#epoulosiilio

three, two, one! 

       They’re waiting for the fireworks. Almost the whole camp is out here, since the weather is nice— well, nice enough. Leo still doesn’t like it, but he’s wearing a jacket and there’s no wind chill, so he’ll cope— and people who aren’t out are definitely still awake. 

        Someone yells “One minute!” cutting off Leo’s joke to Will midsentence, and he doesn’t bother to finish it once the excited babbling of the camp dies a bit. Not that he could, because only seconds later someone else yells “Forty seconds!” and the process starts over again. A few people try to start the countdown at thirty, but after a couple seconds, it disperses into laughing. Leo shots a grin at Will. 

      “Ten!” A couple roman candles are set off. “Nine, eight!” All chatter has evolved into enthusiastic countdowns, the two of them included. “Seven, six!” Leo glances over at Will and smiles, turning a laugh into the next few numbers. “Five, four!” He reaches out and finds Will’s hand, lacing their fingers together, then looks expectantly at the night sky.

       “Three!” 

       He’s just impossibly giddy. It’s been a great night, he’s in great company, and he couldn’t wipe the smile from his face if he tried. He doesn’t, though, instead, he looks back from the currently empty sky to Will, and his smile grows twofold. 

        “Two!”

        Maybe it’s just the kind of person he is, but he truly loves shitty holiday traditions, partly because so many people are irritated and/or amused when he expresses that, but partly because he just genuinely enjoys participating in holidays. He knows they aren’t that important, but it just seems right to go to a costume party on Halloween, or set off fireworks on the Fourth of July.

       Or to kiss someone at midnight on New Years Eve.

       “One!” 

       Leo pulls Will closer by the hand he’s holding, and puts his free hand on Will’s shoulder, standing on tiptoes to kiss him. The din is unbelievable; fireworks going off in the background, a majority of campers shouting. Leo wraps his fingers around the fabic of Will’s jacket, pulling him down so Leo can stand flat on his feet again without breaking the kiss. 

       Maybe this had nothing to do with holiday traditions, and everything to do with having an opportunity to kiss Will and taking it. 

       He pulls away from Will a few seconds later, uncontrollable smile quickly turning to laughter. He doesn’t have to shout, because they’re standing so close, but he still has to speak fairly loudly to be heard over the fireworks still going off.

Kilala would be more amused if it wasn’t such an accurate gift. She does like catnip- has it in her tea sometimes, even- and the glare she sends his way is an embarrassed one. The book she is more than happy with, however. She loves to read with the kids, and while Sango is a little old for this kind of book, she’s sure Kohaku will be delighted.

“You’re lucky I like you so much,” She says it grumpily, but her smile betrays her. “Merry Christmas, you nerd.”

omg apollo that’s so cute