Christmas Cogs and Snowflake Sprockets

A short story from the world of Firebend

by Leah Ross

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Copyright 2015 Leah Ross

All Rights Reserved.

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Table of Contents

Copyright Page

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part One

“Zander!” Nick stared up at the window to the room that he and his partner shared. He was bundled in his heavy coat, still wearing his pajamas, with the long, wide cuffs of his flannel sleep pants hastily and haphazardly shoved into the tops of his boots. He’d left the house without a hat, and the clouds were low and thick overhead, but he wasn’t feeling the cold winter air at all, his heart thumping wildly with excitement. He wanted to share this with Zander, but he knew that the man was notoriously difficult to rouse from his warm bed, especially in cold weather. So, he’d just have to try harder.

Thrrr... His robotic companion grumbled from inside Nick’s coat pocket. Peep ding buzzbuzz. Apparently, Newt didn’t appreciate the early morning cold either.

“Oh, pipe down,” Nick said, rolling his eyes. “You’re not gonna freeze. You’re made of metal and circuits.” He watched the window for any sign of life and then yelled again, louder. “Zander!”

Chirp peep peep ding buzz thrrt. It sounded uncannily like Newt was being petulant and mocking him. Maybe he was picking up some bad habits from Zander. Nick was going to have to keep an eye on them.

“ZANDER!” He huffed impatiently and stomped his foot. He did not want to go back inside to get him.

Finally, Zander appeared at the window, flinging it wide open and leaning on the frame. “Are you insane?! Why are you outside, in winter, at this ungodly hour?!”

Nick sent a joyful grin up to him as his cheeks warmed in a blush and he beamed at his partner. “Zander! Snow!” He spread his arms wide and turned in a circle, closing his eyes as snowflakes landed on his uplifted face and in his hair.

When he turned back toward the house, he found Zander glaring down at him. “You woke me up at dawn just to show me that you don’t have enough sense to wear proper clothing in a blizzard? Get back inside before you succumb to hypothermia, you crazy idiot!”

Newt took that opportunity to emerge from Nick’s pocket, buzzing about his master’s head and beeping at him in robotic indignation.

“For once, I agree with the little metal head,” Zander said, pointing at Newt. “Come back in the house!”

Nick pouted, huffed a sigh, and shoved his hands deep into his coat pockets. Why couldn’t they see how excited he was? He didn’t care about the cold. Shuffling through the inches of snow back to the house, he ignored Newt as the bot hovered close behind him. When he returned to the bedroom, he felt as resentful as a scolded child. He dumped his boots and coat in a heap on the floor and glared at his partner for daring to douse his enthusiasm.

Zander rolled his eyes, shook his head, and motioned for Nick to come sit on the bed. When Nick reluctantly joined him, he wrapped him up tightly in the comforter.

“I’m fine, Zan,” Nick said with an exasperated sigh.

“You’re wet. And your fingers are practically frozen.” Zander chafed Nick’s icy fingers between his hands. “What did you think you were doing?”

“What did it look like I was doing?”

“Catching your death of cold.”

Nick rolled his eyes. “You worry too much.”

Zander shook his head. “No. It’s you who doesn’t worry enough.”

“I wasn’t catching my death. I was catching snowflakes.”

“It’s snow, Nicky. It’s cold, it’s wet, and it happens every winter.”

“Well, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen it.” Nick gave Zander a petulant glare.

Zander frowned and averted his gaze. “It’s your first winter, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Nick mumbled.

With a sigh, Zander nodded. “I forget sometimes. You’ve been here for almost a year now. You’re...” He sighed again. “I can’t picture my life without you anymore. It’s easy to forget that we come from different worlds. I forget there are things you’ve never seen.”

Nick tried to hide it but couldn’t stop his teeth from chattering as the cold finally caught up with him and seeped into his body. “W-weather and f-fresh air aren’t a thing in... in the domes, Z-zan.”

With a fondly exasperated smile, Zander gathered Nick in his arms. “You’re freezing.” He rubbed his hands up and down Nick’s arms.

“D-d-d-don’t care.” Nick shivered. “There’s snow!”

“Have you really never seen snow before?”

Nick shook his head. “N-never in real life. Only in p-pictures.”

“I suppose that means that you’ve never been sledding, built a snowman, or had a snowball fight before?”

“Issss that a t-t-trick question?”

Zander smiled. “Do you want to go play in the snow with me?”

Nick grinned widely and nodded, his surly mood evaporating in an instant.

“All right, city boy. But after breakfast. And you have to bundle up. And I mean completely. I don’t want you becoming a Nicksicle.”

Nick covered his face with his hands and laughed. His partner’s dry sense of humor was adorable. Looking back up at Zander, he grinned at him in unabashed awe. “Holy sprockets and springs, Zander. Snow!”

Zander chuckled and hugged him. “Trust me. By spring, you’ll be sick of it.”

Nick shook his head, unconvinced. He didn’t think he could ever get tired of something so wonderful. Life in the Fringe was endlessly amazing to him and marvelously unexpected. So different from his former, mundane existence under a city dome. He couldn’t wait to see what else this new life had to offer him. Because he was determined to experience every moment of it to the fullest.

~*~

Wyvern looked up from behind the bar as he noticed Nick and Zander bustling through the door of the Firebend tavern. They plopped themselves down at a vacant table, shedding layers until they were down to their flannels and jeans. Smiling warmly, he walked around the corner to go greet his friends.

“Zan, that was so much fun!” Nick gushed, bouncing in his chair and grinning like an exuberant child. “I’m loving winter!”

Zander’s shoulders twitched as a shiver ran up his spine. Then he squirmed in his chair as a blob of missed slush dripped off the end of his dark brown hair and down the collar of his shirt. He hissed in a breath, arching his back in an attempt to escape the icy intrusion. “Coldcoldcold...”

“And you thought I couldn’t aim a snowball,” Nick teased.

Zander gave him a narrow-eyed smile. “I won’t make that mistake again.”

Wyvern chose that moment to join the conversation, folding his arms over his chest with a chuckle, his mechanical wings twitching behind him. “What the devil have you boys been doing?” Smirking, he pushed the short black hair out of his eyes and regarded Nick and Zander with affectionate amusement. “You look like you could use something warm to drink.”

“Like you wouldn’t believe! We’ll take anything you’ve got!” Zander scrubbed his hand back and forth through his hair, trying to get it to stop dripping down his neck.

Nick sniffled loudly and Wyvern stepped close to him, cupping his hands around his friend’s cold-reddened cheeks. “Oh, honey. You’re chilled straight through!” He nuzzled his nose against Nick’s, the cold of his skin sending a shudder through Wyvern’s body. “Even your nose is icy. Zander, didn’t you make him wear warm things?”

Zander eyed the twin piles of cold weather gear making damp spots on the floor. “Um, yes.”

Nick closed his eyes, smiled, and gave a soft hum of contentment. “You’re warm.” He buried that cold nose in the hollow of Wyvern’s neck.

“Hey,” Zander protested. “If you want a cuddle, I’m right here.”

Nick looked him up and down, seeing the same things in Zander’s appearance that Wyvern did—wet clothes, damp hair, and wind-chapped skin. “You are not warm and cuddly right now.” He wrapped his arms around Wyvern’s waist and gave him a hug instead. “Wyvern is.”

Wyvern smiled down at Nick and combed his fingers through his wet hair. “Stay put until you’re dry and warm again, all right?”

Nick snuggled his cheek into Wyvern’s stomach and sighed happily. “All right.”

“Wyvern.” There was a note of warning in Zander’s tone.

With a nod of confirmation to Zander, Wyvern patted Nick’s shoulder and pulled away from him, chuckling. “I meant stay here at the table, inside the warm tavern, of course.”

Nick pouted for a second and then brightened suddenly. “Wyvern!” He reached out and grasped his friend’s hand. “Snow! It’s wonderful!”

With a quirked brow, Wyvern turned to Zander in question.

Zander shrugged. “Nicky’s first snow.”

“It’s amazing!” Nick gushed. “You can build with it, draw in it, ride on it, throw it at each other... We went sledding! Wyvern!” He shook Wyvern’s hand excitedly. “We made a snowman! You should come! It’s so much fun! We can—” Nick frowned as he noticed Zander making frantic quelling motions at him. “What?”

Wyvern gently pulled his hand from Nick’s grip and stepped back from the table, his amusement fading away abruptly. “Thanks for the invitation, sweetie. But no, thanks. I’ll go get your drinks.” He heard the genuine confusion in Nick’s voice as he walked toward the bar, and it made him sigh.

“What did I do wrong?”

Zander sighed too and that was the last Wyvern heard of their conversation before he was out of earshot.

The truth was that Wyvern hated everything about winter. It wasn’t worth trying to explain it to anyone, though, because they couldn’t even hope to understand his reasons. So, it was easier to just decline the invitations of others and keep the truth to himself. This was an enjoyable time of year for a lot of people, and the last thing Wyvern wanted was to taint it with his pervasive negativity. Of the people he knew and cared about, Nick deserved that injustice least of all. Nick was the radiant sunshine in the dark void of Wyvern’s life. There wasn’t a power in the world that could persuade him to snuff out that light.

“Everything all right, Wyvern?” Silas Corbyn, the middle-aged tavern manager, rested his hand on Wyvern’s shoulder, looking at him with concern.

“Yeah.” Wyvern nodded curtly and flashed a smile. “Just need to get something warm over to Nick and Zander before they freeze to death. I’d hate to make you have to fill out paperwork for the coroner.”

Silas chuckled. “How very considerate of you, son.”

Wyvern’s wings clicked together as he shrugged. “Not to mention that Al would rip my wings right off if anything happened to her ranch foreman and chief mechanic on my watch.”

The manager shuddered visibly. “That woman is frightening when she wants to be.”

“Don’t I know it.”

Silas paused and tilted his head. “You sure you’re fine?”

Wyvern pasted a patronizing smile on his face and nodded emphatically. “Never better, sir.” He picked up two steaming mugs from the counter and jerked his head in the direction of his friends’ table. “Better get back to it, then.”

“All right,” Silas said. “But let me know if you need help with anything.”

Wyvern nodded again. “Will do, boss.” His smile slipped as he left the bar and navigated his way across the tavern. He wished they’d all just let it go. He could take care of himself. He’d been doing it for years. Heaving a sigh, he put his professional mask back on and ignored the gnawing ache in his heart. He didn’t have time for regret. He had work to do.

~*~

Nick walked up to the tavern’s private entrance door and knocked. It was well past dawn a few days after Nick and Zander’s snowy escapades and the tavern wasn’t yet open for the day. Someone peeked through the curtains drawn over the small window in the door and then Nick heard the lock click open.

Nick smiled. “Hey, Silas.”

Silas gave Nick a friendly smile and held the door open for him. “Hiya, Nick. What can I do for you?”

“I was wondering if Wyvern was in and if I could see him?”

“Well, he does live here, and I haven’t seen him about this morning, so I imagine that he’s up in his rooms.” Silas ushered Nick through his office and out into the empty dining room. “You know, I’ve been wanting to get a private entrance built for Wyvern, but every time I bring it up to him, he shoots down the suggestion. I think he likes the seclusion, actually. It is a bit awkward for his guests, though.” Silas stopped at the bottom of the staircase. “Go on, then.”

“Thanks.” Nick went up the stairs, past several nicely furnished rooms, and down to the end of the long hallway. He wondered why his friend wouldn’t want his own entrance but knew he must have his reasons. Maybe he just wanted his privacy, like Silas said. Wyvern’s door was closed, as it usually was, but Nick could see light filtering through the crack beneath it, so he knocked.

The soft clank of a chain lock opening sounded on the other side of the door, followed by the rasp of the sticky deadbolt. As soon as Wyvern saw who was visiting him, he swept the door wide and grinned in welcome. “Nick! What a fantastic way to start my day! Please, come in!”

Nick went inside and began removing his warm things. Wyvern’s suite was quite warm and cozy, and Nick was beginning to sweat beneath his multiple layers.

“On a chair is fine,” Wyvern said in answer to Nick’s silent question of where to put his winter gear. Once Nick had put his stuff down, he slid Newt out from his pocket and set the bot on the table to stretch. Wyvern smiled. “Good to see you too, Newtling.”

Newt gave Wyvern a happy purring sound.

“Coffee?” Wyvern asked, going over to his tiny kitchenette where a steaming pot of freshly brewed coffee was waiting.

Nick nodded. “Yes, please.”

“How do you take it?”

“White, with enough sugar to give me cavities.”

Wyvern laughed. “Light and sweet. Exactly how I like it too.” He stirred up two mugs and brought them over to the sofa in the sitting area.

Nick settled into the plush cushions, accepted his coffee from Wyvern, and took a long sip of the hot liquid, smiling and closing his eyes as it warmed him all the way down to his stomach. “Mmm... Good stuff.”

“Only the best, of course.” Wyvern situated himself next to Nick, their sides pressed together.

Nick smiled down into his coffee. Wyvern was an incorrigible flirt, and he’d always been overtly affectionate with Nick. It irritated Zander when Wyvern was exceptionally demonstrative in his presence, but all three of them knew that it was harmless. Wyvern was a friend, and nothing more. Nick still tried to keep it all low-key, though. He didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

Wyvern, however, never missed an opportunity to take advantage of Nick’s attention. He brushed a light, careless caress over Nick’s knee. “Did you come for breakfast? I have some delectable little pastries from the bakery that we could share.”

“I already ate, but thanks. I actually just came to talk.”

Snatching up Nick’s unoccupied hand, Wyvern lifted Nick’s knuckles to his mouth, smiled against them, and then brushed his lips over them. “Then talk, handsome. I’ve got time.”

“I’ve been thinking about what happened here the other day.”

Wyvern frowned and dropped Nick’s hand. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do. And I apologize for making you uncomfortable.”

“What did Zander tell you?”

“Only that you hate winter and you never talk about yourself.” Nick looked into Wyvern’s pained gaze. He turned to face his friend, stroking his thumb over Wyvern’s smooth cheek. “I just want you to know that you can talk to me. About anything. And if there’s anything that you want to know about me, all you have to do is ask.”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Wyvern said stubbornly.

“Wyvern...”

Wyvern scowled at the floor. “I don’t...” He huffed a frustrated sigh. “I don’t want to burden anyone with my issues. I just want to be the carefree, flirty social butterfly that everyone thinks I am. Just leave it, Nick, please.”

“I can’t. You looked so sad.” Nick sifted his fingers through Wyvern’s soft, dark hair, turning Wyvern’s face to look at him. “I don’t want my friends to be sad. Why do you hate winter?”

Wyvern shook his head and averted his gaze. “I don’t like the cold. It’s hard to fly in the cold. It’s wet and dark and...” He sighed.

“Christmas is in winter.”

“I don’t do Christmas.”

Nick tilted his head. “At all? But... The gifts, the lights, the decorations... It’s all so magical. How can—?”

“I don’t do Christmas!” Wyvern jammed his hands into his lap and curled his shoulders in a protective hunch, moving away from Nick. His eyes shimmered and he pressed his lips together.

Though Wyvern was doing his best to keep Nick at a distance for once, Nick moved closer on the sofa, resting his hand on Wyvern’s tense arm. “Talk to me. Please.”

Wyvern drew a shaky breath and looked at Nick with fear in his eyes. “You don’t want to hear it.”

“I do,” Nick said. “Whatever it is, I want to help.”

“No.” Wyvern shook his head. “No, I can’t. You’re my sweet Nick. I can’t... The memories are bad enough for me. I can’t inflict them upon you too.”

“Wyvern...” Nick leaned in and brushed a soft, chaste kiss across Wyvern’s cheek. “You think I can’t handle a sad story?”

“You’re always so optimistic, so positive,” Wyvern said. “I can’t... break you.”

Nick smiled. “You won’t break me. I promise. I’m so positive because of my own sad story. Trust me. I know what it’s like having bad memories that you can’t escape.” Wyvern gave him a questioning look. Nick placed his palm over the metal plate in his chest. “I grew up an orphan, Wyvern. My parents couldn’t support the medical needs of the weak heart that I was born with, so they turned me over to the state. I suffered through every experimental treatment and device that you can possibly imagine for my entire childhood. I never got a heart transplant and had to try a prototype mechanical heart as my only option. When the cardiologist who invented it died, I was turned out for the second time in my life, left to fend for myself. I’ve been through the unthinkable. And I’m still here.”

A tear slid down Wyvern’s cheek. “You’re stronger than I am.”

“No, Wyvern...”

“You are! You took all that negative influence on your life and used it to boost you above the hate. I just want to hate it and forget.”

“What happened?” Nick asked gently.

Wyvern squeezed his eyes closed, his brow furrowing deeply. “I meant it when I said that there aren’t any holidays worth celebrating for me. Christmas is the only major holiday that we have left from before the Blast, and I refuse to acknowledge it. And all of winter too.”

Nick wrapped his arms around Wyvern’s waist and nuzzled into the hollow of Wyvern’s neck. “Why?” His voice was a soft, warm whisper across Wyvern’s skin.

“I was taken in winter. Abducted from my home, from my bed. It was snowing that night. I was so cold. I was scared and I missed my parents. The last Christmas gift I ever got was these.” He jabbed a finger at his wings. “I spent the rest of that winter in pain, tortured by the madman who did everything he could think to do to me in his experiments to understand the effect of mechanical wings grafted onto a human being.” Wyvern’s breath shuddered as he cried. “I don’t do winter. I don’t do Christmas. If I could hibernate and just skip the whole season, I would.”

Nick sniffled and cuffed at his wet eyes. “Wyvern, I’m so sorry.”

“I’m sorry for you too.”

“I still want to help.”

“There’s nothing you can do, but you’re sweet for wanting to do something.”

“I think I can do something, though.” Nick sat up and smiled at Wyvern. “Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. And I just discovered that I love winter too. Please let me at least share the season with you.”

Wyvern frowned at him. “You won’t change my mind.”

“Perhaps not.” Nick grinned. “But it’ll be fun to try. Please?”

“I don’t know...”

“You could help me too. I need to come up with a great gift for Zander.”

“The man is impossible to shop for.”

“Please, Wyvern?”

“Will I have to deal with the wrath of Zander Pennington for spending time with you?”

“No. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Fine. But I’m making you no promises.”

Nick hugged him hard. “You won’t regret it!”

“I never regret spending time with you.”

“Good, because you’ll be getting a lot of it.” Nick went to the table, scooped Newt into his pocket again, and began bundling himself back up to head out into the cold. “I’ll be back after closing tonight. Wear something warm. All right?”

Wyvern regarded Nick warily. “All right.”

Nick shot a radiant grin at Wyvern before he opened the door. “This’ll be great. I promise!”

A pained frown crossed Wyvern’s handsome face. “Nick...”

“No way,” Nick said, shaking his head. “No negativity. The first thing I need you to do is trust me.”

“I do...”

“Then be ready at closing. I’ll be waiting for you.” Nick held Wyvern’s gaze and beamed at him until he closed the door between them. Then he ran down the stairs and out onto the street, racing for the ranch. He only had the day to get something accomplished. He hoped it was enough time to make it worth waiting for.

Part Two

The tavern closed at two o’clock in the morning and Nick was there outside the main door, as promised, leaning against the wall with his hands buried deep in his coat pockets and a thick hat pulled low over his brow. Wyvern admired his friend’s determination and wasn’t at all surprised that Nick was punctual in addition to being a man of his word.

Buttoning up his thick wool coat, Wyvern joined Nick out on the front porch. He pulled his wings in as tightly to his body as he could manage, but the frigid air still made him shiver as it quickly seeped into the metal rods and joints and transferred to his body via the connections to his nerves. He’d tried everything he could think to keep his wings warm in the winter, but all the coverings he’d tested, while warm enough, looked utterly ridiculous. So, he mostly just stayed inside and avoided the cold altogether. It was just easier and more comfortable that way. But Nick had asked him for his company and Wyvern would do anything for that man.

Another shiver assaulted Wyvern and his wings twitched. Nick noticed the movement and smiled, holding out a wrapped parcel to Wyvern. “I thought that you might be cold, so I brought you something.”

Wyvern cocked his head in interest. “What is it?”

“A gift.”

“Nick...”

“Just open it.”

Opening it, though, made Wyvern’s curiosity devolve into outright confusion. “What am I looking at?” The contraption wasn’t very large, but it was several inches long, skinny, and cylindrical. There were two hinged arms folded along the sides, some small clamps and dials, and a removable cap at the top that was emitting a tiny wisp of steam. It was warm in his hands but not hot to the touch. It was quite pleasant, actually, and Wyvern found himself resisting the urge to hug it against his body.

“It’s a warming device for your wings,” Nick said.

Wyvern’s eyes widened. “What?” He stared down at the device with new appreciation. “Did you make this?”

Nick nodded. “I couldn’t get it out of my head when you said that the cold made it hard for you to fly. I figured it might have something to do with the metal rods cooling to the ambient air temperature. With the way your wings are tapped directly into your nerve endings, the cold traveling through all that metal must make you wicked uncomfortable. Like ice poured right into your core. No wonder you hate the cold. So, I made this for you to keep you warm.”

“That’s... remarkable, Nick.”

Nick gave him a sheepish smile. “I must admit, though, that I had an ulterior motive in building this device. I was hoping that if I could find a way to help keep you warm, you’d be more inclined to come outside with me.”

Wyvern smiled. “How does it work?”

Nick pointed at the cap. “It’s basically an insulated capsule that holds hot water. It vents the excess steam here, but it won’t drip, so you don’t have to worry about getting burned and the little bit of vapor it emits will help warm the space around it, which means the inside of your coat will be nice and toasty. The arms unfold to attach to the rods that connect to your body. It’ll slide right between your wings and clamp onto the joint bearings to stay in place. The dials allow you to control the amount of heat. I apologize for the hassle, but you’ll either need to set it before you put it on or have someone adjust it once it’s in place. I didn’t want to include a remote control that would only be more hindrance than help. The amount of heat you’re using will determine how long it lasts, but at a moderate setting, it should last you a few hours at least. You only need to refill it with more hot water as needed. I thought about including more arms for your other rods, but that would only have gotten in your way. It’s most important to warm the ones directly connected to your body anyway. The temperature of the others shouldn’t affect you at all. I tried to make it easy enough to put on by yourself, but you’ll want a mirror and a little practice. I’ll help you put it on for now.” A frown crossed Nick’s face as Wyvern just stood there and blinked at him in shocked astonishment. “What?”

“I’m so impressed that I’m speechless. I can’t believe that you made this! Wait...” Wyvern gave Nick a hard stare. “I didn’t tell you about how the cold affects me until you came to see me earlier.”

“Yeah?”

“That was this morning!”

“Well, technically, that was yesterday morning.”

“You built this thing in one day?!”

“Yes?”

Wyvern shook his head. “You’re too darn smart for me.”

Nick rolled his eyes. “That’s what Zander always says too. Come on. Turn around.” He took the device out of Wyvern’s hands.

Turning his back, Wyvern looked over his shoulder, but he couldn’t see what Nick was doing. Nick unbuttoned and lifted the back flap of Wyvern’s coat and then opened his shirt too. He felt the cables shift a bit across his back as Nick slid the cylinder into place. Then he heard two soft clicks as the contraption clamped onto the large bearings on either side of his spine. Warmth bloomed from the center of his back, making gooseflesh erupt down his arms. Then Nick unfolded the device’s two arms, seated them over the interior rods of Wyvern’s wings, and then put his clothing back to rights, tucking the warmer away. Wyvern gasped.

Nick looked at him, his brown eyes full of concern. “Is it too warm? Do you want me to adjust the temperature?”

Wyvern shook his head. “No. No, it’s good. Oh, Nick... It’s... fantastic! I don’t even feel the cold!” He turned back around to face Nick. Without a word of warning, he stepped into Nick’s space, cupped his cheeks, and drew his friend into a kiss. He stepped back after a moment, leaving his hands wrapped around the back of Nick’s neck, his eyes wide with wonder. “How—? I don’t... How do I thank you?”

Nick smiled and shrugged, his already pink cheeks reddening even further in a blush. “Come for a walk with me?”

“Yes.” Wyvern nodded. “Yes, anything.”

Taking Wyvern’s hand in his own, Nick led him out into the cold, early morning darkness. It was snowing lightly, the air was still, and their footsteps crunched over the ice beneath their boots. Their fingers still tightly twined together, Nick shoved both of their hands into the deep pockets of his coat. He stroked his thumb over Wyvern’s and gave his friend a fond smile. “Thank you for coming out with me,” he said in a soft voice.

“Thank you for making sure I did. This is nice.”

Nick’s smile widened and he tipped his face up, letting the light snow fall on his skin. Wyvern stared, transfixed by the simple beauty of the moment. Sure, Nick was beautiful all on his own. Caught in a perfect tableau of unadulterated joy, though, he was absolutely stunning. Wyvern’s breath stuck in his throat and he bit his lip to stifle a gasp.

Nick’s cheeks were flushed and glowing from the cold. Snowflakes caught on his long eyelashes and glittered there, far enough away from the warmth of his skin to remain in their crystalline state. And his smile was pure happiness, warm and infectious, childlike in its wonder. Wyvern’s heart pounded. He knew that Nick was Zander’s partner, but, in that moment, Wyvern wanted nothing more than to pull Nick against him and kiss him out in the snow until the sun rose.

Nick opened his eyes again and grinned at Wyvern, breaking the spell. Suddenly releasing Wyvern’s hand, he shrugged, looking self-conscious for so openly displaying his joy. “Sorry,” he said. “The snow makes me happy.”

“Don’t be sorry.” Wyvern brushed off the snowflakes that had accumulated on Nick’s shoulders. “Happiness is gorgeous on you.”

Nick ducked his head and smiled. Then he held up his arm. “Aren’t they so pretty?” He stared at the individual ice crystals arrayed over the dark wool of his coat sleeve. “Each one unique. Symmetrical and perfect. They fit together so naturally.”

Wyvern stepped in close to him and smiled, looking down at Nick’s arm. “They look like tiny little gears when they fit together like that.”

Nick beamed at him. “You’re right. They do. They’re little snowflake sprockets.”

Wyvern laughed. “I like that. Christmas cogs and snowflake sprockets. They sound like the perfect holiday decorations for a genius inventor.”

Blushing beautifully, Nick smiled. After another lingering moment, he said, “Let’s head back. You must be tired.”

“And you. It’s late.”

Nick shrugged. “It was worth the lost sleep.”

They arrived back at the tavern’s front porch and Wyvern smiled at Nick with undiluted joy. “Thank you so much for the gift. It’ll come in very handy.”

“Let me know if you have any problems with it.” Nick hesitated and then stepped into Wyvern’s space. “Thank you for taking a walk with me.” He bent his head and kissed Wyvern’s cheek.

Wyvern turned and caught Nick’s mouth with his lips, kissing him tenderly. “Thank you for inviting me.”

“Good night, Wyvern,” Nick whispered against Wyvern’s mouth.

“Good night, Nick.”

Wyvern watched with a smile curling his lips as Nick hunched against the cold and walked down the street toward the ranch. Then he turned and went inside, locking the door behind him and standing there for a minute with an infatuated smile on his face. Nick had done it. He’d discovered a way to keep Wyvern from completely loathing winter. And Wyvern had actually had a good time out in the cold. He’d never enjoyed the snow so much in his life. Maybe Nick really could change his mind after all.

~*~

“You’re working awfully hard on something here,” Zander said, walking into Nick’s workshop. He came up behind Nick’s stool, where he sat bent over his project at the workbench. Sliding his palms over Nick’s shoulders, Zander rubbed his muscles gently and peered over at his work. With a smile, he leaned in to kiss Nick’s neck. “Must not be for me, or you’d surely be hiding it.”

Nick turned his head, giving his partner a warm smile. “Hi.” He captured Zander’s lips in a kiss.

Zander nodded his head in the direction of Nick’s project. “What is it?”

“Christmas cogs.” Nick grinned.

“What?”

Nick laughed at Zander’s confusion. “It’s a Christmas tree made out of gears and parts.”

Zander’s frown deepened. “Um, why? We already have Christmas decorations.”

“It’s for Wyvern. Something he said inspired me.”

“Nicky...”

“I know what you’re going to say, Zan. I promise that we’re only friends.”

Zander shook his head. “It’s not that. I just don’t want you getting too involved in this and having your feelings hurt. I know that your intentions are good, but sometimes people don’t want to change.”

“Zan, I’m not forcing Wyvern into anything. I just want to share Christmas with him.”

Zander grasped Nick’s shoulders and turned him around on his stool so they were facing each other. “You’re so sweet. And such an idealist. I love that about you. But life is hard out here, Nicky. Please don’t be too disappointed if...” He trailed off with a look of anguish in his hazel eyes.

“You think I’m wasting my time.” Nick frowned.

“I think that you’re going to a lot of trouble for something that may not turn out the way you want it to.”

Nick sighed. “He’s my friend, Zan. I have no agenda other than wanting to share my favorite holiday with him. That’s all. If I manage to change something, that’s great. Otherwise, I only hope to make him smile. I just don’t want to see that lonely, sad look on his face again. No one should be lonely on Christmas.”

Zander cupped his partner’s cheek, stroked his thumb over it, and gave Nick a fond smile. “You’re right. And I agree with you. This is such a selfless, generous thing you’re doing. Wyvern deserves some happiness.”

Nick gave him a small, guilty smile. “I hope that you don’t think that I’m neglecting you. I haven’t figured out what I’m giving you for Christmas yet.”

“I’m sure that it’ll be perfect,” Zander said with a soft chuckle, leaning in to kiss Nick. “I can’t wait to spend my first Christmas with you.”

Nick groaned. “Now I need to come up with something really good.”

“No.” Zander wrapped his arms around Nick’s waist and held him close. “All I want is to spend the holiday with you, Nicky. I don’t need anything else.” His gaze went to the project on the workbench. “I’ll let you get back to work. It looks great. I’m sure he’ll love it.”

“Thanks, Zan.” Nick smiled.

Zander kissed him again, then turned and left the room. The corner of Nick’s lips curled up as he thought over what Zander had said. With a sigh of contentment, confident in the support of his partner, Nick turned back to his work. Wyvern was going to love this.

~*~

Trudging up the stairs, Wyvern heaved a sigh and stifled a yawn as he unlocked the door to his suite. The patrons had been especially demanding that evening and he was exhausted. He’d even risked the displeasure of one of his regular customers and canceled their scheduled meeting. He wasn’t in the right frame of mind to give anyone what they wanted at the moment. The customer’s disappointment at the cancelation was far better than what would happen if Wyvern went off in a fit of temper.

He sighed again as he locked the deadbolt once more and slipped the security chain into its slot for the night. Then he just stood there with the door closed for a minute, feeling sorry for himself. He hadn’t seen Nick in a few days, and Wyvern realized right then just how much he relied upon his friend’s regular infusions of positivity in his life. He certainly could have used a little bit of Nick’s optimism to convince him that he wasn’t really wasting his life catering to pushy alcoholics and keeping happiness well outside of his arm’s reach. Discarding his vest and tie on the table by the door, he turned around to begin his bedtime routine, wanting nothing more than to hide in bed, under the covers.

The sight that greeted him, though, made him cover his gaping mouth and blink in wide-eyed surprise. All around the room, suspended from random lengths of fishing line, were dozens of small gears, all polished to a glossy shine. They hung from the ceiling, the light fixtures, the bed frame, everywhere it was possible to hang them. He reached up and touched one with the tip of his finger, setting it to spinning, glittering in the low, warm light.

That was the next thing that he noticed. The room that had been dark the last time he left it was now lit by candles. Tiny flames flickered and danced with every errant air current through the room, making his shadow waver and sway over the walls. The candlelight also caught the gears, casting them in constantly shifting patterns that swept over everything in the room.

Wyvern blinked furiously against the gathering tears blurring his vision. It was beautiful, unique, and so overwhelmingly special that he almost couldn’t believe that it was for him. Then he saw something on the table in front of him. He gasped and went to one of the chairs, dropping heavily into it, his gaze fixed on what had been so carefully arranged in the very center of the table.

It was a Christmas tree. But it was unlike any tree that Wyvern had ever seen before. It was constructed out of progressively smaller gears that made the familiar tree shape and was decorated with all manner of interesting bits and findings. All the tiny pieces shimmered in the light from the candles. He stared, unable to tear his gaze away from the intricate complexity of the piece, marveling at how such mundane parts could come together with the right amount of creativity to become something so stunning. Biting his lip, Wyvern touched a tiny sprocket dangling from the delicate coil of a fine-gauge spring. The little tree was unbelievably beautiful.

There was also a box on the table, adorned with a large red bow. He opened it and lifted the lid. A soft, breathy laugh escaped his lips as he saw the box packed full of the little bite-sized cranberry tarts that were his absolute favorite from the bakery. He almost never got to have them because they were only available for a very short time each year and they could only be acquired right when the bakery opened in the morning. Wyvern was seldom up that early, since he didn’t even get off work until the small hours of the morning. He carefully tucked the box lid back into place.

The last thing that had been left for him was an envelope. Wyvern recognized Nick’s handwriting on the outside. Lifting the envelope in one hand, he traced the letters of his own name with his fingertips. He turned the envelope over and opened it.

Dear Wyvern,

I’m very sorry that you had a rough night at work. I hope that this surprise helps a little bit. Sleep well, and please come see me at the ranch when you’re ready.

Nick

Wyvern frowned. How did Nick know? How could he possibly know how badly Wyvern needed his spirits lifted that evening? It had to be a coincidence. But Nick mentioned Wyvern’s bad night right in his note. Wyvern set the paper aside, overwhelmed by the intensity of his affection for that wonderful, thoughtful man. It really wasn’t fair that Nick belonged to someone else when Wyvern found himself falling harder for him by the day. He hated the cruel ironies that life kept throwing at him.

He got up from the table, shed his food- and drink-spattered clothes, and dumped them into his hamper. Then he pulled on a pair of sleep pants. He stopped then, standing in the middle of his bedroom and just appreciating his friend’s kind generosity. After a few minutes, his heart nearly bursting with love and his cheeks hurting from smiling so hard, he went around the room and blew out all the candles, leaving only one on his bedside table lit.

Crawling under his covers, he sat up in his bed for another minute, gazing over the glittering flashes of metal as the hanging gears caught the light of the remaining candle flame. They looked like fireflies flitting about his room. He grinned and leaned over to extinguish the last candle. He didn’t know if he could wait until after breakfast to go and thank Nick. For that matter, he didn’t know if he’d be able to sleep at all.

~*~

Zander was at his desk in the small room that he sometimes used as his office when Wyvern arrived at the main house at the ranch. His friend was hunched over a notebook, a frown creasing his brow. Wyvern entered the room, closed the door, and waited patiently for Zander to acknowledge him, taking a seat in a spare chair.

Finally, Zander heaved a sigh, snapped the book closed, and stretched his arms up over his head. He rolled his neck and rubbed at his shoulder.

“That doesn’t look like much fun,” Wyvern said, pointing at Zander’s book.

“End-of-year bookkeeping is never fun.” Zander shoved his work aside. “Hi, Wyvern. Why are you in here? I know that you didn’t come to see me.”

“I wanted to come talk to you first.”

“Wyvern, if there’s a problem, then you really should take it up with Nick. He’s a big boy. He can handle it.”

Wyvern shook his head. “No. There’s no problem.” He hesitated, considering Zander carefully. “So, you know what Nick’s been doing?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re all right with it?”

Zander smiled. “As if I could do anything to stop him. Nick’s surprisingly stubborn when an idea gets stuck in his brain.”

Wyvern’s face fell. “You don’t want him doing this?”

“I never said that,” Zander said with a shake of his head. “Frankly, I think that Nick’s ‘project’ is nothing but good for you. But I also understand the history of your dislike with this whole season. Nick doesn’t.”

“Yes, he does.” Wyvern hung his head with guilt.

Zander cocked his head. “You told him?” Wyvern nodded and Zander frowned. “You haven’t even told me anything but the high-level summary.” He crossed his arms and slumped back in his chair, still frowning at Wyvern.

“I’m sorry, Zan. It’s so much easier for me to share with Nick...”

Eyes narrowing, Zander glared at his friend. “I’m going to try not to take that as an insult. But I get it. I do. That’s just the way he is.”

“Zander, why is he doing this? Really? Why is he going to all this trouble for me?”

Zander reached across the desk and grasped Wyvern’s hand. “You’re his friend. He wants you to be happy.”

“Why?”

“Nicky has this thing about happiness. He likes to spread it around. I think he has too much of it inside him and it’s constantly trying to burst out. That’s why he always needs to share it with others.”

Wyvern grinned. “That’s such an accurate description. I’d be hard-pressed to come up with something better.” His smile faded into an anguished expression. “Zander, I’m worried. I already liked him a lot before all this Christmas stuff. Now...”

Zander gave him a knowing smile and squeezed Wyvern’s hand. “It’s difficult, isn’t it?”

“What is?”

“Trying not to love Nick.”

Wyvern gave Zander a confused look. “Why are you trying not to love him?”

Zander smiled sadly and looked down at the desk. “Well, we both know all too well that it’s not working for me anyway, but... He’s much too good for me.”

“Zander...”

“And he just keeps proving it again and again. Here I am, trying to warn him away from doing these things for you because I want to spare his feelings—and yours—and he insists upon doing them anyway simply because he wants to do nice things for you and make you happy.” Zander laughed mirthlessly. “What’s he doing with me?”

“Zander, I happen to know for a fact that you’re a good man.”

“I’m a pessimistic cynic.”

“So what? Zan, there’s something that you need to know. Every time that I mention my past relationship with you, Nick gets jealous. And, I assure you, he’s not jealous of you. He’s jealous of me for having been intimate with you. Nick is most definitely yours, Zan.”

Zander smiled. “Thanks.”

“You must hate me.” Wyvern stared down into his lap.

“Why?”

“I can’t help what I feel for him.”

“Wyvern, I’m coming to understand that it’s a natural reaction to the force of nature that is Nick Massey. I trust him to do what’s right.”

Wyvern gave Zander a wounded scowl.

Zander smiled at him and rolled his eyes. “Of course, I trust you too, idiot.” He pulled his notebook back in front of him and tossed his head in the direction of the door. “Now go on. Nicky’s waiting for you.”

Wyvern got up and went to the door but stopped with his hand on the knob. “Zan.”

Zander looked up, his eyebrows raised.

“Thank you.”

Zander smiled, nodded, and waved Wyvern out the door.

Climbing the stairs, Wyvern opened the door into Nick’s workshop, smiling as Newt trilled a happy greeting upon seeing him. Nick started at the noise and shielded what he was working on with his body. “Zander! I told you to give me some time to work! That’s why the door’s closed! How am I supposed to get your gift done if you don’t leave me alone?”

Wyvern chuckled. “Not Zander, sweetie. You’re safe.”

Nick relaxed and turned around on his stool, still blocking the view of his workbench but no longer tensed and agitated. He gave Wyvern a wide smile. “Hi!”

Wyvern smiled back but stayed just inside the closed door, his cheeks warming. “You... I don’t even know what to say...”

“Tell me that you liked it,” Nick said. Then he shrugged, a blush climbing up from his neck. “Or not. It was kind of elaborate.” His expression turned to one of nervous apprehension. “Oh. Oh no. It was too much, wasn’t it? I’m sorry. Sometimes I don’t know when to stop myself. I’ll come clean it up. I’m sorry.”

Wyvern gave him a fond, lopsided smile. “Will you please shut up long enough for me to tell you that I loved it?”

Nick’s eyes lit up with hope. “You did?”

“I did. I do. Nick, honey, that was so amazing. Thank you. How did you know about my bad day?”

“I didn’t until I showed up to leave the box of treats for you. Silas told me. Plus, it just looked like you were having one of those days.”

“I didn’t even see you come in. I’m usually much more perceptive.”

“You were busy.” Nick grinned roguishly. “And I’m just sneaky like that.”

Wyvern laughed and sat down on the side of the bed that was wedged into the corner of the room.

Nick joined him, leaning back against the pillows and the headboard. “I do have chairs, you know.”

“It’s more comfortable here.” Wyvern stared into Nick’s smiling eyes for a minute. “All right, troublemaker. You went to all that effort. Now tell me how. Let’s start with: how on earth did you know that those cranberry tarts are my favorite?”

“I asked Stella at the bakery. I already knew that you like sweets, so I asked her what you like most. I had to go back the next morning—yesterday—at opening to get them. I bought the entire day’s supply.” Nick smiled sheepishly. “So, if you hear grumbling over the lack of cranberry tarts yesterday, that was my fault.”

“You bought them all?!”

Nick bit his lip and nodded. “I arrived at the tavern during your shift, intending to just have Silas leave the box of tarts in your room, but when I became aware of your lousy time at work last night, I came back here for the rest of it. It looked like you could use the surprise.”

“So Silas let you in? I keep my door locked, even when I’m there.”

“Sorry, yeah. I had Silas break me in. I hope you’re not mad at me.”

Wyvern moved forward until their knees were touching and stroked his fingers through Nick’s hair. “I’m not mad at you, Nick. It was so beautiful. Such a generous and kind thing to do. It must have taken you forever to clean all those gears.”

Nick shrugged. “I keep my stock of parts pretty clean anyway.”

“You’ll get them all back, of course.”

“No.” Nick shook his head vigorously. “I’ve got more gears than I know what to do with. Please keep them.”

Wyvern smiled. “All right. And that tree! It’s too adorable for words!”

“I love how it came out,” Nick said. “Decorating the tree has always been my favorite part of Christmas.”

“Nick...” Wyvern leaned in, curled his hand around the back of Nick’s neck, and pulled their foreheads together. “I love it all. Thank you.” He pressed forward, catching Nick’s lips with his.

Nick kissed him back, but only for a moment. Gently laying his palm against Wyvern’s chest, Nick pushed away from him. “Wyvern. I’m sorry. I can’t keep letting you kiss me like that.”

“No, I’m sorry, sweetie. It’s not fair of me, and I know it.” Wyvern sighed. “Zander’s so, so lucky.”

Nick sat there for a minute, chewing on his lip and looking incredibly guilty. Then he jerked upright with a radiant grin. “Come outside with me!”

“In the snow?”

Nick nodded. “You have your personal warming device?”

“I do.”

“Then let’s fill it up and go outside!” Nick got up from the bed and yanked Wyvern along with him. “Maybe we can even get Zander to stop working long enough to play too.”

Wyvern laughed. “I’m sure all it’ll take is that irresistible smile of yours.”

“Come on!”

Stumbling along as Nick pulled him downstairs, Wyvern laughed again and let his friend lead the way. Zander was right; Nick’s happiness was boundless, infusing the air all around him with sparkling positivity. Wyvern basked in it, letting it fill him with the kind of hope he hadn’t dared dream of. He wanted some of that happiness for himself. He wanted that kind of joy in his life. Wyvern wasn’t sure that Zander truly appreciated how lucky he was to have custody of Nick Massey’s heart. But he was definitely sure that if Nick was his to cherish, then he’d never, ever, let him go.

Part Three

Three days before Christmas, Wyvern was still in bed when he thought he heard someone come into his room. In the hallucinatory ether of his liminal mind, the external stimulus fed the fantasy of his wonderful dream, making him sigh happily and snuggle deeper into his plush bedding. It was warm here, and comfortable. And he wasn’t alone like every other night. There were loving arms wrapped around him, a long, lithe body pressed against him, sweet words in his ear, and hot kisses on his skin. He whimpered softly with want, pulling the duvet higher, refusing to open his eyes as he sank deeper into the welcoming embrace of shared desire.

“So beautiful...” The praise whispered across his flesh as proprietary hands skimmed down his arms and across his bare abdomen. His lover’s leanly muscled chest pressed tightly against his back in an embrace so close that he could feel his partner’s every hitched breath and stuttered heartbeat. It was gloriously comforting. He hadn’t been held that closely in...

“Are you asleep?” Gentle fingers combed the hair off his brow and traced his cheek.

He grunted softly, unsure if he should nod yes so his lover would continue to hold him or say no so they could do... other things.

A breathy chuckle filled his mind with sparkling joy, making his heart soar to the heavens. He wanted to wrap up that happiness and keep it forever. It was given to him so freely, like he deserved it. Stay, he wanted to say, clutching the long fingers touching him with such fond affection. Stay with me and be mine. But all that came out of his mouth was another low whine of longing.

Warm breath spread over his skin as his lover pressed a kiss to his brow. “I have something for you.”

The words were soft and affectionate, like everything else, but something about the inflection and delivery jolted a memory to life in Wyvern’s mind and suddenly his marvelous dream spiraled into a horrific nightmare.

He was chained to the wall in a freezing cold stone chamber that was damp and lightless and smelled of mildew and rot. He was huddled in as tight a ball as he could get himself into with his arms lifted above his head. No matter what he did, though, he just couldn’t get warm. His sleep pants were soaked through by the rivulets of dingy water that constantly trailed across the hard stone floor and dripped down the wall behind his back. His boots were long gone, taken by his captor as soon as he’d been chained up. He’d been taken from his home without socks. It was a wonder why he’d been allowed to even have his boots in the first place.

The shirt had been stripped from his body before he was anchored to the wall, and every time a frigid drip of water found his bare skin, he arched away from it. The water always found him, though, and now his skin was so chilled that it didn’t even warm up the liquid before it slithered down below the waistband of his pants. He was miserable, delirious from the cold and trauma, and he couldn’t stop shivering. He thought his teeth might crack with how hard they were chattering.

He’d given up screaming for help a couple of days ago. There was no one to hear him. He’d only succeeded in giving himself a painfully sore throat and no way to soothe the raw, burning flesh behind his tongue. The man holding him was obviously not the caring sort, deigning to provide only the barest hint of sustenance, and only when he could be bothered to remember to do so. There was no way that he’d offer up anything in the way of pain relievers.

He was left by himself in that dank, stony pit with no light, no contact with any other human being, and nothing to occupy his mind except utter confusion and swirling thoughts about what might happen to him. And the prospects that his mind kept providing were anything but comforting. He’d begun to hope that his captor would show himself and end it all, so he didn’t have to be at the mercy of his wild imagination anymore. Even death would be better than the nightmarish uncertainty plaguing his every waking moment.

“I have something for you.” This time, the words weren’t soft and kind, but harsh in the ringing silence and edged with smug malice.

A light came on and blinded him, making him flinch away as bolts of pain lanced through his head. It took a couple of minutes, but he was finally able to blink his way back to seeing. Then his eyes widened in horror and he wished that he hadn’t made such an effort to clear his vision.

The man standing beside the table inside the chamber door was not the man who had abducted him from his bed. This man’s face was obscured by a gruesome metal mask that had been cobbled together from seemingly random and disparate pieces of machinery. His icy blue eyes fixed on his captive in a hard, calculating stare that was full of careless intent. “Wyvern, why are you so afraid?”

“Why do you call me that?”

“That’s your name.”

“No! No, it’s not! Don’t call me that!”

“Calm down. I won’t hurt you.”

He scowled across the chamber at the masked man. The innocuous words belied the evil that Wyvern could see gleaming in those cold, cold eyes. “That’s exactly what you’re going to do! I don’t know what you want from me, but I won’t let you do this!”

“I only want to give you a Christmas gift. Make you happy.”

“No! I don’t want anything from you! Get away from me! Leave me alone!” He pressed himself back, as far away from the man as he could get.

The man lifted his hands, gesturing his surrender, even though his blue eyes still bored right through Wyvern’s soul and filled him with terror. “I’m sorry that I upset you. I’m your friend, Wyvern. Let me make it right.”

“No! I don’t want your help!” he spat in his rage. “I don’t want you here! I want you to leave! Take your unwanted gift and go! I don’t want to see you again! Leave me alone!”

The man lifted whatever it was that he’d brought, turned, and left the room. Wyvern slumped against the wall as much as he was able and heaved a sigh of relief. Letting his head drop against his uplifted arm, his eyes closed and he drifted off into a fitful sleep.

*

Sunlight streamed in the windows. Wyvern squinted against it even before he cracked open his eyelids. His head throbbed and he groaned. He must have had a nightmare. He only woke with a splitting headache after he’d had disturbing dreams. Flashes of images and snatches of conversation came at him in a jumbled mess and he reluctantly opened his eyes in order to clear them away.

A sudden realization slammed into him and he bolted up in bed. His vision swam alarmingly and it felt like a steel band squeezed around his head. Closing his eyes, he groaned again. When he’d fought off the surge of nausea threatening to send him running to the toilet, he slowly opened his eyes and glanced around the room. There was an envelope on the table. The bottom dropped out of his stomach and he swayed, feeling like he was about to throw up again.

Stumbling out of bed, he staggered over to the table and tore the envelope open. The note was definitely written in Nick’s hand:

I’m sorry.

Wyvern’s breath left him in an anguished sob. The fear that had assaulted him a moment ago now sent him to his knees on the floor. He clutched his head in his hands, letting Nick’s note flutter to the floor. Oh, god. What had he done?

~*~

Nick sat on the floor in the living room, wallowing in his self-pity. Even though he was sitting next to one of the most beautiful Christmas trees he’d ever had the pleasure of calling his own, he was sad and feeling quite sorry for himself.

He’d failed. He’d gone too far. He should have realized after the first time that Wyvern didn’t want him barging into his room uninvited. But he’d done it anyway. And Wyvern had shouted at him. He’d looked so angry. Nick hung his head. He deserved it. His gaze landed on the one present left under the tree. It was the one for Wyvern. Nick clamped his eyes shut, pulled his knees into his chest, and heaved a sigh as his forehead dropped down.

“I’ve never seen anyone be so depressed on Christmas Day.” Zander knelt on the floor next to his partner and kissed the top of Nick’s head. “What’s wrong, Nicky?”

“I messed up, Zan.”

“You’re still upset about that? I’m sure he didn’t mean it.”

“He obviously did! Why else has he not even spoken to me since?” Nick sighed. “I thought maybe he’d show up today and I could apologize properly, but...” He swept a hand toward the beautifully wrapped gift beneath the tree. “He clearly meant what he said and doesn’t want anything from me.”

Zander caressed his fingers through Nick’s hair. “He’ll come around, Nicky. It’s impossible to stay mad at you. I know this for a fact.”

Nick gave him a tiny smile that faded immediately. “I’m going to go up to the workshop, Zan. I’m not in a festive mood right now.”

“All right,” Zander said. “Shall I come get you for dinner?”

Nick got up and nodded. Then he trudged, his steps leaden, up the stairs to his room. He didn’t expect to find the door closed, though, and he frowned at it. He never closed his door, unless he was working on something that he was trying to keep secret. Turning the knob, he went inside.

“Surprise.” Wyvern was sitting on the stool at Nick’s workbench.

“Wyvern...” Nick was so surprised to see his friend in the room that he almost didn’t see anything else. Then he looked around and gasped.

Newt floated up from Nick’s shoulder. Lifting a gripper, the little bot touched a shiny gear hanging from the ceiling. Peeppeeppeep!

Wyvern’s cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry that it doesn’t have quite the same impact. It’s bright daylight outside, so candles are useless. Plus, I’m not as creative as you are. Sorry for giving you back a poor imitation of your own thoughtful gift. I did bring cranberry tarts to share, though. Which was... also your idea...” He grimaced. “I’m not very good at this...”

“I thought you were angry at me.”

“No, sweetie. I was having a nightmare when you visited and I thought you were part of it. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean any of the things I said. I wasn’t seeing you at all, I swear. It looked like I was yelling at you, but I was only seeing the man in my dream.”

Nick frowned. “Why didn’t you come tell me this?”

Wyvern hung his head. “I’m sorry about that too. I thought you’d be mad at me for being... I’m sorry.”

“Where have you been for the last few days?”

“Getting your Christmas gift ready. It took three days of nonstop work to get it done.”

Nick crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at Wyvern. “What makes you think that I want a gift from you?”

Wyvern bit his lip. “I deserve that. I know it.” He got up from the stool. “I’ll just leave it, then, and you can open it if you feel like it.” He went to the door. “Merry Christmas, Nick.”

Nick reached out and caught Wyvern’s arm in his grasp. “After everything I did to get you to say ‘Merry Christmas’ to me, you think I’m letting you off the hook now?” He grinned. “No way. I want to see this gift that took three days of unnecessary fretting on my part for you to complete.”

Wyvern smiled. He pulled a small box out of his vest pocket and handed it to Nick. Then he leaned in and dropped a light kiss on Nick’s cheek. “Merry Christmas.”

Nick immediately pulled off the ribbon and opened the box. Then he tilted his head and frowned as he tipped something out into his palm. “A key?” He held it up by the metal ring and lifted questioning eyebrows at Wyvern.

“To my new front door,” Wyvern explained, giving Nick a small smile.

“I’m confused.”

“It’s taken three days to build it. Silas was all too happy to bring in the help necessary to get it done, since he’s been bugging me to do this for ages. I now have my own private entrance to my suite. Now my guests don’t have to go through the tavern or rely upon Silas to see me after hours.”

“You gave up your solitude?”

Wyvern shook his head. “The only thing that I’ve given up is my insecurity. You showed me that continuing to succumb to my fear only kept me enslaved to it.”

Nick stared at the key in his hand with new appreciation. Then he held it out to Wyvern. “This is too great a responsibility.”

“You won’t accept it?”

“Of course I will, but... Are you sure this is what you want?”

Wyvern nodded. “I trust you, Nick. And I want you to know that you’re always welcome in my home. Day, night, anytime.”

Nick fisted his hand around the key, clutching it to his chest. “Thank you, Wyvern. And Merry Christmas.” He leaned in to give Wyvern a kiss on the corner of his mouth. Then he jerked back. “Oh! I left your present under the tree!”

“That’s all right,” Wyvern said. “You’ve already given me plenty.”

Nick opened his door anyway and took Wyvern’s hand, smiling warmly at his friend. “Come spend Christmas with me?”

Wyvern squeezed Nick’s hand and grinned back at him. “Nothing at all could make me any happier.”

~*~

“All right, Wyvern,” Zander said, sauntering into the living room where Nick and Wyvern were reading to each other by the fireplace. “I’m dying to know what Nick gave you for Christmas.”

“Oh. Right...” Wyvern glanced toward the decorated tree, seeing the wrapped gift still sitting beneath it. “I forgot.”

“You forgot?” Zander crossed his arms, giving his friend an incredulous look. “How do you ‘forget’ about a gift?”

Wyvern smiled at Nick, savoring the beautiful flush of color that rose high on his cheeks. “When there are more important things to think about.”

“Oh, cripes...” Zander rolled his eyes. “The two of you... I swear. So emotional.”

“At least we know how to have an emotion,” Nick retorted, challenging his partner with a glare.

Huffing a laugh, Wyvern bumped his fist against Nick’s in solidarity. “What’d he give you, Mr. Pennington?”

Zander joined them on the floor, pulling something out of his pocket with a toothy grin. “This gorgeous watch. I don’t know how he knew I needed a new one, but... Look!” He held out the beautiful piece in his palm. “I don’t have to wind it.” He smiled fondly at Nick. “I’m gonna wear it every day.”

Nick blushed and ducked his head. “It’s just a watch, Zan.”

Wyvern took it from Zander and studied it, turning it over to admire the details. “It’s stunning, Nick. Did you have the case made for you?” He rubbed his thumb over the carved design of the cover.

“No.” Nick shook his head. “It was something I found at the antique store. I thought it was pretty but it was hopelessly broken. So I cleaned it up, repurposed the case, and rebuilt the innards.”

Flicking the cover open, Wyvern gasped softly at the delicate intricacy of the visible workings and parts inside. He could see the movement of every tiny gear beneath the polished brass watch hands. It was a work of art. “Oh, Nick... It’s beautiful. I love how you kept the mechanics exposed under the glass. It’s so unique.” With a smile, he handed the watch back to the foreman. “And very Zander.”

Nick bit his lip on a grin. “I thought so too.”

“He also gave me a counting machine, to help with my bookkeeping.” Zander smiled widely at his partner.

“That sounds rather useful indeed.” Wyvern grinned at his best friend. “Very thoughtful, Nick.”

“Thanks.”

“And this thing...” Zander pulled out a small tangle of wire from his pocket, frowning at it. “Not sure what to do with it.”

Nick rolled his eyes. “I told you, love...”

Wyvern plucked it out of Zander’s hand. “It’s a puzzle.” Manipulating the rigid metal pieces, he twisted them around and maneuvered them until he could pull them apart. “See?” He held up a piece in each hand.

Zander lunged forward, his hazel eyes wide. “How did you do that? I’ve been fiddling with the thing for hours!”

“It’s not hard, Zan.” Wyvern deftly tangled the parts back together and handed it back over with a shrug. “You just have to think about how the pieces fit together.”

Scowling at the puzzle, Zander pulled on the pieces and twisted them around for a minute before giving up with an exasperated huff. Then he tossed it back at Wyvern. “Here. Merry Christmas.”

Wyvern chuckled and quickly solved the puzzle again, waving the separate parts in front of Zander with a smug smile. “Thanks.” He twisted the toy back together again.

“Too smart for me...” Zander glared at both Nick and Wyvern.

“Oh, stop pouting.” Wyvern rolled his eyes. “I used to play with puzzles like that when I studied in school. Helped me think.”

“Then I’m glad you can appreciate it more than I can.”

“Serves me right, I guess, for trying to give him something intellectual.” Nick rolled his eyes again.

Wyvern handed the toy to Nick. “Here you go, sweetie. It really is beautifully made.”

Nick shook his head, pushing the puzzle back in Wyvern’s direction. “Zander re-gifted it to you. It’s yours.”

“Really?”

Nick nodded with a smile. “Yeah. I’ll make you more, if you want.”

“I’d love that. Thank you.”

“Great!” Zander clapped his hands and then pointed at the gift still under the tree. “Now, what’d you get for Christmas?”

Heaving a sigh, Wyvern cast his gaze to the ceiling. “Are you a child?”

“On Christmas day?” Zander gave him a pointed look.

“On every day...” Nick murmured with a smirk.

Zander shot a glare at him.

Laughing, Wyvern reached under the tree to grab his gift, setting it in his lap and smiling at the careful wrapping. “So pretty.”

“Well, don’t just look at it!” Zander reached for the glittering gold ribbon on top.

“Mine!” Wyvern yanked the present out of Zander’s reach. Scowling at his friend, he inched closer to Nick to protect his gift from Zander’s grabby hands.

Nick laughed softly and curled his arm around Wyvern’s waist, leaning his head on his shoulder. “I hope you like it.”

“I’m certain I will.” Wyvern pecked a kiss to the top of Nick’s head. “You only give wonderful, thoughtful gifts.” With his heart pounding, he carefully untied the ribbon, setting it aside to keep. Then he unwrapped the lovely scrap of cloth from around the box and set that aside too. He wanted to keep everything Nick gave him.

Lifting the lid of the box in his lap, Wyvern frowned, not recognizing what he was seeing inside. There was something round and translucent that looked like a lamp shade, with a mechanical base of some kind. But there was no oil reservoir or anything else that might indicate it lit up. He turned a questioning look to Nick. “I’m afraid I need you to explain this one to me, honey.”

“It’s a lamp.” Nick reached inside the box to pull it out, discarding the packaging and setting the contraption on the floor.

“How does it work?”

“With this.” Nick pulled a shard of shiny green crystal out of his pocket.

“Melihtelite?” Wyvern tilted his head.

“Wow.” Zander leaned in to look. “I’ve never seen it all polished up like that. Nicely done, Nicky.”

Blushing, Nick placed the piece of mineral inside the lamp shade, making both Wyvern and Zander gasp when the shard stood straight upright without being held. Nick smiled. “The charging magnet is in the base, which makes the melihtelite glow. This dial here...” He turned it. “...changes the intensity of the light. And if you flick this switch...”

Wyvern gasped again, transfixed as the lamp shade began spinning slowly and patterns emerged on the surface. He covered his gaping mouth as Nick dialed up the light and suddenly projected shapes danced around the darkened room. Clouds, stars, and even a depiction of the moon revolved around them, rendered beautifully by the steady light of the crystal inside the machine. Tears gathered in his eyes as he stared in awe. He’d never seen anything so beautiful created with a simple chunk of ore.

“Nicky...” Zander looked just as astounded as Wyvern felt and he reached forward to clasp Nick’s hand.

Nick was looking at Wyvern, though, his expression cautious and wary. It was obvious he was concerned about what Wyvern thought. “You said one of the reasons why you don’t like winter is because it’s dark. So, I wanted to give you some light.”

Looking at him, Wyvern blinked furiously, fighting back a surge of intense emotion. “You... You gave me... the whole sky... Oh, Nick...” His tears broke free and he collapsed in Nick’s embrace.

Zander shuffled behind them as he got up from the floor. “I’m gonna go help with dinner,” he told Nick softly. “Good job, sweetheart.”

Nick just held Wyvern as he cried, rubbing his back in soothing strokes and brushing his lips across Wyvern’s temple. As Wyvern worked through the difficult feelings overwhelming him, he clung to the man who’d been kinder to him than anyone else he’d ever known. He loved Nick, without the shadow of a doubt. And the fact that he couldn’t have the relationship he wanted with him absolutely ravaged his heart. But he could live with only friendship, if it meant having this amazing man in his life. Nick was worth the heartache. Because Wyvern knew Nick loved him too, even if it was merely platonic. Nick gave him hope that there was someone out there who’d offer him everything he wanted, someone he could share his life with. Nick was the one who made him believe he could have more.

“Are you all right, Wyvern?” Nick sifted his fingers through Wyvern’s hair.

He nodded against his best friend’s chest, feeling the smooth contour of Nick’s chest plate under the fabric of his shirt. His tears had almost stopped and he was no longer sobbing. “I’ll be fine,” he murmured.

“Are you hungry? Do you want to see if dinner’s ready yet?”

“No.” Wyvern shook his head. “I just want to stay here with you. Is that all right?”

Nick shifted into a more comfortable position, snuggling Wyvern against him. “That’s perfectly fine with me.”

Sighing in contentment, Wyvern nuzzled into his neck. “Thank you, Nick. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Wyvern.” Nick kissed his forehead. “Thank you for sharing the holiday with me.”

“Thanks for making it one I’ll never forget.”

“I guess this means I have some work to do for next year.”

Wyvern laughed softly and watched the shadows from the lamp dance about the room. Whatever Nick came up with, he was sure it would be just as spectacular as everything else he created. And Wyvern was also sure that he was going to be around to see it. Lifting his chin, he brushed a kiss along Nick’s jaw. He wanted this man to be in his life forever. “I can’t wait to see what you invent next.”

###