Work Text:
You had told the cameraman to keep you out of the way of the lens. If you were ever in one of Sean's videos, you'd be the voice behind the camera. Like Stevie was for Rhett and Link, minimal appearances, and only when you wanted to. You never wanted to steal the show away from the true star.
The video you were currently filming and editing was almost finished, but Sean had given the crew the rest of the day off to go and celebrate Christmas Eve with their families. You had stayed behind to clean up the office, and anyway you didn't have anyone to spend the holiday with, the only person you loved gone now, work was the only thing you could focus on.
There was a knock at your office door, finally done cleaning, you were just staring at your computer.
"Come in." You said out of routine, Sean opened the door, you were surprised he was still here he had been complaining about getting back home before the party he was throwing started so him and Evelyn could have some alone time.
"Hey, Sean, what's up?" You checked yourself mentally, you weren't disobeying any rules or crossing any boundaries by staying late.
You waited to jump to conclusions until he said something.
"So, I know you don't have anything planned for the holidays." He started fidgeting with his hands.
"Yeah that's true"
"Well Evelyn and I wanted to extend our invitation out you." He smiled,
"Oh, I cant accept that." He was being too generous, you would be too awkward at this party to mingle with whoever else he had invited. It was your fatal flaw, the awkwardness.
"Please, you have to, Evelyn will beat me up if you don't." He laughed, and you laughed along with him.
"Also y/n, you've been a part of this channel for years through thick and thin, everyone knows you, so it'll be alright." He reassured you, and you felt calmness wash over you.
"Okay, let me just grab my things."
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You were in the back of Evelyn's car as she drove away from the office building.
"I'm so glad you took Sean up on his offer, we're going to have so much fun." She smiled at you in the rear view mirror.
"Yeah I think so too." You said smiling back. Your anxiety was growing by the minute.
Christmas songs played through the speakers at a low volume as you were driven to their home in silence.
It was a nice quiet, and as the road stretched on you could feel yourself getting drowsy. The warmth of the heater not making it any easier to stay awake.
by some grace or will you manage to stay awake for the entire car drive, his house was neat. a good portion of it was covered by trees and out of view from the road they turned off of.
"this is..nice." you said as you got out of the car. you just wanted to get this over with so you could get back to your empty apartment..and maybe even wallow in self pity before work resumed new years day.
you walked into their home, the smell of orange and cinnamon wafted at you as you set your shoes next to the rest of the pairs.
there was a spread of food and it made you realize how hungry you actually were. you grabbed a plate and took one of the frosted sugar cookies, this one in the shape of the septiceye logo wearing a santa hat. it made you smile, you remember getting that same cookie cutter from a fan some odd number of years ago.
Evelyn and Sean had joined the party in the other room, the jumbled noise of talking and muffled Christmas music was enough to stop you in your steps. the anxiety building up to its crescendo. you silently ate your cookie sitting in a chair in the back corner of the kitchen. it wasn't like they didn't know you were here. You just didn't have the energy to socialize.
you got up to toss your plate and heard the floor creaking.
it was Ethan, he was smiling. You were frozen like a deer caught in headlights. And then you melted, realizing that you were acting silly. The anxiety was still there. It was never not gonna be there, and isolating yourself was not gonna accomplish anything but making yourself sad.
You smiled back at him,
"Hey Ethan."
"Hey y/n, it's good to see you outside of work for once." He laughed and you walked into the room where the music was coming from.
"Yeah, same, Merry Christmas" he gave you a side hug and went to go sit down with everyone.
You hadn't had any clue who would be at the party, you knew it was at Sean and Evelyn's place but that was the jist of it.
When you walked into the room, it was like you were transported back to when you first started as Sean's assistant.
The memories of doing collab videos, flying all the way from Ireland to America to film with someone you grew up watching. Meeting Ethan when he had just started out as a youtuber, both of you anxious as ever.
As much as Sean wanted to call this a party it was more of a reunion. Sure there was booze, and non-alcoholic beverages for those who couldn't drink, but he had only invited a few people.
Mark, Amy, Tyler, Ethan, Sean, and Evelyn were the only people in the room.
The chatter cleared up as the guests noticed your arrival.
"Y/n!" Tyler exclaimed, gathering you up in a hug. You laughed as you we're spun around.
"Tyler, I'm so glad to see you." You said out of breath as he set you down.
"We decided to surprise you this year, we heard from Sean you've been having a hard time so we thought that you might want to be surrounded by your friends on Christmas." Mark explained and you felt a warmth spread through your chest, you had been living in the shadows since your partner passed away, isolating yourself so no one else would have to help you, or feel the need to shoulder your burden. You forgot that you had friends outside of the job outside of the mask you put on to entertain behind the camera. You forgot you had a family and the bubble you surrounded yourself with burst.
You had a family, and they had all showed up for you in a time where you hadn't thought you deserved the attention.
Tears welled up in your eyes, "you guys are too much" you laughed and it came out as a wet sob.
All six of them surrounded you as you tried to wipe your face, they enveloped you in a group hug.
"Merry Christmas Y/N" they said in unison. you smiled underneath all of them.
They let you go and you caught up with them in conversation, anxiety finally settled into a buzz in the back of your head and warmth spread throughout your body.
As the night went on you mingled and told jokes and connected with your friends again.
You and the rest of the party end up falling asleep on Sean's couch and surrounding area watching Christmas movies. You made sure to overnight something for everyone before you accidentally nodded off.
Sean made sure everyone was covered in blankets before he headed to his and Evelyn's room to sleep. He picked up BB and carried him to their room.
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.....
You breathed peacefully on the couch, dreaming of sugar plums and gumdrops and presents to come.
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