All I want for Christmas...

[mystiklsushi]

Who: Kiku and Wilm
Where: home
When: Christmas Morning
What: A question a long time in coming.

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[oranje_windmill]

He made a soft noise of contentment as the other man snuggled closer, not even waking fully as he slid his arms more completely around the other man. These were some of his favorite moments, this lazy quiet time before the day really got started and the only real things were the two of them, the warmth of the blankets cocooned around them, and the way their bodies fit together. And it was even better on days like today, when there was nothing from beyond tugging at them, demanding their attention.

Well, almost nothing. Just a simple bit of business that could change the rest of their lives.

A cold shiver of nerves coiled in his stomach, leeching away some of the warmth and contentment. He pushed it away ruthlessly, running his fingers along the skin of Kiku's back as he opened his eyes to take in the sight of his boyfriend curled to his chest.

"Gelukkige Kerstmis," he said, voice still rough and husky from sleep.

[mystiklsushi]

"Same to you," he mumbled back with a bit of a rasp, his voice having taken a bit of abuse the night before. A bit of hot tea and he'd have it fixed again. His fingers wormed up between Willem's shirt and skin, enjoying how warm the flesh there was. He voiced his approval of this with another mumble, nuzzling into his shirt. A moment later reminded him that he'd not had a kiss yet that morning, and he turned his face up, eyes lazily closed as he made a soft smacking sound with his lips to indicate his wishes.

[oranje_windmill]

His lips curved up into a soft smile at the nuzzling, the smile turning to a smirk at the raspy quality of the other man's voice. He leaned down to press his lips onto Kiku's, rolling them over so he could lay between Kiku's legs and press their bodies together. His arms bracketed on either side of the other man's head he tangled his fingers in dark hair, licked Kiku's bottom lip until he was able to slide his tongue inside his boyfriend's mouth.

Eventually he pulled away, leaning back just far enough so he could look down into Kiku's face with a soft smile.

[mystiklsushi]

This was the way to start a morning. Soft moans peppered their kisses, and he could not help the longing sigh that escaped as Willem pulled away.

He brushed his fingers slowly against the early morning stubble that had collected on his boyfriend's chin, drinking him in. There was not another place in the world he'd rather be, and thanked every lucky chance and every decision they'd ever made to bring them this far together. The hand on Willem's cheek turned to cup it, tenderly tracing the curve of his lip with a thumb.

"Going to need some caffeine in me before I can go another, dear."

[oranje_windmill]

He leaned his cheek into the hand on his face, pressing a kiss to the fingers in response to the way his boyfriend was looking at him. The look that said he was precious, wanted, loved.

And then the remark about caffeine hit him with a jolt, a bolt of nerves that drew him out of his warm haze and to the task at hand.

"I'll get it," he replied, a bit too quickly, mentally shaking himself afterward as he hoped Kiku hadn't noticed. "Wait here."

He leaned in for one more quick, sweet kiss to steady himself, then slid from the bed and hurried towards the kitchen.

Despite the look in the other man's eyes, despite the kiss, his nerves began twisting his stomach into a tighter and tighter knot with each step.

[mystiklsushi]

Kiku chuckled, sleepily rolling over into the warm spot Wilm had left behind and burying his face into his pillow. Wait here, he'd said with the air of a child keeping a secret. Taking a stab, he could only guess that part of his Christmas present involved breakfast in bed. Perhaps his boyfriend had carried out secret preparation for it. Memories of poetry slipped around the house recalled exactly how much of a secret romantic the other man was.

If they were getting a start on exchange this early, Kiku was glad he'd prepared. Dragging himself out from under the covers, he slipped down by his side of the bed, fishing for the wrapped first edition collection he'd managed to find of Willem's favorite Dutch poet. Releasing another sleepy yawn, he crawled gratefully back into the bed, depositing the package onto his boyfriend's pillow. Breakfast, presents, and perhaps more sex after.

[oranje_windmill]

Putting the kettle on took no time at all, and once it was done he leaned against the counter and took a long, deep breath to help steady his churning stomach. To settle him, rid himself of the feeling that he was going to come out of his skin.

It wasn't the actual act he was about to preform that was causing the gut wrenching attack of nerves. Once he'd made the actual choice he hadn't looked back, sure in the knowledge that what he wanted was what he needed. Would always want, always need. What was making him nervous was the enormity of the thing, the actual process of getting it done. It was something important, and he wanted to get it right.

Shaking himself, he opened the cabinet where they kept the mugs and shuffled things around until he could get to a large mug he had stuffed near the back. Pulling it out, he gave himself a second or so to study the question written on the inside bottom. And then he made himself set the cup aside and begin gathering together the ingredients for a simple breakfast.

[mystiklsushi]

Kiku waited a few minutes, listening for the shuffling sounds of pots and pans and the clinking of cups. There seemed to be rather a lot more noise than there should have been, piquing his curiosity. He called down the hall a bit later, asking if his assistance was desired, and receiving the negative, curled back into the blankets to wait.

The sound of footsteps and tinkle of silverware and plates in the hall roused him from the light doze he had barely registered falling into. His guess had been right on the mark with breakfast in bed, then.

[oranje_windmill]

The first step into the room brought with it a fresh jolt of nerves. He and the cup were where Kiku could see them now, and there wasn't a way to switch their cups without being obvious about it. Especially since the cup he'd fixed for himself was the rabbit one he used often, just so there was no chance of accidentally giving his lover the wrong one.

It also brought with it the sight of Kiku curled in the blankets of their bed, looking sleepy and content and utterly like he belonged there, and the sight did a good deal to bolster Willem's courage. He put the tray down on Kiku's nightstand, leaning in for a quick kiss before going around to his side so he could crawl back in beside the other man.

And paused when he saw the package, a soft smile lighting up his face at the sight of the gift. He'd been so focused on his own offering that he'd pretty much forgotten Kiku was giving him something this year as well.

[mystiklsushi]

Returning the kiss with a smile of his own, he reached for the cups by the bed, handing the familiar rabbit mug to Willem and taking the unfamiliar one for himself. He turned it around in his hands, looking it over.

"New cup?"

[oranje_windmill]

He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Instead he grabbed for his own gift, gesturing for Kiku to begin eating while he removed the wrapping paper. His smiled widened a bit as he saw the book that was uncovered.

"Thank you," he said warmly, smiling softly at the other man. His eyes fastened on the tea cup, however, and he forced himself back to the book, skimming through pages to hide how eager he was for his lover to get to the bottom of the cup. The words didn't register, however, and he kept sneaking glances back.

[mystiklsushi]

"You've probably got most of those already in other places," Kiku warned as he sipped at his tea. "But I thought the first edition might be something worth having."

He watched Willem as he turned the pages, cheered by the smile but quickly read something else in his body language. Perhaps the book hadn't been what he wanted, or maybe he already had a copy of this exact one? But he didn't seem unsatisfied. On closer inspection, whenever he caught Willem's eye, it darted straight back to the book.

Something else was going on. Something to do with his drink, Kiku suspected.

"The tea is very nice this morning," he complimented. "At the rate you're learning, you'll soon be mistaken for Japanese."

[oranje_windmill]

"In love with a Japanese man, more likely," he said softly, feeling a jump of excitement at the mention of the drink in the other man's hand. He took a drink from his own cup, glad to notice his hands were steady. He set it back on his own nightstand, setting the book there as well before leaning over and pressing a soft kiss to Kiku's cheek,

"I like the book," he said, sincerely, before getting Kiku to hand him his breakfast plate. He took a bite of the buttered kerststol, although he wasn't really tasting it.

[mystiklsushi]

"I'm glad," he answered, pressing the plate into his hand and a kiss to his cheek. Taking up his own breakfast place, he set his cup aside.

The breakfast was a simple one, but quite good. He hadn't been lying about Willem's tea making skills either. He'd obviously been paying close attention to the way to handle the leaves and the time for brewing. It was lightyears ahead of the stuff he'd made when they had first begun dating.

Halfway though his kerststol, though, he picked up on the furtive glances Willem was casting at his cup. Kiku caught his eyes, asking a silent question as he picked the cup back up from the night stand.

[oranje_windmill]

Willem's shoulders hunched as he caught Kiku's questioning look. Sneaky had never been something the Dutchman was good at, especially when it came to the person who knew him best.

He'd never been a very good liar either, so instead he merely gestured towards the cup.

"Rest of your present," he managed.

[mystiklsushi]

Surprised, Kiku turned the cup around in his hands, inspecting it more carefully. It was obviously a big deal, to make Willem as...flustered like this. Flustered being the only word that could describe him. Red to the tips of his ears, shoulders drawn in, squeezing out words, and now avoiding eye contact.

There was significance here that he was missing.

Not knowing what else to do, he simply patted his boyfriend's thigh through the comforter and lifted the cup back to his lips. And then he noticed that there was something in the bottom of the cup, something that wasn't rogue tea leaf. Flickering a look back at Willem, he drained the cup to better get at what he was hiding.