Christmas time in Iraq! Hector and the others couldn't believe how much time had passed since they arrived there in September. It was Christmas Eve-everyone was in the Christmas spirit too regardless of the fact none of them were home to enjoy it with families. Hector got two small four foot trees for Dragon platoon, one for each barrack to enjoy for the holidays and a couple other small decorations went up too, add in some fake wrapped boxes under the tree and it was like nothing changed. Things were going well for the platoon, especially since Skylar stopped giving Hector trouble and shockingly followed or orders without complaining or questioning. Skylar learned that Hector wasn't kidding about Iraq not being a joke-around the time of the sixth mission in October-Hector got shot in the right arm making sure Skylar didn't get shot in the chest. Ever since then, Skylar had a new respect for his elder cousin because he saw that regardless of the bullying and personal feelings, Hector would never not protect his team from danger-even if it meant he got himself hurt in the process. The groups were molding together pretty well.

Drew, Trent, Jessie, and Skylar could see what Hector and Tallon were always talking about by the fun in the barrack-they were all just so laid back, laughing, having fun, cracking jokes both normal and sexual all the time but no one seemed to care. And they even got over their fear of the camel spiders-not that they would agree to touch them. Hector seemed to be the only one crazy enough to do that. The last three months had been really good and everyone was getting along-Hector honestly couldn't have been happier to see all the smiles around the barrack right now. A lot of the soldiers already called him to wish their Merry Christmases to their families while the reception was good but it didn't last long with everyone trying to call at once-that and the time zone made it harder.

For them now it was 6:30pm, dinner over and everyone relaxing around and talking but on Berk it was 3:30pm. Hector and Darius were waiting a while longer before calling home and prayed to Odin there wouldn't be any arguing this time. In the barrack they were all trying to figure out what exactly to do, sure there was talking among one another-but nothing else going on and it was Christmas Eve.

"Come on, Hector-think of something for us to do, please?" Tallon asked.

"Why the fuck I gotta think of something to do?" Hector mumbled now.

"Well, Hector could always..." Thaxter started and Hector glared.

"No, Hector could not play his guitar, AGAIN!" he cut his friend off.

"But you're so good at it," Tallon chuckled.

"Fuck you," Hector sighed.

"When and where, baby?" Tallon grinned.

"In your wildest dreams," Hector stuck his tongue out now.

"So whenever I say then?" Tallon countered.

"God damn pervert," Hector chuckled slightly-he loved the openness of his and Tallon's conversations even though they scared some of the others to wonder if the two were just joking or would actually do it one of these days. They'd already kissed once-no objection from either one of them.

"You love me though," Tallon smiled.

"That I do," Hector nodded-this is where people wondered if they did have a secret love for one another. Hector didn't joke like that with any of the others, only Tallon. Sure there were a few girls and guys from the platoon who wanted to be with him-who had actual crushes on Hector but he showed interest in return and didn't return the jokes. Tallon seemed to be the only one Hector would joke like that with and boy, was it ever hilarious too.

"Seriously though-what are we gonna do tonight. It's Christmas Eve-we should be doing something!" Trent stated.

"Could play truth or dare again-that was always a hit in Basic," Andrew offered.

"Yeah because everyone got a kick out of Tallon kissing me," Hector rolled his eyes.

"You didn't exactly push him off, Hector," Thaxter chuckled.

"I'm bi and single-why should I have cared? It didn't bother me any," Hector shrugged some.

"They only wanna play for that reason. So someone can dare me to kiss you or you kiss me," Tallon chuckled sitting back with his hands behind his head.

"If you wanna kiss me that bad-then come over here and do it," Hector remarked with his eyes closed as Tallon blinked a few times. The barrack fell a bit quiet now as they looked at Tallon to see if he'd do it-he pretty much just got invited to do it. Tallon was actually sitting on Hector's bed and Hector was lying on it with his knees up to give more room for people to sit there-he was used to having people sit on his bed. Tallon got up and moved towards Hector's face, he chuckled almost as he put his hands in his pockets-bent down and placed his lips on Hector's softly and Hector didn't even flinch! He just took it-he even kissed him back. The kiss didn't last more than three seconds and it was very small. Tallon pulled back as both of them opened their eyes. "See? Don't need a game to kiss me. I know how bad you want me,"

"Oh you have no idea," Tallon remarked as he stepped back smiling.

"I swear to Thor you two just need to fuck and get it over with or start dating one another," Jessie snickered some.

"Who is to say we haven't already or aren't?" Hector challenged to Jessie's remark as everyone's eyes widened in shock. Hector realized how quiet it was as he sighed facepalming hard, "Oh my Gods, I was fucking kidding! We aren't dating and we haven't had sex!" he sat up quickly but whacked his head on the metal bars of the top bunk's bottom frame. "Mother fucker!" he cringed.

"Hector, are you okay?" Tallon asked crouching down by the bottom bunk.

"I swear to God that is the tenth time I've done that in the last three weeks...ow..." he mumbled pulling his palm away to check for blood.

"How many fingers you see?" Viktor asked holding up seven fingers.

"Eight. You forgot one," Hector remarked putting his middle finger up now as his guys laughed.

"Yep, he's fine. The day he can't crack jokes or make sarcastic comebacks is the day we know he isn't okay," Evan chuckled.

"You sure you don't wanna switch beds?" Tallon laughed a bit.

"I like being on bottom," Hector winked as Toothless nearly lost his balance and fell back but Hector caught his wrist and stopped him, "Don't worry, I won't let ya fall." Tallon smiled nodded.

"You should put some ice on that before it bruises," Viktor reminded.

"I'll be good, not the first time I've whacked my head. Case ya forgot, I'm pretty hardheaded to begin with," Hector smiled.

"So Gods damn true," Darius shook his head sighing but the smile remained. "Man you guys really do know how to have a good time,"

"Told you. But I also said that this how I've always been, ya just never gave me that chance. You judged me because I was a know it all and for lack of a better word-twig on the outside instead of looking inside or bothering to get to know me," Hector shrugged as Evan brought over and ice pack for Hector while he put it on his forehead and relaxed back but minding his head again.

"This is just us being guys who happen to be incredibly comfortable with our sexuality whether that be straight, gay, or bi. We are all males, have the same parts, so no shame in anything. We respect the boundaries of those who have them but most of us just don't. This is normal-you haven't see 'having a good time' yet," Tallon stated sitting on the edge of Hector's bed again with a smile.

"So what is you having a good time?" Skylar asked.

"When Hector plays his guitar and gets everyone cheering, dancing, and singing along if we happen to know any but since Hector writes his own songs-we just listen and enjoy it. Or we play cards, tell jokes, stories, occasionally play tricks on one another but no one has ever gotten the master here back," Ryan stated.

"Hector is the master prankster?" Trent blinked as Hector gave a cocky grin, "Dude, teach me your ways,"

"Now if I told people how I did it, it wouldn't be fun anymore." Hector smiled, "And not playing it. Jeeze-learn to make your own shit," he rolled his eyes.

"Would you play it if I asked?" Tallon quirked a curious brow at him now.

"That depends on what I get out of it besides a sore throat?" Hector asked in response.

"Whatever you want," Tallon replied.

"Really? Whatever I want just for playing my guitar at your request?" Hector asked as Tallon nodded, "Got yourself a deal," he put the ice pack down while reaching under his bed and getting the box that housed his guitar that the Dragon platoon all chipped in for to get him, he pulled it out and got the strap over his shoulders.

"I was actually hoping you'd make music for something I wrote. I'm not good with instrument but I wrote lyrics..." Tallon asked.

"Depends on the style of the song and if it can be played with just guitar. So you have lyrics but no notes or tunes for it?" Hector asked him as he pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to him-Hector looked over the paper, reading the lyrics over. "These are...really good, Tal. Did you have a general idea of how you wanted it to sound or are you asking me to create something to fit, then sing it?"

"Second choice. If you can't, it's cool. I got bored when you were recovering after getting shot to save Skylar," Tallon shrugged a bit.

"Gimme a little time. I normally create the music first then add the lyrics into mesh it together," Hector told him as Tallon nodded smiling wide. Hector pulled out his laptop and pulled up his music program then his over the ear headphones, he plugged them in as he set his guitar behind him carefully as he looked over the paper and just started clicking away on the keyboard. It was like he was playing a piano at times, then others he was just tapping certain keys repetitively. A few glanced over to see that the program was something that used all instruments.

"Guys he's like actually playing other instruments on this thing," Darius said as a few more got up to look. Hector knew they were there but couldn't hear them with the headphones on. Hector worked at this for close to an hour and a half while the others just talking among themselves or occasionally glancing over to check on Hector. Finally he pulled off his headphones and smiled.

"Well, I don't know if it's what you're looking for but I gave it my best," Hector looked to Tallon.

"I'm sure whatever you did with the lyrics are fine. So can I hear it?" Tallon asked him.

"Well it was your request-so yes you can. Alright-go sit down, you know I hate to be crowded..." Hector sighed as they all backed off while he got the guitar back on and set his laptop to play the new file he just created, he even hooked up his extra speaker to make it louder. Hector pressed the spacebar as it started slowly then he began hitting notes from the guitar in a light rhythm before drums came in, he took a breath.

"All I saw was smoke and fire. I didn't feel a thing-but suddenly I was rising higher. And I felt like I just made, the biggest mistake. When I thought about my unborn child. When I thought about my wife. And the answer rang out clear, from somewhere up above! No greater gift has man, than to lay down his life for love!..." Hector started with his eyes closed before music picked up.

"And I wonder, would I give my life? Could I make that sacrifice? If it came down to it could I take the bullet, I would! Yes I would, for you!" he sang out as Tallon smiled wide and relaxed. Only Hector would take his lyrics and make them awesome like this. The others were just enjoying it-nodding in agreement that this was pretty cool.

"Maybe you don't understand-I don't understand it all myself. But there's a brother on my left and another on my right. And in his pocket just like mine, he's got a photograph-and they're waiting for him back home. It's weighing on my mind. I'm not trying to be a hero. I don't wanna die-but right now in this moment, you don't think twice!" Hector continued with a slight smile as the others started swaying to the music.

"I wonder, would I give my life? Could I make that sacrifice? If it came down to it could I take the bullet, I would. Yes I would..." he held the note then paused only a moment, "You don't think about right. Oooh-ooh! You don't think about wrong. Oooh-ooh! You just do what you gotta do, to defend your own! Ooh-ooh! I'd do the same, ooh-ooh-for you. Yes I would!" after that between the computer and Hector's playing was a pretty neat guitar solo that the guys clapped and cheered for as he took a breath after a minute or two in order to sing again.

"I would give my life...I would make that sacrifice!" the music paused to silence a moment but Hector smiled and they knew it wasn't over yet. It picked up again-faster than before as he started singing, "'Cause if it came down to it-could I take a bullet, I would. Yes I would...I'd do it for you! Oh! I'd do it for you. Oh! Take the bullet! Yeah...Yes I would." the music continued a bit longer but slowly faded out as Hector stopped it when it was over and looked at Tallon now.

"Again, wasn't sure if that's what you were looking for-but that's what I gathered from it so...yeah," Hector shrugged a bit. Tallon put his hands on Hector's shoulders and then hugged him tightly.

"THAT WAS FUCKING AMAZING! Way better than what I was going for when I made the lyrics! Holy Odin, Hector!" Tallon exclaimed as he cupped both his cheeks and kissed him deeply-this only actually took Hector by surprise and though he didn't expect it to happen, his body actually gave out a little from the kiss alone. Hector's eyes closed-but he didn't kiss back this time, he was just frozen from the shock of what was going on. It held about ten seconds in the utter silence and shock of the room before Tallon pulled back staring at him.

"Now that's a kiss," the guys grinned at the two who still seemed to have their eyes locked to one another. That kiss was deeper than either of the other two they'd shared. The first kiss was just a dare during Basic-a small, light, simple one. The second kiss was because Hector invited him to do it and again it was just a small, quick kiss on the lips. This one was longer, deeper, and made Hector go weak in the knees at the feeling that sparked in his body. He'd...never gotten a feeling like that with Astrid before, or during any of the other kissed he and Tallon shared. What...was going on?

"Sorry," Tallon cleared his throat a bit letting go of him and stepping back.

"It's...okay...just a kiss, not like...it meant anything. I'll consider a thank you of over excitement-a...spur of the moment, no other type of reaction could be thought of type of thank you," Hector smiled as he took the guitar off and set it down. "And on that note, I need a cigarette," without another word he headed outside. They saw him put the cigarette between his lips and light it before stepping off to the side and out of their line of sight. The guys all looked at Tallon now, with curious stares.

"Dude, what the fuck was that?" Thaxter smacked his arm.

"I...honestly don't know where it came from. After hearing what he made from my lyrics...I just...I don't know. That was literally the first thing that came to mind," Tallon shrugged a bit-still a little surprised he did it as well.

"To kiss him? I've seen a lot of my brother's reactions-but never one like that. His knees buckled, his eyes went wide, and he could barely formulate a sentence afterwards," Darius pointed out.

"You've never kissed Hector like that before, Tallon. I don't even think he kissed back that time-I know you two joke around alot when it comes to this but...I think tonight might have overstepped a bit. You didn't kiss him as a joke tonight-you kissed him as if you two were lovers. And...I think you might have scared him," Viktor said calmly now.

"I know a lot of us think he's hot. Me included but we'd never make a move like that on him-not without his permission at least. I agree with Viktor, I think you scared him-that's why he rushed out so fast. He knows that wasn't a joke kiss, that was...a real kiss, Tallon. I know you two joke around a lot, and don't take this the wrong way...but...do you...like him-you know, like that?" Andrew asked, suddenly all eyes on Tallon.

"Don't be ridiculous guys, come on," Hector's voice brought their eyes over to him now. "It was just a little over excitement is all. It's not often you write lyrics and hear them a way not even you planned they'd turn out with music. Tallon is my best friend-we're just that comfortable around each other. Sure it shocked me because I wasn't expecting it but hey, whatever. It's not hurting anyone. He's single, I'm single and we're both bisexual. No harm done and it didn't mean anything, right, Tal?"

"Damn right," Tallon nodded with a smile as the two of them connected hands and looked at the others. "Seriously. You guys need to relax," he added.

"Now let's go back to have fun-it's Christmas Eve after all. Oh, Darius, we gotta call home. Heather just texted me asking if we could to make Mom smile since Dad is being well, Dad again." Hector looked to his brother.

"I swear to God, he and I are gonna have serious words when we finally get to go on leave..." Darius sighed heavily walking over to Hector so they could go outside to call home-and pray for no arguments this time. Tallon shook his head, Hector was right-it was ridiculous to even suggest he liked Hector that way. Of course not, they were just friends. Best friends. It was over excitement-that was all. Hector took...random lyrics that Tallon made when he was bored two months ago and turned it into something amazing, meaningful, that could stand to describe soldiers everywhere. Who wouldn't be excited about that? But it made Tallon wonder though, why was the first thing that came to his mind to kiss Hector the way he did. Andrew was right-that wasn't just a joke kiss. Tallon kissed him fully, deeply, passionately almost. Why would he do that if he felt nothing towards Hector in regards to romantic feelings? Did he like him like that-there had to be a little something for him to feel that desire and go through with it. Tallon could admit to himself that maybe he did like Hector-the question however, was how deep did this liking him go? Tallon needed to know or he would end up scaring his friend if Hector didn't feel the same way. Tallon needed to figure it out.