It was only a week until Gyftmas and Sid was lying on his stomach diagonally on the bed searching for the best present possible for his bro. Every year was the same: spend the better part of the month pretending the year really hadn’t gone by that fast, panic when he realizes how close the holiday really is, and then search madly for something that his brother would love. Something that would show just how cool and awesome and amazing and talented and--

“SID!”

The bedroom door slammed open, causing Sid to jump and drop his phone. It landed with a thunk on the floor as Sid looked over at a visibly ecstatic Scruffy. He was always so cute in his ladybug hoodie with the hood up, antennae wobbling with every movement of his skull. He was vibrating with excitement over whatever was on his own phone as he rushed over. He sat down next to Sid’s head and thrust the Nintendo DS in his face. “look!”

Sid leaned up on his elbows and looked at the game. He’d watched Scruffy play the game often enough, even played it himself, to know that he was shiny hunting, but past that he had no idea what the four-legged, spider-looking critter was supposed to be or why Scruff was so damn happy about it.

“okay?” he hedged, “i’m lookin’.”

Scruffy shook the DS a little. “it’s a metagross! a shiny metagross!” The device shook again, this time because Scruff simply couldn’t remain still.

Sid looked up at him. “a meta- gross ?” he asked, purposely pronouncing the name differently. “how gross does one have to be before it gets meta?”

It had the effect Sid knew it would. Scruff glared at him. Sid just couldn’t help it; his grumpy face was too cute. It only got better the more flustered he got, when that blush would rise on his cheekbones and he started stuttering his words. Too cute.

“ha-ha,” Scruff said, obviously annoyed. His happiness wasn’t gone for long. It was a toss-up as to what was cuter: Scruffy a flustered mess or Scruffy excited and happy. Sid was going for the best of both worlds.

“i’ve been searchin’ for this guy for so long. it took me more’an ten thousand encounters ta finally get ‘im. c’n ya believe that? but look how cool he is!” Scruffy then shook the DS again before pulling it away. “what ball should i put ‘im in?”

Sid chuckled. “i got a coupla balls right here.”

Scruff snorted, but that lovely blush started to creep up onto his cheekbones. “don’t think ya want a metagross in there.”

Yeah, probably not. “dunno, my balls can get pretty gross when you--”

“‘m not listenin’ ta you!” Scruffy yelled, standing up to walk out of the room. “i’m containin’ a rare shiny pokémon!”

Sid got up and snatched his phone from where it fell to pocket it as he ran after Scruffy. “you’d rather catch your gross shinies instead of talk about my balls? you’re such a nerd!”

In the living room, the large bookshelf that held all of his games and cards and other collection items, a good portion of them Pokémon, only proved his point. Sid waved a hand at it. “look! is there a pokémon game you don’t have yet? kinda surprised you even have room for the other stuff in here.”

Scruffy just stuck his tongue out to show his frustration, likely struggling to find words when he knew Sid would use them against him to get more reactions from his boyfriend. It was Sid’s favorite pastime.

Sid chuckled. “so you’re a nerd and a child? makes sense with the silly games you like and how excited you get over gyftmas.”

Scruffy didn’t react to that one, but that wasn’t uncommon. Sometimes he didn’t want to show how flustered he was because he knew it only made Sid do it more. Sid walked up to him and slung an arm around his shoulders, leaning heavily against him. As wiry as he was, Scruffy held him up with no problem.

“i mean, you even have pokémon underwear,” he laughed, gently poking at Scruffy’s pants. “mature people have sensible underwear.”

He was about to keep going when Scruffy shrugged him off. Sid stepped back, but Scruff didn’t move away. He wasn’t even playing the game anymore, the DS closed and clutched in his bony hands. He usually kept on playing through Sid’s teasing, choosing to hide his frustration as long as he could by using it as a distraction.

“scruff?”

No answer.

Sid’s soul felt a little hollow as he walked around Scruff to see his face. A beautiful blush was still bright on his cheekbones, highlighting the crack across his face and his golden canine. His sockets were dark, golden eye lights only small pinpricks when they’d been so big and bright only moments before.

“scruff, you okay?”

He huffed. “‘m fine.”

“this doesn’t look fine,” Sid countered.

That time Scruffy turned away, but stopped after only a few steps like he wasn’t sure where to go. Sid really didn’t like that. He never wanted Scruffy to feel like he had to hide, but even more than that, he needed Scruffy to feel safe, like he could hide if he wanted to.

Moving slowly, Sid stepped up to Scruff again and gently took his arm. “come sit down with me.”

Scruff sighed but went with him, sat next to him on the couch.

“was it somethin’ i said?”

A sigh was his only answer as Scruff started to fidget with the game in his hands. Sid reached out and laid a hand over Scruff’s.

“you know i was just teasing you. i don’t mean those things i say. i mean, yeah, you are a pretty big nerd, but so am i. we all geek out over different things, and your thing is pokémon.”

Relief washed over his soul as Scruff turned one hand over and held onto Sid’s, lacing their fingers together. He still didn’t speak, and Sid knew the situation was far from resolved.

“i don’t wanna hurt you, scruff. please tell me what i said that did.”

Scruffy’s brow furrowed and his sockets closed. He sucked in a deep breath before finally opening his mouth.

“‘m not a child.”

Sid squeezed his hand. “no, you’re not.”

“d’you really think these things are childish?” He looked over at Sid with a plea in his expression, sockets wide and vulnerable. “that i’m immature an’ stupid for liking these games’n things?”

Seems Sid found a pressure point without even meaning to. He was usually pretty good at finding them on people he wanted to hurt, and he never even stopped to think maybe Scruffy wouldn’t like being called names like that. He was usually okay with the typical teasing, but Sid had taken it too far today.

Sid shook his head. “no, i don’t think that. i think it’s pretty cool that you’re as passionate as you are about it, especially when i know there were people who meant it.” He lifted Scruffy’s hand to kiss the back of it. “i like that you don’t give a shit what other people think about it. usually, anyway.”

Scruff dipped his head, a blush appearing again on his face. “usually, yeah. but it was you.”

Yeah, it was him, wasn’t it. Someone Scruff thought he was safe with, who wouldn’t make him feel stupid for liking the things he liked.

Sid leaned back and pulled Scruff with him, snuggling him against his side. “i’m sorry i said those things. you’re not childish or immature at all, scruff. you’re smart and funny and damn cute when you get excited about stuff. and it’s not like i have any sensible underwear either; my whole closet could be ‘exhibit a’ for immaturity.”

That earned him a laugh. “you should wear the rudolph boxers fer gyftmas.”

Sid squeezed him. “i’m pretty sure my bro would kill me if i wore anything to the party that even suggested i have a dick, let alone one with a glowing red tip.”

“i didn’t mean to tha party,” Sid said, squirming to look at him. “i meant after, when we come home.”

Sid hummed and pressed a soft kiss to that gorgeous mouth. “maybe.”

Scruff smiled then, and leaned back down on Sid’s shoulder. Sid held him and nuzzled his skull, thankful to have been forgiven for his mistake. It was one he’d never make again, and that was a promise.

—————————————

Scruffy wiggled excitedly as he finished wrapping the last present, lights from the tree twinkling in his peripheral. He set it aside and pulled the sleeves of his onesie over his cold fingers. His brother had given him the Bulbasaur onesie for Gyftmas almost two years ago and already it was beginning to wear thin.

He pulled the hood over his skull and went to get a snack while he waited for Sid to get back from wherever he’d gone. It was pure madness to go out on Gyftmas eve, but then his boyfriend always did enjoy a challenge.

It was only a few minutes later that the door opened, and Scruff went to see if he could help carry anything in. What he saw standing in the doorway made him pause.

Sid had left the house in his typical orange hoodie and black sweats.

“what happened to you?” he asked, watching as Sid struggled with a large sack he’d thrown over his shoulder. “didja lose yer clothes?”

Sid smiled brightly as he shut the door. The Santa suit was a bit baggy on him, a little short in the arms, but it was highly unlikely he’d find something off the rack that would fit him right anyway.

“ho ho ho! merry gyftmas!”

Scruffy had never been very good at hiding anything around Sid, least of all his smile. “that’s not until tomorrow.” Oh, but he was loving this already. He did his best to keep himself from bouncing on his toes as he waited for Sid to put the sack down and come kiss him. He adjusted himself just enough to be under the mistletoe they’d hung in the doorway to the kitchen.

Sid’s grin was wide and handsome. “don’t care, cuz i have an early gyftmas present for you.” He set the sack down and rummaged through it a moment, pulling out a few things he’d gotten for his brother in the process. He finally pulled out a suspiciously game-sized box wrapped in white paper patterned with holly berries and leaves.

“ah-ha! now come here,” he beckoned Scruffy to go sit with him on the recliner.

But he really wanted a kiss. Under the mistletoe. With Sid dressed as Santa.

He hesitated a moment, wringing his hands together as he debated whether he should just ask for what he wanted.

Sid noticed his indecision and his smile softened. Scruff didn’t even need to ask as Sid set the present down and came over on his own. He stopped only inches away and gently cupped Scruff’s cheekbones.

“my sweetheart want a kiss?” he asked in a hushed voice.

Scruffy nodded.

Instead of just giving him the kiss, however, Sid pushed him back until he was against the doorway to the kitchen. He leaned in, one hand on the wall over Scruffy’s shoulder, and whispered against his skull.

“you’re gonna have to ask nicely.”

Scruffy swallowed, the heat of a blush creeping up onto his face. Sid pulled back just enough to see his face, and Scruff reached up to take hold of the fluffy white trim on the Santa suit. He looked into Sid’s eyes, made his own sockets wide and pleading.

“please kiss me?”

Sid’s eye lights darkened in the most delicious way and he leaned in to close the distance. The kiss was soft but so warm and a promise of things to come as he opened his mouth to deepen it. By the time he pulled back, they were both breathing just a little heavier.

“can i give you your present now?” Sid asked. He swallowed hard and his eye lights flickered to Scruffy’s teeth like he was debating whether to continue with the gift giving or drag him to the bedroom.

Scruff wouldn’t really mind either way, but he was curious and he loved getting new things. Especially things from Sid.

“yeah.”

Sid pushed back and led the way across the room to the recliner where he sat and patted his knee. Scruffy couldn’t hide an oddly embarrassed smile or the blush that came with it as he sat across Sid’s lap.

“so what’s this all about?” Scruffy asked.

Sid smiled and reached out to get the present from the end table. Scruff had to laugh when he realized the holly berries on the wrapping were actually Poké Balls.

“this is about me giving my boyfriend a gift i know he’ll love because i love him and i think it’s important he knows that.”

Scruffy’s face felt a little warm. “‘course i know that.” But it sure was nice to hear, every time.

Sid kissed the side of his skull. “good. it might also be to reinforce that i’m sorry for what i said when i was teasing you before.”

Scruffy raised his cracked brow. “that was days ago. i already knew ya were sorry.”

“i know, but i still feel bad, so just take my apology and rip it open.” he set the present in Scruffy’s lap. “ho ho ho and all that.”

Scruffy laughed and leaned in to kiss Sid’s cheekbone. “fine, if it’ll make ya feel better.”

He ripped into the wrapping and pulled out a plastic case as he’d suspected. He stopped short once he realized what it was. Mouth agape, he looked up at Sid.

“yer shittin’ me.”

Sid smirked. “i am not shitting you.”

He was speechless!

“this… how…”

The game in his hands wasn’t even officially out yet. It was the newest Pokémon game and had been hyped up for months before it had been pre-released the week before. Scruff didn’t have the money when it was announced, and it was sold out within the first day anyway. He planned on buying it after the official release with the money he’d likely get from his brother for Gyftmas.

“santa’s got connections, baby.”

Scruff snorted and leaned against Sid’s chest as he looked over the game cover. “this is amazin’. i don’ even care how ya got it. c’n i play it now?” he looked up at Sid excitedly.

Sid was watching him with soft eye lights. He suddenly felt a little guilty for immediately wanting to go right to the game instead of even thanking him.

Before he could say anything, Sid hugged him. “only if you show me what’s so special about it.”

Scruffy grinned and nodded. He gave Sid one more kiss before slipping off his lap to get his gaming gear.