Work Text:
The last year had certainly been… interesting.
Bobby sat in the window seat of his apartment’s living room, sipping hot chocolate and gazing at the city below. It was just after dawn, and December frost still clung to every surface. Huntr/x Tower provided a beautiful look of the city, glittering, with red and white strands of cars like Christmas lights. The heat from his favorite mug-- green and red with a reindeer-- warmed his hands. It was a perfect morning.
Perfect, and lonely.
The rest of the Tower was silent. Rumi, Mira, and Zoey had packed their bags the night before for their big trip-- a little holiday vacation to try and reconnect after the everything that had happened early in the year. With his blessing, of course. They'd offered to stay, keep him company. But they needed it, and now that the Saja Boys-- returned from their "hiatus"-- were living under the same roof, they need their trio time to decompress and bond. It was just the first time in ages that they'd all three been away. His only real family.
Bobby's gaze moved over to the small tree, bare of decorations, save for a few presents sitting under the tree. Some for him, some from him. Rumi had promised they'd have a party together on New Year's Day, and he was excited for it, but--
“Care for company?”
The deep, smokey voice from behind him made Bobby jump, nearly spilling the rest of his drink. He scrambled up, pressing his free hand to his chest; Gwi-Ma stood a few paces away, finger curled around his own mug and ruby eyes blinking slowly like a confused cat. He tilted his head, long black hair shifting and silk robe gleaming in the dim light. Elegant, graceful, even mussed by sleep. Damn it.
It was one complication of several from Rumi's rescue mission in the underworld to save Jinu. Bobby hadn't ever expected for Rumi to end up with a small harem that included the guy who'd tried to eat their souls and bring him and his five favorite minions to live with them. Mira and Zoey needed time to-- adjust, though that word felt like an understatement, so why not put the managers in the same apartment? Bobby hadn't minded, in theory. For a demon king who'd brainwashed them, the guy had been nothing but polite. Rumi assured Bobby that it was all good now, and Bobby trusted Rumi with his life.
The complication was, even in a human disguise, Gwi-Ma was 6 feet 5 inches of fucking gorgeous.
"Yeah!" Bobby answered, hating the squeak in his voice. He swallowed hard and tried to pull himself together. "Yeah, of course.”
Gwi-Ma moved to the other end of the sofa, footsteps not making a sound. The scent of his coffee-- dark roast, cream, three sugars-- mingled with the scent of chocolate, sweet and rich. He took a long drink and leaned his head back against the sofa with a tired sigh. “You’re up early.”
“I wanted to see the girls off. It’s the last time I’ll see them until January, so…” Bobby trailed off. Scrambled to find something, anything, to say that wouldn't have him tripping over his own tongue. “Did you see the boys off?”
“No. I don’t think they’d appreciate it the same way.”
“Things are still a little tense, huh?”
Glancing over, Gwi-Ma flashed him a wry smile that made Bobby's stomach twist. “Unfortunately.”
“Well, at least you’ve got me. I mean-- uh. You know. Manager to manager. I can understand-- uh, this. Being here, them going off on an adventure.”
“Indeed.” Gwi-Ma's eyebrows were raised, but he kept anything he was thinking to himself, thank god. He finished his coffee as the conversation fell into a quiet that made Bobby want to bellycrawl underneath a bed and stay there. “Is today the day?”
The question snapped Bobby out of his embarrassment, at least for a moment. “What?”
Gwi-Ma stood, moving to a few boxes scattered near the Christmas tree. He poked at them with one slippered foot. “It’s been sitting there for weeks.”
“I’m sorry, I didn't mean for them to be in the way. I should put it away.”
“In the way? No, it's no bother. But isn’t the point of decorations to use them?”
“Yeah, it’s just… I don’t feel especially festive this year, I guess.”
Even though he tried to keep the sadness from his voice, Gwi-Ma let out a hum that Bobby knew meant he knew what Bobby was feeling-- because of course he did. He sat down on the floor next to the boxes, opening one and taking out a glittering little bauble. “Tell me about these.” He held it up, and Bobby smiled, remembering when he got the ornament for his first Christmas with Huntr/x. “I think I’ve missed out on quite a bit of human traditions.”
“Oh! Right.”
Sometimes, it was a little too easy to forget that he was dealing with someone who'd been trapped in the underworld for over a thousand years. Still. The genuine curiosity in Gwi-Ma's expression was endearing, almost. Bobby sat down on the other side of the boxes, taking things out one by one. Lights, glass birds and deer, paper snowflakes Bobby had made in first grade. Each had its own little story, and Gwi-Ma leaned in as Bobby talked, chin resting on one hand as he listened like it was the most fascinating discussion in the world.
Bobby didn't notice until the boxes were almost empty that Gwi-Ma had been sorting the objects into little piles. Things that go on the tree, things that go under it, things that perch on the fireplace. Bobby looked at everything, thirty-something winters worth of life arranged and organized just so.
"What are you thinking?" Gwi-Ma asked, his voice soft.
"It's.. life, you know? I love it. It's been wonderful, in a lot of ways, especially with Huntr/x. I love my girls so much. But all of this is just so... It's stuff I was told to make in school, or from family I haven't spoken to in a decade, or who are dead and gone and never knew the real me at all. I guess I thought I'd have more that was mine by now. Not just other people's traditions or expectations of me."
"You're young, still. There's time."
"I guess. I just feel the clock ticking."
"Sadly, the clock always is."
"Fair enough." Bobby reached out and picked up a little figure of two snowmen kissing, trying to smile. "You probably think this is all so boring. So... trivial."
"Human lives are anything but boring. Each of you are a brilliant, brief flicker of light and passion. Billions of stories, all happening at once, unique and similar and so painfully precious in this tangled up web that most of you can't see or understand." Gwi-Ma reached out and took the figure from his hand. "Trivial. As if any of you could be trivial, when there's such a strong flame of life burning inside your chest. No, it's quite the opposite. You matter so much more than you can know."
Bobby opened his mouth, then shut it again and stared at his hands. "You have a way with words."
"A blessing and curse, I'm told. Why do you feel like your story is boring?"
"I... Well. I guess, I just, a lot of humans my age have shit figured out. My story? I spent so much time in America smiling and pretending. I got out to try and escape it, then did the same thing differently. I feel so behind. And it feels so silly, because I'm sitting here missing America a little, and the family I thought I had. I feel behind, but I keep looking back. It's fucked up."
Gwi-Ma turned the snowmen in his long, slender fingers, letting out that low sound of acknowledgment again. "I spent a great deal of time looking back on times, and people. It's quite natural. Even if it is, as you said, fucked up. I think the truth, my friend, is that people don't have things nearly as figured out as they pretend they do. Human or not. Young or old. We're all lost and confused. Afraid."
"Does it ever stop?"
"Mm. I don't think so. But it can be eased, by reaching out to one another." Gwi-Ma set the snowmen down in a pile. He paused, seeming like he was about to say something else, when his attention when back to the few remaining items in the last box. Reaching in, he picked up a small photo and turned it to Bobby. "What's this?"
Five girls, dressed in festive outfits and smiling happily, posing under mistletoe. Bobby glanced at it and rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. “Uh, that’s me. With my band. It was the last Christmas before I transitioned. I kinda told them what was going on, and they didn't hate me or anything, but. I fell out of touch, and never checked back in. I didn't want to complicate their lives.”
There was a long silence as Gwi-Ma blinked at Bobby, then looked at the photo again before realization dawned on his face. Gwi-Ma immediately frowned, eyebrows furrowed. Bobby felt his insides clench; a lump in his throat made it feel like he couldn't breathe. Fuck--
“Is it not painful?" Gwi-Ma wondered, finally speaking. There was no malice in his voice. No judgment. "To keep this, I mean. Seeing yourself in pictures in a way that wasn’t right for you.”
Bobby let out a breath, relaxing just a little. “It used to be, but I wanted to remember those times. I loved the stage, and my friends, so I put it in a box for a lot of years. It doesn’t hurt so much now.”
“I'm sorry. You seem much happier now, at least.”
“Don't get me wrong, I am.” Bobby chuckled, nervous, even as the danger alarms in his head started to go quiet. "I would do it all again. But I gotta say, I was kinda worried about..." He trailed off, gesturing to himself. "I've been so scared to talk about it, that I've never told anyone, besides my old friends, my doctors, and Rumi."
"Never? Not even a partner?"
"I, uh, I've never dated anyone. My parents tried to set me up with a guy when I was a teenager, but... nothing since. If I tell the wrong person, my career could be ruined. I could be killed."
"That's not going to happen."
"Yeah? You gonna beat people up for me?"
It was meant to be a joke, but Gwi-Ma bristled. "To put it mildly. But for what it's worth, Rumi and I had a conversation, some time ago, about how it's like to try and exist in a world that would hate you for being different. You've nothing to fear from me, and if I can help it, nothing to fear from anyone else ever again. I know the others would agree."
Bobby felt his shoulders lower, and the tightness in his throat ease, even if his pulse still raced. The idea that someone would protect him like that-- Bobby ran a hand through his hair and looked around at everything. The air felt lighter. “You know, I'm feeling a little more festive now. I’ll find a ladder and put some lights up.”
“You wouldn’t need a ladder if I helped.”
Gwi-Ma's tone was teasing, a departure from his somber attitude that made Bobby's knees weak. How do you tell a demon king, oh yeah, I mean I'd climb you, too? Bobby ducked his head and mumbled an agreement; with both of them working together, it didn't take long at all, and before Bobby knew it the entire apartment, tree, and fireplace was done. He looked around at the sparkles, the garlands, the twinkling lights, and... what do you know, he felt a lot better than before.
“Thank you,” Bobby said. "It means a lot."
“Of course. What's next?"
"Uhh, I mean. Nothing, I guess. My family was super traditional, in the American sense, so we'd have a baked ham on Christmas Eve with all the side dishes, and the pumpkin pie. Go to church. Spend Christmas Day listening to music, opening gifts, eating leftovers. But I haven't done anything like that here, and I already wrapped gifts, so... it's a lot of waiting until New Year's Day for the girls to be less busy. We order tteokguk and stuff."
"And the plant?"
"The huh-what?"
Gwi-Ma gestured to the doorway between the living are and the kitchen. "The plant."
"Oh." Bobby's cheeks flushed as he realized. "Uh, mistletoe? It's, well, if you and someone get caught standing under it then you're supposed to kiss. If they want. Consent is sexy."
A tiny smirk. "I see."
"It's-- I mean it's mostly for the girls, they get so shy about their relationship sometimes."
Gwi-Ma nodded, turning to go to the kitchen for breakfast, but Bobby could swear he saw the guy grinning and what the fuck was that about. Jesus on a cracker. Nope, not gonna worry about it.
Bobby shook himself off and grabbed his laptop from the side table, determined to get a little work and a lot of Netflix in before the holidays were done. At least Gwi-Ma was good company. He was content to watch any movie Bobby put on. Home Alone? Big hit. Die Hard? Cinema. Charlie Brown's Christmas? Cute. Noelle? Baffling, but the guy seemed entranced by the drama. (And called the twist ending a third of the way into the movie.) They ate snacks and talked well into the nights, Bobby about his family and Gwi-Ma about how life was back when he was first on earth.
It was... nice.
Really, really fucking weird, but nice.
It didn't help the unyielding goddamn crush Bobby had. At all.
The night before Christmas Eve, Bobby opened up his sock drawer and pawed through them, picking up a small wrapped gift from the back. Unmarked. Purple, gold, and black wrapping paper, no bow. Simple. Elegant. Totally fucking stupid. Bobby sighed, sitting on the bed and holding it like it was a small bomb. Gwi-Ma had been living there in his guest room for months. They'd been sharing the apartment, the bills, food, toothpaste for months. It wasn't weird to get him a gift, right?
Except it was because Bobby knew it wasn't just a Thanks For Being A Chill Roomie gift. It was more, and Gwi-Ma would know it. At least he didn't seemed grossed out about Bobby being trans or anything, which was a low damn bar but one that too many guys out there tripped right over. Gwi-Ma was absolutely not straight-- he'd seen the way Gwi-Ma and Jinu looked at one another. And he definitely wasn't monogamous, considering Rumi was dating them both and there was a baffling amount of co-mingling between Huntr/x and the Saja Boys.
But none of that meant anything about how he saw Bobby.
"I'm gonna crawl through the sink and return to the sea," Bobby groaned under his breath, putting the gift back in the drawer and flopping into bed. "Fuck."
Sleep took the edge of the anxiety, but as Bobby shuffled out of his bedroom, the stillness of the apartment took him by surprise. Gwi-Ma usually slept in, but the door to his room was open and his coat was gone. Bobby frowned. Where could he have had to go...? He was about to shoot off a text when his eyes fell on a sticky note that had been placed on Bobby's favorite mug.
Went out to get a couple things. Be back soon.
Bobby traced the neat, pretty handwriting. The stores were going to be a nightmare. What could be that necessary? Odd, but hey, it was a nice day outside with a light dusting of snow. Why not get some fresh air? He busied himself with his morning routine, and making a pot of coffee. Just as he turned the coffee maker on, he heard the sound of the front door clicking open.
"Oh, hey!" Bobby called out, his mood lifting immediately. "I was just about to make some coffee. Do you want some?"
Gwi-Ma's voice called back from the entrance. "Please. I'm half way to being an icicle."
Bobby pulled the ingredients and set them on the counter. "I bet. You could have called in an order, you know. It's..." He trailed off as Gwi-Ma entered the kitchen, two full grocery bags in hand. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing much."
"Dude, that's half the store in there."
Gwi-Ma set the bags down and began to unpack. Potatoes, butter, sage. Vegetables. Pie crust, canned pumpkin, spice. “You told me about your family’s old traditions. I know it's been a difficult year for you, and hard to be away from the trio, so I thought I'd make us dinner.”
Oh.
Bobby's vision blurred. Oh no, no, hold it together, Robert, damn it. But it was too late. He managed to wipe away the single, manly tear that escaped containment without being spotted. Bobby sniffled, and despite how sneaky he was at trying to hide it, there was no way to hide everything from Gwi-Ma.
"Are you alright?" Gwi-Ma asked, pausing. "If I've upset you, I apologize. You’ve been a very gracious host, and after everything that I did…”
Did he think he still needed to make up for that, to Bobby of all people? The taken souls had been restored. There would always be hurt that couldn't be healed, not fully, and of course it was a different world now that people knew demons existed. It was all still a theological minefield. The government was still trying to say it was a gas leak. The disappearances and reappearances? Coincidental timing. But Bobby had gone online after it all, trying to make sense of it, and saw whispers of the same feeling he still struggled with--
Shame.
It felt good, some said. I felt free for the first time in my life.
Bobby felt like a traitor. Rumi, the only one he'd confided in about it, had understood. The constant pressure to always be in control, versus the relief of letting go and someone taking it from you. Still. The guilt had not only lingered, but grown worse after meeting the very being who'd caused so much trouble and-- what, falling for him? Bobby had tried not to think about it, but there it was, all the same. And now that being was looking at him with nothing short of concern, and--
"N-no," Bobby stammered, making a gesture of assurance. "It's just unexpected. You didn't have to go to all that trouble."
"Ah. We'll have to agree to disagree. However, if you'd like to turn the oven on..."
Warmth filled the kitchen, followed soon by the scent of honey and cinnamon. The two worked together, with Gwi-Ma cooking and Bobby helping mince, stir, and adjust temperatures. It felt like... home, the way that home was supposed to feel. A few hours and a couple of ciders later, and the dining table was covered with baked ham, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and cranberry sauce. A pie was staying cozy in the oven. Music crooned from a radio in the corner, and red and green candles were flickering cheerily at the center of the table.
"This is amazing," Bobby whispered.
Gwi-Ma hid a smile behind his cider. "I'm glad all my hours of watching YouTube paid off."
"No way that's where you learned to cook."
"Absolutely."
Not that it mattered. It was delicious, and the afternoon was spent watching said YouTube channels until well after the sun went down. Food Wishes. Lynja. Rosanna Pansino. Jordan Howlett. Cooking Haru. It was amazing just what was out there, and the things people had thought of. The art of it. Bobby didn't even realize how late it had gotten until his phone vibrated, a text from the girls wishing him a Merry Christmas.
"It's almost midnight already." Bobby stretched and yawned. That was the moment he realized just how close Gwi-Ma was to him, the two of them huddled over Gwi-Ma's phone screen as they'd gone down the video rabbit hole. "Sorry, I didn't mean to take up so much of your time."
"Well, perhaps I wanted you to."
Bobby froze. Their gazes met, and for a split second, it seemed like Gwi-Ma was just as surprised by what he'd said. Gwi-Ma blinked; Bobby thought Gwi-Ma was about to say something, but then his own phone rang. Bobby could see from the corner of his vision that it was Jinu-- probably Rumi, too. Right. They had their own triangle together, and of course they'd want time during a holiday.
"I should probably take this," Gwi-Ma said, flashing Bobby an apologetic smile. "Should I let you know when I'm free?"
Nodding, Bobby hopped up from the sofa and ran a hand through his hair, forcing a smile in return. "Yeah, yeah. I mean. No, you take all the time you need. Uh, I think I'm gonna head to bed. It's been a great day, but I'm a little beat."
"Of course. Goodnight, Bobby. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas."
Bobby fled to his room. He curled his blankets around himself and stared at the ceiling, hearing the faint sound of warm, melodious laughter from beyond the door. It had been a great day. He wasn't even jealous, exactly-- he was glad they had each other, glad that they could be happy together after so much unhappiness and hurt on all sides. Bobby just wished he could make Gwi-Ma laugh like that. And up until tonight, Bobby thought that maybe that wasn't in the cards, but then the guy comes in with a metal chair of a meal, and what he said before the phone rang--
Sighing, Bobby glanced at the drawer where the gift was hiding.
What if he had the courage to take it, go out there, and just say everything he was thinking?
... Yeah, what if.
He closed his eyes, and was drifting off to sleep when his phone buzzed with a new text. Bobby opened one eye and peeked at his screen. Gwi-Ma's human name popped up. What could that be about?
I really did have a lovely night with you. Sweet dreams.
Bobby reread the text a few more times, blushing.
He fell asleep holding his phone to his chest. The next morning, Bobby determined that he would say something, but-- well, first was breakfast, and then Gwi-Ma wanted to know Bobby's favorite Christmas movies, and then they decided to make cookies, so-- it just never seemed a good time. Even when Gwi-Ma's eyes lingered on him a little too long, well, what if it was Bobby's imagination? And sometimes, their hands would brush when reaching for the same mug, or when they shared popcorn during their now-nightly movie watch, but it was coincidence. Right?
The days between Christmas and New Year's Day moved by at a crawl, and were gone in a flash, all at once. New Year's Eve arrived with a tension hanging in the air between them that Bobby knew would require bolt cutters at this point. But at least the guys and his trio would be coming back the day after tomorrow, and they'd be too busy catching up on work to think much about it. Easy! Avoidance was totally a healthy coping mechanism! And he did manage to avoid Gwi-Ma for most of the day, until the celebration at Time's Square in New York City started, and Gwi-ma-- somehow knowing Bobby liked to watch it-- pulled it up on the television.
"Tonight's the night, eh?"
Bobby looked up from his pre-cocktail party sandwich, eyes wide as Gwi-Ma leaned on the counter across from Bobby, those ruby eyes lined in black and the lids dusted with purple shadow. Fuck. Bobby tried to speak, and finally managed to choke out a few words. "Uh, the night for what?"
"New year, new us, yes?" Gwi-Ma grinned, holding up a bottle of champagne. "That's the saying?"
"Yeah, but people like to say it and then everything stays the same."
"Ah, but what if it changed? Do you have plans?"
"Well, uhm. No. My future's always kinda pending."
"Not anymore."
Gwi-Ma pushed off the counter and walked to the living room, a saunter in his walk. He was dressed in a tight black number, and Bobby wanted nothing more than to melt into the floor. Even after seventeen years of forced Bible thumping, this bastard was as close to a god as Bobby had ever been. Bobby finished breakfast and washed the dishes, taking his nervous energy out on silverware and plates before moving to cleaning the rest of the apartment with the zeal of a soccer mom; it gave him time to think. If this was one of the last nights they were gonna have together without potential K-Pop band interruption, Bobby decided he had to make the most of it. Sure, he wanted to hide. But where had hiding ever gotten him?
The next step was a shower and dressing up in the cutest, sparkliest outfit he had-- it was one of the ones he wore during the Huntr/x Golden promo spree. It fit him well and the aesthetic seemed like something that would fit with New Year. Once that was done, he made up a charcuterie board with the best cheeses he had, crackers, and sliced apples. Popcorn? Check. Chips? Sure. There was cider left over from Christmas, and a bottle of wine, that he could contribute to the apparent alcohol reserve Gwi-Ma had built on the coffee table.
There was the champagne, rum, and a case of beer that Bobby knew cost a pretty penny. "Saying goodbye to your liver tonight?" Bobby teased, his heart pattering faster when Gwi-Ma chuckled. "If demons have livers."
"We do, we do. I thought it would be nice to have choices."
And he wasn't wrong. Bobby was grateful for the liquid courage, not that it did all that much. He still shifted nervously, waiting for some time that at least felt kind of right. He was too anxious to really notice when the alcohol did hit and start doing something. Goo Goo Dolls came on, and Bobby let out a little noise of excitement.
"The first song I danced to in High School," he announced, words a bit fuzzy, "was to their music."
Gwi-Ma let out a noise. "Why do high schools have dances in America? Are American teenagers especially gifted in dance?"
"I was!"
"Well, you did become an idol."
"I still remember my best moves."
"Show me."
Bobby whined. "No! Why would you do this to me when I'm drunk?"
"Because you're not drunk, and I think it's criminal that you don't get to dance more." Gwi-Ma stood, offering a hand. "C'mon. Show me."
Fuck. Shit. Also fuck. Bobby exhaled, took another swig of beer, and accepted Gwi-ma's hand. "Fine. But if I crunch your foot, it's your own fault."
"My foot and I accept the risk."
Rolling his eyes, Bobby led Gwi-Ma into a simple dance he'd learned Sophomore year. It was a bit wobblier, and it wasn't anything especially amazing, but it made Gwi-Ma laugh that beautiful laugh of his, and that was all Bobby had ever wanted. He almost didn't notice when Gwi-Ma rested a hand on his shoulder; he noticed immediately when his other hand moved to Bobby's hip. Their eyes met, and--
"Ah!" Gwi-Ma's eyes lit up as a song came over the television. "Pink Pony Club."
Bobby snorted. "I didn't take you for a Chappell Roan guy."
"My interests are more extensive than you might think."
... That phrasing, with the tone Gwi-Ma used, felt like something. Bobby could sense that gaze on him. He risked lifting his head and immediately regretted it, breath leaving him as he realize Gwi-Ma was inches away and looking at Bobby in a way that left absolutely no question to what was being said. There was no hiding. No plausible deniability. So, naturally, Bobby did the one thing anyone would do.
He ran.
Well, it wasn't exactly a run. Bobby knew he'd fall flat on his face and bounce like a goddamn harbor seal if he tried that. But he beat a hasty retreat to his room, shutting the door and taking a moment to breathe. Everything was blurry around the edges; he shouldn't have had so much to drink, especially so early, but he still had enough clarity to know what he wanted to do. Bobby went to the dresser and opened the drawer, taking out the gift.
Now or never. Bobby gathered his booze-soaked nerves and went back out to the living room. And... Gwi-Ma wasn't there. He pursed his lips. Great. But then he heard sounds from the kitchen, and Bobby headed that way; Gwi-Ma was getting water from the sink, adams apple moving with each gulp. Bobby zoned out a moment, bewitched, but then he shook his head and cleared his throat.
Gwi-Ma set down the glass, tilting his head. "There you are. Are you alright? You just..." He trailed off, his voice a bit slurred. Shit, were they both tipsy? "Poof. Gone."
Yep. They were.
"I, uh." Bobby bit his lip. He held out the gift, avoiding Gwi-Ma's eyes. “I wanted to give this to you on Christmas, but I guess I got nervous. But I want you to have it.”
Gwi-Ma approached, reaching out and accepting the box from Bobby. He unwrapped it with a surprising amount of care, not ripping a single bit of the paper. Inside was a little jewelry box; he opened it, letting out a quiet sound of appreciation. The amethyst stud, a deep blue-purple, glittered even in the kitchen lighting. "This is exquisite. I adore it."
“I know you said you wanted to get your ear pierced, and purple is your color, so…”
"Thank you, truly." He looked up from the earring, his expression fond. Gwi-Ma tucked the box into the pocket of his blazer, pulling out a slip of paper as he did. He glanced down at it, lips tugging into a tiny smile for the briefest moments. "It's a little funny, since... well, I guess we had the same idea. I was too nervous to give this to you on Christmas, myself."
Bobby accepted the paper as Gwi-Ma offered it. A phone number. “What’s this?”
“I got in touch with your former bandmates. I know it’s probably overstepping, and I apologize for that, but still. They miss you, and want to get in touch with you. Just as you are.”
"You... they... what?"
"I should let them explain themselves, but they thought you wouldn't want anything to do with them anymore. And maybe you don't, but I figured if there was a chance to mend that bridge-- Bobby?"
Blinking hard, Bobby tried to hold back the tears, but it wasn't possible. He scrambled for his wallet, stuffing the number inside before it got soggy. The girls had never been mean to him when he came out, but it had been awkward, and he'd cut himself off to make sure their images weren't risked. And after years had passed, he'd let them move on. But if they'd been waiting for him to reach out, and he'd been waiting for them, then... was it all a misunderstanding? Now, now he could find out. He could talk to his old family, the first real family he'd ever had.
“I’m sorry if this wasn’t alright.”
“It’s-- it’s sweet.”
"You seem upset."
"Happy tears."
"Humans," he said, his voice gently amused. Gwi-Ma reached out, wiping the tears from Bobby's cheeks. "Sobbing at the drop of a hat."
Bobby laughed, even if he was still crying. "We're a very damp species."
The sound of the countdown to midnight lilted in from the living room. Gwi-Ma slipped a finger under Bobby's chin, tipping his face up to look at Gwi-Ma. The demon smiled. "Did you know? You forgot to take down the mistletoe from Christmas."
He had? A quick look confirmed it, and--
-- And then Gwi-Ma's lips were on his, in a slow, feather-light kiss. Bobby's eyes closed as his kissed back, the countdown hitting zero. Cheers and fireworks sounded off. Music played. None of it mattered, because strong arms were curling around him and holding him close, and Gwi-Ma's mouth tasted like smoke and wine, and god he was so warm and more than Bobby could have ever imagined.
New Year, new us.
Maybe it would be true, after all.