It's been four years since the Inversion.
(Tw: mentions of grief, fictional tragedy, nightmares)
Lovely barely registers Vincent's presence until his arms wrap around their waist pulling them in closer. He's quiet for once, no opening line or joke, they realise he's waiting for them to speak. They press a gentle kiss to the top of his head, turning to face him, arms settling naturally to rest on his shoulders, playing with his hair.
"I wasn't thinking about it yet. Just... around it, you know?"
He nods thoughtfully, thumb tracing meaningless patterns on their hip, needing no explanation from them. "I know. Do you want to think about it?"
They shake their head softly, a small smile on their lips. "Not tonight. I think I'd rather hide with you on the couch and pretend it's not new years."
"I can do that my love." He gives them an exaggerated wink and picks them up effortlessly, causing them to burst into laughter. They press their forehead to his.
Technically it isn't lying when neither of them mention how familiar this position is for the anniversary of Lovely's death.
An unimpressed bark breaks the quiet of Avior and Starlight's apartment. Starlight pauses the film looking up in surprise. "How does it always creep up on me? I guess it's dinner time."
They pad over to the kitchen where a very excited old dog wags expectantly by her food bowl; Avior follows them in, tail also swaying happily as he watches his love move around the cupboards. "Can I make you something Starlight?"
"Only if you don't mind dearest." They smile over their shoulder at the demon. "Have you fed enough today? I'm sure there's plenty of anticipation of nothing else tonight if you want to go out."
He shakes his head, "I've had plenty, no need to fret. Besides whenever you look at me I-"
They look up at him and the words catch in his throat. Every time they look at him or he speaks, he feels a spark of love from them and it warms him down to his core.
"Whenever I look at you, what?" They ask curiously, smile dancing on their lips.
His tail wraps around their waist and he pulls them close to him, chuckling at the surprised noise they make. "I just feel... so loved."
Starlight reaches up to cup his cheek - there's a magical scar there, ever since Hush was dragged out from him, as if a part of him was displaced just out of sight. He doesn't flinch when their hand gently smooths over it, leaning into their touch.
The moment is broken by another grumpy bark from the ground and the two break away laughing; Avior catching their hand before they can fully leave his embrace and levitating the dog bowl down.
"I love you Starlight, I'm glad to be with you today."
"Huxley." Damien's protests fall on unrelenting ears as Huxley moves around the apartment like a man possessed. "Hux, baby seriously-"
"No Dames it's fine really." The earth elemental shakes his head, sweating a little. "It's no sweat."
Damien raises an unimpressed eyebrow, "you're literally sweating."
"Oh. Right. But I mean it's okay. I just don't want you to be cold." Huxley waves his boyfriend off, gathering blankets and turning up the space heater in the already heated living room.
"Okay, stop. Please." Damien steps forward and unplugs the heater. Stepping in front of Huxley, forcing him to meet his gaze. "Talk to me. What's up with you tonight?"
"I..." Huxley swallows, wiping his brow. "I just got in my head a-about tonight I guess and I didn't want you to feel- like just in case. I know the Solstice is over but I didn't want you to be thinking about cold and-" he gestures helplessly to the heater and blankets, "then this all kinda happened."
Damien blinks, a short laugh escaping him despite himself. "Baby I'm fine. It honestly hasn't even been on my mind today, I've been cooking most of the day for the party tonight." He cups Huxley's face, "but it seems like it's been on yours."
At the touch Huxley melts, guilt flooding his features, he could never hide anything from Damien. "I already left you at the Solstice and thinking of it today made me feel worse about that. A-and it snowed today and I miss Xavier, I feel bad for not missing him more. And then I feel bad for feeling bad, y'know?"
Damien feels his heart twist and pulls him into a hug. "You carry too much Hux. It's okay to talk to me about this stuff you know?" He rubs Huxley's back in smooth comforting circles. "You didn't leave me at the Solstice, I was with Lasko. And you feeling things a bit harder this year doesn't say anything about times you weren't. Wounds heal, there is no shame in that."
Huxley buries his face in Damien's shoulder, not speaking but Damien feels his shoulder dampen with tears. Before the fire elemental can speak he feels three taps on his back.
"I love you too Huxley." He whispers, and holds his boyfriend a little tighter.
"Dammit! We should never have let you two team up." Elliott throws down his cards in mock disgust, pointing a finger accusingly at Aaron and Sunshine.
"Betrayed by the ones we trusted most." Smartass shakes their head at Aaron, with a glint in their eye that he knows means trouble. "I think they cheated."
Sunshine gasps a dramatic hand to their chest. "Such accusations! You wound us! Oh lover of mine, surely you don't agree with this?"
"I don't know..." Elliott trails off, poking them with his foot under the table, drawing another scandalised vocalization from them.
"You should know that Sunshine and I have a team of lawyers on standby for an occasion such as this." Aaron deadpans, the corner of his mouth twitching as he fights off a smirk. "And should your defamation continue, we will not be afraid to follow up with a cease and desist."
"Yeah get their asses Aaron!" Sunshine cheers. "Anyone want a drink while I'm in the kitchen?"
"I'll take another champagne if you don't mind." Aaron holds out his glass.
"Sure thing! Anyone else?"
The other two shake their head and Sunshine stands up. They head to the kitchen and see how dark it is, as they take another step towards it they feel Elliott immediately by their side.
"You guys okay?" Smartass asks looking up.
"Yeah I just," Elliott shifts a little, in his spot, laughing uncomfortably. "I don't know, I didn't want to see them go off on their own."
Sunshine's hand slips into his and realises quietly they also didn't want to part from him either. "It's okay, Eli can help me with drinks and maybe some extra snacks."
They look up and think they see a face at the window and their grip on the Dreamwalker's hand tightens. There had been a slight unease in them all day as if remembering a bad dream. But with another look at the window it's gone; and they shake it off, heading into the kitchen, Elliott in tow.
Brachium watches the small family silently. He had vowed not to disturb their peace again, but that did not mean he did not long to be a part of it. While he would never willingly go back to the hazy moments of wondering the cool sands of death, he did miss the warmth that his little drop of Sunshine had brought him.
Scorpius watches from further back, impatient. "Listen Brachium if we don't leave now they might see us. The quicker we can capture Blake and deal with Closeknit, the quicker you can all have your little family reunion."
"I do not know if they would even wish to see me." He whispers, and he startles as for the first time since he was freed from death, he feels tears on his face once more. "I merely wished to see their serenity once again. Besides, it sustains me well."
He watches as Sunshine stands up, the fear crossing theirs and Elliott's faces and he steps closer, protectively, without thinking.
He catches Sunshine's eye, they don't recognise him, not properly through the glass and darkness. And with that he moves away, back to the shadows. And he and Scorpius are gone before they can double take.
"And this is a common ritual?" Hush asks watching the swarm of people moving in the street below.
"For some people." Doc shrugs. "Not everyone celebrates the same calendar, but moving into the New Year is often a very big event."
"But you do not wish to join them?" Hush inquires, turning his head to watch them inquisitively.
They shake their head, "nah. It's a... weird time of year for me, so I don't always celebrate."
Hush looks disappointed but weighs his response carefully. "So you do not desire to take part in... any of the common events for this evening?"
"What did you have in mind?" They eye him suspiciously, fighting off a smile.
"I simply read about it being good luck for the coming year to share a kiss at midnight. And I would like good luck. And to kiss you. But I don't want to force you if it would still be 'weird'."
They snort, making their way over to him at the window. "I think I'll be okay, but I appreciate the thought. Besides being with you makes things feel better."
"Good. You make me feel better too." He says quietly, taking their hand in his.
There's shouts on the street and Doc steps closer to Hush. And they both lean in, just as the count down draws to its end.
"Ash. Asher, baby wake up." Baaabe gently strokes their mate's arm. The new year fireworks were screaming outside and Asher was having a nightmare.
Baaabe had made an effort to stay up, knowing Asher calling out of the pack celebration wasn't the best sign for a restful night. Not tonight. They hate being right as they watch his face scrunch up in fear.
Suddenly he sits upright with gasping breaths, clutching his chest.
"T-the river-" he chokes out wildly, looking around before seeing Baaabe and grabbing their hands.
"Hey, hey, it's okay. You're at home with me. Feel the bed, feel my hands." They squeeze his hands gently and he clings to them like a lifeline. "You're safe Ash, you're okay."
Slowly his breaths begin to match theirs and he becomes more aware of his surroundings. The wolf sinks back into his pillows with a sigh. "Sorry Baaabe, I didn't mean to wake you. I was hoping taking the night off from the party would help me chill out."
"It's okay, I was already awake." They murmur, running a hand along his arm. "What do you need from me?"
"Cuddles would be nice. I wanna hold you." He asks hoarsely, and they smile, resting their head on his chest.
"What were you saying about a river?" Baaabe asks quietly, comforted by his more steady heartbeat.
"Hm? I don't know, must've been part of the dream." He murmurs, petting their hair gently. "Can you... hum for a little bit? Just something to focus on."
They kiss just above his scar, their way of saying 'of course', and begin to hum. Asher watches them silently for a while until he can't fight the pull any longer and he drifts back into a much more peaceful sleep.
"Hey you." Milo breaks Sweetheart's trance as they watch the night sky torn apart by light. He hands them a glass, raising his own. "To another year with you baby."
They clink their glass against his, "happy new year Milo."
"Ma says Aggro is buried under his blankets but doing okay."
This lessons some of the stress in Sweethearts shoulders as they take a sip. "Good. I'm glad."
A firework explodes behind Milo and Sweetheart flinches at the image.
"Can we go home now?" They whisper, "I'm really tired."
"Yeah of course Sweetheart." Milo kisses the back of their hand. "I'll never say no to you taking rest when you need it."
They smile weakly, praying he misses their moment of weakness as fatigue and allow him to take them home. "Wolf cuddles tonight?" Sweetheart asks looping their arm through his.
Milo flashes them a grin that shows off his sharp teeth. "You need only ask lover, and I will provide."
