Work Text:
Tiadrin's POV
"LAIN!!"
"WHAT?"
"WHERE'S MY UGLY SWEATER WITH SHADOWPAWS ON IT?"
"HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW? YOU'RE THE ONE WHO ALWAYS KNOWS WHERE EVERYTHING IS."
"..."
"IT'S LITERALLY RIGHT NEXT TO MY MATCHING MOONSTRIDER ONE THAT WAS STORED WITH IT."
"BUT-"
"SEE, YOU KNOW I'M RIGHT."
"OK, OK FINE, I'M COMING."
Oof! I jumped down from the ladder, and I SWORE I could see dust form a cloud. It's not really easy to put a star on a tree when you're 5'4, is it? I still needed to finish cooking though. What ingredients do I still need? Ok Tiadrin, think. Potatoes, butter, oil, flour, sugar, eggs, pot, pans, pots and pans, spoons, spatulas, everything else, I don't know, stuff, things...oh. That went off track. REALLY off track.
I picked up my phone and quick-walked into the main room. By the way, about our dorms, they're pretty nice and fancy. Each one has a main room and one bedroom (we keep a mini fridge in our main room). We have a bathroom on each floor and a shareable kitchen in its own building, which is where we're going to cook. All the way around the dorm I was shuffling my big fat slippers. They have horns on them that I just bumped into the table, but it's not my fault ok?? It's shadowpaw and moonstrider slippers so shut up.
"TIADRIN! I bet Runaan won't smile when he gets here," Lain called. We love making bets.
"Ok, but if he does you have to find the lighter for the menorah candles later."
*BZZT!* Someone sent me a text message. I should probably take a look. *BZZT!* Again. It's probably the groupchat. Oh, of course...it's the gays on the groupchat.
Groupchat: We love moonshadow elves
Ethari: Hey guys, how's it going? We should probably be over in an hour by the way!🥰
Runaan: What does "four person group chat including me" mean to you? Anything?
Ethari: It MEANS you're included in this conversation
Ethari: Guys I'm gonna go scare Runaan he put his phone down to get more tea
Ethari: HE'S SO ANNOYED
Runaan: Yeah cause you won't the hell shut up already
I smiled. I feel warm inside now. Ah. If you couldn't tell, they definitely both like each other, but don't realize the other person likes them back. Lain and I have been dying watching them ignore signals from each other, but maybe something will happen now that they're "best friends" sharing a college dorm. We can also uhh...hear if something's going on (they're right down the hall from us. The vent system SUCKS. College dorms are a freaking nightmare).
Me: Hey Runaan, you finally gonna practice the hanukkah prayer instead of mumbling this year?🤭
Ethari: Ikr😭
Ethari: NO OMG I SHOULD TEACH YOU!!!
Runaan: I prefer mumbling
I know damn well they were smiling at their phones the whole time while texting.
Ethari's POV
I set my phone down on the table and threw my head back. I couldn't help but smiling. Why am I so happy? It's just a normal conversation! I needed to talk to Tiadrin...this was her type of business.
Me: Hey Tiadrin I know you're busy and all but I need to talk asap
Tiadrin: Yeah ofc what's up?
Me: Idk how to say this
Tiadrin: Is it about Runaan😏
Ethari: Umm actually uh
Tiadrin: WHAT?? I'M EAGER
Ethari: Yea
Tiadrin: 😳
Tiadrin: I KNEW IT YOU LITTLE FRUIT🍒🍑🍋🍐🫐🍇
Ethari: Shut. Up.
Tiadrin: K chill but OMG if you wanna talk there make up a lame excuse and pull me aside
Ethari: Ok I got him a really big gift so I'm kinda nervous but see you soon🫠
Tiadrin: Risky business fr
Tiadrin: Bye fruit cup
I put my phone down and sat there for a second, lost in my own thoughts. My eyes were closed and I was fully zoned out.
"Hey—you good?" Runaan walked in.
"AAAAH HOLY F- you just scared the crap out of me! Sorry. Yeah I'm fine. Just uh, tired?" I was blushing profusely.
"Ok, well I know you like hugs, so come here." He opened his arms. I literally stopped short. My eyes went BIG.
"Uhhh...ok." I fell into his embrace. I don't want to move...can I please feel like this all the time...I love you...HUH?!?! My mind was racing fast and so was my heart. Why is HE giving ME a HUG? He pulled away.
"Just wanted to make sure you were okay," he said, then patted me on the back so it was just a bro thing. Damn. "I'm gonna go get our matching ugly sweaters." Oh yeah...we have matching shadowpaw and moonstrider sweaters, too.
ꨄꨄ
Tiadrin's POV
*Ding dong!*
"They're here Lain, oh good you have your sweater!" I called as I briskly hurried to open the door. I flung it open with a giant grin. "HEY GUYS!"
"Hey, Happy Hannukkah!" they shouted in unison. Runaan smiled. Ha. I win the bet. Suck that, Lain.
"Come on guys, let's go get the ingredients. We should get started," I suggested, motioning my hand for them to come in. We walked to the fridge. I leaned to Lain and whispered when we were far enough away from Runaan and Ethari, "Do you think anything's gonna happen tonight?"
Lain raised his eyebrows and whispered back, "I'll give you twenty dollars if they kiss." I snickered and turned around quickly to see if they were looking. "It's worth the coin," he added.
"Deal's a deal."
ꨄꨄ
It's kind of weird having to share a kitchen with everyone else, but I don't mind that much. It smells really good when everyone is making holiday food in there—except when they're making something with a lot of grease, or meat. Not lots of elves eat meat, it's kind of a cultural thing.
I don't even care that Runaan and Lain aren't Jewish, and Ethari and I aren't...well, I don't know. Very religious? It's never really been a concern, but they celebrate Christmas and are mostly Atheist. We have this tradition of spending each other's holidays together, so we've been so used to not practicing the same things for so long now.
I waved to our friend in the next door dorm to ours. "Hey Lunae, happy Hanukkah!"
"Thanks, you too!" and she gave a big grin.
I had my phone in my face looking like an addict as I walked past Ethari and tapped him on the shoulder.
Me: Ethari
Me: ETHARI!
Ethari: What you're literally right next to me
Me: What did you get Runaan pretty please with extra peas tell me🤭🤭
Ethari: No.
Tiadrin: Hint??
Ethari: Fine, it has something to do with my ugly sweater
What could that mean? He's just wearing a green ugly sweater with shadowpaws on it.
Me: Ok Mr. Helpful now pass me the potato peeler😐
I shoved my phone back into my pocket and reached my empty hand out, which soon was containing a potato peeler. We had two, but Lain was teaching Runaan how to properly peel vegetables. I tried not to burst out laughing at Runaan's confused face as the peeler skidded roughly across the potato. Soon enough, he figured it out (sort of, Lain just finished it for him at the end) and we got to cutting. I think we bought too many potatoes...
This year, it's our first year in college, so it was a little different, but we ended up making it really fun and memorable. To pass the time while making the latkes, we started sharing stories, specifically childhood memories from playing together.
"I remember when Runaan and I were teenagers and would sit by the falls. I would look for rocks while he would sit and sulk and sharpen his blades." Ethari chuckled. Now, I am actually extremely keen-eyed and everyone knows it. That's why I can spot secrets easier than other people. Right after Ethari said that, Runaan turned away to put oil in the pan. I saw a tiny bit of his mouth, and it was a smile. Runaan only smiles with Ethari, and that is NOT an exaggeration.
ꨄꨄ
We ended up making roughly 30 latkes, no joke. That's about seven per person. Our containers were FULL to the brim with food, but it worked out. By the time we got back to our dorms, I think our arms were cramping from working and holding all those containers. All of us were just happy to be eating soon.
When he was setting the latkes down, Ethari asked, "Runaan, could you hand me the applesauce please?"
"Sure," he replied and handed it to him. Ethari reached his hand out a little too much and their fingers touched each other's. I mean, they REALLY touched each other's. I hid my wide eyes with my hand. Ethari started slightly panicking.
"Oh, shoot, sorry Runaan..." he apologized. It was a genuine apology, hand on his neck and everything.
"It's ok," Runaan assured him, and gave him a warm smile. Ethari warmly smiled back with soft, focused, staring eyes, even after Runaan turned away. Oh my god, it's the beginning of an end. I know those eyes.
"Um, AHEM, I need to ask Ethari something. I'll be back," and I dragged him out of the room.
"ETHARI!! WHAT THE HELL WERE THOSE MAKEOUT EYES?!?!"
His face turned deep purple from being flustered and spat out, "Ok, what the fu- frick do you mean?" I raised an eyebrow smugly.
"Screw you Tiadrin, why do you have to notice everything," he mumbled and looked off to the side.
"Come on, let's just get back," and I grabbed his arm once again. He doesn't have the guts to make a move. It would be quite fun to force it...
ꨄꨄ
Tiadrin's POV
Of course, we have our little get-together tradition, but it's deeper than that. Let me explain.
Here's how it is: on the first and last night of Hanukkah, we make latkes. On the other nights, we get together but buy them or don't eat them. Now that we're in college, we switch dorms every night, we have menorahs at both. Ok, that's your background info. Anyway...
I think it was last year, when we were seniors in high school. I made up a plan all by myself to do something really funny, but I didn't know what to do, so I thought of it on the spot. Because Lain is OK at cooking and Runaan absolutely sucks (Ethari's the best of us), we separated all our latkes to rate them.
As soon as we decided to do that, I had my idea. When it was time to rate Runaan's, I took one bite and screamed, "OH MY FUCKING GOD THIS IS SO GOOD," while I looked as shocked as if someone died. I then jumped out of my chair, did a back handspring, INTO a backflip, and INTO a split. Not gonna lie, it didn't taste half that bad.
It must've been really funny because poor Ethari, who was drinking something, snorted so hard it shot right out his nose, and Runaan and Lain who had already been laughing started laughing even harder. Lain laughed so hard that he actually couldn't breathe, so I smacked him really hard on the back, which made all of us burst into laughter again. That's what we call the laughing circle incident.
I stood smiling, thinking of my funny prank when a voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Tiadrin, I couldn't find the lighter..." Lain sighed.
"Wow, because matches are ever so useful. Okay it's fine, let's just get to it, the matches are in the living room desk drawer. You still have to get them," I mused. I gave him a little kiss on the cheek before I went to grab the candles.
"Wait, Tia, didn't you buy mistletoe as a joke? I think I got an idea," and he whispered into my ear.
"Lain, that's literally perfect."
Ethari came running in. "Guys, it's time to light the candles, come on!" We all hustled to the menorah, which stood on the desk facing the window. "I call lighting it tonight," and he snatched the matchbox from my hands. Ethari gently placed the first candle all the way to the right, and set the shamash in for a second, too. He struck the match in one try, staring intensely at the flame as it engulfed the match. I couldn't hold back from looking at Runaan. Surprisingly or not so surprisingly, he looked kind of mesmerized by Ethari. We started the prayer as he lit the shamash.
"Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b-mitzvotav, v-tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Hanukkah." Ethari lit the first candle with the shamash while saying the prayer, then put the shamash back in place.
Runaan whispered to Lain, "I'm just muttering. Do you know any of this??" to which Lain shook his head no. We continued over them.
"Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, she-asah nisim la-avoteinu v-imoteinu ba- yamim ha-heim ba-z'man ha-zeh."
Since it's the first night, there's a third prayer. "Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu v-ki'y'manu v-higianu la-z'man ha-zeh."
"Aaaamen."
I motioned for Lain to move back a bit as I did too. Of course because he wasn't keen eyed he didn't know, but Runaan was staring at Ethari again. They stood in silence as Ethari looked so relaxed with a mesmerizing smile and stared at the dancing flames. I took Lain and moved back onto the couch, trying to act like we weren't there. Runaan smiled at him from behind where he would never see. I didn't want to leave, but I thought of something and whispered to Lain. We have to go do this.
Lain and I snuck out of the room to go grab the mistletoe, which I kept in our room. We thought of some places Runaan and Ethari hadn't walked in yet today, and we decided to just put the mistletoe on the side of the doorframe to our room, except more on the side of the living room so they could still walk there.
The plan was now in motion. "Hey guys, we should open presents now! But I think I should mention something. We hid some mistletoe, and if you walk under it with someone, you HAVE to kiss them, doesn't matter where, or someone else gets to kick you in the crotch as hard as they can." I shot an evil grin Ethari's way. He gave me a death stare and looked furious like he was actually going to kill me.
This worked out perfectly because when I said this, Lain and I were still in our room. When we walked out, the mistletoe was right above us. "Haha, we did this to ourselves," I joked to get their attention. I wrapped my arms around Lain, and then started kissing him very awkwardly to make Ethari feel very scared about accidentally walking underneath the mistletoe.
Ethari cleared his throat. "Uhh...my gift is pretty big. We should just have dinner first, I think." I knew our plan was working.
"Alright fine, come on, let's get eating," I sighed, but that's even better. If his big gift is after, then they wouldn't have to sit through dinner after that. Then they'd go back to their place and um...oh wait, I forgot something very important! I ran over to the mini fridge and held something behind my back as I walked back over. "I have a little something special for all of us!"
"What is it?" they all asked. I pulled out a bottle of moonberry moscato and tapped it mischievously with my free hand.
"This."
ꨄꨄ
Tiadrin's POV
"Oh my gosh, Runaan, your latkes aren't even that bad," Ethari laughed, taking a sip of his wine. I'm not that surprised he's drinking a lot, but he's a pretty light drinker, so...
"Haha, really? Let me see." I took one of Runaan's latkes from his pile, stomach already full to the brim, and took a plain bite. "Wow. You weren't lying, but now's the real test." I grabbed one of Ethari's highly praised latkes and took a bite of it. "Mmmm...hey, Runaan, you improved! Like a lot! These are so good I'd literally kiss you if I was a man." I also muttered under my breath so only Lain could hear, "I bet Ethari would be that man if he could."
Ethari started crying laughing over the latke comparison and my uncalled for comment. Runaan looked as red as a moonberry. "Tiadrin, WHA-" he tried to protest but I cut in.
"Runaan, we all know you're a little...I mean, look at your damn hair! No straight person has hair that's down to their butt AND tied back in the zestiest hairdo ever." Lain burst out laughing SO hard that they asked if he was ok.
He looked very embarrassed. Ethari quickly interrupted, "Wait...sorry to butt in, but like-Tiadrin, how did you purchase ALCOHOL?" I froze and my smile faded.
"Uhm...you know how I saw my parents the other day?"
"Yeah?"
"And you know how we went shopping? And also stopped at a wine place?"
"...Mhm?"
"I kinda bought a few bottles of this stuff with their card and ID when they weren't looking..."
"You WHAT?!?!" everyone shouted. I gave a sheepish grin and rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. Ethari snuck another sip while nobody (except me) was looking. Geez dude...
"UHH-y'know, we should really um-open presents now! Yeah! C'mon guys!" and I frantically ran to the other room to get my presents. Lain shook his head, just used to it at this point. Ethari mentioned, "I'm gonna go get my present and my other small ones, too. Runaan, you can stay here, I'll grab yours too. Before you say anything, yes I'll be fine," and he left.
As soon as he closed the door, I turned to Runaan and patted him on the back. "Tonight's the night, dude." He looked confused. "Tia, what do you mean?" I went in a little closer and said, "I know you like him. It's obvious. Your secret's safe with me." He turned away and grumbled, "FINE...whatever. But you're NOT gonna prank us into kissing or anything." Bet.
ꨄꨄ
Ethari got back carrying a giant box with...holes in it a little while later. We were all just kind of sitting and drinking, starting to get JUST a little tipsy. Not really. Just feeling it. I swear.
I was obviously very determined to get something to happen between the two, so as soon as I had an idea I tapped Lain on the shoulder and got up. "Hey, you guys," I said, looking at Runaan and Ethari, leaning in with my hands behind my back and puppy dog eyes. "Would you mind getting something from our room? There's two presents left, one for Lain and one for you two. They're a little big so maybe you could each take one? Also I need to talk to Lain about something." They nodded. "Ok...sure."
Lain asked, "What are you doing?" I smiled innocently at him and waited for them to walk into the doorframe. As soon as they got close, I couldn't hold back.
I shouted at the top of my lungs , "YOU'RE UNDER THE MISTLETOE! TEN SECONDS TO KISS OR GET KICKED!" They jumped so hard from my scream that they bumped into eachother. "Uhmmm...do we really have to?" Ethari begged. They were so embarrassed they couldn't even look at each other.
"I'll give you five seconds! Five, two, one-" but I guess Ethari really didn't want to get kicked in the balls so bad that he KISSED RUNAAN ON THE CHEEK AND HELD IT FOR LIKE TWO SECONDS. EYES CLOSED, TOO. My hands flew to my mouth in shock because WHY THE HELL WOULD HE ACTUALLY DO THAT? I turned to Lain and probably looked like I was using Roblox shift lock because how else are you supposed to turn when you can't think properly? He also was very shocked and got up off the couch like he was being possessed.
"Uhhhhh..." Runaan stood with his hand on his cheek not knowing what to say. Ethari yelled, "OH MY GOD I'M SO SORRY RUNAAN! I SWEAR!" Runaan slowly stepped into our room, hand still on his face. "It's fine, I'm just gonna go get the presents myself..."
Ethari turned to me furious. "TiaaaDRIIIIN!!" I snorted and took a sip of moscato. "You know I always get what I want. And as much as I want to see what you got him, I'll let you go last so it'll be more special and perhaps less awkward. You're welcome." When Runaan got back with the presents, we all happily sat down on the carpet like nothing had happened.
I picked up my present for Lain. "Here you go." He unwrapped it and smiled when he saw a framed picture of the two of us from a year ago, infront of the menorah, and another framed picture of us in the first week of college, holding hands on the building's steps. "Aww, Tia, thank you so much!" I smiled and pulled him in for a kiss. Take notes, fruit cakes.
"Ok, to the both of you, Runaan and Ethari." They're gonna kill me but it's so worth it. Ethari tore off the wrapping paper while Runaan read the card outloud. "'Happy Holdiays, my little rainbows.' What does that mean?" Ethari stared in horror. "I think I know now." He removed all the wrapping paper to reveal an LED light you put on your desk that was in the shape of a rainbow.
"Room decor!" I giggled. Runaan smacked his forehead but was covering his laugh with his hand. Lain laughed and admitted, "That's pretty smart. Runaan, you should put it on your desk 'cause you're definitely gay. But Ethari you probably are too, like speaking of hair look at yours, you weird mullet person." Ethari snapped back, "Shut up Lain, if you weren't dating Tia you'd proabably ALSO be gay because who cuts their hair and then leaves like a thick part of it long to braid it? And you literally wear eyeliner!" I laughed. "Don't come at me please." Runaan mumbled, "You literally look like a le-" I cut him off. "I have great hearing."
We went through the rest of the gifts pretty slowly because where's the fun in not wrapping a present ten times so the recipient takes five minutes to unwrap it? There was a lot of hugs, funny socks, and really stupid card read alouds involved, probably more presents and even fun than past years. Finally, if was time for Ethari to give Runaan his present for him.
I muttered to Lain, "You owe me twenty bucks." He whispered back, "It was only on the cheek, so ten bucks, but if you get them to really kiss I'll give you twenty more." Ethari glanced at us. "What?" I responded, "Oh, nothing, just about the gift. We're guessing what it is." He chuckled. "Well, you'll see soon!"
Ethari cleared his throat. "Ok, I put a lot of effort into getting this gift for you. If you don't like it, no refunds." Everyone laughed but stopped after a moment because they wanted to see what was inside. He gently pushed the box toward Runaan so he could open it. When he took the wrapping paper off, he slowly lifted the box flaps to find...
"Oh my god, it's the little moonstrider I really wanted! And a shadowpaw cub, too!" He picked up the moonstrider. "This one's mine now. You can have the shadowpaw, if fits your personality." He set it down and gazed at Ethari. "Thank you, really. So, so, much." I elbowed Lain and hissed, "Quick, there's more mistletoe in our room. Grab it and put it over their heads!" He shuffled to our room and grabbed the mistletoe.
Ethari's face practically melted into a giant warm smile. "Of course, you're welcome." They got a little closer and Runaan's gaze fell to Ethari's lips. Lain snuck over and dangled the mistletoe above them. Ethari stared at Runaan's lips and reached his fingers out toward Runaan's face and lightly brushed them against it. They sat there for a moment before Ethari went and kissed Runaan on the lips.
He looked a bit shocked, but closed his eyes and melted into it, wrapping his arms around Ethari's neck. I whispered to Lain, "Aww, how cute. Now get in here, and keep holding the mistletoe above them. It's SELFIE TIME."
I pulled out my phone, turned it horizontally, and I smiled. Lain did too. In the backround, there was Runaan and Ethari still kissing eachother and Lain holding the mistletoe above them. "Perfect." I posted it to instagram with the caption "Who else knew? #happyhanukkah #myfriendsaregay" and waited for them to pull away.
Ethari came out of the kiss and said, "I love you. For a while I have, but I didn't know what do to about it." Runaan responded, "I love you, too." I raised my glass. "Cheers to Runaan and Ethari!" Lain and I clinked glasses and drank. "You owe me thirty bucks."
ꨄꨄ
Our little get-together was a lot of fun, and I even brought a new couple to life. I'm so amazing. It was finally time to leave at 2 A.M., but only because everyone was really tired and slightly drunk. "Group hug!" I yelled, and we all piled into each other. "Thanks so much for inviting us over," Runaan and Ethari said. "Aww, c'mon, anytime! Alright, go to your dorm and make out already, I need sleep." We all laughed and I waved to them as they walked out the door. "Bye!" "Good-bye!" "See you tomorrow!" "I won't remember what we did cause I'm DRUNK!" Guess who said that? Me. And guess who's about to crash on the couch? Also me.