Archive of Our Own

It all starts with Leo’s event planning and an innocuous confession from Klaus.

Three weeks before Christmas sees their Events Coordinator’s face scrunched up in concentration as he tries to figure out what to do for Libra’s official holiday party, scrolling through lists of attractions and jotting down ideas.  Klaus ends up imploring him to take a break when he throws up his hands in indecisive frustration, making unruly dark hair even messier while Sonic tries to pat the curls back down. Steven hides his amusement behind his usual blue mug, sipping carefully at piping-hot coffee; K.K. has no such qualms about showing her emotions regarding Leo’s hard work, gushing over her own family’s plans both in an attempt to help and in an expression of her genuine excitement.

“And this year, I’ll get to go to two holiday shows! Both of my boys, on-stage, singing Christmas carols...I’m going to record every moment,” she beams, hands clasped together near her cheek. There’s the typical sparkle in her blue eyes that only shows when she’s talking about her family and Steven glances over at his boyfriend to find his own hidden indulgent fondness manifested openly on Klaus’s face.

“We’re heading over to Yuki’s family house for Christmas afterwards...I’ll have pictures to show you when I get back, the kids get to make gingerbread houses and cookies and create their own decorations to add to the tree.” K.K.'s so gleeful that Steven's a bit surprised she's not actually glowing. Klaus makes a humming noise, thoughtful.

“It sounds like a wonderful time, K.K. I’m sure they’ll enjoy the holidays with you.”

“Aw, Klausie, thanks...is there anything you grew up doing during Christmas? Maybe it’ll help Leo think of the perfect idea.”  

“Hmm. I mostly remember attending a formal dinner party each year, but I do know that my parents always arranged for an Advent calendar and Christmas tree to be placed in the main hall.”

K.K. stares at him, momentarily startled out of her festive mood. “Is...that all? So you’ve never made your own ornaments or made your own cookies or decorated your own sweets…?”

When Klaus shakes his head, she rounds on Steven, dismayed as she points an accusing finger at him. Leo yelps a little at the abrupt action, Sonic almost falling off his head. “You! Scarface! How come you never showed poor Klausie any of these things? You might be a black-hearted villain who works through Christmas when he doesn’t have to, but it’s important for Klaus here to try them out!”

“Calm down, K.K.,” Steven tries, inching closer to his partner and lifting his hands in an attempt to placate her. “I wasn’t keeping them from Klaus on purpose. The thought just didn’t cross my mind because I haven’t had any holiday traditions in years beyond, well. Spending the time with my partner when we can make it happen.”

The sniper begrudgingly lowers her hand, still grumbling a little before she notices that Leo’s still in the room, brow furrowed in thought once his initial surprise has died down. They share a look of determined understanding; K.K. falls back onto the couch, leaning over to read the event coordinator’s newest idea. When she nods, they both get up, Leo carrying his papers and pencils while K.K. grabs the laptop.

“We’ll be in the other room if you need us, Mr. Klaus, Mr. Steven,” Leonardo’s smiling as he waves his papers purposefully before closing the door, the little white monkey on his shoulder mimicking the motion. They nod back almost in unison, glad to see the young man’s enthusiasm back.

“You realize they’re going to find a way to fit every single usual Christmas tradition into this party now, right?” Steven asks, grinning as he finishes another email. Klaus smiles back, gratefully accepting a cup of freshly brewed tea from Gilbert.

“Mm. I’m looking forward to it.”

Steven lifts an eyebrow at the invitation he's reading over, directing a pointed look at the mass of red pen ink around the word “casual” under the dress code requirements. Leo looks mildly sheepish, but the younger man stands firm, only shrugging and offering a “Mrs. K.K. insisted it was necessary.”  

He hums, scanning the rest of the well-designed card. They’re welcome to bring food if they wish, but nothing else is suggested; he makes a mental note to ask Verded if she might be able to help before smiling in approval at Leo.

“Looks good to me. Nice work, Head Coordinator.” Leonardo’s answering grin is a little bashful, as it tends to be whenever Steven or Klaus compliment him, the young man rubbing at the side of his neck.

“Thanks, Mr. Steven. Um, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going…?”

The Esmeralda technique user glances over at a nearby clock and nods; it’s almost lunchtime. “Enjoy your break, Leo.”

He waits until the younger Libra member is at the doors to the elevator before calling “and don’t forget to invite your sister and that mage of yours!”

The elevator doors close on Leo’s surprised spluttering.

Klaus is, predictably, absolutely thrilled to go shopping together, green eyes aglow with endearing anticipation as he observes all the holiday decorations that have already been put up on every storefront they pass. Steven doesn’t bother resisting the urge to lace their fingers together in the backseat of the car, his boyfriend’s broader digits warm against his own, checking his messages and the shopping checklist on his phone with his free hand.

Traffic is terrible, as it tends to be during the holiday season, but it’s a bit more bearable with so much to see and the radio cheerfully playing Christmas tunes in the background. Steven doesn’t notice himself absent-mindedly humming along until he looks up from his phone to find Klaus smiling at him, eyes soft. His first instinct is to stop, but he coughs once and keeps going instead, to his boyfriend’s visible delight.

When Gilbert finally manages to drop the two of them off near the festively decorated outdoor market, Steven’s made it through a few consecutive carols, embarrassment mostly faded, especially once Klaus started humming as well. The old butler waves off their gratitude with his usual smile and drives off to do the impossible task of finding somewhere to park after wishing them the best on their endeavors, a mildly terrifying glint in his eye as he revs the engine of the combat vehicle.

The warmly-lit stalls are swamped with tourists and locals alike. Every single one is decked in holiday colors and stocked from floor to ceiling with their respective wares; there are goods unique to HL and Christmas-only memorabilia, food and drink of all kinds, electronics and games and toolsets and even plants and pets. Several vendors call out greetings and offers, peddling anything and everything from fresh warm fudge to windchimes that whistle approximations of holiday tunes to Hellsalem’s Lot specials like disturbingly squishy, strangely-colored condiments and lava lamps with weirdly realistic goopy-looking eyeballs and giant carnivorous plants that shriek off-key Christmas carols when fed.

(Klaus gravitates over towards a particularly gargantuan Venus flytrap. Steven catches his coat sleeve warily, remembering the absolutely disastrous HL-bred pitcher plant that his boyfriend used to keep at the office.)

They settle on some boughs of holly and miniature pine trees instead, Steven quietly buying a few sprigs of mistletoe to scatter around their home and winking at Klaus when his boyfriend splutters a little at the sight of them. By the time his smile finally loses its mischievous edge, they’ve also bought a few potted poinsettias, all of them with the typical deep-red petals and healthy dark-green leaves and stems...save for one mutant poinsettia with festive golden petals and silver leaves and stems.

Steven’s reminded of just how tall and bulky Klaus is when something catches his boyfriend’s eye and he’s able to gently but firmly maneuver the two of them over to the other shop with Steven pressed as close as he can, arms linked to avoid getting separated as they wade through the massive crowd (not that he’s going to complain about being so close to Klaus any time soon).

As it turns out, Klaus had spotted a cluster of stalls selling ornaments; they’re quickly engaged in picking out tasteful decorations, huddled over racks and racks of different wares and showing each other potential or interesting finds like beautiful teardrop-shaped glass ornaments and shining snowflake-patterned baubles or delicate, elegant hummingbirds and strangely Lovecraftian angels with too many eyes. The decision of which star to buy requires some extra deliberation, Klaus gingerly holding each one up and turning them carefully so both of them can see each choice from various angles.

(They pick the simple but solid gold star over the hollow silver one and the snazzy 12-pointed star, but just barely.)

From ornaments, it’s onto giant garlands of holiday-colored tinsel, festive knickknacks, miniature statues, and wreaths of both traditional and innovative design, as well as stylish but low-key stockings, glowy candy cane decorations, bells of all sizes, and numerous nutcrackers, both human and Beyondian in design and make. Steven poses quickly with an absolutely hulking behemoth of a nutcracker holding two mugs of what are probably supposed to be hot chocolate; the drinks look close enough to coffee that he teases Klaus about finally having some possible competition.

“Well, we can’t have that,” Klaus says after a small, good-natured sound of amusement. Steven’s about to ask what he means when his boyfriend takes him by the hand to lead him over to a stall selling all kinds of drinks, including several types of gourmet coffee. “Allow me to treat you, mein schatzi.”

The corner of Steven’s mouth quirks up helplessly before he ducks his head down, willing his cheeks not to darken too noticeably. Klaus’s pleased smile tells him he isn’t quite successful in that endeavor, but he doesn’t mind as much when his boyfriend looks so content.

They end up getting empanadas and churros to share as well, taking a little snack break at the tables set aside for food and rest. Steven sighs a little at the way the treats warm him from the inside out, letting out a long noise of enjoyment after washing it all down with the steaming-hot coffee, eyes closed in something like bliss, unaware of the way Klaus’s eyes soften at the sight as he sips at his own hot cider.

Tilting the paper packet towards Klaus to offer the last churro to him, Steven is the one to spot their next destination - several shops across the food corner sell all kinds of lights and lighted decorations, advertising their wares by simply showing them off, each stall cheerily bright with strings of lights. Winter animals and members of Santa’s workshop wave or romp merrily, watched over by the clouds of fairy lights hung all around the stores. Flowers with lit-up stamen or petals glow from where they're mounted on walls, some of them alternately blooming and closing back up, while snowflakes and prettily patterned lanterns and stars of all sizes and colors drift in the wind, tugging mildly on the strings attaching them to the ceilings.

Klaus gently takes hold of one of the hanging stars and brings it closer to his preoccupied boyfriend, calling his partner's name to get the other's attention.

“Oh, hey. Do you want to get that one? It’s nice and fits our color scheme pretty well.” When Steven finally looks up from perusing the selection in the racks before him, he immediately notices the way his boyfriend is considering the glittering ornament.

“Mm. I do want to purchase it for the living room, but I was actually thinking about how no star, natural or manmade, could compare to you.”  

Steven’s ears abruptly feel like they’re burning. Even his neck feels a touch warmer than usual, and he pulls ineffectually at his collar. “This is about that quip about the nutcracker, isn’t it.”

Klaus’s laugh is a low, quiet noise, a teasing light subtly dancing through his eyes as he lets go of the ornament. “Perhaps a little. But I do mean it, of course.”

When they finally finish shopping for decorations and start shopping for gifts, they end up spending a good half-hour at a bigger shop with well-crafted puzzles and games of all kinds, buying two big chests full of board games for K.K.’s and Verded’s families. Klaus fidgets in indecision over a set of his own and a few 15,000-piece jigsaw puzzles until Steven plucks them out of his hands and heads over to the cashier with the boxes in his arms, waving off his boyfriend’s incoherent protests.

“Let me spoil you when I can, mi cielo,” Steven says, cheeky in his playful revenge as they leave the extremely happy vendor, new purchases safely behind the store counter.

(With how much shopping they’re doing, it’s for the best that they’ve left everything to be picked up by Gilbert later.)

Klaus’s features waver between gratitude and uncertainty all until they enter the electronics section, complete with thousands and thousands of video games; while he gets distracted over which model to buy, Steven ends up scouring the internet for the most popular games compatible with the console they're getting Leo in honor of his demolished X-station, choosing a few the younger man might like, as well as a gift card just in case. They do something similar with the waterproof reading tablet for Zed, stocking it with both of their suggestions alongside a sizeable prepaid balance for their hard-working employee.

“Should we really get Zapp a present?” Steven muses aloud while they wait in line to get Leo and Zed’s gifts wrapped, eyes narrowed as he mentally reviews the younger man’s latest exploits. Klaus fiddles with his thumbs, making an anxious noise of indecision, inherent generosity warring with the memories of all the trouble Zapp has caused several times over for a majority of Libra’s inner circle, especially for Klaus himself.

“Steven...perhaps we should. It is the holiday season, and he has done some excellent work over the course of the year.” The goodwill wins out. His boyfriend sighs deeply, feeling more beleaguered just from thinking of his attempts to get Zapp to write proper reports.

“Okay, fine,” Steven grouses, knowing that Klaus would feel guilty if they didn’t give their employee something for the holidays, “but it’ll be a more general gift card. He can decide what he wants to do with that money.”

They stop by a shop selling garden supplies and plants, ostensibly to get something for Abrams (something refreshing but hardy enough to last through his bad luck, with an equally tough pot to go with it) and Dog and Deldro (they’re not allowed much, not in their cell, but it might be nice to have something naturally green to look at; there are, thankfully, some innovative vase-holders to offset the requirement of an unbreakable container). Klaus, of course, ends up picking out some holders of his own; Steven agrees to a vertical wall planter as well, but vetoes the trio of hanging pots - as nice as it looks right now as it spins mildly, cleaning up messy plant bits wasn’t exactly enjoyable when their first hanging planter suddenly became sentient and there’s no reason for the experience to improve.  

(With Hellsalem’s Lot, it’s best to be prepared for the weird.)

The rest of the shopping is easier. Klaus patiently waits in line for some famously expensive but delicious macarons for Chain and K.K. while Steven visits a few stalls advertising household appliances and tools, finding some top-notch cocktail-mixing sets for their resident werewolf as well as for Patrick and Neyka, choosing an additional present for the latter two in the form of a shiny new set of sculpting tools.

(He’s aware that Neyka, at least, finds it hard to stop working sometimes. As much as he sympathizes, Klaus will worry if he finds out.)

When Klaus finally catches up to him, Steven’s long-since finished with paying and is instead considering a deceptively simple yet stylish barrette for Michella, an elegant new tie clip and artisanal gloves for Gilbert already sitting in his basket. He’s more than willing to help Klaus pick out his own gift of an exquisite set of finely crafted combs for Leonardo’s dear sister and a sparkling new pocket watch for the Reinherz family’s esteemed combat butler.

By the time all that shopping has been completed, however, both of them are flagging. Steven has to put a little effort into not dragging his feet, slouching a bit more to rest his hands in his pockets; a quick glance to the side shows that Klaus is also slightly slumped, a gloved hand briefly soothing his stomach as he trudges along.  The coffee and snacks had been hours ago, and they’ve been alternately walking or standing this entire time. Even though he’s not anywhere near Klaus’s size, he’s feeling peckish as well.

“If you’re hungry, we could just eat before we go home - there’s a restaurant across the street with a 4.5-star rating on Yelp. Apparently, the owners have three friendly cats.” A quick tap switches the page over to food reviews rather than pages and pages of cat adoration. “Also, they’ve got an extensive menu and the food seems good and pretty affordable.”

His boyfriend’s face lights up a little. “That sounds wonderful. And it has been quite some time since we’ve last had the opportunity to dine out together…”

The establishment isn’t particularly large or grand, but the decor that does exist is tasteful. There’s a bit of a line despite it being earlier than usual dinner times, perhaps due to the restaurant’s reputation, but most of the waiting guests are happily gathered near one of the three cats, all of them in adorable holiday sweaters; Klaus snaps a picture of Steven joining the crowd to crouch next to a tawny tabby, fingers gently scratching under its chin to its quiet but vocal delight.

They end up getting seated outside to avoid some of the wait; Steven scrolls through their holiday shopping list as he bites into a warm cheese-dipped pretzel and exhales deeply.

“What’s wrong?” Klaus looks up immediately, unaware of a small crumb from the truffle fries stuck near his upper lip. His boyfriend instinctively makes a move to brush it away for him before remembering that they’re in public and switches to awkwardly pointing it out instead.

“It’s nothing horrible, don’t worry. I was just thinking about how we still need to get casual clothes for the party.”

Klaus pauses abruptly while wiping at his cheek. Steven stares at him in confusion.

“Did...you forget that we still haven’t bought outfits yet or is there something else going on?”

“Mm. Actually, Steven…” Klaus trails off into a mildly worrying silence, opting to instead grab his phone after carefully wiping his fingers free of grease. Steven leans in, peering curiously at the phone screen angled towards him. The other man coughs a little. “We may not have to purchase party-appropriate clothing. It seems my family has decided on this year’s gift theme already.”

His lover squints at the screen in disbelief, leaning forwards to see better. “Are those...are those customized Christmas sweaters? Last year it was those glass ornaments with the Reinherz crest...”

And then, “wait, we?”

His voice peters off into nothing at the implication, jaw hanging open in surprise. Klaus’s smile quirks in obvious if bashful amusement at his wide-eyed stare, but he mercifully says nothing about the way Steven’s gone still, opting to gently trace the path of a snowflake as it melts down the scarred cheek with his gloved thumb instead. The casual intimacy has Steven finally blinking again, unable to stop from reflexively glancing around even though there’s only one other occupied table outside, everyone else opting for warmth and less snow.  

Klaus retracts his hand; Steven shoots him a slightly apologetic look before settling a hand on Klaus’s own, hooking his legs around one of Klaus’s under the covered table like a compromise.

“According to my sister, every set of sweaters is unique - ours should have your Esmeralda mark as well as my family’s crest.” Steven reflexively glances down at his own covered chest, eyes going to where the focal point of his tattoos would be. His throat works, suddenly dry, and he quickly takes a sip of eggnog.

“Well, what colors are...what colors are they?” His voice doesn't stumble but it isn’t quite casual enough to sound as unaffected as he would like, Steven struggling with the immediate thought that he doesn’t deserve to be associated with the noble and righteous Reinherz name even through the sheer astonishment of being acknowledged as part of the family at all. Though he (hopefully) manages to keep most of his thoughts from showing, Klaus must see something indicating his doubts because he turns his palm to hold Steven’s hand in his own, running a gentle thumb repetitively over the older man’s knuckles.

“It seems that Gilbert and I may have been sending them pictures of you mostly in that dark blue shirt you favor.” Klaus says, expression turning mildly sheepish. His boyfriend’s face pinches a little, but Steven smooths his features out almost immediately, not expecting Klaus to have actually sent images of him to his family despite giving him permission to do so when his partner asked.   

“Oh, so mine is blue then?”

He’s surprised to see the faintest dusting of pink cover Klaus’s cheeks at the question.

“Actually, mine is blue. Yours is red.”

Steven furrows his brow in confusion, lips already parted to ask why his is red when he pauses and takes in the dark reddish shade of Klaus’s hair and matching tie.

His tiny “oh” sounds trapped in his throat and he clears it to forestall Klaus from asking if he dislikes the idea of wearing each other’s colors or perhaps the idea of wearing something with the Reinherz crest on it at all (which, well, dislike isn’t really the right word).

“It’s fine. Really, Klaus.” His boyfriend still looks worried. “That’s just. Very cutesy. Not, not that that’s bad, it’s just...I was just surprised. Not having to do more shopping is a good thing.”

“Steven...if it’s uncomfortable for you, then I wish for you to tell me. We can go buy sweaters easily; my family will understand, and even if they would not, I will understand. There is never any need to push yourself to try to please me or any of my relatives.” Klaus’s features set into a determined look, solemn sincerity in those clear green eyes.

I really love you, Steven thinks helplessly, smile softening into something more genuine. What he says aloud is a fond “you really are amazing, you know that?”, watching as his boyfriend’s countenance lightens from his prior seriousness.

“I do think it’s fine though. I’ll try to let you know if that changes.” Neither of them is particularly good at speaking up instead of enduring, but they’ve been trying to work on that together. “And please give your family my thanks for their thoughtfulness.”

“Of course.” Klaus looks pleased as he returns to his cheesesteak and hot chocolate, Steven taking that as a cue to pick up his torta again.

Then, once they’re mostly done with their food: “Since clothes shopping is taken care of, we actually have some extra time on our hands before Gilbert comes to pick us up. The ice skating rink in the square is free, though we’ll need to rent skates...should we head over or no?”

Klaus winces a little, remembering the first time they went ice skating. His incessant concern over falling and hurting someone by accident had him white-knuckling the rail until it started creaking ominously, which became just another thing to worry about. Luckily, his partner had noticed his discomfort and come gliding over to help.

“You’re much better than you were when you just started out. And even if you fall, I’ll help make sure no one gets hurt. But it’s up to you,” Steven soothes upon seeing his discomfited expression, finishing off another truffle fry and taking a sip of eggnog. The curious fluffy cat from earlier comes trotting up, batting at one of his coat sleeves, and he wipes his fingers on a wet towel before obligingly picking up a cat toy sitting on a nearby table.

Klaus chews on the inside of his lip slightly. It’s the sight of his boyfriend that decides him, however - Steven’s cheeks are a little red from the cold but he looks content in a way that he rarely does (though his lips are quirked in the same mildly self-satisfied manner he adopts after a job well done - they have completed everything on their list, after all).

“Mm. I’ll hold you to that.” Klaus would’ve said something about trust, but unfortunately his boyfriend still gets a little squirrelly around that word. The last thing he wants to do is pull Steven from his good mood, especially since their dessert waffles have finally arrived. “Let’s go after we’ve finished here.”

He doesn’t want this trip to be over just yet.

(They don’t end up crushing anyone and, in fact, Klaus has vastly improved. Steven holds his hand the entire way home and kisses him the moment they’re in private with a murmur of “See? You did great” against his lips.

Klaus smiles, chest feeling pleasantly full and warm, and kisses back.)

The day before Christmas Eve has a good number of Libra’s inner circle out in the streets, fighting against building-sized nutcrackers. The hectic battle has Steven aiming a disgruntled stare at the ones innocently decorating their own home afterwards, reminded of giant blood-stained mouths and miscellaneous fluids splattered on reinforced armor-like torsos.

His expression brightens while reading the note pinned to the kitchen island, however, the stationary characteristic of Verded’s tastes.The motherly housekeeper's neat penmanship thanks Klaus and himself for their presents and general kindnesses to her and her family and asks him to check the fridge for a little something for the party tomorrow; Steven’s grinning even before he confirms that it’s an absolutely gigantic tray of her homemade roast beef, accompanied by a generous helping on a plate with his and Klaus’s names on it.

Klaus seems equally pleased, suggesting pairing some homemade mulled wine with their dinner. Steven leaves his boyfriend to the task of gathering the ingredients for the holiday drink, weaving around the other man to grab pots and pans from a cabinet to start on a few side dishes. He looks over while he’s cooking to find Klaus almost wholly focused on the simmering wine, intent gaze making sure that the heat’s too low to cause any boiling; Steven’s struck by the intense urge to kiss him and indulges himself with a playful peck on the cheek before turning back to the vegetables in the pan, grinning at his boyfriend’s low and mildly frazzled chastisement for startling him.

When everything’s done, they move their food and drinks over to the festively decorated living room, settling on the couch together in front of the TV. Steven flips the channel over to a hilariously generic holiday movie - they’ve been watching Christmas films whenever they can, starting with the more famous ones like A Christmas Carol and Elf before moving on to any movies they can find.

Even the poorly-made and poorly-written films are charming in their own ways: they’ve made a game out of guessing what’s going to happen in each stereotypical Christmas movie and pointing out unintentionally funny or simply bewildering moments for added entertainment. Steven had initially proposed taking shots every time they got something correct but they had quickly realized that such a drinking game would probably land both of them in the hospital; as pleased as Dr. Estevez was to see them when they brought her and her associates their presents of high-quality alcohol and gourmet dark chocolate, neither of them has any intention of going back for health reasons.

Once the movie credits start rolling, they relocate back to the kitchen to start on what they're taking to the party tomorrow. Steven pulls up the recipes on his phone, grabbing some ingredients from the fridge and reading out others so Klaus can retrieve the rest from the pantry.

“Looks like the punch and batter can be made tonight, but all the actual baking should be tomorrow. Is that alright, or should we try something other than lebkuchen and buñuelos?”

Klaus makes a contemplative noise, wrapping his arms around his partner’s waist and tugging Steven back a little to better read the directions over the shorter man’s shoulder. Once he’s finished perusing the recipes, he nods. “It should be fine, mein schatzi. We’ll simply sleep earlier tonight and wake earlier tomorrow.”

Steven groans a little at that, leaning his head back to take advantage of the broad chest behind him, not particularly fond of the idea of waking early on a day off. It helps, though, to see Klaus’s patient, indulgent smile as the man peers down at him, eyes soft.

(The kiss they exchange next helps too.)

The morning of the party finds Klaus and Steven back in the kitchen, side-by-side as they prepare the lebkuchen for baking.

The batter smells incredible; the utter contentment in Klaus’s features as he inhales deeply has Steven smiling to himself as he opens the package of oblaten and retrieves the ice cream scoops for transferring the batter onto the wafers.

(If nothing else, this has been a success just for that look.)

There’s a quiet moment as he pauses his own work to just watch as those big hands carefully maneuver a spoon to shape the batter on top of each round wafer, Klaus’s expression pinched in concentration. Steven waits until he seems to be finished before propping one of his own hands lightly on his boyfriend’s shoulder to step up on tiptoe and kiss the residual furrow in the other man’s brow.

“Relaaax, Klaus. If they taste half as good as they smell, the others will love them. These don’t have to be perfect.”

“Mm, I know. But…” Klaus twiddles his thumbs a little as he trails off.

“Old habits are hard to shake, and you really want the others to enjoy something you put your heart into making.” Steven finishes. It’s the same for him. “I get it, and I’m not trying to stop you from putting your all into this the way you usually do, I just don’t want you to stress over it. Especially not on Christmas Eve, when you need your stomach for all the delicious food at the party.”

Klaus’s chuckle at the last part is a welcome sound; he already looks a little less tense. “I’ll try to remember that. I happen to know Gilbert was in charge of catering, so I’m sure dinner will be faultless.”

“Exactly. Plus, it makes the differences between ours really obvious,” Steven says, staring down at where the three lebkuchen he made sit forlornly around Klaus’s perfect one. They’re not sloppily done by any means, but the batter isn’t spread quite as professionally as Klaus’s, the thickness of the mix not quite thinning from the center evenly from every angle.

“Ah. So that was the true reason, was it not?”

“Of course not.”  Even though it has been years, Steven still somehow always feels a small thrill of stunned delight whenever Klaus jokes with or teases him. “Besides, you’ll probably have to pull me away from fiddling with the glazes and the syrup for the buñuelos later.”

He’s not prepared for his boyfriend to swing a large arm around his waist and pull him back from the counter a little, a light yelp escaping him as the other man kisses the spot right behind his ear.

“Mm. I think I’ll manage.” Klaus says, smile beatific as he returns to the lebkuchen. Steven blinks owlishly at him, hand clasped to where his skin is still warm from the kiss, before he starts working again as well, an incredulous but amused huff escaping him.  

They make the glazes and start on the buñuelos as the lebkuchen bake. True to his word, Klaus does have to gently stop Steven from adding minute amounts of sugar and water and chocolate in attempts at corrective measures. The pressure of time seems to help convince him to move onto the buñuelos, but something seems off as they flatten the balls of dough into extra-thin circles together.

“Something on your mind, mein schatzi?” Steven used to resort to deflecting immediately; Klaus has no reason to deny the rush of emotion that goes through him when his lover pauses to consider whether to ask that he leave the issue alone or to talk about it to any extent instead of pretending or denying.

“It’s just, well. I don’t have any particular traditions for Christmas, so I wasn’t exactly misleading K.K. but. I remember helping my grandma make these each year when I was a child. It’s been more than twenty years since then though, I can’t recall any of her instructions at all.” He feels more than sees Klaus start the slightest amount at the mention of his grandmother; it's not a particularly surprising reaction considering how Steven almost never talks about his family.

“I’ve thought about making them a few times, even back when we were Fang Hunters, but I just...never did, even though they’re not exactly hard to make.” A brief pause. Steven stares down hard at the half-flattened ball of dough under his rolling pin. “Maybe I didn’t want them to taste wrong, even though it’s not like I really remember what hers were like.”

For a few moments, it’s quiet save for the oven in the background and the noises from the rolling pins and boards. 

Then, before Steven can really start wishing he hadn't said anything and brought the mood down: 

“If these do not taste right, then we’ll keep trying.” Klaus’s voice is like a solemn promise, his typical determination in the set of his brow, the unyielding line of his mouth.

“We don’t really have time for that,” Steven tries, though he’s aware that Klaus means something more grand.

“If you do not want to, then I won’t pursue it. Otherwise, however, I would be more than happy to try recipe after recipe with you until you can fully enjoy them again.”

“That...seems fitting,” Steven says slowly, biting down on his instinctive urge to refuse, “you’re the main reason why I wanted to try making them today.”

Klaus makes a questioning noise as he retrieves the lebkuchen out of the oven. Steven doesn’t look at him, already regretting not going with a simple “sure, why not?” instead.

“Well, it’s. I thought maybe making buñuelos could be included in our holiday traditions as well. We don’t have to add it, obviously, but it could be like the Advent calendar and the shopping and all the decorating we did...and the movies, though we’ll need to find some more because we really exhausted a good number of th-”

His words are cut off by one of the Esmeralda marks on his partner’s dark blue sweater as Klaus hugs him close, brushes temporarily abandoned in their respective bowls of sugar and chocolate glaze.

“Of course, mein geliebter. I would enjoy nothing more than continuing to establish holiday traditions throughout the years with you.”  

Steven lets out a low whistle when he and Klaus arrive at the moderately-sized section allotted to Libra’s holiday party by the most scenic park in Hellsalem’s Lot, the scene something out of a movie with all the trees splendidly decked out in large garlands, glittering Christmas lights, and countless ornaments, all the street lamps spruced up by holiday-colored tinsel.

A large round table sits proudly in the middle of several longer tables, every single one decorated with a potted poinsettia and a few small already-lit candles on top of a simple but festive tablecloth. While the circular table is absolutely laden with all kinds of food and drink, the others are stacked with well-organized piles of supplies for the planned activities; Zed, Leo, Michella, and Black are already clustered around what look like two nascent gingerbread creations, each big tray covered with a thick layer of frosting to simulate snow.

(Sonic, nearby, seems to be making a miniature lodge for himself, occasionally eating a candy or two.)

Zed and Michella appear to be completely engrossed in working on the front of what look like some broken ruins, but William glances up almost immediately and smiles in greeting, pulling gently at Leonardo’s forest-green Christmas jumper to get his attention.

“Mr. Klaus, Mr. Steven! Sorry we got started without you, but welcome to the party,” their Events Coordinator says, expression going a little sheepish as he offers a little half-wave in his festive Christmas sweater. Steven waves the apology away, though he can’t help a teasing comment of “no, no, that’s alright, we old folk understand that young ones nowadays require entertainment at all times.”

Perhaps a year or two ago, this would have earned a mildly chastising “Steven” from his boyfriend as Leo flustered, but now the young man only grins at him, which leaves Klaus to greet Black instead, so visibly pleased to see the mage doing well that the blond looks mildly embarrassed before getting drawn into a conversation over their respective holiday plans.

(He’s definitely embarrassed in a more moved way when Libra’s boss gently pushes a bag holding a stack of boxed sweets into his hands.)

“Where should we bring these?” Steven lifts the trays and bags in his arms a little for emphasis.

“Oh, uh - that can go on the food table, ” Leo’s curious gaze is mostly focused on the foil-covered fritters. “Something-”

“Something smells really good!” Michella chirps over her brother’s mutter of “that’s what I was going to say!”  

“Ah, yeah. That would be the buñuelos - hopefully they taste just as good as they smell.” He shrugs a little, but there’s no “hoping” involved; Steven wouldn’t have brought them if he didn’t think they were good enough. “We also made some lebkuchen and Christmas punch, but the smell of these,” he lifts the trays a little, “is a lot stronger.”

“I can’t wait to try all of that,” the young man says, grin going a little goofy as it tends to whenever he’s thinking about food, and he sounds so genuinely anticipatory that Steven’s both touched and mildly anxious, especially when the others chime in with unanimous agreement.

His thoughts are interrupted by the sound of a bell jingling to the side of them and they both look over to find a smiling Gilbert in a big Santa hat with said bell attached to the end of it, Phillip trailing him in a matching green version and bowing before greeting all of them with exuberant holiday tidings.

(There’s a rush of something like awed gratitude. Gilbert has always made a habit of announcing his presence in some quiet but noticeable way after an incident early on in the course of Steven’s becoming acquainted with Klaus; he must have realized that the snow would’ve otherwise obscured one of the main ways Steven listens for him.)

“I like the hat,” Steven offers, in lieu of thanks. Gilbert’s smile only deepens and he knows the highly perceptive older man has heard what went unsaid.

“Thank you, sir. Now, please allow us to take those and settle in. I believe Mr. Watch has quite the schedule planned and Miss Chain has just arrived, as have Mr. Patrick and Miss Neyka” the old servant says, a lively twinkle in his eyes as Steven carefully hands over all the sweets and Verded’s specialty roast beef.

“What about Zapp?” Klaus ventures, the question met with exasperated amusement from both Leo and Steven and a slow shake of the head from Zed.

“He’ll show up late, as usual, but you know he’s not likely to miss a free meal.” Steven nods at Chain as she joins their half-circle in her own violet Christmas sweater, the warm-looking fabric adorned with patterns of white snowflakes. Patrick claps Steven companionably on the shoulder as he passes by, Neyka giving everyone a casual salute by his side. There’s a few separate conversations going on by the time Gilbert and Philip rejoin them and Leo finally ushers all the party guests to their seats.

The piping bag seems disproportionately small in Klaus’s hands but the man’s slow and careful movements help him decorate and connect each graham cracker; Steven winks at Leo as the younger man takes a picture of Libra’s boss intensely focused on forming the base of the gingerbread house, quickly snapping another at the man’s pleased smile when he succeeds.

For his part, Steven’s content to make decorations for their yard and leave the construction of the building to Klaus, save for his idea to give the house a porch through two layers of graham crackers and the idea to use half of a frosting-covered wafer as a step up onto said porch. He grins at the delighted satisfaction in his boyfriend’s eyes as their gingerbread house comes together, complete with a decorated mailbox and big pine trees made out of twists and chocolates and gumdrops to act as shrubs.

There’s laughter from the rest of the table and Steven looks over to find that Neyka and Patrick have somehow made an edible miniature version of their workshop, complete with rolled wafer cannons with apple ring wheels and jawbreaker cannonballs, as well as colorful whittled-down candy cane spears and bazookas. The two seem happy to help Chain, Zed, and Michella with their gingerbread excavation site, making broken weapons for the sugary remains of an underwater temple while Gilbert and Philip sit near a stunning recreation of the Reinherz estate.

On the other hand, Leo seems to be making valiant attempts to grab the rest of the hard candies away from Sonic to the amusement of the others. To the young man’s continued chagrin, the little white monkey scampers away towards the safety of his graham cracker shelter with ease - luckily for him, however, Will’s able to levitate a few back to his roommate so the two can continue using them as stool cushions in their Dianne’s Diner-inspired creation.

Sonic sends them both a baleful stare of discontent, but perks up when the activity shifts to decorating sugar cookies and Leo decorates one to look like him, complete with cookie crumbs on his frosting face. Neyka turns hers into her beloved taser while Patrick manages to make a gun out of a candy-cane shaped cookie, crowing at Chain’s well-made glass of champagne. Michella changes a bow-shaped cookie into a festive piece of wrapped candy; Zed makes a sweet as well, though he opts to transform a wreath into the donuts they tend to have at the office.

Black makes an homage to the place where he and Leo frequent most outside of the other’s apartment, laughing sheepishly when his attempt to mimic the font of the diner’s logo ends up being a squiggly mess instead. He joins the others in their awe as Philip proudly displays his impeccable replica of the Reinherz crest with a neat flourish, Gilbert chuckling good-naturedly next to him as he puts the finishing touches on a sugary version of his favorite combat vehicle.

Steven has to laugh a little at the sheer comprehensiveness of the combat butlers’ skills - really, at this point, he’s not particularly surprised, but it’s been a while since he’s been reminded of the breadth of their training. When he says this outloud with an appreciative grin, Gilbert’s eyes crinkle as he smiles back.

“You have my thanks, Mr. Starphase. And that is an excellent design on yours as well, sir.”

The younger man smiles a little ruefully. “You think so? I thought it was a bit embarrassing, but the opportunity was right there…”

Klaus looks over curiously, interest piqued by their discussion, and laughs quietly at the Santa cookie Steven shows him, the face and hair of the Santa changed to imitate his own, complete with little spectacles and fangs.

“It seems we may have had similar ideas,” Klaus says, turning his own cookie to reveal that he’s been working on transforming his stocking cookie into one of Steven’s distinctive shoes and pant leg, the “fabric” mostly obscured by ice crystals made from light blue frosting, with white icing serving as the lines of each icicle. “Winter and snow have always reminded me of you, even back when we were just acquaintances.”

“For that long?” Steven asks, startled into glancing up. His boyfriend makes an affirmative noise, but anything else is interrupted by a long groan of “oh no, are Boss and Mr. Starphase at it again?” as Zapp comes trudging up.

“I’m glad you could join us, Zapp,” Klaus says after a tiny pause, ever the gentleman. He gestures to the sweets on the table. “Would you like one of your own?”

“Well, yea, but I’m not really into the decorating thing.” He pops a cookie into his mouth immediately. “Mmm, that’s good.”

Zapp isn’t exactly enthusiastic about decorating ornaments and stockings or making paper snowflakes either (beyond drawing and writing inappropriate designs on them or trying to mess with Leo’s, prompting Zed and Chain to help the younger man retaliate), but his complaining gets diverted into loud arguing after a few kicks and a tray to the face from Chain before stuttering into silence after an intimidating stare from Steven once he notices Klaus’s expression falling a little in response to the younger man’s casual disregard.

Dinner, on the other hand, is one of the few things Zapp is eager about. It’s a grand affair - Leo had asked Gilbert to take care of the catering and it shows in the quality and variety of the feast before them. A bowl of rich and creamy lobster bisque has been placed near every plate, and there is no shortage of seafood: a big plate full of oyster and mussel and clam, another one proudly displaying several crabs and lobsters, and even two large baskets of artfully arranged sashimi, thick slices of many different kinds of fish stacked in several piles (Chain’s eyes shine at the sight of it and Steven grins both at her and at the flash of Leo’s camera, which has been busily clicking away all day long).  

Verded’s tray of sliced roast beef and a glorious roast pig sit at opposite ends of the rotating tray, to the younger ones’ collective delight; heavenly aromas waft off a huge stuffed turkey and the generous plates of orange chicken and glazed ham placed near the middle with a giant bowl of mashed potatoes and loaded potato skins nearby. Big stuffed mushrooms, sweet but spicy fried cauliflower, an asparagus dish with a thick tantalizing sauce, and a crisp, clean salad round out the vegetables, while a few cakes and pies remind everyone that there’s also dessert to be had.

Steven laughs when Zapp audibly gulps back some drool and Zed smacks his hand away from one of the buttered rolls that serve as appetizers, but he’s honestly a bit sympathetic - it’s an absolutely mouth-watering array and even he’s a little guiltily glad when Klaus finishes with the year-end speech about Libra’s progress and achievements and prompts them to start eating instead.

There’s a distinct sense of pride when he notices that most of the buñuelos and lebkuchen are gone, while the punch bowls are already empty. It only strengthens when Gilbert compliments the two of them, Steven and Klaus sharing an accomplished look with each other as the rest of the partygoers add in their own compliments as well.

Everything cold had been relegated until after dinner so people can go home and get warm right afterwards: while Gilbert and Philip make a stunning ice version of Union Square in record time, Patrick and Neyka somehow build what looks like a tank made out of snow, strong enough for Neyka to crouch on top of. She poses, holding up two peace signs for a laughing Leo while Black tries to hold some snow in place for his and Leo’s own recreation of Leonardo’s trusty moped, Chain sending Zapp into the snow before he can mess with it while Zed takes the opportunity to pile snow on top of the man to his loud displeasure.

Michella and Klaus end up working together to create a faithful replica of Sonic, the monkey himself lounging on his back amongst the remains of a chocolate cake, very obviously stuffed to almost-bursting with dessert. Steven has to take a few moments to figure out what he wants to do; once inspiration hits, however, he quickly starts working on his own sculpture, thanking Chain when she comes over to help.

“The...LOVE sign, Mr. Starphase?” Zed asks in surprise, attention shifting away from his own snowy koi fish and his and Leo’s attempts to stop Zapp from making more inappropriate sculptures.

“Ah, well. Maybe I’m just being a sentimental old man, but. It was, in some ways, the birthplace of Libra, so I thought this would be fitting.” Of course, there are other reasons as well, but the kids don't need to know. 

“That makes sense.” The serious young man still seems curious, but he’s much too polite to ask for more details. Steven can see that Chain wants to hear the story as well, so he recounts to them the same tale that he and Klaus told Leo a few years ago - about the Great Collapse and how Klaus had, of course, been a solid reliable presence in what seemed like the end of the world, how they met Dr. Estevez and fought Zamedle for the first time before getting tossed out in front of the LOVE sculpture.

Zed’s in the middle of thanking him for telling them when his eyes widen and he jerks awkwardly, spinning around. Steven spots the snow still on the back of the other’s coat and immediately realizes what’s going to happen next. He calls out a warning before creating shields of ice to protect everyone’s sculptures, only just in time to save the moped from getting a densely packed snowball through its front.

“SNOWBALL FIGHT!” Zapp hollers, already readying another projectile before he gets nailed in the face by Leo, who looks surprised at his own good aim.

(Steven sees Black’s fingers flex afterwards and smiles to himself before dragging Klaus behind some cover to show him how to make a good snowball.)

By the end of the party, Klaus’s nose and cheeks are adorably red from the cold but he’s smiling, almost glowing from the genuine pleasure. Steven has to pause while helping Leo and Zed fold chairs in order to stare in awe, only half-aware of Chain leaping off a nearby street light to gain some momentum before crashing into Zapp with both boots to stop the man from sneaking away. There’s open mirth and wonder in those green eyes as he looks around at all the different sculptures, stopping in front of the still-intact LOVE sign with a soft expression, and Steven moves a little faster, gripped by the sudden desire to be alone with his boyfriend.

Except they don’t end up leaving quickly or alone, despite Steven’s secret machinations.

Klaus insists on seeing Leo, Michella, and Black back to their lodgings; Steven doesn’t have the heart to deny him, aware of how much of a worrier the other man is, especially over the younger kids. Besides, even if he had been inclined to refuse, the knowledge of how hard the young man had worked to put together the heartwarming party for his partner’s enjoyment would have squashed any objections.

(And if he were to be wholly honest in the way he rarely ever is, Klaus isn't the only one...concerned.)

When they finally wave goodbye to the Watch siblings and their mage friend, it’s so cold that even his natural defenses against frost as an Esmeralda technique user aren’t enough to stop him from shivering in his navy-blue coat, thinly gloved hands shoved deep into his pockets. He hadn’t quite expected to be out this late and so had dressed lighter than he would’ve otherwise.

Judging from the telltale signs of guilt creeping onto Klaus’s countenance, his boyfriend has noticed him freezing.

“I can request for Gilbert to pick us up.”

“No, let him enjoy the time off. Just come a little bit closer and I’ll be fine, mi sol.”

“Gladly, mein geliebter.” Despite his words, Klaus still looks concerned. To distract him, Steven takes advantage of the proximity and sneaks his hand into his boyfriend’s coat pocket, leaning in as close as he can without hindering the other man. The troubled look fades into gentle affection and Klaus wraps an arm snugly around his shoulders in return, pressing the shorter man into his side as they walk through the snow together.

They don’t bother disentangling themselves when they finally reach their own penthouse. Steven’s reaching for his keys when Klaus makes a strange noise of surprise; he looks up instantly in alarm to find his boyfriend staring in confusion at a sprig of mistletoe that has somehow found its way to right above their front door. Steven has his suspicions on who left it and huffs a small, rueful laugh before tugging Klaus down for a short kiss, the barest meeting of lips.

The desire to get in bed with his boyfriend flares again at the contact nonetheless, but Klaus immediately makes for their tree with the new decorations once they enter. Steven sighs silently at himself and heads to the thermostat and then the kitchen to make some more mulled wine from one of Gilbert’s recipes, smiling at the sounds of Klaus carefully setting out each new ornament and paper snowflake and affixing the stockings next to their store-bought ones already hanging over the fireplace.

Their tree is magnificent, quality typical of Gilbert's usual choices. Klaus had insisted on decorating it with Steven, and Steven hadn't been inclined to refuse even before his boyfriend had bashfully admitted it was an attempt to establish their own holiday traditions after K.K. got him thinking about them - a fter that, there had been no resisting the urge to kiss his endearing giant of a partner, Steven scooting closer to press his lips to Klaus’s. The kiss itself was short and completely chaste, but he hopes it conveyed how much the idea meant to him.

(Steven had smiled into his hand at Klaus’s immensely pleased expression after he successfully managed to attach the star to the top of the tree after a few scary attempts; they had shared another kiss after Steven turned on the lights strewn all around the tree for the very first time.)   

He returns to the living room with two full mugs to find that Klaus has finished arranging his latest set of decorations on the tree already. Steven considers the giant pine for a few moments, sipping at the warm wine. It looks a little crowded with all the different ornaments and strings of multi-colored tinsel and golden lights, so it takes him some deliberation to figure out where to place his own additions, which is apparently enough time for his boyfriend to rummage through the cupboards and fetch a large festive tin of several different flavors of gourmet popcorn and a sturdy cup holder tray. 

“Ready for the bedroom, then?” He recognizes that particular setup. Klaus responds with a happy-sounding affirmative noise and Steven laughs as he snaps a quick picture of the completed tree for Gilbert and K.K. before striding ahead, leading the way to their bedroom in order to open the door for his partner. 

As usual, he's the one to grab the bed tray and set up the night's movie while Klaus retrieves the big picnic blanket they use for eating on the bed, neither particularly wanting to clean up crumbs at this time of night, especially when Klaus is already yawning a little - b y the end of the movie, Steven’s not sure if his sleepy boyfriend can make it through a bath rather than a shower (he would’ve helped him into bed right then, but he knows his partner strongly dislikes sleeping without showering).

Klaus seems to get a second wind once in the warm water though, momentarily energetic enough to pull him closer in their large bathtub to help him with his back, large hands gentle over the mishmash of scar tissue and unbroken skin. Steven’s throat works almost involuntarily when Klaus presses a quick kiss to the uppermost tips of his tattoo and then another one to the red lines of the design near the top of his left shoulder blade.

He makes a content noise when Steven returns the favor, a pleased sound rumbling from his throat. Deft fingers trace along the paths of old and new scars once he puts away the sponge; Steven pulls his hand away, trying to regain some of that holiday cheer from earlier instead of chasing familiar and darker thoughts. As if on cue, his boyfriend turns and cups his face in one large hand to kiss the side of his mouth and Steven smiles ruefully over how their musings likely went in the same direction.  

“Let us retire to the bed, mein liebling - the water is getting lukewarm and I would rather not fall asleep in the bath again.”

There’s some wryness at the end of Klaus’s sentence and Steven manages a laugh at the memory, remembering the struggles of trying to rouse his boyfriend and get him to the bed.

“And we had been doing so well with not calling Gilbert for help, too…” He passes over a towel, the couple returning back to the bedroom for their pajamas.

Klaus is still doing up the buttons of his pajama top when Steven settles on his stomach under the covers, the older man slowly stretching out his neck and back muscles with a long low groan before sinking bonelessly into the bedsheets.

“Steven…” Klaus’s concern is clear as he gets in bed as well.

“I'm alright, I'm alright. Wouldn't exactly say no to a massage some time though.”

“Of course. Just let me know when.”

The radio’s still merrily playing in the background, set to fade out about half an hour after midnight. Steven, still pleasantly buzzed and still trying to shake off those unhappy thoughts, joins in at the start of the next line of the song.

He turns his head to bury his sappy grin into the pillow when Klaus adds his rich baritone to Steven's own tenor. His boyfriend gently tugs him closer, dislodging him from hiding and pausing his singing very briefly in favor of kissing the bridge of his nose, Steven’s eyes closing reflexively at the motion.

They spend a few long moments that way, forehead-to-forehead with their limbs tangled up in each other under the warm comfort of the duvet and accompanying blankets, voices harmonizing together quiet and low. There’s an occasional hitch in their singing; it happens more and more often as Steven kisses the skin under one of Klaus’s sideburns and Klaus kisses Steven’s temple, as Steven kisses a pattern along the line of Klaus’s jaw and as Klaus returns the favor along the curve of Steven’s cheekbone, until their vocalizing ceases completely as they start kissing in earnest instead.

They keep kissing until Klaus pulls away to yawn. Steven laughs, a little breathless, and waves off his boyfriend’s mildly apologetic expression.

“Schlaf gut, mi cielo.”

“Que tengas dulces sueños, mein geliebter.” Klaus’s eyes are already closed, the man looking halfway to dreaming already.

The clock ticks over to midnight; outside, the fireworks start, bursts of red and gold and white and green lighting up the dark night to herald Christmas finally arriving in Hellsalem’s Lot.  

“Merry Christmas, Klaus.” Steven drops a feather-light kiss to his lover’s forehead, lips curling into a soft smile at the incredibly drowsy mumble of “Merry Christmas” he gets in return before he leans over to snuff out the Christmas Eve candles sitting on the side table. Klaus instinctively shifts closer when he quickly ducks back down under the warm covers and it's the familiar soothing beat of that big gentle heart that lulls Steven to his own rest, eyes closing on the pretty picture of his partner’s sleepy contentment.

Klaus is the first one to wake in the morning, which is the usual for them on their rare days off - he is, by nature, an early riser while Steven tends to sleep in whenever he can.

He takes a few long moments to just observe the way the light falls against his still-asleep partner, the way Steven’s chest rises and falls minutely with every breath, the way that the rumpled covers have half-slipped off the other man’s body.

Klaus has been many places in his travels over the years, has visited a good number of cities and towns and so on all over the world. One of the best advantages of working as a Fang Hunter and then as the boss of Libra has been the countless wonders he’s been able to see.

And yet, he can’t think of a single incredible sight that evokes the same silent awe welling in him at the image of his slumbering lover, well and truly relaxed as the rising light of the sun plays with the lines and contours of that familiar body, that beloved face.

Klaus closes his eyes with a smile. There’s no need to wake Steven quite yet and they so rarely get a lazy morning together like this - best to enjoy it while it lasts.

When Steven finally wakes two hours later, it’s to momentarily and silently panic at the idea of oversleeping before he remembers that there’s nowhere he needs to be.

Crisis averted, he gingerly gets out of bed to swap out the remains of yesterday’s Christmas Eve candle for the final candle of the Advent set given to them by Gilbert at the start of the month. Then he’s padding quietly out of the room to quickly brush his teeth and wash up; Klaus is too much of a gentleman to say anything, but Steven’s aware that his boyfriend cares more about morning breath than he does, and he’s hoping to start the day well.

When he returns to the bed, Klaus is already awake but apparently disinclined to leave the warmth of their bedsheets.

“Mm, morning.” Slipping back into bed in one smooth motion, his smile adopts a bit more of a mischievous edge to it. There’s a rumble from Klaus that might be a greeting back but then it swiftly morphs into a more disgruntled noise when Steven presses a freezing foot against his warm shin teasingly, laughing as his boyfriend shoots him a fairly offended look. The indignation fades into something considerably more playful, however, which is the only hint Steven gets before Klaus surges onto him in retaliation, throwing a big leg and arm over him. It startles a laugh out of a surprised Steven before they start cuddling.

It’s easy to exchange languid kiss after languid kiss in this position, mouths meeting and parting slowly as they chase and tease each other, never straying very far. Steven gradually finds himself maneuvered up onto Klaus’s chest, settled atop his bigger lover as their lips slot over each other’s again and again.

An indeterminable amount of time passes before they finally leave the bed for brunch, unable to further deny the hunger pangs.

As Klaus freshens up, Steven puts some bread in the toaster and retrieves the bacon, eggs, sausages, and butter out of the fridge, as well as the pancake mix and their preferred cereals from the pantry, fruit basket already sitting on the little island near the middle of the kitchen. He’s in the midst of heating water for tea and coffee when Klaus joins him and promptly puts on a faded-red apron proudly proclaiming “I LOVE HL” in big bold lettering in order to start on the pancakes and eggs.  

Steven smiles to himself. They have other aprons, both gifts from friends and newer ones they bought themselves, but Klaus still tends to grab the oldest one they have out of habit.

He hums along as the radio continues playing holiday music; by now, there’s no need for him to ask how Klaus takes his tea, just like there's no need for Klaus to ask how runny he prefers the yolks of his eggs to be.

With breakfast prepared and eaten, they migrate over to the living room and the presents piled under the tree. A half-amused, half-disbelieving noise escapes Steven at the reveal of their haul this year and when Klaus makes a questioning noise, he makes an all-encompassing gesture at the assorted gifts.

“If it’s the number of couples and joint presents that determines when it becomes a forever kind of deal, we seem to have made it.”

He’s specifically pointing out the matching personalized double-walled mugs and coasters, the paired silk ties and cufflinks, the corresponding handmade scarves and gloves, and the probably-joke-gifts of two big split cups in their colors (Patrick and Neyka) as well as ugly Christmas sweaters reading “I'm the nice one” and “I'm the naughty one” (K.K.). There’s also a healthy number of joint gifts such as an elegant chess set of expert craftsmanship, an oil diffuser with a big case of various scents, a giant box of throw pillows, a soft and warm blanket that’s obviously big enough to drape over both their shoulders, several types of alcohol, including some from Graham and the others, and mountainous gift baskets of chocolates and other snacks.

Steven raises an eyebrow at a large set of massage and scented body oils. Maybe it’ll give him an excuse to finally bring up the candy cane thigh-highs he bought mostly as a joke, the fake sprigs of mistletoe on top of each stocking meant to tease Klaus a little over his mild obsession with Steven's legs.

(Then again, considering how sore his muscles were yesterday and the usual stress that accompanies work, maybe this oils set is less of a joke gift than he thought.)

“Mm. Now that you’ve mentioned it…” Klaus trails off. He seems highly pleased by the observation, cheeks pinking a little. There’s something a little strange in his smile, but it fades into absolutely stunned wonder as he opens Steven’s gift, the present wrapped this morning to prevent killing off some of the plants.

Terraria of different sizes and shapes greet him, each housing either specimens of incredibly rare species or the unique results of crossbreeding between those rare species. Klaus recognizes all of them as plants he has talked about before, but he hadn’t thought Steven would remember every single one; it’s with awed delight that he lifts a mostly-round terrarium out of its bubble wrap, bringing it up to his face to take a small sniff of the pleasant smell emanating from the little blue flowers.

“I also got you this giant box full of all kinds of different teas, but, well. We actually didn’t have any more of your favorite this morning so I’ve already opened it.” Steven gives a half-shrug, the quirk of his lips taking on a more sheepish edge.

“Mm. I did think today’s brew tasted slightly different, but I thought it was my imagination.” Klaus runs his thumb carefully over one of the forming buds, still cradling the little glass home in one hand. “I do have a second present for you as well, mein liebling, but it’ll have to wait until tonight.”

“A second...You know this would’ve been more than enough, right…?” Steven says, pointing at the pristine wristwatch sitting in its dark blue box for emphasis, a shiny brand-new copy of his old one. Honestly, he should’ve expected Klaus to realize how much he loved that particular watch and how upset he really was when his last one was irreparably broken during an especially intense fight a little over three months ago.

It can’t have been easy to procure at all, not when it’s a limited-edition-only commodity. He can’t help but revel at the familiar weight when he puts it on, strangely feeling a little like he’s welcoming an old friend home.

When he takes out his phone to set the watch, though, he pauses.

Looks up at the clock up on the wall.

And then back down at his phone. The numbers remain constant and he mutters a curse; Klaus pauses in the middle of saying something about how he enjoys giving Steven gifts because he likes things that bring his partner happiness, instantly alarmed.  

“Okay, there’s no need to panic or anything, but we should probably head out if we want to make it to the play without having to make a mad dash for our seats.” He’s never sure how to reply when Klaus says something so understatedly sweet; it’s not the first time Klaus has expressed this sentiment, and it never fails to make him feel like simultaneously the luckiest and the most undeserving man in the world.

Thankfully, his boyfriend is adequately distracted by the ensuing time crunch and they’re out the door soon after, wrapped up warmly in Verded’s gift of those new handknit scarves and gloves.

The performance is transcendent, absolutely deserving of the thunderous applause from its enraptured audience afterwards. It’s a resounding success formed from the efforts of the actors and dancers on the stage, the singers and musicians in the orchestral section, and the countless special effects that add the finishing touches.

Steven sneaks glances at Klaus the entire time. He never lets his gaze linger, both out of personal enjoyment of the play and the desire not to distract his boyfriend from his, but the glimpses of Klaus leaning forward slightly at pivotal moments in the story, of him craning his head to see the solo violinist (a longtime acquaintance of Dr. Abrams’s) when her parts come up, of his jaw dropping a little at especially wonderful special effects feel like a bonus.

The reception afterwards is in a giant ballroom. Klaus is full of praise for the performance, Steven more than content to listen and periodically offer commentary on some of his own favorite parts as they wait in line for the food and drinks, the platters of cheese and crackers and sweets visible from where they stand. 

His boyfriend tugs him gently over to the violinist for introductions after the performers come flooding into the ballroom to another round of cheers and applause.

“Ms. Yu, this is my partner, Steven. Steven, this is Ellen Yu, first violin of one of the finest orchestras in the world.”

“It's a pleasure. That was an amazing performance, we'll have to come hear you play more often.” They share a cordial handshake..

“I've heard much about you, Mr. Starphase. Your partner and Blitz both speak of you often.”

“Mostly good things, I hope.”

Ellen surprises him with a laugh.

“I don't think Klaus is capable of speaking ill of you. If he's to be believed, you've had a hand in hanging every star in the sky.”

Steven turns to his boyfriend; Klaus's cheeks are slightly flushed as he places a sheepish hand at the base of his neck, but he doesn't say anything to the contrary.

“Now that’s just him being kind. Besides, we both know he's the celestial one between the two of us.” Steven gently knocks his shoulder into Klaus's as he grins up at him.

“Steven…!”

“Blitz really wasn't kidding when he called you two the sweetest couple around, was he?” The delighted smile takes years off of her face. “Are you two staying for the dance? It's informal and everyone's invited to participate.”

Klaus shuffles a little, swaying minutely. They haven't gone dancing in a while, and Steven knows his boyfriend has missed it, though Klaus would never push him to agree.

“We still have up to an hour or two before we should head out...I'm game for a waltz or two if you are.”

A pleased rumble issues from the younger man's throat. “Then we'll stay. ”

Many of the other guests evidently decide to remain as well, couples and friends and family taking to the floor in pairs or trios, strangers asking other strangers to dance as well. Ellen steps into the crowd with the lead cellist; Steven takes Klaus’s hand, barely resisting the urge to kiss the back of it, and bows.

“May I have this dance?”

“Of course, mein liebling.”

They go through dance after dance after dance, trading the lead back and forth and switching styles seamlessly with each change in the music. Steven's almost forgotten how fun it is to dance with someone who knows him so well, someone who can anticipate his movements and when he would like to lead or follow. It helps that Klaus knows these moves very well and that they're skillful enough to avoid the less-experienced dancers. 

When Steven’s alarm makes his phone vibrate, he tugs lightly on Klaus's coat before indicating where some people are taking a break from dancing in cushioned chairs placed at the sides of the ballroom. His boyfriend follows immediately, maneuvering through the crowd with a few quick apologies. 

“Looks like we should go about now. It’ll be even more crowded soon and I don’t want to be late to our dinner reservation.”

“Of course.” Klaus inclines his head slightly. They manage to wave to Ellen on their way out, the violinist nodding back at them.

Then, just past the fancy doors to the performance hall, “where are we headed, mein schatz?”

“Actually, I’d rather see if you can figure it out, mi rey.” Steven throws in a wink for good measure, squeezing Klaus’s hand when his boyfriend goes from genially curious to subtly enthusiastic interest at the mild challenge. He watches Klaus more than he does the brightly decorated lane, lips quirked as the other man looks around for hints to their destination, busy mind calculating where they might be headed before it gets too obvious.

He can see the moment Klaus figures it out from the way those beautiful green eyes widen momentarily before he looks down, tilting his head to the side slightly. “Steven...did you choose Rolfe’s?”

Steven makes a noise of confirmation, grinning at the way Klaus’s eyes brighten. The famous German restaurant holds a special place in both of their hearts as the location of their first date. It’s ridiculously popular, especially during the holidays when every inch of the restaurant’s interior is stuffed with Christmas decorations of varying sizes.

(Getting in during the busiest time of the year would have been much harder if he hadn’t gotten more acquainted with the owners, courtesy of the boys making a ruckus during another food run. This one had worked out, however, since they ended up saving the restaurant from yet another HL peculiarity.)

The owners themselves come over to help them get seated; Klaus compliments them on the tastefully cheerful look of the restaurant to twin smiles of pleased gratitude. Steven resists the urge to shake his head ruefully, knowing that his boyfriend is generally oblivious to the effect his earnest kindness has on others.

Klaus orders hot cider while Steven decides on spiced eggnog, the two of them ordering apple crepes, a shrimp cocktail, and two different kinds of schnitzel to share.

(Steven had looked up from the menu, maybe about to suggest a seasonal duck or the oysters, perhaps for tradition’s sake, before he noticed Klaus fidgeting, indecision written all over his face as he tried to choose between two equally appetizing dishes.

Ah, well, it’s the time to make new traditions anyways. Besides, he likes schnitzel just fine and he likes the way Klaus’s eyes and entire demeanor brighten when Steven proposes that they order both even more.)

There’s no real rush to head for the lights and so they huddle together in a rather lengthy line for gourmet hot chocolate after dinner, Steven making use of the time by reviewing Leo’s notes. The young man had kindly given them a run-down on where to go for the most wildly decorated neighborhoods, where to go for the most uniquely decorated neighborhoods, and so on; Steven had been actually rather impressed with the organization and details included.

He grins in vicarious enjoyment as Klaus inhales deeply when they finally get their hot chocolates, making a quietly pleased noise at the rich, deeply chocolate-y aroma.

“It tastes even better than it smells.” A happy hum of agreement answers him as they start strolling leisurely, meandering slowly through the packed streets, gloved hands clasped tightly in the cover of the crowd.

The sounds of some of the most heavily decorated streets can be heard before they’re visible, Christmas carols mixing with the (hopefully) delighted cries of visitors.

Strings of lights adorn every single house, some of them covering almost every available surface with a good number of windows hosting lights in the shapes of festive well-wishes in many different languages and they make a game out of how many they can recognize or read to any extent. The decorations are incredible, but Steven’s distracted by the absolute look of awe on his boyfriend’s face as many lighted creatures frolic and gallop and waddle and flap, from little penguins bearing gifts or polar bear cubs tumbling down ice slides to reindeer stomping their hooves on rooftops to Beyondian elves ringing bells and mildly eerie winged creatures swooping down from the trees while brandishing trumpets and lyres .

Balloon versions of animated movie characters sit cheerily on every lawn, some of them recognizable from old classics, some of them only known to Klaus and Steven because of their younger employees’ griping. Candy canes flicker their welcome at the edge of the sidewalk, letting out wheezy little whistles when they open up to blow steam rings into the air in time with the holiday music.

Lights in the shapes of giant baubles and stars hang from bare tree branches, bright colors changing in a repeating gradient. Steven almost stabs one reflexively when it suddenly bellows “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!” and only just manages to untense his lower calf in time to lower his foot without leaving a trail of ice; Klaus doesn’t seem to have fared much better, grip tightening on his hot chocolate enough to cause some of it to dribble down the sides of the slightly crushed cup.  

“That was pleasant.” When there’s no response from his partner, Steven peers upwards, but Klaus has his head ducked to avoid eye contact with curious bystanders. He switches to German both as a means of comfort and as a means of making it harder to eavesdrop, “Are you okay? We can leave.”

“Mm. No, that’s alright, but...could we…?” Klaus gestures minutely towards a relatively quieter-looking house with fewer people nearby; Steven takes him gently by the arm and starts leading him over with a low “yeah, of course”, whipping out a glacial stare usually reserved for Zapp that helps spur people back to their festivities.

The napkins provided by the hot chocolate vendor earlier prove useful now. It’s silent between the two of them as Steven hunches forward over Klaus’s hand, trying to dry and clean the glove best he can.  

He pauses when there’s the faint pressure of his boyfriend’s lips against the top of his head, cheeks darkening a little at the way Klaus’s quiet murmur of “gracias” ruffles his hair; his answering “de nada” isn’t much louder, the words mumbled against the warmth of his scarf.   

Then, satisfied that he’s done all he can for the glove, he takes his own hot chocolate back from his boyfriend, giving it a contemplative look.

“We can split the rest of mine when you’re done with whatever’s leftover in yours,” Steven suggests, indicating his own cup with a jerk of his chin. Klaus opens his mouth to most likely refuse the offer, but Steven forestalls him with “it feels kind of weird to drink alone and I’d want to share with you anyways.”  

Klaus considers him for a moment and then nods. “If you’re sure, then I would appreciate it. It is...very good hot chocolate.” Steven grins at him, glad to hear sheepishness from his partner outside of the context of him apologizing for running ahead in battle again.

They decide to continue after Klaus finishes the last of his own hot chocolate, disposing of the empty cup before returning to the holiday hubbub. Steven snaps a few pictures of Klaus and himself posing with some of the more unique decorations such as two merrily-grinning lighted three-headed reindeer alternately grazing and clomping around and a Beyondian plant-monster Santa waving a bulky-looking bag with tentacle-like vines, tall enough to loom ominously over most of the sightseers.

“It’s been years since I went out to see Christmas lights like this,” Steven reminisces when they walk past the last house. “Feels like something came up for at least one of us every time I thought about inviting you to come with me and, well, I wasn’t going to go by myself.”  

“Mm. We have been kept rather busy during the holidays in the past.” Klaus takes a sip of the remaining cup before passing it back to Steven. “But I’m glad for the opportunity to share the experience with you now, mein liebling.”

Steven ducks his head down, shoulders hunched forward. “Klaaaaus.”

“Yes, mein schatzi?”

He’s pretty sure his ears are red. The blush’s probably spreading to his neck, which is thankfully still covered by the thick new scarf. Rapping his knuckles gently on his boyfriend’s arm to emphasize that he’s joking, Steven affects a mock-chastising tone as he complains that “those pet names are definitely cheating when you say them after something like that and you know it.”

“Hm, but I couldn’t be cheating. A reputable source has told me that I’m a gentleman, and no proper gentleman would do that,” Klaus teases back, eyes soft. The frisson of delight returns, running through his entire system so that Steven can’t help but laugh.

“Oh? Do I happen to know this reputable source of yours?”

“Mm, you might be familiar with him. He’s extraordinarily witty and beautiful.” Steven’s blush, which had been receding, comes back again with a vengeance. Somehow, despite how he’s been able to charm so many other people in the past and even nowadays when the job requires it, Klaus still manages to fluster him more than he can fluster Klaus.

Part of it is that from anyone else, he might’ve called those words flattery. From Klaus...

Before he can recover and perhaps tease the other man back, however, he’s jostled right into his boyfriend by a harried passerby, the man calling back a quick apology, unfortunately not looking back to see the annoyed stare Steven levels at him in response. When he turns to Klaus, though, he freezes at the expression on his partner's face. 

For a moment, they just stare at each other.

Steven is slow to step back from the familiar circle of Klaus’s warm embrace, despite regaining his balance rather quickly. Klaus is apparently equally reluctant to let go, hands not quite moving away from where he had grabbed Steven’s elbows to stop the shorter man from falling.

“Steven.” His voice is a soft murmur which, by all means, should be lost in the sea of sound and yet it’s somehow impossibly loud.

“Yes?” It’s not intentional, but Steven’s voice is equally hushed.

“If there’s nothing else planned...please allow me to take the lead.”

Had he planned anything else, Steven is sure he would have cancelled them all in response to the way Klaus looks, something almost pleading in his soft, characteristically earnest gaze as he stands with his big gloved hands still clasped around Steven’s arms, haloed by the golden lights behind him. .

As it is, he eases out of Klaus’s grip to toss away the empty hot chocolate cup and then rejoin their hands.

“Let’s go, then. I’m sure there’s not a place in the city right now that isn’t crowded.”  

Steven has a few inklings of what Klaus’s planning.

They’ve discussed marriage a couple of times lately and his giant of a boyfriend is a big romantic at heart, equally pleased to receive and gift heartfelt gestures, though they generally both err on the side of caution in their overtures.

(And yet, even though he’s half-expecting it…)

When Klaus stops them in front of the biggest Christmas tree in Hellsalem’s Lot and gets down on one knee, Steven still almost forgets how to breathe. He’s vaguely aware of a distant sniff from Gilbert as the old man seems to appear out of nowhere with a video camera, but then his attention's is wholly on his boyfriend.

“When we first created Libra, we made a promise to the fledgling organization, to the city of Hellsalem’s Lot, and of course, to each other. We made a pledge to to protect the balance of two worlds, to shield the innocent and stop those who would do harm to them.” Klaus’s eyes are bright with his typical fervor, set ablaze by his usual passion for justice and, this time, something else as well.

“Today, I would ask that we make and honor a different promise.”

Steven’s breath hitches. Klaus squeezes his hand in response.

“Just as we aim to balance two worlds in our work, I would like to ask that, come what may, we will continue to balance each other in the future. I would like to ask that we extend the promise we made years ago - that we renew our old vow to stay together for the rest of our lives, this time as partners in work, in private, and in the eyes of the law.”

There’s a little wryness in Klaus’s voice as he says the last part and Steven has to fight down a probably-a-little-hysterical giggle. The law hasn’t mattered all that much in their lives before, after all.

“I know we have had our struggles and I do not doubt that there will be days that try us again,” Klaus continues, solemn again. 

“However, every time we have been tested, we have braved the storm and come out stronger from the ordeal with our bond intact and even fortified by the trial. Just as I do not doubt that troubles will rise again, I also do not doubt our ability to deal with them together and come out victorious, over and over again.”

Klaus’s belief in them has proven itself to be unshakeable on multiple accounts; usually, thinking about this leads him to darker thoughts, but Steven’s too distracted to go down any treacherous rabbit holes tonight.

“Mein geliebter, mein schatzi, my dearest other half. The most constant and most brilliant star in my sky.” There’s the urge to maybe laugh at what should sound trite or maybe call Klaus an unrelenting charmer, but he’s transfixed and still not quite sure if he’s breathing or not.

“For the past decade, I’ve found myself blessed with your ever-present support. From our not-altogether auspicious beginning as Fang Hunters to the trials and tribulations that came with the Great Collapse and the turbulence that was the founding of Libra to the wonder that was our time tonight, we have been partners in every way...except this one.”

“Steven...Our time together has brought me so much joy, has gifted me happiness beyond compare. Would you allow me the opportunity to try to give you as much as you’ve given me, so long as we both shall live?”

It’s a grand speech, to be sure, and Steven is very glad that Gilbert is recording since he’s not sure if he’s hearing everything through the hazy feeling of perhaps being in a dream. Still, somehow, maybe spurred by the telltale signs of Klaus’s growing anxiety, he manages to choke out an answer.

“And how...how am I supposed to top this on your birthday? I wanted to propose too, you know.”

“Is that…?”

“Yes. It’s a yes, Klaus, how could I ever-” Steven’s words are cut off into muffled noises when Klaus fairly lunges to kiss him in response, as ecstatic as Steven has ever seen him.

It’s after Klaus pulls away that Steven registers the rampant applause and cheering. He still doesn’t look over at the onlookers watching from a respectable distance away until after Klaus has slipped on the simple but elegant engagement ring.   

“Mm. I asked the Inspector to help us with a little privacy,” Klaus confirms when Steven raises an eyebrow at what looks like a festive police perimeter, happiness setting his handsome features aglow.

“He does owe us a few favors…” Steven trails off, tugging on his new fiancé’s hand. Klaus rises obligingly and they smile out at the crowd together; Steven’s phone pings with the sound of an incoming message, the caller ID flashing Daniel’s name.

The text is one long string of words: “Merry Xmas and congrats u snake. don’t say i never did anything 4 u and urs BUT DONT MAKE A HABIT OF IT.”

Steven sends back a simple “Thanks, Danny.” as Klaus inclines his head in obvious gratitude when they spot the man himself standing by a police cruiser in a thicker version of his usual coat. Lowe scoffs visibly even from a distance, but he raises a steaming mug of some holiday drink in cheers nonetheless.   

A long exhale escapes Steven as his heart rate finally calms, though his legs still feel suspiciously wobbly.

“What's wrong?”

“Ha, no, just. It’s hard to believe how lucky I am, to have the most amazing man in the world as my fiancé, mi sol.” Klaus’s cheeks flush, which feels well-deserved after...everything that just transpired.

And then, because they live in Hellsalem's Lot, several big screens materialize seemingly out of thin air.

Several familiar-looking big screens. 

Steven mutters a “don’t do it” under his breath, but it’s a very resigned complaint.

“Hellllooo citizens of HL!” the King of Depravity greets heedlessly, one gloved hand wrapped around the stem of a champagne glass and the other shoving a haphazard Santa hat back onto his head.

“In the spirit of the holidays, I, the Great King Femt, have decided to join in on the festivities by giving you maggots some nice and murderous Christmas cheer! You may have noticed the carnivorous snowmen and the man-eating reindeer running rampant on the streets - if you find the Big Boss Santa hidden somewhere in the city and kill him, all of them will vanish! Happy holiday hunting!” Red and green confetti fly into the air as he sets off a holiday popper before the feed fizzles and cuts out.

There is a moment of silence as Klaus and Steven stare at the vanishing screens before they look at each other and then at Daniel (who rolls his eyes and turns his back on them to mobilize the police) and Gilbert (who simply chuckles quietly, stashing the video camera and his handkerchief) before looking back at each other.  

“Why is he like this.” Steven looks away first, muttering mutinously as he drags a hand down the side of his face with a beyond-exasperated sigh. Klaus pats him on the shoulder gently, keeping that warm palm there as a comfort to both of them.

“It’s alright, mein liebling. We prepared for something to happen tonight.”

Steven’s answering smile is rueful. “You’re right, as usual. But first…”

He tugs Klaus forward by their still-clasped hands, gently tangling his other hand in his partner’s hair. For a brief moment, it’s just the two of them, white puffs of breath intermingling as they stand together in a quiet little snow globe, forehead-to-forehead as clear-green stares into wine-red.

Then Steven leans in to meet Klaus’s lips with his own, slow and sweet with a hint of that rich hot chocolate they had not long ago. He closes his eyes and tilts his head, smiling into the slow kiss as his partner responds in kind.

Finally, Klaus pulls back, looking genuinely reluctant - considering his passion for justice, Steven is honestly touched by his momentary hesitance to go save their hapless city yet again. But they can both hear the commotion headed towards the Hellsalem's Lot Tree still standing behind them as unfortunate civilians rush to get away from the attacking snowmen and reindeer while the armored police force try to fight them off.

“Later,” Steven promises, already grabbing his cell phone to call Libra’s inner circle. Klaus makes a noise of affirmation, lips quirked mildly upwards even as he takes out his knuckle duster and crashes down like a meteor in the midst of their enemies.

Steven, for his part, spears a few approaching snowmen and freezes some of the mutant reindeer mid-leap, directing most of Libra’s available members towards minimizing casualties while sending Chain, Leo, and Zed to find and take down the hidden Santa Claus. Zapp, of course, has to be persuaded to leave his latest sex partner’s bed.

They had better defeat this latest foe fast, Steven says into the phone, hints of that terrifying smile creeping into his voice even as he stomps viciously on the ground to form a giant shield of ice when the snowmen continue dragging themselves forward despite having multiple shards of ice stuck in them. Zapp goes from wheedling and whining to stuttering his agreement, Leo snickering at him while Chain and Zed sigh exasperatedly in the background. There’s the familiar screech from the wheels of Gilbert’s combat car nearby and Steven’s smile eases into something genuine as he watches Klaus call for Philip to direct any lingering civilians to safety, warmth curling in his chest at the sight of his fiancé despite the bitter chill of the wintry night air.

They’ll succeed in record time. He has plans for tonight, after all.