MFU: December Drabbles

[wildernesstales]

On mfuwss , they're prompting each day a word related to Christmas/winter. I'm posting in batches, and I should have posted this one earlier, but I didn't.  So you get a load of prompts!  Slash present in (stuffed) Stockings.


14 – Mistletoe
Illya stared warily at the mistletoe hanging above the office door.
“You do realise that if you keep standing there someone will walk past and take advantage?” Napoleon called from inside the office.  Grumbling to himself, Illya stepped inside, only to stare in shock at the mistletoe hanging above his desk.
“Oh no.  I am not sitting there with… with that there!”
“Why not?  I’ve got one.” Napoleon pointed to the large bunch of mistletoe above his desk.
“Because I do not want to be subjected to women fawning all over me.  You may enjoy it, but I do not.”


15 – Decorations
Illya pulled out yet another string of colored lights from the box and handed it to Napoleon.  There were more baubles and tinsel than he’d ever seen in this box.
“Why do you need so much?” He still wasn’t used to the extravagance of Americans, especially at Christmas.
“My family’s always done it this way.  Get a tree, and then put so many decorations on it you can’t actually see the tree.”  Illya shook his head.
“It is strange.” As a child, his family had been lucky to get a tree, especially one they didn’t need to use for firewood.


 

16 – (stuffed) Stockings
“You know Father Christmas is a myth told to small children?” Illya queried, watching Napoleon hang his stocking over the fake fireplace in his apartment.
“So?” That devilish grin stopped Illya asking any more questions.  At least for a while.

Over the next few days, Illya couldn’t stop thinking about the stocking and wondering why Napoleon would hang one even though he knew it wouldn’t get filled.  Or would it?

Christmas Eve came and Illya used all his knowledge to creep into Napoleon’s apartment, circumventing the security procedures and filling Napoleon’s stocking with a variety of small gifts and treats.

17 – Snowman
Illya watched as Napoleon and his nephew built a snowman.  The snow that had fallen over the past few days had settled, creating a veritable winter wonderland.  And now they were out, making tracks across the pristine snowfall and creating a snowman.  Illya sat on a bench, huddled in a warm coat, crutches at his side, just watching.  Unable to do more until his leg recovered fully.  He doubted the doctors would accept the excuse of ‘making snowmen’ as a reason why his recovery was taking longer than they expected.
Besides, it was nice to sit and watch Napoleon relax.


18 – Reindeer
“I don’t care what it was!” Illya grunted, limping towards their hire car.
“I just thought you’d like to know.” Napoleon pointed out.
“I know all right.  And I now know how much those antlers hurt.  Now can we please get to the car and back to headquarters?”
“Of course Illya.” Napoleon murmured meekly, skipping a step to help Illya back to the car.
“Thank you.” Grateful for the help, Illya leant on Napoleon.
“But you’re telling medical what happened.”
“Thank you.” Illya’s tone was dry.  He wasn’t looking forward to telling the doctor he’d been tossed by a reindeer.


 

19 – Candles
Christmas Eve found Illya in a small Catholic church in New York.  Napoleon lingered in the doorway, giving his partner the privacy he needed, yet still being close enough should the need arise.

Illya lit a succession of candles, holding each one up and staring at the flame, before placing it in the holder before him, murmuring under his breath.  Finally, he stood back, looking at the candles.  He’d lit six in total, in memory of his family and loved ones.  He always did this at Christmas.  And this was the first year he had allowed Napoleon to accompany him.

 

20 – (Christmas) Tree
The first year Illya spent Christmas in America, he was on duty.  He’d volunteered, not seeing the point to celebrating the holiday on his own.

The second year, Illya bought himself a small tree.  He would be spending Christmas at home on his own, recovering from a nasty torture session courtesy of Thrush.  Due to the length of time he’d spent in the medical wing at headquarters, the tree was small and straggly, half its needles already falling off.  But it was his tree.

The third year, he spent with Napoleon.  They bought a large tree and decorated it together.

21 – Gold, Red or Green
“Green tree, red tinsel, gold baubles.” Napoleon listed the colors he wanted in his apartment.  Illya just shook his head.
“Why does everything have to be a specific color?” He asked.
“Because it does.” Napoleon shrugged.  He was particular about certain things, and the Christmas decorations were one of them.  Illya shook his head again and put down the green tinsel he’d picked up, moving on to pick up a handful of red tinsel.
“Not that one.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not the right red.”  Illya growled and threw down the tinsel.  “I give up.  You can choose the decorations yourself.”