"Stop taking all the candy canes off the tree," Gantlos scolded, his tone somewhere between exasperation and amusement. He had caught the familiar flash of pink hair out of the corner of his eye—Duman, once again trying to swipe another candy cane from the meticulously decorated tree.

Ogron had spent an ungodly amount of time arranging everything perfectly—each ornament, light, and ribbon placed with the precision of a battle plan. The gaps in the branches where the candy canes used to hang were becoming more and more obvious.

"There's extra in the kitchen," Gantlos added, hoping to deter him.

"But they taste better off the tree!" Duman protested, twirling the striped treat between his fingers with a mischievous grin. "I can't eat the ones in the kitchen. There's no festive flavoring."

Gantlos blinked, "The hell does that even mean?"

Duman simply shrugged, as if the answer were obvious, and then—in true Duman fashion—grabbed a handful of candy canes from the lower branches and darted away, light on his feet, leaving a trail of laughter in his wake.

Gantlos sighed and rubbed his temples, muttering under his breath. "You're going to ruin the tree, and then Ogron's going to kill us both…"

But something about Duman's carefree attitude, his ability to find joy in something so simple, made Gantlos smile despite himself. Maybe it's not such a big deal, he thought as he followed the trail of missing candy canes.

He found Duman lounging on the couch, legs draped over the armrest, a candy cane already unwrapped and resting between his lips like a cigarette.

"You're ridiculous," Gantlos said, crossing his arms as he leaned against the doorway.

Duman glanced up, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Ridiculously festive~!"

Gantlos rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. He crossed the room and plucked a candy cane from Duman's stash. "If Ogron sees this mess, we're both in trouble, you know."

Duman grinned around the candy cane. "Worth it."

Gantlos sat beside him, the candy cane still in his hand. He turned it over, examining it as if trying to understand what made it so irresistible to Duman.

"Go on, try it," Duman prompted, his tone playful but with a hint of challenge. "You'll see what I mean."

Gantlos hesitated for a moment, then unwrapped the candy cane and took a tentative lick. The familiar sweetness of peppermint filled his senses, crisp and cool, but there was something about sharing the moment with Duman that made it feel different.

"Well?" Duman asked, tilting his head, his eyes watching Gantlos closely.

Gantlos raised an eyebrow. "It tastes like… a candy cane."

Duman laughed, the sound light and musical. "You're missing the point. It's not just the candy—it's the experience."

"Is that right?" Gantlos leaned in slightly, his voice lower now, a teasing edge to it. "Maybe I need a better demonstration."

Duman's eyes widened briefly, the playful atmosphere shifting into something more charged. He set his candy cane aside and met Gantlos's gaze, the space between them shrinking.

Without another word, Gantlos leaned in and kissed him. The peppermint lingered on Duman's lips, cool and sweet, and Gantlos couldn't help but smile into the kiss.

When they finally pulled apart, Duman's cheeks were flushed, his breath a little unsteady.

"Well?" Duman asked softly, his voice carrying a hint of vulnerability beneath the usual bravado.

Gantlos smirked, brushing his thumb across Duman's cheek. "You were right. They do taste better off the tree."