Chapter Text
Casey didn’t know how to act around Severide now that it was the Holiday Season. They had only been together for 8 months, and while they had been great months, things were still new to them when it comes to their customs of the holidays. Casey absolutely loved Christmas despite his dysfunctional family growing up. It was the only time of year where his father laid off him and his mother actually started to do things around the house. They would decorate, bake cookies, and watch Christmas movies. It was the closest they ever were to being a real family. And despite the way everything ended, Casey kept that love of Christmas close to him. He made sure to keep it a happy time of year for himself, always decorating, listening to Christmas music, and watching all the cheesy movies on the TV. Severide, on the other hand, Casey had noticed, was always a bit more mellow when it came to Christmas. He was never a grinch, but he also never really participated like everyone else. He tended to hang in the shadows and usually found some excuse to get him out of the Christmas festivities like 51’s secret Santa and the annual Holiday party. So, Casey wasn’t sure how to approach things.
They were living together now, and had been for a few months, and while Casey would love to celebrate, to decorate their apartment from top to bottom, he didn’t want to turn their home into an inviting space for his boyfriend.
It was the first of December and Casey was home alone, Severide having gone out to get groceries for dinner. As he looked around their apartment, Casey couldn’t help but feel a wave of disappointment at the lack of colourful decorations, the burst of greens, reds, silver, and gold that should be strung everywhere through their home.
His gaze wandered to the door that held their small storage room. Inside was a small box of decorations Casey had brought with him, those that were his favourite in his collection. Surely putting up a few wouldn’t hurt. Maybe it would break the ice between them, open the gates to their Christmas celebration.
Thirty minutes later, Casey stepped back and rubbed the back of his neck. While it was nowhere near as extravagant as when he was decorating his places when he lived alone, he had gotten a little carried away with the decorating.
Every empty flat surface was now decorated with something festive. Tiny snowman covered in fake snow, a ceramic Santa clause, a Christmas village that lit up, and other little trinkets he had collected over the years. He honestly hadn’t meant to decorate as much as he did, but as soon as he got started, he couldn’t seem to stop.
The sound of a key being inserted into the lock had Casey spinning toward the door. Severide walked in, a bag of groceries under his arm, and toed off his shoes before turning to Casey with a smile. “Hey, Case.”
Casey felt his eyes go wide as he stared at his boyfriend, not knowing how he was going to react to his impromptu decorating.
Severide walked over to the kitchen island and placed the groceries down then he turned and raised a brow as his eyes roamed over Casey’s face. “What’s up? Why do you look so guilty?”
Before Casey could say anything, Severide walked into the living room and looked around at what Casey had done while he was out. When he turned back to Casey, he didn’t look upset like Casey had been afraid of. Instead, he looked amused.
“You do all this while I was gone?”
Casey nodded.
“Looks good.”
Casey blinked. “Really? You’re not mad?”
A crease formed between Severide’s eyes. “Mad? Why would I be mad?”
Heat rose in Casey’s cheeks. “I dunno. I know that you don’t really like Christmas. I didn’t want to overstep. It’s our first Christmas together after all…”
Severide’s face softened as he stepped forward, placing a hand on each of Casey’s arms. “Case, I would never be mad at something like that. Not when it brings you joy. I see the way you light up when we walk past those Christmas displays downtown.”
A smile curved on Casey’s lips at the fact that Severide had noticed that.
“I just didn’t want to make you upset, force you to have Christmas in your home when you don’t like it.”
Severide leaned forward and kissed Casey softly before he drew back and said, “It’s true that Christmas isn’t my favourite season, but that was only because my dad hated it. He always made the Christmas season a miserable time for all of us with his complaining. We never even had a tree. And then I never had a reason to celebrate, never had anyone to celebrate with, but now I have you and your joy makes me want to celebrate.”
Casey’s heart broke for the bleak Christmases Severide had grown up with. While Casey's childhood was far from good, even his Chrsitmases held good memories. He knew, now, what his mission would be this Christmas season.
“And you’re not just saying that?” Casey asked, as he searched Severide’s face for any signs he wasn't being truthful.
“Nope. When I see how happy you are, it makes me happy. And with someone I actually care about, Christmas seems like it might actually be good this year.”
Casey grinned. “I’m going to make this the best Christmas you’ve ever had.”
“And that is why I love you, Case.”
“I love you too,” Casey said and kissed Severide again, this time more passionately, a little bit of Christmas magic sparking between them.
When they pulled apart, Severide walked back over to the groceries to put them away. After a moment, he said, “so we’re going out to get more decorations tomorrow, right? I mean, what you did is great, but it’s a bit sparse.”
“Absolutely.” Now that he knew it was okay, Casey had all kinds of plans to bring Christmas to life in their apartment. And staring at the empty corner now, he knew exactly what kind of tree they needed.