Work Text:
Yin looked around the house, noting the glaring lack of anything resembling Christmas and made a mental note to get something festive. He’s been swarmed with work and Christmas just hasn’t been the same, not when the mere thought of the holiday itself brought back memories he’d really rather forget. As he was about to go back to his work, the sharp ringing of his phone breaks the silence in his lonely home.
He sighs when he sees the name of the caller. There was always one call that he dreaded come the holiday season and he hoped he’d get a pass this year, but alas it was not to be.
“Hi mom.”
They exchanged greetings and Yin talked about his work as his mother playfully nagged at him for being such a workaholic. He was just about to start hoping that she won’t bring it up but of course things weren’t going to go his way.
“Sweetie, can you come home this Christmas?” And there it was, the one question he’s been trying to avoid. “It’s been years and you haven’t visited us during the holidays.”
“Mom I was there for Dad’s birthday two months ago. Besides-“ Yin rubbed his temples. “I have a lot of work to do and you know how I feel about the holiday rush.”
“Can’t you reschedule some of your work? The holiday rush won’t be that bad if you leave early.” His mother replies, her voice laced with sadness. “Come home son.”
“I can’t mom. You know I can’t.” He said, eyes roaming around the bare room again before landing on a small painting of a snow globe on the mantle. “Christmas isn’t for me. Not anymore.”
“I can’t make you do something you don’t want to do. But give it a try, do it for me okay?”
“I’ll see what I can do mom.”
He puts his phone away as soon as she ends the call and slumps back to his seat, eyes lingering on the painting by the mantle. Christmas used to be special, it was on Christmas day when he confessed his feelings to his first love under the mistletoe where they shared their first kiss as a couple but it also reminded him of tears and heartbreak as he watched his love walk away, taking his heart with him.
--
Let it be said that if there was one thing that Yin didn’t want, it was the thought that he was the reason why his mother was upset, on Christmas of all days. And that was why he was standing in front of his childhood home a few days before Christmas eve, suitcase in tow.
His eyes landed on the house next door and the memory of a pair of bright eyes threatened to break through his carefully crafted mask. It may have been years since he last saw him but he still had the power to break through all his walls. Subconsciously, he turned to look at the window of the bedroom adjacent to his and saw that it was shut tight. He shakes his head, not knowing why he expected otherwise.
“Son? Yin is that you?” His mother called out when he entered the house, immediately pulling him in for a hug. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
The house was decorated for the season, hitting him with an overwhelming wave of nostalgia. The warm feeling settling on him as soon as his mother squeezes him tightly in her arms.
“Neither can I.” Yin laughs when his mother smacks the back of his head after his little quip. “But I managed to rearrange a few meetings and here I am.”
“This is the best Christmas present you could possibly give me.” She gushed and Yin playfully crossed his arms, looking at his mother with a playful smile.
“Such a pity, I guess you won’t want the gift I packed for you then?”
"Still as cheeky as ever." His mother sighed. "I wonder who raised you."
"You did." His dad said, appearing behind his wife. "I had my part but he definitely got the cheek from you."
"Hi dad." Yin said as his mother let him go only for him to be pulled to one of his father's bear hugs. "I'm home."
"We missed you son."
After sitting down to talk with his parents who bombarded their only son with what felt like a thousand questions, Yin was finally allowed to retire to his room.
"I guess I'm back again." He whispered as he entered his childhood room. "Sooner than I thought."
The room was spotless and the bed was even made, telling him that someone was definitely cleaning it even if he wasn't home. He sits on his old bed after stowing away his luggage, roaming his eyes around before they involuntarily landed on a familiar spot. With the curtains drawn, it was easy to see the window right across his. He looks away quickly because the very sight of it weighs heavily on his chest.
"Merry Christmas." Yin whispers sadly, slumping on the bed and turning away, curling on his side with his eyes closed.
He didn't realize he had fallen asleep until he was woken up by a knock on his door. Sitting up, he glances at the window one more time only to freeze when he sees it open. But before he could dwell on it, another knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in." He says, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and trying to hide the tiredness from his voice.
His mother opens the door and peeks from the doorway. "You okay up here? I thought I should check up on you."
"M' fine." He said sleepily. "Just trying to get in a few hours of sleep before all the festivities."
"That's good." Yin could tell by the sound of her voice that there was something she wanted to tell him and the fact that she was dancing around the topic made him feel uneasy.
"What is it mom?"
Her eyes widened. "Am I that readable?"
"No, I just know you like the back of my hand."
"That you do." She closes the door and walks to sit on the bed next to him. "Well, do you remember the charity for the children that the neighborhood runs?"
He nods, unsure where this conversation was going. "I think I have some things I want to donate actually."
"Good." She pursed her lips. "But that's not why I’m here."
"Oh?"
"Well, I might have given them a call this afternoon and they told me that they were running short of helpers and since you're here I thought-"
"Please don't tell me you told them I would go?"
"It's going to be good for you!" His mom insisted. "Besides, can you really say no to those children? To your mother?
Yin groaned knowing that he couldn't possibly say no now.
---
"How was it?" The man seated on the couch asked his wife who had a big smile plastered on her face. "He agreed?"
"He did. You know our son is soft-hearted." She replied, happily bouncing around the room.
"You didn't tell him War Wanarat was home and that he was the charity's organizer did you?"
"Nope."
"He's not going to like that."
"Maybe not." She shrugs. "I'm sure they'll be fine."
"They almost got married." The man deadpanned.
"And this might be exactly what they need. Besides they're adults, I'm sure they can be civil."
"You still want them to be together don't you?" He asked his wife who stopped on her tracks. "It's not a secret that you were the biggest supporter of their relationship."
"I do. They were good for each other." She said with a sad smile. "Maybe a little holiday spirit will help them find their way."
"I hope you're right."
"I know I'm right."
---
Yin wakes up bright and early the next day after his mother tells him to go to the shelter early. He wasn’t happy about the situation, the shelter was close to his heart but like everything else about the holidays, it was a bittersweet memory from his past.
The building looked older than he remembered but it still radiated that homey aura that drawed him to it when he was young. The laughter inside can be heard from where he was standing and he shakes off the familiarity of one of the voices, chalking it up to nostalgia.
“Yin Anan Wong as I live and breathe.” The motherly caretaker greets. “Is that really you?”
“It’s me.” He says, a smile immediately blooming on his face. “Surprised?”
The caretaker laughs, taking his hand in hers and pulling him to her for a hug. “I’m happy to see you here son. It’s quite a surprise that both of you showed up this year.”
“Both of us?” Yin asks as he pulls away from the hug. “What-”
“The children want to paint Christmas ornaments and-” Yin stills when he hears that voice, eyes widening when he meets a pair of bright eyes he never thought he’d see again. And just like the first time he realized he was in love with him, the mere sight of War was enough to make his heart beat wildly in his chest.
“It’s wonderful to see you both home.” The caretaker says fondly, unaware of the tension that suddenly filled the room. “It reminds me of the old times.”
“Yeah I uh-” War broke the eye contact first, ducking his head. “I’ll go get the paints ready.”
“You go ahead and do that dear. I’ll chat with Yin for a bit.”
War nods and turns to look at him with an awkward smile. “It’s nice to see you again Yin.”
But before Yin could reply, War was already hurrying out of the room, trying his best to look like he wasn’t running away.
“Poor boy has been running around everywhere trying to get this charity event together.” The caretaker said, interrupting his thoughts. “He volunteered as soon as I told him that I couldn’t do it all myself this year. Old age isn’t kind to anyone.”
“If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that you’re a strong one strong cookie.” He said trying to lighten up the mood and trying to distract himself from the chaos in his head. “Besides with the volunteers I bet we can have this event done in no time.”
The caretaker’s eyes turned sad. “I’m afraid we don’t have that many volunteers this year.”
“How could that be?” Yin asked in surprise. “I remember coming here in the past and the place was filled with people.”
“Yes, but times change and before I knew it, people stopped coming.” She said sadly before brightening up again when she hears the children's laughter echo in the halls. “But at least we still have people like you who can spare the children a little bit of your holiday cheer.”
“Of course, I’m happy to be here.” He said, stomping down the guilt when he remembered that he didn’t even think about the orphanage and if his mom didn’t bring it up, he wouldn’t have spared it a thought. “So exactly how many are we here?”
“Well there’s me, you, War and the shelter’s regular staff.”
“It seems we’ve got our work cut out for us.”
---
“Can I please have more red paint?” A small child asked him and he nodded distractedly, almost spilling the paint all over both of them. “Are you okay Mister War?”
“I’m okay, just grown-up things.” He smiled as he ruffled her hair. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay!” The child said endearingly before walking away to rejoin her friends.
“It’s not.” He whispered to himself, resting his chin on his palms and looking out the window.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
War looked up and he was met with the cat-like smile of the man he swore he'll try to forget.
"I'm afraid my thoughts are more expensive than that." He said breezily, making the other man laugh. Seeing Yin in front of him for the first time in over two years, he almost wanted to forget all about the breakup and the heartbreak that followed.
"Painting?" Yin asked, taking the seat next to him but still keeping a safe distance.
"Yeah. They're painting ornaments to sell for the drive or to hang in the large tree in the sitting area if selling them doesn't work out."
"Why aren't you painting anything?" The other man asked, pointedly looking at the materials scattered in front of him. "You love art."
"I don't feel like it." War shrugged only to burst out in laughter when Yin's eyes widened in shock.
"War Wanarat not feeling like making art? That's a lie."
Yin took one brush from the table and another ball from the pile by their feet and handed it to him. "I know you want to."
He looked at his once fiance and he can see the same man he fell in love with all those years ago and before he knew it, he was painting.
It was almost like muscle memory, the way the shapes and colors formed as he painted. It didn't matter that he hasn't touched a paint brush in what felt like forever, but now it felt right.
"What are you making?" Yin asked, looking over from his side of the desk. War hides the ornament but the other man is persistent and he finally relents, showing him his piece.
"A snow globe?"
"I guess it is." War said with a laugh. "Although it doesn't make much sense doesn't it? A ball on a ball."
He wasn't planning on painting anything specific when he first picked up the brush, but his hands moved on their own with every stolen glance of the man next to him.
Yin shaked his head, smiling up at him with the smile that he used to love. "It's perfect."
"Can I see yours?" War asked, eyes dancing with amusement, fully knowing the extent of Yin's artistic abilities.
"You can." He replied with a chuckle. "If you promise not to laugh."
"I promise." War said but bursts out in laughter anyway when Yin shows him the ornament in his hands. "It's very festive.
"Alright you know I'm not good with these kinds of things."
"No, no, the glitter really makes it pop."
As they were talking, they failed to realize that they were moving closer to each other until they were seated side by side, sharing a few laughs as War tried and failed to teach Yin how to paint properly.
“I don’t know why I still try to teach you when you and I both know that you’re hopeless.” War laughs when Yin excitedly shows him a gold dot that he claims was a star. “I think you should stick with using stickers and glitter.”
“I think I should.” Yin replied with a laugh of his own, reaching out to take the box of stickers by War’s side and accidentally brushing his hands against his. They looked at each other for a split second before they both pulled their hands away.
“Here.” War hands him the box and he takes it gratefully.
“Thanks.” Yin looks at War for the nth time that hour, admiring the sight of War focused on painting. He loved watching him paint, his brows have a little furrow and his lips were pursed in concentration. “I’m happy to see you again.”
War’s hands stopped and for a second Yin wished for the ground to swallow him up right then and there but War looked up at him with a small smile and suddenly all his worries were forgotten.
“Me too.”
---
"There aren't any volunteers this year except me and War, how is that even possible?' Yin complained over dinner. "That placed used to be booming with activity once the holidays rolled around but now-"
He sighs in exasperation before turning to his mother. "And you didn't tell me about War."
"Oops?" His mother said with a smile.
"It's fine I guess." He said, picking on his food. "I'm just upset about the state of the shelter. People talk big about the spirit of Christmas but they turn a blind eye to things like this."
"You seem to forget that you were one of those people." She reminded him with a stare. "You didn't even want to go in the first place."
"I was." He admitted with slumped shoulders. “I feel bad.”
"It's alright son, we always find our way back somehow." His father's smile twinkled as he winked at him. "I think you're on the right track."
Yin snorts with a laugh before looking at his mother with squinted eyes. "Anything else I need to know before you spring up another surprise?"
"Nothing much son." She shrugged but Yin knew her well enough to know when she was up to something. "I just invited the neighbors to spend Christmas with us this year that's all."
---
"I can't believe he's here." War whispered hurriedly to his phone. “They told me he never goes home."
"Remind me again why you're panicking?" The person on the other end of the line asked. "Your childhood friend is home for the holidays, shouldn't you be happy? Go relieve some old memories maybe?"
"Not when it's that childhood friend, I knew I shouldn't have agreed when my mother asked me to come home." He groaned, jogging to his window and drawing his curtains shut when he saw the light from Yin's room.
"And this is because-?"
"Because Yin Anan Wong is right next door and I'm not sure if I'm okay."
"Oh!" The voice said, finally putting two and two together. "That childhood friend. Ex-fiance, ex-boyfriend, man you never moved on from."
"I'm not-" War trailed off. "-all I'm saying is, imagine how awkward it would be to spend Christmas next door to a man you almost married."
"You live in different houses, that shouldn't be much of an issue. Just avoid him at all costs."
"I can't. Our family is practically glued together. Why do you think I never go home for the holidays? Besides, he's the only volunteer at the shelter so that means I have to spend more time with him."
"Comeback?" War groans when he detects the teasing tone in his friend’s voice. "What are the chances that you're both home at the same time, volunteering at the same shelter?"
"This is a small town."
"Not the point. Maybe Christmas is just cooking up something for you this year."
"I really hope not."
He ends the call and let's a frustrated scream, throwing his phone somewhere on the bed and decides that this was the last time he was going to give in on his mother’s pleas for him to go home on Christmas.
-----
"Hey War?" Yin broke the silence as they were working on setting up the boxes that were donated at the shelter. "Have you heard about their plan for Christmas?"
"The shelter? Yeah, I'm organizing it remember?" War replied with a shrug. "You are definitely growing old."
"You're older than me, what are you talking about?" Yin said indignantly, making War chuckle. "But I wasn't talking about the shelter genius, I was talking about our families."
"Oh no." The smaller man turned to face him with a grave face. "What did they do now?"
"They've decided to spend Christmas together."
"They what?" War asked, voice rising as he made a mental note to corner his parents once he was home. "Great."
"Don't sound so excited." Yin replied sarcastically. "You hate spending time with me that much?"
"Yes." War answers flatly.
"Ouch." Yin clutched his chest, feigning hurt. "And here I thought Christmas was about love and spreading cheer."
War huffs.
"It's all baloney anyway." Yin said when War was busy fixing another box. "I mean look at this place, Christmas is a marketing strategy and a damn good one."
"Have you always been so-?"
"Handsome? Yes."
"Annoying." War finished. "And one of those adults that think Christmas is just for kids. Oh how far you’ve fallen."
"I'm a realist." Yin shrugs as he piles another toy on top of the table. "Christmas is a ploy to get people to spend recklessly on things they don't need."
"It's the spirit of giving!"
"No it's not, it's the spirit of capitalism."
"Whatever." War huffs, taking a pile of boxes and walking away from him. "Talk to me when you remember what Christmas is really about."
"It's about capitalism!" Yin shouts as he watches War's retreating back.
"Wrong answer Anan."
---
It wasn't like they wanted it to happen, it just sort of happened. Yin tried his best to stay away from War and he knew that War did the same but somehow circumstances just kept pulling them together. As they find themselves spending more and more time together, they also find themselves drawing closer and closer together. They easily fall back to their old dynamics, both choosing to ignore the metaphorical elephant in the room.
"How about you paint something for the shelter?" Yin asks one day.
"I don't know." War said hesitantly. "I'm not sure if I can."
"Of course you can! You're the best artist I know."
"I'll try."
That night War found himself standing in front of the easel, eyes staring on a blank canvas.
"Yin Anan Wong, the things you can make me do."
He hasn’t painted anything in years but as soon as he was back home, as soon as Yin walked back in life, it was like he was back to where it all began. Their small town was the reason why he fell in love with art and Yin was the reason why he believed that he could do anything. Yin was his muse and this place tied them together, when they broke up he lost his muse and he found himself coming home less and less.
“Okay, let’s try this again.” He heaves a deep sigh and grabs his brush.
---
The Christmas dinner with their families went better than they expected. It was still weird, spending the holidays with your ex and his family, but their parents had the uncanny ability to erase any and all forms of awkwardness that would linger in the air.
When the dinner was over and when their parents retired to bed, they found themselves alone, sitting close while staring at the fire they made in the backyard. Bellies full and cheeks flushed from all the drinking.
Yin didn't know what went over him, if it was the festive spirit or the eggnog, or maybe it was the fire reflecting shadows on War's face but he found himself blurting out the words he's wanted to say since that day they met again at the shelter.
"I missed you."
War's eyes met his own and he could see the conflict dancing on those beautiful orbs before they vanished, replaced with a soft smile.
"Maybe I missed you too."
The days they spent together were bittersweet. On one hand, they were together again and on the other, there was an invincible wall that they were both afraid to climb over. They were afraid that if they took the leap again, they would end up hurting each other.
"What went wrong with us War?" He asked as he stared at the flickering fire. "We were good together."
"We wanted different things." War said simply. "I didn't want to hold you back."
"You wouldn't hold me back."
"We don't know that and we never will."
Under the moonlight, they were again just Yin and War, the boys who grew up and fell in love. They stared at each other’s eyes and their faces slowly inched closer and closer until their lips finally met. And it felt like everything was right.
Until it wasn’t. The ringing of Yin's phone popped the bubble that they were finally able to create after days of waltzing around each other.
Yin picked it up but as soon as he ended the call, War was already standing up.
"Where are you going?"
"Home."
"Stay." He begged. "Please."
"This was a mistake." He walked away leaving him with one last glance. "Merry Christmas."
---
Yin could pinpoint exactly when everything changed for them. They were one of those stories that people would swoon about, childhood best friends falling in love. A romantic cliché. But as all things go, not everything was a smooth ride. Especially when Yin finally landed the job that will propel him to where he was now.
War was supportive through all of it, packing his whole life and moving with Yin without any questions asked. They were happy.
Until they weren't.
Yin was getting more and more work and War was starting to focus more on his art. It was a balance that they've learned to accept. But Yin’s days at work turned long and his days at home cut short and War started burying himself in his paintings until it dulled the ache in his heart. Simply, Yin stopped having time for War and soon War stopped caring.
The defining moment came on Christmas eve when War got a job in a museum miles away. It didn’t take him long to make up his mind. It was clear that their paths already diverted, that things were not working out anymore.
And so they ended it. The next day War packed his bags and just like that they were both alone and nursing a heartache on Christmas day.
---
Yin was sipping on a hot drink, mulling over his bad decisions when he heard shuffling coming from the fireplace in front of him. He grabbed the bat that his father kept at the living room and stealthily hid on the sides, swinging with all his might when a person walked out of their fireplace.
"What the-" The intruder said before going down with a thud as Yin landed a blow on his legs.
"Who are you?" He asked, threatening the man with the bat in his hands. "Why are you at my house?"
"Technically this is your parents house, your house is not as decorated as this one." The man groaned, sitting up. "How am I supposed to finish my deliveries today?"
"I asked you a question."
"Oh right." The man pointed at the suit he was wearing and at the hat on his head. "Take a wild guess."
"Nice try. I'm calling the police."
"Yin Anan Wong, I wouldn't do that if I were you." The man said with a laugh.
"And what if I do?" He asked, pulling out his phone.
"Then I won't tell you that there is a young man at the house next door that is waiting for you to make things right."
"What are you talking about?"
"Call him instead."
"I'm not taking orders from a burglar."
The man chuckles before wincing when he accidentally puts pressure on his foot. "I'm not a burglar."
"Then who are you?"
"I think you and I both know that you know who I am." The smile was back and Yin found it unnerving that he can look so unaffected in this situation.
"No I don't."
"They go through puberty and suddenly they forget about you-" The intruder in a red suit whispered to himself. "I'm Claus, Santa Claus. Other people call me Saint Nicholas but you can call me never. You broke my ankle on Christmas eve son, do you know what you've done?"
"Santa isn't real." Yin deadpanned. “Now are you going to tell me who you really are or shall I swing this bat one more time?”
“I already told you, I’m Santa.” The intruder huffs. “How else do you explain a man dressed in a red suit climbing out of your fireplace.”
“I don’t know-”
The man started pulling things out of his coat; a stuffed bear, a millennium falcon mini figure and a few more toys.
“What is all this?” Yin asked as he eyed the toys on the floor. “Did you rob a toy store on your way here.”
“You honestly don’t remember do you?”
“What am I supposed to remember from a bunch of toys?”
“These are all the things you ever dreamed of when you were a kid. Everything you ever really wanted to for Christmas.” The intruder points to the stuffed bear. “Starting from the age of four.”
Yin carefully looks at the toys laid out in front of him before looking at the man who claimed to be a fictional character that lived in the North Pole.
“You’re right.”
The man, Santa nods. “Shall I continue?”
“No, that’s enough.”
“Good. Then let’s fast forward to this year.”
“You know what I want for Christmas?” Yin asks doubtfully.
“It’s my job Yin.”
The man struggles to get up and walk to the couch, Yin’s eyes never leaving him in case he really wasn’t the man he claimed to be.
“Okay then.” He shrugs, deciding to humor the stranger. “What do I want?”
“War.”
“War?”
“Your ex-fiance.” The man said with a twinkle in his eyes.
“I know who War is.” He grits his teeth. “How did you-?”
“He left you a couple of years ago and all you want for Christmas is for him to come back.”
Yin remembers the events that night and he remembered War walking away from him again. “Yeah well, I don’t think that’s ever going to happen.”
“Just give him a call.”
“He doesn’t want to talk to me.”
“He does! He’s having second thoughts, he’s lonely and he misses you too.” The man who claimed to be Santa insisted, his voice rising.
Yin shakes his head, staring out the window at the house next door.
“You believe me now?” Santa said with a small smile. “This is harder than I thought, you have always been the suspicious and doubtful type. But deep down you know that I’m telling you the truth, so just give him a call Yin.”
“I don’t know if I’m still out of it and started hallucinating Father Christmas.” He groaned, slumping back on his seat. “I have so many questions.”
“We all want answers Yin. But first why don’t you answer that.”
“Answer what?” As soon as the words are out of his mouth, his phone rings and he sees a familiar name on the screen. “War?”
---
“What do you mean you injured Santa?” War whispered as soon as he opened the door. “Did you have too much eggnog?”
“I’m afraid he’s telling you the truth, War Wanarat.” They turn when they hear the voice. “I knew I shouldn’t have given him that bat for Christmas.”
“Who is that?” War whispered harshly. “Why is there a man dressed as Santa Claus on your couch?”
“I wish I knew.” Yin replied and they both turned to the man who started chuckling.
“It’s good to see the two of you together. You made a lovely couple, I remembered getting your letters and wishes and all you would ask is something for each other.”
The two of them flush, never having told the other about that embarrassing part of their childhood.
"Is that really you? North Pole all that stuff?" War asked. "I thought Santa was made up."
"I'm afraid I'm very real." Santa laughed heartily. "Your painting for the shelter is wonderful, War. When you started asking for art supplies for Christmas I knew you were destined to do great things with them."
"I'm not-"
"Things come at the right time." Santa winks.
War looks at Yin with question in his eyes and if they weren't in this situation, Yin would spend a few more seconds admiring the man in front of him but they were interrupted by Santa clearing his throat.
“Now since Yin has broken my knee. I’m afraid I can’t go on my last round of gifts. Would you both be a dear and do it for me?" Santa asked, pointing to the ceiling. "The reindeers are up there the elves should be able to help you."
"There is no way I'm climbing your roof." War huffs with crossed arms.
---
"I can't believe I'm on your roof." War said, eyes trained on the sight in front of them. "I can't believe there are reindeers on top of your house."
War approached the animals, offering his hand and letting them smell him before patting their heads softly. "Hi, you're quite famous, do you know that?"
Yin climbs on the sleigh, glad to see that it wasn't the wooden deathtrap he imagined it would be. The interior was almost like a modern car.
"Let's go War, there's only an hour left." He called and War joined him at the front.
"Wait, how are we supposed to get the gifts inside?" War asked. "I'm not breaking and entering. Santa may get a free pass but I'm pretty sure I'll go to jail if I get caught."
Just then they hear the rattling of the sack behind them. They turn around and see a group of small heads popping out from the sack.
"The elves." War breathed as he crouched down to meet their eye-level. "Hello."
"Where's Santa?" One of them asked. "Why are you humans here?"
"Santa asked us to help him deliver some of the gifts. Can you teach us how?"
He was met with a chorus of nods and War smiled brightly. "Thank you!"
"We will help you, pretty human!" Yin laughs as War blushes after being called pretty.
"Shut it." War scolds, landing a soft punch on his elbow. "I don't want to hear it."
"Sure pretty human." He teased, making War glare at him. "Hold on tight."
And they were off, riding Santa's sleigh and flying above the clouds.
With Yin steering, War calling out the names and the elves popping in and out of the houses, it wasn't long before they were heading to their last stop.
"It's the shelter." War breathes when he reads the list. “Can we go there ourselves?”
Yin nods and he parks the sleigh on the playground behind the shelter where there were less chances of it being seen by a passerby. They hop out of the vehicle, War carrying the surprisingly light red sack. The elves flick their fingers and in an instant they found themselves in the sitting room of the children's shelter.
"How did they-" War starts but shakes his head. "Nevermind."
They carefully laid the presents down by the tree that was decorated with the ornaments that the children painted. In the center of it all were their own ornaments, War's a beautiful snow globe and Yin's a mismatch of glitters and stickers.
"Your ornament is really something." War laughs as Yin comes to stand next to him.
"Okay Mister I'm-very-good-at-art, I know I'm never going to be as good as you."
"It doesn't matter, it's so you."
And suddenly it was as if the same bubble that wrapped around them for the last few days was back. It was just the two of them under the bright lights of the Christmas tree.
Yin spots the covered painting on the corner of the room and turns to War with big, hopeful eyes.
"Can I see?" He asked and War had no choice but to agree, especially since he couldn't really deny Yin anything.
"Go ahead."
War stood there as Yin walked to the covered canvas and unwrapped it like a child would unwrap his gift on Christmas day. The small gasp he let out made War laugh as Yin looked at him in shock.
"Is this?" He lets the question hang in the air and at War's small nod Yin was back on his side, a hopeful gleam in his eyes.
The painting was simple, it was the shelter that Yin remembered, full of people come Christmas. But despite the fact that there were other people in the painting, what immediately caught his attention was the two children chasing each other. The memory was distant but he knew who they were.
"Is that us?"
"It is." The painter said. "I wanted to remind people about the spirit of giving during Christmas and the memory of this place filled with laughter was the one thing that I kept coming back to."
"It's beautiful." He breathed, tracing the painting with his eyes. "I know I've said it before but I'll say it again, you're an amazing artist."
"Not at all, I haven't touched a brush for a while."
"What? But I thought-?"
"I lost my muse, I didn't want to paint anymore. But suddenly I'm back here and I couldn't wait to have my hands on a canvas."
"I guess we both found our way back huh?"
"I guess we did."
They stood in silence, eyes trained on the tree in front of them. But there was something that Yin wanted to do, something that he should have done a long time ago. He took War's hands in his and turned him around so they were face to face.
"War I know I was wrong, I was too focused on what I wanted that I lost sight of what was important. I lost you." He said, holding War's hand tightly. "Tonight I injured Santa, almost ruined Christmas for the children in this shelter, but still the worst thing I could have possibly done is to let you go again, to make you feel that you aren't important."
"Yin it's okay, I understand. There are just things that aren't meant to be. Maybe we were destined to be one of those stories."
"But I don't want us to be one of those stories because War, I can't let you go. Not again. Not when I have you here."
"How do we even make it work? We don't even live in the same city." War asked and Yin laughed, carefree, because it wasn't a no.
"We'll make it work. We always do."
"I'm not sure, do you still think that Christmas is all about capitalism?" War laughed, wrapping his hands around Yin's waist. "People will probably call me stupid, for giving you another chance to break my heart. But it's not all your fault. I chose to let go."
"So can we try again?" Yin asked, tilting War's chin so that they were looking in each other's eyes. "For the spirit of Christmas?"
"We can."
---
They return to Yin's house, giggling among themselves, hands firmly wrapped around each other completely forgetting that they weren't alone.
"I see you've made up." Santa's voice booms and they look at him with twin smiles on their faces. "I knew you would."
They took the seats in front of the other man and told him all about their night, leaving out the time at the shelter, but the twinkle in his eyes told them that he had a faint idea of what exactly happened.
"Well then-" The man stands up. "I have to go. Do send me an invitation to the wedding."
"Wait, you can walk?" War asked. "I thought you said you couldn't complete the deliveries."
"A little white lie never hurt anyone." Santa winks at their gaping faces. "And it brought you two back together so I think all is well."
The man walked out the door with a last wave of his hand and they were left on the couch in fits of laughter. Yin's parents would find them cuddled together on the couch the next morning, War's head lying on Yin's shoulder and Yin's arms wrapped around War's frame.
END.