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The sleigh skidded into place as North landed back home after a long Christmas night. He hopped out, shouting orders to the yeti and elves that circled them.
Another successful year. The other Guardians got out of the sleigh. Jack and Sandy talked about how they had totally obliviously won their improv competition against the others, to see how many presents they were able to deliver. Bragging rights seemed to make all the difference.
They couldn’t beat North, he was exempt from the competition for obvious reasons, but they had beaten Bunny and Tooth. Bunny wagged a finger at Jack, narrowing his eyes.
“Just wait,” he threatened. “You won’t be bragging for long.”
North looked back at him. They locked eyes, a smile on North’s face. Bunny’s ears twitched, relaxing as his face softened.
The yetis ushered them out of the room. North quickly grabbed his sack as they left. Bunny walked beside him, a paw brushing against North’s arm.
“Do you need any more help?” He asked, watching the others in front of them laugh. They were still energetic, buzzing with excitement comparable to the children they swore to protect.
“We’ve still got a few more presents,” North replied, intertwining his fingers with Bunny’s.
“Ours,” Bunny said, smirking. “What did you get me this year?”
North raised an eyebrow, smiling at Bunny.
“All in due time.” Bunny shook his head.
They all had voted a long time ago to have Christmas morning to themselves. It was always a sentimental and enjoyable time. One that unfortunately fell out of practice. They got busy, always promising next year.
When Pitch attacked, North put his foot down. Christmas would be spent together.
Jack’s laughter and Sandy’s dreamsand echoed throughout the silent workshop. The yetis were with their families tonight. North normally had to usher a few out, as they tried to make their kids the most perfect gift, being more critical than North could ever be. He already gave them their ‘Santa’ gifts, but the yetis always went above and beyond for their own. But luckily, only Phil was nearby, taking the earliest of the security shifts. He’d be replaced by Micheal later, just in time to make it to his family’s feast. Micheal would’ve already had his.
The excitement of the night was slowly wearing down in North. It had been a busy night. Jack threw a snowball at Bunny, which he returned with throwing an egg full of dreamsand at him. Tooth ended up adopting some of Jack’s mischief and replaced Sandy’s presents with empty tooth containers. Sandy ended up throwing dreamsand at her but hit North instead.
It was safe to say that they did not beat their record from 2012 when they all worked to get it done as quickly as possible.
Those lights still shined brightly. More, now that Christmas was here. North felt the waves of new and old belief soar in his belly. He was overflowing with belief. He could just imagine the earliest batch of children, with eyes full of wonder, unwrapping their presents and laughing with delight.
Bunny’s hand tightened in his, a soft smile on his face. North gave his hand a squeeze, satisfied as Bunny clearly resisted jumping as his happiness got a bit overwhelming.
North worked extra hard for Bunny’s present this year. It was a new paintbrush set, complete with pookan engravings that clued into who exactly it was for. Bunny’s old set was wearing down, and he’d been borrowing the yeti’s brushes in order to preserve it. North had also given him a box for preserving his set, perfect for keeping alive the traditions of his people.
But that was for later. He wondered what Bunny had gotten him.
They approached the study, opening the thick wooden doors. Jack ran to the tree, dropping his gifts that he must’ve stored somewhere in the room under the tree. They were smaller in size, contrasting last year when he gave everyone unmelting ice sculptures. Tooth’s presents were already under the tree. Sandy and Bunny hadn’t brought theirs in, but North knew that they wanted to give North the ‘Santa’ treatment that he gave those kids. It also meant they had the biggest presents and that Sandy was going to deliver them as he gave the children one last round of good dreams before dozing off for the night.
North unloaded the presents, setting them against the presents.
“Alright. Syrniki tomorrow? Or will we be having classic pancakes like I have suggested for years now?” Jack asked, swinging his staff to point at North. Bunny chuckled, shaking his head.
“Americans.”
Jack frowned and pointed his staff at Bunny.
“Pew.”
Bunny yelped, the frost attacking his fluffy tail. Jack grinned. Tooth rolled her eyes, smiling slightly. Sandy was already dozing off. North laughed, patting Jack’s back.
“Tomorrow’s breakfast will be delicious, I can promise you that.”
Their rooms were quiet and oddly, chaos-free. Bunny had beat him to the warmest spot on the bed already. North shrugged off his coat, smiling at him.
It was obvious that tonight, he wouldn’t use his own bedroom that North oh so lovingly made for him, but wanted to hog all of North’s warm blankets.
“I don’t know how you’re still standing,” Bunny yawned. “I’m tuckered out.”
“Well, you see, my sweet, Christmas is an important day of the year. Some would say the most important. This is why I’m still up.”
Bunny threw a pillow at him. It hit North’s stomach, bouncing on the floor.
“Stop gloating and come here.”
North slid next to Bunny, wrapping his arms around him. Bunny made a satisfied hum, his ears twitching as he shifted in North’s arms.
He was soft, naturally. North could smell nature on him, waves of tulips and ferns and earth calming North down. It was hard not to be excited tonight, but with his beloved in his arms, it seemed to be easy. As long as he didn’t think about those cheerful excited faces. Bunny nudged him, bringing him back to reality.
“Hey. I see you. Don’t try to sneak off to see their reactions as they open up presents.”
“I wasn’t thinking of that.”
Bunny raised an eyebrow.
“Sure.”
Bunny’s arm snaked across his back, a small purring noise coming from him.
“Comfortable?” North asked, smirking.
Bunny nodded, his fur rubbing against North’s pillows.
“With you, my love? Always.”