Chapter Text
“That’s our Winter’s Crest wish for you!”
The chorus of children's voices wobbles all around the final note before landing on it and holding it as Dorian mouths the words along with them before cutting them off, the final notes of the piano sound beside him and he holds his hands out for the kids to stay still on the risers and to keep smiling. The piano stops and raucous applause breaks out as Dorian smiles widely as the kids start wiggling and waving. He quickly steps aside to gesture to the kids and lead them in a bow, some of the older ones remember they’re supposed to clap for Ms. Nell on the piano when she stands up to bow. Dorian scans the crowd and sees Cyrus standing and clapping wildly next to Orym who’s whistling loudly over the crowd’s cheers. Dorian motions for the kids to all sit down on the risers they’re standing on, miming capturing a bubble in his mouth and clasping his hands in front of himself and pointing for them to do the same, moving aside to keep an eye on the obviously excited kids as Nell walks to the front of the small stage, pulling out a few notecards.
“Thank you all for joining us this afternoon!” The applause erupts again and she waves it back down. “We’re so happy you all could make it. A Zephrah tradition we wouldn’t trade for the world. There’s a few people I want to thank before we return your little angels to you and chaos ensues.” Laughter ripples over the audience. “First of all: our wonderful mayor and her entire team, Keyleth, for making sure we have everything we need to set up each year, the space is available, making sure everyone’s permits are good and we don’t get bogged down in paperwork and we just get to enjoy the magic of the season.”
Keyleth stands up and waves to the applause and sits back down quickly, face turning pink.
Nell moves to the next flashcard. “Fearne for providing all of the wonderful floral decorations, darling you are magical, I’m convinced. She and Opal spent all day setting up every piece of decor you see here, please give them all of your compliments - I had nothing to do with it.”
Fearne and Opal both stand and wave, giggling at the applause, blowing a few kisses before sitting back down.
Nell stuffs her cards back in her pocket. “Next I want to thank my wonderful son-in-law, Orym, for building the set you see behind me and redoing the risers. I don’t know if you noticed the lack of squeaking this year - that was intentional. Normally he has help but our sweet Dariax has been down for the season so Orym had to share my assistant, who knows more about music than stagecraft.”
Orym half stands and waves before sitting back down quickly, Nell shaking her head as the applause continues for longer than Orym was standing.
Nell turns back slightly and looks at Dorian, who is motioning for one of the kids to be quiet just a little longer and smiles.
“And finally, I’d like to give some thanks to my assistant Dorian.” Dorian looks up wide-eyed. “He came over for dinner and left with the knowledge he was going to have to deal with me everyday until almost Winter’s Crest and he didn’t pack up and leave town. He helped pick music, wrangled the kids, directed, and that was after spending the day helping our Orym up on the mountain. He came here for a vacation and we put him to work and he never once complained, he just jumped right in.”
The audience bursts into applause and cheers as Dorian blushes and waves slightly.
Nell looks out at them all and smiles. “So come back tonight if you would like to hear his angelic voice as we close out the festivities. All right, now who wants their kids back?”
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Dorian walks beside Orym with Willow up on his shoulders as they crunch across the snow packed gravel of the town square where booths are set up.
Dorian squints at the offerings. “Hm. Do we want regular hot chocolate, mint hot chocolate, caramel hot - Orym, why are there so many different hot chocolate options?”
Orym laughs and pats his back and points at the sign that advertises flights from the different booths. “It’s the Zephrah Winter’s Crest festival, Dorian. We take our hot chocolate seriously here. You live here long enough, you come up with your own flair on hot chocolate and open a booth and put your own version into the running. We vote on our favorites. Some towns do chili cookoffs, we do this.” He looks up at Dorian’s awestruck face and smothers another laugh, tugging the stunned man’s face down to press a kiss to his cheek. “I’ll get us a couple flights, how’s that sound?”
“Okay,” Dorian breathes, still in awe at the rows of hot chocolate booths in front of him.
Orym squeezes his arm. “Grab us a table, I’ll be over, yeah?”
Dorian blinks and nods, scanning for an empty spot to sit down, looks up at Willow who is patting his head, lost in her own little world. “Hey munchkin, do you see an empty table we can sit at?”
She looks around and points to a table he’d noticed as well and they make their way in that direction, Dorian lowering Willow down to let her run ahead, smiling back at her when she climbs up on the bench and lays flat to reserve it. He comes up and tickles her tummy gently, laughing back when she giggles.
“I think we’re good, Willow. You can sit up.” She sits up and he helps brush snow out of her hair. “Did you have fun singing today?”
“Yep!”
“Well that’s good. Hey got a question for you.”
She wiggles around and looks up at him expectantly. He smiles. “Would you like it if I stayed around town for a while?”
Willow tilts her head in confusion.
Dorian continues. “Like, if I didn’t go back to my old home after Winter’s Crest and stayed in Zephrah with you and your daddy?”
Willow wiggles in excitement. “Stay in my house?”
Dorian smiles and boops her nose. “No, princess. I’ll have my own house, like your grandma does or Uncle Dariax. You can come visit me there or I’ll come visit your house?”
Willow frowns for a moment. “Everyday?”
Dorian’s heart leaps. “Most days, probably.”
Willow thinks for a moment before launching herself at Dorian and hugging him. “Okay!”
Dorian quickly wraps her in a hug so she doesn’t fall and closes his eyes in relief.
Orym’s voice cuts through the general noise of the festival. “Wow, what’s a guy gotta do to get a hug like that from his little girl?”
Dorian turns to see Orym walking up carrying two flights of miniature hot chocolate cups and smiles.
“Dorian stay!”
Orym’s eyebrows raise and he sets the flights on the table. “Oh yeah?”
Dorian settles Willow back on the bench next to him. “I was asking if she’d be alright with me sticking around after the holiday. Apparently she likes having me around or something.” He grins.
Orym’s eyes dart around and seeing no one pay attention to them, he leans down to steal a quick kiss, bringing a squeal from Willow and a contented sigh from Dorian. “Well, if we’re voting - I vote you stay too.”
The key in Dorian’s pocket weighs heavily but they’d agreed to do presents later and he simply smiles and pulls Orym back in for a lingering kiss before turning back to the hot chocolate on the table.
“Alright, tell me what we have here.”
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Dorian sets up on the small stage, feeling more nervous before a show than he’s ever felt in his life. Cyrus is behind him on the piano and clocks the pale face, scooting around the ancient upright and grabbing his brother’s shoulder.
“Hey, you alright?” He asks worriedly.
Dorian nods jerkily. “Yeah, I’m - I’m fine. This place just means a lot. If they hate my music, I still have to face them in the morning.”
Cyrus scans the festival that is slowing down and quieting as children tire and some families head home and the rest are gathering around the stage once more. “I get that, but also - they already love you so even if they hate you you’ve already built up a grace boundary. If the vibe is bad, we cut after a few songs. It’s just a few Winter’s Crest carols.”
Dorian nods absently, taking a deep breath before side-eyeing him. “That is the worst advice. That shouldn’t have been comforting, I hate you.”
“You love me.”
Dorian rolls his eyes. “Did you get the chords for the new song?”
Cyrus nods. “Spent some of the afternoon working on it. I got it bro, no worries.”
Nell walks onto the stage. “Alright, boys, are you ready?”
The brothers nod at her, go through their elaborate pre-show handshake before parting ways on the stage - Cyrus behind the piano and Dorian to the center, tying his hair up.
Nell walks up to the microphone. “Well my friends, welcome back. This year we are beyond lucky to have not just our Dorian leading us through some Winter’s Crest songs but also his brother Cyrus who surprised us all with a visit.” Cyrus grins, winks, and waves from behind the piano, blowing a kiss to Nell. Dorian rolls his eyes. “Dorian, take it away.” She gestures for Dorian to step up as applause breaks out.
Dorian motions for Cyrus to begin playing as he steps up. “Hey there, thanks for inviting me. Let's all sing along.”
Dorian leads them all through several classic songs and as the list comes to a close, he grabs his guitar.
“You’ve all been just wonderful. Not just tonight but from the moment I came to town, you all welcomed me with open arms. I’ll be forever grateful for each and every one of you and what this place means to me. For so long, I simply dreamed of visiting the beautiful pictures I saw online. Zephrah, I am pleased to report: reality is so much sweeter. So if you’ll indulge me, I’d like to do one more song. It’s a tribute to the home you’ve built here and my thanks to you in the way I know best.”
He turns and nods at Cyrus and the opening notes to Mountain Home begin to play and when the song is done, the gathered audience is silent for a beat before erupting into applause and cheers, wiping away tears as Dorian whispers a thank you into the microphone once more and fading into the shadows.
Nell returns to the stage, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. “Well, that was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard.” Her voice is wobbly. “Dorian Storm and his brother Cyrus, everyone. Thank you once again boys for making our night so magical. Alright, everyone get home safe and enjoy your families. I don’t wanna see you until after the holiday.”
The crowd cheers and laughs, beginning to disperse as Nell rushes back and hugs Dorian tightly. “Thank you, dear. Are you staying with Fy’ra or Orym for the holiday, sweetheart?”
Dorian hugs her back. “Both, ma’am. I’m splitting my time. I’ll be with Orym and then when Orym’s heading over to everyone else’s I’ll be with Fy’ra and Cyrus and Dariax.”
Nell pats his cheek. “Well, know you’re welcome to join him at our place.”
Dorian smiles. “Thank you.”
She hugs him one last time and disappears into the night. Dorian finishes packing up his instruments and when he leaves the stage, Orym is waiting holding a sleeping Willow curled into his neck.
“Hi,” Dorian says, stopping and freezing the image in his head so he can remember it always, before stumbling forward from Cyrus not paying attention and crashing into him. “Cyrus! Seriously!”
Orym smirks and hides his laugh behind a glove as Cyrus looks up apologetically, looks at Orym then Dorian and a knowing look crosses his face. “Sorry, I’ll just - see you tomorrow, dude.” He winks, grabs Dorian’s guitar, and begins walking towards Fy’ra’s place.
Dorian sighs as Orym loses the battle and laughs out loud and walks over to Dorian, grabbing his hand and tugging him to his truck. Between the two of them, they get Willow buckled in.
Orym closes the door gently and shoves his hands in his pockets, looking up at Dorian. “I was going to see if you wanted to come over? Since you’re coming over in the morning, it would just save a trip you know. But if you’re wanting to spend time with your brother I mmph - ”
Dorian crowds him against the truck, catching the back of his head so it doesn’t hit and capturing Orym’s cold lips under his, pressing up against him, letting himself kiss Orym the way he’s been wanting to all day. He feels Orym’s hands slide under his coat and up his back and shivers, tilting his head to deepen the kiss, licking into Orym’s mouth, warmth blooming between them as Orym groans when Dorian moves press a kiss under Orym’s scarf, nimble fingers undoing the knot that kept the mountain wind from blowing it away all day.
“Okay, so you are coming over? Cause if not, this is a hell of a goodnight kiss, sweetheart.” Orym pants.
Dorian looks up from where he’s been teasing Orym’s earlobe. “If I haven’t made it clear I’m coming over Orym, I must not be trying hard enough.” He rolls his hips into Orym’s and they both gasp. Orym pulls him back in for a heated kiss that is soon interrupted by a voice and bright light shining across the parking lot.
“Hey, you kids! Save your necking for another night. Get on home now!”
The pair spring apart and squint at the bright flashlight pointed at them.
Orym waves sheepishly, straightening his coat and scarf. “Sorry Harland, we’ll get out of here!”
“That you, Orym? If I gotta tell your Ma I caught you fooling around in the parking lot again…”
“No sir, we’re heading out. Have a Happy Winter’s Crest, sir!” Orym calls out and opens the passenger door for Dorian, who is blushing furiously.
Orym hops into the driver's seat and they look at each other and burst out laughing. He begins the drive home and after a few moments Dorian looks over.
“‘Fooling around in the parking lot again’?”
Orym turns bright red. “Oh shut up.”
____________________
Early the next morning, Dorian sits on the couch, coffee cup in hand, sleepily watching the fire dance in the fireplace. Orym returns to the living room, scoots in beside him and Dorian shifts so he can lean against him, Orym’s arm wrapped around him.
“Willow still asleep?” Dorian asks quietly.
Orym huffs a small laugh. “Yeah, she’d tossed her blanket halfway across the room so I covered her back up. We’ve probably got an hour before she wakes up.”
Dorian hums and nuzzles into Orym’s chest. “Great, we can go back to sleep.”
Orym runs his fingers through Dorian’s hair. “Or I could give you your present now?”
Dorian sits up. “What?”
Orym pulls him close and drops a kiss on his lips. “You are so cute in the morning. Drink your coffee, I’ll get your present.”
Dorian takes a sip of coffee and watches him walk to the tree, coughing on the liquid when Orym squats down to search for the box amongst the pile of gifts for family and friends. Orym comes back and places a long box in Dorian’s lap.
Dorian blinks at it and Orym takes the coffee cup gently from him. “Go on.”
Tearing away the paper, it reveals a box that he opens to find a stringed instrument inside, curved like an hourglass and delicately carved with clouds and a forest. He pulls it out and holds it softly, running a gentle hand up the neck before strumming across the strings, the twang coming from them calling to something deep inside him.
He looks up at Orym. “It’s beautiful, I don’t know what it is, but it’s beautiful!”
Orym blushes and his hand goes to the back of his neck. “It’s a mountain dulcimer. Somewhat simple to make if you know what you’re doing and I got some help from a guy on the next mountain over that makes mandolins. It probably needs tuning and we'll have to find a case for it but…” He trails off.
Dorian looks at him in awe, looks down at the instrument in his lap, and back up at Orym. “You made this?”
“Well, yeah, you’re a mountain man now. Thought maybe you could experiment with the sounds that come from here.”
“Orym, I’m - I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much,” he stammers and reaches out, leaning over the wrapping paper scraps and dulcimer to kiss Orym. "I have something for you too. I didn't make it. It's not - well. Hold on."
He gently sets the dulcimer back in the box and sets it aside, standing to go to his coat pocket. He comes back with a small box and hands it to Orym.
"It's - oh just open it." Dorian presses his hands to his cheeks, willing them to cool down.
Orym wiggles the lid off and looks at the key nestled inside. His eyes dart up to Dorian's.
"I bought a house," Dorian says in a rush. "I'm in. I'm here. I'm staying. Forever. For as long as you'll have me and I want you to be part of it too. I've never had a home before. But here, in Zephrah, with you and Willow I feel like I finally know what home is and I want to continue to explore that with you both. So, um, come over whenever?”
Orym gently sets the box on the coffee table and straddles Dorian's lap, taking Dorian’s face in his hands. "I love you so much Dorian."
Dorian's hands fist in Orym's t-shirt. "I love you. I love your little girl. And I really want to know what life looks like with all of us together."
Orym smiles and runs a gentle thumb over Dorian's cheekbone. "I think we can arrange that."
He'd barely leaned in to kiss Dorian's waiting lips when footsteps stampede down the hall and into the living room. Orym barely has time to roll beside Dorian on the couch and they are still mostly tangled up and smothering laughter when Willow appears in the living room, dragging her blanket and blinking sleepily.
"Snuggles!" Willow demands and leaps into the middle of the two of them, situating herself for maximum snuggles with both.
Dorian looks over her messy pigtails to Orym. "What happened to an hour?" He whispers.
Orym just shrugs with amusement as Willow nuzzles into her blanket, yawning and eyes drooping like she might fall back asleep. Dorian shifts them all slightly, tangling his legs with Orym’s and allowing him to rest his head on Orym's chest, sighing contentedly.
None of this was in the plan when he took a chance a couple months ago and hopped on a plane, but as small hand rests on top of his and and strong arm holds him close - he knows he wouldn't have traded this new direction for anything.