‘📦’
What do you get for a man who wants nothing?
A paradox of a man, Grantaire is seemingly never satisfied and yet does not voice what he wants. Enjolras received his name on a slip of paper, a secret Santa, it was called. Unfamiliar with the idea and even more so with his subject, he’d set out immediately to shop.His first idea was a fine wine, but he turned it down right away. To encourage his dinking is to encourage a bad habit. He knows Grantaire on a friendly level only, but it is enough to know that his drinking is not just for fun.
Enjolras’ next idea was a fine new coat, when he came upon one; Grey wool and lined with down, warm enough for the harsher winters and stylish all the same. He made it to the checkout with it in hand, trying to imagine it on him (and it was not so bad looking, if you asked him) when he realized that it was a couple hundred dollars over the recommended spending for a simple Secret Santa. Nearly defeated, he turned to Combeferre for answers. Combeferre was a stress knitter, and was preparing a matching hat-scarf-mitten set for Jehan. “Maybe you don’t have to buy anything at all,” He’d suggested. “Maybe you can make something.”Enjolras was not a creative person. He bought himself a canvas, some yarn, and several small crafting sets. Stressed by the upcoming party, and his lack of creativity, he followed strict instructions to create a bracelet, a set of coasters, one very sad mitten (or maybe it was a hat) and a painting of a tree. It was a disaster.
The day of the party, he began to prepare decorations with Prouvaire and Courfeyrac. In his awful reindeer jumper, Courfeyrac made an awful suggestion. To which Jehan replied with devastating enthusiasm. And together they fixed Enjolras to a terrible idea. As night fell and guests began to arrive, Enjolras ignored the angry curl of anxiety in his gut, sipped at spiked egg nog and made small talk while he picked at the terrible sweater he’d been told to wear. He looked utterly ridiculous and felt even worse. When the gift exchange came, it overcame him. Not everyone partook at once, but Grantaire did, gave his gift and watched as no present with his name came up. When he stood to leave, Enjolras intercepted. “Will you come with me for a second?”They ended up on the front porch, standing awkwardly opposite one another. “I had your name,” Enjolras began, before Grantaire could speak. “I had your name and I had no clue what to get you.” He related his failures, and apoligized profusely. Having admitted defeat, he stepped closer, and took one of Grantaire’s hands. Leaning up on his toes, he pressed their lips together. Light, quick, but sweet and soft as he’d ever been. “I am good for... thre- no, Five coffee dates. On me. Which isn’t to say they’re date-dates, and I owe you a couple drinks as well. Not all of them, i do have a budget. And, we can go shopping if you like, for a gift you think you’d like--” He stopped, and stared at Grantaire. He was smiling. He was smiling? Grantaire was smiling at Enjolras and he stopped, frowning, before Grantaire closed the space between them, and kissed him again.