Chapter Text
“And you’re sure you’re okay with this.”
Shoto sighed into the phone, slightly annoyed. Even if it was sweet of Vox to worry, he’d asked Shoto this same question at least once per day for the past week. “Yes, okay? They’ll understand. It’s not the first Christmas I’ve spent away from them. I’ll probably fly home on the twenty-ninth, anyways.”
“But then we won’t be together for New Year’s.” The way Vox’s words came out made Shoto aware he was sulking.
Shoto stared at the ceiling in thought. “I need to go home, though. I told you, they don’t even know, Vox.” Shoto scratched his neck absently. It was still bruised with a bite, since Vox had left only a few days ago after helping with his heat. It was already the third one he’d spent with Shoto.
Vox made a humming noise. “And I’ve told you it’ll be fine. They like me, remember?”
“That’s true.” Shoto's family really had taken a liking to Vox surprisingly quickly. “But this is kind of a big deal, you know. Moving in together. I’m their youngest, so it might be weird now that I’ll be living with my…” Shoto trailed off, frowning. His what? He and Vox weren’t engaged, so they weren’t fiancés. But boyfriend didn’t seem like enough, with how long they’d been together. “My alpha,” Shoto decided. Yeah, his parents would definitely know how serious his and Vox’s relationship was if Shoto announced he planned to live with an alpha. Omegas didn’t make a decision like that lightly.
Vox chuckled. “You could’ve eased them into the idea a long time ago. I mean, we decided this…was it in September? Actually, wait. Doesn’t Mysta not know, too?”
Shoto bit his lip. It was true that he hadn’t told Mysta he’d be moving out in about a month.
The front door to the apartment suddenly burst open, and Shoto jumped about a foot in the air. He sat up on the couch to see Mysta himself stride in. His arms were weighed down with multiple bags with various brand logos, and he dropped them all onto the floor unceremoniously.
“Merry Christmas, bitch,” Mysta muttered, dusting off his hands. He didn’t seem to notice Shoto sitting in the living room. Mysta stuck his head out the door. “Luca! Is there more?” he called.
Shoto heard a muffled “I got it!” followed by a vague thud from outside.
“Fuckin’ell,” Mysta cursed before heading back out.
Shoto and Vox had gone silent while this encounter had occurred. “That didn’t sound good,” Vox remarked, even though this was a phone call and Vox had no idea what just happened.
“Yeah, I guess maybe I should tell him,” Shoto mused aloud, still caught up in his thoughts.
Vox snorted. “I mean, what, you still have maybe three, four weeks? Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?” he teased.
Shoto supposed he had waited a bit long. “Shut up.” He stood and stretched. “Alright. I’m gonna go. Unless you want to tell me what we’re going to be doing in two weeks?” he asked hopefully. Shoto was still trying to catch Vox off guard and figure out what he was planning. It was the start of December, and Vox had asked Shoto to clear his schedule from the twentieth through the twenty-seventh. Shoto had no idea what they’d be doing during that time, and he was endlessly curious.
“Good try.” Vox sounded amused. “I’ll call you in a few days. I love you, baby.”
Shoto frowned, unsatisfied. “Love you too,” he replied poutily.
“Baby,” Vox insisted. He always wanted Shoto to call him something embarrassing.
Shoto gave a small smile. “I’m hanging up now,” he answered good-naturedly.
“Ba-” Vox tried again, but Shoto hung up the call with a snicker. He burst into real laughter imagining how miffed Vox would be at that abrupt ending.
There was a vibration from his phone. Baby, Vox had texted, stubborn as always.
Shoto was still grinning. More like bastard, he retorted.
Vox sent him an image that fully expressed the depth of his discontent, and Shoto doubled over, curling up on the couch as he giggled.
“Still honeymooning, are we?” came a dry voice from the kitchen. Shoto sat up to see Mysta watching him and feigning annoyance. “I give you guys two whole weeks each November to be as cringe as you want while I’m not here, and then endure a week of your whining after he leaves, and now I still have to come home to this every day. The injustice of it all.” He shook his head in offense.
Shoto ignored him. “Who’s all that for?” he asked, pointing at the pile of bags on the ground.
“Me, dumbass.” Mysta gave a loud fox laugh at the expression on Shoto’s face. “I paid for them.” Shoto kept blinking up at him, more amused by Mysta’s growing annoyance that Shoto wasn’t laughing at his jokes than the jokes themselves. Mysta sighed and muttered something like, so underappreciated. “I’m done with all my shopping. I did most of it online, so I just had to pick a few things up.”
“Any of them for me?” Shoto asked, sitting up higher to examine the cluster of bags.
“Well, have you been good this year?” Mysta asked doubtfully. Shoto made a face. “Didn’t think so,” Mysta answered as if that settled the matter.
Shoto glared at him before continuing their conversation. “You’re done so early,” Shoto remarked. “You’ve really got the spirit this year.”
Mysta shrugged. “I’m too popular, that’s all. I’ve got too many friends, and then I need more gifts for when I go back home…” he sighed as if he bore a terrible burden. “It’s a hard life, really.”
Shoto nodded sympathetically. “It must be tough being you.”
Mysta agreed. “Unfortunately, we can’t all just get whisked away for a week by our handsome, strong alphas to ignore the rest of the consumerist world…”
Shoto narrowed his eyes. “Whisked away where?” he asked slowly. Maybe Mysta knew.
Mysta shrugged unsuspectingly. “Fuck if I know. Maybe he’s taking you to the UK again. Or…lots of people go on cruises this time of year, right? Or–” his eyes got big and his jaw dropped, and Shoto leaned forward expectantly. “Disney World.”
Shoto gave a quiet laugh. “You’re an actual child.” He sighed, staring down at a loose thread on the couch. He tugged it between his fingers. “I just wish I knew…”
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On the eighteenth of December, Vox received a text from the owner of the cabin rental letting him know his and Shoto’s reservation was confirmed for the twentieth. Vox sent him back a quick thanks as he packed his suitcase. He had to leave for his flight soon, and he was in a bit of a rush.
Underwear, pants and shirts, oh, and he definitely needed the winter coat, and those thicker shoes…he ran down the list. Eh, he had most of the important stuff, and his suitcase was full, anyway. He checked his carry-on next. It contained his laptop, toiletries, and a few other items like chargers and winter accessories such as a hat and gloves. Maybe there was room to stuff an extra pair of socks in one of the pockets. He unzipped one in a hurry, knowing he should be heading out the door… he checked his watch. Three minutes ago. Fuck.
A small package peeked out of the pocket, and Vox’s eyes widened. If he had accidentally left this, then he’d really be fucked. It was a simple red box with a white bow, but there was something very important inside.
That box was the real purpose of this trip. He wondered if Shoto had figured it out already.
Normally Vox wasn’t this disorganized, but this vacation was stressing him out more than just a little. He quickly zipped up the pocket after making sure the red box was secure, and even then, he gave it a pat through the fabric of the backpack. He made a final check of the apartment, verifying that the oven was off and the lights were out, and then he grabbed his bags before heading to the door.
He stood in the dark entryway and glanced around once more. The next time he came in here, the ring in that red box would hopefully be on Shoto’s finger.