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Jimmy stamped his feet, letting snow fall from his shoes before he took the bubblevator into Tango’s house. “I’m here!” he called, kneeling in the entrance to unlace his shoes.
Footsteps rushed his way, and he stood just in time for Tango to barrel in and wrap his arms around him. Jimmy chuckled, hugging him back.
Tango leaned his head back, his grin stretching across his face. “Welcome home.”
“Thank you, thank you.” He cupped Tango’s face between his cold hands and leaned in to share a short kiss. It wasn’t Jimmy’s first time over, but he’d been spending nights at Scar’s hotel with Scott and Fwhip nearby.
Tango then grabbed a hand, tugging him through the storage room and up the stairs while telling him how he expanded the kitchen so they’d have room to work.
Jimmy nodded along and set down the recipe he’d brought for the sugar cookies. The fire of the lit candles danced in time with the jukebox playing instrumental music down the stairs. Tango took charge, getting the ingredients, measuring cups, and the aprons, of course, out. Jimmy didn’t know why he owned more than one ‘Kiss the Cook’ apron. After they tied it on for the other, Tango set Jimmy to work.
The holiday party planning was in full swing, and Hermits were expected to bring a dessert or side dish. Many of the Empire members had recipes they wanted to contribute, but didn’t have the resources on a new server. So, some had asked to work with Hermitcraft members, while others ransacked storage systems and ovens. When Jimmy had joked about doing the latter to Tango, Tango quickly made the former option a date night.
Jimmy was mixing the dry ingredients for the batter when Tango clattered cookie cutters on the counter. Jimmy raised an eyebrow at the five different types of snowflakes, snowmen, candles, and plants and asked, “Where’d you get all these?”
Tango dumped another armful. “Zed. He did a collecting achievement and let me borrow them in exchange for stuff in his Hall of All.”
Jimmy hummed, watching as Tango set food dye to the side. They planned to bring large batches of both plain cookies and frosting, in order to give the dessert a decorating activity for everyone.
Tango and Jimmy swapped stories about their day, all while they scooted around each other in the kitchen. Both had long ago given permission to touch the other when getting by; when Jimmy placed his hands on Tango’s waist to scooch by, and Tango stuttered through his sentence, he poorly stifled his giggles.
It earned him a smile from Tango. They fell into a comfortable silence, only talking every once and a while about the baking process. After the second of the many pans was in the oven, they began cleaning up the batter, also known as licking the dough up.
Jimmy was licking the spatula, and when Tango’s back was to him, he miscalculated and smeared the tip on his nose. He automatically reached to wipe it off, then paused and dropped his hand to his side. He finished and brought the spatula to the sink, where Tango stood.
It wasn’t until they got water in the bowls did Tango notice. He squinted at him, and Jimmy kept the smile off his face as he asked, “What?”
Tango pointed to his own nose. “You got batter here.”
Jimmy asked, “Think I can get it with my tongue?”, then stuck his tongue out and up. It miserably failed, sending him and Tango into a laughing fit.
Tango, still giggling, cupped Jimmy’s cheek with one hand. “I’ll get it, just hold still.”
Even though he’d planned this, Jimmy’s cheeks warmed beneath his touch as his nose was carefully wiped off. He gripped the damp kitchen towel in his fists.
“There you go,” Tango said, patted his cheek, and went to the sink to wash his hands. With his back to Jimmy, he said. “You’re cute when you blush.”
Jimmy’s mouth dropped, and he snapped the kitchen towel at Tango’s butt. “Liar!” he exclaimed, as Tango yelped at the light contact. “I’m not blushing,” he finished.
“Whatever you say, Sheriff,” Tango said, raising his wet hands up and smirking as he turned around. Jimmy tossed the towel at him so he could dry his hands, shaking his head and turning his face out of sight.
They started on the frosting, then. It was fairly simple, and they set the finished cookie pans on cooling racks as they worked. Once finished, they picked a few cookies to taste test, of course.
Tango picked a plant and a gingerbread man, while Jimmy chose a snowflake and a singular candle. They got a small amount of frosting from their bowls, carefully using knives and spoons to shape the best they could.
Jimmy looked over and saw Tango had finished the plant, complete with red berries in the middle. “That looks good!” he said, nudging Tango’s side as he reached for the black frosting.
Tango looked up at him. “I didn’t have a mistletoe decoration, so I had to improvise.”
Understanding dawned on Jimmy, all while Tango picked the cookie up, held it high between them, and leaned in.
Jimmy fumbled for his clean hand to land on Tango’s waist before their lips connected in a kiss. It was an awkward angle for his neck, so they parted as Jimmy turned to face him. and they rejoined.
It was warm in Jimmy’s chest. He had a feeling this moment in time would be looked back on over and over, and that only made him tug Tango closer, fingers catching on the apron strings.
Something hit Jimmy’s forehead, followed by crumbs down his nose and a squawk against his lips. He pulled away, eyebrows furrowed, only to see the cookie broken on the ground. He looked up to see Tango sheepishly holding the missing leaf.
“I’ll go get the broom,” Tango said, laughter lacing his words.
Jimmy hooked his fingers on the side of Tango’s apron and drew him in for a final kiss. “I love you,” he said after separating, eyes opening to meet Tango’s.
Tango smiled and stepped past him, a hand dramatically pressed to his forehead. “Oh, he still loves me when I break our cookies. I’m so lucky. I love you too!”
Jimmy laughed with him and reached for a new plant cookie.