#fang fic

The night he would get to eat all sorts of yummy treats. And listen to carols by the nice warm fire while Luka and his dad played their guitars. And look at all the pretty lights and sparklers Juleka and Anarka would light. And Marinette, the big man, and the kind lady would help him put out milk and cookies for Santa. 

And he was going to see Santa this year. 

He just knew it. 

Every year since he had been a hatchling, he had tried to see Santa while he was leaving presents under the tree, but he never did. But this Christmas! This Christmas he was going to see him. 

He just knew it. 

It had already been such a big year, and he had been good this year. He was always good —his dad always said so—but this year he had been extra good. All his hard work as the flower girl had to count for at least double presents this year. 

Delicious smells wafted through the air from the kitchen; bouillabaisse, fresh bread, ham, and a dozen other wonderful smells. He scrambled out from under the tree where he had been curled up amongst the presents. Which he had sorted into piles of presents for him and not for him, and made his way to the kitchen. 

As a very good croc, it was his job to make sure he was there to offer his help. Especially as a taste tester. 

                                                           ***

With his belly full of ham all sorts of other wonderful treats, he had retreated back into the living room. Luka and Marinette were curled up in one of the big chairs by the fire, cuddling. Luka had patted his legs in invitation for head scratches and belly rubs, but he was busy. 

He had a job to do. 

He had to find the perfect hiding place. 

It had to be well hidden so that Santa wouldn’t see him. But he had to have a good view of the fireplace and tree so that he could see Santa as he came down the chimney and left presents. 

He snuffled around the room, searching for the perfect spot. Beside the mantle, where the stockings were hung with care was too open; he would be spotted in an instant. Under the tree, hidden amongst the presents wouldn’t work either. Under the coffee table could work… but Santa might see him when he stopped for his milk and cookies. 

And the temptation to eat Santa’s cookies would be too much. 

Behind the sofa? He wouldn’t fit.

Under the rug? Santa might trip.

He scoured the room, looking for the perfect spot. He was just losing hope when…

Finally! He found it! The perfect place. Santa would never see him if he hid behind the curtains. But he would be able to see Santa!

He crawled over to the window, nosing at the curtains until there was enough space behind them for him to settle himself down. 

“Fang? What are you doing?” He turned to look up at Luka. Luka and Marinette were standing behind him; Luka had his arm wrapped around Marinette, who was leaning against him. Her mouth split open in the silent roar humans did when they were sleepy. 

He scrambled over to them, rolling onto his back for belly rubs. His tongue lolled out of his mouth. Luka rubbed his belly, and Marinette tickled him under his chin just the way he liked it. 

But then they stopped! 

He got up and watched as they turned and headed towards the door. 

They couldn’t leave! He wanted more belly rubs! 

He flipped over and scrambled after them, catching the hem of the long fluffy robe Marinette was wearing. 

“Sorry, buddy. We’re going to go to bed now.” 

Marinette knelt to look him in the eye. “We have to go to sleep Fang, that way Santa can come to deliver the presents.” She kissed the end of his snout before getting back to her feet. “In the morning, you’ll get all the belly rubs you want. But for now, have sweet dreams, Fang.”

He nuzzled their ankles, then retreated back to the living room. He made his way over to the curtains and wiggled into the space he had made for himself. Once he was fully behind them, he stuck his head out from under them so that he would be able to see the fireplace. 

He wouldn’t be having any sweet dreams tonight. 

Because he was going to see Santa. He just knew it. 

                                                          ***

Everything was quiet, silent even. His dad and the rest of the family had gone to bed a long time ago. He was alone.

Except for the gingerbread crocs Luka and Marinette had left out on a plate with a glass of milk. But those were for Santa. 

He didn’t know how long it had been. But he just knew Santa would show up any minute. And he was ready. He was set. 

And it was nice behind the curtains. They were warm, and the fabric was soft. And he had the perfect vantage point to see Santa. 

Any minute now. 

Any minute now, Santa would be coming down the chimney. He just knew it. 

He could hear noise out the window. Santa’s sleigh? 

But it didn’t sound like reindeer and jingle bells… it sounded… loud. And whatever it was, it was getting louder. It sounded like it was right outside the window!

Finally! Santa was here!

But… that noise. It didn’t sound like Christmas cheer. It sounded like something was wrong…

A loud crash set him springing out from behind the curtains. As fast as he could, he scurried out from behind the curtains and climbed up the wall to rest his claws on the windowsill and look out at the street below. 

Santa could have fallen! He could be hurt!

And there was a figure in red, out on the street. But it wasn’t Santa. And it wasn’t alone. 

Marinette, wearing that red and black spotted suit she sometimes wore, was trading blows with a person that smelled like evil. He could smell it even through the window. It was the same smell as when his dad had been… what was the word his dad had used? 

Aromatized? 

Alphabetized? 

Actualized?

Akumatized. That was the word! 

But that wasn’t right. He didn’t understand much about akumas. Really, all he knew was that they were butterflies that made people smell evil and feel all tingly and sad. Sometimes mad. 

But it was Christmas Eve! No one should be akumatized on Christmas Eve night. 

He watched as Marinette continued to fight the akumatized person. The person was throwing presents. But every time a present made contact with something, it exploded, sending glitter and chunks of debris everywhere. 

He caught sight of Luka, in his teal suit, dodging explosions as he threw his harp thingy. The man who smelled like stinky cheese, the one who had tried to ruin his big day, was there too. But he didn’t seem to be helping much. 

Marinette yelped. The akuma had thrown her, and Luka had just barely managed to catch her before she crashed into a wall. 

He looked back at the empty fireplace, then back down to the street below. And then he ran for the door, as fast as he could go. 

Marinette needed his help. 

 He ran out into the street, dodging exploding presents as he went. There was glitter in-between his scales and in his eyes, but he didn’t care. Marinette and Luka needed his help. 

He screeched to a stop beside them and butted his head against her leg to get her attention. She was holding a small figurine that looked just like him, and she had been staring down at it with a confused look on her face. 

But her face lit up when she saw him. “Great! Now that you’re here, Fang, we’ll be alright!”

                                                          ***

The plan had been simple but clever. Not that he would ever doubt Marinette. But the battle had taken a long time. 

And the stinky cheese man hadn’t been very helpful at all. 

Every second they had spent fighting the akuma had been agony. Because every second he was down in the street and not behind the curtains was a chance to see Santa slipping away. 

He watched as the ladybugs that liked to play with Marinette sometimes flew across the city, fixing everything to make it all better. The akumatized man gasped and clapped happily. The ladybugs were pretty. He always liked seeing them too. 

But all he felt was sad. 

There was no way he would see Santa now. It was so late. 

He had missed it; his big chance. There was no way Santa was still in France. 

He would have to wait another whole year. 

Slowly, he made his way back up to the apartment. He crawled into the dark living room. The tree was still there. The fireplace was still empty. There was no sign of a jolly man dressed in red. 

There was no sign of Santa. 

He crawled towards the sofa. There was no point hiding behind the curtains anymore. The night was almost over. There was no point in staying up. He may as well make himself comfortable. 

He was halfway across the room when he saw it. 

There, under the tree! There was a box that hadn’t been there before! A big box. 

He scurried over to it and looked at the tag. He couldn’t really read, but he knew what his name looked like in the weird squiggles humans used to talk on paper. And he knew what his dad’s squiggles looked like. 

And those squiggles that meant his name weren’t his dad’s! 

He looked at the table, where the milk and cookies had been. They were gone! Nothing but crumbs were left. 

Santa had come!

And he had missed him. 

He turned to go towards the sofa, where he could curl up until it was time to open presents. But then he heard it. 

Jingle bells! And a jolly laugh! 

He ran to the window as fast as he could and climbed up to rest his claws on the window sill. It had started to snow! And there in the sky!

Up in the sky was Santa and his sleigh!  

He had seen Santa!

He watched as the sleigh flew across the sky. Santa turned around. Santa smiled and waved! At him!

Santa had seen him!

And then! Santa called out in a jolly voice; “Happy Fang-mas to all, and to all a good night!” 

He had done it! He had seen Santa!