Chapter Text
It started as a fun idea. Kris had pitched to Coal letting Loch (or now King Lochlann) paint a new mural in the North Pole City to celebrate the signing of the treaty. Something abstract but with all the winter holidays in the collective -- another way to spread good will and also give Loch a nice side project.
There was also the bonus of having both Kris and Coal show off North Pole City to Loch and Hex without any scheduled events or duties to worry about. They were trying to be as incognito as possible -- sunglasses, hats, and many jackets.
Though the last one was mostly due to how cold it actually was.
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph does it ever get above freezing here,” Loch cursed, trying to warm his hands with his breath.
Kris chuckled, reaching for his boyfriend's hands and rubbing them, “if it did, we’d all have to be more worried about your home being underwater.”
Loch huffed.
“This isn’t so bad,” Hex hummed, “I seem to remember it being colder.”
Coal grinned, “Well yeah, we do our best to try and keep it a bit warmer -- it is Summer.”
“Lies,” Loch scoffed.
“Quit your whining,” Kris said, grinning, “And lay your eyes on your next project.”
Loch looked a bit sad when Kris let go of his hands, but definitely perked up when he saw the huge white wall. He started to grin, looking at the potential before him.
“Kris says you’re pretty good,” Coal spoke from a bit behind him, causing him to whip around, “All I really want to make sure is you get my new look somewhere in there.”
Hex snorted at his side, “new look?”
“My beard, of course,” Coal replied, rubbing his chin, “I have to fulfill being Santa somehow.”
“Oh is that what you were going for,” Kris teased, “I was wondering about your new peach fuzz.”
“Peach fuzz!” Coal gasped, “I’ll have you know this is three day’s growth -- I’ll have a full Santa beard by-by" Coal grinned and turned to Hex, “Halloween.”
Hex playfully looked Coal up and down, “You sure about that?”
Before Loch could try and get a dig in, they all were startled by the sound of camera clicks and people calling their names.
“King Nicholas, King Nicholas, any reason you’re in town today?” one of the paparazzi shouted.
“King Lochlann, how are you enjoying the North Pole?”
“Prince Kirstopher, do you plan to go back to school?”
Coal grumbled some curses under his breath but gave his perfect media smile while grounding out, “Just smile and nod guys, we can slip out the alley to the left.” He started to turn and usher his boyfriend and friends away when one of the press got a little too close with a recorder.
“King Nicholas, do you have any thoughts or words about having a new sibling?”
“I’m sorry?” Coal whipped around. In fact, the full paparazzi pool turned to this single reporter.
“We just got word that the former king, your father, and your mother are expecting their third child,” the man explains, “The former queen just posted it on her public social media account.”
“Ew,” is the first word that accidentally slips out from Coal.
Which promptly gets him a pinch on his arm from his boyfriend who is, not so subtly, looking at Kris.
Coal took a quick glance at Krist and, oh no, he looked faint. Kris turned paler than the snow and gripped Loch’s hand as a life line. Loch quickly had an arm around him, but it was taking all of Coal’s willpower not to laugh and grimace the other man's hand. Coal has arm wrestled his brother and yes, his grip is that strong. Would put a pregnant woman to shame.
Pregnant, his mom, ew, right.
Loch quickly makes eye contact with Coal who, in the moment of clarity, nods towards the alleyway. Getting his brother out of there as soon as possible is the priority now. Dealing with feelings later.
“King Nicholas?” the report asks again, pushing the recorder closer to Coal’s mouth.
Coal clears his throat, “What I meant to say is that I am so happy for my parents. However, I hope that with my parents' age that they understand the risks. I hope our mother is in good health but, going forward, remembers our old family saying -- it’s always important to wrap all gifts up.”
Coal hear’s Hex nearly choke next to him. Some of the reporters seem to chuckle, at least.
“Do you believe this was intended to help your line of succession given the…current trajectory of both you and your brother’s relationships?”
Coal scowls, “I doubt my parents were thinking of us at all during their renewed time together. In fact, I do not believe how or when I -- or my brother -- decide to have children is up for any public discussion. This isn’t a soap opera. If you want that kind of entertainment, I suggest Netflix.”
With that, Coal turned and pulled Hex along. Before he can take a step to the alley, Hex uses his own magic to poof them to Coal’s bedroom.
“Well, that was less than ideal,” Hex breathed out, practically falling onto the bed.
Coal, with less decorum, flung himself on his boyfriend. He laid his head on the other’s lap and groaned. At least Hex started to immediately pet his head.
“So, you want kids?” Hex says after a few moments of silence.
Coal bit his cheek, “Well…yeah. I guess I should have asked that earlier.”
Hex hummed, “Well, I do, so there is that.”
“Oh good,” Coal let out a breath, “but only if they look like you - that way they’ll be beautiful.”
Coal can only smile as Hex turned a pretty red color, “you’re not bad looking either, Sweetheart.”
“I think there are enough Claus’ out there,” Coal grins, “And your brother’s are adorable - it’ll be great.”
Hex shakes his head in amusement, but his smile slowly becomes more soft, “But Coal…are you ok?”
Coal lets out a heavy sigh, “not really,” he says without thinking, “Like…ew, I really do not want to think about them doing the do. But it doesn’t really matter, you know? I just hope our sibling doesn’t become as fucked up as me.”
“Coal, you are not that,” Hex responds, clearly wanting to avoid any backfiring from his own magic, “In fact, I think you would be a perfect role model,” he pauses, “Other than telling the whole paparazzi your family motto is ‘wrapping it up.’”
Coal snorts, “Yeah, I did say that didn’t I?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard that motto myself,” Hex gave a devilish smirk, “Are you holding back some of your traditions?”
“If you wanted to be wrapped like a present, I would not be opposed,” Coal winked, “I even know where to put the bow.”
Before Hex can respond, someone started pounding on the door, “I swear ta God if you do na answer in the next five minutes I am getting your scary coordinator lady to bang this door down!”
Coal rolls his eyes, “Can’t a guy just get five minutes -- stop banging I’m coming!”
Hex can’t help but chuckle at Coal’s dramatic sigh and trudging to the door.
Coal snapped the door open, about to make another snide comment, but immediately stopped, “Jesus, you should have banged on my door earlier - Kris deep breaths.”