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"Ugh- Vector! get Charmy under control! We have to focus on finishing the cookies, not ruining them!"
Espio ducked as the hyperactive bee cackled with delight, making a mess, but overall having fun.
Their small house was a mess at the moment, but when was it not? They'd decorated for Christmas weeks ago, hanging some secondhand decorations and lights they bought at some point as well as homemade decorations they made years ago, joining the ranks of the pictures and drawings they've hung. After all, the holiday was quickly sneaking in.
But right now? It was a mess from their attempt at baking. Amy stopped by a week ago to see if they'd be free to go to a get together she wanted to hold a few days before Christmas, and they, naturally, agreed.
It wasn't like any cases were rolling in anyway.
It was the night before the event. They completely forgot they promised to bring cookies as their dish, so they were scrambling to get something done. after all, everyone was bringing something to eat. they had to contribute too.
"blehhh, you're such a party pooper, Espio!!!" Charmy stuck his tongue out at him, teasing him. Had he not been any better, any more mature, he would've returned the favor.
"AY! Charmy, don't ruin the cookies, we can't make any more y'know!" Vector lectured, stopping the bee where he flew.
"Not you too!!! ughh, you guys are soo boring!! They're cookies!!! they'll probably still taste good anyway!!" Charmy whined, and yelped when Vector pulled him down, effectively leaving Espio as the only decorator at the moment.
"you brat!!! I'm not boring!!!!" Vector snarled, swiping some spilt frosting that was on the counter. He, playfully, put the frosting on the bridge of Charmy's nose, and the kid groaned, trying to get away from the croc, but it was much too late and now he was even messier than before.
"ESPIOOO!!!!!! Vector's being anooyyyiing!!!!!" he complained, and Espio sighed.
"You were annoying him first, Charmy.." he deadpanned, annoyed.
Those two bugged him like nothing else...and yet...he couldn't entirely fight the grin that started to grow on his face. A warm feeling grew in his chest, and he had to control his expression before he gave himself away. He couldn't let them know that, even if it annoyed him, he found their horseplay vaguely endearing.
"awhh, c'mon Es' you know you love us!" Vector teased, letting him know he didn't control his expression in time, laughter in his gravelly voice.
This continued for hours, leaving them away in early hours of the morning to decorate cookies. The cookies, in the end, were messy as hell anyway.
The warm feeling never left. Espio, though tired, found himself oddly content after the ridiculous mid-night decorating session.
This sure was home, he decided. Messy cookies, annoying family, and all.
He just hopes Amy doesn't mind the messily decorated cookies too much. It should be fine, anyway...because it wasn't like Charmy was wrong. So long as the cookies tasted good, (which they did, he snuck one just before they decorated when no one was looking), they should be good enough, loathe as he is to admit it.
Oh well. That's something for later. He was content as is, because really, perfectly decorated cookies mean nothing when the feeling of home is pushing you on.