
"Alright, you've had enough." He takes her glass and puts it next to him where she can't reach it, but she just climbs over his lap to get at it, and he lets out an annoyed sound.
"You can't tell me what to do." She says, and ignores his arm against her front pushing her away. "Fine! I'll just get more. North?" Fever turns to their host, and then blinks in confusion at the sight of him in the same position as Sandy; lying on his back and fast asleep.
"It looks like you're cut off, baby doll." Aster says with a smirk, and she continues to pout. "Would you rather drink till you pass out or be able to remember the rest of tonight in the morning?"
"Neither. I'd like to keep drinking and then wake up tomorrow remembering the best Christmas ever that I enjoyed with my friends." She blinks at him innocently, and his eyes narrow as he realizes that she's trying to bait him. "Why can't I have my cake and eat it too?"
"Because you're not allowed to like cake." Aster's bitter answer makes them all laugh, and Fever shakes her head.
"Sometimes you never know what you like until you take a bite." Aster's eyes immediately move to settle on her mouth, and he can tell by the way her lips twitch upwards that she notices. "Isn't that right, Thumper?"
"Okay, that's enough." Val coughs and not so subtly tries to change the subject. "No biting allowed. Ever."
"A little love bite never hurt anybody." Tooth says, and Fever catches her glance at Jack as a small blush appears on her cheeks. "I mean, if you're with the right person." Fever grins to herself as she notices a new couple in the making. She was sensitive to people's feelings, and it was obvious that Tooth was interested in Jack for more than friendship. She looks over at Val and he is watching the fairy also while pretending to be involved in conversation with Jack and Aster. He smirks at Fever with a small nod, and she giggles, gaining her boyfriend's attention.
"What's so funny?" Not wanting to give away their intentions, she simply shrugs and leans into his side, closing her eyes. "Are you tired?" She shakes her head in denial, but her eyelids refuse to open, and she feels him shift to wrap his arm around her. "Maybe we should get home."
"No." She whines, wanting to just stay there.
She loses the argument though, because it is very late and their children were going to wake up eventually. It would be better if it were in their own home to prevent any crankiness. Since North is still comatose, they use one of his snow globes to transport the children home, and tell Jack to let him know that they'll return it later.
xoXox
"You know, we never did exchange our own gifts." Aster mumbles as Fever finishes putting the boys to bed. She smiles at him and follows him out of the room to head to their section of the burrow. "Can I give you mine now?"
"Sure. Give me a few minutes?" She smirks at his puzzled expression, and then he just shakes his head and goes ahead of her into their room. Aster glances over his shoulder as she disappears, and just goes to the corner of the closet where he'd hid her present. He pulls out the box and smiles down at it, moving to sit on the bed and wait for Fever to return. He had no idea what to expect from her, but he could guess where it would lead if she needed preparation time. She doesn't take long though, and materializes right on the bed next to him with an anticipatory smile and hiding something behind her back.
"Do you want to go first, or should I?"
"Me first, because I didn't get a chance to wrap them too well." He laughs, knowing her ineptitude when it came to wrapping presents. However, she pulls the two objects from behind her back and they have nice bright red bows on them. He sets down the box and his brow furrows in confusion as he takes them from her. "I don't know if yours have any magical powers that I can't replicate, but I figured these would be nice anyway." Her voice is shy now, but he smiles at the sight of two new vambrances made of quality leather and engraved beautifully.
"Did the cherubs make these?" Aster asks, and immediately tries one of them on, surprised when it fits just as well as his previous ones from his village.
"No, I did. Are they okay?"
"They're great. Thank you, Fever." He grins up at her, and she finally smiles, watching him move his arms easily. Then he laughs. "I have to admit that I was expecting something a little more…"
"Perverted?" Aster laughs even harder at her tone and shrugs. Honestly, he had, but he was still very happy with this gift. It showed that she knew him, and the fact that she had put her own hard work into them made them even more special. "That part comes later. What did you get me?" He smirks at her childlike enthusiasm, and she shifts excitedly on the bed as he reaches for the box wrapped neatly in shiny green paper with a red bow on top. She tears right into it, moving aside the tissue paper within and pauses when she reaches the gift, her lips parting slightly in surprise. "Oh…"
Fever carefully removes the filmy material from the box, holding it up and raising an eyebrow while Aster just shrugs.
"Okay, so it's kind of a gift for me, too."
"No kidding." She holds the nightgown to her front, admiring the red silk against her skin. There are matching panties at the bottom of the box, and she pulls them out as well. "I feel as though I should be angry about that."
"But you're not?"
"Hmm." She mumbles, not quite a yes or no, and immediately takes off her tank top and shorts to change into the nightgown. Aster notices that she intentionally leaves the underwear off, and she smiles at him, smoothing her hands down her sides. "So?"
"Beautiful. I really didn't know what to get you, but I know you love silk."
"I do. Thank you." She smiles at him, and then glances over her shoulder. He watches her hips sway as she walks away from him, and he is going to ask where she's going when she bends over near her side of the bed, making him speechless, and then she rises again with something in her hand. She dangles it above her head teasingly, and he laughs when he recognizes the sprig of mistletoe. "So is drinking the only Christmas tradition you'll participate in? Or am I destined to stand under the mistletoe alone?"
"I suppose I can put aside my resentment for a night." He stands and walks over to her, ignoring her smirk, and lowers his mouth to hers, kissing her slowly. Her arms circle around his neck and her fingers crush the mistletoe as his tongue breaks the seam of her lips, his paws stroking her lower back.
"Merry Christmas, Aster." She whispers against his lips, and he responds without words, making her head swim and her body ache.
The mistletoe lies forgotten on the ground for the rest of the night, and even when dawn breaks, he finds that he would gladly celebrate Christmas every day of the year if it would conclude in such a way with those he loved.
xoXox
Author's Note: Ugh this one was super hard to write. I'm still not entirely pleased with it, but whatever. It's more of just a filler chapter anyway. I hope you guys like it. Review please!
Also, in celebration of Hump Day, I've posted a one-shot. It has nothing to do with BBB but is just an idea I've had floating around in my head for a while. It's called "Underappreciated," and is basically just Bunny smut with an illusion of a plot. So… yeah. Check it out!