milliways_bar | (no subject)

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puck

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A stack of gifts makes its way to beneath the Christmas tree. Behind it is a smallish musician, who looks pleased and relieved when they're all in place.

Charlie has his guitar on a strap over his back, and once the gifts are safely stowed he sits near the fireplace and starts playing Christmas carols.

The best part of the season, after all, is the music. It's his gift to everyone.

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Darien walks up, an awkwardly wrapped pair of boots in his hands. They're rather obviously boots, as the wrapping has ripped at one spot to show the treads, but it's got a bow and he's smiling as he goes to find Charlie, so perhaps that's all right.

Of course it's all right.

Charlie greets Darien with a hug. "Hi."

"Hey, babe."

And the boots are put on the seat next to Charlie as Darien bends at the middle to put both hands on either side of Charlie's face and pull him into a kiss.

"Merry Christmas, right?"

"Very. Happy Christmas and a merry New Year." He grins and lightly licks Darien's lower lip. "You've got goodies. Do you want them now or tomorrow?"

Darien looks innocently at Charlie.

"Is the main bar really the place for my goodies? I mean...if you're feeling all exhibitionist..."

He's kidding.

Charlie makes eyes at him and says, "Well, I think your goodies are appropriate everywhere, but that's just me.

"Under the tree, goon."

"Tree?"

And he realizes there is a tree, now that he's kissed his Charlie, and goes scrounging around under the tree. There's a moment where he looks to the top, to the star on the Christmas tree and something passes behind his eyes...but then he's scrounging, looking around and finally finding a package with his name.

"Aw man, you really shouldn't have."

He plops down on the other side from the boots.

"No, really. I work for the government now and I have zero cash. You shouldn't have."

Charlie wiggles and grins and says, "I wanted to. Whether I should have or not was for me to worry about."

Darien's arm goes around Charlie's shoulders and he gets another kiss to the cheek.

"I tell you I love you today?"

The present is still wrapped in his hands.

"Not in the last ten minutes," Charlie whispers and kisses him firmly back. "Open it, open it. I hope you like it."

He chuckles and nods, opening the wrapping to find a leather satchel.

"Wow...dude, it matches my favorite jacket at home."

He looks to Charlie.

"This is perfect."

Charlie continues bouncing. "There's more. Look inside."

He smiles and looks inside to find...

Charlie gets a kiss again as he sees the lockpicks, pulling them out to get a look at them as he turns from Charlie.

"These? Are nice."

He can work with something as simple as pen parts, but good tools made the theif.

"Thank you, babe."

"I have connections," Charlie says airily. "Connections I didn't even know I had.

"There's one more thing." He bites his lip. "Look in the pocket. And--um--yeah."

He nods, reaching into the pocket to find...

"Hey.......wow."

He stares at it for a moment before handing it to Charlie.

"Want to put it on for me?"

Charlie takes it but says hastily, "It's a friendship ring. Kind of a 'I'm thinking of you' ring. Not . . . um. Just. You know. So. I'm. Um. Not sure what finger I should put it on."

He wiggles his right hand.

"Whichever one it fits on."

He tries the middle finger. "I went shopping with Jack--dunno if you've met him--but you've got similar build, so I borrowed his finger--not in a gross 'cut it off and gave it back' way, of course, though he probably could do that since he's a god and all--"

Hm. It's the return of Babbling Charlie.

The babbling Charlie is shushed up in the best sort of way and as Darien pulls back from the kiss, he wiggles the finger again...this time complete with perfectly fitting ring.

"Looks like you did good."

He points to his present.

"Going to open the gift Captain Obvious wrapped for you?"

"Prezzies!" He pounces and tears off the wrapping paper, and laughs out loud at the boots. "Taking care of me. I love it. Thank you." He leans over and kisses Darien soundly.

He smiles as their lips part before he looks at Charlie, big brown eyes full of contentment.

"You take care of me. I take care of you."

He taps the boot toe.

"Might want to check inside, though."

Charlie gives him a 'what are you planning?' look and reaches inside the boot. "Hm . . ."

There is, in fact, a small necklace in the boot. On the necklace, which is vaguely native american, is a turquois bear carving.

He'd seen it and thought of Charlie and, luckily, had had it on him when he walked back in.

"It's a little weird, but I thought it might bring out your eyes."

"I think it's marvelous." He kisses Darien again and puts it around his neck. "Does it bring out my eyes?"

He chuckles.

"I don't know. From here, that's all I can see."