A cosy eremika chistmas drabble, inspired by this fanart.
For the record, it had been Erenโs idea from the beginning. As it usually was when something cheesy, mildly embarrassing, and deeply sincere was involved.
Willow Yeagerโalso known as the calmest and most beautiful baby in the universe, according to her very reasonable and not-at-all biased parentsโhad reached that dangerous age where Christmas stopped being decoration and started being an event. At four years old, she no longer let things slide past her unnoticed. She stared at lights until she had to be carried away. She waved at inflatable snowmen like they might wave back. She asked why songs were louder this time of year and why people smiled more in grocery stores.
Eren clocked all of it. And once Eren clocked something, it was already too late.
โI am going to be Santa,โ he announced to his wife over breakfast, mouth full of toast, like he was sharing a perfectly normal thought.
Mikasa paused mid-sip. โYou are going to choke and die if you keep talking with food in your mouth, my love.โ
She lowered the cup slowly. โI know. That is what worries me.โ
โFor Willow,โ he added, pointing with the toast for emphasis. โShe is ready.โ
Willow perked up immediately. โSanta?โ
โNot right now,โ Mikasa said sharply, kicking Eren under the table.
โShe does not need details at breakfast.โ
โShe heard the word โSantaโ. That is on you.โ
The decision was apparently irreversible, because the day before christmas, a massive box arrived. Eren dragged it inside with such effort that Willow thought it was a new piece of furniture and tried to sit on it.
โDo not open that here, Eren,โ Mikasa said, already reaching out to steady Willowโs eager hands as the little girl bounced on her feet, eyes fixed on the package that had just come through the door.
Eren snorted. โOh, so now you support my plan?โ
โI have supported you from the beginning, my love,โ Mikasa replied calmly. โBut I cannot let you ruin the whole day beforehand.โ
Willow frowned at the box. โIs it for me, mama?โ
โNo,โ Mikasa said instantly.
โYes,โ Eren said at the exact same time.
Mikasa turned slowly. โExcuse me?โ
โYes,โ he corrected himself, squatting down in front of Willow. โBut it is a later present, sweet girl.โ
โHow much later, papa?โ Willow demanded.
Mikasa rolled her eyes and scooped the little girl up before her husband could mess everything up. โGo wash your hands. Santa does not visit children with sticky fingers.โ
That worked. Willow ran off at full speed.
The second she was out of sight, Mikasa pointed at the box. โBedroom. Now.โ
โBossy,โ Eren said fondly, dragging it down the hall anyway.
That night, after dinner, a very serious debate about whether Santa preferred milk and cookies or beer, and Willow finally tucked into bed, Eren cracked the box open like he had been waiting his entire life for that moment.
The costume wasโฆ a lot.
A thick red coat, a wide belt, boots, gloves, and a beard that looked like it could legally count as a small animal.
Mikasa stared. โYou bought the professional Santa.โ
โI wanted to commit,โ Eren said.
โYou look like you are about to rob a mall.โ
He rolled his eyes, offended. โHelp me put it on.โ
The coat went on first. It was heavy, warm, and made him look even broader than usual. He tugged at the sleeves, then turned to face her, clearly waiting for feedback.
โWell?โ he asked. โBe honest.โ
โYou look like Santa who flirts with mums,โ she said flatly.
He grinned at her, his green eyes ogling her body covered in a thin, purple nightgown. โExcellent.โ
The beard came next. The moment it was tied, Eren grimaced. โOh,โ he said immediately. โOh no.โ
โIt is actively attacking my face!โ
Mikasa stepped closer, fixed the hat, then kissed him without thinking.
She pulled back, frowning. โEren. Your beard is itchy.โ
โYou knew and still let me do that.โ
He smiled, hands sliding to her waist. โYou did not have to.โ
โAnd yet you did not stop me.โ
Mikasa sighed, then kissed him again anyway, slower, clearly adjusting, fingers curling into the coat. He hummed, smug and delighted.
โYou are enjoying this far too much, Santa,โ she murmured.
โOf course,โ he replied. โThis is my season.โ
She laughed softly, forehead resting against his chest.
They froze like teenagers caught misbehaving on the couch (which, to be fair, had happened once, but that is a story for another time).
โMama,โ Willow mumbled, rubbing her face. โWhy are you kissing Santa?โ
Mikasaโs brain did that thing where every thought tried to speak at once and none of them made it past her mouth. She opened it anyway. Closed it. Looked at Eren.
Eren, for his part, went completely still. Not heroic still. More like, โif I do not move, perhaps I will become furniture still.โ Ridiculous, truly.
Meanwhile, Willow swayed in the doorway, eyes barely open, hair flattened on one side, clearly operating on muscle memory alone. She was not awake-awake. She was the kind of awake that wandered into rooms and forgot why halfway through a sentence.
Mikasa reacted on instinct. She crossed the room and scooped Willow up before gravity could make any decisions of its own. Willow immediately melted against her, cheek pressed to her mamaโs shoulder, the question already losing importance.
โShh,โ Mikasa murmured, rubbing her back. โYou look so tired, baby. Letโs go back to bed.โ
Willow hummed, fingers curling into her mamaโs shirt. โSanta wasโฆ red,โ she mumbled, words slurring together.
โYes,โ Mikasa said seriously. โVery red.โ
Behind them, Santa remained frozen, beard slightly crooked, arms still half-raised like he had been caught mid-crime.
Willow cracked one eye open just long enough to squint in Santaโs general direction. She did not focus. She did not analyse. She simply accepted the information and filed it away.
โMama kissesโฆ everything,โ she decided.
Mikasa bit the inside of her cheek. โThat is true. Now let us go back to bed.โ
Willow nodded against her shoulder, already slipping again. โNight.โ
She was asleep before Mikasa reached the hallway. When she returned to the bedroom, Santa was still there. Same spot. Same posture.
โYou can move now,โ she whispered.
Eren finally exhaled, hands dropping to his sides. โOh, god. I saw my life end.โย
โShe did not even know what she was saying,โ Mikasa said, amused now. โShe thought Santa was a colour.โ
โThat is comforting.โ
She stepped closer, fixing his hat again without thinking. โYou really look ridiculous.โ
โYou kissed me anyway.โ
She smiled despite herself, leaning in just enough to press a kiss to his cheek, careful of the beard. โNext time,โ Mikasa said softly, โSanta waits until everyone is deep asleep.โ
Eren grinned, arms slipping around his wifeโs waist. โStill worth it.โ