Day 15: "Are you- are you pulling down the mistletoe?"

"Really, Juju," Doc asked Rook, "Are you fine?"

"Yeah, Gus," Rook replied, giving a dismissive handwave, "Really, don't worry about it."

After Mute finally got into his room after being covered in tinsel and decorations, people scattered back into their places. The French two were in the medical bay, sitting side by side on a cot. Doc gave a knowing touch on Rook's hand. He was in his lab coat.

"No, seriously," Doc continued, "Are you okay?" His voice increased an octave. That kind of octave that digs into your wall deep.

"Don't fucking pity me," Rook pushed the doctor's hand away, "I'm over it. Blitz talked shit and I pushed back."

"I don't think being over it means that you punch someone and nearly cry," Doc hushed back, "Seriously, talk to me."

Rook kept silent. Doc blinked twice at the younger one.

"You know what, I'll bore you," Rook stood up and walked away, pulling the hood over his head, "I said enough."

"Julien!"

Doc was again knocking at Rook's door. There was no answer. He knocked again. Sighing with resignation, Doc walked away. Blitz then suddenly appeared in front of him. Without a word, he walked alongside him. Doc looked at Blitz and asked him, "Did you think it was right to go that far?"

No answer. The German pouted next to him, eyes drooped in guilt.

"I want an answer here, Elias. You were his ex, after all." Doc continued, "Now look at what you've done."

"…I know," Blitz finally answered, "You didn't have to remind me." He slouched forward, his hands in his pockets.

"Did you apologize to him in private, even?"

"…I did. I promise I did. He told me it was okay and that I said it at the heat of the moment."

"Is he really okay though?"

"I mean he said so, he smiled and waved at me."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, we hugged."

"Hm," Doc interlocked his fingers and put them at the back of his head, "You're aware that Julien isn't all that confident about his body, right. I'm disappointed as his ex, you forgot that."

"I guess I was trying to lay some barbed wire here. That backfired terribly obviously…" Blitz's chuckling gradually descended into grumbling, "Schisse…"

"I guess it's up to both of us to make it up to him."

"Hey, you're actually taking responsibility for once! Good for you," Blitz's voice was so contrived that Doc couldn't tell if it was sarcasm or not.

Meanwhile in Rook's room, the youngest GIGN member spread languidly on his bed. The lights were off save one desk lamp and a few string of lights via Emmanuelle. On one credenza was a photo of him in secondary school, standing proudly in his track uniform. He was holding a gold medal with a big smile on his face. Those were the days. He was much thinner back then.

Unlike now, where he bore a bulkier figure, softer with muscle underneath. He never really noticed until the medics and his family pointed it out. He didn't mind it at first, but then the accusations of being unhealthy flew around him. Then it ramped up to him being fat, which he could easily counter by saying he could kick their ass if one went any further.

But it chipped away at him.

The medics were becoming harsher and harsher. He never really cared about his figure all that much before they came along. He thought he was normal through and through but could blanket any thoughts of self-consciousness with it. Soon enough, he started dressing modestly.

Luckily the GIGN and Blitz were able to chip away at it. Doc even pulled up the numbers to prove that he was healthy, and his looks were to no one's concern but his, emphasis on the healthy. But with the latter's remark still echoing in his mind, he was on the verge of tears. Looking at his phone, he saw a contact:

Mercutio (Psychologist, PsyD, MS)

He tapped it and waited at the tone. Once Mercutio picked it up, Julien replied, "…Was I wrong to hit my ex for a possibly offensive remark?"

Hibana and Thermite were sitting at the common room. They were sitting on the couch, watching Home Alone 2. There was no debate as this clearly was a Christmas movie. As the movie went on, they inched closer and closer. Fingers over fingers, and hand over hand, they brushed shoulders just at the climax of the movie.

Ash was squatting behind them, holding a mistletoe tied to a stick. She looked at the corner of the room, noting the Black Eye on the corner of the wall. The redhead pulled out her phone, texting Valkyrie.

Doc and Blitz just passed by the opening of the common room. Blitz was about to open his mouth, but Doc stopped him. They stepped back to the wall.

Ash then put her phone away and started to kneel. She lifted the stick, letting the mistletoe hang over the two. Thermite noticed his shoulder was completely against Hibana's and then looked up.

"Ohoho hey!" Thermite nervously chuckled, "There's a mistletoe above us." He scratched the back of his neck, bouncing away.

"Oh! There is!" Hibana softly chuckled, "Ahaha…" She blushed, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Well that is something…" Thermite tapped his hands on his knees.

"Not everyday you see that, huh?" Hibana's eyes darted between the movie credits and Jordan.

"I'll be damned." They sat, air thick with tension.

Ash wiggled the stick.

"It's moving," Hibana noted.

"You're moving," Thermite replied.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Nani o itte iru?" She began to lean closer to Jordan.

"Hey, hey," Jordan chuckled, "What's going on?"

"Ki ni itta," Hibana cooed at Thermite, putting a finger to his lips. She then kissed him on the lips, cradling his face at the jawline.

"Oh…" He was breathless, looking at a blushing yet blasé Yumiko, "Are you high?"

"Only slightly buzzed," Hibana giggled, "But I like you."

"I like you too, Yumiko," Thermite kissed her, pulling her in. Ash pumped her fist in satisfaction and leapt out of the common room, only to be seen by Doc and Blitz. She froze in her tracks.

"Can we borrow that please?" Doc asked.

"Ow!" Fuze yelped as the snowball hit his bare face.

"Serves you right for being slow!" Glaz guffawed. The Spetznaz were throwing snowballs at one another, even Finka was in on the fun. Kapkan and her were exchanging a volley of snowballs. It wasn't until Tachanka broke out of a pile of snow that everyone else scattered. He gave a mighty roar and hit everyone with his stash of snowballs. He even tried to toss one at Blitz, who was sitting at the top of the now empty dog cages.

"No!" Finka admonished him, catching the snowball with her gloved hand.

"Awwww," Tachanka groaned. He shuffled back to his snow pile, only to pelted by snowballs from his brothers in arms.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Blitz hugged himself as he kept Ash's mistletoe stick between his knees.

"I promise," Doc reassured him, "Guys his age love snowball fights!"

Just then Rook stumbled out of the door in a navy blue parka and thick blue pants. He saw Tachanka pummeled in snow balls, with Kaplan laughing at him. Kapkan then looked at Rook with such ferocity that he threw his remaining snowball at him. The French man caught it and threw a curveball. Kapkan keeled backwards into the snow, making a murder scene imprint.

"Anyone else want some?" Rook gave a smirk to the others. They started to throw their stash at him. It escalated into a full-blown snowball fight.

"See?" Doc motioned his hand through the fight.

"I don't know," Blitz replied, holding the stick, "He seems pretty wrapped up in it."

"I got an idea." The doctor shuffled forward, making a snowball.

"Can you even throw a snowball?" Blitz cocked his head in uncertainty.

"There's plenty you don't know about me," Doc packed the snowball tight. He then threw a slider at Rook's direction.

"Hey!" Rook gasped, embarrassed. He started brushing the snow off of his backside, "Who threw that at my ass? Were any of you aiming at my ass?"

"Not me," Kapkan muttered through the snow.

"Nope," Fuze shrugged his shoulders.

"I was aiming at you, but not your ass," Finka admitted somewhat, "I don't think that was from any of us."

"Look over there!" Tachanka pointed to Doc, who was making another snowball.

"Gus!" Julien whined, blushing even more, "What are you doing here?" He jogged over to the doctor, who was wearing a white long parka. Doc put down the snowball and gave him and pat on the shoulder.

"Might as well enjoy the snow," Doc answered. He then changed the subject, smile turning into a taciturn neutral expression, "Are you feeling better?"

"…Almost," Rook gulped, eyes darting from the doctor's face to the ground, "I called Mercutio about it."

"What did he say?"

"He told me I was wrong to punch Elias… But that being body-shamed is wrong and he was sorry to hear it." Rook brushed his knuckles together.

"What else did he say."

"That it shouldn't matter as long as I am healthy and practice good habits. He reiterated that it was in the heat of the moment for Elias and any time you talk about my figure you don't mean to shame. You just want what's the best for me." Blitz shifted in place. He gave a knowing exhale upon being validated. "Elias? I heard you. Where are you?"

"…I'm sorry, Julien. I'm happy you calmed down and you're better," Blitz finally spoke, looking down on Rook and Doc, "I promise to never get that personal ever again."

"Thank you, Elias," Rook looked up to see Blitz on the top of the dog cages. He then turned to Doc, "Thanks Gus."

"Sure I may be a little excited over your figure-" Doc began.

"A little," Blitz sarcastically cut in.

"But as a doctor it's my job to see you healthy mind and body," Doc continued. He got a white scarf from his pocket and wrapped it around Rook and his own neck, "I do this because I value you."

Rook stopped frozen in his tracks, blushing fiercely, "Gus, I…" He was at a loss of words. Doc leaned in closer, pulling the scarf tighter. Thank goodness they were both the same height, or it wouldn't have worked. Blitz began to lower the stick, letting the mistletoe hover between the both of them. "Are you- are you pulling down the mistletoe?" Rook snapped out of his trance to see the mistletoe.

"Yes," Blitz answered, with a big smile, "No hard feelings, ja?"

"…Because I love you, Julien." Doc closed the gap by giving a soft peck on the lips.

"No hard feelings, Elias, oui," Rook looked up at Blitz and gave him a wink. He then turned to Doc, giving him a tight hug and kissing him fully on the lips. They made out passionately under the mistletoe. The snowfall and the night sky made the experience more ethereal for the three of them.

A few days later, everyone went to get food at the cafeteria, as there was a special meal planned. Rook and Doc got the same food: Cinnamon covered pears, slices of meats and cheeses, and roasted vegetables.

A/N: Hi TarTar here again for another round, but thanks to dualrainbow I'm typing away at this one! Hope you like a wide range of feels and some pairings!