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Christmas was always a weird holiday for Charles.
His mum celebrated Diwali, but his dad never took part in it. His dad celebrated Christmas, but he always forced a budget on what they could get Charles. He didn’t ask for much, really, but half the time he would make sure he only got one thing, then use the rest of the money to buy himself something new and fancy.
He couldn’t really afford to get any diyas for Diwali in October, but Crystal tried her best to makeshift a celebration for him – even if she didn’t celebrate the holiday herself, she knew how much it meant to Charles. He appreciated her for that.
It was Christmas Eve at this point, and he’d just barely managed to budget out enough to get gifts for all his friends. Dead, But Still Here celebrated Christmas together a few days before the holiday itself, since Crystal and Jenny were going home to visit their parents, and Monty didn’t think they could get away with leaving on Christmas day.
Crystal seemed to appreciate the MCR shirt – she had one just like it, but lost it when she moved to the States, so when he found it he knew it’d be a good gift. He bought Monty some Astrology based Tarot cards, since that seemed to be something they were interested in, and Jenny got an interesting looking murder-mystery book collection.
The three of them had worked together to get him a new Walkman, since he always mentioned how he’d wished he’d grabbed that from his dad’s house before he left, and they got him a few cassettes to start his collection, too. One of them was the Starfish album by The Church, which was the album Under the Milky Way was on – and God, if that didn’t make him smile like an idiot…
Well, back to the present – it’s Christmas Eve, and he’s laying on Edwin and Niko’s couch, staring at his very messily wrapped presents sitting underneath the tree. The three had all used the same wrapping paper, but his looked like a child crumpled some paper and tape and called it a day. Niko’s all had little bows on them, and Edwin’s didn’t have a wrinkle in sight.
He was nervous – maybe his gifts weren’t good enough, and while he’d only been able to afford one for each of them, there were eight other presents under the tree. He felt guilty, like he should’ve done more for them. They were kind enough to let him stay with them for the holidays, the least he could’ve done is get them a few gifts, but he’d put most of his money into a savings account for when he was ready to move out officially, so he was working on a tight budget. Still…
He heard the door unlock and perked up like a dog, poking his head over the couch cushions as the pair laughed, walking in with bags precariously balanced in their arms.
“Oh hey, Charlie’s still awake!” Niko smiled, “I’ll go make some hot cocoa!”
“You don’t need-”
“But I wanna!” She winked, setting the bags down on the counter.
Charles hopped up and helped Edwin with his bags, setting them down with Niko’s. The other gave him a soft smile, taking his gloves and coat off. “I’m sorry we’re home so late, I truly did not think our errands would take the whole day.”
Their errands included: Niko bringing her friends their Christmas gifts, driving her mom back to the airport so she could be back in Japan before the snow storms were supposed to hit, and shopping. Knowing Niko, the last part probably took the majority of the day – and Edwin looked exhausted.
“The sales were amazing!” Niko called out, already setting the kettle on the stove. “We actually got some really cute sweaters, little trinkets, decorations for next year…”
“And lines that must have taken a small part of eternity to get through,” Edwin sighed. “I will be quite honest, I do not know if the ‘good deals’ were worth it.”
Niko looked at Edwin with the kind of nuance held in the best-friend-slash-roommate relationship they had, and he took a deep breath before grabbing one of the bags, searching through it for a moment. “Please do not be mad at me, but I did take the liberty of buying you one thing.”
“Mate, I already told you, no buying me anything today,” he laughed. “I didn’t get you much, so-”
“You did not ask, and it was on sale. You cannot be too mad at me, can you?” He had that small, innocent but michevious on his face that made Charles’ heart swoon. “Your wardrobe is simply… severely lacking in the warm department, I’ve noticed.”
“I mean, I am kinda living out of a backpack. It can’t really hold infinite things,” he sighed, sitting on the counter – a habit Edwin had gotten onto him for the first time he stayed the night, but now he just settled himself between Charles’ legs with that little fond smile.
“I know. So consider this simply… a necessity, then?” He pulled a ribbed sweater out of the bag – it was a crimson color, like his favorite polo, and the material wasn’t too scratchy like most of the sweaters his mum bought him growing up.
“Edwin, you really didn’t…” he took the sweater, running his thumbs over the material. “You really didn’t have to… I mean…”
“I know I didn’t,” he replied. “But I thought of you.”
Charles couldn’t help himself – he leaned in, wrapping his arms around Edwin’s neck and pulling him into a kiss. He was so, so glad the two of them would get to spend the holidays together like this.
He heard a little whistle from behind him and pulled back, remembering Niko… also lived here. Both of them blushed and looked over to her, and she just laughed as she turned the stove off – the whistle had come from the kettle, not her. “Don’t stop on my account!”
“Still sorry,” Charles laughed.
Niko poured their drinks – hot cocoa for her and Charles (with caramel in his), and tea for Edwin – and set them down in the dining room. “Well, do you guys still wanna watch a movie? Ooh, we should watch Elf!”
Edwin, cheeks red, pulled away enough to brush off his clothes (a habit he always did when he was flustered – Charles thought it was adorable). He offered a hand to his partner, and he took it as he hopped off the counter. They joined Niko in the living room, sitting nearly a foot apart on the couch for about ten minutes before she made a comment.
“I know you guys don’t want me to feel like a third wheel, but I promise I’ll be okay,” she smiled. “I’m just happy you two are happy!!”
They smiled at her, then each other, and shifted closer together. Their thighs were touching, Charles had his arm wrapped around Edwin’s shoulders, his head was resting on Charles’ shoulder, and they were enjoying the soft moment together.
— — — — —
About halfway through the movie, the boys had shifted around on the couch, and Niko had fallen asleep cuddled up in her blankets. They made sure not to disturb her, but Edwin felt a bit more comfortable being affectionate now, and Charles was loving every moment of it.
There was something so… warm, about Charles’ head on his chest, and his arms wrapped around him, rubbing circles into his back. One of Edwin’s hands was running up and down Charles’ back, while the other had found its way to his curls, massaging his scalp like he knew he liked. One of his favorite things was the quiet little hums that came from Charles whenever Edwin did something he liked, or how he’d lean into any touch he enjoyed.
By the time Buddy the Elf had reconnected with Santa Claus, there was a quiet snoring coming from his boyfriend, and he couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh, hoping he wouldn’t wake him in the process. He let the movie finish out, continuing to massage Charles’ scalp, occasionally cursing at himself for getting his fingers caught in his hair, then nudged him only after the movie ended.
“Mmm….” he groaned, “Lemme stay here…”
“I would love to, darling, but I do not think the couch would be a comfortable spot to sleep.” Edwin smiled, tilting Charles’ head up to look at him. He then pointed to Niko, who was still fast asleep on her side of the couch, and motioned to stay quiet.
Charles looked up at him with a soft smile, leaning in to kiss his cheek. “Does that mean what I think it means?~” he whispered.
“If you think it means sharing my bed again, yes.”
His partner immediately perked up, his previous tiredness washing away like it had never existed. He carefully climbed off of his partner, then offered a hand to help Edwin off the couch. Charles stretched his legs, then went to clean up their mugs while Edwin looked over to Niko. She looked… peaceful. It made him happy.
He went over to the basket of blankets they kept in the living room and grabbed a pink blanket he’d crocheted her for last Christmas, setting it over her to keep her warm for the evening. He turned the TV off and quietly followed Charles into his room.
“How are you feeling, love?” He asked, holding the other man’s hands as they sat on the edge of the bed.
“Aces,” Charles replied. “Why?”
“I just… I know this is your first Christmas without your family,” he commented. He’d learned about what kind of man his father was, but he knew how much he missed his mother. “I didn’t know if… if you were having any second thoughts. I’ll gladly take you there in the morning-”
“Eds,” he smiled, cupping Edwin’s cheek. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be. Nowhere.”
He… felt tears in his eyes. He didn’t understand why. “I never thought- I mean, I… I didn’t think anyone could ever… love me, like you do.”
Charles leaned in to kiss him on the cheek he wasn’t holding, then pulled him into a proper hug. Edwin still wasn’t used to how physically affectionate he was, but he has learned he quite enjoys it. “I felt the same, growing up. But now I know, I was just waiting to meet my soulmate, yeah?”
“Oh, you know how I feel about soulmates…”
“Those ghosts in your story are soulmates, aren’t they?”
Edwin laughed a bit, wiping his tears away. “Yes, I- I suppose they are.”
“They died over seventy years apart so they could meet,” Charles booped his nose. “At least we didn’t have to do that, right?”
Edwin rolled his eyes lovingly, then got up from the bed. “Do you have anything to sleep in tonight?” He shook his head. “Then you can wear some of my sleep clothes.” He went to his closet and grabbed two sleep shirts, and two pairs of checkered sleep pants. He was slimmer than Charles, but not by too much – he didn’t think they’d be too uncomfortable.
Edwin went to the bathroom, the two changed, then when he returned he found Charles sitting with his guitar in his lap. “Charles, it is nearly 1AM at this point…”
“And? Didn’t your mum ever sing you lullabies?” He patted the spot next to him on the bed. “C’mon, get all comfortable. I’ll play one song, then you can sleep.”
As far as he knew, his mother never sang him any lullabies – but he knew better than to think Charles would let this go. When he had an idea, it was very hard to shake him from it. “Fine, fine. Just please do not sing me a Christmas song, I promise I have heard every single one over a dozen times today.”
“I wasn’t gonna torture you, babe,” he laughed. Edwin blushed at the pet name. “C’mon, just relax for me?”
Edwin sat down next to him, waiting for him to begin playing, but realized that wasn’t what Charles was looking for. He got under the blankets, then turned on his side to watch his partner start playing fingerstyle guitar. The song was unfamiliar to him until the lyrics began – then he recognized it.
It was a fingerstyle version of the song Charles had written for him.
“Tell me you won't forget
Remember the night we met
Rewind like an old cassette
And I'll be the song that's on your speakers, playing for you.”
When Edwin had told him about his Dead Boy Detectives story, and how Edward’s partner, Callum, was based loosely on Charles, he’d written a song about their relationship. It was a wish that, no matter how much time passed, Edward (and Edwin) would never forget about the love he shared with Callum (and Charles).
He felt so safe with this man. Going to sleep had been difficult for him since the incident at St. Hilarion’s, but laying with Charles made him feel like he could face anything. If anything were to happen, his love would keep him safe.
The fatigue of the day hit him, and he found himself drifting to sleep to the sound of his partner’s raspy vocals.
— — — — —
“I’ll be the song that’s on your speakers, playing for you…”
He played a small outro – he’d enjoyed making this more intimate, fingerstyle version of the song – Edwin was the only one to hear it so far. It was meant for them, not for the rest of the world-
He looked over to see Edwin had curled into a small ball, and his breathing was steady. He fell asleep. Cute.
Charles carefully got up, setting his guitar on the stand (Edwin had bought it after the second time his guitar falling had ruined a moment) before slowly climbing under the covers. He looked at his partner for a moment, like he was contemplating his next move, then decided to just go for it – he moved closer and wrapped his arm around Edwin, holding him to his chest. He didn’t seem to wake, but he clutched at Charles’ shirt for more closeness – which just made his heart swoon a bit.
Despite what everyone apparently placed bets on, Charles was usually the little spoon when they cuddled. It wasn’t really something either of them thought about, it was just how they fell together. They were like… puzzle pieces, that had always been searching for their other half – the person they could just click against, to complete each other. But this… this was still very, very nice.
There was one time, a few weeks ago, when Edwin got overwhelmed after seeing a porcelain doll – one of his worst triggers – while Christmas shopping. They spent the evening on Jenny’s couch, with Charles holding him while he cried. He still didn’t know what the dolls triggered specifically, but it clearly invoked a horrific PTSD response in him, and the specifics didn’t matter – comforting his boyfriend did.
Edwin curled into him, when he held him, like he was holding on for dear life. Almost as if, if he let go, Charles would disappear. Which was silly – if he had any control, he’d never leave Edwin’s side again. When Edwin held Charles, it was much more relaxed. He didn’t mind this, he just hoped that someday, his partner would feel comfortable enough to relax fully in his arms.
…
When he woke up the next morning, he found himself alone. There was a brief moment of panic before realizing it was Christmas, Edwin was probably just making some coffee or tea for himself. He groaned, rolling over and debating if five more minutes was worth it, then decided not to be that guy. He got up and went to the bathroom to wash his face.
He looked at himself in the mirror, remembering he’d worn Edwin’s clothes last night, and felt himself blushing a bright red. He’d always heard girls talk about their ‘boyfriend shirts,’ but he never understood the appeal until now. But it was… nice, to wear something of your partner’s. He’d need to see Edwin in his clothes at some point.
He made his way through the apartment to the living room, jaw dropping when he noticed the music playing wasn’t coming from a speaker – it was coming from Edwin.
He was playing the keyboard (how did Charles not notice it was gone from the bedroom this morning?), and if Charles wasn’t going absolutely insane, he was singing.
“I often think about the way you’ll think about me when we’re old,
I always thought that we could be the greatest story ever told…”
He was singing their song.
The song Charles sang last night, the song he wrote for him – Speakers.
As always, he was mostly focused on playing, not making eye contact for the entirety of the verse, but he looked up at Charles and lingered on a chord at the end of the chorus. “I’ll be the song that’s on your speakers.” He nodded in his direction, and Charles bolted back to his room to grab his guitar.
He was back in the living room in a moment, sitting in one of the kitchen chairs that had been pulled over to rest next to the keyboard, and he started playing with him. He sang the second verse with the giddiest little smile, and Edwin’s confidence seemed to boost a bit, looking at him between sections with a fond, affectionate look.
“It might sound crazy, but my baby, that's the thing that I most fear
Oh, I can't stop the world from spinnin', I know that it's just the beginnin'...”
They sang together in the last chorus, Charles managing to harmonize with him, and he felt that same connection he felt back in October – the intimacy of creating music with the one you love. No words, nor actions could convey their love and trust for each other quite like this.
Charles was so in love with him.
When they were done, Charles immediately set his guitar off to the side and pulled Edwin into a kiss. He poured every unspoken word into that moment, humming in the same key as Speakers, arms wrapped around his neck to hold him close. Edwin swayed with him ever so slightly, as if the song was still playing – and maybe it was. Maybe both of them were still hearing it, because every moment together felt like they were each other’s song.
Nothing else compared to that moment.
— — — — —
Charles apologized several times for his “lacking gifts,” but he was actually quite thoughtful.
He’d found a copy of the variant edition of Moriarty the Patriot Volume 14 – Edwin remembered her complaining about never getting the special cover where Moriarty and Sherlock were looking at each other. He was surprised Charles was able to find it, let alone get it shipped to America – but it was very thoughtful of him.
Niko got Charles some colorful guitar picks – even some thumb picks, which he always said he wanted. She also got him a nice, leather journal for his songwriting, which even had his initials indented in the cover. It was made for songwriting, with areas to write chord charts in it.
Edwin got Niko a Nendroid of Yuri from Yuri!!! On Ice, since that had been the first anime they’d watched together, and she already had one of Viktor. He also crocheted her a plush of Scooby Doo – the first show they ever watched together, and one they often watched when they had long days.
Niko got Edwin a nonverbal communication hoodie – one with bats on it, since they didn’t have a ghost one. He was always reluctant to get one, since he wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing it in public, but she reminded him he could use it around her and Charles, and that would still be worth it. She also got him a new vinyl for his record player – the Starfish album.
Damn. He supposed he wasn’t subtle.
Edwin got Charles some earring cuffs – he always said he “wanted to look cool,” but didn’t want to “deal with the recovery” that came with cartilage piercings. Most of them were gold, to match his dagger earring and necklace, but there were some black ones, as well. He’d also crocheted a scarf – a red one, with a little embroidered ghost on the end, that matched the blue one he’d liked so much when they had gone shopping for costumes. Charles couldn’t keep himself from tackling Edwin in a hug after that.
“My love, we aren’t–” he laughed, “I still have to open your gift…”
“Nah, it’s- it’s not worth it,” Charles nuzzled into his neck, leaving a small kiss there and tickling Edwin.
“You need to stop worrying so much, I am sure it is lovely.” He ruffled Charles’ hair, then lightly pushed him off of him. “May I, please?”
His boyfriend anxiously grabbed the present from under the tree, handing it to Edwin without making eye contact. He’d been just as nervous when he handed Niko her gift, and he truly wished he’d relax a bit – they both appreciated him getting them anything, especially since he got gifts for the rest of his band, as well.
He unwrapped the present, and inside was… a music box. It was one from the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London, that played Blue Danube. Before he could speak, Charles was explaining himself. “Y-You always mentioned how, like, Sherlock was a big influence for you, and how you were really struggling with writing those scenes with, y-y’know, Edward going to Hell…” he fidgeted with his hands, “I just– it s-sounded nice, and it’s from the m-museum, and it’s kinda a lil haunting on the music box, a-ain’t it?”
He carefully wound the music box to listen to it, and while the song was originally a beautiful classical piece, Charles was right – something about it playing, a bit slowed down, on a music box had a haunting aura to it. “If it’s s-stupid, I can g-get you something el-”
He carefully set the music box down to the side and leaned in to kiss Charles again. He lingered for a moment, letting Charles feel his smile against his lips, or how his hand was shaking against his cheek with how… loved he felt.
The gift was thoughtful. He had two very thoughtful friends, one of which also happened to be the boy he was kissing, and he… he couldn’t be happier. “It’s perfect, Charles. I cannot believe you thought of something like this…”
“Y-Yeah, well, I’d like to take you to it sometime, but I don’t really have the money right now-” he cut himself off. “...You really like it?”
“Would I lie to you?”
“Probably not?”
“I would not,” he confirmed. “I love it. I’m sure the Dead Boy Detectives will see my writer’s block ending quite soon.”
Charles just laughed, leaning his head on Edwin’s shoulder. Niko decided then was the perfect moment to tackle them in a hug, forcing both of them onto their backs with her arms squeezing them as close together as she could. “I love you guys!” She sounded like she was crying – but they both knew her better than that. She was just a bit emotional – she loves with her whole heart, after all.
“I feel the same,” Edwin smiled, one of his hands coming down to rub her back.
“Cheers to that,” Charles grinned. “You two let me into your little found family this year, and I can’t thank you enough for that.” One of his hands came to link with Edwin’s, thumb rubbing her back.
“You’re always welcome in our family!” She giggled, “Any friend of Edwin’s is like a brother to me! Unless you hurt him. Then you’ll face the wrath of Niko…” she gave her fakest evil laugh, which was quite adorable, if you asked Edwin.
“I promise, I won’t hurt ‘em.” He managed to wiggle his arm up from between the three of them enough to give her a salute, which caused the other two to burst into proper laughter.
Edwin couldn’t be happier. He had his best friend – the woman he’d die for and knew would do the same for him, and the woman that saved him from his lonely misery – and his partner. A man that would protect Edwin whenever he needed it, always bring him a smile on his worst days, and care for him more than he ever thought he deserved.
Edwin was so in love with him.
He layed there for a while, just enjoying being close to the two most important people in his life.
He hoped every Christmas could be like this.