Work Text:
“River,” Eskel calls up the stairs, checking his watch for what feels like the hundredth time.
“Coming, coming,” River shouts back, amusement heavy in their tone, “Do you have Snow’s harness?”
“Yeah, everything is in the car.”
River comes hopping down the stairs - finally - dressed in a red velvet dress with white fur lining the collar and sleeves and glittery white boots; his long brown hair tied up in a bun that's held in place with silvery tinsel.
“You’re feeling festive today,” Eskel comments, dipping to give his husband a kiss.
“It’s Christmas!” River cheers, smile stretched wide across his features.
“It is,” Eskel agrees, chuckling, “You going to be comfortable walking around in that for a few hours?”
“Yep, the shawl is detachable if I get too hot. We can put it on Snow! He’ll look so cute!”
“I’m sure he’ll love that,” Eskel chortles and turns to hold the door open for River to pass through.
“Is he in the car?”
“Yep, just waiting on you.”
“Sorry,” River replies, not sounding sorry at all.
Eskel guides him to and into the car, gentle as ever, “You know,” he mutters, placing his palm on River’s head so he doesn’t accidentally smack himself on the car as he gets in, “When I said I wanted to leave at 10-”
“You meant out the door at 10, I know, I know,” River dumps their bag into the basket of the console and Eskel rolls his eyes - he’s going to have to be the one to fish it out when River can’t find it.
“So maybe we can try and be on time next time?” He shuts the passenger door and rounds the car to get in the driver’s side.
“I said I was sorry,” River huffs, “Besides, you’re the one that kept distracting me when I was trying to get in the shower.”
A fair point, Eskel grunts, feeling a bit petulant. It makes River chuckle next to him, “Whatever,” Eskel mutters, childishly, and sniffs his displeasure. River leans across the console to - attempt to - place a gentle kiss to his cheek. He misses entirely, catching Eskel’s ear instead, and it makes them both laugh.
“Alright,” Eskel concedes, “You’re lucky I love you.”
“I know,” River preens, teeth blindingly white with the smile he’s giving his husband.
A giant, fuzzy white muzzle appears between the seats as Snow snuffles at them, big blue eyes blinking sadly in want of attention. How dare they kiss and laugh and not even spare him a look!
“Oh, is someone feeling left out,” Eskel teases, scritching the Samoyed behind the ear, “Eugh, Snow, don’t put your tongue in my mouth that’s disgusting.”
River laughs, imagining his husbands scrunched up, disgusted face as their dog showers him with kisses.
“Come on,” he chuckles, slapping at Eskel, “The mall is going to be busy.”
“Why do you thing I wanted to leave at 10?”
“You’re the one that waited until the last minute to shop for your brothers.”
“I hate shopping,” Eskel huffs as the car rumbles to life.
“Which is why you should just let me do it!”
“You got Lambert a crossbow last year.”
“He loved it!”
“Yeah, well Aiden didn’t.”
“Aiden’s just jealous he didn’t get a crossbow-” River’s eyes light up.
“No,” Eskel warns, “River-”
“Yes, River,” he squirms gleefully in his seat.
“No,” Eskel says again, firmer, though he knows this battle is already lost as River starts to cackle like an evil mastermind. "*No*."
He can not believe he loves this man.