This isn't the happiest Christmas season Dalton's ever experienced. Not the worst either, though. Last year's had been the dirt poor worst because ROH had just closed down and he wasn't sure if he or the Boys would have a place to land. Then Tony Khan had taken over and things felt good for awhile, he and The Boys had won the trio tag titles, had retained them in challenges over the last few months. It had all fallen apart at the last PPV, though, and now they're without their titles, and he feels directionless all over again.
Christmas starts off quiet and Dalton blinks sluggishly, walking around the island, trying to get himself back in the mood- at the very least, for his Boys. Because they lost as well, and he needs to try to make the weekend better for them. He's just not even sure where to begin. Deciding to give himself a few minutes to at least try to regain himself, he drops down by the water and dips his feet in, enjoying the coolness as it licks against his bare toes. He chuckles and wiggles his feet around in the water before an idea comes to him, and his eyes light up. "I know just what to do," he says with a growing grin on his face.
The Tate twins are sitting in the kitchen, sharing grim glances every now and again. They haven't seen a lot of Dalton since they'd returned to the island following their trio tag titles loss, barely seeing him every night when they go to bed, and they're suffering, for themselves and for him, how much he must be blaming himself for the loss of their tag belts. "I wish we could do something," Brent says, Brandon nodding unhappily across from him.
"I agree," he sighs. He trails vague circles into the surface of the table and shakes his head. "I just keep drawing a blank. How about you?"
"Yeah, I have no clue." Brent drops his head down into the crook of his arms and sighs. "He always does so much for us, I wish we could do something to repay him."
Brandon nods- it is a common issue with the two of them- Dalton always has so much, and could get absolutely anything he wants, but the Boys... they have limited funds, and even more limited ideas of what to actually get him that he'd like and want for Christmas. Or his birthday. Or any other time of the year. "We are beyond useless," he sighs, mimicking his brother's pose.
The two of them are still laying like that, shaking their heads helplessly against their arms, when familiar hands drop on their backs, massaging up and down their spines briskly. "What's wrong, my Boys?" Dalton asks, concern and uncertainty warring for prominence in his tone.
Brent is about to answer, just look up and immediately quiet, staring at Dalton. "Uh," he says intelligently.
Brandon, noticing something off in his brother's tone, looks up as well, and finds Dalton before them, wearing a red and white hat and... some semblance of a Santa outfit. "Are you a ... sexy Santa?" he asks helplessly, examining him. He's left his thick red jacket unbuttoned, with no shirt below it, and his pants are closer to shorts, the only way this is supposed to be a Santa costume is obvious is the deep red shades of the clothes.
"In a way," Dalton says. He examines them both, and sighs, dropping down in a chair between them. "Listen, I feel really bad," he admits. "You both were off doing your own thing and convinced you to rejoin me in ROH when it was under new management. We did win gold, but we lost it so quickly, and I can't help but feel like it was my fault." Before the Boys can argue, he sighs. "You both deserve better, but you're still so loyal and my beautiful boys. So for the next two days, I vow to be your Boy."
Brent and Brandon examine an incredulous glance, neither sure what that means. "What are you... doing? Huh?"
"Tonight, tomorrow and Monday morning," he says. "I will do anything you ask of me, be whatever you want me to be. Furniture? A... a blanket? A real life Pokemon battle mat? Anything your innovative brains can think of," he promises.
The twins exchange glances, then turns to look at him. "For one thing, Dalton, you have to consider your back. For another, we don't require that of you. We don't require an apology from you- we've all lost matches at different times in our careers, and we'd never held it against you. We're not going to start now." Brandon exhales and reaches out, taking Dalton's hand. "Listen, I understand. You want to make it up to us, but you don't have to. We love you the way you are, and you don't need to do anything like this to make it up for us. We wanted to return to ROH and you, you have nothing to feel about over that. We're perfectly happy as it is. Trust me."
The brothers exchange another look, and Brent comes up on the other side and takes Dalton's another hand, squeezing it lightly. "You want to make it up to us?" At Dalton's insistent nod, Brent smiles. "Well, then. You can keep this outfit on," he says, trailing his hand down the gap in the jacket, enjoying the warmth of Dalton's skin against his fingertips.
"And you can kiss us," Brandon cuts in. "Whenever we look like we need one, or you feel the urge to but can't bring yourself to ask. Just trust me when I say we want it, so just go ahead and give it a try, hm?"
Dalton looks from one Boy to the next, then exhales. "Alright." He looks down at himself. "You're really going to make me wear this for two whole days, huh?"
"If not longer," Brent says with a giggle, curling his fingers around the jacket and pulling Dalton into him. "You make for a very sexy Santa."
Dalton searches his face, then hums. "Oh yeah? That does it for you?"
Brent smirks, then shrugs, but before he can say anything, Dalton gets ahold of him and draws him in, kissing him deeply, hungrily. He's all but jelly when Dalton pulls away, turning towards Brandon and does the same to him, kissing him intently, hands curling deep into his purple hair as he holds him in place.
Both boys look dazed, close to dropping clear out of their chairs, and Dalton laughs. "I can live with that," he says, glancing from one twin to the other. "Maybe for more than a couple days, even. Merry Christmas, my sweet Boys."