It's not to late to ring in the new year with some Sockathan, right?

Jonathan jerked awake to Sock yelling his name. He groaned, throwing one arm over his eyes. "What is wrong with you?"

"It's almost midnight!"

"Why would I care?"

"Because it's New Year's Eve! It's gonna be next year and you should be awake for it."

Jonathan lifted his arm enough to glare at Sock. The demon was floating right over him, light from the full moon shining eerily through him, giving Jonathan a manic grin. If he hadn't known Sock the effect might have been a bit unnerving.

"I don't care."

"Why are you so boring? You're supposed to go to a party and get drunk and kiss someone at midnight."

Jonathan sat up, rubbing his face. Apparently Sock was going to pester him for at least another couple minutes before he could go back to sleep. "I hate parties. I'm too young to drink. I have no one to kiss. Oh, and I don't live in a freaking sitcom."

"You're not even going to make a resolution?"

"No. Why would I bother?"

"You should resolve to make next year better, so then when you fail you'll feel even worse and listen to me!"

"Why don't you resolve to suck less at your job?"

"I-I don't! I'm putting in overtime!"

That Jonathan found he couldn't argue with. Sock was certainly always there, even if he wasn't always this annoying.

He knew when midnight came because of the faint cheers outside and staccato popping sounds.

"Look, Jonathan, fireworks!"

Sock grabbed blindly to pull him to the window, hand passing right through his arm, but Jonathan moved to look anyway. They could just see the bright bursts of sparks set off from a few streets away. Blue, green, and a shower of white stars.

"You have to make a wish!"

"What, on the fireworks?"

"No, on the new year!"

Jonathan rolled his eyes, continuing to look out the window though no more fireworks appeared. That was a ridiculous idea, and besides he couldn't think of anything to wish for. The only thing he wanted was for both of them to make it through another year.

He caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. Something cool and soft brushed his cheek, and when he turned he caught Sock sitting back with a smug little smile.

"You were wrong about having no one to kiss at midnight. So, did your wish come true in record time?" He winked, tilting his head in a way that was probably meant to be suave, if he wasn't so ridiculous.

"Not even close, you little pest. That's what you wanted." That was probably what Sock had been after the whole time.

"You wish."

"So you don't want a real kiss?"

The smug attempt at charm vanished abruptly. "Wait, is. . . is that an option?"

Jonathan didn't even answer. He tugged on Sock's scarf, making the stunned demon float to him with no resistance, and moved to intercept Sock with a kiss.

Sock came alive at the lazy press of his lips, returning it with a kiss made sloppy and eager with enthusiasm.

"That's what you wanted?" Jonathan asked as he broke the kiss.

"Mm-hm," Sock admitted, drifting after him, lips pursed for more kisses.

"Good, because that's your kiss for the year."

"Wait, what?"

"I'm going back to sleep," Jonathan announced, turning his back on Sock and crawling into his bed.

"Only one for the whole year!?"

"That's what you get for waking me up."

Jonathan rolled onto his stomach and clamped his pillow over his head to shut out Sock's pleading. It also helped hide the smile that had crept unbidden onto his face. Sock was going to pester him for days about this, but right at that moment it was worth it.