Work Text:
"Every year, X asked for a new family."
"His wish never came true."
-
From inside a house, the snow would be beautiful. Glittering snowflakes swirling in the air and piling up into mountains for children to play in. Cuddling up next to the fireplace and watching cheesy Christmas movies with loved ones while drinking hot chocolate, as the cold snow was comfortably locked outside. Though it was still pretty. (A/N: Hot take: hot chocolate is nasty)
X had none of that, so he hated snow.
The only thing snow was to him was another reason that he might die each year.
Christmas wasn't magical. It was hell. And he hated it too for that.
Though that wasn't the only reason.
Foolishly, every year, he'd wish for the same thing.
A family. Somewhere to call home.
Was that so much to ask?
-
Lying in an alley, in a cardboard box, was the yellow variable, wrapped up in a thrifted blanket that was much too thin for the biting weather. His gloves were a bit too small, and his scarf was falling apart. The only thing that was in good condition was his hat. It was a hefty five dollars from a thrift store, but at least it kept him somewhat warm.
It had gotten so cold, for so long, that X was pretty much past the point of shivering; it just hurt now. His legs were stiff and painful to move, and he was fading in and out of consciousness.
But then a small moment of clarity told him that if he didn't get somewhere warm, he'd die of hypothermia.
He didn't want to die.
But, he kinda did.
What did he have to live for?
Nothing, really.
Get up. Said the same voice that told him he'd die from the cold.
So he did.
X crawled out of his box, gathering what few possessions he had, and stood up. His eyes darted around for somewhere to stay. Well, break into.
There was a hotel across the street that his eyes landed on. Surely, it'd be warm.
X ran as fast as he could, which wasn't all that fast, across the street and through the dead of night. He made it to the sidewalk on the other side of the road, nearly slipping on the ice, but making it safely nonetheless.
He sucked in a breath. God, when did it get hard to breathe?
All the more reasons to get somewhere warm.
At least, if he got arrested for breaking and entering, he'd have food, a bed, and a roof.
He blinked, and his vision went black for a moment. Fog filled his head, and he couldn't think clearly. Why was he standing here again?
He was cold.
So, so cold....
-
-
When X woke up-
Wait. He woke up?
And he was warm. Was he dead?
No, alive. He pinched himself to make sure of it.
Wait, no. That's what you do when you're in a dream.
Do you feel pain in heaven?
No, because if he were dead, why was he in a warm bed?
What the fuck was happening...?
"You're alive, thank God." Said a kind voice.
X's head snapped over to the voice, which made his head throb. "Wha-.... Who..?" His voice was raspy from lack of use.
"My name is Two," They said.
"....I'm X." Did this person save him?
"Good to know, but now I'm going to need you to rest for a while longer. You very well could have died last night."
"I... What? Really?" Well, no shit.
"You almost did. You were very, very cold. If it weren't for Four, you would've... Well, I don't want to think about that.."
Four? "Who's Four...?"
Someone else burst through the door. "He's awake?"
"That's Four." Two cringed.
Four stepped up to X's bed as he sat up the best he could.
"Hi..." Greeted X.
"How are you feeling?"
"...My head hurts."
His eyebrows furrowed. "That's it? Don't lie to me."
"......I'm still a little cold, too... But-! I'm fine! No need to fuss over me-!" X forced a weak smile.
Four stood there with an unimpressed look on his face. "Two," he stated. "Get. More. BLANKETS."
"Hey! This is MY hotel, I-"
Four shot them a look.
"Fine. Fine, I'll get the blankets, but not because you told me to." Two obliged as they exited the room.
"Really, I'm fine! You don't have to-" X tried to assure.
"You almost froze to death," Four stated, crossing his arms.
"I-i know... But.. I'm fine now!"
Four's face dropped into a deadpan expression.
X fidgeted with his fingers. "I just don't want to bother you guys..."
"You're not bothering us." Four reached out to pat X's head, causing the variable to flinch. Four noticed and retracted his hand. "But the only thing bothering me is the fact that THE BLANKETS ARE NOT HERE YET!" He stomped his foot.
X giggled at the other's mini tantrum as Two reentered the room, now with a couple more blankets.
"Jeez! I'm coming!" Two exclaimed, stepping up to X's bed. "Here you go, bud."
"...Thank you." X said softly.
Looking up at the two numbers--numbers like him--who had begun to bicker about something petty, he couldn't help but feel like this could be the family he wished for each year.
Hope bloomed in his chest, maybe, just maybe, Christmas could be what he always wanted it to be.
That night, on Christmas Eve, X fell asleep, not in a cardboard box, not shivering cold, but in a bed, warm and happy.
The next morning, he woke up to Four looming over him, causing the shorter alien to jump in fear.
"What are you doing??"
"Two wants you to come down to the kitchen with me." That was all he said.
"Uh, okay..." X slipped out of bed, not expecting Four to grab his hand and drag him along.
X's heart raced a bit faster, both from the hand holding and what Two could possibly want.
"X! Good morning!" Two greeted as they stood in front of a Christmas tree with gifts underneath.
"Good morning..." X replied softly, still wary of Two's intentions. Were they going to kick him out?
"We weren't expecting an extra person, so it was difficult to get some things, but..." Two picked up a gift and held it out to the variable. "Merry Christmas, X."
X was taken aback; a gift? For him? "That's... For me?"
"Yup!" Replied Two.
"Thank you..." X murmured as he took the box, looking at it with astonishment.
"Open it up." Two urged.
So he did. Inside, was a beautiful ceramic bowl with little flowers painted all over it.
"How did you...?"
"Lucky guess, I suppose." Two smiled.
X blinked away tears as he gently picked up the bowl from the box to inspect it closer. "I love it."
"I'm glad."
"X?" Four said.
"Yes..?"
"Can I..?" He reached out his hand slightly.
"Um.. I guess..."
Four smiled and pat X on the head, which he wasn't expecting, but X didn't really end up minding it.
"I like you. I want you to stay." Four stated.
"What?"
"Well, I was hoping to tell you more eloquently, but..." Two trailed off. "Welcome home, X."