ILY and your writing so much and you are just a sweet sugar pie. Maybe I could as for a small holiday beauty worth au drabble bc they are babes pleasr and thank you ❤❤
Together in Winter
It shouldn’t have come as a surprise but still Gilbert had been caught off guard by the holiday differences between them. He knew that each kingdom had their own special celebrations that they attend to, he just didn’t know his way of celebrating would be neither of what Matthew or Lovino did.
Lovino had started his ‘celebration’ a month ago. Gilbert couldn’t quite understand it, but Lovino had been adamant of following the rules. It seemed odd to him for Lovino to refuse to eat as long as the sun shone in the sky, he would have loved to eat as much as he could if he had the opportunity. Lovino just refused the small snacks offered to him by Matthew.
He had given up on a few other simple things as well. His temper seemed toned down, the crude language he had been fond of no where to be found. Gilbert couldn’t say it hadn’t been funny to see Lovino grit his teeth and walk away without the snarky comments. He also gave up on the loving touches Matthew would give him and playing with Gilbert’a hair.
That had stung a little, but Lovino told them over and over it’s not them, it’s just what he needed to give up for the month. He would eat when the sun disappeared but the touches remained scarce and his mood on a lighter note. For a whole month. Gilbert could see Matthew struggling not to hug him when he entered a room. Gilbert wondered if all the hugs Matthew would give to him instead are just because Lovino would not accept them.
“It’s for gratitude,” Lovino told them.
“There are so many things in the world, and we should be happy to have them in every day life. By ridding ourselves of them for a month, we gain a little more appreciation for those things.” He shrugged and backed away from Matthew’s touch, a sad smile on both their faces for another week at least.
When the month ended, Lovino and his kingdom rejoiced in their ability to hold off on the things they refused. Gilbert snickered into his hand, never seeing any one in the castle not eating for the next three days. Lovino always had food with him, casually munching. His temper returned with vengeance it seemed.
The best part though had to be the touches. Lovino would barely let go of Matthew’s hands, his waist, hugs overflowed. Matthew’s face grew into a bright smile every time and Lovino pretended to ignore it. Gilbert’s pleasant surprise came with Lovino offering him more touches too. Hands in his hair, holding his hand for longer than ever before, dragging him into cuddle piles that didn’t ever want to end.
“You don’t know how much I missed this,” Lovino told them one night after. Matthew laughed and kisses his head. Gilbert just smiled.
Matthew’s winter holiday began just a little after Lovino’s three day celebration of no longer fasting. He and Lovino accepted the invitation to join as Matthew simply lit a candle, and sat in front of it. Every day when night fell, he would venture to his candles, lighting one more than the night previous, then sitting on the ground with his hands in his lap.
“What are you doing?” Gilbert whispered to him during the third night. Matthew peeped an eye open, and a smile grew on his face.
“For my kingdom and my family, we take time to rejoice in the peace our kingdom holds. We light a candle for the wars now over and the miracle of living.” Matthew reached out a hand to the flame, his fingers curling around the flame but not close enough to burn.
“We take time to remember all we have to be thankful for.” With that he lowers his hand, intertwining his fingers with Lovino on one side, and then Gilbert’s on the other. They sit in silence, all lost in their own thoughts. Gilbert isn’t too sure he understand the what he’s supposed to be doing, but he thinks of both of them, watching their faces as they subtly twitch as they think about all that they have.
Where would he be without them? Probably in the outskirts with his adopted father and brother, rummaging for scraps, making do with what little they have. Probably hating everything about himself like he used to. He doesn’t dislike himself as much with them around. They loved him so much, he forgot what hating himself felt like.
He’s grateful for them he decides. All the kind looks and words, and the clear standing up for him that they do not have to do. They make him feel special, a feeling he doesn’t believe he would have ever gotten without them. The idea of being just a servant to them is far out of his mind. He knows, he knows he’s so much more than that now.
Matthew stands after some time, blowing out the candles for the night. Lovino and Gilbert give him loving looks, thankful they are trued enough to join in Matthew’s ceremony. Gilbert swallows as he trails after them on the way back to their room. His room is technically down the hall, but he can’t really remember the last night he slept in there.
Lovino is quick to shed his more royal garb for night clothing, Matthew following soon after. Gilbert carefully sheds his things, just in case they decide they do not want to be with him for the night. He turns and they are both looking at him, waiting. He sighs and sits on the edge of the bed. He’s immediately pulled down to be in the center of the pile.
With each prince softly sleeping beside him Gilbert comes up with a plan, hope burning inside him that they will like what he has to offer.
–
“Gilbert?” Matthew pops his head into the servants designated room, though if Matthew had his way all of Gilbert’s possessions would be in his and Lovino’s shared room. Not finding the servant anywhere he turns to his husband and shrugs. Lovino twists his nose up and with a roll of his eyes starts towards their room.
“He’ll be around shortly I’m sure,” Lovino says. Though he sounds so sure of himself, there’s a sadness lingering underneath. Mathew sighs. He hasn’t seen Gilbert all day and he knows with the way Lovino’s hand twitches that it’s getting to him too. He wouldn’t have run away, or truly left without telling them, but the bitter thought is stuck in the back of his mind.
The door to their room swings ope to reveal Gilbert standing in the center, feet shifting back and forth with his hands behind his back. Matthew’s face breaks into a wide grin as he skips over and wraps Gilbert into a tight hug.
“We missed you!” He says. Lovino has a relieved smile on as well, running a hand through Gilbert’s hair affectionately. Gilbert swallows hard and takes a step back from them, his head down out of shyness.
“So you both shared with me traditions of your kingdoms and families,” He starts awkwardly, offering a half smile. Matthew and Lovino share a quick look then focus on him.
“And I just, wanted to share a bit of my family with you too,” Before his nerves can tell him this is a bad idea, he pulls two small wrapped boxes from behind his back. A white one wrapped for Matthew and a red one for Lovino. Carefully they take the boxes, amused smiles on both their faces.
Gilbert twitches as they tear at the paper, hoping with ever fiber of his being that he’s not making a mistake. Lovino pulls his gift out first, a simple metal band with one gem of white and another of gold. Matthew’s smile is blinding as he pulls out his as well, another metal band but with a white gem and a red gem.
“In my family we give gifts to those who-” we love.
“Who we are close to,” He changes the words. Matthew slips his onto his pinky, right next to his wedding ring. Lovino does the same, holding out his hand to admire the craft work.
“Did you make these?” Lovino turns his eyes to Gilbert suddenly. Gilbert nods. A skill he has earned from his father. Maybe not his best work in such a rush and out of practice, but the sharp edges are gone ans the stones are set and polished.
“These are beautiful,” Matthew coos, coming closer to him. Gilbert lets out a breath and lifts his own hand.
“You’ve been so kind, and cared for me, I just-” He cuts himself off, letting Matthew hold his hand and admire the metal band on his own finger, a gem of red and a gem of gold. Lovino steps closer, holding Gilbert’s hand as well. Every thought flies out of Gilbert’s head as Matthew places a soft kiss to the ring on Gilbert’s finger.
“It’s perfect, thank you for sharing this part of you with us,” Matthew is so close to him now. Gilbert nods and swallows the lump in his throat. Lovino is pressing their heads together soon enough, so close Gilbert feels more overwhelmed than when they end up cuddling. It’s intimate, both his hands held by those who have helped him in so many ways and their faces far closer than they have ever been.
Gilbert is the one to pull away, too much for him to handle. Matthew just laughs and places the new ring on his finger to his cheek lovingly. Lovino admires the handiwork and runs a hand through Gilbert’s hair.
“You are truly one of a kind,” It’s a compliment that makes Gilbert’s insides turn to mush. Every thing about them turns him to mush. He snorts at the compliment, excusing himself to attend to his servant duties. Matthew and Lovino both watch him go down the hall, turning to smirk at them one last time before leaving around the corner.
The added weight to their hands is pleasant, a happy reminder that they are in this together, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
–
Lovino’s ceremony is based off Ramadan.
Matthew’s is based off Hanukkah.
Gilbert’s is loosely based off Christmas.
