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The living room was a mess—scraps of wrapping paper littered the floor, snack crumbs scattered everywhere, and the remnants of the gingerbread house they'd wrecked earlier sat crooked on the coffee table. Christmas lights flickered against the walls, casting a warm, lazy glow over the house.
DeShaun slouched on the couch, arm draped across the backrest, watching his little lover sitting cross legged on the floor, poking at a gumdrop like it held the secrets of the universe.
"You good down there, kitten?" DeShaun asked, took a sip of eggnog and smirked. "You've got that 'overthinking yourself into a coma' look again."
Marshall flicked the gumdrop at DeShaun. "Can't a guy have a moment of deep thought without you runnin' your mouth?"
DeShaun snatched the candy out of the air and popped it in his mouth. "Not when that guy's you. C'mon, spit it. What’s got you thinkin' so hard?"
Marshall sighed, he leaned back against the coffee table. His ears twitched—DeShaun knew by now that meant something was on his mind. "It sounds… stupid."
"Everything you say is dumb," DeShaun teased, the corners of his mouth twitching into a grin. "Let's hear it."
Marshall shot him a glare but didn’t back off. "Okay, like… what happens when I'm old?" He hesitated, scratching at his neck. "I'm gonna be this old, wrinkly-ass cat. Fur's gonna go gray and patchy, my tail's probably gonna look all lifeless and limp, and my back's gonna hurt just from sittin’ down too long. And you… you're still gonna be all suave and perfect. You're gonna wake up one day and think, 'Damn, why'd I stick with this ancient furball?'"
DeShaun paused mid-sip, nearly choking on his drink before setting it down with a loud laugh. "Hell nah, 'ancient furball'? Which dictionary did ya read to even come up with this shit?"
"I'm serious!" Marshall huffed, his tail flicking in frustration. "You’ll probably leave me for some cooler, younger, modeler cat who doesn’t snore or steal your hoodies."
DeShaun slid off the couch and onto the floor beside him, still grinning as he shook his head. "First off, you already do all that. Second, who said I was stickin' around for your looks? You think I'm here because you're cute?"
Marshall blinked, throbbing his head. "So you think I'm not cute?"
"Don’t twist my words, 'ancient furball'," DeShaun said, flicking Marshall's ear. "You cute now, and you’ll still be cute when you’re gray and complainin’ about your joints."
Marshall’s tail swished, but his cheeks were tinged pink. "But what if—"
DeShaun snorted, sliding an arm around his lover's waist and pulling him closer. "Aight, let me spell it out for you. If you’re an old, grumpy, ancient furball one day, I’ll be right there next to you, just as old and grumpy and fuckin' ancient. We’ll argue about the thermostat, yell at kids to get off our lawn, and share the same hoodies like always."
Marshall glanced up at him, clearly fighting a smile. "You're gonna be worse about the thermostat than me."
"Prolly," DeShaun said, shrugging. "But you’ll be yellin’ about it with me, so it’s fine."
Marshall finally cracked, a laugh escaped out of him. "You're so dumb."
"And you out here stressin’ about somethin' fifty years from now," DeShaun shot back, his grin smug. "We both dumb. Perfect match."
Marshall leaned against him, burying his face into DeShaun’s chest. "You’re the worst."
"Yeah, but you love me," DeShaun said, resting his chin on Marshall’s head. "And you’re stuck with me, ancient furball."
Marshall sighed, his tail curling loosely around DeShaun’s wrist. "Fine. But when I do turn into a wrinkly old furball, you’d better still call me cute."
"Always," DeShaun said softly, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. "Now quit worryin’ and enjoy Christmas, before I start feelin’ like the only grown-up in this house."
Marshall snorted, his voice muffled against DeShaun’s shirt. "You're about as adult as a drunk elf."
"And you’re about as lovable as a trash panda," DeShaun fired back, tipping Marshall’s chin up to look at him. "But we’ll be just fine."
Marshall rolled his eyes, but the smile on his face didn’t waver. "You’re lucky I love you."
"Hell yeah I am," DeShaun said, leaning in to kiss him as the Christmas lights blinked gently around them.
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Merry Christmas yall🎁🎁🎄🎄💗