Chapter Text
If Joe wasn't wearing Brian's college jacket, he'd have frozen to death by now. No matter how many times the older boy insisted that the heat in his car was on, Joe sure didn't feel it. At least the radio worked.
I'll have a blue Christmas without you." Elvis's voice poured out of the speakers.
"Hey, this is my favorite Christmas song."
"Seriously? That's like, mad depressing."
"No way. It's a beautiful song, and no one does Christmas like Elvis."
"I sincerely hope you're kidding."
"Fine, what's your favorite Christmas song then?"
Joe smirked and scrolled through his phone to find it.
"I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need." Joe sang along.
"Mariah Carey, really?"
"She's the voice of Christmas, Brian." Joe said with conviction. He looked up to find Brian already looking back at him, a look that could easily be mistaken for fondness on his face.
Joe cleared his throat and tried to get the butterflies in his stomach under control.
"So, I heard this neighborhood has awesome lights."
"Yeah? I hope so. None of those-"
"Solar powered projectors, I know. You're such an old man some times."
"You like that about me."
Brian was going for teasing, but Joe's treacherous stomach suddenly wanted that butterfly feeling back. "There are a lot of things I like about you."
Brian looked over at him, all cheerful seriousness against one houses extravagant light show. Elvis sang about his blue, blue Christmas, and Joe leaned a little further over the center console. Brian leaned in to meet him.
"Merry Christmas, Joe Hardy."