Stocking Stuffers Part One
Happy Holidays! <3
***
For blackmamba_esq:
The house is quiet and still as the old year gives way to the new. No one notices, no one but Adelle. She watches Topher sleep, his small body curled tightly in the corner of the pod, his breathing steady and relaxed for once. It’s not so important to mark the passing of time anymore. The end has finally come, she thinks wryly. But she is still here.
She hears the faint sound of footsteps behind her and she doesn’t bother turning. She knows those steps, has fallen in line with them so many times they’re as familiar to her as her own. She will never admit this to him.
“You should sleep,” he whispers and she imagines the ma’am lingering unsaid between them.
“If I sleep now, I’ll be sleeping all year. It seems a waste.”
Dominic lowers himself to the floor beside her, his knee presses against her thigh.
“I never took you for the superstitious type.”
“Oh, I assure you I am not,” Adelle says. “It’s just something my mother used to say.”
He smiles, one eyebrow lifting in surprise. The devil doesn’t have a mother, silly her for forgetting.
“How long are you staying?” she asks and the smile disappears.
He comes and goes, wading through the dystopia they made as if it’s his calling. Perhaps he was born for heroics. Every time he comes back, she toys with the idea of asking him to stay. But even now, she holds onto her pride.
“I’m leaving in the morning.”
She turns away from him, but he leans closer. She can tell by the sudden pressure of his knee digging into her thigh and the feel of his warm breath on her cheek. He kisses her chastely, as if he is still Mr. Dominic and she is still Ms. DeWitt and the world has not fallen into chaos beyond these doors.
“Happy New Year, Adelle,” he says.
The sound of her name on his lips is enough to shatter the illusion.
*
For demonqueen666
Three Things That Happened on Serenity The Night Before Christmas
1. “There you are girl, good as new,” Kaylee says as she gives the engine one final swipe with her greasy rag.
She takes a step back to better appreciate her work and squeals when she feels arms wrapping around her from behind. Simon pulls her in tighter and she can feel laughter vibrating through his chest.
“You scared me,” she grumbles and Simon blushes.
“I didn’t mean…I was just trying to surprise…”
Kaylee stifles a giggle.
“And you’re teasing me,” Simon finishes, shaking his head.
“Yep,” Kaylee says and leans back into his arms. “How does she look?”
“Very clean,” Simon says.
“Good. That means she’s ready for the new year.”
“A fresh start?”
She turns around and presses her lips against Simon’s softly, pushing him toward the spotless engine. They stop when his back is flush against it.
“For all of us,” Kaylee whispers happily in his ear.
2. River spent the day slipping about the ship hanging paper lanterns and flowers until every inch of Serenity was covered in them. The crew indulged her, Mal’s never been much for the foolery folk get into around this time of year, but even he could use a bit of cheer right about now---and a good excuse to get shamefully drunk.
He sits at the table with Zoe and Inara long into the night, drinking and reminiscing. Zoe heard all of his stories a lifetime ago when they were still sharing a foxhole, but she listens anyway. Even smiles a time or two.
Inara’s never heard them before and he’s never been of the mind to tell her, but the rum has him loose lipped and warm, so he keeps right on chattering.
“My Mama bought me a rifle when I was ten, tied a red ribbon around, put it under the tree…it was the best gorram present I ever got.”
“That sounds wonderful Mal,” Inara says and takes a tiny sip of her drink.
“What about you, Inara?” Zoe asks. “What was your best Christmas?”
Inara smiles that soft, mysterious smile of hers.
“I’m not sure,” she says, her finger tracing circles around the rim of her glass and Mal suddenly wants to know about all of her Christmases.
He pushes the bottle toward her.
“Might as well pour yourself another drink. We ain’t leaving until we get a story. Ain’t that right, Zoe?”
Zoe nods. “Yes, sir.”
Inara shakes her head and pours herself one more glass.
3. The knock on the door is so light, Jayne almost misses it. He’s busy shining up his knives, the new scarf his ma knit him wrapped around his neck.
“It’s open,” he calls out gruffly.
The door opens and Jayne grimaces. It’s the girl.
“What do you want?” Jayne asks not bothering to hide his suspicion.
River sits down on the edge of the bed and holds out her hands, each one balled into a tight fist.
“Trick or treat?”
“I ain’t got time for games, girl, go bother your brother.”
“It’s not a game,” River says. “Just pick one.”
Jayne sets his knife far out of River’s reach before tapping her right hand. River grins and turns her hand over, palm up, to reveal one brightly wrapped candy. Despite himself, Jayne’s mouth begins to water. He can’t remember the last time he had any sort of candy.
He takes the candy from her hand, unwraps it, and pops it into his mouth.
“Peppermint,” he says happily.
River opens her other hand to reveal another piece.
“They’re both treats. That’s the trick.”
“Why are you giving them to me?” Jayne asks.
“Because it’s Christmas,” River says. “And everyone gets a present.”
Jayne sighs and passes her his knife and rag.
“Here, make yourself useful.”
He leans back on his bunk and savors the cool taste of peppermint on his tongue as he watches the girl work.
*
For moon_blitz:
They label everything in the apartment with note cards, her small, neat Japanese characters alongside his messy English ones. This is how they learn.
Her English is much better than his Japanese. A lifetime of listening to rock music put her ahead of the curb and she teases him late at night when they’re under the covers, his lips trailing kisses down her neck. She gasps words he doesn’t recognize, but understands all the same and the sound makes his heart feel light and happy.
They take turns cooking meals for each other, but Keiko almost always uses chopsticks. She keeps a stack of them in a drawer between the forks and the spoons. When he asks her why, she says they remind her of home and he smiles to himself.
Every time he opens that drawer now, they remind him of home too.
*
For tellshannon815:
Zoey lets Demetri lean on her as they stumble through the door. His weight feels solid and right against her even though he reeks of peppermint schnapps.
“I can’t take you anywhere,” she teases as she dumps him unceremoniously onto the couch.
Demetri struggles to sit up.
“Wait, I had…I have something for you.”
“Dem, we said we weren’t exchanging gifts until tomorrow.”
“This isn’t a gift,” he says, fumbling through his coat pocket. “This is something else…”
He pulls a small gray box from his pocket with a flourish, nearly dropping it in the process, and Zoey stifles a gasp.
“Is that?”
Demetri nods.
“Marry me, Zoey. Please? Because those schnaps were disgusting and I’d hate to think I drank
them all for nothing.”
“Yes,” she whispers and Demetri lets out a whoop.
“Yes?”
“Absolutely,” Zoey says as Demetri slips the ring onto her shaking hand.
Demetri kisses her, and she tastes the salt from their tears and alcohol and peppermint---
“This is my new favorite Christmas,” she says against his lips.
“Mine too,” he whispers back.
*
For ciaimpala:
Three Car Rides Home After An Expected or Unexpected Proposal (Depending On Who You Ask)
1. Sherlock & John
“I can’t believe you blurted it out like that, Sherlock. That’s just not how things are done.”
Sherlock crosses his arms and stares petulantly out the window.
“It was so obvious. The candlelight, the sweat on his brow, the unseemly bulge in his pocket---he didn’t even bother making it a challenge.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be a game. It was a proposal for God’s sake. And not a proposal to you, might I add.”
“I would hope if someone were to propose to me they would put a bit more effort into it. No one’s going to walk into a setting like that and expect anything other than to leave with a ring on their finger.”
“I suppose you’d prefer a proposal in the morgue? Perhaps over some poor fellow’s corpse?”
Sherlock brightens instantly.
“I’d very much like that, but you’ve spoiled it now. You’ll have to think of something else.”
“I wasn’t…I’m not proposing to you,” John stutters.
“Oh, would you prefer I propose to you? Actually, that makes more sense.”
“No,” John groans in exasperation. “And hang on, why does that make more sense?”
2. Dean/Castiel
“Well that was awkward,” Dean says as he backs the Impala out of the parking lot. “At least the food was good.”
“I enjoyed the tiny hamburgers.”
“They’re called “sliders”, Cas, and I put six of them in my doggy bag.”
Cas opens the Styrofoam plate and smiles.
“Thank you,” he says.
“I didn’t say they were for you,” Dean hisses, but Cas looks faintly wounded and Cas so rarely has expressions, Dean can’t stand when they’re sad ones. “Go ahead.”
“They looked very happy,” Castiel says in between bites.
“I guess so.”
“I’m happy too,” Cas says seriously.
Dean grins at him in the rearview mirror.
“Me too, but if you ever ask me to marry you, I will kick your ass.”
“I understand,” Cas says, popping the last of his burger into his mouth and immediately reaches for another.
Dean groans. He knew he should have taken the whole tray.
3. Jack & Boone
Boone pulls the car over at the first exit and knits his fist in Jack’s shirt, pulling him forward into a rough kiss. After a moment, Jack comes up for air.
“We’re never going to get home at this rate,” he says.
Boone rolls his eyes.
“I don’t care.”
He kisses Jack again and Jack can feel the cool metal of the silver band on Boone’s finger against his cheek and he knows Boone can feel Jack’s against his. A matching set---the thought makes Jack smile.
“I never should have invited Sherlock,” Jack mutters. “Or Dean.”
“They’re our friends,” Boone says. “Okay, they’re idiots, but still.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t invite them to the wedding.”
“We could elope,” Boone says. “Just…not on any islands.”
“I like that plan,” Jack says.
“We need to go home,” Boone sighs and reaches for the key in the ignition.
Jack stops him and pulls the lever on his seat letting it back.
“That takes too long.”
Boone grins wickedly.
“That's what I've been trying to tell you."
***
For blackmamba_esq:
The house is quiet and still as the old year gives way to the new. No one notices, no one but Adelle. She watches Topher sleep, his small body curled tightly in the corner of the pod, his breathing steady and relaxed for once. It’s not so important to mark the passing of time anymore. The end has finally come, she thinks wryly. But she is still here.
She hears the faint sound of footsteps behind her and she doesn’t bother turning. She knows those steps, has fallen in line with them so many times they’re as familiar to her as her own. She will never admit this to him.
“You should sleep,” he whispers and she imagines the ma’am lingering unsaid between them.
“If I sleep now, I’ll be sleeping all year. It seems a waste.”
Dominic lowers himself to the floor beside her, his knee presses against her thigh.
“I never took you for the superstitious type.”
“Oh, I assure you I am not,” Adelle says. “It’s just something my mother used to say.”
He smiles, one eyebrow lifting in surprise. The devil doesn’t have a mother, silly her for forgetting.
“How long are you staying?” she asks and the smile disappears.
He comes and goes, wading through the dystopia they made as if it’s his calling. Perhaps he was born for heroics. Every time he comes back, she toys with the idea of asking him to stay. But even now, she holds onto her pride.
“I’m leaving in the morning.”
She turns away from him, but he leans closer. She can tell by the sudden pressure of his knee digging into her thigh and the feel of his warm breath on her cheek. He kisses her chastely, as if he is still Mr. Dominic and she is still Ms. DeWitt and the world has not fallen into chaos beyond these doors.
“Happy New Year, Adelle,” he says.
The sound of her name on his lips is enough to shatter the illusion.
*
For demonqueen666
Three Things That Happened on Serenity The Night Before Christmas
1. “There you are girl, good as new,” Kaylee says as she gives the engine one final swipe with her greasy rag.
She takes a step back to better appreciate her work and squeals when she feels arms wrapping around her from behind. Simon pulls her in tighter and she can feel laughter vibrating through his chest.
“You scared me,” she grumbles and Simon blushes.
“I didn’t mean…I was just trying to surprise…”
Kaylee stifles a giggle.
“And you’re teasing me,” Simon finishes, shaking his head.
“Yep,” Kaylee says and leans back into his arms. “How does she look?”
“Very clean,” Simon says.
“Good. That means she’s ready for the new year.”
“A fresh start?”
She turns around and presses her lips against Simon’s softly, pushing him toward the spotless engine. They stop when his back is flush against it.
“For all of us,” Kaylee whispers happily in his ear.
2. River spent the day slipping about the ship hanging paper lanterns and flowers until every inch of Serenity was covered in them. The crew indulged her, Mal’s never been much for the foolery folk get into around this time of year, but even he could use a bit of cheer right about now---and a good excuse to get shamefully drunk.
He sits at the table with Zoe and Inara long into the night, drinking and reminiscing. Zoe heard all of his stories a lifetime ago when they were still sharing a foxhole, but she listens anyway. Even smiles a time or two.
Inara’s never heard them before and he’s never been of the mind to tell her, but the rum has him loose lipped and warm, so he keeps right on chattering.
“My Mama bought me a rifle when I was ten, tied a red ribbon around, put it under the tree…it was the best gorram present I ever got.”
“That sounds wonderful Mal,” Inara says and takes a tiny sip of her drink.
“What about you, Inara?” Zoe asks. “What was your best Christmas?”
Inara smiles that soft, mysterious smile of hers.
“I’m not sure,” she says, her finger tracing circles around the rim of her glass and Mal suddenly wants to know about all of her Christmases.
He pushes the bottle toward her.
“Might as well pour yourself another drink. We ain’t leaving until we get a story. Ain’t that right, Zoe?”
Zoe nods. “Yes, sir.”
Inara shakes her head and pours herself one more glass.
3. The knock on the door is so light, Jayne almost misses it. He’s busy shining up his knives, the new scarf his ma knit him wrapped around his neck.
“It’s open,” he calls out gruffly.
The door opens and Jayne grimaces. It’s the girl.
“What do you want?” Jayne asks not bothering to hide his suspicion.
River sits down on the edge of the bed and holds out her hands, each one balled into a tight fist.
“Trick or treat?”
“I ain’t got time for games, girl, go bother your brother.”
“It’s not a game,” River says. “Just pick one.”
Jayne sets his knife far out of River’s reach before tapping her right hand. River grins and turns her hand over, palm up, to reveal one brightly wrapped candy. Despite himself, Jayne’s mouth begins to water. He can’t remember the last time he had any sort of candy.
He takes the candy from her hand, unwraps it, and pops it into his mouth.
“Peppermint,” he says happily.
River opens her other hand to reveal another piece.
“They’re both treats. That’s the trick.”
“Why are you giving them to me?” Jayne asks.
“Because it’s Christmas,” River says. “And everyone gets a present.”
Jayne sighs and passes her his knife and rag.
“Here, make yourself useful.”
He leans back on his bunk and savors the cool taste of peppermint on his tongue as he watches the girl work.
*
For moon_blitz:
They label everything in the apartment with note cards, her small, neat Japanese characters alongside his messy English ones. This is how they learn.
Her English is much better than his Japanese. A lifetime of listening to rock music put her ahead of the curb and she teases him late at night when they’re under the covers, his lips trailing kisses down her neck. She gasps words he doesn’t recognize, but understands all the same and the sound makes his heart feel light and happy.
They take turns cooking meals for each other, but Keiko almost always uses chopsticks. She keeps a stack of them in a drawer between the forks and the spoons. When he asks her why, she says they remind her of home and he smiles to himself.
Every time he opens that drawer now, they remind him of home too.
*
For tellshannon815:
Zoey lets Demetri lean on her as they stumble through the door. His weight feels solid and right against her even though he reeks of peppermint schnapps.
“I can’t take you anywhere,” she teases as she dumps him unceremoniously onto the couch.
Demetri struggles to sit up.
“Wait, I had…I have something for you.”
“Dem, we said we weren’t exchanging gifts until tomorrow.”
“This isn’t a gift,” he says, fumbling through his coat pocket. “This is something else…”
He pulls a small gray box from his pocket with a flourish, nearly dropping it in the process, and Zoey stifles a gasp.
“Is that?”
Demetri nods.
“Marry me, Zoey. Please? Because those schnaps were disgusting and I’d hate to think I drank
them all for nothing.”
“Yes,” she whispers and Demetri lets out a whoop.
“Yes?”
“Absolutely,” Zoey says as Demetri slips the ring onto her shaking hand.
Demetri kisses her, and she tastes the salt from their tears and alcohol and peppermint---
“This is my new favorite Christmas,” she says against his lips.
“Mine too,” he whispers back.
*
For ciaimpala:
Three Car Rides Home After An Expected or Unexpected Proposal (Depending On Who You Ask)
1. Sherlock & John
“I can’t believe you blurted it out like that, Sherlock. That’s just not how things are done.”
Sherlock crosses his arms and stares petulantly out the window.
“It was so obvious. The candlelight, the sweat on his brow, the unseemly bulge in his pocket---he didn’t even bother making it a challenge.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be a game. It was a proposal for God’s sake. And not a proposal to you, might I add.”
“I would hope if someone were to propose to me they would put a bit more effort into it. No one’s going to walk into a setting like that and expect anything other than to leave with a ring on their finger.”
“I suppose you’d prefer a proposal in the morgue? Perhaps over some poor fellow’s corpse?”
Sherlock brightens instantly.
“I’d very much like that, but you’ve spoiled it now. You’ll have to think of something else.”
“I wasn’t…I’m not proposing to you,” John stutters.
“Oh, would you prefer I propose to you? Actually, that makes more sense.”
“No,” John groans in exasperation. “And hang on, why does that make more sense?”
2. Dean/Castiel
“Well that was awkward,” Dean says as he backs the Impala out of the parking lot. “At least the food was good.”
“I enjoyed the tiny hamburgers.”
“They’re called “sliders”, Cas, and I put six of them in my doggy bag.”
Cas opens the Styrofoam plate and smiles.
“Thank you,” he says.
“I didn’t say they were for you,” Dean hisses, but Cas looks faintly wounded and Cas so rarely has expressions, Dean can’t stand when they’re sad ones. “Go ahead.”
“They looked very happy,” Castiel says in between bites.
“I guess so.”
“I’m happy too,” Cas says seriously.
Dean grins at him in the rearview mirror.
“Me too, but if you ever ask me to marry you, I will kick your ass.”
“I understand,” Cas says, popping the last of his burger into his mouth and immediately reaches for another.
Dean groans. He knew he should have taken the whole tray.
3. Jack & Boone
Boone pulls the car over at the first exit and knits his fist in Jack’s shirt, pulling him forward into a rough kiss. After a moment, Jack comes up for air.
“We’re never going to get home at this rate,” he says.
Boone rolls his eyes.
“I don’t care.”
He kisses Jack again and Jack can feel the cool metal of the silver band on Boone’s finger against his cheek and he knows Boone can feel Jack’s against his. A matching set---the thought makes Jack smile.
“I never should have invited Sherlock,” Jack mutters. “Or Dean.”
“They’re our friends,” Boone says. “Okay, they’re idiots, but still.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t invite them to the wedding.”
“We could elope,” Boone says. “Just…not on any islands.”
“I like that plan,” Jack says.
“We need to go home,” Boone sighs and reaches for the key in the ignition.
Jack stops him and pulls the lever on his seat letting it back.
“That takes too long.”
Boone grins wickedly.
“That's what I've been trying to tell you."