#dmmdss2015

Germany was quite a peculiar place.

It wasn't necessarily a bad thing but even after almost a year of living there Aoba couldn't help but think that. Especially now during the festive time leading up to Christmas which the Germans seemed to take very seriously, it was hard to wrap his head around everything.

For Aoba, Christmas was basically just a nice time. Sometimes a gift or two was exchanged but generally it was just an enjoyable time he spent with friends.

But for the Germans Christmas seemed to be its very own science that required a special kind of preparation, execution and even post-processing, at least by now that wouldn't surprise him. Everyone around just seemed to be in some weird Christmas-induced craze and that two weeks before the actual holiday.

In contrast Noiz was... just his usual self. It was probably overkill to get so upset over a holiday this early on but after seeing everyone else it was weird to see the blond not reacting to the nearing holiday at all. But knowing him, it wouldn't surprise Aoba if Noiz just genuinely didn't care or maybe... he didn't know better? As little as he may know about the other's childhood it was already enough to make it hard to imagine Noiz's family sitting around a Christmas tree.

“Hey Noiz?”

“Hm?” The blond looked up from whatever he had been intently staring at on his coil.

“Let's have a traditional German Christmas!”

Even as the words left his mouth he realized how weird they sounded out of the blue and the blond stared at him understandably skeptical. “Where did that come from?”

“I dunno, I just... never spent Christmas outside of Midorijima before...”

“Isn't that just because you generally never went anywhere before?” And he had the guts to smirk as he said that!

“D-does it matter? I just want to, okay? Now that I'm living here, I at least should know how it's done, right?”

“You don't want that, you have seen those guys out there, right?”

At that point, Aoba had to suppress an annoyed sigh. “We don't have to do anything crazy! Why are we even arguing about this. I just want-” He stopped himself just in time. 'I just want to make you happy', no way in hell he was saying that out loud.

“What?”

“Nothing,” he lied. “Suit yourself. You can help me or I will just do some research myself.”

Or rather he'd just have Ren do some research, couldn't be that hard to follow written instructions, right?

Noiz just looked at him unimpressed. “I don't know why you're so eager about this, it's just a holiday. But if you want to learn about Germany... I guess I'll help.” Suddenly he looked way more thoughtful than Aoba expected him to about a matter like that but he decided not to comment on it.

“So, when do we start?” he asked instead.

“Not for another week.”

“Seriously??” Did he just agree and planned not to do anything after all?

“It's better that way. We can't get one yet anyway.” Wait, what was he talking about? “One what?” But Noiz was already back on his coil and not listening anymore.

“Noiz!”

- - -

Noiz never bothered to response and never spoke of it again either.

And so, one week before Christmas, Noiz returned from work, or rather somewhere else he must have gone afterward to set up a weird massive metal structure in the middle of the living room. And next to it he left a huge cardboard box.

Just what was inside and what the heck was that thing?

“Let's go,” Noiz said without any explanation whatsoever and was already on his way back outside.

“Go where? Wait, Noiz!” He could really do without the blond's antics sometimes, Aoba thought to himself, as he scrambled to get up from where he had been sitting to follow his lover.

Despite winter season it wasn't overly cold out. A long-sleeved shirt and a jacket was normally enough to go outside.

It got dark early though and so it looked as if they had just stepped out into the middle of the night even thought it was still afternoon.

“Noiz?”

“Hm?”

“Where are we going?” But he received no answer, as expected. Noiz could be a real brat if he wanted to be.

But they didn't have to go far, it seemed.

Was that... a forest in the middle of the city?

Noiz's amused chuckle told him that he had accidentally voiced that question out loud.

“No, it's not,” he answered laughing.

A sign on the fence surrounding the trees read “Weihnachtsbaumverkauf” which... didn't tell him much with his still limited German knowledge.

“Is that...?”

“You really haven't figured it out yet? It was you who wanted to celebrate Christmas and you don't even recognize Christmas trees?”

Aoba blushed. “O-of course I do! But it's dark and all I see is a bunch of trees!”

Noiz chuckled. “Right. Then go choose one.”

“Wha-? We're going to-”

“Buy one, yes. What did you think?”

Those were... real trees, right? Not some made of plastic like he had seen before. You really could just buy them like that? In the middle of the city, no less! There sure wasn't anything like that back in Midorijima.

The blond noticed his obvious surprise and smiled.

“Come on,” he said and took his hand, leading him into the makeshift shop.

Small trees, big trees, narrow trees and broad ones with long branches, some weren't even exactly green but more with a blueish hue.

How was he supposed to choose? He didn't know anything about trees, whether they were meant for Christmas decoration or not.

Noiz's hand hadn't let go of his even after they entered and was a comforting warmth at his side.

“So... how about this one?”

Admittedly it was a rather random choice but right in this moment, with Noiz at his side it just seemed right. It wasn't overly big, as Noiz would probably have preferred but it wasn't about size anyway. It was their first Christmas tree and it would have been special, no matter what, even if he had not even gotten to choose it.

Noiz just hummed in response. “It's your choice.”

“Then let's take this one, I like it.”

Noiz nodded and went off to talk to the person tending the shop. The man came over, got the tree and put it on a rail to be pulled through a sort of pipe filled with a specific net. A tree with long branches went in and came back out wrapped completely in a tight net keeping the branches from poking out.

It was the first time Aoba had seen anything like it. It was kind of amazing.

Noiz paid the man and set the tree down next to him.

“You wanna grab the top or the bottom?”

Wait, what?

“We have to carry it??”

The blond just laughed.

“You want me to get a delivery service?” he asked amused.

“N-no, I just didn't think...”

It should have been logical, actually, but then again he had never bought a tree before. So he just wordlessly grabbed onto the top of the tree and waited for Noiz to lift it from the other said.

Suddenly he was glad he hadn't chosen a bigger one. It was a short trek home but the tree was heavy enough as it was.

“So... you seem like you're used to it. Did you regularly buy Christmas trees?” Aoba couldn't help but ask.

“No, I've never bought one but it's not hard to figure out, is it?”

He remained silent but that pretty much confirmed what he had wondered about back when he had proposed to celebrate Christmas properly.

Getting the tree through the city was fairly easy, getting it up the stairs to the apartment on the other hand turned out to be a nightmare.

The branches started poking him and the net he held onto was extremely thin but sturdy and started to bite into his skin.

He had never been so glad to be back in the apartment before.

The weird thing Noiz had brought in earlier now turned out to be intended to keep the tree in place which worked wonderfully once they had finally gotten the tree in a decent upright position.

As soon as it was in place and secured Aoba sank down in the nearby chair. Who would have thought it was that difficult to get a Christmas tree... and it wasn't even really a Christmas tree yet, it was basically just a fir tree standing in the middle of their living room now.

Noiz had the guts to grin at him.

“Still want to celebrate a traditional Christmas?”

“O-of course! You want to give up so soon? I, for my part, just need a little break,” he boasted even though he could feel his back aching already.

But he still really wanted to do it. He was curious, especially now that he got a feeling for just how much work people seemed to invest in it. And he wanted to do it for Noiz too, of course.

For now all the blond did was mock him for it but he did seem honestly amused, so it wasn't all bad even is Aoba's pride suffered a little.

- - -

The cardboard box turned out to hold several boxes reading “Weihnachtskugeln” and “Weihnachtsbaumschmuck” containing Christmas balls in different colors and sizes and also some other decorative elements for the tree.

He had read that word quite frequently now. “These all read Weihnachts...”

“Yeah, Weihnachten. It's German for Christmas,” Noiz responded from where he was watching Aoba determined to let him do the decorating alone.

Made sense, even though he actually saw the word Christmas just as frequently. Whether that was intended for tourists or if the Germans actually used both words he couldn't say though. Well, the only German person he regularly had contact with was Noiz, after all.

The Christmas balls were pretty though. He wondered if Noiz had chosen them all by himself and how long he had spent doing so but he figured he wouldn't get an honest response anyway. So he focused on forming a plan how to decorate their tree in his head before he went to work.

But just a few hours ago he had never expected he would actually spend several hours decorating a tree. Somehow he just got really into it. He wanted it to be perfect even though it would never be but as perfect as possible at least.

Noiz watched him curiously for a while but after a while went to do some work on his coil.

Aoba didn't know how much time had passed in the end as he finally looked upon their tree once empty, now full with beautifully arranged Christmas balls on every branch.

“You really are serious about this.” There was a sort of amazement in Noiz's voice as he said that.

Aoba turned to him and saw him silently stare at the tree for a while.

“You like it?” he asked unsure but when Noiz turned to look at him he thought he saw a soft blush on the blond's face but he quickly averted his gaze again.

“Sure, it's nice,” he mumbled but it was the best compliment Aoba ever could have gotten for his work.

- - -

Christmas Eve approached quickly and the streets and shops got busier and busier with people getting their last Christmas presents. Despite that Noiz chose exactly the day before Christmas Eve to go see the Christmas market with Aoba.

It hadn't gotten much colder so even the evening hours weren't too cold to spend a few relaxed hours outside. Well, there were quite a lot of people walking around so exactly how relaxing it was could be argued but Aoba didn't mind. In fact, he hardly noticed any of it. It really was quite fascinating, all these different little Christmas-oriented shops were quite beautiful to look at. He could listen to different Christmas songs at every corner even if he didn't understand the words.

The Germans apparently really loved Christmas. Aoba learned a lot, about Noiz too. For example that it didn't matter if the blond was familiar with the offered food or not, he still bought way too much and way too many different things just because he could.

Although their roles were reversed this time. This time Aoba had no clue what it was that Noiz stopped to buy at every stall.

“Kandierte Äpfel”, “Erdbeeren in weißer Schokolade”, “Quarkbällchen”, “Mutzen”, Aoba understood that some of these were fruits covered in caramelized sugar and white sugar but the others were some kind of deep-fried pastry and looked the same to him.

“They are similar but I prefer these,” Noiz pointed at the smaller ones, Mutzen, “they are sweeter.”

They were indeed but they were both served with powdered sugar so he really didn't notice that much of a difference.

After Noiz was done stuffing himself with food, they finally had some time to take a closer look at some of the shops and well... Noiz turned out to be surprisingly sweet for once. At one shop there was suddenly a pair of fluffy ear muffs on his ears.

“You might need them in the coming months,” was all he said but Aoba could practically see him fighting down a blush.

“Thank you.”

Noiz was pointedly not looking at him instead he looked around some more and Aoba ended up with a scarf and a pair of gloves before they left to look at some other shops.

There were so many shops. There were literally several shops, each selling a specific kind of Christmas stars. Did people really worry about outdoor and indoor Christmas stars? They were pretty but that was all that was to them, right?

There also were several shops selling “Erzgebirgische Handwerkskunst”, apparently it was a term for wood-related art that was produced in a more southern part of the country, so many things the bluenette had never even heard of thought about.

They spent several hours on the market and due to the endurable temperatures that was no problem at all although he had been equipped with ear muffs and a scarf before anyway. They were fluffy and warm, Aoba already loved them.

“Aoba.”

“Hm?”

Was Noiz really looking at food again? The shop in front of him sure indicated so.

“You want to eat more?” Aoba asked exasperated.

“No, it's for you.”

“Huh?”

He took a closer look. He had seen similar shops before but this one seemed entirely focused on gingerbread in all shapes and sizes. They were quite artistically decorated with sugar coating. Some represented animals and other things but most of them were actually heart-shaped with different little messages on them. Again, he couldn't read most of them. Some of them read “I love you” though and the German counterpart too it which he could read but still had trouble pronouncing.

Just as he was thinking this exactly that kind of heart was put around his neck.

“Ich liebe dich” it read and was almost too cliched really. Aoba just stared at it.

“You know what it means, right?” Noiz asked after a while, not sure how he should read Aoba's reaction.

“Of course I do,” he replied quickly.

“Say it.”

“Huh? I-I love you,” Aoba mumbled, blushing.

Noiz chuckled. “Not that. What's written on it.”

“Wha- you know I can't!”

Noiz often enough tried to teach him German pronunciation. It mostly didn't end well.

“You really should be able to do it by now.”

It shouldn't be too difficult anyway.

“I-Ick liebe disch,” he stuttered.

Noiz stared at him deadpan. “That's horrible.”

Aoba huffed. “It's not that important anyway.”

“It is, if you want to live here,” Noiz replied and Aoba hated that he had a point but he wasn't going to give in. He really hated that weird “ch” sound that didn't make any sense whatsoever.

“There can't be that many words with that weird pronunciation.”

“Ich, dich, nicht, Licht, Sicht, dicht-”

“Okay, okay! Stop it! I will learn it!”

Noiz laughed. “Just take your time,” he said, smiling softly.

Aoba blushed and averted his eyes.

“I will...” he mumbled softly.

Well, at least Noiz was enjoying himself, right?

- - -

Christmas Eve wasn't a holiday, unlike the first and second day of Christmas, so Aoba used the time while Noiz was still away to properly wrap the present he had gotten a few days earlier. Just coming up with a present had taken him weeks. There just was nothing he could think of that Noiz would need or like and that preferably wasn't too cliched. Although the present he chose in the end just might turn out to be equally embarrassing but he decided to go through with it and there was no way back now. Evening was approaching quickly and Noiz would be home soon.

Home... from time to time that term was still foreign. He lived with Noiz for almost a year now but it still felt like it had only been a few days. Noiz drove him crazy sometimes, well, most of the time but there hadn't been a single moment where he regretted his decision.

Just as he thought that, the apartment door opened and Noiz stepped in. In his arm he held a brightly red wrapped present. Had he gotten one from his coworkers maybe?

“Hey,” he greeted.

His eyes wandered to the Christmas tree as they did regularly, much to Aoba's delight. But this time he seemed to search for something and his eyes did fall upon the present Aoba already put under the tree after wrapping it earlier.

To Aoba's surprise the blond went straight to the tree and put the red package right next to his. Was it... Noiz's present to him after all?

“Did you just buy that?” he couldn't help but ask.

Noiz looked at him. “Of course not, I kept it at work.”

That surprised him. “Why?” The grin he got in return made him regret the question though.

“Maybe because you're too nosy.”

“What! I am not!”

Noiz just laughed and Aoba realized that their “arguments” increasingly ended just like that. Slowly he began to feel like he might be the brat in this relationship after all... as if.

“You wanna know what's inside?” the blond teased and that was when Aoba decided that two could play this game.

He huffed. “No.”

That actually caught Noiz off guard.

“Why not?”

“Just look at the size of that thing! You promised you wouldn't get anything to big!”

“It's really not...”

The blond thought he had actually meant that, how endearing. Admittedly Aoba was worried that Noiz would go to far but that he actually went with a single present was already a success.

“Of course I want to know.”

Noiz looked at him surprised but then he smiled.

“Right now?”

“What? We can also wait-”

'until after dinner' he meant to say but Noiz had grabbed his hand and dragged him over to the Christmas tree before he even got that far.

“Now you're way too eager... what's inside? I hope nothing inappropriate, pervy brat.”

Noiz laughed again. “No, would you have wanted something like that?”

Aoba pointedly ignored that comment and after hesitating for another moment began unwrapping his present. It was skillfully wrapped, too skillfully, he took quite some time to open it. If Noiz had wrapped it himself? He almost wanted to ask but didn't. Instead, with widening eyes, he focused on... his new headphones. They looked amazing! And way too expensive.

“Noiz, I said-”

“You like them?”

He couldn't lie. “Of course I like them but-”

“Then keep them.”

Noiz was smiling at him and whenever he smiled like that Aoba just couldn't keep arguing.

“Thank you, they are amazing,” he said honestly.

But that wasn't enough. Even though Aoba could see the blond curiously eying the other present under the tree he wouldn't let him go before he actually tested the headphones as well.

The sound quality was simply heavenly. He was quite attached to his old ones but he was sure the new ones would be put to frequent use.

And Noiz was still eying the present without saying anything until Aoba took pity on him.

“You can open it, you know?”

The blond looked at him as if he had been caught doing something wrong.

“I can wait,” he dared to respond.

“Noiz, just admit you're nosier than me and open it already,” Aoba said amused and quickly after he got just the response he expected.

“I am not.”

“Just open it.”

Noiz sighed as if Aoba was the one behaving childishly.

“Fine.”

Bu the moment he started unwrapping the gift Aoba became nervous again. Had he really made the right choice?

Noiz stared at the content for a moment before he looked at him with an unreadable expression.

“Is this supposed to tell me something?”

“Ah, well...maybe?”

Noiz stared some more before he removed the set of piercings, two ear piercings and a tongue piercing, from its protective material. At that moment Aoba's nerves got the better of him.

“M-maybe I really did like some of your piercings. Well, you know, if you would wear them in your free time, maybe?” he stuttered out.

He should have known that would only boost the blond's ego.

He smirked. “Like right now?”

The bluenette blushed. “I-If you want...”

Of course the blond would after getting an indirect compliment like that and well, it was somehow weird but also kind of sexy to see Noiz put in a tongue piercing after all this time. The blond grinned as he saw him staring.

Aoba averted his eyes. “I take it you like them then,” he said in an attempt to distract him. It failed.

“Yes, I like them. Do you?”

Suddenly there were fingers on his chin, softly turning him around. When had Noiz gotten so close.

“Well, I chose them...”

“That's not what I mean.”

Aoba couldn't even react before Noiz connected their lips. He gasped in surprise which Noiz had anticipated and not a moment later he felt the weird but not unpleasant contrast of warm flesh and cold metal wrap around his tongue. The blond tried to entice him to fight for dominance over the kiss but after he had gotten over his surprise Aoba was honestly just way too content to do much more than enjoy it.

They broke apart when they needed to breathe.

Noiz was smiling and Aoba couldn't help but mimic him.

“Thank you.”

“I'm sorry I couldn't give you more,” the bluenette replied softly.

“But you did, didn't you?”

When he met Noiz's eyes he felt like they looked right through him. Maybe they did?

“What do you mean?”

“All of this. The tree, the 'traditional Christmas'? That wasn't just a random idea of yours.”

It wasn't even a question, it was a statement.

“Well, I really was curious... to a degree,” he admitted.

Noiz just smiled.

“Thank you, it was a great Christmas.”

German Dictionary

Weihnachtsbaumverkauf = Christmas tree sale Weihnachtskugeln = Christmas balls Weihnachtsbaumschmuck = Christmas tress ornaments Kandierte Äpfel = Candy apples Erdbeeren in weißer Schokolade = Strawberries (covered) in white chocolate

Quarkbällchen/Mutzen: As described these are sweets created by deep-frying different kinds of dough. You can google them to see what they look like^^

“Ow, ow-- oi, Aoba, be gentle.” Koujaku winces, but he patiently holds still nonetheless. “Take it easy on me.”

“I’m trying,” Aoba huffs. “Stop whining already, you’re the one who said I could do it.”

“And you can,” Koujaku says, leaning back. “But you have to relax. Don’t force it.”

“I’m not forcing it, I’m… there! Finally.” Throwing his hands up, Aoba surveys his handiwork. The braid woven into Koujaku’s hair could be called deconstructed at best, and an absolute disaster if they’re being honest. “Maybe I could use more practice.”

Bringing the braid over his shoulder, Koujaku surveys it ruefully. “It isn’t bad, for a beginner. You can practice more on me, until your hair grows back.”

“Really?” Perking up, Aoba looks hopefully at Koujaku.

“Sure.” Koujaku smiles at Aoba, and then reels him in for a kiss that leaves Aoba flushed. “We should get going now, though.”

“Ah, right. I’m starting to get hungry.”

It’s half past noon on an overcast fall-verging-on-winter day. Weak rays of sunlight struggle past the clouds, and it’s cool. Aoba’s reluctant to leave the cozy nest of blankets that he’s bundled himself into on Koujaku’s bed, the cover slung over his shoulders like a cape. He spent the night at Koujaku’s place, and they had both been… distracted. Because of that, they forgot to turn the heat on. Wriggling towards the edge of the bed, towards Koujaku, Aoba tentatively swings his bare feet onto the floor, and immediately recoils.

“It’s way too cold,” he complains.

Koujaku only laughs at him. “It’s December, Aoba. Of course it’s cold.”

“I know what month it is!” With a final grumble, Aoba shakes off the blanket and leaves it behind in a crumpled heap on the bed.

“Then why are you surprised?” Koujaku seizes Aoba from behind, wrapping his arms around him and nuzzling his face against the top of Aoba’s head. Aoba squirms relentlessly, relaxing only when the warmth of Koujaku’s hold sinks past his thin, borrowed t-shirt. “If it’s too cold, maybe we should stay in. I don’t want you to get sick.”

The concern in Koujaku’s voice is sincere, and Aoba peers up at him. Koujaku gazes back down at him, frowning. Sighing, Aoba grazes his jaw with a kiss, batting his eyelashes at him. “No, it’s fine. And…” His voice goes falsetto, into a flirtatious pitch that he hears more often than not addressed to Koujaku. “If I do get sick, you’ll just have to nurse me back to health. Right? Koujaku-san.”

Jaw dropping, Koujaku sputters. Aoba takes advantage of his shock, slipping out of his arms (regretfully) with a smirk thrown over his shoulder. He wasn’t lying-- it really is freezing in Koujaku’s apartment, and putting his jeans back on will probably help. By the time Koujaku unfreezes and starts to get dressed too, Aoba’s already done, tucking himself into his jacket and buttoning it up.

“No kimono today?” he asks, as Koujaku pulls a burgundy v-neck over him, and his eyes linger briefly on the dark swirl of tattoos on his chest, before he averts his eyes. It’s rare to see Koujaku wear western style clothing.

“Not today,” Koujaku says. “It’s cold out, like you said. Are you sure that jacket will be warm enough?”

“I was kidding about making you nurse me!” Aoba laughs. “This is fine. Ah- but I wouldn’t mind a scarf, or something.”

“Coming right up.”

That’s how Aoba ends up with a thick, knitted grey scarf looped around his neck. It smells like Koujaku, and the heat rises to his face. He tugs it down a little, inconspicuously. Koujaku’s shrugging into a black peacoat, complementing his dark jeans. Aoba watches as he carefully adjusts the braid, letting it lie over his shoulder. He pauses.

“Aren’t you going to take that out?”

“Mm?” Koujaku is already opening the door. His figure is clean cut, the clothing more sombre than the flashiness of his usual attire, but it suits him, Aoba thinks. In comparison, he feels thrown together. It’s been months since they’ve gone from friends to lovers, but he hasn’t left many of his belongings at Koujaku’s place, out of a lingering awkwardness. He’s beginning to wonder if he should. A change of clothes or two at least would be good. Koujaku fingers the braid, and then smiles at Aoba. He says: “No, why would I? It’s something you did for me, after all.”

“Eh?” Aoba blinks at him, cheeks going hot.

Koujaku chuckles, and leans down to kiss Aoba, warm and full on the mouth before he opens the door. Dazed, Aoba doesn’t realise he’s holding it open for him until a moment later.

Shooting him a glare, Aoba concedes his defeat with a huff, and steps outside. “You’re really unfair, you know.”

“Unfair? Aoba, you wound me.” Koujaku runs his knuckles over the curve of Aoba’s cheek tenderly, affection obvious in his gaze. “I’m only telling the truth.”

Aoba’s face flares up hot, and it has everything and nothing to do with the manner that Koujaku’s treating him-- like a girl, like someone precious, which he supposes he is, to Koujaku. Someone precious, not a girl. Koujaku hasn’t made that mistake since the first few times they met as children, and there’s absolutely no way he could think that now. Not when they’ve gotten as familiar as they have with each others’ bodies. Nobody could ever mistake Koujaku for a girl.

“Aoba?” Koujaku says, and he stops zoning out.

“Right. The truth. Anyway, let’s go!” Flustered but trying to hide it, Aoba patters out of the apartment at top speed, tilting his head back and letting the cold air cool him down. His breath is a white cloud before him when he exhales. Overhead, the clouds hang low and dark over the town. He wonders if it’ll snow this year.

The two of them amble through the streets, sticking to side streets and shortcuts. Rumour spread after the tamaokuri that Koujaku was seeing someone, that he no longer fools around, to his fans’ dismay. However, that doesn’t prevent some of them from approaching every so often and trying to wheedle some clue out of Koujaku as to the validity of the rumour, and if true, who the lucky girl is. Sometimes Aoba has to laugh at that-- the ensuing awkwardness that follows, and the comfortable knowledge that this lucky guy is whom Koujaku’s chosen. He told Koujaku before at the start of their relationship that he didn’t mind it. His fanbase. Aoba understands that they make up a great deal of their customers, but he appreciates it. That Koujaku’s managed to gently let them down. He hates to admit it, but despite his best efforts, he did get jealous every so often.

Still, two good friends heading out to grab a bite to eat together is perfectly normal. They chat companionably as they walk, with plenty of bickering and teasing between the two of them. Their hands brush by each other’s every so often as they walk.

“It’s starting to get really cold,” Aoba sighs, once they’re ensconced in the warmth of the small noodle shop they’ve decided to eat at.

“It is winter,” Koujaku says. “Though I prefer the heat myself too. By the way, Aoba…”

“Hmm?”

Koujaku is fiddling nervously with his hair, smoothing down the frayed pieces of his braid as though that’ll keep it together. Thoroughly preoccupied as he is with his food, Aoba hardly notices. He clears his throat, and asks casually, “Are you free later this month? On the 24th?”

“I think so, yeah. Why?”

“Keep it open for me, will you?” Waving down a waiter for the bill, Koujaku adds, “And this one’s on me.”

“Sure, but-- hey, wait, you don’t have to pay for me!”

The ensuing fight over the bill completely and thoroughly distracts Aoba, and in the end, he loses. But while Koujaku may have won the battle, he hasn’t won the war yet. Next time, Aoba tells himself. He’ll make the first move.

It isn’t until he gets home that he remembers Koujaku’s other request, and realisation hits him like he’s walked straight into a brick wall. Christmas Eve is date night in Midorijima, and Koujaku-- Koujaku, that sly, dastardly jerk had gotten the slip on him and asked him out while Aoba was completely distracted by the delicious bowl of udon that he’d been eating. The sheer nerve of it, the audacity, and how utterly smooth Koujaku was about it leaves him in shock for another ten minutes.

“Ren,” he mumbles afterwards, still in a daze. Ren nudges Aoba from his facedown position on his bed, wagging his tail as he sits by his pillow. “What do I do?”

“I believe you will not have to do anything,” Ren says. “It seems as though Koujaku has an event planned.”

“You’re probably right, but I can’t just not do anything! I should at least get him a present.” Aoba pauses, and then groans again. “I don’t even know what to get him! What should I do?”

“Koujaku will appreciate anything you get him, Aoba.”

“I know that, but it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try my best to pick out something he’ll like.” Going over ideas in his head, Aoba lists off all the possible things he could get Koujaku: alcohol (didn’t he give him that already?), another hairpin, a kimono (expensive), but none of them seem quite right. Luckily, he has two weeks to figure things out and put together something to give to Koujaku.

-----

In the end, Aoba resorts to desperate measures.

“So,” he begins, “This is kind of a weird question, but what do you think Koujaku would want for Christmas?”

Kou has Ren in his arms, and he’s enthusiastically petting him while telling him what a good dog he is, while Hagima and Aoba are doing their very best to carry on a serious adult conversation.

“I guess you joining Benishigure’s out of the question,” Hagima says, blunt and matter of fact.

Aoba winces, and tries to keep smiling. It grows forced. “Ah… yeah, Rib isn’t really my thing.”

“Too bad, too bad. It was worth a shot. Oi, Kou, what do you think?”

“I think you should get him a puppy!” Ren gives Aoba a distinctly long suffering look as Kou continues to hang onto him, and Aoba grins at him.

“He’s already got Beni though.” Aoba points out.

“You’re right, but don’t you think something about Koujaku-san says “dog type”?” Kou is cheerful, unburdened by the same dilemma that Aoba’s currently facing. “But if it’s you, I think he’ll be happy with whatever he gets.”

“Great,” Aoba says helplessly, and thinks to himself that he shouldn’t be blaming either of them. He’s the one who came to them for help, after all. He wrangles Ren from Kou with a smile, and nods. “Okay, thanks. Don’t tell Koujaku I was asking, all right? I’ll see you around!”

“Bring Ren around again soon, Aoba!”

“Good luck!”

-----

The problem continues to plague him at work, and Aoba’s so completely distracted by it that he doesn’t even notice the customer entering the junk shop.

“Hey,” Noiz says, all impudence and demand for attention as he steps directly in front of Aoba’s desk, hands jammed in his pockets. “You asleep or something?”

Startled, Aoba nearly falls out of his chair. “Give a guy a little warning, jeez!” Trying to calm his racing heart, Aoba steadies himself and takes a deep breath. “Anyway, what do you want? And can you back up a little?”

“Why?”

“Because I’m asking you nicely? ...ah!! Actually, I have something I want to ask you!” In a way, Noiz showing up unexpectedly proves to be great timing. Aoba isn’t sure what he wants, but he figures he should take the chance while he has it. Before Noiz gets the chance to spring whatever it is he wants from Aoba on him. “What would you get someone for a present?”

Silence follows, and Noiz’s expression twitches into a frown. It’s fascinating, actually. Noiz hardly ever seems to wear anything but a blank mask of apathy on his face that Aoba finds himself staring at this sign of human life. “What a weird question.”

“Come on, help me out here!” This is a new low he’s sunk to. Noiz hardly seems like the gift-giving type, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

With a shrug, Noiz glances to the side. “Don’t know.”

Aoba drops his head on the counter with a thunk and a groan. Raising it slightly, he tries again. “Then… what would you want to get for a present?”

“...whatever. I’d be happy with whatever. Just getting something would be enough.”

“Not you too!” Aoba shouts, and then promptly kicks Noiz out of the store.

-----

But thinking back on it, maybe that was a little rude. He didn’t tell Noiz who he was getting the present for, because he knows that he wouldn’t have gotten any answer or at all then.

“They’re right, you know,” Mizuki says, and it’s no comfort whatsoever.

“I thought bartenders were supposed to be sympathetic,” Aoba says, halfway gone on his second drink of the night. Whatever he’s having, it’s strong, and while he isn’t a heavy drinker typically, the phrase “drown your sorrows” applies thoroughly to this situation. Aoba grieves his lack of natural talent in picking out perfect presents for people.

“I’m an artist; bartending is a side job,” Mizuki laughs. “And artists are… well, as your good friend, I can tell you that Koujaku would be happy with a rock, as long as it came from you.”

“I’m not giving Koujaku a rock for Christmas.” Squinting at Mizuki, he tries to tell if he’s making fun of him, and suspects he is.

“It was an example. How about alcohol, then? Sake.” Mizuki vanishes briefly from view when he ducks beneath the bar, and re-emerges with a bottle of liquor. He brandishes it at Aoba proudly, throwing him a broad wink. “Now, this here is pretty expensive normally, but I’ll give you a discount for it.”

“Nice try,” Aoba scoffs. “But I already got him that last year.”

“Then it’s tried and tested!”

“The only one trying and testing me now is you. You just want to make a sale!” Despite himself, Aoba laughs.

“There, that’s better.” Mizuki looks satisfied, crossing his arms and nodding. “I can tell you one thing for sure, Aoba. Koujaku wouldn’t want you to worry so much about what to get him.”

The worst part is that Aoba knows he’s right. The best part is that he remembers their conversation the morning after, even with the pounding headache that his hangover leaves him with. The annoying part is realising that he’s the one making it harder than it has to be for himself, not that that’s ever stopped him. There is less than four days left before the 24th, and he is still woefully, dreadfully stuck.

-----

Which is why over the course of the next two days, Aoba talks to a handful of other people on the subject of gifts. Clear suggests that he wrap himself up in nothing but ribbon and be the gift, an idea that Aoba immediately shot down (only to catalogue it in his head for a future event-- Valentine’s maybe). Somehow, after a great deal of wheedling and coaxing and bargaining with Noiz, he gets Mink’s number and texts him. The text back is curt, and tells him in polite words to fuck off, and that something handmade tends to mean more. Aoba hadn’t expected an answer at all, and he has to reevaluate Mink once more after it.

But it gives him an idea. Several shopping trips later, Aoba is ready for Christmas Eve. Koujaku sends him a text during that time, telling him to drop by in the evening, and Aoba promptly gets a stomachache born from nerves. But he tells himself that everything will be fine. He realises with a sudden jolt that he’s hardly seen Koujaku at all either. They’ve only spoken with one another in a passing, here and there on the street. It isn’t unusual. From what Aoba’s noticed over the years, the weeks leading up to Christmas tends to be busy with customers wanting Koujaku to get them looking their very best in time for the holidays.

On the morning of the 24th, Aoba wages war in the kitchen, with Tae acting as his commanding officer.

“What if it’s awful, Granny?” Aoba asks Tae as he washes up the dishes.

Tae snorts, and cuffs Aoba over the head. “The only thing that can ruin it at this point is if you burn it. I watched you make it-- good thing too, or you would have mixed up the sugar and the salt!”

Aoba glances at his Coil. The timer is running, and there are minutes to go. He finishes the last dish, setting it into the drying rack carefully. Before he can go hover by the oven door, Tae shoos him right out of the kitchen.

“I’ll take it out to cool for you,” she says. “Don’t you have a present to wrap?”

“...thanks, Granny. You’re the best.” Aoba doesn’t dare argue with her, and Tae of all people wouldn’t let any mishaps occur in her kitchen. Aoba bounds up the stairs to finish off the last of his preparations. His room is left in an explosion of wrapping paper and ribbon when he’s finished, but Aoba emerges triumphant, gift stowed away securely in a shopping bag.

Tae hands him a second bag in the foyer, and Aoba hangs onto the handles carefully. She gives him an all too knowing look when he tells her that he’ll be out late tonight, and not to wait up. And then Aoba is out the door.

-----

It’s warm and well-lit inside Koujaku’s apartment, a delicious aroma of food wafting through the door the instant Aoba steps in, following Koujaku’s

come in, the door’s unlocked

. So he does, leaving his shoes by the door.

Aoba’s jaw drops when he reaches the kitchen, and Koujaku beams at him from the dining table, embarrassed but proud. As he should be, considering the tableau spread out-- he’s cooked dinner for two. Mostly traditional dishes (it’s just like him, Aoba thinks), like miso with tiny, delicate green onion rings and tofu floating in it, perfectly fried tempura on the side along with a bowl of rice, what looks like a seafood sunomomo beside that, and grilled, tender salmon as a main.

“You didn’t hold back, did you?” Aoba says, stunned. “This looks amazing!”

“Ah, no, it isn’t much. But I thought it would be nice, since it’s… difficult for us to spend any other holidays together,” Koujaku says. “What do you think?”

He comes back around the dining table, and Aoba impulsively snags him by the wrist, leaning up to kiss Koujaku on the cheek. Contentment settles deep into his bones, and Aoba grins at him. “I already told you it looks amazing, you hippo. Are you fishing for compliments?”

“I’m not!” Koujaku protests, laughing. The faintest flush appears on his face, and he catches Aoba’s hand, lacing their fingers together. He adds, “Merry Christmas, Aoba.”

“Merry Christmas, Koujaku.” The bags at his side rustles when Koujaku dips his head down to kiss Aoba again, this time full and long on the mouth. Aoba pulls away in the end, more dazed than ever. It takes him a moment to remember what else he needed to do, and he hastily says, “Oh, and I brought dessert. Let me put it in the fridge.”

It doesn’t take long for him to remove the white box from the bag and deposit it into Koujaku’s fridge-- he’s familiar with the entirety of the apartment, after all. With that done, he returns to the dining room table, and sits down with Koujaku. They work their way through the dishes, with Koujaku teasing Aoba periodically, holding out bits of food and cajoling him into trying it. Everything tastes delicious.

“You never told me you knew how to cook so well,” Aoba accuses. Every dish is just about gone, every bite savoured.

“I wasn’t trying to hide it,” Koujaku says. “When you live alone, you pick up on it.”

“Then how come we always eat out?” Aoba asks.

Koujaku has the decency to look embarrassed. “Well… I can cook just fine, but I forget to go shopping sometimes.”

Aoba bursts out laughing, and he doesn’t stop until Koujaku gets up from his side of the table and hoists Aoba out of his chair, nuzzling the top of his head. Koujaku runs his hands up his sides, which only prolongs his laughter, his entire body quivering. Crying out for mercy, Aoba tips his head back onto Koujaku’s chest and presenting his face for another kiss. He rests his arms over Koujaku’s, which are wrapped around him.

“Dessert,” Aoba says. “It’s in the fridge.”

“I thought you were the dessert,” Koujaku teases, and Aoba smacks him on the arm. “Oi-- what was that for?”

“For saying something embarrassing,” Aoba retorts. “Let’s eat it, okay? I worked really hard on it!”

Koujaku releases Aoba, and Aoba scurries to the fridge, pulling out the box. He sets it on the kitchen counter, unwrapping the box and leaving it there as he pulls out cutlery and plates from the drawers.

“You made this, Aoba?” Koujaku sticks a finger in the whipped cream, and tastes it. “Oh-- it’s good.”

“Hey, keep your hands out of there!” Aoba concentrates on cutting slices out of the cake instead, ears red. “And yeah. I was having a lot of trouble deciding what to get you. I even ended up asking a bunch of people what I should do, but everyone kept telling me that no matter what I got you, you’d like it. I kept thinking that I wanted to do something special, though, so I thought I’d cook something. Looks like we kind of had the same idea though.”

“It’s true,” Koujaku says. “I always treasure anything, when it comes from you. Knowing that you took the time to make something just for me makes it extra special.”

“Can you be any more sappy? I know that already, you don’t need to tell me too!” Struggling to hide the blush on his face, Aoba hands Koujaku a slice of the strawberry shortcake he made. He doesn’t need to make eye contact to see the fond look that’s surely residing there in Koujaku’s eyes. It’s said in the lingering brush of his hand as he takes the plate, and how he obediently digs into dessert without another word.

Cutting a slice for himself, Aoba takes a tentative bite of the cake. He’s relieved to find that it tastes perfect-- light, fluffy and sweet. They eat together in comfortable silence. Tae tells him that silence during a meal isn’t necessarily bad-- it means that everyone is so busy enjoying and savouring it to talk. Aoba assumes that’s the case now, and he licks the cream off his fingers, pleased. When Koujaku takes his hand to finish the job off for him, Aoba doesn’t say anything.

Everything he would have and could have said is transformed into language of another kind. The caress of his hand at Koujaku’s jaw, a soft sigh, the creak of the bed beneath their bodies, and the ragged harmony of their breaths. Koujaku’s a comfortable presence beside Aoba, his arm draped securely over Aoba.

Until Aoba sits bolt upright, hair mussed and eyes wide. “I forgot about the other present!! No-- I mean, I didn’t forget to bring it, but shouldn’t we have opened them first?”

“Isn’t it fine to do whatever we want first?” Koujaku hangs on to Aoba, touching him for the sake of it. He smooths down Aoba’s hair, and sits up, stretching his arms over his shoulder.

“You distracted me,” Aoba scowls at Koujaku.

“Ah, but you looked so sweet licking the cream from your fingers that I couldn’t help myself.” Koujaku is smiling at Aoba again, and Aoba kicks him beneath the covers.

“Grab my present for you already!”

“Yes, yes, coming right up.” Hauling himself out of bed, Koujaku disappears from the bedroom. Aoba dives back beneath the blankets, rolling into the warm spot on the bed that Koujaku vacated. Normally, he would sink back into a doze, but he’s too excited. In the end, he got Koujaku something fairly practical, but he hopes he’ll appreciate it regardless. No, he knows he will, given what everyone and their damn mom has been telling him. Still…

Re-entering the bedroom, Koujaku holds two packages in hand-- one that Aoba recognises as his own gift to Koujaku, and another that must be for him. His suspicions are confirmed when Koujaku hands it to him.

“Open yours first,” he tells Koujaku.

“You did a good job wrapping it,” Koujaku says, as he neatly peels the tape back from the paper, taking care not to rip it. The box beneath the paper is plain on the outside, with no discerning features. Koujaku lifts open the lid to reveal its contents, gently removing them. He lays them out on the bed. The first item is a silk obi, gold and wrought with fine slubs of brown silk densely sewn together to form branches and leaves, where cardinals were perched or caught in flight, resplendent and crimson on them. Koujaku draws his hand over it, feeling out the weave and features going soft with an emotion that Aoba can’t quite place. The obi goes well with the dark brown leather bag that lies by it, a pouch Aoba thought could replace the current one that Koujaku uses to hold all of his hairdressing tools. Koujaku clears his throat. “Aoba…”

“Your bag right now was looking kind of worn out,” Aoba interrupts. “So I thought I’d get you a new one. And I found that obi-- I wasn’t planning to get anything else, but when I saw it, I thought of you.”

“Who’s being unfair now? Saying something like that… you really are incredible.” Koujaku sneaks his hand over the bed, and rubs his thumb over Aoba’s knuckles. “They’re perfect, Aoba. Thank you.”

Feeling his face heat up, Aoba hides his embarrassment by ducking his head. He opens the present Koujaku got him, eyes falling on a familiar logo on top of the box. Pulling out the coat, Aoba holds it up. It’s a long, thigh length coat, similar in the style to the one Koujaku wore when they went out to udon. But it’s a powdery blue rather than black, with the Jerry Blaine logo embroidered on the back.

“This is from the winter line that just came out!” Aoba says, grinning. “I was super close to getting this, actually!”

“That jacket of yours right now doesn’t even go down to your hips,” Koujaku laughs. “And you looked so cold when we went out last time, I had to get a proper coat for you.”

“What are you, my mom?” Aoba shoots back, saucy. He squeezes Koujaku’s hand, smiling. “Kidding. Ahh, I feel seriously lucky right now. Like I should go thank the gods for winning you over when no one else has? Or something, haha.”

“I’m the one who’s lucky,” Koujaku says.

Aoba shakes his head. “Nope, it’s me.”

“Aoba… you should let me win for once.”

“Nuh-uh.” Sticking his tongue out at him, Aoba can’t stop the stupidly wide grin from spreading even wider on his face.

“Seriously, you…!”

Yelping, Aoba scrambles to struggle away when Koujaku dives for him, pinning him down and tickling his sides thoroughly. He laughs helpessly, and they roll over the bed, the obi sliding over the edge along with the leather pouch, followed by the coat in a soft cloud of fabric. Soon enough, Aoba’s giggles turn into moans again, and he’s arching into Koujaku, Koujaku holding on tightly to Aoba, happiness engulfing them.

“I love you,” he murmurs to Koujaku, beaming up at him.

“Aoba.” he could feel the rumble of Mink’s voice where he’d laid his head on his chest, “We should plan on getting up sometime in the near future.”

“You’re so warm though,” Aoba only burrowed under the blankets more, trying to cuddle even closer to that warmth, “and the room is cold. I don't want to get up yet.”

Mink hummed thoughtfully, his hand making soothing motions on the small of Aoba’s back, otherwise he too made no move to get up, “That would be easily solved if you let me get up to make a fire.”

Aoba giggled, his breath tickling Mink’s chest and Aoba could feel the upturn of Mink’s lips where he’d pressed his face to the top of Aoba’s head, “I’m not keeping you anywhere and you know it.”

Mink made a grunt of acknowledgement, shifting to come face to face with Aoba underneath their shared blanket cocoon, “Ten more minutes.”

Aoba made a thoughtful hum in response, hand coming up to stroke the side of Mink’s face tenderly, “Twenty.”

“Fifteen.”

Aoba only shifted closer still to Mink, lips ghosting over his, “Are you sure? I think twenty more minutes of rest would be beneficial to us both.”

Mink rolled his eyes, but it was more for show considering that he relented a moment later, pressing a quick kiss to Aoba’s lips, “Fine, you can have twenty more minutes, and then we’re both getting up.”

“That’s reasonable.”

Aoba felt Mink’s laugh more than he heard it, having cuddled up to Mink immediately once again. Too soon though that twenty minutes was up, and Mink was gently nudging a still sleepy Aoba up and out of bed. Immediately Aoba tugged the blankets off the bed, wrapping himself up to try and hold onto the warmth still in the fabric, shivering from the cool air of the room.

The pleading look cast pointedly in the general direction of the fireplace did not go unnoticed, and Mink tried not to let his amusement at Aoba’s expense show as he made his way to the living room to build up a fire to warm the cabin. Aoba in turn dragged his makeshift blanket robe all the way to the kitchen, maneuvering as best he could around the space wrapped up like he was to keep warm.

Soon enough Mink joined him, giving Aoba a once over before shaking his head in amusement at his attempt to begin making some sort of breakfast while still trying to clutch the blanket to him.

“Let me.” Mink brushed against Aoba, lips pressing to the top of his head before he took over making breakfast, “Go warm up by the fire.”

Once again Aoba dragged the blanket through the cabin, soon settling on the couch in front of the fire. Aoba had more or less cocooned himself again and was pretty toasty to the point where he really didn't want to move when Mink called him to breakfast.

“I was warm.” Aoba grumbled upon entering the kitchen after dragging the blankets through their home a third time.

“You’ll be warmer when you eat.”

Aoba only muttered under his breath once he sat at the table, thanking Mink for making breakfast when his plate was set in front of him. The two exchanged their usual pre-meal blessings before digging in. Eventually Breakfast was finished and cleaned up, and Aoba had to reluctantly relinquish the blankets in order to actually get dressed for the day.

As he was getting ready he heard Mink call to him, saying that he was bringing more firewood from outside to dry. Aoba waited for the sound of the front door closing before he moved to his and Mink’s shared closet. Shuffling some of the extra blankets folded up at the bottom out of the way, Aoba finally brought out what he’d been hiding, a plainly wrapped gift.

Mink didn’t really celebrate the holidays, but Aoba had wanted to get him something anyways. More specifically, he’d wanted to make Mink something. Aoba’s boss at the grocery store he’d picked up a job at had even helped him, teaching him how to knit so he could create his gift. It wasn't anything too complicated, just a simple scarf, but he hoped Mink would like it.

Mink had just reentered the cabin and dropped the wood he’d brought in when Aoba made his way into their living room, gift in hand. He presented it wordlessly to Mink.

“What’s this?”

“It’s nothing much, just something I made for you.” Aoba fiddled with his decorated hair once Mink had taken the parcel from him, “I know you really don’t celebrate the holidays too much, but you needed a new one anyways.”

Mink only studied Aoba’s face for a moment before he turned his gaze down to the gift in his hands, slowly beginning to open it. Aoba watched him a little apprehensively, suddenly a little insecure about his gift. Mink’s face was impassive as ever when the scarf Aoba had made for him was revealed.

“Sorry if it’s a little loose in some places, I wasn't all that great with the knitting needles at first.” Aoba said quietly, the insecurity suddenly plaguing him making him keep his gaze from meeting Mink’s.

“It’s fine.” Mink’s voice was gentle, “It was made by you, and for that fact alone I’m thankful. I’ll cherish it.”