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Magnus couldn’t help but feel frustrated at himself. He’s promised the kids of the Chase Space to get a good night’s sleep, It was the day before Christmas. He’d never really celebrated it, but seeing everyone so excited and happy made Magnus feel warm. He didn’t want to crush that, so he planned to fall asleep early. Though, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t, and he instead stared down the ceiling like it owed him money.
It was all thanks his worries over the one and only, the girl of his dreams, the person currently asleep atop him and consequently crushing his ribcage, Alex Fierro.
Sure, they had been dating for months now, but even a glance from her made Magnus’s heart soar. Even with what happened that night, the kiss under the mistletoe, he may have still been able to drift off. That is, if not for what Samirah revealed.
They had been chatting in the foyer. She brought up how, even though she did not celebrate the holiday, she still wanted to give something to her sister. Samirah revealed it to him, and it took every fiber of his being not to tell her that it was the exact same present Magnus had opted to give her.
After all, this absolutely wasn’t a huge deal. They’d probably just have a good laugh about it, and Alex would totally not feel insulted that Magnus hadn’t bothered to check if his present was the same as another’s. That was nonsense and absolutely out of character for her to get upset about. Even still, Magnus’s stomach could help but twist at the thought. Stupid stomach.
Maybe some tea would help. Some nice, warm tea that would make Magnus feel less like he was about to implode.
But first was the matter of getting out of bed in the first place. What he resolved to do could only be described as a horizontal shimmy. He’d move a little, wait, move some more, and repeat. Eventually, Magnus had made his way far enough out from under Alex to simply step out. He looked down at her, gods, she looked so serene, and left for the kitchen.
As Magnus tip-toed his way through the halls, he began to hear shuffling and muffled laughter. He figured Blitzen and Hearthstone were still busy putting out presents and opted not to disturb them.
This turned out to be harder than he thought, as the moment he entered the kitchen, they followed suit.
Blitzen was leaning on Hearthstone’s arm, signing about something excitedly. It was so fast that Magnus couldn’t even tell what he was saying, but Hearth seemed to be having no trouble. They were so focused on each other that they didn’t even notice Magnus. When they did, they sped apart so fast that Blitz bumped into the table, nearly knocking decorations on it over.
“Am I interrupting something?” Magnus teased. He normally wasn’t the type to do so, but the way they clung to eachother was so sappy, so painfully cheesy, that he just couldn’t help himself. They stared like deer in the headlights for some time, until the tension broke, and they both began snickering.
“Kid, if you scare me like that again, I’ll put coal in your stocking next year!” Blitzen joked.
‘Well sorry! How was I supposed to know you would ditch present duty!’ Magnus switched to sign so he could chide both of them.
‘We finished,’ Hearthstone replied, ‘I never thought you’d be the one scolding us,’
‘Yeah, what happened to us being your cool street parents?’ Blitzen joined in.
‘Cool is a stretch, Blitz. Do you know where the tea is?’ Magnus said.
Hearthstone proceeded to open one of the lower cabinets, grab a bag of sleepytime tea, and begin brewing it without a word. He could be really helpful when he wanted to be. Blitzen, on the other hand, sat down at the table and gestured for Magnus to join him.
“What happened? Didn’t you say you were going to sleep?” Blitzen asked.
“I tried, but I just couldn’t,” Magnus replied.
“Stressed for tomorrow? If it makes you feel any better, I am too. I’m not sure if all the kids will like my gifts. Clothes aren’t the world’s most coveted present, for some reason”.
“Yeah… they aren’t really. I don’t think that Alex is gonna like my gift either”.
“Well, what is it?”
“A crochet set. It’s of a snake”,
“What are you on about? That’s an awesome gift!”
“Yeah, but Samirah got her the same thing”.
Hearthstone joined them at the table, placing a steaming cup of tea in front of Magnus.
‘What are you guys talking about?” He asked.
‘Magnus doesn’t think Alex will like his gift because it’s the same as Sam’s’.
‘Magnus, did you get it for her because you think she’d like it?’
‘Of course’.
‘That’s all that matters. If anything, she will probably be glad to have two of them’.
Blitzen then joined him.
‘Exactly! Two whole snakes!’
‘But-‘ Magnus retorted.
‘Drink your tea,’ Hearth said.
And so he did. He sipped carefully, trying and failing not to burn his tongue, as he watched Blitz and Hearth sign to each other. He couldn’t help but get excited when Blitzen did, and when he looked at Hearth, he could feel just how smitten he was. Was that how Alex looked at him? He hoped so.
Eventually, he finished and said goodbye. And he left, he got a look at the foyer, covered in all those lights. They reminded him of the stars his mom would show him when messed up hiking trips turned into improvised camping. He felt as he did then, pure awe.
Though, it wasn’t entirely like the stars. It took everyone’s effort, even his friends from floor 19, to put those up. He remembered how proud he was, and felt that tenfold. He had a home now, with such passionate friends who were willing to put so much effort into a holiday tradition not all of them even believed. All for the sake of love.
When he made it back to the room, he was met with eyes of brown and gold. Alex had woken up.
“What’re you up to?” Alex asked. Not in an accusatory way, or even teasing, just pure curiosity.
“I- um,” Magnus felt tempted to just lie, or spit out some half-truth, but even if his nerves were soothed by the tea and his friends, he still wanted answers.
“Would you be… mad at me if I accidentally got you the same gift as someone else?”
Alex sighed and made his way over to him. Somehow, he would just tell Alex was a guy right now. He planted his arms on his shoulders, filling Magnus with dread.
Then, he proceeded to laugh hysterically, falling into Magnus’s chest.
“Jeez Magnus, you had me worried for a second!” She followed, “ I thought you were about to admit you went to go blow up Longfellow Bridge or something!”
“I mean, I sorta did. If you assume Surt showing up was my fault”.
“Like, you squeeze out of bed in the middle of the night, which was hysterical by the way. It took all my energy to not pass out from how goofy it was”.
“You were awake?”
“Well, I won’t be for long,” Alex pushed him to the bed, “and neither will you”.
Alex flopped onto the bed and pulled Magnus with him. Eventually, they found similar spots to when they’d gone to bed earlier, though Magnus felt less like he was being crushed to death. It was just a nice pressure.
Spilling his guts really helped, both when it came to Blitz and Hearth, and Alex. A serene calm washed over him, similar to what he’d seen on Magnus’s face. How Magnus met such amazing people, he didn’t know, but he felt so lucky to have them, even when they tended to mess with him from time to time, and even when he was the mess.
It was beautiful, just like the stars, and just like the lights in the foyer.