Chapter Text
Christmas Eve had never felt this quiet.
The Calaveras house—normally alive with Celia’s music and Antonio’s endless phone calls—was still, warm, and empty. Soft white lights glowed along the banister. A pine-scented candle flickered on the coffee table. Through the wide living room window, snow drifted down in slow, dreamy sheets.
Osora lay curled beneath a throw blanket on the couch, an old Christmas movie playing at low volume. They weren’t really watching it. Their attention drifted in and out, untethered. Without Celia humming in the kitchen, without their dad stomping around looking for his keys, the house felt like a high-end hotel lobby—beautiful, polished… and lonely.
Their phone buzzed.
For half a second, they hoped it was Celia saying she and Catalina were on their way home. Or maybe their dad texting that the business dinner had ended early.
But when they picked it up, it wasn’t either of them.
It was their boyfriend.
Ari<3: u home yet?
Osora huffed a soft laugh. Yet? They hadn’t gone anywhere today except downstairs.
They typed back.
You: Yeah. Dad’s out late and Celia’s with Cat. I’m home alone lol.
The reply came instantly.
Ari<3: COME SAVE ME
Osora blinked. “…What?”
Another message followed before they could finish processing that one.
Ari<3: PLEASE. BEFORE I LOSE MY MIND
You: Ari what happened
A photo popped up.
Two little Arguitrez siblings were wrestling on the carpet over a plush reindeer—one screaming bloody murder while a toddler in the background wailed at full volume. There was tinsel stuck in someone’s hair. A cookie lay crushed into the rug like a casualty of war.
Then came a second photo.
The rest of Arias’s siblings were huddled in front of the TV, loudly arguing about which movie to watch, while Maxim stood behind them pinching the bridge of his nose like he was praying for strength.
Osora covered their mouth to hide a smile.
God. They loved that family. But it was definitely… a lot.
Arias’s next text sent Osora laughing out loud.
Ari<3: they’re multiplying. send help
You: dramatic.
Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Reappeared.
Ari<3: if u care about me even a little u would drive here and rescue me from this hellscape
You: Hellscape? It’s Christmas Eve Ari
Ari<3: CHRISTMAS EVE ENCOURAGES THEM. it’s like gremlins. they get worse after midnight.
Osora laughed into their blanket, chest warming in that familiar way Arias always managed to make happen.
On the TV, the characters were singing. Outside, the snow continued falling in soft silence. And in their hands, the phone buzzed again with their ridiculous boyfriend’s suffering.
Ari<3: pls baby. I’m begging u. I’ll do anything. I’ll clean ur car for the rest of winter.
You: Bold offer.
Ari<3: I AM DESPERATE.
Osora sighed theatrically and typed:
You: …fine. I’ll come get you.
They didn’t expect the reply to come with such ferocity.
Ari<3: THANK GOD I OWE U MY LIFE I AM GRABBING MY STUFF RN
Osora laughed again and set the phone on their stomach.
Their heart already felt lighter.
They stood, folded the blanket, grabbed their winter coat from the hook by the door, and pulled on their boots. The Calaveras foyer—decorated in clean gold and white ornaments—felt even emptier now that they knew Arias was trapped in a tornado of siblings.
They glanced back at the living room once more. Every Christmas before this one had been filled with noise—some good, some annoying, but always noise. This year’s quiet felt foreign. Heavy.
But Arias?
Arias was chaos incarnate, and right now, that was exactly what Osora wanted.
The drive across town was slow, snowflakes thick and fluttery as they melted into soft specks on the windshield. Holiday lights glowed in passing windows—warm yellows and reds against the cold blue night. Osora cranked the heater and hummed along to the carol playing softly on the radio.
It was only ten minutes, and the moment they turned onto Arias’s street, they could hear the house from the driveway.
Osora parked, laughed in disbelief, then braced against the wind as they walked up to the door. Even from the porch, they could hear:
- shrieking
- someone crying
- Maxim shouting, “NO JUMPING ON THE COUCH—KIDS, STOP—”
- barking?? (When did they get a dog?)
Osora knocked.
Then—
The door flew open.
Maxim stood there, wide-eyed and visibly relieved. “Osora! Finally, someone sane!”
Before Osora could respond, several of the younger kids peeked around his legs, recognized them, and immediately exploded with excitement.
“OSORA’S HERE!!!”
There were cheers. Actual cheers.
From deeper in the house, Arias’s voice rang out:
“Move—! I’m leaving with them—don’t try to stop me—!”
Osora smiled helplessly as siblings swarmed their legs and Maxim ushered them inside with a fond pat on the back, Christmas lights twinkling overhead and pure pandemonium unfolding beyond the hallway.
Arias came barreling around the corner in a hoodie and mismatched socks, phone charger clenched between his teeth, keys in his hand, eyes wild like he’d just survived a war.
“Hi,” Osora said warmly.
Arias spat out the charger. “Take me. Please. Before they rope me into gift-wrapping for another six hours.”
Osora laughed, shoulders finally relaxing. “Alright. Let’s go.”
Arias tried to rush past Maxim, but Maxim planted a firm hand on his shoulder like a bouncer denying entry.
“Coat,” Maxim said.
Arias threw his hands up. “Dad, I’m not walking anywhere—Osora has the car—”
“Coat,” Maxim repeated, already grabbing the thick puffy jacket from a wall peg and shoving it into Arias’s arms.
“I’m twenty-one,” Arias muttered. “I can make my own decisions.”
Maxim raised a brow. “And freeze to death? Not on Christmas Eve. Put it on.”
Arias grumbled, but he wrestled into the coat anyway, sending Osora a long-suffering look that said this is my life.
Osora snickered.
That sound caught the attention of the kids, and suddenly five of them were clinging to Osora’s legs, arms, and coat.
“OSORA LOOK I MADE A REINDEER OUT OF BEADS!”
“Look at my new plushie!! His name is Captain Cookie!”
“Can you stay for dinner?? Please?? Please??”
A tiny girl in pajamas lifted her arms, and Osora—because they had a massive soft spot for Arias’s siblings—scooped her up without hesitation.
Her face lit up like she’d won the lottery and she snuggled into their shoulder.
Arias clocked it immediately: the slight stiffness in Osora’s shoulders, the polite smile, the I’m okay but this is a lot expression. They adored the kids—but too much noise, too much touch, too many voices could overwhelm them fast.
He moved without thinking.
“Alright everybody,” Arias said, tugging on his boots as he spoke, wobbling slightly. “Thank you for showing off your… uh… beautiful creations. But Osora needs air to breathe, okay? Space. Room. Personal bubble.”
The kids groaned, but they listened. Arias only used that tone when he meant it.
Maxim chuckled. “They get very excited to see you, Osora.”
“They’re sweet,” Osora said softly, adjusting the toddler on their hip.
Arias stepped forward and smoothly took the girl, placing her gently into Maxim’s arms. “Okay, cupcake. Osora has to take me away now.”
“NOOO,” she protested, reaching for Osora.
Arias winced. “Don’t guilt-trip me, tiny gremlin.”
Maxim swatted him lightly on the back of the head. “Be nice.”
“I am nice,” Arias argued, fluffing the girl’s hair before passing her over. “I’m the nicest older brother in this house.”
Maxim snorted. “Lies. Drive safe. And try to have him home by tomorrow morning at the latest.”
“Of course,” Osora said with a nod.
Arias flung open the door dramatically. “Okay, enough goodbyes before someone steals Osora from me. Let’s go.”
“Bye!” “Merry Christmas!” “Come back with cookies!” “Bring Osora back tomorrow!”
“We’ll see,” Arias called as he gently ushered Osora outside before the swarm could restart.
The cold hit instantly—sharp, crisp, clean. Arias shut the door behind them and sagged against it like he’d just escaped prison.
“Oh my God,” he breathed.
Osora laughed, the sound warming the night. “It wasn’t that bad.”
He stared at them. “You got tackled within fifteen seconds.”
“That’s normal for them.”
He groaned. “Exactly.”
They walked to the car, boots crunching in fresh snow, breath puffing white into the air. The Arguitrez house glowed behind them—mismatched, colorful, chaotic. Perfect.
Osora unlocked the car. Arias immediately collapsed into the passenger seat, tossing his duffle bag into the back seat, shutting the door and going completely limp.
He looked exhausted.
“Dramatic,” Osora said fondly as they buckled in.
“You have no idea,” Arias muttered, rubbing his face. “They’ve been up since six. On Christmas Eve. It’s unnatural.”
“You survive it every year.”
“Yeah,” he said, eyes already closing as the heat washed over him. “And I have trauma.”
Osora laughed.
Arias lowered his hands and looked at them, expression softening instantly, love shining through his exhaustion.
“Thanks for coming,” he said quietly. “Really.”
Osora’s chest tightened. “Of course I came.”
They didn’t say how lonely the house had felt. Or how badly they’d wanted exactly this—quiet, warmth, Arias beside them.
Snow drifted heavier across the windshield as Osora pulled away. Arias watched the lights pass with a tired, content sigh.
“When I’m with you,” he murmured, “my brain just… shuts up.”
Osora didn’t answer. They just reached over, palm-up.
Arias took their hand instantly, fingers interlacing, thumb brushing their knuckles.
The car filled with soft holiday music. Outside, snow blanketed the world. Inside, Arias melted into the seat.
“So,” Osora said lightly, “should I join your family for Christmas tomorrow?”
Arias smirked without opening his eyes. “At your own risk.”
Osora rolled their eyes—and looked back at the road before he could see their smile.
They drove on, fingers entwined, heater humming, snow swirling softly around them—toward warmth, quiet, and a Christmas Eve meant just for the two of them.