[Fic] The Gift
Title: The Gift
Pairing: Tablo/Eunhyuk
Genre: AU
Rating: R
Sequel to The Walk.
Prompt: their first (or any) Christmas together
***
“When I was young, my sister and I would clamor that we didn’t get to decorate the tree,” Hyukjae said, staring up at the magnificent tree in Daniel’s great room. “We’d be in the nursery and one day it would just appear. My parents used to give in to us, though. We didn’t get a tree, exactly. It was more like a branch that someone stuck in a corner so we could glue paper together and put fruit under it.”
Daniel laughed beside him. “We had about the same problem at our house. Eventually my parents would let y brother and I have our own little tree in the nursery, or else the chaos was unmanageable. But then it became something that was an obligation and not something we wanted to try, so…”
“Yes. Less exciting, then.”
“Did you want a little tree, just for us? Maybe in the library.”
The library was where they tended to spend most of their time inside together, outside of their bedroom. They both had a desk, each a comfortable chair, and Daniel had a magnificent collection of books. Still, as Hyukjae thought about it, he shrugged. “We could just take a few ornaments and hang them on the shelf and it’d be okay.”
“Less to take down,” Daniel agreed. And they stood in silence for several moments as Hyukjae traced his fingers over Daniel’s on his cane. “I don’t know if I want to wait to give you your gift.”
Hyukjae’s eyebrows rose. “I really didn’t want to either. Mine’s ready for you.”
“Mine too,” Daniel said. “First we need to go outside.”
Hyukjae almost opened his mouth to tell Daniel that his gift was outside, too, before realizing he was going to spoil the surprise. It wasn’t as though they could have bought each other the same thing, after all. Maybe Daniel had gotten a new carriage, or… No. He wouldn’t have bought something like that for Hyukjae. It was something that Hyukjae would obviously appreciate, and be thankful for, and something that they would use together. Or at least, Hyukjae was fairly certain Daniel wouldn’t get him a gift like that. He was just going on Daniel’s previous gifts, like one out of nowhere, a book Daniel had thought he might like, or a new necktie. He’d worn that to dinner, getting a smile from Daniel across from him. And Daniel had taken it off of him that night in their room.
Daniel spoke low to a groom, and Hyukjae walked beside him to the wide area in front of the stables. Their hands were warm together in the cold air, fingers tangling as they waited. Daniel walked so much stronger, even if he still used his cane. His leg pained him still, but there were times when they would walk together in the halls with only Hyukjae as support, or sway together to unheard music. Right from the beginning, Hyukjae had told Daniel he would be there, support him any way he could. And Daniel was willing to let him, because he was able to do things alone as well. Though Hyukjae figured that Daniel would be so used to having him there, that one day it wouldn’t matter at all.
Hyukjae’s eyes lifted at the sound of horse hooves, and Daniel squeezed his hand. A mink-dark mare was led onto the stones, her head bobbing gently as she was led up to them.
“I know we talked about maybe breeding our own horses,” Daniel said. “She’s a good saddle horse, as well, with one foal already. There was something in her I liked. There was a colt I wanted to buy, too, but he wouldn’t let him go. But…this could be a start for us.“
The mare nuzzled his hand, her coat soft under his fingers as he bit the inside of his lip trying not to laugh. He’d mostly swallowed it down, taking the mare’s lead rope and asking on a wavering voice for the groom to fetch his gift.
“She’s beautiful,” he told Daniel. “Really. It’ll be nice to have another horse to ride occasionally. And this new year, we can really begin. Thank you.”
Daniel accepted his kiss, though his brows were furrowed as he took in Hyukjae’s face. Something was off. Hyukjae wasn’t good at hiding that. And Hyukjae gestured with his chin, to where a gray colt was being led out.
“Hyukjae,” Daniel said, his name on Daniel’s voice sounding almost dangerous. “That’s the colt, the one he wouldn’t sell- I offered him almost twice what that colt was worth. He wouldn’t sell him because you’d already bought him?”
Hyukjae nodded sheepishly, his grin widening.
“No wonder I thought he was laughing at me! The man can keep a secret. And so can you.”
“We bought each other a horse,” Hyukjae chortled, as the two horses snuffled at each other.
“They’ll make pretty babies, won’t they?”
“Mm,” Hyukjae agreed.
He had other gifts for Daniel as well, a few books, and a collection of sweets he was secretly fond of, and a bottle of liquor. But the fact that the horses being led away together were because of similar thoughts thrilled him endlessly. It was a little like they were meant. And they spent half an hour with their new horses, talking, petting them, and planning. They were gorgeous, well bred and healthy. Hyukjae laughed as the mare lipped at his hair, and he kissed her nose.
“When do I get another of those?” Daniel asked, poking him in the side.
“Right now, if you want,” Hyukjae said, looking back at him. Whenever, wherever. But what he saw in Daniel’s eyes was not just the want of a kiss. It was with regret that they let the horses go, but with anticipation that he followed Daniel back into the house.
Daniel urged him up the stairs, step by step, pressing kisses against his mouth as they made their way to the bed.
The middle of the afternoon. Kind of scandalous, but they didn’t care. Had never cared. There were no sensibilities to be protected. The times they should’ve waited. After breakfast. Before breakfast. Behind the locked door of the library.
Daniel’s lips were insistent, over his collarbones and up his neck. They both smelled vaguely of horses, which to some would have been a point of disgust, but was so normal to them. So normal, so loved. And it was on his husband. Hyukjae remembered the first time that Daniel had felt strong enough enough to try his leg, carefully easing between Hyukjae’s thighs as they faced each other on the bed. They could have done so on their knees, and Hyukjae had offered, but Daniel was having none of it. Just the look on Daniel’s face, like a man that had discovered something new and wondrous. It had been enough to draw tears from Hyukjae’s eyes as they kissed and moved together. Until he could do for Hyukjae what Hyukjae could do for him, there was a part of Daniel still that had held back. But not that time. There had been no hesitance in that kiss, and no questions as Daniel had kissed away his tears, because he knew. He knew. Their marriage had been legal for some time, but their marriage was something they would always need to work at. That would change with them.
The first time he’d leaned into Daniel to say “I love you” it had been so full of meaning. Whether Daniel could walk, or if he had a leg at all. He wouldn’t be sent away again, or pushed away again, because he knew his place. He’d always known it, but Hyukjae at fourteen could have been moved. Hyukjae then, there was no chance. He had a husband, and a horse, and a lovely mattress under his back.
And Daniel, crooning against his mouth as he stroked up Hyukjae’s thighs.
“I can’t believe you bought that horse out from under my nose,” Daniel said a minute later, paused infuriatingly when Hyukjae didn’t want him stopping.
“The morning before you went,” Hyukjae said, wiggling his hips. “I couldn’t take the chance of you-“
He’d really wanted that colt for Daniel. When Daniel’d returned a little sour faced, Hyukjae had cheered him up.
The way Daniel kissed him, touched him, he thought it had been worth it. And he smiled into Daniel’s neck as they loved. At first, they hadn’t known what they liked together. Hyukjae hadn’t known that Daniel loved to hear his name or that soft kisses to his belly drove him wild. Hyukjae learned that his husband could be tender, and fierce, and demanding, and that sometimes all Hyukjae had to do was plead. It left them in smiles, coiled hot and panting together with hands petting through hair and soft kisses against skin.
“Merry Christmas,” Daniel purred in his ear, and he got the shudder he’d been seeking.
Their first Christmas. Together.
***
Pairing: Tablo/Eunhyuk
Genre: AU
Rating: R
Sequel to The Walk.
Prompt: their first (or any) Christmas together
***
“When I was young, my sister and I would clamor that we didn’t get to decorate the tree,” Hyukjae said, staring up at the magnificent tree in Daniel’s great room. “We’d be in the nursery and one day it would just appear. My parents used to give in to us, though. We didn’t get a tree, exactly. It was more like a branch that someone stuck in a corner so we could glue paper together and put fruit under it.”
Daniel laughed beside him. “We had about the same problem at our house. Eventually my parents would let y brother and I have our own little tree in the nursery, or else the chaos was unmanageable. But then it became something that was an obligation and not something we wanted to try, so…”
“Yes. Less exciting, then.”
“Did you want a little tree, just for us? Maybe in the library.”
The library was where they tended to spend most of their time inside together, outside of their bedroom. They both had a desk, each a comfortable chair, and Daniel had a magnificent collection of books. Still, as Hyukjae thought about it, he shrugged. “We could just take a few ornaments and hang them on the shelf and it’d be okay.”
“Less to take down,” Daniel agreed. And they stood in silence for several moments as Hyukjae traced his fingers over Daniel’s on his cane. “I don’t know if I want to wait to give you your gift.”
Hyukjae’s eyebrows rose. “I really didn’t want to either. Mine’s ready for you.”
“Mine too,” Daniel said. “First we need to go outside.”
Hyukjae almost opened his mouth to tell Daniel that his gift was outside, too, before realizing he was going to spoil the surprise. It wasn’t as though they could have bought each other the same thing, after all. Maybe Daniel had gotten a new carriage, or… No. He wouldn’t have bought something like that for Hyukjae. It was something that Hyukjae would obviously appreciate, and be thankful for, and something that they would use together. Or at least, Hyukjae was fairly certain Daniel wouldn’t get him a gift like that. He was just going on Daniel’s previous gifts, like one out of nowhere, a book Daniel had thought he might like, or a new necktie. He’d worn that to dinner, getting a smile from Daniel across from him. And Daniel had taken it off of him that night in their room.
Daniel spoke low to a groom, and Hyukjae walked beside him to the wide area in front of the stables. Their hands were warm together in the cold air, fingers tangling as they waited. Daniel walked so much stronger, even if he still used his cane. His leg pained him still, but there were times when they would walk together in the halls with only Hyukjae as support, or sway together to unheard music. Right from the beginning, Hyukjae had told Daniel he would be there, support him any way he could. And Daniel was willing to let him, because he was able to do things alone as well. Though Hyukjae figured that Daniel would be so used to having him there, that one day it wouldn’t matter at all.
Hyukjae’s eyes lifted at the sound of horse hooves, and Daniel squeezed his hand. A mink-dark mare was led onto the stones, her head bobbing gently as she was led up to them.
“I know we talked about maybe breeding our own horses,” Daniel said. “She’s a good saddle horse, as well, with one foal already. There was something in her I liked. There was a colt I wanted to buy, too, but he wouldn’t let him go. But…this could be a start for us.“
The mare nuzzled his hand, her coat soft under his fingers as he bit the inside of his lip trying not to laugh. He’d mostly swallowed it down, taking the mare’s lead rope and asking on a wavering voice for the groom to fetch his gift.
“She’s beautiful,” he told Daniel. “Really. It’ll be nice to have another horse to ride occasionally. And this new year, we can really begin. Thank you.”
Daniel accepted his kiss, though his brows were furrowed as he took in Hyukjae’s face. Something was off. Hyukjae wasn’t good at hiding that. And Hyukjae gestured with his chin, to where a gray colt was being led out.
“Hyukjae,” Daniel said, his name on Daniel’s voice sounding almost dangerous. “That’s the colt, the one he wouldn’t sell- I offered him almost twice what that colt was worth. He wouldn’t sell him because you’d already bought him?”
Hyukjae nodded sheepishly, his grin widening.
“No wonder I thought he was laughing at me! The man can keep a secret. And so can you.”
“We bought each other a horse,” Hyukjae chortled, as the two horses snuffled at each other.
“They’ll make pretty babies, won’t they?”
“Mm,” Hyukjae agreed.
He had other gifts for Daniel as well, a few books, and a collection of sweets he was secretly fond of, and a bottle of liquor. But the fact that the horses being led away together were because of similar thoughts thrilled him endlessly. It was a little like they were meant. And they spent half an hour with their new horses, talking, petting them, and planning. They were gorgeous, well bred and healthy. Hyukjae laughed as the mare lipped at his hair, and he kissed her nose.
“When do I get another of those?” Daniel asked, poking him in the side.
“Right now, if you want,” Hyukjae said, looking back at him. Whenever, wherever. But what he saw in Daniel’s eyes was not just the want of a kiss. It was with regret that they let the horses go, but with anticipation that he followed Daniel back into the house.
Daniel urged him up the stairs, step by step, pressing kisses against his mouth as they made their way to the bed.
The middle of the afternoon. Kind of scandalous, but they didn’t care. Had never cared. There were no sensibilities to be protected. The times they should’ve waited. After breakfast. Before breakfast. Behind the locked door of the library.
Daniel’s lips were insistent, over his collarbones and up his neck. They both smelled vaguely of horses, which to some would have been a point of disgust, but was so normal to them. So normal, so loved. And it was on his husband. Hyukjae remembered the first time that Daniel had felt strong enough enough to try his leg, carefully easing between Hyukjae’s thighs as they faced each other on the bed. They could have done so on their knees, and Hyukjae had offered, but Daniel was having none of it. Just the look on Daniel’s face, like a man that had discovered something new and wondrous. It had been enough to draw tears from Hyukjae’s eyes as they kissed and moved together. Until he could do for Hyukjae what Hyukjae could do for him, there was a part of Daniel still that had held back. But not that time. There had been no hesitance in that kiss, and no questions as Daniel had kissed away his tears, because he knew. He knew. Their marriage had been legal for some time, but their marriage was something they would always need to work at. That would change with them.
The first time he’d leaned into Daniel to say “I love you” it had been so full of meaning. Whether Daniel could walk, or if he had a leg at all. He wouldn’t be sent away again, or pushed away again, because he knew his place. He’d always known it, but Hyukjae at fourteen could have been moved. Hyukjae then, there was no chance. He had a husband, and a horse, and a lovely mattress under his back.
And Daniel, crooning against his mouth as he stroked up Hyukjae’s thighs.
“I can’t believe you bought that horse out from under my nose,” Daniel said a minute later, paused infuriatingly when Hyukjae didn’t want him stopping.
“The morning before you went,” Hyukjae said, wiggling his hips. “I couldn’t take the chance of you-“
He’d really wanted that colt for Daniel. When Daniel’d returned a little sour faced, Hyukjae had cheered him up.
The way Daniel kissed him, touched him, he thought it had been worth it. And he smiled into Daniel’s neck as they loved. At first, they hadn’t known what they liked together. Hyukjae hadn’t known that Daniel loved to hear his name or that soft kisses to his belly drove him wild. Hyukjae learned that his husband could be tender, and fierce, and demanding, and that sometimes all Hyukjae had to do was plead. It left them in smiles, coiled hot and panting together with hands petting through hair and soft kisses against skin.
“Merry Christmas,” Daniel purred in his ear, and he got the shudder he’d been seeking.
Their first Christmas. Together.
***