Work Text:
On the evening of the Amazon Christmas Exchange, Brandon had strategically waited for Cameron's cousin to take his turn in the massage chair before setting his plan in motion, a plan he did not have until Cam texted him saying he was bringing said cousin to help lift a few of the gifts for Brandon. Brandon had been waiting all week to have Cam all to himself that day but he was happy enough to at least see him before Christmas.
Even still, Beebs couldn't let Cameron leave without getting a kiss.
The moment Louis was completely horizontal in the luxurious contraption, Brandon had excused himself to the bathroom and had instead headed straight into the master bedroom in search of tape or anything even slightly sticky in the clutter. Once he uncovered a roll of electrical tape in the mess, he snuck next door into the film room.
There, he cracked the window a few inches and stuck his arm through the gap. Grabbing a fist full of leaves from the bush right outside the room, Brandon tugged until a couple of branches broke free. He picked through the pile until he found a suitable offshoot; a scrawny stick with one leaf still mostly intact. He closed the window, took the roll of tape from his sweatpants pocket, and tore off a short section with his teeth.
After sticking the shrubbery to the tape, Brandon took a step into the hall and shouted, “Hey, Cam! Can you come help me move something real quick?” Beebs had heard the muffled conversation between the other two men stop and the mechanics of the massage chair whir to life.
“Yeah, we're coming!” Cam shouted back.
A little too quickly Brandon replied, “No, no! I just need Cameron.”
There had been a quick pause before, “Are you sure?” from Louis.
“Yeah, I'm sure.” Knowing the question came from a place of kindness, Beebs kept his tone light and stopped himself from rolling his eyes.
There was another brief pause in which Brandon imagined the cousins were looking at each other and shrugging before he could hear Cameron’s footsteps on the tile and the machine reclining Louis for maximum comfort.
As Cameron rounded the corner, Brandon pulled the stick out from behind his back and presented it to his friend. The oversized splinter laid flat on his palm as the black tape formed two small wings on either side of it. Neither of them said a word as Cam looked between him and his creation quizzically, nor did they speak when Brandon abruptly bounced up onto his toes and slapped the taped twig to the top of the door frame leading into the master bedroom.
The pair had stared at the crookedly hanging sprig before catching each other's eyes. Brandon made a ‘Ta-da’ motion with his hands.
Only then had Cam recognized the makeshift mistletoe for what it was. A smile more genuine than all the others from that day combined spread across Cam’s face. He put his hand on Brandon’s chest and gently pushed him backwards until they were both directly under the little masterpiece.
As Cameron bent down, Brandon quipped, “Christmas tradition,” and then tossed his hands up as if to say, ‘What’re ya gonna do’.
“Mhmm,” was all Cam had responded with before he cradled Brandon's head in his giant hands and brought their lips together.
The last week fighting with the motorcycle was all made worth it to Brandon by that one moment.
And those few seconds under a microscopic wood splinter was Cameron's favorite gift of all.
Once they broke apart, Brandon whispered, “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”
“Merry Christmas, Beebs.”