#sebastiben

Half of the glass baubles on the Christmas tree were actually grenades, so Seb stayed well away. Ben didn't mind in the slightest, though, so all of Seb's presents were actually under the tree. Seb was not impressed.

"Ben, move them!"

"But they're under the tree! That's where they're supposed to be!"

"You know how I feel about grenades!"

"It's not my fault you can't appreciate practical gifts," Ben grumbled. And then he set about moving Seb's presents well away from the tree to safe spot on the floor at the other side of the room.

"See, it's not that hard."

"Stop being patronising, stupid Yank. I'm the one with the knighthood."

"Well, I want to unwrap my presents now." Seb pulled Ben toward him, and fell backwards onto the couch - the one that didn't have a pressure pad under it - and tugged at the hem of his shirt. 

"Horny bastard," Ben muttered.

"You say that like you don't enjoy it."

-----------------

Ben checked the address on his phone again nervously, but it matched the house in front of him, so he rang the doorbell.

A woman opened the door and looked at him in his ridiculous Christmas jumper with the bow on it, and raised an eyebrow. "Um, I'm looking for Sebastien Hardwick," he said.

She nodded, ushered him through the door, and called into the house. Ben fiddled with the edge of his sleeves. He hadn't called ahead because Christmas presents were supposed to be surprises, and he didn't think he had to worry, but now that he was here... well.

Seb showed up in the doorway and stared. "Ten points from Gryffindor for the ugliest Christmas sweater I have ever seen."

"Happy Christmas to you too."

Seb's face lit up and he crossed the room and pulled Ben into a hug. "Almost didn't believe it was you. You didn't answer my last Skype call!"

"Silly yank, I was on an airplane. No internet up there."

"Not a yank, idiot Brit. But a hundred points to Gryffindor for the best Christmas surprise ever."

-------------------

Giselle rang the doorbell, present in hand, beaming.

Henry opened the door and blinked at her. "Lastnametwin, what's up?"

She handed him the present. "Open it! Right now."

He took it and pulled at the scarlet wrapping paper, revealing a brand new set of really good paintbrushes.

He grinned at her. "They're perfect, thank you!"

"Hey, so we've totally been dating for like three months, yeah?"

Ben raised an eyebrow, looking up from his book, "...Totally seems a strange word to use, but yes. We have 'totally' been dating for three months."

Seb grinned, absently turning a page in his own book (he was in the middle of his annual re-read, and was up to Prisoner of Azkaban).

"So, we're boyfriends, right?" Seb asked, looking at the blond from under his eyelashes.

"Well, yes," Ben nodded.

"...Did you only just realise that?"

"I didn't want to assume?" Seb said, running a hand through his hair and smiling nervously.

"You are so thick," his most definitely, totally official boyfriend said fondly, shaking his head, "and I feel a little cheated."

"Cheated?"

"Well, if we only just became official, think of all the dating and casual sex I could have had in the last three months. I've been turning Jim down for nothin-"

Seb glared, launching himself over his open book to stop Ben with a deep kiss. He settled in the blond's lap, hands tangling in Ben's hair comfortably as the other boy squirmed beneath him.

"H-hey! Idiot yank! Careful of the book! This is a first edition-"

"I'm not a yank, you idiot brit!" Seb scowled, nipping at Ben's lip, but moved away so ben could move his book.

"I bet Jim wouldn't call me an idiot brit while he made out with me," Ben pondered, carefully marking his place and putting his book down.

"Jim is French, doofus, he'd be singing the French National Anthem and making jokes about the battle of Agincourt."

"Good point," Ben agreed, his arms looping around Seb's waist as the other boy settled in his lap, "I'm ever so glad Britain never went to war with Chile. It makes this easier."

"...Did you just imply that you're only going out with me because our nationalities have never actually engaged in active warfare? Bad boyfriend, twenty points from Gryffindor."

"Oh dear," Ben said, looking worried, "however can I get those back?"

"I have some suggestions," Seb grinned, and Ben laughed.

"What do you dream about, Seb?" Ben asked thoughtfully, tracing circles on his boyfriend's bare shoulder.

The American rolled over, murmuring something into Ben's chest, and snuggled closer, not even bothering to open his eyes.

"Bears? Really? You're supposed to say you dream only of me, you repulsive yank."

"...That too shuddup n' go to sleep," Seb assured him, reaching up and patting the blond's face clumsily.

Seb is sweating more than he should be- there's a chill in the air, after all. There's always a chill in the air, it's London, but he feels like he could be wrung out and used as a rag. He isn't shaky, but it's a close thing, and even though his campus tour was less than a week ago, he keeps checking the little map he stole from the student information centre.

Ben runs up the stairs in front of him, the fur lined hood of his parka bouncing against his back as he climbs, and he's eyeing the size of the library with a jealous eye.

"So, what building is your first class in?"

"C," Seb says confidently, and Ben turns and grins at him.

"You know, I might have to transfer."

"Why's that?"

"Your library is easily twice the size of mine, pet, and I have needs."

Seb grinned, and Ben rolled his eyes.