DISCLAIMER: I don't own Glee and never wanted to. This is loosely based off the movie "Fred Claus". Have a few things from the film but not everything. I've added my own twist, of course!
ENJOY :)
Mercedes brushed her hair back into a ponytail, tying the collected hair into a small donut bun as she stared in the mirror, makeup light. Placing on her jacket afterwards, she turned off the light off and exited out of her home. As she got onto the sidewalk, she greeted some people as they walked by. Living here was something she would never get tired of. It was a nice escaped and so peaceful. She really didn't know if she would go back to the states, she honestly had no reason to. That's why when Nicholas came into her life when he did, she was grateful for it. These past two years have been nothing short of a blessing, filled with happiness and love, wonderful people and she was truly happy to have that. She didn't even realize she had made it to headquarters until she was being greeted by some familiar faces and handed her usual cup of hot green ginger tea. As she walked up the stairs, she saw everyone busy at work already, removing her scarf as she sat it on the end of her table. The one thing she loved about her office was it wasn't exactly an office. It was set up like one, but it wasn't closed in by doors and windows. It was right when you got off the stairs, and it overlooked everything downstairs. Taking a sip from her cup, she continued to look down until her eyes settled on him. He caught her eye as he talked to Buddy at one of the stations. She was curious. Nicholas wasn't shy about sharing details about his family, but when it came to Sam, it was complete sadness washed over him. Although there was rumors going around, she didn't feed into them. She didn't understand but then again, it was none of her business. However, it was strange to see the jolliest man was also the saddest one when it came to his younger sibling. It was a sore spot...
"Mercedes, right?"
Mercedes came out of her thoughts, seeing the man in front of her and not realizing that he had came up the stairs, "Yes, hi Sam."
Sam gave her a soft smile as he crossed his arms over his chest, "You know, I'm just going to be straight forward, I'm curious about you."
Mercedes gave him her full attention, smiling a bit as she sat down her cup, "I could say the same. You have quite a rep around here."
"Hm, that's the past. I'm a changed man." Hearing her slight, quiet and short laughter warmed up his heart for some reason. He watched closely as she gathered some items in a box before picking it off her desk, wrapping around until she got on the side of him.
"You need some help?"
"No, I g..." Mercedes drifted off when she turned around too quickly, feeling her foot slip off the top step and her body going backwards.
Sam leaned forward and grabbed her by her waist, pulling her close to him, watching as she looked at him through her lashes, "You were saying."
"No help needed." She whispered, her hands going on top of his so she could remove them from their spot, "Thank you though."
Sam just smiled one of those smiles that brought women to their knees but unfortunately, it didn't work on her. She was not that easy. He let her remove his hands, watching as she stepped back and returned to making her way down the stairs again, "What's your story?"
"What do you mean?"
"How did you get here?"
Mercedes moved her hair behind her ears, "I was sought out. Your brother deemed me as 'special'."
"Bet you couldn't believe it at first."
"Contrary to popular belief, I did and I'm forever grateful for it."
"Interesting."
Mercedes just let out a soft chuckle as she sat the box on the end of the table, picking up the clipboard and signing her initials.
"You have any siblings?" Sam watched as she froze for a moment before she sat the clipboard down, nodding her head. He could tell that she was hesitant about it and that made him curious, "How many?"
"Eight."
"Damn."
Mercedes rolled her eyes as she picked up the four rolls of ribbons, turning to the side and almost running into him because of the lack of space, "Excuse me."
Sam moved to the side, watching her hand one roll off to one of the slaves, as he referred them, "So, are you like the baby or something?"
"I really don't want to talk about it."
"You can't even answer that question?" Sam commented, stopping short when she whipped around and glared at him.
"I said I don't want to talk about it. Drop it" She snapped before she could stop and realize what she had done. She took a calming breath and looked at him before leaving, "Have a good day, Sam."
Sam watched as she walked away, confused as ever but just shrugged and made his way to find his new found friend, Buddy. He couldn't wait until he served his duties, so he could leave ASAP.
After a very strange start to his morning with Mercedes, Sam had met up with Buddy. He had shown Sam where his temporary office was going to be and what exactly he was going to be doing during his time here. His job was to read the children's files and place a magical naughty or nice stamp on it which alerted the department of elves, who sent the working ones the data, so they could know which toy was needed.
Sam grunted lowly as he placed a nice stamp on the little girl's paper, looking up when he noticed someone coming into his office, "Well, look who finally decided to pay me a visit."
Nicholas shook his head as he came further into the room, "I've been busy, Sam. How are you holding up?"
"It's really not that bad. Boring, but straight comedy reading some of these files and letters."
Nicholas chuckled a bit as he watched him closely, looking over at the stacks on the desk, "I'm glad you're making it through. You've been a big help already, whether you realize it or not."
"At least I'm good for something."
"You're good for a lot of things, Sam."
Sam heard in his tone where he was going and he shook his head, "Don't."
Nicholas raised his hands, knowing not to push it any further with his brother. Thing was, he knew his brother better than anyone in this world and he knew his limits, "I saw you talking with Mercedes earlier."
A smile quirked on Sam's lips, glancing up at his brother's face as he put a pause to his work, "Mhm."
Nicholas pursed his lips as he stared at him, knowing him all too well, "Sam."
"Don't worry, Nicholas...I was nice but your right hand woman wasn't. She snapped on me for asking a simple question, so you might want to tell her she doesn't meet the requirements of a jolly person to work here."
He wasn't expecting that. Surely his brother was big flirt and he saw how interested he was in his friend yesterday but it wasn't like Mercedes to snap on anyone, "What did you asked?"
"I just asked her about her siblings?" Sam watched as his brother eyes go slightly wide, "What was wrong with that?"
"Sam, please refrain from asking her anything like that. She has a reason for not wanting to talk about it."
"Okay, then what's the reason because I'm not understanding why she went off on me."
"I..." He started but stopped when he shook his head, heading his phone go off, "We'll talk later".
Sam watched as he left out of his office, causing him to return to making the judgement of who was naughty and who was nice and still wondering what the big deal was with Mercedes and why both her and his brother was acting this way over a simple question.
After work, Sam decided to go try one of the bars in town. He did a little overtime, so he wasn't surprise that there were little to no people out. As he entered the first one, he found a familiar face sitting at the bar, eating what looked like a steak, while she strolled through on her iPad. He went and took a seat next to her, ordering himself a beer when the man came over, "Y'all do have that or is it banned?"
The man glared at him as he reached in the cooler and handed him one, along with a menu, "Kitchen closes soon."
Sam took a sip of the beer before glancing at the menu quickly, pointing to the first thing he saw, "I'll just take a burger. Make it togo." He watched as he left and went to the back, turning his attention to the woman, who hadn't uttered a word since he's gotten there.
Mercedes was going to ignore him but it was very hard not to when he was staring a hole in the side of her head. She raised her eyes to look at him, putting her fork down, "Insulting everyone down here isn't a good look for you."
"I don't aim to please." He quipped as he took another swing of his beer before speaking again, "And anyways, how did I insult you?"
Mercedes frowned deeply before turning back around, thankful that she almost done with her meal. She placed her iPad in her bag, clearly frustrated as she ignored his question, "You should try being more like your brother."
Sam scoffed, getting irritated at what she said, it not being anything new from what he's been hearing his whole life but for some reason, it didn't bother him like it did when everyone else said it, "I'm nothing like him and never will be."
"I can tell."
Sam watched as she put her attention back on her food, rolling his eyes as he took a another swig from the bottle. After a few moments of silence, the man had came back with a bag that contained his dinner all while she was getting up from her seat, smiling at the bartender before leaving a tip. He got up, looking at him, "Put it on the big man's tab." He informed before he followed behind Mercedes, the cold air hitting him dead in his face, "What's the hurry?"
Mercedes didn't even know he was behind her until he spoke, rolling her eyes as she reluctantly answered, "It's after eleven, I need sleep if that's alright with you."
For some reason, he just smiled at the annoyance that was in her voice, sticking his hands in his pockets to keep warm as he kept up his strides in the snow.
It didn't take Mercedes long to get to her home. In fact, it was just down the street. As she went up the steps, she turned around when she still felt his presence, "Do you need something?"
"Nope."
"Then goodnight." She stared before opening and closing the door behind her, leaving the man out there in the cold.
Sam watched as all the lights shut off and that was his cue to leave. He stepped off the step and made his way back to his own place. He needed to know her story. It was bothering him not knowing for whatever reason and nothing ever did.
A/N. So sorry this is late. I was hoping to have this finished by the new year, but things happen! Happy New Year, everyone!
