Chapter Text
Gustave is on the phone with Emma, his twin, watching the snow fall outside. “It’s really starting to come down,” he says.
It started snowing not too long after Maelle left earlier in the afternoon. Tonight is Christmas Eve and they’re going to spend it at Emma’s. Maelle’s gone over already to help prepare some food and Gustave will join them in an hour or so. He just needs to finish the desserts he has chilling in the fridge and then he’s ready to go, even though they’re not starting their apero and gift-giving for another two hours.
Emma hums on the other end of the line. “It’s nice, we can go for a walk tomorrow morning when the snow is still fresh.”
Gustave hums in agreement when the doorbell rings.
He frowns, wondering who it could be. He’s not expecting anyone.
“Someone’s at the door,” he tells Emma as he makes his way over to the hallway.
“Oh? You bought a last minute gift?”
Gustave chuckles. “Wouldn’t tell you even if it was. Gotta go. See you soon!”
“See you!” Emma says.
Gustave puts his phone down onto the little table in the hallway and opens the front door. His eyes widen and a grin spreads on his lips when he sees who his visitor is. “Verso!”
“Bonjour Gustave,” Verso says with a nervous smile and an awkward wave. “I was… I ehm— have something for you.”
“Oh?” Gustave raises an eyebrow, excited that the other is visiting and so very curious as to what Verso has for him that warrants such nervousness. He steps aside and makes a beckoning motion with his hand. “Well, come in first before all the cold comes in.”
Once Verso has hung his coat and taken off his shoes, Gustave leads him to the kitchen. “You want something to drink or do you have to leave right away?”
Verso nods. “A drink would be nice.”
“Tea?”
“Sure.”
“Have a seat, I’ll put the kettle on.” Gustave says and once he’s put the kettle on glances at Verso over his shoulder. “How are you?”
“Good,” Verso says with a nod from his seat at the kitchen island. “Christmas Eve tonight. We’ll have dinner with the family,”
“Same for us. I just have to finish the desserts and then I’ll drive over to Emma’s. She lives across town.” Gustave puts two mugs down onto the counter and looks at their tea collection. “What kind of tea do you want?”
“Whatever you’re having.”
“Rooibos it is,” Gustave decides and hangs a bag in each mug.
Once the water has boiled he pours it into the mugs and brings them over to Verso, sliding into the seat next to the other. “So… you have something for me?”
“I— yes.” Verso fidgets for a moment before he slides a box wrapped in Christmas paper to Gustave. “It’s nothing big, just something I wanted to give you and, well… merry Christmas, Gustave.”
Gustave watches the gift breathlessly for a moment before looking up at Verso with a smile and a happy twinkle in his eyes. “You got me a Christmas gift?”
Verso nods, a blush on his cheeks. “I did.”
“You shouldn’t have! I don’t have anything for you…”
“That’s not why I’m giving it.” Verso shakes his head and nods at the gift. “I wanted to. Now go on, open it.”
Gustave carefully opens the gift to reveal a nicely decorated wooden box. He opens it and gasps. “A whittling set?” he asks, eyes shooting up to Verso.
Verso nods. “The one from the market, actually.”
“You went back for that?”
Verso nods. “You said you wanted to try. So I thought—”
Gustave leans over and kisses the words right out of Verso’s mouth. He can’t believe the other listened to him talk about this for a few minutes and then decided to go and get him a set.
When they pull apart, Gustave has a hand on Verso’s cheek and a grin on his lips.
“I assume you like it?” Verso asks, sounding just a little breathless but looking very pleased with himself.
Gustave thinks it’s justified. “Very much,” he murmurs and doesn’t waste another second to go in for another kiss to show Verso exactly how much he appreciates the gift.
Their tea has gone cold by the time they properly sit down for it again after their impromptu make-out session.
Not that either of them minds, and Gustave puts on the kettle again with a laugh before he empties both mugs in the sink.
That’s when the soft sound of his phone’s ringtone comes in from the hallway. He hurries over and checks the screen before picking up with a frown. “Emma? Is everything alright?”
“I texted you five times,” Emma says in greeting. “Maelle did too.”
Gustave flinches, walking back to the kitchen. “Oh, sorry. Verso is over for a cup of tea and I got… well, nevermind,” he shakes his head and checks the clock. It’s later than he expected. “I’ll be over soon.”
“That’s why you should’ve read my messages,” Emma says with a long, deep sigh. “Look outside.”
Gustave walks up to the window with a frown and when he looks outside all he sees is white. Snow is falling even heavier than it had been earlier in the day, adding more and more to the thick layer that has now accumulated on the ground. “Ah, putain.”
There’s no use trying to get through the snow for at least another hour or two with how much there is and how long it will take for it to be cleared. So it is decided that Gustave and Verso stay put, not taking the risk of getting into an accident.
Gustave has already gotten off the phone with Emma by the time Verso ends the call with his mom. She wishes them a pleasant evening, with Clea hollering “yes, you and Gustave have a good time!” just as he hangs up.
Verso sighs. “My family says hi,” he tells Gustave, already imagining the teasing he will have to endure when he gets back ohome. “I think they are delighted I’m staying with you.”
Gustave blinks, looking slightly amused and confused. “That’s… nice?”
“It is,” Verso says, because for all that it annoys him it also means his family is accepting, excited even, about his thing with Gustave. It’s not unexpected, but it’s still good to know. “So, do you have anything to eat? Because take-out isn’t an option.”
Gustave only laughs in reply and when they raid the fridge and pantry Verso finds out why. Because it seems that the Eiffel family has a lot of food available.
Verso chuckles seeing the assortment of cheeses and meats in the fridge alone. “You’re sure you weren’t hosting Christmas Eve here?”
“It’s the festive season,” Gustave answers with a shrug, taking some things out of the fridge.
“I’m not complaining,” Verso says with a laugh. In fact, while he had been looking forward to spending Christmas Eve with his family he will also admit he is excited at spending the evening and night with Gustave.
They prepare dinner together, although it’s all fairly simple. The Mont d’Or is baked and put on the coffee table in the living room together with a big plate with saucisson, some other cheeses Gustave dug out of the fridge, dried fruits and nuts, and a baguette. Verso looks at the selection and has to admit it looks absolutely delicious, even more so with how last-minute it is.
The living-room looks cozy as well, with just candles, the Christmas tree and other string lights that have been hung as light. Gustave has even turned on a video of a hearth on the TV and thrown some blankets down onto the ground between the coffee table and the couch.
Verso has already sat down when Gustave joins him, putting two wine glasses and a bottle down onto the table. “Just some red wine to tie it all together.”
“Merci,” Verso says, taking a poured glass from Gustave with a grateful smile. “For everything.” He holds out his glass
Gustave softly clinks his glass to Verso’s, catching the other man’s eyes with his amber ones that glimmer happily. “My pleasure. Hadn’t expected to spend Christmas Eve like this.”
“Me neither,” Verso says with a chuckle and they settle down underneath the blanket, leaning against the couch. “I know I came to Lumière to spend Christmas with my family but… this feels nicer,” he admits with a small blush.
Gustave laughs. “Dating for less than a week and here we are…”
Verso hums in agreement. “It’s been a long time coming, though.”
“You’re right. Although I hadn’t expected… this.” Gustave looks at Verso with a shy smile. “You.”
Verso smiles. “Sometimes unexpected things are the best.”
“That they are,” Gustave says with a happy sigh. “I met Sophie by accident in the hospital, and adopting Maelle was certainly not something I ever considered! Did I ever tell you how we met?”
“No,” Verso says and encourages Gustave to share the story. And as he listens to the other talk, he slides an arm around Gustave’s waist. When Gustave leans into the touch and against his side easily, Verso smiles and takes a sip of his wine.
Soon, he will have to figure out the what’s and how’s of his move back to Lumière. But for tonight, he gets to bask in Gustave’s warmth and presence in their own little peaceful haven.
Merry Christmas, indeed.