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He’s never forgiving Scar for this. After weeks of pestering from his friend, including bribery, favors, and the promise of giving unforgettable joy to children, he relented to Scar’s request of being Santa for their local orphanage. He was told all he’d have to do was make an entrance and sit down while the kids stood in a line and told him what they wanted for Christmas. The kids were told Santa was very busy and made time just for them, so they should keep their present list small and precise.
The orphanage had practically no budget, but the volunteers did what they could, hence why he had pulled a fitting Santa outfit from the nearest party store. Scar received the brunt of his ire regarding the greed of party stores preying on the people wanting to spread joy in the holiday season. Thankfully, he was able to save some money when he found a combo costume kit which included a Santa outfit and some matching costumes.
He kept the outfits out of sight from his oh-so-jolly roommate, Jinx, who completely absorbed the holiday spirit. Last year, she dressed as the Grinch and filled his stockings up with mayonnaise. While his hands were smeared in mayo, she was rolling on the floor giggling her ass off. That was, until he used his mayo hands to smear some across her face. The actual start of the mayo war is still debated between them, but safe to say the mayo costs for their apartment skyrocketed.
He shivers, flashbacks to the mayo they kept finding in the shared apartment for weeks. A ceasefire was finally called when Vi came over and interrogated them over the fifteen so bottles she found in the trash bin. He made sure Jinx wouldn’t intervene with his plans this time, for the sake of the kids. Both of them spent years at this very orphanage; it’s where he met Scar. He remembers the years she spent clouded in darkness and how the other kids treated her, thinking it best to spare her the pain of memory.
Scar, however, was not spared. As his little helper, he was given one of the elf costumes from his kit and was interacting with the kids in line, occasionally handing out candy canes. Fortunately, the kids were well-behaved, as if they were aware that upsetting Santa would result in being placed on the naughty list. Scar’s enormous frame bundled into a fitted elf costume appeared into his view.
Scar leans against his chair with a gruff.
“Did you promise the last kid anything good? Little fucker pulled his ears and stuck his tongue at me.” Ekko let out a laugh at his friends, feeling better about his decision to put on the beard.
“He’s in line for a PS5 actually; might pitch in myself.” His face splits into a grin meeting Scar’s narrowed gaze.
He relents after a breath, “I saw that blonde teacher around; she put up that mistletoe up by the noticeboard.”
Ekko knows who she is: a new, peppy teacher at the nearby elementary school. Jinx met her during one of Vi’s spirit nights she was roped into attending, and by association, he was dragged along. They’d met and spoken briefly; she had a bubbly personality and invited them to future events.
Jinx hadn’t taken to her like everyone else, though, stating how much she hated her once back home. He’s unsure why their interaction rubbed her the wrong way, but he doubted they’d go to another school-funded event anytime soon, so he assumed they were in the clear.
“I think I’ll push you into her path on the way out.”
Scar’s betrayal cuts deep, but the shock of Santa flicking off one of his elves is enough to make them both break out laughing.
By now, all the kids had been sitting with mini donuts, watching Christmas classics on a projector. Carols softly played through a pair of speakers he had lent Scar. He admittedly thought the situation was kind of serene, maybe a little too calm, but he felt the creep of pride with how happy the kids looked.
Until the entrance slammed open with high-tempo Christmas music blasting.
The initial surprise lasted only a few seconds for him, but silence quickly replaced it when a slender figure stepped into the doorway, dressed in a crimson dress with an overcoat taking up most of the top. Fluffy red clouds adorned both the bottom and top of the entire getup, finished off with a slanted Santa hat plopped on top of vibrant blue hair.
Ekko was frozen. He had been sure stashing the remaining costume above the fridge would have guaranteed her not finding it, but alas, Jinx was here and practically glowing.
She took in the room and her eyes stopped on him, a mischievous smile gracing her face.
“Baby, I told you not to give Rudolph Red Bull!” She skipped across the room and jumped into his lap.
He felt like his heart faltered at her nickname and picked back up double time once she’d settled on him.
The peanut gallery around them had smirks while Scar was failing at hiding his laughs behind his hat.
Exiting his stupor, Ekko sputtered out, “How did you know…”
To which she threw her head back with a laugh.
“I found your hidden stash right after you left.” She winks at him, and he could see the twinkle in her eyes.
“I had to take some creative liberties; otherwise, I’d have been here earlier.”
He looked at her again; his outfit, while rudimentary, was the typical Santa getup. Hers was customized with the red clouds, and he knew the kit didn’t come with a dress.
Squinting his eyes, “You look good. I don’t remember Santa having a red ornament on his payroll, though.”
She gasped and lightly smacked his chest.
“Is that any way to treat your Mrs.? Mr. Claus?”
Heat sprouts over his face, and he’s thankful the tack-on beard covers most of his face. She breaks out in a toothy grin, though, unfortunately close enough to tell the colors on his face.
“You sure know how to treat a lady Saint Nick. See if you end up on the nice list this year.” He chuckles, raising a hand and flicking her forehead.
She recoils and glares at him, her smirk adorned.
“To think I was going to show you what’s under my coat.” They both falter at her words, her smirk dropping, and eyes going wide.
“My dress! I— um, my dress. I’m wearing it under the coat.”
He can’t afford to continue down his train of thought in their current predicament, so he pushes forward, bolstering laughter escaping him.
She’s grumbling and out of his lap in seconds, muttering about needing a drink as she scatters off toward the entrance again.
He’s regained his composure, to find Scar at his side again. “She looks happy. I didn’t think you’d invite her given the place.” His head nods up at their surroundings.
Ekko hums, “She invited herself, it seems.”
Scar side-eyes him and shakes his head.
“In that case, let me invite you both for takeout dinner after this.”
Ekko was ready to give his thanks but ultimately deny it due to him and Jinx typically eating whenever and not really having set dinner times, but the grumble from his stomach betrays his mind. Scar takes that as his answer and pats his shoulder in acceptance.
“Go let her know. Promise we’ll have leftovers you can take, like the animals you are.”
Giving his thanks, he approaches the entrance hall where they set up lemonade. Crossing the door, he spots a blonde head at the stand. She waves a greeting hand, and he turns to make his way over.
Suddenly, a large, hard object practically shoulder-checks him, and he’s shoved over to the side. A blur of green flies past him. Barely holding his stance, he hits the wall with a thud. Shaking off the impact, he looks to a slim hand reaching out to him.
“What a dick smacking Santa into a wall, you okay, Ekko?”
Her blue eyes flash under the shimmering lights, the red and blue hung around them reflecting against her irises blending them with the natural blue. He swears he sees pink in the galaxy of her eyes.
Jinx stares down at him as he leans down. He’s staring at her as if in a new light, the soft rise of her cheeks against the sharp line of her jaw contrasting. He finds it perfect.
He also finds himself moving his glance beyond the girl in front of him, against the cluster of leaves hanging from the ceiling. She notices and turns her head there and back again, her mouth agape.
“Oh.”
He can hear giggling and chuckles near the entrance door, children enjoying the sight of Santa and Mrs. Claus caught under the mistletoe.
They’re frozen in each other’s gaze, his eyes flicking to her mouth. When did she get pink lipstick? - Focus.
She sheepishly smiles at him.
“What the hell, for the kids, right?”
As if convincing herself by saying it aloud.
Her lips meet his, and the softness envelops his mouth. He can feel her heat radiating due to their connection, and his hand comes up to nape. Moving against her mouth, she squeaks. Her eyes widen. He’s unsure if his action was impulse or his own, but he’s sure hers was impulse.
He can feel his heart beating as well as hers through his hand still connected to her, unsure again who’s beat faster. They break away too soon, both clearly flustered and red overtaking them.
A slap on the shoulder shakes him.
“Remember dinner later, lovebirds.” Scar is in and out of his vision in seconds, a blur of green.
His eyes narrow and face Jinx, her own expression growing mischievous.
“That rat bastard.”