Chapter Text
Bonus Christmas Content!!!
The sweet smell of mocha, marshmallows, and the smoke of the fire in the mantle wafted over to where I was cushioned on the couch with three blankets and two pillows on either side of me. The rec room inside the military base was flooded with the colors of red, green, blue, and purple as hybrids cheered with excitement. A plate of cookies laid on top the table while people who pre-gamed alcohol drunkenly sang Christmas carols to the right of me.
Sugary treats were brought in by Moxy and two others. She gave me a little wave and brought a sugar cookie in the shake of a messy looking deer to me. Pleased, I thanked her and promptly devoured it. Looking back over at the filled steaming tray, I was grateful she brought me mine since hybrids from all ranks lunged for them.
Price, wearing his normal camo pants and white shirt, stood near the fireplace, smoking a cigar, his dragon wings fanning out to claim most of the heat from the fire. While he gave off much heat, he also felt his temperature drop during the winter months, making him slightly grouchy. He spoke with a blonde, slightly older woman. Her hybrid features were slim, and almost not noticeable unless you really looked. Besides, of course, the obvious features such as height. Along her skin were patches of dark green, almost black scales. She smiled softly while gazing around the area.
Ghost was closer to me, standing right beside me while wrapping, or at least trying to wrap lights around the tree. His outfit consisted of grey sweatpants which hung low on his hips, his black shirt with little christmas cats printed on it riding up as he stretched. Grumbling, the man almost tore the string of colors in half while trying to untangle his hands. “Why must humans have the silliest customs?” He soured, looking at all the decorations I had forced them to get. “All we needed to celebrate was a few drinks, some meat, and a good ol’ song or two. Not this.. horrendous mess.” His steel toe boot nudged the pine needles which had fallen in a perfect circle.
Ignoring his humbug attitude, I look towards Gaz who was laughing at Ghost. “We did it wrong!” His grin stretched wide over his face, eyes twinkling with mischief as if he planned it. “We were meant to start the lights at the bottom so we could plug it in.” If looks could light people on fire, Gaz would be rolling on the ground in misery. Ghost huffed, hands clenching around the lights. “This is a joke.” Carefully, his hands moved delicately to remove the lights which were already half-way around the needles.
I yelp in surprise as a hand sneaks around my waist, tugging me towards a fluffy wolf hybrid. His grin distracts me from his wagging tail which almost topples over the silver tray he held. “Ohp- Careful there, Soap.” Price muttered, grabbing the tray from him and setting it down on the table. Giving an appreciative hum, he snuffs out the last of his cigar and grabs one of the giant cups of hot cocoa. In total, there were four giant cups of hot chocolate with one normal sized mug for me.
Leaning away from me for a split second, Soap grabs both of our cups, pushing mine into my hands, warming them. “Thank you.” I blow on the hot chocolate which moves around the mini marshmallows.
The others decide to take a break from the tree and surround me on the couch, leaning in to, and I quote, “keep the freezing human warm”. With one hand sticking out of the mass of blankets they shoved on me, I sip the drink. Since it is a cannon event, I burn my tongue on the first sip to which I instantly begin to blow on it once more. The wolf hybrid, not even feeling the heat, downed the entire drink before tossing the cup unceremoniously back on top of the silver tray.
His arms curl under my body as he lifts me to practically sit on his lap. “Ye have a lovely outfit on!” He cheers, white canines peeking out from under his lips.
The comment brings me back to the morning when he effectively forced me into a matching, ugly green PJ set. Rolling my eyes, I poke his cheek.
Price ruffles my hair as a side task, still talking with Laswell about another mission. Wings flapping slightly, Gaz sits next to Soap and fusses over the blankets. “Hopefully you’re not too cold. Humans don’t regulate their temps like us.” I give a grin and nod. “I’m perfectly fine.”
Smoke swarms around Soap’s legs as Ghost flopped down onto the couch, eyes tired as he stared at the lights strung off a branch. “Merry Christmas.” He whispers towards me, handing a silk red bow that was wrapped around a little stuffed rabbit.