Work Text:
Charlie taped Ran's present up, humming a tune gently. Since they left showfall, he had been trying to follow some of the more traditional holidays with Ranboo and Sneeg. They never really got to celebrate anything in the shows so the traditions from outside were interesting. Even though they didn't have much money for decorations, they had a small tree and they had each promised presents for each other. Charlie was the only one that hadn't put his under the tree yet, and he smiled as he finished up the presents and placing them under the tree.
Walking to the couch, he relaxed quietly for the two to come back from work. He took the day as a sick day, but he really just wanted to shop and wrap without them knowing. The few presents under the tree made him smile, and he dozed gently off to sleep.
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He woke up in the night to noises down the hallway of their small apartment, and he sat up to explore. Walking in the darkness reminded him of the cabin, making him shiver gently. The curtains were open. Strange, he thought. I closed them earlier, did I not? He shrugged, not remembering.
Standing up, Charlie wandered from room to room, feeling a strange sense of.. familiarity. The bleak coldness brought back hated memories of showfall that he had purposely buried, memories of a young version of him working hard to impress the superiors but only being let down and forced into an actor role instead.
Charlie sighed, reaching the end of the hallway. "Ranboo? Sneeg?" He whispered towards the door, looking for them. Slowly, the door ahead creeped open.Charlie gasped as he entered the room.
"Welcome home, Demon of the Cabin."
Hetch stood up from behind Sneeg and Ranboo, smiling. The two had showfall masks on, and tears began to well up in his eyes. "Wh-what did you do? What did you-"
"I brought them home. I brought you home. After all, we need a holiday special with our main characters!" Hetch spoke, voice echoing across the cabin. He had his hands out wide, as if it was his show. Because, in the end, he was the director wasn't he? It was his show.
"P-please let them back out- They don't deserve this anymore please-" Charlie asked, voice wavering as he pleaded.
Hetch simply shook his head, walking over to Charlie slowly. "Merry Christmas, Slimecicle."
Charlie saw the showfall logo fall over his head, and it all faded to black.