Work Text:
"Good evening," Sasaki said, standing in the festively decorated doorway in a bow at the waist as he held out his boxed and wrapped gift with both hands. His festive tie, festooned with tinsel, drooped down alongside the bag hanging from the crook of his arm. "I've brought you a gift, and Christmas cake. I'm sorry it's late."
Toshinori took the cake--crisp yellow with red and blue snowflakes, clearly custom-ordered--graciously and without question. Sure, it was the 26th and no longer appropriate, but he would leave up his decorations until New Year's Eve out of a love of the holiday. Besides, cake was always welcome, no matter the holiday.
"Thank you! Merry Christmas," he said, and held the door open for his date with an exaggerated bow.
His usual outfit of workout sweats for the evening, but the usual color scheme trended towards white and red with a stocking cap of crushed red velvet and white faux-fur trim atop his head. Charmed, Sasaki entered his apartment, putting on a pair of green slippers, and found it quite cozy. There was a roaring fire on the television screen, carols with inaudible lyrics, a blinking, twinkling tree crammed into the tight corner of the main room, and a meal sitting on the table.
"I've never had a Christmas date before."
Toshinori finished hanging his coat and putting away the cake for later consumption and joined him at the table, leaning across the dinner to put a matching stocking cap in green--coincidentally matching the lowlights of his hair--upon his head.
"Now you have."
Sasaki was on the verge of making some crack about the evening, but the honest joy on the other man's handsome face was so acute that he fell into a laugh.
"Thank you. For changing that."
"It is the twenty-sixth," Sasaki replied.
"It is. But that's close enough for me." Toshinori poured them both a glass of wine and served the chicken dinner up between them.. "I haven't had any myself, you know."
"We're both married to our work."
Normally, that may have made Toshinori wince. But, the way in which he said it, with simple acceptance and a kind of kindredship, made him smile instead. They ate in the comfortable silence of the atmosphere of the false firelight and surrounded by the memories of Christmas battles past, present and future.