[shared 'verse: jazz remix] advent (3)

[perfectworry]

title: Advent (3)
rating: G
word count: 300
community: runaway_tales
prompt: sugar plum #4: making a list and checking it twice
summary: house rules: you have to kiss someone if you end up under the mistletoe together! hijinks ensue. (Nikos/Abel)
notes: the third of twenty five kisses under the mistletoe at a Christmas party Nikos is hosting

No sooner had the three of them settled in - Tristan and Aya with a glass of mulled wine each, Mariel with a ginger ale graciously provided by Nikos - than the front door swung open again. Even in the kitchen, warm from the oven and stove all on while Nikos prepared dinner and Koji got in the way attempting to help, the blast of cold air from outside made Aya shiver. She took a long sip of her wine, finishing it quickly, and nestled up against Mariel for warmth.

Koji made himself useful by peering out into the hallway to see who had arrived, but he immediately withdrew. "I'll stir that," he said. "I dun wanna kiss yer boyfriend, Nikos."

Nikos smiled, not unlike a small child on Christmas morning, and let Koji take over the cooking for a moment. He was tall, and well proportioned - not bony and skinny like Tristan and Koji, but not quite as broad as Silas, either - but he capered down the hallway with the enthusiasm of a puppy and threw his arms around Abel.

"You made it!" he cried. Before Abel could respond, Nikos kissed him - well out of view of the kitchen, which was the whole point. "I thought you said…"

"Someone has to do the books, young man," said Abel, rather severely for Christmas Eve, "but I finished on time and Mr Alamande let me go."

"You're a right old Scrooge," laughed Nikos, as he took Abel's outer clothes and hung them on the rack. "You're a little late, but Silas and Glory aren't here yet, either."

"Well," said Abel, "as long as you've saved some mulled wine for me."

"I have, but Miss Aya's giving you a run for your money, so come in and drink up."