7:01pm

Trigger warning: slight homophobia, mentions of child abuse, bad families, mentions of drugs/alcohol

Enjoú

Au
—

"Roman! For the last time go to your room! You are not coming!" His father bellowed when he found his second eldest child in the front room yet again, talking with his siblings who all sat sprawled across the couches.

"Oh, dad!" The oldest child huffed, "knock it off! You can't leave him here the entire Christmas alone!" He accused, Roman sent him a grateful smile but when his dad had his mind set there was nothing changing it. "You want to be left here too?" Their father shot back icily and Roman sent his brother a look, telling him to quieten down, he didn't want his Christmas ruined too.

"I love you too, dad" Roman spoke sarcastically as he left the room and up the staircase, grazing past his mother who didn't comment on the whole ordeal. Roman rolled his eyes at the thought, they were probably happy they didn't have to spend time with their only bisexual son - five kids and he was the one blessed to not only like woman but men, too. They said they didn't mind but blatantly they did.

Closing his door, he leaned against it for a moment, running a hand through his hair. In his sixteen years of living he had never spent a Christmas alone - guess he was about to find out what it was like. Maybe he should just pretend it didn't exist this year, he wasn't going to get any gifts and he sure as Hell wasn't gonna send any.

With a sigh, he sat down on his bed, reaching over to the bedside table and picking up his phone. Might as well entertain himself while he was grounded.

—

"Logan! You've done this one too many times!" His mother yelled at her son who was sitting on the couch calmly, hands clasped on his lap, face expressionless as he watched his mother pace around the room in front of him. From the doorway his two older siblings watched on with grins - they had accused him of something he hadn't done for, apparently, the last time for his mother wasn't having it anymore.

"It wasn't me-" Logan tried one last time but his mother's glare cut him off. "No, no - I can't have you acting up like this on our holiday" she shook her head and placed her hands on her hips, staring down at her son as if she regretted ever having a third.

"Just make him stay here" his brother piped up, "yeah - that'll teach him a lesson" his sister added.

Logan went to protest but his mouth clamped shut. Every single year at Christmas they go to their mother's parents house in California. The plane trip is excruciating, the hours spent in the car even worse - and throughout he is endlessly bullied by the siblings that are supposed to love and protect him. His family ruined Christmas for him and the idea of being away from them on the holiday sounded like a gift.

"Go on, it'll be better without him"

Logan glanced at his brother with slightly narrowed eyes, yes, it will be better, he thought to himself, eyeing his mother with a scarily calm look.

"Fine" she sighed, shaking her head. "This is for your own good" she pointed at her son who nodded, the silence in the room eerie as he stood up and left through the second entrance way, wanting to be away from his siblings as much as possible who watched him go with growing smirks. Up the stairs and in his room, Logan's own smirk began to form as he locked his door and sat at his desk, wondering how long it'll take his incompetent siblings to realise now that he's not coming they don't have their entertainment anymore.

His mother's parent's house had no internet and not a single toy to play with - just a few board games that have lost nearly all their pieces. One doesn't even have the board. Bullying him was what kept them going and the idea of their unquenchable boredom brought an even more wicked smile to his face.

—

"Patton can just stay home this year!" The boy overheard his aunt talking to her husband in the kitchen, a frown on his face, eyes casted down. "Definitely. Why did we ever agree to adopting him?" Her husband agreed without an ounce of hesitation and Patton placed a hand over his mouth to stifle his sobs, quickly darting down the hallway and into his room where he closed the door a little loud accidentally but he didn't think twice about it.

He rushed to his bed, covering himself with his blanket and stuffing his face into his pillow, keeping himself as quiet as he possibly could, knowing his aunt and her husband yell at him constantly to shut up - don't even get him started on the insults.

When he was a toddler, not even two years old his parents had lost their life to something he never found out. He's asked, countless times, but his aunt never tells him - her excuse is it's too gruesome but Patton really knows it's because she hates him and wants to torture him in anyway she could. They think it's his fault they died and only agreed to take him in so they could make sure he knew they for the rest of his life - and boy, he did.

He lived with the thought everyday, it cried him to sleep most nights.

He doesn't know how much longer he'll survive.

It's quite the surprise they haven't let him home alone during Christmas sooner, but over his uncles's house it's not much better - he's forced to stay in his room on the third floor while everyone else has a party downstairs. To be quite fair, maybe staying here wouldn't be so bad. He wouldn't be a nuisance to anyone and he wouldn't have to be in their unbearable presence, or be forced to tidy up the house every day.

He sniffled and wiped at his eyes - yeah, maybe it won't be so bad after all.

—

"Deceit!"

The boy clenched his jaw, eyes burning with deadly anger as he walked down the staircase and into the living room, spotting his father with his arm slung around a random woman's shoulders, beer bottle in his free hand, his clothes and body stained with unknown substances - Deceit had to withheld from gagging at the sight and smell.

"I told you to make dinner!" He roared, almost throwing the beer bottle at his son who didn't even flinch. He was used to it, so used to it his father's actions has hardened him into a stone cold boy who lies and manipulates whenever he can to at least try and make his situation any better. Sometimes it works, especially when he get's money, but most of the time it sends him even further into his pit of hatred and fury.

"I told you I'm not doing it" Deceit spat back with the same amount of passion, not scared when his father's eyes narrowed into sharp anger. He's been abused by this man long enough he knows how to get away and even better, can fight back and protect himself. His father knows this, the main reason why he won't get up and start flying punches - he doesn't want his woman to realise he could be beaten by a teenager smaller and lighter than he was.

"I'll kill you one day, boy" his dad threatened and Deceit shrugged, "go ahead - I'll haunt you into insanity" with that, he turned around and disappeared back to his room, locking the door and shoving a chair under the handle as extra precaution. He could easily put up a fight but if he falls asleep? He doesn't stand a chance.

He feels a tad relaxed, however, as in a few days his dad would be off for the holidays. Every single year, without fail, he visits his brother across the country, finally giving Deceit peace until the new year - halfway into January. It's enough time to let him be himself, in his home, anyway, when he's out? He has to keep up his tough act - he doesn't want word spreading he's softened up.

From birth he was dumped with his father, never once meeting his mother - he wouldn't want to know who she was now anyway, she ruined his life - and since he's never, ever been treated with kindness, love, anything a child should receive from a parent. Instead he's been beaten, abused, called insult after insult - he wouldn't be surprised if one day he was pushed to killing the man, even still, he wouldn't regret it, not one day spent in prison would he ever regret killing that man.

He deserved to be tortured and nothing would ever change Deceit's mind on that matter.

—

"Virgil, there'll be food in the fridge, money on the counter" his mother absentmindedly explained while tapping away on her phone, presumably texting friends about their plans for that Christmas. Virgil just hummed and nodded, not paying her any attention either.

He sat on the couch, legs kicked up across it, head resting on the armrest as he scrolled through Tumblr.

"You listening to me?" She called, he rolled his eyes. "Not at all" he responded, glancing at her from the corner of his eye to see her reading out something on her screen.

"Good" she replied and he scoffed - hypocrite. She had never once given him any attention, the most he had gotten from her was when he was a kid and physically couldn't survive without the help of an adult. He learnt to grow up quick, living with a single mother who went out on vacation nearly every damn month, never taking him on one since he was old enough to care for himself - she would spent countless nights away, with her friends and partners she usually doesn't keep for over a year.

At this point they were barely mother and child - just two strangers living under the same roof.

She left after that, never talking to her son longer than she had to. She was actually leaving today, on the tenth, and only twenty minutes later Virgil heard the door open and shut, then the sound of a car pulling out the drive and speeding away.

Sluggishly, Virgil pulled his body up from the couch and trudged into the kitchen, finding the calendar on the fridge and scanning it over. She should be back at the end of February. Great. He wished she would just stay away.

Barely even remembering that this was the month of Christmas, he laid back down on the couch, amusing himself until the late hours of the afternoon.

—

Remy entered their house late into the evening, surprised to see their mother still up and about after, they was sure, consuming a steady amount of drugs and alcohol throughout the day. Closing the door with their hip, they stood in the living room doorway with a risen eyebrow, half filled Starbucks cup in their hand.

"Rem...Remy.." she whispered, eyes half closed, body sluggish as she tried to stand but she didn't make it far before collapsing back onto the couch. Rolling their eyes, Remy went to leave when she called their name again.

They disliked their mother - they did know addiction was a horrendous ordeal, but not once, once has she ever tried to get help, not after continuous begs from her child as they grew up - they even remember a few times being locked up in their room to not disturb her as she went on another trip. They wanted to leave but their curiosity got the better of them, so they turned back around and watched as she finally stood up, clothes hanging from her bony body.

"My friend..." she drifted, eyes closing for a moment, lips smacking together. Remy snorted, friend? She had friends?

"My friend is taking me to stay with her for awhile, over Christmas..."

At this, Remy's attention was caught. Was she finally going to try and turn her life around? Be a better mother for her only child?

"She's the drug friend, y'know? Says she has a lot spare for us..." she drifted, slowly sitting back down again where Remy's hope went down the drain for the millionth time. With another eye roll and a noisy slurp from their drink, Remy turned and sauntered to their room.

"Whatever, girl" they called over their shoulder, mostly preoccupied with their phone they brought out of their pocket. They wondered if anywhere would be open over Christmas where they could hang out - specifically a bar they could get into with their fake ID that has surprisingly worked countless times before.

Maybe he could even have a few one night stands in celebration for the new year. The idea made them smirk, laying down in bed, head propped up on a bunch of pillows. Yeah - that sounds like the perfect way to spend their time.

—

Five days passed and the town was quiet - the only people here being the children who were left behind. Everyone on holiday with their families for the Christmas and new year celebrations. Each teenager assumed they were the only one there - that no other person could be in their predicament right now, but when Patton left the house to go play in the snow, everyone passed by their window's at just the right moment to see him.

And someone joined him.

"Greetings!" A boisterous voice called, disturbing Patton where he built up his snowman. Looking over to where the voice came from, he managed a smile at the boy who jogged over, leaning on his fence with a cocked head.

"I've seen you before" he commented, it wasn't hard, they all lived on the same street yet barely knew their neighbours.

"I've seen you" Patton responded with a light chuckle. "Roman, right? I've heard your family call your name a few times" Patton wanted to confirm, Roman chuckling a little at his statement. "Oh, they have" he agreed, "and yes, I'm Roman. You are?" He asked, holding out his hand for a handshake. Patton pulled his feet through the few inches deep snow, allowing Roman to lift his hand and press a kiss to it. The action made the boy giggle.

"I'm Patton!" He introduced with some happiness, he hasn't talked to someone who's been nice to him for awhile. Having not-so-real friends in school didn't exactly help with that.

"A cute name for a cute boy" Roman flirted lightly, grinning when Patton's face brightened further, not just pink from the cold.

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be with your family?" Roman then asked, walking into his garden without exactly asking for permission but Patton didn't mind, allowing him to help build the snowman.

"Oh" Patton shrugged, "they didn't want to take me this year.." he admitted quietly, glancing at Roman to see his face soften slightly. "Ah" he murmured in understanding, pressing snow into their creation. "What about you?" Patton asked, hoping his situation wasn't as bad as his own.

Roman sent him a tight lipped smile, "I suppose I've done one too many things to annoy my parents, coming out, for instance"

"Oh, Ro, that's terrible" Patton murmured sorrowfully, walking over to him to offer a hug which Roman leaned into gratefully, chuckling lightly to cover the pain. "Oh, no worries, dear Patton" he murmured, leaning back before his true emotions could be brought to light from such affections as hugging. "I'm over it - besides, my siblings love me, so that's all I could ask for" with that they left the conversation there - moving onto lighter topics to learn more about the other.

"I take a summer job in the shelter in town!" Patton brought up, "the animals there are so adorable!" He then gushed, "I really want a puppy but my aunt won't allow it" he seemed to somber at the mention of her, Roman noted it but didn't ask.

"I'll get one when I live alone! They all deserve love and I wanna hug each and every one!" He finished with a determined nod, Roman smirking but he agreed. "As much as I adore animals, I couldn't work with them - my poor nails would get ruined!" He held a hand to his forehead dramatically, Patton bursting into laughter at the sight.

Quickly they finished the snowman, taking a few steps back to admire their handy work.

"Well, I dare say we did a wonderful job!" Roman declared, turning to Patton afterwards. "As much as snow is glorious, why don't we go inside? It's getting quite chilly" Patton agreed and they both headed inside of the latter boy's house, warming up instantly as they made themselves cups of hot chocolate.

"What do you like to do, Ro?" Pat asked as they sat on the couch, hands holding their warm mugs.

"Oh, many things" Roman responded, "mostly theatre, performing and such - especially going to see live musicals! Oh, I could watch them forever" he enthused, going into a ramble of his favourite musicals, ranked from one upwards, but Patton didn't mind, listening to the boy talk with such emotion and liveliness was something different from his norm - and he liked it a lot. It was the distraction he was looking for.

In the end Patton just had to put on a musical - as he owned a few discs - and they sat watching High School Musical movies together until early afternoon.

"Do you think it's just us here?" Patton asked, putting away the movies once watching them all. Roman hummed in thought, grabbing their mugs and bringing them to the kitchen.

"I couldn't tell you, Patton" he responded loud enough for the boy to hear, washing them up quick and leaving them on the drying rack.

"Maybe we are" Patton entered the kitchen, leaning on the counter. "Wouldn't that be cool?" He then giggled, "we have the whole street to ourselves! We can do whatever we want!"

"Like parties!" Roman turned around in excitement and Patton nodded hurriedly, "yeah, but between us, I don't have many friends" he admitted a little shyly, "ah well, most of mine are on holiday, too, the ones left live too far away" he frowned, but brightened up again a moment later. "Sleepovers are a must - we don't know each other very well but I would hate to spend this holiday alone. I say we come over and have our own Christmas! Exchanging gifts and watching movies until late in the night! We can even order takeout! Wouldn't it be spectacular?!" He exploded in joy and Patton found himself bouncing on the balls of his feet in excitement.

"Yeah!" Patton agreed, following Roman quickly into the living room. "No adults in our way - we can do whatever we want" Roman finally sat back down on the couch, a seemingly removable grin on his face.

Before any of them could say another word, the doorbell rang throughout the house, alerting the two who stared at each other for a moment. Who could that be?

"Are they back?" Patton whispered and Roman steeled himself for the worst, slowly rising up from the couch, shielding Patton who slowly walked behind him, the two inching across the wooden floorboards towards the door, Roman's hand hovering over the doorknob.

"Three" he whispered, placing it down.

"Two" he carried on, pushing down the handle.

"One" with that, he yanked it open, the two startled to see a boy standing there before them, wearing a thick coat, a hat, gloves and a scarf.

"Um..." the two glanced at each other to see if they knew who the heck this was, but both ended up with confused looks.

"Do you have any milk?" The stranger asked, crossing his arms over his chest. Roman's eyebrows cocked. "Milk?" He asked for confirmation, then stuck out his hip to the side. "I thought we were the only ones here!" He exclaimed with a pout, this ruining his whole mood! Why couldn't whoever this is go on holiday too?!

"I did too until I saw you two playing in the snow. Do not worry, I think it is just us three. Now, milk?"

Roman sighed over dramatically, looking at Patton who shrugged and shook his head. "Sorry, Kiddo" he frowned, "my guardian's don't use milk" he explained, the boy sighed, lips concealed behind the scarf.

"Wait..." Patton drifted, taking a step closer, eyes narrowed slightly. "Logan?"

The boy looked a little surprised but quickly regained himself, "yes - how did you know?"

Patton's eyes softened and he stopped leaning so close, glancing at Roman for a second with a frown. "Your siblings, I've heard them talk about you in school"

That made Logan sigh but from his expression he didn't look surprised. "Why don't you come in?" Patton then offered, Roman jumped aboard. "Yes! The more the merrier!" He exclaimed, loving to meet new people and form friendships with them if possible. Logan fell back into surprise, eyes flickering between them both, as if this question has never been directed at him before.

"Well, I suppose if I am not too much trouble..." he responded, adjusting his glasses. "Not at all! Like Roman said, the more the merrier! Oh, I'm Patton!" He introduced quickly, closing the door as soon as Logan entered as he was starting to get quite chilly from the outside air coming in.

"Take off all your gear, specs" Roman encouraged, grinning before he skipped into the living room with Patton in tow. Doing so, he hung them up on a hook, taking the route they did to see them sitting on the couch, Patton pointing to an arm chair, giving him silent permission that he could sit down.

"Why are you here, then?" Roman asked when he realised Logan couldn't be an adult from how he looked.

"My mother deemed it best me staying here as punishment for acts I did not commit yet was framed for by my siblings" Logan explained, crossing one leg over the other, hands folded neatly in his lap. Roman subtly eyed him up and down, a smirk drawing at his face until what he said finally registered, a frown taking it's place quick.

"It seems we're all in the same predicament" Roman murmured, "with not-so-ideal p-.." Roman glanced at Patton, "not-so-idea guardians" he corrected before he made the mistake, Patton sending him a slight smile in appreciation.

Logan opened his mouth to defend his mother, closing it soon afterwards once he realised he had nothing to defend her with apart from lies and exaggerated moments of kindness. "Still!" Roman continued, "we have this whole Christmas to do what we please! I say we throw a party in celebration - also a way to show our family we don't need them to have the greatest Christmas ever!" As he said this he jumped up from the couch, throwing his arms up in the air for extra effect.

Patton giggled and nodded hurriedly in agreement while Logan managed to lift the corner of his mouth. He hadn't been around people who also had problems with their family, so being here, with these teenage boys right now? It felt nice. For once, not getting ridiculed and called 'robot', it was nice, it was new, but it was nice - something Logan would never want to end if he had a choice.

"Why don't we see if anyone else is here?" Logan then asked, the two boys turning to stare at him. "Well" he quickly continued, to defend himself, "if you were so sure it was just you two - then I appear, there might be a chance there are more" he explained, Roman and Patton nodding in agreement.

"That makes sense!" Patton nodded, "we can do it now! We've nothing else to do!"

That was how the three boys, all wearing snow gear to keep them warm, found themselves walking down the street, eyes surveying the land that seemed to be abandoned of life. "Any ideas where to go?" Logan asked, "this whole operation was your idea!" Roman accused, but then went into a suggestion anyway.

"I do know of this boy - we spoke last Thanksgiving" he began, pointing to his house across the road. "The conversation went as follows" he cleared his throat, eyes set with sudden concentration. Logan cocked an eyebrow in confusion while Patton giggled, watching with a smile.

"I said to him; 'greetings! Might I say, you look like you walked straight out of Tumblr', for a moment he didn't seem very pleased, but a flash of amusement quickly swam through his eyes..."

"What is happening?" Logan whispered to Patton who shrugged, letting whatever it was happen.

"...then he said; 'sup, you look like you've stepped out of a Disney movie' which pleased me greatly I must say. Then, leaning on his fence beside him, I said; 'what are you doing this Thanksgiving?' As a conversation starter because he did look cute and this bisexual ass has to put themselves out there" as he said this Roman tapped his ass a little, Patton shaking his head in amusement while Logan glanced the other way, noting he was bisexual.

"And he said; 'nothing. I get to spend a few weeks home alone though, which is nice', and then I said-"

"Is this going anywhere?" Logan cut him off, Roman looking highly offended that he did, but it dropped a moment later. "Of course it is! Basically, we can deduce that if he is left home alone over the course of that holiday, there's a chance he might be doing the same this Christmas! I've seen his mother, she's definitely not the mother-type and I wouldn't mind seeing him again, this way!" Roman quickly concluded, not looking either way before rushing across the street and up to the house.

"I kinda hope he's there" Patton made conversation as they followed, "I want more people to join our party!" He explained with a smile, Logan nodding his head. "It would be nice" he agreed, the two stepping up onto the porch behind Roman who rang the doorbell, the three only waiting a few moments before the door opened, revealing a boy dressed in dark clothing, black makeup under his eyes, pale foundation covering everything else, he seemed surprised to see three random people there, but when his eyes landed on Roman they filled with recognition.

"Sup, Disney Prince" he smirked, Roman smirking back.

"Hello, Tumblr boy! So you are here - home alone for a few weeks again, I suppose?"

Virgil snorted, leaning on the doorway. "More like three months" he then glanced at the other two, "who're they?"

"This is Patton" Roman pointed to the boy who lifted his hand and waved enthusiastically, "that is Logan!" Roman then pointed to the other boy who nodded his head in greeting instead.

"Salutations, Virgil, is it?" The boy nodded, eyeing the two for a moment. "Right" he turned to Roman, "what do you want?"

"We want to show our families in their faces!" Roman cried out suddenly, "by having our own Christmas extravaganza! Their parties won't match to what we will create! And we now need everyone who has been left behind - which includes you, Mr. Emo!" Roman wriggled his eyebrows at him, paused, then leaned back a little. "Which is your proper pronoun, correct?"

"Yep"

"Huzzah! Well, Virgil, will you join us?"

He sighed, looked down at his phone, glanced over his shoulder, then sighed again. "Fine, yeah, whatever, I have nothing better to do"

"Wonderful!" Roman practically bounced on the spot, "get winter ready! We need to find more!" The three expected him to go inside and collect warmer clothes, but he stepped out and closed the door behind him, zipping up his jacket and pulling up his hood.

"Ready"

"Won't you be cold?" Patton worried a little, Virgil looked at him with surprise, never being cared for before. "Nah" he shrugged off, "it's chill"

With that, they all left the porch and made their way down the street again. "Oo! Oo! Oo!" Patton suddenly caught their attention, "isn't there a boy here who gets abused by his dad? I'm sure he'll still be here!" He said with a little too much excitement for what he just said, but they all understood it wasn't directed at /that/.

"Those are merely rumours" Logan dismissed, Virgil rose an eyebrow at him.

"The people who believe they're rumours are morons"

Logan whipped his head to stare at him but Virgil held up his hand, waving him off. "But yeah he'll be here - isn't his name Deceit or something?"

"Deceit, yeah!" Patton nodded, and that was their next destination. It wasn't too hard to find his house, with all the rumours surrounding it all you needed to mention was 'abused boy' for someone who lived on that street to know exactly what house (and where said house is) they were talking about.

This time Patton knocked on the door, there wasn't a porch, and the front garden was in terrible shape, including the outside of the house, but they all tried to not seem judgemental, with what the rumours said this boy didn't really have an easy life.

Surprisingly, the door opened, revealing the boy they were all expecting.

"Deceit! Right?" Patton asked, smiling at the boy who tilted his head to the side, multicoloured eyes scanning the four boys individually. "Yes" he finally responded, a little drag on the letter 's'.

"And who are you?"

"I'm Patton!" He introduced, "that's Logan, Virgil and Roman! We're all here because we want to throw a Christmas party to show to our families that we don't need them to have a great time! D'you wanna join? We're looking for everyone who's been left behind!" Deceit stared at them all carefully, almost calculatingly, until a smirk grew at his face - one that made them all (apart from Patton) a little uncomfortable.

"I would absolutely love to" he spoke in a way that didn't seem entirely believable, "let me get warmer clothes..." leaving the door slightly open, the boy disappeared and Patton grinned at his new found friends. "This is gonna be a great party!"

"That I'm assuming we're holding on Christmas Day?" Logan decided to ask for confirmation.

"Yep! But we need a whole gang to make a plan, specs" Roman explained, grinning at the boy he found to be rather attractive, more so than Virgil, which means he has his eyes set on someone else.

Deceit appeared not a moment too soon, wearing warmer clothing, still carrying that uneasy smirk. "Ready?" He asked, voice smooth and borderline sultry. Patton seemed to be the only one who fully trusted him.

They walked down the street again, Patton asking Deceit if he knew of anyone. "Hmm" he hummed, tapping his chin in thought. "I can't say I do" he lied, knowing perfectly well there was another kid here just down the street, Remy, but he didn't want to be of any help to the boys who he might be able to trick for his amusement.

"That's okay!" Patton quickly piped up, surprising Deceit a little but he didn't let it show.

In the end, they decided to knock on the houses they hadn't checked yet, but each one held nothing. "This should be the last" Virgil sighed as they stepped up to the house Remy lived in.

"If no one's here, it's just us!" Roman said before he knocked on the door, everyone waiting, watching, almost ready to give up when three minutes passed but oh so suddenly the door pulled open, revealing Remy in all their glory, eyes homing in on Virgil, lighting up at the sight of him - cute, cute, cute, cute!

"Hey, babes" Remy flirted instantly, leaning on the doorframe with a smirk, winking at Virgil who blinked a few times in confusion. Roman snorted at his reaction.

"Deceit" Remy greeted the boy he somewhat knew.

"Remy" Deceit murmured back.

"I thought you didn't know if anyone was here?" Virgil asked, a little suspicious. Deceit shrugged. "I know them - I didn't know if they were here"

Instantly they all caught onto the pronouns, they didn't ask but all wordlessly used them from now on when referring to Remy.

"It doesn't matter now!" Patton chirped, smiling at Remy who was still not-so-subtly eyeing Virgil who found himself doing the same back.

"Remy, would you want to join us this Christmas? We're throwing a party as our families have left us behind - we wanna show them we can have fun without them!" Patton explained, Remy finally lifting their eyes to gaze at Patton, hearing everything he said, luckily.

A party? With this new cute boy? Sounded perfect.

"I could never pass up a party" Remy agreed, grabbing a jacket, swinging it over their body before stepping out and pulling the door close. "What's your name, cutie?" They directed at Virgil who choked a little on air.

"Uh-Virgil"

"I wish I met you sooner, Virgil"

Once everyone else introduced themselves, they all walked down the street, agreeing to go to Roman's house as his was the biggest.

"Leave your shit in the foyer!" Roman called as he rushed up the staircase quickly, disappearing inside of his room for a few minutes.

"Roman's a rich bitch then" Remy commented as they looked around the large foyer, gazing at the presumably expensive ornaments and pictured framed with seemingly golden frames, hanging on the glossed wooden walls.

"Mmm, it seems so" Deceit hummed, dragging his hand down a vase decorated in a seemingly impossible detailed way.

"Let's keep it that way" Logan sent a look at Deceit who held up his hands defensively, smirking at the boy who, under all his cold outfits, wore a tie.

All migrated to the living room, taking seats on the couch and two armchairs.

"Will this party really go well?" Virgil sighed, resting his head on his hand. "I don't mean to assume" Logan responded, "but I think Roman is the only one here that has had good Christmas celebrations in the past - I surely have not"

"Same here" Virgil held up his free hand for a moment

"Ditto, cutie" Remy winked, Virgil now rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, same..." Patton drifted a little solemnly.

"I agree" Deceit murmured, the room falling to a silence. Maybe only then did everyone realise they were in the sorta-same boat. And a new silence filled the room. An understanding one.

Roman appeared a moment later, smile faltering when he felt the mood of the room. He had changed his clothes to try and brighten himself up but it seemed to not have really worked out well.

"I can't say this is the happiness room I've never been in" he commented, sitting on the free space in the couch, in between Logan and Virgil.

"Is there a reason to be happy?" Virgil countered.

Another awkward silence passed.

"Of course there is..." Patton found himself murmuring, lifting his eyes up from staring at his lap. "We're not with our family" he explained and everyone glanced at everyone else, a moment of realisation washing over them.

"The thing that kept us sad is...gone" Remy tilted their head to the side, "and we're gonna have fun" they concluded, "who cares what we've been through? I say let's appreciate the time now"

"I agree!" Patton chirped, anything to stop feeling down. "Why don't we plan the party?" He changed the subject quick and in the end it seemed everyone had something to add, be it music for the playlist, what types of food they'll have, different movies and games to entertain them all.

In the end, the room was filled with six teenagers - six teens who hadn't been happy for awhile before this. Six teens who were about to finally have a Christmas they could all, completely enjoy.

"This is gonna be so much fun!" Patton exploded to Deceit once everyone went off in their own conversations, Deceit glanced at him, the two sharing the bigger armchair as all the other seats seats taken.

"Obviously" he murmured, "I simply can't wait"

Patton giggled, "I like the way you talk" he complimented out the blue, throwing Deceit off his tracks completely. "Don't look so surprised! Haven't people told you that before?"

This time, Deceit was honest. "No.."

Patton frowned, "oh, well" he smiled again, "I'll be sure to remind you whenever I notice it" he giggled and Deceit nodded slowly, eyes trailing down to the carpet for a moment. Is this what it felt like to actually, genuinely...like someone? Not romantically, of course, but it seemed Patton was genuine, and pure, far too much for him to trick him. Yeah - that's his excuse.

"I think it'll go wonderfully" Roman told Logan, putting away all the paper they wrote on for the planning. Logan did the most as his handwriting was the most easiest (and neatest) to read, the others were alright while Roman's was so cursive no one had any chance.

"I hope so" Logan watched him, "I would like to know what true Christmas spirit feels like - even with my distaste for emotions"

Roman chuckled at this, leaving the paper in a pile on the coffee table to lean back and turn to Logan. "Distaste, eh?" He smirked, "I wonder if you'll distaste the emotions I'll give you" he flirted smoothly, Logan's eyes widening at his statement, hurriedly fixing his tie closer to his neck.

"I don't think I want to know what they are" Logan watched Roman bark out a laugh, eyes gleaming. He seemed unable to stop staring. "Maybe not yet, specs, but I'll work up to it - when I want something I'm usually quite determined to get it"

"Well" Logan shrugged lightly, "may the odds be ever in your favour"

Roman grinned in delight, "a nerd, too? How perfect"

Logan drew back a little at the name, Roman noticed, frowning and sitting up. "I like nerds" he rushed out, blushing a little. "Well-...I mean it as a compliment. My guilty pleasure is watching nerd-like movies, I suppose. Maybe we could watch some sometime? I need to catch up on Doctor Who"

The mention of the certain sci-fi show lit Logan up again and Roman brightened too, happy to listen to his rambles about the show while silently appreciating how cute he looked when his eyes were gleaming like a million stars.

"I'll be hoping for a New Years kiss" Remy winked at Virgil from the armchair, the two leaning on the arm rests to be closer to one another as they spoke. Virgil rolled his eyes, "do you flirt with everyone you meet?"

"Only the cute ones" Remy responded and Virgil scoffed to hide his flustered-ness. "Whatever.." he murmured, Remy smirked at the reaction. "Maybe we could have more than a kiss" they tried, watching closely as Virgil understood what they meant, shrugging lightly.

"Can't - you're flirting with an asexual"

This made Remy's eyes widen. The cute one was asexual?! How unfair. They leaned back in their chair, eyes moving away from Virgil to look down at the ground for a moment. Every single person they've ever flirted with they've done it because of the sex appeal - they've done it because they have wanted to get into that persons pants.

So why do they want to continue flirting with Virgil?

When they looked back up to the boy, they noticed he was distracting himself on his phone. Quickly, they sat up again, resting their head on their knuckles.

"Hey, cutie?" Virgil looked up, "I can work with that"

Virgil seemed genuinely shocked, as if that was the first time someone had responded like that, or at least carried on flirting with them.

"I won't ever have sex with you, like...ever" Virgil wanted to clarify and Remy shrugged, "are you trying to push me away?"

"Well, no.."

"Then who cares?  Masturbation and sex toys are a thing, honey" they winked and Virgil rolled his eyes once again, smiling in amusement at the teen who grinned and shrugged as if what they said was completely innocent.

"Fine, maybe you are different" Virgil gave in.

"Oh, girl, I definitely am"

If one were to ask the six friends what that Christmas was like they would all say the same thing. It was the best Christmas they had ever had. The party was spectacular but to them? The party started as soon as they sat in Roman's house and began to plan it out.

Every day after that and before the twenty fifth they all hung out, either in the six, or separately if they couldn't have them all. They laughed, they opened up, and for once they didn't feel so sad, so alone. They didn't feel the need to hide away and busy themselves, they didn't think they were so uncared for, they actually felt...wanted.

And the party itself was everything they could ever have wanted. It started in the morning, with the giving of gifts, everyone agreed to finding one present per friend and all of them would lie of they said they didn't cry - every single teenager there shed a few tears, but they were all good, all happy, filled with a level of joy they have never felt before.

Once gifts were out the way, the games started, they had began with Monopoly but when that ended with a flipped board and small houses everywhere they resorted to video games filled with amusing competition as each went head to head to beat everyone else - for someone the least competitive, Patton won quite a lot of games.

No one wanted to cook, so they ordered take out - most of it being Chinese food, Deceit and Virgil having to be the odd ones out and wanting pizza instead.

Either way, not a moment of that day was spent with someone frowning, it was the most joyous Christmas they could all have - and even if there weren't any decorations or Christmas music, it felt like it - the spirit nestled in the room comfortably, and the friends were all content.

That night they all had a sleepover, covering the floor in a few mattresses, throwing random blankets and cushions across the entire, large bed they had created.

"Sleep here, De" Patton smiled at the boy once he laid down comfortably, everyone wearing the pyjamas they had brought over. Deceit agreed without hesitation, laying beside Patton, the voices of the others becoming background noise as they laid on their sides, staring at the other.

Patton giggled, nestling into his blanket.

"Oh, sweetie - aren't you adorable?" Deceit murmured, making Patton flush and giggle again, shuffling closer to hid his face in Deceit's chest, curling an arm around his waist. No one in that room was official with anyone else, but it was blatantly obvious who they all fell for.

"I still like your voice" Patton whispered loud enough for Deceit to hear, bringing the blanket much closer to the two, warming up nicely.

Deceit hid his smile in Patton's hair. "Why don't I feel the need to lie around you?" He asked quietly, surprising himself a little.

"Lying was your security blanket" Patton began to explain, "it kept you protected, but around me you feel safe, so I guess you don't need to be protected by lies anymore" Deceit thought about it for a moment, but he understood it made sense, and he knew that was exactly the reasoning behind it.

"Thank you for making me feel safe"

Patton lifted his head, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek. "You're welcome, De" he whispered, gazing into his eyes before cuddling back up to him again.

Across the bed, Roman flopped down onto his mattress, bouncing Logan up and down slightly, the boy scowling at the dramatic fool who laughed at his reaction.

"Oh lighten up, dear nerd!" He encouraged, watching as Logan took off his glasses and placed them carefully onto the table pressed up against the wall.

"Maybe if you stopped being so annoying" Logan retorted, the insult empty, which is why Roman laughed again and dragged Logan down, him letting out a surprised squeak as he did.

"Oh, that was adorable" Roman cooed at the boy who glared and tugged the blanket to his chin, rolling over so his back was facing Roman, but did he think that would stop him?

Suddenly, he felt his top being lifted and he quickly went to stop him but Roman hushed him. "Trust me, nerd" he murmured, with some hesitance Logan did so, a little curious as to what he would do, letting out a wavering breath as Roman's fingers ever so gently dragged across his skin, creating different patterns and shapes.

"Oh.." he breathed out again, eyes closing, the expression of pure bliss covering his face. Roman smiled a genuine smile, continuing his movements, noticing how relaxed it seemed to make the nerd who was usually very rigid.

"Like it?" Roman murmured, Logan nodded slightly, slowly rolling over to face Roman a few minutes later.

"Thank you" Logan spoke quietly, "that was nice" he added, Roman grinned and pulled Logan closer by his waist, moving both arms around him so he could continue caressing his back, this time able to watch his expressions, finding great joy and pleasure from it as he helped Logan ease.

"You're never usually like this, Lo" Roman commented, his eyes cracking open but all he could see was blurred colours so he left them closed.

"I am always on alert" Logan explained, voice a little heavy. Roman smiled at that. "Why?"

"My siblings" Logan responded, "they hurt me sometimes...physically, or prank me in ways that aren't funny" Logan sighed, a frown etching onto Roman's face as he listened.

"This is nice" Logan admitted quietly, "really nice" he added and Roman pulled him even closer, deciding to press a single kiss to his forehead.

"I'm glad, Lo" Roman chuckled, his own eyes closing, too. "I'll protect you - maybe even keep you relaxed forever"

Logan snorted, "protect me all you wish - but living in a constant state of relaxation doesn't seem very efficient"

"Oh you and your nerdy ways" Roman mused, "I love it" he added quietly and Logan found himself smiling wide.

Remy tucked themselves under their blanket, head hitting the pillow nicely, letting out a long breath. Beside them Virgil laid down, too, only doing so as Remy insisted they were to cuddle.

"If I can't have sex with you" Remy murmured, rolling over to face Virgil who snorted. "Then bitch! I'm having cuddles! And I don't need as much consent for them!"

"You still need some!" Virgil cackled as Remy tugged them harshly into a cuddle, hugging him close with the blanket wrapped around them both securely.

"You really are something else, Rem" Virgil commented and Remy smirked. "I'm one in a kind, babes. You're lucky to have me"

"I don't know if that's how I'd describe it" Virgil chuckled, expecting Remy to carry on with the back and forth, but when they stayed silent Virgil frowned, looking up at Remy's face to see them looking worried - something that, in turn, worried Virgil.

"Rem?"

"I'll be real with you, Virge" Remy began, voice uncharacteristically quiet. "You're the first person I've wanted to be with...in a relationship. Not just sex but..." Remy didn't continue but Virgil understood what they meant, running his thumb across their hip where his arms were placed around their waist.

"Are you ready for it?"

Remy met his gaze. "I want to be" they replied, "I want to be with you, Virgil" they added with more confidence. "I want to be your bitch" this made Virgil cackle again and lean closer.

"I'd be happy to do whatever you wanted. But let's go slow, yeah? You're also the first person I've...done all this with"

Remy nodded with a smile, closing their eyes, letting Virgil lower his head under their chin, cuddled up to their chest.

"Oh, hey" Remy murmured after a moment. "I just realised; you're gonna die a virgin"

Virgil sighed, "shut up and go to sleep, bitch"

Now it was Remy's turn to cackle, but afterwards they kissed the top of Virgil's head.

"You'll be my little virgin forever"

"I will kill you"

And their New Year's party? Arguably just as good. Especially when the countdown lowered to zero, cheers filled the room and everyone turned to their partner to share their first kisses.

In the new year, as families began to return, hoping to see their child either having learnt their lesson or just as sad as they have been in the past, they were shocked and mad to see them having fun with their new found friends - but now they were together, it seemed an invisible wall had appeared around each teenager, leaving it impenetrable to their families insults and attacks.

And as soon as they could they all left, moving away to their collages, the six never too far away from one another.

Ever since the families regretted what they did, regretted letting their child stay home alone that Christmas, for it improved their lives in ways they never wanted to happen.

But did the six care now? Not at all, apart from Roman to continues to talk to his loving siblings, the six were happy, never thinking about the people who almost ruined their lives those years ago.

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8300 words, bish

12:32am