For allbingo
Dec. 23rd, 2021 01:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyofleithianTitle: May All Your Troubles Soon Be Gone
Summary: Ben is the heir to Santa Claus, and Poe is an elf. They still manage to find comfort in a cocoa shop the day before Christmas Eve.
Prompt: Elves
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author’s Notes: Trigger warning for brief implications of child abuse. I didn’t expect this to get a little dark in places, but I guess the fact 2021’s been a rough year for me in places has a lot to do with it.
Title from “Christmas Lights” by Coldplay.
The elves of Santa’s workshop were not what one would expect from Christmas specials. Poe actually remembered how Rose Tico had complained about the Rankin Bass Rudolph special, and how it all but demonized certain elves. “I mean,” she lamented, “Do you really think that Santa himself would be so callous as to just exclude Rudolph just because of his nose? And do you think we’d be so callous to exclude Hermie for wanting to be a dentist? Burl Ives is a doofus!”
Poe had found her rant funny — as had Rose’s girlfriend, Jannah — while also conceding that they had points.
Even as the elves worked at their stations, working on the toys to bring the children, Poe couldn’t help but notice Ben looking over at him.
Ben was the heir to being the next Santa Claus — the current position being filled by his uncle, Luke. Luke did a good job, though sometimes Poe got the impression that he was getting exhausted with the job. Hence, why he was planning on handing it over to Ben.
Sometimes, though, Poe thought that the young man he’d been friends with since they were both children was already stressed by the expectations.
Poe couldn’t say he really blamed him.
He raised his eyes to meet Ben’s, and he was struck by how Ben looked more tired lately. Quite tired, now that Poe thought about it. Now that Poe thought about it, he wished there was a way to make Ben feel better.
As if sensing Poe’s worry for him, Ben winked at Poe. Poe sent him a quick smile in turn.
***
Eventually, work hours were over, and Luke got to inspect the elves’ work — including Poe’s. “They look nice,” he said. “Bit of an unusual choice in building a shuttle, Poe.”
“A kid named Kaz asked for it.” They had certain lists that the children sent in, things that they wanted for Christmas. Kaz had asked for a toy shuttle. Poe couldn’t say he disagreed; Kaz sounded like someone he’d exactly want to be friends with. Just the right kind of unconventional.
“It looks nice,” Luke said.
“Well, of course it does, Uncle,” Ben said. “Poe’s good at that sort of thing.”
Despite himself, Poe could swear his cheeks were heating up faster than a fireplace. Next to him, Rose suppressed a giggle at his predicament.
Thanks for the support, Rosie, Poe thought sarcastically.
***
It was after the elves were let out for the night that Poe stayed behind to talk with Ben. “I was thinking,” Poe said. “Not that I want to bug you, but how do you feel about going for some cocoa with me?”
“I could use it,” Ben said. “I could use a break.”
***
The Hoth Cafe at the North Pole was said to have some of the finest cocoa out there, and even as Poe ordered his cocoa, Ben ordering his, Poe was reminded that it was the day before Christmas Eve. To think time had gone by so very fast…
2021 had been a pretty stressful year for humanity. Poe was glad, at least, that he didn’t live among humanity, that he was an elf. He couldn’t imagine having the stresses of being a human — when the entire universe seemed to be out to crush your spirit. No wonder humans acted frequently in ways that were the antithesis of Christmas.
Then again, that wasn’t fair. He was sounding a little like Luke on his bad days. Humans could be flawed, but they could also have remarkable feats of heroism and ingenuity and compassion. Shara Bey, Poe’s late mother, had said that humanity had plenty of potential to be great, that they were generally a noble species, and Poe couldn’t disagree with that.
Even as they sat with their cocoas, Poe’s being peppermint, Ben's being plain, Poe finally got to venture a question. “How are you feeling?”
“Bit tired,” Ben said. “Training to be the next Santa…it’s a bit draining.” A wry smile. “Plus, I don’t think I’d be a good Santa Claus. I’d terrify children.”
“You think too little of yourself.”
"Probably.” Ben sighed. “I’m worried for Uncle Luke. Some of the stuff he gets…I think it’s getting to him. There was one request from a kid named Temiri. He apparently wanted his foster dad to 'get better'. Something about that bastard abusing him…”
“That’s awful!” Poe exclaimed.
“I know.” Ben’s fists clenched under the table. “People don’t get this about being Santa Claus: I don’t think there was a single person in the role who didn’t want to see children and adults alike happy. And…I feel everything. It’s not mine, but it feels like it’s mine…”
Poe reached towards Ben, cautiously.
Hesitantly, Ben reached towards Poe, his fists seeming to unclench.
“I think it’s the small things that matter,” Poe said. "We're making people’s lives better. Just through the small things, like helping someone along the way. We can’t fix the world all at once, Ben — trust me, I know how you feel; I feel it all the time.”
“Doesn’t it drive you mad?”
“I’m coping with it. I just…don’t want anyone to suffer. Including you.” Poe knew that the next thing he was about to say was rash, drastic. In the atmosphere that simply felt like Christmas, it felt like the most rational thing to say. “I love you, Ben. I don’t want to see people I love unhappy.”
Ben actually looked taken aback, eyes widening and almost vulnerable, his full lips seeming to quiver. Then, “Poe…you know you’re too good for me.”
“You’re more than good enough.” Poe took Ben’s hand. “I love you. I think I always have, when we were both kids. Even with the madness. I know that it’s a lot. Me being an elf, you being Santa’s heir…”
Ben beamed. “I love you too, you know. With all my heart. And I don’t recall there being a rule against there being a ‘Mr. Claus'. If there is,” and here, a mischievous spark came into his eyes, a spark Poe loved, “I can change it.”
They kissed there. It didn’t need mistletoe to happen, though Poe could only assume that mistletoe would be a nice touch.
(And Temiri…they made sure to rescue him on Christmas Eve and send him to live with his much more loving aunt and uncle. Everyone deserved a good Christmas, and happiness, after all)
Summary: Ben is the heir to Santa Claus, and Poe is an elf. They still manage to find comfort in a cocoa shop the day before Christmas Eve.
Prompt: Elves
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author’s Notes: Trigger warning for brief implications of child abuse. I didn’t expect this to get a little dark in places, but I guess the fact 2021’s been a rough year for me in places has a lot to do with it.
Title from “Christmas Lights” by Coldplay.
The elves of Santa’s workshop were not what one would expect from Christmas specials. Poe actually remembered how Rose Tico had complained about the Rankin Bass Rudolph special, and how it all but demonized certain elves. “I mean,” she lamented, “Do you really think that Santa himself would be so callous as to just exclude Rudolph just because of his nose? And do you think we’d be so callous to exclude Hermie for wanting to be a dentist? Burl Ives is a doofus!”
Poe had found her rant funny — as had Rose’s girlfriend, Jannah — while also conceding that they had points.
Even as the elves worked at their stations, working on the toys to bring the children, Poe couldn’t help but notice Ben looking over at him.
Ben was the heir to being the next Santa Claus — the current position being filled by his uncle, Luke. Luke did a good job, though sometimes Poe got the impression that he was getting exhausted with the job. Hence, why he was planning on handing it over to Ben.
Sometimes, though, Poe thought that the young man he’d been friends with since they were both children was already stressed by the expectations.
Poe couldn’t say he really blamed him.
He raised his eyes to meet Ben’s, and he was struck by how Ben looked more tired lately. Quite tired, now that Poe thought about it. Now that Poe thought about it, he wished there was a way to make Ben feel better.
As if sensing Poe’s worry for him, Ben winked at Poe. Poe sent him a quick smile in turn.
***
Eventually, work hours were over, and Luke got to inspect the elves’ work — including Poe’s. “They look nice,” he said. “Bit of an unusual choice in building a shuttle, Poe.”
“A kid named Kaz asked for it.” They had certain lists that the children sent in, things that they wanted for Christmas. Kaz had asked for a toy shuttle. Poe couldn’t say he disagreed; Kaz sounded like someone he’d exactly want to be friends with. Just the right kind of unconventional.
“It looks nice,” Luke said.
“Well, of course it does, Uncle,” Ben said. “Poe’s good at that sort of thing.”
Despite himself, Poe could swear his cheeks were heating up faster than a fireplace. Next to him, Rose suppressed a giggle at his predicament.
Thanks for the support, Rosie, Poe thought sarcastically.
***
It was after the elves were let out for the night that Poe stayed behind to talk with Ben. “I was thinking,” Poe said. “Not that I want to bug you, but how do you feel about going for some cocoa with me?”
“I could use it,” Ben said. “I could use a break.”
***
The Hoth Cafe at the North Pole was said to have some of the finest cocoa out there, and even as Poe ordered his cocoa, Ben ordering his, Poe was reminded that it was the day before Christmas Eve. To think time had gone by so very fast…
2021 had been a pretty stressful year for humanity. Poe was glad, at least, that he didn’t live among humanity, that he was an elf. He couldn’t imagine having the stresses of being a human — when the entire universe seemed to be out to crush your spirit. No wonder humans acted frequently in ways that were the antithesis of Christmas.
Then again, that wasn’t fair. He was sounding a little like Luke on his bad days. Humans could be flawed, but they could also have remarkable feats of heroism and ingenuity and compassion. Shara Bey, Poe’s late mother, had said that humanity had plenty of potential to be great, that they were generally a noble species, and Poe couldn’t disagree with that.
Even as they sat with their cocoas, Poe’s being peppermint, Ben's being plain, Poe finally got to venture a question. “How are you feeling?”
“Bit tired,” Ben said. “Training to be the next Santa…it’s a bit draining.” A wry smile. “Plus, I don’t think I’d be a good Santa Claus. I’d terrify children.”
“You think too little of yourself.”
"Probably.” Ben sighed. “I’m worried for Uncle Luke. Some of the stuff he gets…I think it’s getting to him. There was one request from a kid named Temiri. He apparently wanted his foster dad to 'get better'. Something about that bastard abusing him…”
“That’s awful!” Poe exclaimed.
“I know.” Ben’s fists clenched under the table. “People don’t get this about being Santa Claus: I don’t think there was a single person in the role who didn’t want to see children and adults alike happy. And…I feel everything. It’s not mine, but it feels like it’s mine…”
Poe reached towards Ben, cautiously.
Hesitantly, Ben reached towards Poe, his fists seeming to unclench.
“I think it’s the small things that matter,” Poe said. "We're making people’s lives better. Just through the small things, like helping someone along the way. We can’t fix the world all at once, Ben — trust me, I know how you feel; I feel it all the time.”
“Doesn’t it drive you mad?”
“I’m coping with it. I just…don’t want anyone to suffer. Including you.” Poe knew that the next thing he was about to say was rash, drastic. In the atmosphere that simply felt like Christmas, it felt like the most rational thing to say. “I love you, Ben. I don’t want to see people I love unhappy.”
Ben actually looked taken aback, eyes widening and almost vulnerable, his full lips seeming to quiver. Then, “Poe…you know you’re too good for me.”
“You’re more than good enough.” Poe took Ben’s hand. “I love you. I think I always have, when we were both kids. Even with the madness. I know that it’s a lot. Me being an elf, you being Santa’s heir…”
Ben beamed. “I love you too, you know. With all my heart. And I don’t recall there being a rule against there being a ‘Mr. Claus'. If there is,” and here, a mischievous spark came into his eyes, a spark Poe loved, “I can change it.”
They kissed there. It didn’t need mistletoe to happen, though Poe could only assume that mistletoe would be a nice touch.
(And Temiri…they made sure to rescue him on Christmas Eve and send him to live with his much more loving aunt and uncle. Everyone deserved a good Christmas, and happiness, after all)
