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Flynn set the collar of his coat with his free hand, the other clasped around a cup. Boralus never experienced a lot of snow even in peak winter, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t cold. The winds picked up in the season, razor sharp and piercing to the bone, so much that even a native sailor, used to harsh weather out at sea, thought it was a little much.
Though his discomfort could not compare to that of his partner’s. Mathias had wrapped himself in layers of thick sweater, coat and scarf, a hood pulled up over his head, a cape around his shoulders. Mainlanders really were built differently.
Flynn took a sip of his cocoa. “Told you it wouldn’t be so bad,” he said, not looking at the other man. He could feel that glare trying to drill through him, anyway.
“Because we’re lucky to have found the five minutes a year it’s not raining?”
The captain laughed. “Drink, it’ll warm you up. And the cup’s the best part.”
Mathias had spent a good while marvelling at the cup, when it was handed to him. Made out of a light wafer, it didn’t leak thanks to a thin chocolate glaze on the inside, and made for a lovely snack after an equally lovely drink. A staple in Boralus around the holidays, so Flynn insisted they grab one each, even if his partner wasn’t that big on cocoa.
“I’ll be much happier when we make it to Cyrus’ office,” Shaw said, taking a careful sip. That was mostly why they arrived in the first place – to visit Flynn’s friends that he didn’t get to see very often anymore, now that he’s moved to Stormwind.
“But we can enjoy the sights while we walk, hm?”
This time, at least, there really were sights to enjoy. Even Flynn would admit that compared to Stormwind, Boralus seemed like it was cobbled together hastily, and its perpetually wet cobblestones and muddied paths made it look ramshackle and dirty. But in the middle of winter, the city glowed. There were coloured lights hanging on every other building, shining thanks to some gnomish bollocks he had no interest in asking about. There were wreaths and trees and the ever present scents of pine, bread and chocolate. The smell of a childhood home and of family, even if both have been taken from Flynn much too soon, much too suddenly.
“The things I put up with for you,” Mathias muttered, but couldn’t hide the small smile curling his moustache.
The captain just laughed again, wrapping an arm around his partner and pulling him a little closer. “Hey. Cyrus is family, too.”
“Family?”
He smiled; it was warm and content. “If he hadn’t trusted me all those years ago, I wouldn’t be here today to say how grateful I am. For him, for Taelia, and above all else, for you.”
Mathias said nothing. He peeled out of Flynn’s awkward hug and walked over to a railing, overlooking the harbour and the dark seas beyond. He’d never been good with expressing these things, what with all his time having been focused on training and service, and with a caretaker who didn’t take kindly to him having opinions of his own.
“I’m grateful, too,” he finally said, staring ahead. “And I… do thank you for bringing me here to see your friends. No one should spend holidays away from loved ones.”
Flynn knew he meant so much more than that. Shaw was part of the family; in fact, the one with most claim to such a title. Together with Taelia and Cyrus, they constituted a group as ragtag as Boralus itself, but so much dearer to the captain’s heart. The city was just a place, but whether he lived in Boralus near those two, or in Stormwind with the love of his life, found family was still family. And he knew Mathias was grateful to be included, because he, too, hadn’t had anyone close to him for much too long.
With his arm around the man again, Flynn leaned in to plant a soft kiss on his temple. “You’re most welcome, Mattie. Happy holidays.”
“Happy holidays, love.”