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Should Yuuji have recognized that December 22nd and December 25th were only seventy two hours apart?
Yeah. Probably.
He’s had twenty one years of practice experiencing December 22nd and then three days later experiencing December 25th. But, in his defense, this was going to be his first December 22nd and first December 25th having a boyfriend.
He’d been scheming with Geto for weeks to make Megumi’s birthday gift happen. The visit to Amanai. Waiting for Amanai’s archivist friend to mail the VHS tape of Gojo dancing Des Grieux to the Gojo-Geto-Fushiguro-Hasaba Residence. Figuring out how to convert a VHS to a digital file. Figuring out how to wrap it (Megumi still needed to have something physical to open — obviously — but also his present only existed on Yuuji’s laptop for a hot second, so that was quite the conundrum).
It’s, frankly, an awesome gift. Yuuji is really proud of it. He can’t wait to give it to Megumi tomorrow. But in all the rush to make that happen, Christmas had completely slipped Yuuji’s mind. He’s got nothing. So now he has exactly four days to think of a gift that can compare to Megumi’s birthday gift, that he can still make happen in time for Christmas.
Stumped and in need of solid advice, he does what he always does when he’s in a crisis. Barges into Nobara’s room and flops down on her bed.
“Nobaraaaaaaa,” he groans, rolling around like a chinchilla in sand for good measure.
She doesn’t look up from where she’s sitting at her vanity applying eyeliner. Honestly, the fact that she didn’t mess up the wing even a little bit in the midst of his shouting is pretty impressive.
“Yes, please come in and lay down on my freshly made bed in your gross gym clothes. That’s so awesome.”
Which, like — rude. Yeah, these are his gym clothes, but he hasn’t gone to the gym yet this morning, so it’s not like they’re sweaty.
“But I need helppppp,” he pleads.
“This is not the way to endear yourself to me, idiot.” Yuuji doesn’t need to be looking at her to know that that sentence came with an eye roll.
He flips onto his belly so he can see her better. “It’s about Megumi though.”
“Damn, you’re really hitting every wrong choice that makes me not want to help you. It’s kinda pathetic,” she turns to look at him, a saccharine sweet smile on her lips as she says, “just like you.”
He knows she’s teasing, but he’s really not in the mood to be the butt of any of her jokes right now.
This is serious to him. Yuuji knows that gift giving might seem like a shallow thing to worry about or be easy for other people to brush off since he still has time to run to a department store and buy Megumi some sort of generic Christmas gift. But he just isn’t the type of person who can head to the last minute gifts aisle, pick the first thing he sees, and call it a day. This is for Megumi. His dream guy that he loves so much and spends every day in unadulterated awe that he is actually his boyfriend.
This is a once a year chance to show Megumi how much he cares about him and Yuuji doesn’t wanna waste it. Not only that, it’s their first Christmas together. One that will set the tone for all the Christmases they get to share together down the line.
It’s important.
And right now he’s fucking it up because he forgot that Christmas was a thing and he wants to get this right. Not to, like, toot his own horn or anything, but he’s really nailing the birthday gift and so if the Christmas gift is just an afterthought it’ll be super obvious.
He doesn’t want Megumi to feel forgotten or neglected. Just thinking about it makes his eyes feel glassy and his stomach twist into knots.
It’s probably not subtle, but it wouldn’t matter anyway because Nobara can read him like a book. Her face softens, smile turning from teasing to genuine.
“Did I go too far again?” She asks hesitantly.
They talk about the way she jokes sometimes. Usually it really is fine — just another thing he loves about her. Sometimes she does take it too far. Never on purpose. Obviously. She can just have a hard time telling where the line is before she crosses it.
It’s gotten easier over the years as she’s grown more familiar with what topics Yuuji is more of a live wire about and his tells for when he’s having a stressful day and poking too hard about anything is a bad idea. Catching it in the moment is also something she’s gotten a lot better at, as opposed to Yuuji needing to spell it out every time. Even if he is kinda in a state about Megumi’s gift, her effort doesn’t go unnoticed.
“Nah, you’re good,” Yuuji soothes. “That one was like if you just stepped on a land mine. One more would be you taking your foot off and everything exploding, ya know?”
She nods, accepting Yuuji’s weird metaphor and her fate. “Ok. What’s up with ballet boy?”
“I’ve been so focused on getting his birthday present put together that I totally forgot about Christmas, so now I don’t have a present for him. I’m the worst boyfriend ever.”
“You’re literally not."
Yuuji sends her a downtrodden look that says, Don't say nice things just to make me feel better. Nobara rolls her eyes, which Yuuji decides means, When have I ever done that? She's probably right, but he tsks his tongue at her anyways, just to let her know he isn't happy about it.
“You and Geto are kinda going to a lot of trouble to get that tape of his Dad’s ballet," Nobara continues. "Can’t that just count for both? Like a joint birthday-Christmas gift situation?”
Yuuji scoffs indignantly. “I can’t just combine them. They’re two separate holidays! He needs two separate gifts! What – is he just supposed to not have a gift to open on Christmas morning? It’s Christmas.”
He knows deep down Megumi probably wouldn’t mind if he did that. That on his birthday and Christmas he’ll make a big fuss about how Yuuji didn’t have to get him anything and how he’s making a big deal out of this and he doesn’t need to. But fuck that, he's getting two gifts.
“Ok,” she says, putting her hands up in placation. “Forget I said anything.”
The room goes quiet as the gears in Nobara's head turn, thinking over the options available to him. Yuuji lets her think in peace, and does his best to not make any unnecessary noise that might throw off her train of thought.
“His birthday gift is very career focused for him, so I don’t think you should do anything dance related for Christmas. Maybe you go for something more, I don’t know … romantic? Like, something specific to or for the two of you, not just him?”
Yuuji loves being friends with Nobara, she always knows exactly how to solve all his problems. In an instant, he's gone from certain that he's never gonna think of anything to having a plan with actionable steps forming in real time.
"You're a genius, you know that?"
"Most people are when compared to you," she nods serenely. Which, rude. But whatever. She can call him an idiot all she wants, she's earned it.
"Mmm, what was that?" Yuuji pretends as if he hadn't heard her. "I was too busy thinking about what I'm gonna do for my super hot and perfect boyfriend."
“That reminds me,” Nobara starts, already pulling out her phone, “I need to make sure I’m sleeping anywhere but here after Megumi’s party.”
Yuuji scratches at the back of his neck and pretends he can't feel his face getting red. “You really don’t have to. I promise we won’t be that loud.”
Nobara looks at him like he’s an idiot. And, like … yeah. He probably is an idiot.
He doesn’t like sexiling Nobara out of her own home. He’s only actually asked her to do it once since he started dating Megumi. Any other time she chose to sleepover at Fumi’s has been entirely her call, this one included. But if he’s being honest, he can’t really blame her.
He sighs. “Yeah, that’s probably for the best. I’m sorry.”
“Eh, don’t worry about it,” she shrugs, not looking up from her phone. “Megumi at least has the decency to try to keep it down when he’s over so I can do him a solid. You on the other hand Mr. –”
“Ok,” he interrupts, taking the very obvious hint that he has worn out his welcome here. “Thank you so much for your help Nobara. Gotta run. I’ll see you later.”
“Have fun at the gym. Oh, and don’t forget to –”
“Yeah, I know. I’m gonna stop for more eggs on my way back.”
“You’re a peach.”
Yuuji trods out of her room and closes the door behind him. Hopefully she doesn’t plan on making breakfast any time soon. He’s got quite a few stops before he makes it back home later.
/////
The first thing Megumi notices when he wakes up is that he’s wearing a party hat.
One of the cone shaped ones they have at kid’s birthday parties with the thin elastic string under his chin. It grabs his attention pretty instantly because the strap is digging into the underside of his jaw, surely leaving some sort of mark.
He also did not go to sleep wearing this.
Megumi reaches to the other side of the bed, but finds it empty. It’s still warm. Yuuji is perpetually as hot as a furnace, so that’s really no surprise. But he can’t have been gone for too long.
Pushing himself up to sitting, Megumi starts to take in the rest of the changes that have taken over Yuuji’s room while he was asleep.
Helium balloons and streamers cover the ceiling, all in various shades of blue. Some of the balloons have pictures taped to the strings. The few closest to him look to be snapshots of him and Yuuji on dates or hanging out with friends or after various performances of Megumi’s. There’s a banner on the wall that looks hand painted that reads “Happy Birthday Megumi!” in big letters.
Did … did Yuuji do all of this for him?
Yuuji is thoughtful and kind and a very classic Romantic, so it’s definitely the kind of thing he would do. But still, it clearly took hours of planning and forethought and even though each detail is completely and utterly Yuuji, Megumi still can’t believe Yuuji would do all of this just for his birthday.
Megumi has never put much stock in celebrating his birthday. He’s usually in rehearsal or performance, so the last thing he wants to do is try to plan any sort of celebration when his schedule is already crazy packed. Especially a celebration where he’s the center of attention. Usually, he just has a nice dinner with his parents and sisters and sometimes Yuuta and Maki and calls it a day.
This was so much. Too much. More than he deserved, really. It’s –
The door to Yuuji’s room clicks open. Megumi turns to see his boyfriend gingerly opening the door with a tray of food in one hand and the other up in front of the tray like he’s hiding something.
“Haaaappy birthday to you.”
Yuuji starts singing softly. His voice is really pretty. Still low and fresh from waking up.
“Happy birthday to you.”
Normally, Megumi avoids letting anyone sing happy birthday to him. It always goes on for way too long and he never knows where to look and most people start singing it way too high, so by the time they get to the end they're straining their voice, then they get all embarrassed too.
“Happy birthday dear, Megumi.”
But when it’s just Yuuji it isn't so bad.
“Happy birthday to you.”
He sets the tray down in Megumi’s lap and presses a gentle kiss into his cheek. He'd gotten up early to make Megumi his usual pre-show breakfast of eggs, rice, and fresh fruit. Yuuji stuck a single birthday candle in the pile of rice. The candle is already lit, a trail of blue wax already starting to drip down the side.
“Go on,” Yuuji beckons, “Make a wish.”
I wish to spend every birthday for the rest of my life just like this.
Megumi blows out his candle. He enjoys the rest of his breakfast in bed, and only complains a little when Yuuji steals some of his strawberries.
When it's finally time to leave the warm cocoon that is Yuuji's bed, Kugisaki is already making herself a coffee in the kitchen. She wishes Megumi a happy birthday, which he graciously accepts.
There's a brush up rehearsal before the show tonight, so Megumi doesn't get to spend as much time with Yuuji as he'd like before going to work. But Yuuji takes the train to the theater with him and kisses him goodbye and promises that he'll be waiting to pick him up after the show tonight.
Yuuta and Maki have both already initialed the sign in sheet for today, so he's not surprised when he finds them in the Corps dressing room. What does take him by surprise is the giant birthday cake the two of them are helping Gojo fuss over.
"I thought we agreed no one was going to make a big deal out of today," Megumi grumbles, coming to stand beside them.
"I didn't agree to that," Gojo looks at Yuuta and Maki and pretends to be confused. "Did you guys agree to that?"
"Why would I miss out on a chance to embarrass you?" Maki snarks, not looking up from the candles she's arranging.
Yuuta at least has the decency to look sheepish (but only a little). "Would it make you feel better if I told you that I stopped him from having the bakery write 'Whoop-Dee-Do, Satoru's Son is Twenty Two' on it?" he offers.
Megumi damn near goes into cardiac arrest. He shoves Gojo aside to study the cake for the first time, and is relieved to find that the inscription just reads "Happy Birthday Megumi".
Gojo lets out an incredibly undignified yelp. "Yuuta!"
"I didn't say it was true!" Yuuta holds his hands up in self-defense. "I just asked if it would make Megumi feel better if I said it."
Megumi feels his eyebrow twitch.
He's saved from any further ire by the sound of the stage manager's voice coming through the backstage speakers.
"Attention all dancers, this is your half hour call. Please be to the stage in thirty minutes so that we can begin today's rehearsal. Again, this is your half hour call."
Yuuta scurries away before the announcement is finished, with Maki not too far behind him. Megumi is about to join them, when —
"Megumi."
Gojo's voice keeps him planted in place. He's … not somber. That's not quite right. But definitely more serious than he was just a second ago.
"I know that Yuuta was just joking, but I wanted to make sure you knew that I was always going to get you the exact same cake the company orders for all the dancers on their birthday. Trust me, you'll get more than your fair sure of attention at home, but I wouldn't do that at work."
A small sound escapes from the back of Megumi's throat before he catches it. Forces himself to not show how much the reassurance means. Pushes it aside and —
Then he stops. He doesn't need to pretend that this doesn't matter to him. It's ok that his dad seeing his habits, his patterns, the ways he wants to show up as an artist, and doing what he can to respect that is important to him. How could it not be?
"Thank you."
It's small and awkward, but he wants to meet him halfway in this.
"Come on." Gojo smiles and puts a gentle hand on Megumi's right shoulder. "I don't care if we're late to rehearsal, but I know you do."
You should care, you're leading the rehearsal.
Megumi rolls his eyes. Some things never change.
/////
Choso had maybe gone overboard with the bouquet this time. And if Yuuji was the one saying that, then there was really an abundance of flowers. It takes two hands to hold the damn thing. Peonies and baby's breath and roses and carnations and (against Choso's professional opinion) lavender from his garden and a bunch of other things Yuuji couldn't name. It looked stunning though, and that was really all he could ask for.
The second Megumi is out of the stage door, Yuuta and Maki just behind him, Yuuji is throwing his arms around his neck and pulling him into a kiss.
"Hey, baby, how was the show tonight?"
It takes Megumi a second to find his words, his pale skin going pink around his cheeks. This never gets old. Every time he manages to fluster Megumi, Yuuji smiles like it's the first time.
"It … uhm — the show? Oh. Right. The show … yeah … —"
"The show went well," Yuuta interrupts, clearly taking pity on him. "Megumi did great."
Yuuji beams with pride. "Of course he did." He hands the flowers to Megumi, which gives him the gift and lets him have something else to focus on, so two birds, one stone. "Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but we're gonna go home to let him shower and give you two a head start. See you soon!"
"Yeah, yeah," Maki waves him off. "Just don't get so side tracked you miss the whole party."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Yuuji says as though they both don't already know that they'll be twenty minutes late.
They do end up being exactly twenty minutes late (the agreed upon time frame to arrive at parties between Fushiguro "ten minutes early is five minutes late" Megumi and Itadori "the start time is just a suggestion" Yuuji).
Unfortunately for Yuuji, those extra twenty minutes do not come from fooling around with Megumi in the shower, and, instead, are the result of him getting lost twice and almost driving Megumi into oncoming traffic.
Yuuji, like, can drive. Legally and everything. He passed all the tests and has insurance and everything else the government demands. It's just not his favorite thing. He gets distracted too easily. Especially when Megumi keeps a hand on Yuuji's inner thigh the whole drive. A hand that he keeps caressing along the inside of his leg, higher and higher and higher until —
"Oh, look. We're here."
Yuuji lets out a noise that Foley artists in charge of kicked cat sound effects everywhere would kill to recreate as Megumi yanks his hand away, unbuckles his seatbelt, and floats up to the front door. He is so going to pay for that tonight.
Several deep breaths and a bit of readjusting later, Yuuji bounds up the stairs to Megumi's side. Kisses him on the cheek, then opens the door to the Gojo-Geto-Fushiguro-Hasaba Residence.
The second birthday banner he made is hanging above the big couch. Streamers and balloons in various shades of blue cover the other walls. Everyone has on party hats and yells, "Happy Birthday!" as soon as Megumi walks in.
It's a small crowd, but that's how Megumi prefers it. Just his family, Maki, Yuuta and Nobara — who, in a way, probably also count as family. Yuuji and Geto had worked hard on all the snacks this afternoon, laid out on the table and already being enjoyed by everyone.
For a moment, Yuuji lets it all happen around him. Taking in the laughter and warmth and joy of everyone here to celebrate Yuuji's favorite person. Megumi threads an arm around his waist and kisses his cheek and Yuuji has never been happier than he is right now.
"Ok, come on," Gojo calls from the kitchen, frosting from the cupcakes smeared all across his chin. "It's present time!"
"Satoru, it's been four minutes."
"Yeah, Suguru, and each of those passing minutes is another minute you won't let me eat the cake Yuuji made."
Geto rolls his eyes and turns to his son, "What do you think, Megumi? Do you want to open presents now?"
Megumi waits half a second before answering, "Lets do presents in half an hour."
No doubt he would have made Gojo wait longer if it wasn't so late, but Megumi does enjoy the pained look his dad wears in the interim.
Exactly thirty minutes later, Gojo has everyone corralled into the living room and thrusts a box labeled "Love, Dads" into Megumi's hands.
Watching Megumi open gifts in front of other people always makes Yuuji laugh. His boyfriend both hates that everyone is staring at him and loves saving gift wrap to reuse later. The balance between trying to get this over with as soon as possible while also delicately undoing each wrapping paper crease is so him, it makes Yuuji want to melt.
Gojo and Geto got him some new clothes, a bigger dance bag (Megumi keeps his current one so full that its definitely seen better days), and a punch card for ten massages at a local studio that specializes in sports massage. That one Yuuji is the most excited about. With all the dancing he does, the more trained professionals helping to relieve the stress on his muscles, the better.
Nobara goes next, giving Megumi a card and several bags of the sweet potato chips he's always eating when he comes over. Next to go is Maki, who gifts Megumi two books he's been wanting to read and a rechargeable heating pad that's designed to wrap around the shoulder. Yuuta also has a card for him, that Megumi promises to read later (Yuuji can't blame him — Yuuta wrote Yuuji a thank you card once and he still gets choked up thinking about it), and also several new games for them to play together on the Wii.
His sisters are up next, and one thing that Yuuji has come to know about Tsumiki, Nanako, and Mimiko is that they treat gift giving like an Olympic level sport. Their gifts are handed off in boxes with coordinating wrapping paper and two different types of ribbon coming together in a handmade bow (they must be where Megumi gets his whole saving the wrapping paper thing from). They're also all unfairly crafty. Nanako crocheted him two new pairs of leg warmers that have the cutouts around the heel and toe that he prefers, Tsumiki painted him a set of two mugs with matching saucers, and Mimiko sewed him a pair of pajamas.
The craftsmanship on all of them is truly astounding — if they'd told him they got them from some fancy boutique, Yuuji would 1000% believe them — but, it's the time and care that went into making them that is the special part. Megumi is the same way. The art that he creates isn't tangible like theirs is, but he puts just as much love and care and thought into ballet as his sisters do into their creative outlet of choice.
At long last, it's Yuuji's turn to give his gift. He's kinda nervous, his palms are really sweaty and his heart is beating really fast. Why did he wait to go last? He should have pushed Gojo out of the way and made Megumi open his gift first.
"Here you go," Yuuji hands him a small, thin rectangular box, wrapped with a lot of love, but not a lot of finesse. "I hope you like it."
Megumi tilts his chin to the side and stares at him like he's an idiot. "Yuuji, of course I'll like it." He starts gingerly unwrapping the gift, which is quite a feat given Yuuji's shoddy wrapping job.
After a considerable amount of back and forth, Yuuji had Junpei help him take the digital file they'd made from the VHS tape Amanai helped them track down and turn that into a physical DVD. This performance was so hard to obtain — Yuuji wanted in as many different mediums and back-up locations as possible. Then he had Nobara help him photoshop a front and rear cover for the DVD case, to make it look extra professional.
So when Megumi gets through the wrapping paper, it looks like just a regular DVD case for a regular movie. He's got it kinda turned around, the back cover facing up. There's a short paragraph summarizing the plot of Manon and a couple of action shots from the performance. The most notable one is, of course, Gojo in a blindfold on stage. Yuuji see the second it starts to click for Megumi what this is, because he frantically flips the DVD case to the front, where he sees in big letters The National Ballet of Japan Presents Manon, Starring Gojo Satoru.
Megumi's eyes shoot up. Shock and disbelief written all over his perfect face. "No!" He gasps. "You didn't — how did you …" His eyes frantically search the gazes of everyone else in the room, trying to discern if this is real. If he's really holding what the case says he's holding. If this memory from his childhood has been made tangible and permanent.
It makes Yuuji's heart soar — with pride, with satisfaction, but most of all with love. He did it. He really pulled off something this special. Something that means this much to Megumi. It's almost a bigger gift to Yuuji than the performance is to Megumi.
Megumi holds the DVD case up toward Gojo. "Did you know about this?"
"Hey, don't look at me," Gojo shrugs, nestling into Geto's side. "This was all Yuuji and Suguru. They wouldn't tell me a thing, can you believe it?"
"What is it?" Tsumiki asks.
"It's … Manon — the one that Dad was in, I … I've looked for this forever, but could never find it. How did you do it?" His gaze is fixed solidly on Yuuji now, pinning him with a focus and intensity that makes his throat run dry.
"Well, I never really stopped looking for it after the first time you mentioned it, since I could tell it meant a lot to you. I tried to reach out to the National Culture Archive about it myself, but they wouldn't give em the time of day. But, I mentioned it to Geto one day, and he thought that maybe Amanai could help, so we went to their house for tea to see if there was anything they could do. An old friend of theirs runs the Archive now, so they were able to have them send over the VHS copy they have for their records. Apparently, it's the only copy in the world. Or was, until now."
There are exactly four seconds of stunned silence between when Yuuji finishes talking and when Megumi launches himself at Yuuji. Wrapping both arms around his middle and pulling him into a tight hug. Yuuji takes Megumi into his arms like air into his lungs, cradling his head with his hands and holding him close.
"Thank you," he whispers into Yuuji's chest. The hug turns bone crushing, but Yuuji doesn't mind. He just enjoys being held, and hugs Megumi back as hard as he can.
Over Megumi's shoulder, Yuuji can see Gojo and Geto whispering to each other softly. Gojo's lip is quivering, but he's clenching his jaw to compensate. His eyes give him away though, all glassy and unfocused as he watches his son. Geto sees it too, and smiles gently at his husband. He wraps an arm around Gojo's shoulder and rubs gently up and down his bicep. Gojo looks at Yuuji and mouths Thank you to him. Somehow, Yuuji's smile grows even bigger.
The pressure around Yuuji's middle subsides as Megumi comes back to himself. He looks around the room and asks, "Can we watch it right now?"
"It's your birthday, kid," Gojo says for the room. "We can do whatever you want."
Mimiko and Geto take that as their cue to start making popcorn for everyone, while Gojo sets up the DVD. Megumi watches the whole process over his shoulder, making sure he doesn't somehow scratch the DVD between taking it out of the case and putting it in the DVD player. It's only after Yuuji reassures him that he also has the performance saved on his laptop, on a flash drive at home, and made five other copies of the DVD (he is serious about not losing this) that Megumi's shoulders relax away from his ears and he's willing to be lead back to the couch.
He's immediately pulled into a conversation with Maki and Yuuta, who have a ton of questions about the performance, that Megumi is more than willing to answer. They've probably heard him mention this hundreds of times over the years, but those are a six year old's best recollections, filtered through the lens of a now highly trained dancer. Now they all get to experience the real thing together.
Yuuji sits by Megumi's side and hangs on to his every word. He doesn't understand a lot of the words (mostly because it's a lot of French), but who is Yuuji to miss out on a chance to watch Megumi talk about something he loves so much? The hurried pace of his words, filled with so much detail and specificity. The wrinkles around his eyes, pulled into existence by the muscles in his cheeks, forming his lips into a smile. The baring of his teeth, the ferocity of his love and the space for his laughter. All of it is dripping with passion. Yuuji loves seeing him like this. Yuuji loves him.
Everyone settles shoulder to shoulder on the various couches and chairs as Gojo presses play. Yuuji tries to watch the screen — he knows how much this means to Megumi and wants to be able to talk about it with him later — but, he can go back and study this performance as many times as he wants to now. The thing that can't be recreated is the look on his boyfriend's face as he gets to re-watch his dad dance in Manon for the first time since he was a toddler.
Getting to watch Megumi dance is incredible. He's so focused and dedicated and the love he has for it seeps into every move. This is Yuuji's first time getting to watch Megumi watch ballet though. Maybe it's just because it's this performance, but it makes him look younger. He gasps when someone lands a difficult leap. Leans in when there's a moment of drama. Giggles at the over the top pantomime. His eyes glitter, wide and unblinking, as Yuuji tries to take in as much of it as he can.
It animates him in a way that Yuuji has never seen before, but feels so lucky that he gets to. He loves every part of Megumi so much, but especially the parts that aren't for everyone. The parts that he gets to be selfish with.
They decide to stop after the first act because Megumi still has work tomorrow, and he, Yuuta, and Maki all danced a full show today, and everyone is feeling the exhaustion. Yuuta heads out first so he doesn't miss his train, giving everyone a bit hug before he goes. Megumi tries to help tidy up, but Yuuji insists he stays sitting exactly where he is on the couch. It's his birthday — no way in hell is Yuuji letting him clean up his own party.
Yuuji gathers up all the plates and cups and goes to join Geto in the kitchen. The two of them cook together enough to have found a routine when it comes to cleaning up. They wash and dry dishes in companionable silence, both enjoying the low hum of conversation and laughter drifting in from the other room.
"You know, Yuuji," Geto says as Yuuji hands him the last plate, "Satoru and I are both really grateful that you're part of this family. You make Megumi really happy."
I'm part of the family.
Yuuji does his best to respond, but it comes out all stuttered and embarrassing. Too overwhelmed by the sincerity of what Geto said to form actual, comprehensible sentences at a time like this. Geto just smiles gently at him, and Yuuji decides that maybe actions can speak louder than words.
Before long, it's time for everyone who isn't staying at the Gojo-Geto-Fushiguro-Hasaba Residence tonight to start hitting the road as well. Maki is still chatting with her cousins as Yuuji, Megumi, and Nobara finish saying their goodbyes and head to the entryway to put their shoes and coats on.
“Nobara, are you coming back to the apartment or are you going to Fumi’s?”
“Oh."
It's subtle, but Yuuji knows her too well not to catch it. The millisecond of hesitation — the little stutter in her movement. Something's up.
"Actually, Fumi is … busy tonight. So Maki took pity on me and said that I could crash on her couch so I didn't have to be subjected to you two all night.”
“Is that so?” Yuuji draws out the last vowel, obviously suspicious of how that happened.
“I will rain-check on her right now and blast loud music into your room all night. Do. Not. Test. Me.” She emphasizes each word by poking him in the chest.
This is decidedly Not a conversation Nobara wants to have right now. Every once of her body language screaming if you say another word, I am going to skin you alive and then use your bones to hex your boyfriend.
Unfortunately for her, Yuuji has absolutely no self preservation instincts, and keeps the same sing song-y tune as before. “Mmmmmmmm. Rain-check. Interesting.”
Nobara knows that she’s been caught – Yuuji's pretty sure she’s blushing, which he doesn’t think he’s ever seen her do. It knocks her off her game enough to grumble, “You’re lucky I like your boyfriend enough to think he deserves to get laid in peace on his birthday.”
“Ummm, thank you?” Megumi says with a furrowed brow.
“Whatever,” Nobara snaps before turning on her heel and walking outside, leaving Yuuji and Megumi to stare in stunned silence at the place she was just standing. Maki walks past them, puts her shoes on, goes outside, and doesn't say a word.
After about twelve seconds of staring blankly at each other, Megumi musters a short, "Huh," which pretty much sums it up.
"Well, it's probably for the best," Yuuji says as he holds the front door open for Megumi, gesturing for him to go first. Megumi rolls his eyes and walks out into the cold. He doesn't get far before Yuuji snags him by the wrist and pulls him closer.
"That means we'll have the whole apartment to ourselves. I get to take my time with you tonight." Goosebumps perk across Megumi's cheek as Yuuji's breath flutters over it. "And tomorrow morning."
"You're insatiable," he huffs, the picture of calm, cool, and collected. But Yuuji doesn't miss the way Megumi trembles at his promise.
"And you're really hot."
Yuuji's bright smile only widens as he sees the flush spreading across his boyfriend's cheeks. Megumi shoves him and starts walking to the car.
"What?!" Yuuji shouts from the porch. "It's true."
It's only when Megumi gets to his side of the car that he looks back at Yuuji.
"You coming or what?" He winks, then gets into the car.
They have to pull over seven minutes into the drive because Megumi doesn't know how to keep his hands to himself, and when it comes to taking his time, Yuuji is all talk.
/////
As households go, the Gojo-Geto-Fushiguro-Hasaba Residence, is laid back about most things. Unexpected house guests, spur of the moment redecorating, the timeline within which chores are completed, when meals were eaten, what time everyone woke up — pretty much anything that's ever come up over the sixteen years since Gojo and Geto took him and his sisters in.
Christmas morning is not one of those things.
His dads have spent years workshopping how their family spends Christmas, and they have it down to a finely tuned science. A curated list of bench marks that they will be hitting, no matter what.
Megumi had offered to give Yuuji a debrief on everything that spending Christmas with his family entailed. True to form though, Yuuji insisted on being surprised. Going into something without a plan doesn't intimidate him the way it does Megumi. He gently soothed all of Megumi's fretting with a reminder that he's over here all the time, and this one day of the year couldn't be that different from the other three hundred and sixty four.
He's wrong, of course, there's actually so many ways that this could go wrong. Megumi's family is a huge part of his life, and seeing how well Yuuji fits right in has meant more to him than he ever thought possible. It's just … this is their first Christmas together. One that will set the tone for all the Christmases they get to share together down the line.
It’s important.
Add on that Megumi stupidly decided to also make this the first time that his family will meet Yuuji's brother and his girlfriend after asking Choso for help with Yuuji's gift, and he's really created the ultimate stress test for himself. His nervous system has been a wreck all week, just thinking of all the ways his family could mess this up or that Megumi might ruin it himself. The company's physical therapist had even called him out for all the extra tension in his body when he went to his weekly PT session.
His sisters were the first ones he'd told about the idea when he had it, and once they knew, the three of them were adamant on seeing it through. Not letting Megumi back out, even if he wanted to. Which, was fine. Good, even. He could do this. He could make it through his first Christmas with his boyfriend and his boyfriend's family like a normal human being. He might just need a little help along the way.
He thought about re-invoking the Sibling Solidarity Pact of 2012, but Gojo and Geto had, somehow, not been acting any more weird than normal — even with the prospect of the extra people coming over for the holiday. Maybe that, or once he saw how happy it made Yuuji that everyone would get to be together on Christmas, Megumi almost believed that everything really would be alright all on his own. Even if his dads were a little weird.
Christmas Eve is definitely a red herring.
It's much closer to the usual ebb and flow of home. Yuuji gets there in time to help Geto make dinner. The two of them cook together so often that they have little routines, talking and laughing like old friends as dinner quickly comes together.
Being in the kitchen brings out just how attentive Yuuji is capable of being. He remembers little things. Like that Mimiko hates when different foods on her plate touch. That if there's a corner piece of anything, Nanako wants that one, where as the middle pieces are always Tsumiki's. More often than not, Megumi is content to sit off to the side and watch him and wonder how he got so lucky.
It's about then that Gojo barges in with everyone's matching Christmas pajamas — a garish red and green plaid that takes festive to an extreme that only he is capable of. They all change before dinner and enjoy a warm meal, made even warmer by the company it's shared with. The night ends with everyone curled up on the couches, watching Christmas movies and drinking hot chocolate. The only other light the soft glow of the multicolored bulbs on the Christmas tree.
As they settle into bed that night, Yuuji wraps an arm around Megumi's middle, kisses his neck, and whispers in his ear, "See, baby, it's just like I said. Everything is gonna be just fine. I love you so much." Megumi says it back, and falls asleep with a smile on his face.
His sleep is rudely interrupted by Gojo blasting Geto's record of Barbra Streisand's A Christmas Album at eight o'clock in the morning. The album opens with version of "Jingle Bells?" that's like a shot of adrenaline, even when you're expecting it. So, naturally, the surprise of it sends Yuuji tumbling out of bed and thudding to the ground.
"Good morning," Megumi murmurs, stretching to bring some blood flow to his muscles after being still for so many hours.
"Good morning," Yuuji parrots.
He stands and rubs at his tailbone, still sore from the fall. His enthusiasm is sweet, but, really, it'd be cruel of Megumi to not give him at least one more out.
"You still sure you wanna be surprised about how today goes?"
"Definitely!"
Yuuji opens the door to head downstairs and is too busy staring at Megumi to notice that the doorway is covered in wrapping paper and runs directly into it.
"What the hell?"
He's really cute when he's startled. His eyes get all big, which brings out the dimples around them. He lets himself feel so much unadulterated wonder — lets himself feel so much period. It's one of the many things Megumi loves about him.
"Why is there wrapping paper?"
"They started doing it when I was little," he shrugs. "I used to try to sneak out of my room at night to prove Santa wasn't real, and doing this was easier than having to hide from me all night."
"Oh, so you've always been like this."
"Like what?"
"The problem child."
Yuuji takes off at a sprint before Megumi can even finish shucking the covers off the bed to chase him.
Downstairs, Geto and Gojo are wearing their respective Mr. and Mrs. Claus aprons while they finish up breakfast. The music has been turned down to a regular volume now, filling the room with the soft sounds of piano and carols. His sisters are already awake, making sure that Yuuji gets his Santa hat and that Gojo doesn't accidentally cut himself trying to chop fruit.
Tsumiki takes over with the fruit after Gojo sneezes mid-chop and lets go of the knife, which falls to the ground, nearly slicing his foot open. They decide to relegate Gojo to the much less lethal task of gathering blankets for them to sit outside with.
"Hey, Megumi, can you grab the padded quilt for me? Should be in the hall closet."
"Yeah, Dad, I've got it."
Yuuji's eyes bulge out of his skull at hearing Megumi call Gojo Dad over something so small. He stares befuddled at the test of the family, and is even more confused when none of them are as startled by this as he is. Tsumiki leans over to him and whispers, "One of Megumi's Christmas gift to them every year is that he calls Gojo Dad and Geto Papa for the whole day."
It's another part of the day that's to embroiled in tradition to abandon. It's usually thing Megumi looks forward to least. Today's the first time he's done it without thinking.
The stack of pancakes threatens to topple as Geto sets the last one on the pancake plate before turning off the stove. Breakfast is mostly done at this point. Plates of scrambled eggs and bacon and pancakes and fruit waiting to be enjoyed. Geto lets Tsumiki handle the rest while he fiddles with the slow cooker and double checks that the roast is making good progress.
Yuuji starts setting the table on autopilot, taking the stack of plates from the counter and —
"Nope," Nanako chirps, picking up the plate Yuuji just set down, "Not today. Come on." She starts walking toward the door to the backyard without checking to make sure he's behind her. Yuuji blinks several times in rapid succession (which doesn't seem to do much to alleviate his confusion), but follows her anyways.
Mimiko is already outside getting the fire set up. Ever since she found out there were powders you could buy to turn fire different shades of green and pink and blue and red, she's insisted on being the one who gets to start the fire, the little pyromaniac.
Their backyard isn't anything extravagant. Just a small concrete patio with some planters and a fire pit. The small fire pit is the key detail for breakfast. They keep a haphazard mix of chairs around, just to be able to have breakfast by the fire every year.
The chill of the morning air, not yet warmed by the sun, sends a jolt of tightness through his muscles. The fire and the blanket he wraps around himself does a lot to keep away the cold. The heat of Yuuji's body, nestled against him on the bench they share, does even more.
Geto makes sure all the kids before going to take a seat next to Gojo.
"Where's my plate?" Gojo asks, perplexed when his husband sits down without any food for him.
"Plates are for people who have never lost anyone's birth certificate, Satoru," Geto replies pointedly. Whatever that means. Those two are always finding new ways to out-weird themselves. It does get a laugh out of Yuuji though, a punched and sudden thing.
Gojo hrumphs loudly, then goes to get his own plate.
"You do have our birth certificates, right?" Nanako asks. "Like, they're not still lost or anything?"
"Yeah," Gojo retorts, like it's obvious. "Now."
All four siblings stare open mouthed at their guardian. A man who has (apparently?!) lost all of their birth certificates.
"Didn't you say you had to get them all replaced though?" Yuuji, of all people, somehow jumps in to clarify. "So, if you never ended up finding them, then technically they're still lost."
How does Yuuji know what they're talking about? Does Yuuji hang out with his dads? Like, by himself? Megumi isn't sure if he should be grateful that they get along so well or if he should interrogate Gojo and Geto about anything embarrassing or off-putting they might have told Yuuji while he wasn't around.
Gojo has the gall to look scandalized at Yuuji. Yuuji. Yuuji who is perfect and has never done anything wrong and has — and this is crucial — never lost anyone's fucking birth certificate.
Laughter cuts through the chaos. Tsumiki's laugh. Bright and full, enough to shake her shoulders and toss her head back.
"Sorry," she wipes tears from her eyes, "It's just, this would really only happen to us."
The laughter turns contagious. Mimiko then Geto then Yuuji then Nanako then Gojo then Megumi himself. Swept up in the laughter. The way chorus of it swells as everyone's voices join in. Tsumiki is right, it's a situation that would simply not happen to anyone else's family. All he can do is laugh.
They're a weird family, but they're his weird family. Even in the weirdness there's still so much good to focus on.
Once all the plates are only crumbs, Geto gathers them all up and takes them inside. Megumi follows only enough to toss all the blankets inside, trading them for hats and scarves and gloves to disseminate to the group. He tosses cold weather gear at the sister he thinks the various items belong to, keeping two of everything for him and Yuuji. He wraps a scarf around his boyfriend's neck and relishes in the dazed smile that graces his lips as Megumi sneaks a kiss when no one's looking. The last thing they need is Geto's bag with his camera and tripod, then they're off for a walk.
It's starting to warm up some by the time they set off for a lap around the neighborhood. The sun is finally fully risen, bright beams of light haloing each of them.
Moving is a welcome relief. It helps the breakfast to settle, plus Megumi knows they won't be leaving the house for the rest of the day. His body has grown so used to the strain of dancing a full ballet every day, sometimes twice a day, that being sedentary makes him antsy. When he was still recovering from his injury and not allowed to dance, all he wanted to do was move. Anything to get out of his head and back into his body.
He's back there now, putting one foot in front of the other, trying to outpace the thoughts that come unbidden.
Choso and Tsukumo will be here soon. What if the two families don't get along and Yuuji decides they aren't a good long term match?
Megumi takes a step forward.
What if Yuuji hates his gift? What if he opens it and decides that Megumi actually doesn't know anything about him?
Megumi takes a step forward.
Or, worse, he opens it and tells Megumi that he's inserting himself somewhere he doesn't belong? What if —
Megumi takes a step forward, directly into Yuuji.
"Hey," Yuuji smiles. Tilts his head to one side. "Something wrong?"
Not when I'm with you. Never when I'm with you.
"No, I'm fine." Megumi takes Yuuji's hand in his and rubs small circles with his thumb as they continue down the path.
They all make it to the halfway point of the trail, where the big cedar trees are. The treeline is so dense, it almost feels like being in a forest as opposed to a suburb. They've taken a picture here every year since they moved into this house. It was right after they took in Nanako and Mimiko, so this marks year fifteen.
God, he's getting old.
They all are, really. Looking back at all the old pictures in front of these trees, it's easy to tell with Megumi and his sisters. Growing from kids into adults in their own right. But he's starting to see the changes in his dads, too. They were younger than Megumi is now when they became parents. Most of his lifetime has been spent watching them grow up.
There are new wrinkles settling in around Gojo's eyes. Small streaks of grey pepper Geto's long, dark hair. Sometimes when they get up from the couch, they groan or their bones creak in ways they never used to.
It's strange to see the years finally start to catch up to them.
"Megumi," Geto says.
He blinks away his thoughts at the sound of his name.
"Come on, it's picture time."
The tripod and camera are all set up facing the cedar trees, Geto standing by, ready to hit the button on the camera. His sisters, his dad, and Yuuji wait there for him, standing in a line. He goes to join them.
"Alright, kids," Geto presses the self-timer button on the camera. "Ten, nine, eight …"
Geto runs back to join the rest of their family.
"Seven, six, five…"
Yuuji wraps an arm around Megumi's waist.
"Four, three, two …"
And Megumi smiles.
"One!"
The camera flash goes off, capturing them all in this moment.
When he was little, all Megumi wanted to do was grow up. To become an adult and gain more Independence and prove to everyone that he was just fine on his own. There's nothing to run from now. Today, Megumi is happy exactly where he is right now. He doesn't want to rush this.
Even Gojo singing Christmas carols at the top of his lungs on the walk back doesn't seem so bad.
"So, what's with all the staying outside?" Yuuji asks, the sucks in sharply, all the air exhaled in a single breath as his next sentence spills out of him, "Not that I don't enjoy it or anything! I'm having a lot of fun. Today has been great. Just curious, is all."
"It was the only way we could keep Satoru from immediately opening all the presents," Geto chuckles. "Plus, it's good to get outside because you won't be leaving the house for the rest of the day."
Nanako sneers in response. "Don't say it like that. It makes you sound like a serial killer."
Choso and Tsukumo are pulling into their driveway just as the seven of them make it back from their walk. It's moments like these where the steady routine of the holiday is a boon for Megumi specifically. He was able to tell Choso exactly when they'd be back, and, since Choso shares Megumi's appreciation for being on time, he knew that's exactly when the other man would arrive.
"Choso!"
Yuuji takes off at a sprint towards his older brother. Pulling him and Tsukumo into a tight hug.
"Choso, Yuki, these are Megumi's sisters Nanako, Tsumiki, and Mimiko," he points at each of them in turn, "Then this is Megumi's dad Gojo."
He doesn't introduce Geto, which Megumi finds odd. It's not like Yuuji to forget something like that. Social situations are usually his forte.
An alarm on Geto's phone goes off, which can only mean, "Ah, lunch is ready," Geto says, before turning to the group, "Who's hungry?"
Yuuji and Gojo take off at a mad dash into the house. The rest of them have the decency to only walk with purpose.
The second Megumi crosses the threshold, the smell of pot roast and fresh vegetables from the kitchen overtakes him. Rich and savory and warm. Yuuji is batting Gojo's hands away from the Crockpot, trying to save him from himself because he will burn his hands if he tries to get some without a fork. Keen on preventing any trips to the hospital today, Yuuji takes it upon himself to start making everyone a plate. Ieiri cares about his dads a lot, but Megumi does not wanna test that by pulling her away from Iori on Christmas morning.
Megumi keeps a diligent eye on Choso and Tsukumo the whole time. Yuuji is catching up with his brother and basically-sister-in-law, of course, but Megumi wants to make sure that his family is including them too. It'd be weird if Yuuji was the only one talking to them all day. Megumi should —
Is that? Are Choso and Geto … laughing? That's — that's gotta be good, right? They seem happy.
He scans for Yuuji and finds him introducing Tsukumo to Mimiko and Tsumiki. Mimiko's eyes twinkle as she speaks rapidly, only stopping when Tsukumo says something or asks a question, which only spurs her on more. It makes sense that the two of them would get along, they're both researchers. Mimiko with a focus on history and Tsukumo with a focus on scientific inquiry, but their brains both have an analytic edge. Curious and discerning and fascinated by the way that things have been and therefore could be.
There's … it doesn't make Megumi weepy to see the two of them getting along so well. That's not why his throat is suddenly far to dry and his eyes are suddenly working overtime to blink this glassy feeling away. He just can't help but thinking about all the times him and his other sisters have worried over Mimiko. Have seen the ways other people take her quiet nature for granted and don't spend the time to look deeper to see how cool and smart she is — or worse, the people who are cruel to her for it. Who try to take her down a notch because they don't understand her. Right now, she shines by being her — bright and happy and fully in her element.
Instead of sitting around the kitchen table, they all take to the living room. Settling in on couches and chairs as Nanako puts a different record from Geto's collection on. Choso leaves for a second, then returns with several wrapped boxes in hand to place under the tree.
It's at about this point that Gojo starts to get truly antsy about not being allowed to open anything, so he takes the initiative to start passing around stockings. Taking them off the mantle two at a time and slinging them towards their owner.
"You'd think having guests over would make him more normal, but I suppose some things never change." Megumi overhears Geto whisper to Yuuji, which makes his boyfriend giggle to himself as he watches Gojo flit about the room. He's moved on to passing out presents to their intended recipient, a big stack forming on the floor in front of Megumi and Yuuji on the couch. Megumi watches to confirm that the gift he got for Choso and Tsukumo makes it to them safely, amidst Gojo's haphazard dissemination. It seemed rude to invite the two of them over and not have any gifts for them, so Megumi made sure there would be something for them.
Once the last present is handed out, Gojo plops down next to his husband and announces, "Alright, I don't care about you guys, but I'm opening presents."
He doesn't even finish the sentence before he's flinging a ribbon off his first box.
Nine people doing anything at once is bound to be chaotic, but opening presents is a whole other beast. There is gift wrap and ribbon and tissue paper flying in all directions, as Geto and Choso nobly take up the mantle of gathering all the trash into big, black trash bags.
Yuuji sits attentively as Megumi makes his way through his gifts. He isn't touching any of his gifts, but maybe that's how his family does Christmas. Megumi knows some households open gifts one at a time, but he doesn't want to risk making Yuuji feel weird about it by pointing it out. Besides, he seems happy now, smiling up at Megumi and asking him questions about different things he's opening and offering to hold things to make it easier for him. Megumi will just have to make sure he does the same for Yuuji when he's ready to open his gifts.
“Yuuji, you have presents in that pile, too." Geto says. "Don't let Megumi open them all."
“I do?!”
“Yeah kid, you’re part of the family," Gojo chuckles.
Between himself and Yuuji, Megumi isn't sure which of them blush more at Gojo's words. His easy inclusion of Yuuji as part of the family. There are so many reminders — little ways his family shows him that they care about Yuuji too and want him around. It just doesn't feel real sometimes. It's more than he ever thought he'd have — more than he ever thought he deserved.
Without thinking, Megumi reaches out and takes Yuuji's hand in his. There may still be days where it's hard to believe that this is all real. That he ended up lucky enough to be with Yuuji. But Yuuji is his. He is here, by Megumi's side because he wants to be. Not because Megumi is forcing him to or out of some twisted idea of obligation. He wants this just as much as Megumi does.
Yuuji finally takes a closer look at the pile and realizes that several of them are only addressed to him. He smiles with all his teeth as he tears through the wrapping paper, sending small pieces of it flying into the air. True to his word, Megumi is sure to pay attention to everything Yuuji opens, giving him the same attention he so freely gives Megumi.
The last gift in Megumi's pile is, very deliberately, his gift from Yuuji. When he looks over, it seems that Yuuji has done the same.
"Open yours first," Yuuji encourages.
All of Megumi's sisters are staring at him way too intently and gripping onto each others arms for dear life, which is weird. He takes the present, a pristinely wrapped green rectangle into his lap. It's much neater that all of the other things he's ever seen Yuuji wrap. Did one of them wrap this for him? Is that why they're all staring?
Megumi gingerly peels up one of the corners until he can slide the gift out into his hands. His first thought is that the shape and feel of it is almost familiar somehow. A dark, firm leather just beginning to make itself known. He finishes taking off the paper and —
He's definitely seen this before. His eyes dart to the shelf where they keep all of the scrapbooks he and his sisters made for Gojo a few Christmases ago. The thing — the scrapbook — in his hand is a perfect match to the others. The same dark leather exterior with gold details. The only difference is that the label on the side of this one just reads "Yuuji and Megumi".
Had Yuuji asked his sisters for help making this? The thought makes him smile.
Megumi opens the scrapbook and begins flipping through it. Each page is full of pictures of the two of them throughout their relationship. On dates, hanging out at home, after Megumi's shows. Snapshots of them existing together. In all of them, Megumi can't get over how happy the version of himself staring back is.
Towards the end, there are several blank pages, all with the same heading. The words "Nikko, February 13-15". Is that …
Yuuji is practically vibrating with excitement as Megumi finally looks over at him.
"Surprise," he grins. "I booked us a weekend getaway to Nikko! Nothing crazy — just two nights. But, it'll be you, me, alone in the mountains. Then, when we get back from our trip, we'll have a place to put all the pictures," he gestures to the scrapbook. There's something even more magnetic than normal about Yuuji right now. The fact that he's rambling, somehow, making him so, incredibly endearing.
"I was hoping to be able to go after the Nutcracker is finished, but before my last semester starts, but I'd promised Choso literally the week before that …"
Damn, only a week? Had Megumi and Choso really cut it that close?
"I would house sit for him and Yuki while they're away on vacation that first week of January, so I booked the tickets for February instead."
Choso and Megumi make eye contact from across the room.
"So, about that," Megumi starts. He has to wipe his suddenly far too clammy hands on the knees of his pants as he keeps talking. "The reason Choso is traveling in January is actually the same reason that you're traveling in January."
Yuuji scrunches his nose in disbelief, because, as far as he knows anyways, he isn't going anywhere in January. Megumi juts his chin, gesturing that Yuuji should maybe open his present right about now.
Yuuji scrambles to obey. Taking the small carbdoard box next to him, and unwrapping it to find four tickets to Sendai.
"Choso helped me with it," Megumi explains. "We called your grandpa together, and he's really looking forward to having everyone there together in the new year."
The gears in Yuuji's brain are spinning a mile a minute, eyes bouncing back and forth between Choso and Megumi.
Megumi's next words are a murmur. "You mentioned that the two of you haven't been able to visit him together in a little bit, and that you wanted me to meet him, too. So, I got tickets for the four of us to all go in January. This way we get to do both at once."
Is this ok? Does Yuuji like it? Is it the right thing to —
No. This is good. The way that Yuuji is smiling right now could never be wrong.
His next breath becomes a gasp as Yuuji pulls him into a hug that knocks the air from him. Megumi brings his hand up to caress the short hairs at the base of Yuuji's neck, pressing his face deeper into his shoulder.
Any choice that brought him here could never be wrong.
"Alright, we get it, you're in love," Nanako groans. "Can we make cookies now?"
Yuuji laughs and Megumi feels the hot hair brush across his cheeks.
"Sure thing." He gets up and goes to help her with the baking. Megumi catches Yuuji stealing even more glances than normal, watching him from over in the kitchen.
Before long, there are cookies in the oven, soft music on the record player, hot chocolate is in hand, their families are mingling, and all is right in the world.
There's tremendous comfort in the way that things falling into place doesn't feel like something slipping out of his fingers. He's not missing anything. He doesn't have to hold onto it so tight that it shatters in his hands, breaking and hurting, but calling it good because that means at least it'll stick around. He doesn't need to hope that the broken pieces of himself are easier to love because they're smaller. Megumi is made up of so many things, but they are all him. He is whole, and the whole is stronger than its parts. He doesn't need to be anything other than himself.
Everyone wants to be here. Everyone is happy here.
Megumi is happy, too.
Sometime later, long after the sun has set and the only lights on are the glow of the Christmas tree and flicker of candlelight, Yuuji pulls him off to the side.
"Hey," he whispers.
"Hey," Megumi whispers back.
"I just wanted to say thank you. The day, the gift, the … the all of it. I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas."
Megumi is ultra aware of Yuuji's hand in his. How close they are. The way his smile brings out the dimples by his eyes.
"You took the words right out of my mouth."
"Speaking of your mouth …"
Megumi rolls his eyes. "Yuuji."
(He still get surprised with how much can fit into a single name. How much gentle annoyance, how much curiosity, how much love.)
"It seems we've found ourselves under the mistletoe, and your mouth seemed awfully lonely."
Megumi follows Yuuji's gaze up toward the ceiling, where, sure enough, there's a small piece of mistletoe taped directly over their heads. He knows the traditions of this house like the back of his hand, and mistletoe isn't one of theirs. He wouldn't mind if it became one though. If he and Yuuji got to make their own traditions.
"Ah," Megumi intones, pulling his eyes away from the mistletoe and back to Yuuji, "If only there was someone who could fix that."
Yuuji kisses him, slow and gentle, and all Megumi can think is that he can't wait to do this again next year.