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Everything felt like a pressuring buzz at this point. Which Namida had already anticipated, sure, but it still came on as badly as he feared. If not worse. Parties were never Namida’s forte, despite meeting the love of his life at one. Namida was used to solitude, the excited yelling from dozens of others, the clanging of balls hitting the edges of pool tables, to the clattering of silverware as people took their bites and wonderfully made food. Namida would’ve skipped out on this party, if it weren’t for the fact that it was apparently a Christmas one.
Namida had never fully understood the concept of the holidays. All he knew was people tend to be happier and more celebratory around this time. The end of the year, when things were freezing outside. Though, for his species, it was busier than most would first guess. A great abundance of wishes from all over existence, mainly from little children, kept the Staarwingsh Dragons occupied for a long while. Mainly wishing for some toy, or maybe even some happiness. Namida was always up to the task of granting wishes such as those, as seeing the happy smiles of children’s faces brought an odd warmth inside his heart.
However, even adults seemed to take in the child-like joy in forms of gatherings. Though Namida had to admit, the way Horatius decorated the place did bring an odd wonder to his heart. From silver glittery stars hanging across the ceiling and walls, to the giant tree dressed in different colored balls and characters, with a beautiful star on top of it. Everyone seemed to love it, like it was some grand gift. Though Namida was finding it trickier and trickier to enjoy the environment around. Every noise and rapid movement only made his mind swim more, and his small ears pinned against his head. Maybe if he continued to sit this out to the side, it’d be over with already.
“Namida?”
Things continued to swim around, as if his mind were a lost fish trying to fight against a whirlpool in the dark sea. Namida had hardly picked up the concerned voice until he was finally snapped out of the spinning feeling by a gentle and warm hand placed on his shoulder. The dragon’s golden and sea water eyes landed down on a silver glove, dressed perfectly for the holidays. The owner of the hand was none other than his worried lover, Horatius. As they locked eyes, Namida already began to feel the overwhelming sensation slowly melt away.
“My dear Namida, are you alright? Is the party too much for you again?”
Namida hesitated at his words. It was true, Horatius could read him like a book, and oh how he loved reading books. But Namida felt a small sense of anxiety at confessing to it, Horatius planned such a beautiful gathering for such a special time of year… Namida would hate to ruin the fun all because the noise was too much. But his silence was an answer. Horatius’ head lolled to the side; a deep look of sympathy crossed his features. He brushed past Namida to set down his glass, before taking the dragon’s hands. His thumbs brushed against the others’, sending Namida’s whipping tail to a stop. Horatius always knew how to touch Namida’s soft spot, all with just one look. How did he do it?
“Uh… I’m so sorry Hora… I know you were really excited about this party…” Namida mumbled, but to his surprise, Horatius gave a light chuckle in reply. Namida could only stare at him in bewilderment, such a beautiful laugh to fit a beautiful face. It comforted him to the very core.
“Please…” Horatius breathed. He began to guide Namida away from the table the dragon once hovered about to provide some sense of stability. They left towards the back doors, of course, not after covering themselves in fluffy coats and scarves. Namida felt the chilly breeze blow in his face, as if someone had turned a fan on high and pointed it right at him. He gave a shudder, which the other noticed. Horatius stopped and showed Namida his palm. A small flame sparked to life, causing his shoulders to rest at the comforting warmth. Although, Namida assumed the warmth was more the phoenix himself than his power. “The main thing I wanted was for everyone to have a nice time. If you aren’t, then that’s my fault as a host for not accommodating to everyone’s needs… I’ll make a note that next time, we keep this a family thing.”
“No, no…- you aren’t a—”
Horatius gave another sweet laugh, before placing his free finger above Namida’s lips. It almost felt as nice as a kiss.
“My sweet Namida. I don’t mean that to belittle myself… I just want to make sure I’m giving my all. Hm~ Let’s have a nice stroll around the town to take our minds off it then. What do you say?” Horatius hummed, lowering his hand to once more take the others’. Namida looked back to him, before giving a silent acceptance, giving him a warm smile. Horatius lightened up at that. It was always his favorite thing to see him smile. And then, off they went.
It was so strange. Despite the frigid temperatures, the snow and frost that blanketed the ground, to the flakes that danced from the skies… it all felt so warm in his company. Namida would never understand it. As an Aqua Staarwingsh, the cold could become dangerous for him, but for once, it felt pleasing. He had no reason to be scared. Not with Horatius beside him.
The town was dark, the cloudy wintery skies covered the moon and starlight. All they had to guide their way across the dark blue bricked path was the forever lit lanterns, and the colorful decorations that was at almost every house in the neighborhood. Those lights… the ones that wrapped around the trees, just like the one at the party…
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Horatius spoke. They slowed to a stop to view the glittering things. From red, to green, white, to blue. It was endless colors that twinkled just like the stars of the midnight sky. “Hm~ I remember how shocked I was when I first learnt this custom. Then I couldn’t get enough of it… Nihility had to stop me from filling my entire clocktower with all these lights.”
Horatius liked the pretty lights, huh? Namida looked over at him longingly, looking at how happy he looked to see these lights… Namida wanted him to be happy. Namida looked back at the tree… then back to Horatius. Something clicked in his head, and he slowly slipped away from Horatius towards the tree. The other blinked in surprise, tilting his head like a curious lost dog.
“Namida dear, what are you-“
Namida then suddenly ripped the lights off the tree, startling Horatius. He gave a short gasp, before frantically waving his hands to try persuading the other to let them be. He made his way over beside him.
“Uh—What are you doing? I don’t think the neighbors would be too happy if yo- huh?”
Namida then turned to the panicking phoenix and pressed up against him into an odd hug, dangling lights still in hand. Horatius blinked, making an assortment of odd stammering noises. He then felt an odd warmth reach the back of his head, clinks and clacks filling his feathery ears. Was… was Namida?...
“I wrapped the lights around your antlers. You look very pretty.” Namida spoke, backing up and giving a small smile. Horatius stared at him with wide glittering eyes, an odd warmth dusting his cheeks. Namida just did that? He let out a cheesy laugh… he had to admit, he never thought of that one before. He did his best to try turning his head to view his dangling antlers, seeing the shimmering color mixed lights out of the corner of his eye.
“Oh Namida… hehe… thank you…” Horatius mumbled. The gesture was… so sudden and unexpected to him, that he felt his heart flutter like a disturbed bird fluttering in the wind. A good disturbed, a warm disturbed. Warm. That’s what they both felt. The warmth only became stronger as they closed their distance. They didn’t know how long they stood there, just viewing each other’s eyes if it were some masterpiece. Which to them, it truly was. Finally, they broke their gazes as their eyes fluttered to a close, their lips pressed against each other, hums of happiness coming from each other as they did. There was a special tingling sensation that nobody could describe, even better than that warmth from before. They stayed there for even longer, as if they ripped away, all would be lost.
Finally, after some time of kisses and small giggles, Horatius pulled apart to look up into his beloved’s gaze.
“Heh.. alright alright… I’d love to stay here, but we really must put these lights back… come on…”
“Come on-“
Vox’s eyelids lifted open to see a colorful and dazzling world before him. Laughter and cheerful banter filled his ear drums, something he had forgotten existed. Such joyful things at such a joyful time of the year… what was it again… Christmas? Christmas. The Interitus family seemed to be a huge fan of it, just judging by the energy of the living room alone. There were small shouts and conversations coming from every side, as if they were all in their own separate worlds. Vox stared ahead from his place against the wall, seeing the ones named Vyomi and Ayumu wrestling each other for the right over the tree topper.
“Come on!! You did it last year, it’s my turn!!” Vyomi pouted, in turn came a loud obnoxious laugh from the blue-haired one, Ayumu. Who Vyomi was chasing in circles around the couch.
“I am the leader of the stars!! It is my entire right to OWN this very star!!” Ayumu bit back. Vyomi let out an aggravated yell in retort, still chasing the other around and around. There came a sigh nearby Vox, the owner of it being Caeli. Their exhausted father, just trying to get in some peaceful sips of cocoa. He did his best to pinch the bridge of his nose, that being obscured by the metal mask he wore. How did he manage to drink the cocoa without getting tired of slipping the mask on and off…? That was a question Vox could ask later. Caeli seemed too irritated to be bothered.
Was there a way to make him feel better…? Vox looked Caeli up and down… wait… there came an idea. Something Vox hadn’t done in a long time. Vox turned to the box of decoration supplies nearby the couch and wandered over to them. He scooped out a few things, a small clattering sound of glass coming from them. Caeli’s large deer ears twitched at it, and he found himself turning his head to look at the source. Aw, Vox was joining in finally. His eyes gave a smile.. wait, was Vox headed towards him? Did he need help? Caeli straightened up from leaning against the counter, placing his cocoa behind him before looking expectantly at the other.
“Need help?” Caeli inquired, but his question went partly answered and unanswered. He gave a few blinks as Vox closed their distance; Caeli’s cheeks began to burn with a soft yellow color. He gave a small noise of surprise as he heard the jingles of the glass bulbs above his head… was Vox?
Vox then pulled away, looking down at Caeli with a shimmer in his eyes. A shimmer Caeli hadn’t seen in a long time.
“You looked upset… so I thought… well- you look pretty.” Vox explained, his voice soft as silk. Caeli slowly lifted his hands up to touch the lights, albeit dim for now, that were wrapped around his antlers. He had to admit, it wasn’t something new to him, as his other family members and even himself did this to him from time to time… but coming from Vox… his intent… it made Caeli’s metaphorical heart want to explode and shatter. Caeli’s small fluffy tail began to wag with delight. Vox really did that to make him feel better? He wasn’t upset at all of course… but….
Caeli took a deep breath, slipping his mask off with a small click, before he leaned into Vox, offering a few soft kisses. Vox’s eyes widened in turn, but he returned every pleasing peck. Before too long, Caeli slipped the mask back on, a happy chuckle came from him as he did.
“Vox… love- you’re too sweet… I was feeling fine, but this just made me feel so much better. I love you!!” Caeli gleamed. Vox fell silent, but the smile on his face gave Caeli everything he needed.
“I love you too. Merry Christmas.”