(look, I waited for your bloody pumpkin spiced stuff to be over with, right?! I've been sitting on this for aaaaages!)
You might remember last year's efforts - 12 prompts. This year, we go bigger - we go harder! A massive 25 prompts - with space for some extras if we need it (I must be fucking MAD)...
I want to give you a gift in the form of words 🎁
In the image above, you will find the prompts - choose your favourite, add in your beloved babe/s of choice, and send your wish off to Santa Jules to receive your story gift (ahem, hopefully in a timely fashion 😂). - Sidenote - if you want to request on Anon that's totally fine, but you may want to include a means of identifying yourself for when I start crossing off the prompts!
Fancy a festive smooch with Nick Fowler? Baking with Bucky? Christmas carols with Chris Beck? I gotchu babe 🙌
You can even drop in any extra special requests - there are ZERO rules here! Make it fluffy, make it spicy, make it just friends, include a certain song, gift, or bit of dialogue - it's your gift after all, think of this post as your Argos catalogue and customise it as you choose! 💜
Prompts are listed below as well so this can become our little festive Masterlist.... have fun!
Once they're gone, they're gone ... unless you're lucky enough to claim a bonus spot, then guess what?! - You can give me the prompt of your choosing! *bonus squares are only there for if we actually hit 25 requests and there are people still asking!
Read them all on AO3
Only One Bed - Holiday Edition - Snowed in at a cabin or stranded during a blizzard… there’s one bed. 🛏️ Emily - River Cartwright
Fake Dating at the Family Christmas - “Just pretend to be my partner so my family stops asking questions.” 💏Indigo - Chris Beck
Gift Exchange Mixup - They accidentally open the wrong gift… and it reveals more than it should. 🎁 Kellie - River Cartwright
The Christmas Party Kiss - Whether under the mistletoe or just after too many drinks - it changes everything. 💋 Micah - Bucky Barnes
Unspoken Feelings + a Midnight Snowfall - They’ve loved each other for years. The confession happens under the stars. ❄️ Amy - Bucky Barnes
Christmas Tree Farm Meet-Cute - He helps her carry the world’s wonkiest tree. Sparks (and sap) fly. 🎄Sara - Bucky Barnes
Secret Santa… But It’s Anonymous - And the notes are getting personal. 🎅 Anon - Joaquin Torres
"You’re Cold - Come Here." - The classic “just for warmth” excuse. ⛄ Emily - Bucky Barnes
New Year's Eve - Missed Midnight Kiss - They both wanted it, but circumstances got in the way… until later. 😘 Lily - River Cartwright
Holiday Market Competition - Rival stall owners trying to outsell each other… and failing to hide their attraction. 👿 Knitter - Bucky Barnes
The Long Drive Home - A road trip gone sideways: snowstorms, motels, feelings. 🚗 Lily - River Cartwright
Home for the Holidays, and So Are You - Childhood best friends reunited unexpectedly. 🏡 BBF- Chris Beck
Baking Gone Wrong (Or Right?) - “This gingerbread disaster is somehow the most romantic thing ever.” 🥯 Azriona - FYC Bucky Barnes
Found Family Christmas - Maybe they don’t have a family Christmas. Maybe you make one. 👨👩👧👦 Lazy - Tb!Bucky
Accidental Roommate for the Holidays - Their apartment flooded… and now they’re crashing with you. 😬 Alex - River Cartwright
Late-Night Wrapping Session Turns Deep - “You’re… actually really good at bows.” ✂️ Kellie - River Cartwright
They Hate Christmas… You Love It - Grinch meets Christmas Elf. Chaos and kissing ensue. 🧝 Emma - Nick Fowler
First Christmas After a Breakup - Not with each other… but they do find each other. 💔 Knitter - Chris Beck
Old Flame at the Tree Lighting - That one that got away is suddenly back in town. 🕯️(not) BBF👀 - Chris Beck
I’ll just be hanging around the mistletoe, hoping to be kissed
Jonathon Crane x Reader
Sorry, this took me a while and it's pretty out of character but it was fun to write. I usually write in second person but did this for a change. It's based on another 'Love Actually' quote as well, because why not?!
Requests are still open so please ask. I do a lot of music related stuff, so the Christmas season is manic but the bulk of my work is over now, so I should be able to get back to writing now!
Love you all, thanks for reading and please interact! 💜
Warnings: mentions of alcohol, talk of divorce, age gap, cheesy fluff
There had always been something about Jonathon Crane. He was my dad’s best friend, a psychopharmacologist that worked closely with him. When I was younger he had been my first port of call whenever I needed advice, I had stayed with him when my parents were going through a messy divorce and he had always been a shoulder to cry on. When he realised the true extent of my problems he had offered me counselling and when I refused because I didn’t want my parents to find out he had offered it to me for free. There was very little left about me that I didn’t know. In turn, he had told me a lot about himself - the abuse he had suffered at the hands of his father and stories about the time that he spent working at the asylum.
Everything changed when the divorce was over though. I went to lie with my mum full time and never saw him anymore, I texted him a lot to start with but my need to communicate diminished the longer we were apart. Then I hit the age of 18 and finished my exams, passing with flying colours and choosing to go and study at university. I turned 19 the autumn that I moved away and everything finally felt as if it was in the past. My parents were no longer as big a part of my life as they once had been, therefore neither was Jonathon.
It was the first December since I had left my mum’s house, I had decided that I was going to spend Christmas with my dad - just a quiet one the pair of after I hadn’t seen him for so long. I had left halls earlier in the month and returned home. I didn’t have a job here or anything so I had to spend the lead-up to Christmas in the house on my own whilst my dad was still working. It was three days before Christmas and I had gone out to do the massive food shop that always comes with the season, I was just unpacking the bags when there was a knock on the door. I thought it was probably somebody delivering a parcel, but was happily surprised when I opened it to find Crane. From the look on his face he was feeling the same.
“Jonathon, my god, I haven’t seen you in years. How are you?” I moved to allow him to come inside.
“I’m not too bad, how about you? My god you look so different now.” It was then that I spotted a gash on the side of his face, grooving across his perfect cheekbone.
“What happened, are you alright?” He looked bemused for a moment before reaching a hand to his face, there was blood still on it when he took it away.
“Oh, that… It was one of the patients at Arkham, had a break when I was in a room along with him. I’m fine, honestly.”
“At least let me get you something to patch it up with. You’re bleeding.” He looked a little awkward, only agreeing when he realised that I was worried about him. He probably hated the idea of upsetting me after everything we had discussed over the weekend.
A few minutes later I had found him a plaster, putting the kettle on for a cup of tea and sitting down at the kitchen table to catch up. He was interested in my studies, very apologetic about the divorce and assured you that if I needed anything whilst I was in town he was just a call away. I found out that he had moved up in the world, now the psychology lead at Arkham and lecturing part time at the university as well. He had left not too long later, but only after I had asked him to come over on Christmas Eve for dinner. It would be like old time, spending an evening with him and my Dad, probably watching die hard and laughing at them when they drank a glass too many of scotch.
~
Christmas Eve arrived, and with it came a small disaster. My dad had been called away for work urgently and was going to be away over Christmas, meaning that I was left to spend it alone. The dinner had been cancelled and with it all of my company for the festive season. I wasn’t planning on celebrating now, moping around and making a ready meal before settling down to watch ‘The Holiday’ with a glass of wine. I had just made myself comfortable when there was a knock on the door. “For fuck’s sake,” I thought, “I just want to get this bloody depressing evening over with.”
I answered the door, with a scowl, only to find my spurned dinner guest behind it.
“Jonathon, I thought I told you that Dad was away over Christmas, I cancelled dinner and everything.”
“I got your message. I was going to be alone for Christmas Eve as well, so I figured that we could be alone together, or something like that. Don’t worry about dinner, I’ve booked a place. I want this evening to be easy for you, just relax, God knows that you deserve after the last few years.”
It was then that I realised he was wearing a suit - a nicely tailored navy blue rather than the somewhat stuffy ones that he wore for work. In his hand was a bouquet of flowers, which he seemed to have forgotten.
“Jon, you brought me flowers?” He thrust them forwards then. “White roses, my…”
“…Your favourite.” He awkwardly interrupted, finishing my sentence. I gestured him inside, going to put the flowers in a vase.
“I’ll go and get ready then, make yourself at home and I’ll be as fast as I can.”
~
Half an hour later I was down the stair in a black dress and heels, hair haphazardly pinned up in a tumble of curls and makeup done. Jonathon emerged from the lounge, taking his coat off the peg and getting ready to go.
“Shall we then, the restaurant isn’t far so I thought we could walk.”
He was right, it wasn’t far at all and we were soon seated at a table. This place was more expensive than I was used to and we were half way through the main when I mentioned it.
“I’m not sure I can half this bill with you Jon, I’m a broke student.” He just chuckled good-naturedly in response.
“Don’t worry about it, it’s on me. It’s Christmas and I thought it would be a nice treat for both of us.”
“You sure?”
“I’m positive, since the new job I’ve been making a little more than I can spend on myself without feeling guilty.”
“How’s it going? Do you enjoy working at Arkham? And you lecture as well, right?” He hesitated before responding.
“I like my work at the asylum, it’s fascinating and there is such a rich body of patients to observe. Lecturing I don’t like quite so much, my students are a pain, none of them actually seem interested in the subject. If an assignment is handed in on time it’s a novelty for me. How are you finding university?”
“I can’t say I’m loving it, I haven’t made many friends really and the lecturers are a bit dull. I just wish that there was someone there I knew, that I could talk to.”
“Give it a bit more time, but if things aren’t working out you could always transfer to Gotham. It’s not the safest place in the world, or cheap, but the university is good. I can put a word in if you like, you can even stay with me for a while, give you a chance to get on your feet.”
“That’s really kind of you Jon, I’ll definitely think about it.”
At the end of the evening Jonathon paid as he had promised, refusing to even let me see the bill. When we stood from our seats he held out his coat to me, helping me to slip my arms through the too-long sleeves.
“Here, you’ll need it more than me.”
“Are you sure you won’t be cold.”
“I’ll be fine.” He proffered an arm to me as well, which he didn’t on the way there. He could tell I wasn’t used to this sort of treatment, but he had become more instinctually protective as the evening went on and couldn’t help himself.
“You’ve had a few glasses of wine, I want to make sure that you’re steady. Can’t have you falling on the way back.” I slipped my hand through the crook of his left elbow, automatically bringing me closer to his warm body.
“You know, you are so much more grown up than when I last met you. You were a girl when you left and came back a well-rounded, compassionate woman. You should be proud of yourself for how you’ve turned out.”
“Well, you haven’t changed at all Dr Crane. Always were and still are wonderful to me.”
The little exchanged stopped shortly after that and we carried on the walk in comfortable silence. A small amount of snow had started to dust the ground, starting to visibly settle just as we reached the front door. I stopped to retrieve the key out of my bag and fumbled with the lock before Jon put his hand on mine, stopping me. He looked up, signalling me to do the same. Above us a single sprig of mistletoe was hung on the doorframe.
“It would be a shame to waste the opportunity, don’t you think?”
“Are you sure? I mean, it isn’t that I don’t want to, but you’re my dad’s best friend. Are you sure it isn’t wrong?”
“Well, I want to kiss you and you want to be kissed, what’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing I suppose.”
“Well then, I’ll just be hanging around the mistletoe, hoping to be kissed.”
With that I reached up to him, bringing my lips to his in a passionate yet gentle kiss as he engulfed me in his arms. At that moment I could tell that, despite what I had originally thought, this was going to be a truly magical Christmas.
Pairing: Finn Balor x Reader
Word Count: 1,825
Description: Finn doesn't have a gift for the Secret Santa, so the rest of The Judgment Day help him out.
So excited to write some festive pieces! Thank you so much @new-zealand-chic for helping me create this idea, like you ran the ball with most of it. I truly hope that it's as good as you imagined.
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Tag list:
@omg-im-such-a-masochist @melissahausen @new-zealand-chic @writtingrose @99hook @sjwrites22 @sassymox @mrsacklesevansmgk @xladyxfatex @biforrollynch @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch @demonqueen29 @itsicantbelievethis666 @lilred91 @rebellious-desires @claymorexpunisher @letsgivethisonemoreshot @ava-valerie @shortyiceheart @serpantscorpio8497 @thatpanpal @thatnerdwriter @wrestlersownmyheart @vebner37 @auburnwrites @aews-four-pillars @seeingstarks @whenimakeitshine1234 @legit9thlunaticwarrior @blaquekitty @ironshamelessyouth @unoficialy-married-to-ace-austin @ripleyswhore @moonrosekk @xbreezymeadowsx @elevennbloom @melblacc @alliwant456 @mcreignsera
If you wanna be added to the list lemme know.
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“Okay here we go guys it’s time to pick your Secret Santa. You have three days to shop because this is a last minute idea.”
Becky smiles as she holds out a bag to the Judgment Day containing slips of papers with the name of coworkers participating in the activity. Rhea gasped sitting up quickly and reached into the bag first pulling out a name and glanced at it.
“Ohh this is going to be a fun person to shop for.”
She smirked, pocketing the name as the rest of the members grabbed their slips as well. Finn looked down at his paper reading over it and sighing quietly; he hadn’t picked who he was hoping for. Becky watched him closely and smiled innocently as the others chatted excitedly amongst themselves.
“You okay there Fergy?”
“Yeah, I was just hoping for someone a bit easier to shop for.”
“Nah don’t listen to him he’s pissy because he didn’t get y/n.”
Damian smirked as he walked over patting his friend on the back, the group teasing him as his cheeks flushed red.
“Shut up.”
He shook his head ducking out of the room with a chuckle as they made kiss faces at him.
“Children, the whole lot of them.”
‘Alright, it’s time to find out who has y/n’s name.”
Walking down the hallway he decided to head for the catering area first, there was bound to be plenty of people in there who were also involved.
“Chad hey quick question, I know you wanted to do the secret Santa thing you don’t happen to have y/n do you?”
“I don’t think we’re supposed to reveal who we have.”
Chad chuckled looking at him and watched as Finn did his best to remain unbothered. Nearly everyone in the locker rooms knew how bad he had it for her.
“Yes I know but I just was curious.”
“Well actually I did have her but I switched with Kofi because he got himself so he has her name now.”
“Fuck okay thanks man.”
Finn quickly made his way off to find Kofi not noticing Chad sending a text to Kofi letting him know what was going on. When Finn finally spotted Kofi he was disappointed to find out he had also switched with someone else.
And so began the long task of Finn chasing all the leads that he got of who had Y/n’s name. The next three days he sent out what seemed like a thousand text messages and phone calls, dropping by locker rooms if they weren’t answering. It was driving him crazy going after all these leads. So, when he was told that Natayla had her name, he stopped her as soon as she stepped in the arena for Raw.
“Nattie, please I’m begging do you have Y/n’s name for the Secret Santa?”
“Oh yes I do, why?”
“Would you be willing to trade with me and in exchange you can have Bayley.”
“Well I already got her gift so..”
Natayla smiled at him watching as the light practically went out in his eyes she tapped her chin with the paper.
“I suppose I would be willing to trade, Bayley would like this gift better anyway but you have to do something for me first.”
“What? I’ll do anything.”
“You have to do a Christmas Tiktok dance with me and we need to be dressed up.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes I am, I think it would be so much fun and people would enjoy it.”
“What costume?”
“You’ll be dressed up as a gingerbread man and I’ll be dressed up as an elf.”
Finn stared at her and looked at the ceiling groaning as he thought.
“How bad do you want this Finn?”
Natayla waved the paper around in front of his face, she could see he was about to cave in. Finn thought for a moment longer than nodded his head holding his hand out.
“Okay yes deal just tell me when and I’ll be there.”
“Perfect here you go.”
Finn thanks her, taking the paper and rushes towards The Judgment Day locker room. Pushing the door open he grins waving the paper back and forth excitedly.
“I finally got it! I have y/n’s name for Secret Santa!”
He cheered as his friends gathered around and looked at the paper in his hand, Damian chuckled, slapping him on the back.
“Well done mate and all you had to do was harass the entire company rosters to achieve it.”
“I didn’t harass anyone.”
“You literally kept calling Liv at three in the morning yesterday to try and find out if she still had it. She texted me about it a little while ago and you owe her a coffee for her trouble.”
Rhea shrugged as she sat back down on the sofa and looked up at him sipping her bottle of water.
“So what are you giving her?”
“I don’t know yet I have to shop.”
“You better figure it out man, the gift exchange is tonight.”
Dom grinned watching as their friend slowly sank into a chair looking between them all.
“I thought Becky said we had three days.”
“She did, you spent nearly every moment since we got the names looking so you have exactly two hours to figure out what to get her.”
“What the fuck am I going to do?”
“We can help you out, we just need to find a store and fast.”
Rhea smiled, tossing the rental keys to Damian as the group rushed out to the rover and piled in. Finn sat in the passenger seat nervously bouncing his knee as he watched out the window, the group couldn’t help but whisper when he wasn’t paying attention. Damian reached over grabbing Finn’s knee.
“Stop bouncing that damn leg, it’s driving me nuts.”
“Sorry I’m just nervous. I didn't even think of getting a gift while I was waiting for replies.”
“No worries man, we got you.”
The group says as they arrive at the shops then make their way inside, they decide to split up so they weren’t all caught in a large group.
“Do you have a general idea of what you want to get for her?”
“No, I mean I want to get her something special because I think she’s really special but also I don’t know what she already has.”
Rhea groans and grabs his arm leading him into a shop. It was best to let her lead since she hung out with y/n more than Finn was able to. What Rhea thought was going to be a simple easy time turned out to be frustrating as hell because Finn kept shooting down everything she suggested.
“Come on mate.” Rhea groaned. “We've been here an hour, the party is in forty minutes!”
“There’s nothing here that works for her.”
“Finn Finn we found it!”
Dom called as he rushed into the shop with Damian trailing behind him a bag in his hand.
“What did you find?”
“Trust us she’s gonna love it, now come on we need to get back we won’t have much time.”
The group get back in the rental and head off back to the arena with Damian clutching the bag in his hand. Finn was worried that it wouldn’t be something fit enough for Y/n and the whole ride he begged Damian to tell him what it was.
“Just wait and see.”
He smirked as he drove them the rest of the way and the group made their way inside. Becky met them in the hallway and lead them to the catering area where their coworkers and friends were.
“Okay everyone, find the person you have the name of and give them their gift, enjoy yourselves!”
Becky smiled as music softly played throughout the room, Finn turned to Damian and shifted on his feet.
“What’s in the bag Damian.”
“My gift for Rhea, that's who I had.”
He says pulling out a leather vest with a rhinestone fire skull and spikes on the back of it. Rhea cheered, grabbing the vest and slipping it on while thanking her friend earnestly.
“You said you found one for y/n!”
“Technically I didn’t say that we just said we found a gift she would like we didn’t say we bought one. However, I have the perfect idea.”
Pulling a large purple bow out of the bag he slaps it on Finn’s chest while Rhea puts a pair of deer antlers on his head. A twig of mistletoe hanging from it, Dom snaps a picture before Rhea shoves Finn into someone.
“Woah, hello Finn.”
Feeling his face heat up he turns looking into a pair of the prettiest eyes he’d ever seen on a person before.
“Hello y/n I'm so sorry for bumping into you.”
“That's alright no harm done, so who did you have for Secret Santa?”
“He started out with Bayley.”
Rhea said smirking from where she was leaning against the wall, Damian chuckled as they practically threw their friend under the bus.
“But he spent so much time trying to get the actual person he wanted that he forgot to buy a gift.”
Damian wiggled his eyebrows at his friend who stared at them but also the amused smile on y/n’s face.
“So, y/n, congratulations your Secret Santa gift this year is none other than Finn Balor.”
Dom called as the three of them quickly rushed off leaving the pair alone, Finn wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole.
“You’re my present this year? How delightful I was wondering why you had a big purple bow on your shirt. You know what’s funny?”
She asked, stepping closer to him with a smile on her face as Finn couldn’t help but softly smile back.
“What?”
“I got your name this year, I got a pack of legos as a joke but seeing as there's some mistletoe on your head. I think that we can exchange a much better gift, don't you think?”
Finn’s gaze flicked down to where her tongue slipped out to wet her bottom lip, his eyes darkening as he smirked.
“I definitely think we could love.”
With his heart racing Finn cupped her cheeks pulling her close before pressing his lips to hers in a kiss that rocked his world. Ignoring the cheering of their coworkers Y/n smiled into the kiss her eyes closed as the two of them let the noise fade out. When they finally parted goofy grins on both their faces Finn’s eyes searched hers.
“What do you say we go find somewhere and talk maybe over a drink?”
“I say, what are we doing still standing here lets go.”
Hand in hand the two laugh as they quickly leave the room ignoring the hoots and whistles of their friends.
“Wear protection Finn!”
Was the last thing he heard Rhea shout before the door closed behind them and he pulled her in for another kiss.
Festive Fics? Christmas / New Year holidays are my favourite time of the year so yes please!
I love the Grumpy x Sunshine LeviHan dynamics so much I can't resist requesting "Stop trying to get me under the mistletoe" (prompt 30) for the cute couple!
Happy holidays my dear 🤎
Festive Fics
30: Stop trying to get me under the mistletoe
White Berries (Canon universe)
Levi x Hange, Erwin (slight Eruri) & Others
1188 words
Wreaths of winter berries; red clots of holly, shining leaves of ivy and the insidious gleams of mistletoe adorned the long hall. Ferns were woven in great garlands; tied with red ribbon across the doorways and fireplaces. Long tables were piled with platters of cooked meat, sliced cheeses and freshly-baked bread. Musicians played an incidental melody of strings and drums. Interwoven with their notes came the harmony of cutlery clinking amongst the hum of conversation. Clusters of people crowded the hall, slopping beer from wooden tankards upon the flagstones beneath. Others arrived a little late to the proceedings, pulling their dark green military coats tightly around them, their skin still glowing from the cold air.
Levi Ackerman was not a man to embrace social gatherings. He peeled himself away from the wall and edged close enough to partially feign his interest at the exchange between Erwin and one of the other senior officers. The former appeared momentarily distracted. Barely discernible to any onlooker, Erwin’s eyes drifted across the hall as though following the progress of an invisible object. A second later, and he had reimmersed himself within the conversation. Uttering a gentle laugh in parting, Erwin turned instead to his sour-faced associate.
“Levi, is it too soon to get refills?” He held up his empty tankard to show him. In answer, Levi glanced over towards the decorated doorway. What he saw made his eyes narrow and his voice lash out in a waspish hiss.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re playing at!”
Erwin raised his eyebrows, politely bemused.
“Why, I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
“Stop trying to get me under the mistletoe!” The low rasp of Levi’s voice was rising to a growl. Erwin searched about himself. Only yards away from where they stood, Commander-in-Chief Zachary and Commander Pixis were snorting into their tankards whilst Nile forced a laugh, his eyes dim with incomprehension.
“I can assure you I-”
“Oh really? Then let me remind you!” Levi closed in on him.
“When we met the higher ups in the foyer just now? I was standing over on the left when you called me over to your right side. Right where- the -!” He gestured upwards, as though offended by an invisible wreath of mistletoe hanging between them.
“Levi!” Erwin laughed airly, holding up his index finger to Pixis who had waved for them to join him. “Don’t be ridiculous…” His eyes flitted towards the crowd of officers as they were briefly cleaved apart by an unruly head of brown hair.
“Now, the beers-”
“And let’s not forget…” Levi continued his assault. “At the table just now, I was sent to pass the meat plate and - you guessed it. There was that green shit over my head again!”
Erwin blinked. “Well, I - “
“What do you want with me under the mistletoe, huh?”
“Nothing!” Erwin declared loudly enough for his senior to hear him. Zachary and Pixis had ceased their conversion to gape back at him. Nile bit into a piece of grilled steak as though it was the most delicious meal he had ever tasted. “For the record - nothing at all!”
Levi gave a pained sigh.
“See here, Erwin. You’re not bad to look at.” At this, Erwin touched his hair in scrutiny. “Maybe if I was into all this - ” Levi gave a sweep of his hand, gesturing upwards from Erwin’s feet to the top of his head. “- maybe if you weren’t the one in command. But if I’d have known that this is what you had in mind when I was recruited, I’d have told you to-”
“It’s about time you got those drinks, hmm Levi?” Erwin cut him off smartly. His broad palm planted itself against Levi’s back and propelled his captain off into the throng of officers.
Sweeping a frightened look over at Zachary and the others, Erwin heaved another laugh.
“Ah, I heard about the balloon incident, Pixis. When will your wife be back on her feet?”
Cursing under his breath, Levi passed through the doorway towards the beer keg and racks of wine bottles. The moment he crossed the threshold Hange appeared, their long, green coat whirling around them. Their dark hair had been pulled hastily into a ponytail. A fleck of light glinted upon their glasses as they tilted their head to smile at him. Levi looked over his shoulder at Erwin. Pixis was now in full flow, miming what looked like a dramatic explosion.
“Oi…”
As realisation dawned upon him, Levi turned back to Hange. They seemed perfectly at ease, arms held behind their back. Then, slowly, Hange raised a conspiratorial finger. They left their hand poised there, as though they were about to lay it upon their lips.
“Mistletoe…” Hange was pointing above their heads. Levi’s head craned upwards.
A frond of pale, slender leaves, speckled with white berries.
“It keeps coming between us.” Hange winked at him, finger still outstretched.
“Huh?”
“First when we arrived in the foyer, then when you moved down the table…”
Levi’s teeth were bared as he glowered over at Erwin. Smug bastard.
“Ah, but there’s more to mistletoe than meets the eye!” Hange lowered their hand, a fiendish smile creeping across their face. Their tone enveloped him - as dark and as dangerous as smoke. “You see, its leaves contain phoratoxin which is poisonous to humans!”
Levi’s tongue lay heavy and useless in his mouth. He cleared his throat. For want of anything else to offer, he looked up again warily.
“Better steer clear of it then…”
He turned back to them. Hange’s expression had entirely transformed. The look they gave him now was one of profound sorrow.
“It was said that, many centuries ago, there lived one of the fiercest soldiers known to mankind. He was named Balder, and was believed to be descended from the God of War himself.”
Levi’s mouth hung a little open in surprise. The background sounds of the party were blurring into a meaningless drone. The chatter of the other guests was nothing but low murmurs.
“Balder was one of the king’s finest advisors. One day he was caught in the greatest battle of his life. He lost. Killed by an arrow made of mistletoe. Legend has it that his mother’s tears turned to white berries which covered the plant.”
They both studied the mistletoe, hanging in half an arc above their heads.
“And those berries symbolise her love for him, even to this day.”
The hall, the musicians, Erwin and the empty tankards, the other officers had simply melted upon the warm air. There was just Hange. Their untidy hair; their green military jacket; dark-rimmed glasses; that open, earnest look. Their sincerity. Their honesty. Their aching heart.
“She knew she couldn’t save him, you see...”
Levi studied the berries, clustered like perfect pearls. Tears of regret. A regret so bitter it had turned toxic over time. Those berries were a cruel reminder of her failure to protect a loved one. Forever encased in tiny spheres of white.
Jumping in your ask box to request prompt number 3 "First Christmas as a friend group" for the Festive Fics with Levi's first Christmas/birthday as a Survey Corps member with the Vets (Canon universe).
I'm excited to read what you'll come up with!!!
Mwah 😘❤️
Merry Christmas, Bestie! I love that you requested this. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR PRECIOUS LEVI!
DAY 1: first Christmas as a friend group
Levi and AoT vets
The winters above ground are colder than Levi thought they would be.
Walking down the frigid corridors of Survey Corps Headquarters, memories of The Underground came flooding back to him: fires burning in whatever receptacles that would allow it, huddling for warmth anywhere it could be found. But even in the darkest, coldest times, there were moments of warm friendship. He remembers Isabelle collecting snow that had accumulated from a large crevasse and bringing an armful of it home. "Look, big bro! It's snowed for your birthday!"
Farlan and Isabelle had decided that Christmas Day was going to be Levi's birthday. "As good a day as any," Farlan had said. It gave them all something to actually celebrate.
Isabelle.
Farlan.
They'd been gone for over 6 months now, the memories of that horrific summer etched forever in his mind and heart. He didn't regret staying with the Survey Corps, but his life felt empty without them.
He stood before the doors of the library, where the sounds of laughing and talking could be heard. Hange and Nanaba had organized a Christmas party for the squad leaders, as a kind of team bonding since so many of them were new. Levi had recently been named a Captain and was expected to attend; otherwise, he would have passed on the whole thing if we could.
The large room has been decorated with red and green garland and a large fir tree stands in the corner. Hange is busy clipping small candles to its branches.
"Trying to burn the whole place down?" Levi asks.
"It's tradition to decorate a Christmas tree with candles!" Hange remarks, noticing the blank expression on Levi's face. "You've...never decorated a Christmas tree before?"
"Tch..it's not like we had trees where I'm from."
Ecstatic, Hange grabs a box of glittering glass ornaments and pushes them in Levi's arms. "Well then it's time to get in the holiday spirit!"
Levi clicks his tongue but then resigns to taking out each delicate ornament and hanging them on the tree. While he and Hange busy themselves with decorating, Nanaba sets out some snacks and drinks. Miche sits down at an old piano and plays an upbeat tune.
"Miche plays piano?" Levi asks as he puts the last ornament on the tree.
Hange smiles. "I guess there's still a lot you don't know about this group. But you're one of us now - you'll learn it all in time."
Erwin calls everyone together, placing a flute of champagne in each of their hands. "As we celebrate this holiday I want you to know how thankful I am for each one of you. Your strength and sacrifice are an inspiration to all." He raises his glass. "Merry Christmas!"
Just as everyone takes a drink, Dita comes out with a cake lit with four candles.
"Speaking of not knowing much about each other, none of us had any idea it was your birthday today,” Hange says, as Dita places the cake in front of Levi. "Nanaba just happened to find it in your personnel file the other day while doing paperwork."
"I hope you like chocolate - it can be hard to find these days," Dita replies, rubbing the back of his head nervously.
Levi was speechless. He could feel the apples of his cheeks getting hot as all their smiling faces looked at him.
"...You really didn't have to do this." He blows the candles out and everyone claps before Dita starts divvying up pieces.
"Happy birthday, Levi," Erwin says, placing a hand on his shoulder. "here's hoping for many more."
Levi looks at the happy, peaceful faces around him; he knows that each one would sacrifice their life for the other without a moment's hesitation. These are his people now.
Thanks for the tag @a-noble-dragon. Winter solstice still counts, right?
A cozy AU where gods and other mythological beings walk among us. A coffee shop, fireplaces, a spa with hot springs and a Christmas market - what else do you need?
