Carolers on the Street

Title: Carolers on the Street
Author: Zanthra
Pairings: 1+2
Warnings: Shounen ai, fluff
Notes: ‘Carol of the Bells’ has always been my favorite Christmas carol and I finally got to sing it with our
choir this year. The idea for the story came during rehearsal one day and I managed to get it finished in
time for Christmas. It’s not been betta’d since I typed it, but it has had a spell check.
Feedback: Yes please!
Dedicated to Mistress Tsunami. It wouldn’t have been ready on time without your pushing. ^_^v

Christmas came on a dark night that year. Not that it was dark inside the apartment, mind you, but
outside… The thick black seemed to envelop even the merry glow of the Christmas lights. That didn’t
mean that the hustle and bustle of the streets diminished any though. Last minute shoppers shuffled from
store to store, their heavy bags slowing progress and crowding up the sidewalks. Young couples with
sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks held hands as they stood whispering in sheltered doorways or dashing
through the newly falling snow. The shops closed early like they always do on the eve, and upon
observation, looked like a bunch of flickering lightning bugs slowly blinking and going out.
It was six o’clock before they came- the carolers. They’d line up in merry bunches, under a lamp post and
sing in three and four part harmonies, as the passers by laughed and smiled, or stopped to listen, partake, or
request an old favorite.
The evening wore on. It snowed heavier, the flakes getting large and fluffy. Outside the window, frosted
slightly now, the last few people scurried along the slowly icing sidewalks. And the carolers? They’d
moved on as well- probably to entertain somewhere with more people. Somewhere not too far away
though, since the wind carried snippets of melodies to me, even here in my lonely window.
Heero got up from his perch at the window and made his way across the cool wooden floor of his living
room. His bare feet made hollow little shuffling noises as he walked, but they were barely audible against
the crackle of the cedar wood logs burning in the fireplace. The light given off by the flames filled the room
with warm reds and yellows and soft browns. But the color and warmth never seemed to touch the room’s
occupant. Instead, Heero stood out in stark contrast to his surroundings. His loose white pajama pants tied
low on his hips and he wore a half-buttoned oxford shirt, the sleeves rolled to his elbows, to cover his torso.
His mission on this snowy evening: Hot chocolate. Duo used to make it during the war when he was able to
get the ingredients; nothing but the real thing would cut it for Duo. Or for him either.
He moved through out the kitchen and a pile of ingredients accumulated on the counter. Milk, chocolate
syrup, malt powder, whipped cream, cinnamon… He could remember the first time he’d tried Duo’s hot
chocolate. At the time the sugar shock had been tremendous and he’d managed to burn his tongue in the
process of tasting it. It was on of the things that had grown on him, though. His lips quirked slightly at the
corners as he remembered Duo’s smile and laughter at the face he’d made. The cup was slightly hot in his
hands and he walked slowly back into the other room.
//Hark! How the bells, sweet silver bells

All seem to say, "Throw cares away." //
Another snippet; A haunting melody. He settled back into his chair, blanket and hot chocolate in hand,
contented to watch the white crystals drift from the sky.
//On, on they send, on without end

Their joyful tone to every home //
Heero dosed in his chair. He wasn’t exactly sure why he didn’t just go to bed, since he wasn’t’ planning on
doing anything for the evening. He just couldn’t though out and didn’t really know why... In the back of his
mind, he knew he was hoping Duo would drop by. The other man hated being alone at times like these;
times when the world wouldn’t stop reminding him of the family he didn’t have. It didn’t have to be that
way though…
//Hark! How the bells, sweet silver bells

All seem to say, "Throw cares away." //
Heero frowned, puzzled. They were too loud to be anywhere but in the hall outside. His bare feet padded
across the wooden floor once more that evening.
//Christmas is here, bringing good cheer

To young and old, meek and the bold

Ding, dong, ding, dong, that is their song,

With joyful ring, all caroling

One seems to hear words of good cheer

From everywhere, filling the air

O, how they pound, raising the sound

O'er hill and dale, telling their tale

Gaily they ring, while people sing

Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here!

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas!

On, on they send, on without end

Their joyful tone to every home//
The group at the end of the hall disbanded with the sharing of hugs and warm wishes. They walked away in
groups or pairs and the people who had come out to the corridor to hear slowly filed back through their
respective doors.
Heero continued to stand there as the others left, lightly sipping his hot coco. As he leaned against his
doorframe he scanned the crowd, searching… There was someone there he knew, or, at least, he thought
there was. Someone whose voice he recognized. Blue-violet eyes suddenly caught his own and he smiled
for the first time that evening. A silent smile- a real one- just for Duo. The braided man smiled back, still
wishing those who were left a Merry Christmas and a safe trip home.
Once the last one was gone, they stood alone in the short corridor.
“Would… Do you want to come inside?” Heero asked, another smile ghosting across his lips.
“Um, yeah. It you don’t mind that is.” Duo’s _expression was open, unguarded, as he made his way toward
the door and his friend.
“Come on. If I had minded, I wouldn’t have asked.” Duo laughed as they made their way into the warmth
of the apartment. Neither noticed as the wind continued to stir the snow outside the window. The flakes
stuck, now, to the frosty panes of glass, spotting the darkness with shimmering white. No more carolers
were heard in the streets.

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