A December Evening (Short Story)

Mostly Slice of Life fluff!

No important plot here, just something I ripped from my brain for some wholesome Christmas content. It's pretty short!

    “Alright- lift. Rory, lift” Gene strained, his boots scuffing against the driveway as he found his footing. His hefty hands gripped the firm stump of the tree he had cut down only an hour ago. The leaves rustled as he moved it, shifting it off of the car.

     Gene glanced over the pines, seeing Rory at the front door rather than at the
other end of the tree. He gave a whistle, to which both Ace and Rory turned their heads to. Obediently, Rory jogged over and gripped the top of the tree.

     “Shit, sorry man.” He said with a grin.

     “Mhm.” Gene hummed, beginning to lift again.

      He placed the stump on his shoulder, pines pricking his skin as they moved forward.

     “Gene, I don't know if that’s gonna fit.” Ace said, stepping aside and pressing his back against the porch wall as they passed. “In the house I mean.”

     “Might not.” He gruffed back, adjusting the stump on his shoulder. “Watch the step.”

     Rory looked down, the tree soon tipping up at one end as Rory led them through the front door.

     Just an hour ago, the four boys wandered through isles of Christmas trees for the living room. Once all could agree on one- Jobie being insistent on which was the right tree- Rory had attempted to lift it and take it with them.

     “We gotta pay for it.” Gene said, giving the back of his shirt a soft tug.

     “It's a tree.” Rory replied.

     Upon finding out the tree would cost them $20, Gene had said ‘does it dance?’, to which the employee replied; ‘no, sir.’

     So, after abandoning the over-priced tree, Gene took the boys to sit and wait in the car while he took his axe from the trunk and chopped down their own tree.

     Rory and Gene pushed the tree to stand upright, and it seemed that Gene had gotten a bit too confident in the size of their living room. The top of the tree’s neck was crooked, smashed against the ceiling. It stood at a straight line, then jutted off to the side.

     All four boys stared, Gene and Rory panted.

     “Looks great.” Gene said, his hands on his hips.

     “stupid…” Jobie murmured, standing with his fists tightly balled. “I hate it.”

     “Ah, you don’t hate it.”

     “Oh my god.” Ace muttered with a smile, rubbing the side of his face with his hand. “It’s gonna crack the ceiling.”

     “Maybe.” Gene sniffed, reaching out to scruff Jobie’s hair. Jobie pawed his hand away. “Alright, go get in your pajamas.”

     Gene squatted down to begin picking at the stray pine needles on the carpet while Rory and Jobie jogged off for their room. Rory gave Jobie a playful shove with his shoulder, which resulted in Rory getting tackled. A scuffle broke out between them, Rory giggling while Jobie let out the occasional frustrated growl.

     Gene felt two cold hands snake onto his shoulders. Ace rubbed his thumbs back and forth, then guided his hands up to Gene’s hair to scratch his head. The velvet red hair had gotten coarse and thick with each month they dyed it.

     The large man sighed through his nose and leaned back against Ace’s legs, looking up at him.

     “Do you have a headache?” Ace asked softly.

     Gene shook his head no.

     “Okay…”

     “Whatcha need sugar?” Gene asked.

     His eyes- despite their often stern nature- were soft. The dark color could  make the man appear pup-like at rare moments of the night. It made those warm eyes reflect his kindness.

     “Nothin.” Ace muttered, placing a hand on the side of Gene’s face.

     There was a harsh thud in Rory and Jobie’s room, and a yelp from Jobie.

     “Aye.” Gene warned.

      Ace giggled, leaning down to place a kiss on Gene’s head.

     “Is it okay if I put a record on?”

     “Mhm.”

     “Okay… Go get out of your jeans.”

     “Alright.”

     Much like the year before, they didn't have much to put on the tree. They had a box of candy canes that Rory “bought”, and hand-me-down ornaments from the Ramseys. Ace and Gene would buy one or two ornaments on occasion, like a black cat in a striped scarf or a peace sign.

     Gene got the boxes from the closet, dusting them off with a few swipes before placing them on the couch. Ace delicately placed the needle against the Sinatra record he chose, slow christmas music soon catching against the point.

     “What?” Jobie said with a raised voice after opening one of the boxes. “What the fuck.”

     “Jobie.” Ace gently scolded, glancing over his shoulder. “What?”

     “The candy canes are gone.” He muttered, glancing at Rory who was staring down at the ornaments too. Jobie glared at him. “Where are they.”

      “Where are what, man?” Rory looked to Jobie.

      “The candy canes!”

      “Oh uh.. Shit man someone musta ate em all heh.” He teased, grinning.

      “Yea…” Jobie growled.

      “We don’t keep candy canes in the ornament boxes.” Ace said, a thin arm emerging between the two to pick up the black cat ornament.

     “Yes, we do.” Jobie insisted.

     “No, the candy canes are in the pantry.” He said, then pressed a short peck against Jobie’s cheek. “They’re on the top shelf I think.”

     Gene had put them there on purpose, Jobie couldn't see that far up in the pantry. They learned from the year prior that Jobie had a tendency to hoard candy canes. He wouldn’t eat them though.

      With help from Rory, they managed to get the candy canes to hang on the tree, several of which were pocketed by the shortest male.

     Occasionally, Rory would steal a kiss from Ace or pick up Jobie, who would respond by squirming around. Ace would mutter along to the music as he hung ornaments, always waiting for someone else to hang one before he did too. Jobie was focused on the task at hand, his eyes darting to the others to ensure that he was hanging the most ornaments.

      Gene was already melted into his recliner and lighting a cigarette, watching his boys gather around the ornament box, then flock to the tree. Then to the box, then to the tree. All the while, Frank Sinatra’s “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas” played along by needle. He took a slow breath of his cig, warm smoke swirling in his lungs.

     “Aye, we should uh… uh get high and play that shark board game heh.” Rory said, standing on his tiptoes to hang a round gold ornament.

     “Oh really? I was thinking a movie… We can do a board game though, we did a movie yesterday, so…” Ace plucked the ornament from Rory, placing it where he was reaching for.

      “We’ll have sex.” Jobie grumbled from behind the tree.

      “Jobie.” Ace scolded, but a smile was hearable in his voice.

      Gene felt as though he was smiling. That warm glow beamed in his chest, the same warm glow he always got when watching his boys. At times, he liked the idea of them smothering him, all trying to sit on his lap and cuddle with him. All kissing his neck, or his lips, or his face. He thought about it at work most often, when his feet burned and his spine ached.

      Once the tree was properly disorganized with ornaments, hot chocolate was made, and blankets were gathered, all four boys opted for Gene’s room to play the board game. They clumped together on his bed, having to push pillows aside to fit themselves and a blank spot for the game.

      Ace leaned against Gene, sharing his thick quilt between the two of them. He hugged Gene’s arm, trying to soak in the large man’s natural heat. Jobie was on the other side of Gene, a hand gripping his thick thigh but his eyes were focused on the board Rory was setting up. He tended to get slightly competitive.

     After only one round, Jobie had gotten far too restless and began toying with Gene between turns. Shortly once the game had been won- by Rory- Gene rewarded Jobie with the attention he was seeking, and a loving scuffle ensued between the four lovers.

     Exhausted, content, the four men were pressed together under layered blankets. Limbs were tangled and wrapped around other limbs, and every now and then a body would shuffle a bit to get more comfortable. Ace shivered at the feeling of Rory’s breath on his neck, hugging Gene a bit closer. Jobie had his arms wrapped firmly around Gene’s waist, his face stuffed against Gene’s rib which would slowly expand and lower with each breath. Rory managed to get his leg touching each person, pulling Jobie in by the hip with his ankle despite being on the opposite side of the bed.

     “Gene?” Ace whispered.

     Gene hummed, and Jobie gave a sudden jerk to let Gene know that his noise had greatly disturbed his rest.

      “I really love you. I really love everyone.”

      The corners of Gene’s lips tugged into a very subtle smile.

      He gave Rory and Ace a loving squeeze- his arm being wrapped around the both of them- and placed a slow kiss against Ace’s head.