Your Halls Are Getting Decked [Axton/Silvio/Jon]
Dec 13, 2020 14:55:56 GMT -5
The Madness Menagerie, mystifyingoracle, and 2 more like this
Post by Axton Gunn on Dec 13, 2020 14:55:56 GMT -5
When Silvio opened the door, the scent of citrus, cinnamon, anise, and clove wafted out from within the apartment like a warm invitation to Jon and Axton. “I’m glad you guys could make it,” he said, smiling. Stepping aside, he gestured for them to come in. “You can put your things on the coat rack.”
With everything that had happened concerning UC6, especially stuff with The Entourage coming to a head, the tattoo artist figured it was probably best to provide some kind of distraction. Dom had hit a few sore spots for Axton in particular, and Silvio was certain being called an, ‘infatuation,’ probably didn’t sit well with Jon.
“I got some mulled wine going, and I was thinking maybe we could do something a little festive this evening.”
With Jon’s arm around him and the warm, familiar holiday smells cascading from the door with Silvio’s greeting, Axton felt some of the horrible tension in his shoulders release. The cold air adding a rose tint to his face helped to conceal that he’d been teary-eyed from anger.
In that moment, though, he knew he was going to be okay tonight.
“That sounds amazing,” he sighed, closing the door gently behind himself and Jon. “Hey, loco--pass me your coat, I’ll hang it up…”
Jon smiled and removes his coat, passing it to Axton and giving him a quick, close hug and a kiss on the cheek. Jon had been through so much this past year, and he was overjoyed to be spending the last few weeks of the year in such stellar company.
In his heart of hearts, he felt pained for Axton, but found himself completely unfazed by the words of Dominick Strife. Jon knew that what he and Axton shared was something very special, and he’d been called far worse than “a passing infatuation” in his time. If any words kept him up at night, it wasn't Dominick’s.
One day, maybe someday soon, Jon might feel comfortable enough to reveal to Axton that he still hears those words, “I HATE YOU”, said by his former best friend, the man now incarcerated for filming him and blackmailing him, those words spoken in the raised tones of a raving maniac, still echoing in his nightmares. But tonight was not that night. Tonight was Axton’s night, as the two most important men in the rockstar’s life gathered to talk about certain things, most importantly, how they planned to raise the spirits of the man both hold so near and dear to their hearts.
“I’m so glad we’re all finally together. I’ve been really looking forward to getting to know you in a less punch-y, suplex-y way,” Silvio said to Jon as he gestured toward the living room. “And I thought maybe we could do something special tonight.”
Silvio’s apartment was decorated in an almost excess of sentimentality; walls lined with photos, artwork, and shelves. Several bookcases stuffed with various tomes, novels, comics, and text books lined the living room, but what drew immediate attention was the tree.
“It’s artificial, but I figure you guys wouldn’t mind,” Silvio said, nodding to the deep green Christmas tree in the center of the room. “I hadn’t decorated yet and I know how much you love Christmas, Ax. I was thinking...maybe we could do that tonight. Together.”
Axton’s heart leapt into his throat, his meadowgreen eyes going wide at the sight of the pristine, ready-to-adorn pine. He failed to stop the tears from welling in his eyes, barely managing to keep them from falling as he looked between Jon and Silvio with a bleary blink and a wavering smile.
“I… this… you guys…”
He laughed, rubbing at his eyes with the cuff of his hoodie sleeve.
“I’m bad at feelings. I mean thanks… thank you, for doing this. Honestly I feel so much better already. Like an hour ago I was so pissed I was shaking… Some of the shit Dom said just...”
“It’s okay, Ax,” Jon said, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend in a warm hug, “We’re here. I’ve even got a special little surprise.”
Jonathan let go just long enough to reach into his pocket and revealed two Christmas Tree ornaments: the symbol of Team Rock Lobster, and a cartoon characterization of a tree lobster, the small insect Jonathan kept referring to himself as.
“It’s the Christmas season,” Jon said, “And I feel like we’re all long overdue for some Christmas cheer. People can look down on us. People can judge us. People can call us names. But those kinds of people aren’t important to me. My fans are. My friends are. You, Axton. You’re important to me. I care what you think. And I know you love me. And I know I love you. And that’s good enough for me.”
Axton looked from the ornaments up to Jon's face, a full smile breaking out over his own.
“That's… everything right now. These are so cute. Just like you, loco.”
“Those are great.” Silvio beamed at the little ornaments Jon brought.
Axton turned toward Silvio, making the shape of a star with his fingertip.
“Babe, do you still have the photo ornament I gave you at my Christmas party the year before you left? The one with the pic of us at the skating rink?”
At Axton’s query Silvio blushed, looking bashful for a moment. “The one where I spent more time on my butt than my skates?” he laughed. “Yeah, I got it.”
He nodded the pair into the living room where a few red-and-white striped boxes stood nearby the tree. Kneeling, he lifted the lid off of one and revealed a gridwork array with various ornaments safely stored within. Humming a little fanfare, he lifted the ornament from its spot; the photo in a circular frame of delicately spun silver wires.
“Rock Star and Bruise-Assed Tattoo Artist in Repose,” he declared in his museum guide-iest voice. Said rock star and artist were rosy-cheeked and laughing, bundled in down jackets, Silvio seated on the ice and Axton kneeling to help him up in the photo.
“You two look so good together,” Jon said, “And I’m happy it all worked out in the end. You two deserve all the happiness in the world. I know we haven’t talked much, Sil, but I just want you to know that I’ve always really respected you. I could tell from the moment you walked in here that you were one of the best. We haven’t really crossed paths much in the time we’ve been in Carnage, but I’m happy that that’s going to change. The last time we crossed paths…”
The memories swelled up within Jonathan again: Jon had been preparing for his match against Silvio Leon and the Lab Rat King when he decided to turn to an old friend for advice and guidance. An old friend named Noah Twiler. And just like that, the memory of Noah’s crazed tirade against him comes bubbling back up, the famed “DJ 2TURNT” screaming like a crazed animal about how much he hated Jon, how much he was going to enjoy the public humiliation and ridicule Jon would face once his sex tape was released.
But now, looking at the sight of his boyfriend and his boyfriend’s boyfriend, at the unique bond they share, at the light in both their eyes, Jon realized that it all worked out in the end. The trolls will always be trolls. The haters would always hate. The skeptics would always doubt. But so many other people, in Carnage Wrestling and all around the world, accepted Jonathan as what he was, after he pretended for so long to be something he wasn’t. And now the world of Jonathan Willis has expanded to include both Axton Gunn and Silvio Leon. And he couldn’t be happier.
“You know what? Never mind. It’s in the past. I’m more excited about the future. And I want both of you to be part of that future. I know how much you love Ax, Sil, and I know you can probably tell by now how much I love him too. And Ax is the type of person where he has enough love in his heart for both of us. So I’d like for us to be friends, Sil. I think we could learn a lot from each other, both as wrestlers and as people. I think all of us, all three of us, are strong enough and bold enough and courageous enough to make this work. We, and no one else, can define who we are, what type of relationship we want to be in, and who we want to be in that relationship with. I don’t care what any nay-sayers have to say. I wouldn’t trade this moment, right here and right now, for anything. And I can’t wait to start making more moments like these.”
Silvio raised an amused brow, straightening up and handing the framed ornament to Axton. “I don’t think,” he said, “I’ve ever known anyone to have their heart as tuned into their vocal cords as you, Jon.” Reaching out, he gently squeezed his shoulder. “It’s really courageous of you. I admire that.”
“Same,” Axton said fondly, looking from Jon to the ornament in his hands.
That was the honest truth; Jon wore his heart on his sleeve more than anyone Axton knew. As someone who struggled daily with emotional intimacy--even with the two men in the room with him right now--it was a quality Jon had that he strived for himself. Between the two of them, Axton saw Silvio’s optimism and self-determination, and Jon’s emotional intelligence and faith in other human beings… and he set himself a target. Maybe not now, or tomorrow… but he’d get there. He was figuring it out.
He just needed the people close to him to be patient in the meantime. He told himself Dom just didn’t get that yet. Right now, he didn’t have to worry about any judging eyes.
The photo still made him grin. He remembered that night clearly--Silvio had never been in ice skates before. It had been a blast trying to teach him. He looked to the bare tree, hanging up the ornament under a blue-white light.
“You know…” Axton hesitated, but pushed forward; he could do this. For Silvio, for Jon, he could have a vulnerable moment. “... I never got to do this with my family… Mom was never home for Christmas and dad…” he just shook his head, spinning the hanging ornament. Axton's father had never raised a hand or voice to him, but the gaping silence he provided instead had done more damage than the musician could really understand. “I used to get jealous of those people in the Hallmark movies, decorating trees together, having big Christmas dinners. Finally getting to do this with people I care about…” He swallowed a tightness in his throat, laughing a little. Embarrassing.
“It… it’s special.”
“You deserve special,” Silvio said gently. He nodded to Jon. “You, too.” Smiling, he rubbed his hands together. “So, cocoa? Mulled wine? Horchata? Our refreshments are festive as heck up in here.”
“Oh, hit me with that mulled wine,” Axton laughs. “I’m still a bit shook… it’ll help.”
Jon smiled and begins helping Axton decorate the tree, using some of the novelty Christmas ornaments he brought in a small plastic bag. There was R2-D2, and Pikachu, and the Carnage Wrestling skull. There was Freddy Kreuger and Master Chief and anime-style “Chibi” ornaments of Jon, Axton, and Silvio that Jon was able to get custom-made by a very talented artist friend of his. Jon gave Axton a light kiss on the cheek as he brushed past him and thought about his own history with Christmas.
Christmases with his father were the same as any other occasion with his father… complicated. The whole world knows by now that Jon’s relationship with his father was very… complicated. Jon’s father raised Jon alone, and tried his best to instill virtues in him like honor, integrity, and perseverance. He tried his best to support Jon and give Jon all the love a young growing boy needs.
He was also an unabashed bigot that hated gay people.
Jon sighed slightly, recalling the mixture of love and hatred, anger and grief, and other similar contrasting emotions he went through when his father died. Once again he was pulled to memories of the past, once again he was pulled to a time where he had decided it was better to feel nothing at all than to feel what he was feeling, and once again, simply being around Axton and Silvio helped take him out of those moments.
“My sweet tooth demands cocoa.”
“Natch,” Axton chuckled, taking a picture of the ornament he’d just hung up with his phone as Jon continued.
Silvio gave the pair a wink before moving off into the kitchen to prepare their drinks.
“And I agree with SIlvio, Axton. You deserve special. We all do. People like us tend to forget that we deserve to be happy. That’s why it’s so important to have a support network. My first few years of sobriety were the hardest of my life. But I got through them by leaning on fans, friends, and family. When I moved back to Houston, when I signed my contact with Carnage Wrestling… I was more nervous than I’d ever been. But I took a chance. I signed the contract. I re-established a connection with my old coach. I joined the local chapter of Narcotics Anonymous. All I had to do was look for it, all I had to do was reach out, and both old friends I never thought would ever speak to me again and total complete strangers were willing to help me become a better person.”
“You worked your ass off to get back on top,” Axton said, a note of admiration in his voice. “I’m kinda just starting that climb… I know I made a lot of mistakes, not just when I got here but like… in general, in life, heh… so… thanks for being patient with me. Both of you.”
Jon smiles, and gently wraps his arms around Axton for a hug.
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. That’s something I believe in now more than ever. So just remember that I’m here for you, Ax. You too, Silvio. We’re all in this thing together. We don’t need to be afraid anymore. We don’t need to be alone anymore. And we don’t need to hide who we are anymore. We can be loud. We can be proud. We can be gay, and trans, and poly, and anything else we want to be. We can create the future we want for ourselves. Together. And I’m looking forward to that future very much.”
Returning with two mugs of cocoa and one of mulled wine, Silvio smiled. “I’m glad you two have my back, and I really can’t wait to see what the new year brings for everybody. Heck, we all might be going into the new year with titles to our names.” He set the mugs, redolent of chocolate, fruit, and spices down on the coffee table and looked the tree over with a wistful little smile. “It’s nice. Thank you guys for helping me decorate it.” Neither he nor Axton had ever thought to hide who they were; never had to. Silvio knew how lucky he was in that respect, and he certainly didn’t take it for granted. Leaning over he gave Axton a peck on the cheek and Jon a playful little nudge on the chin. There was a certain nervous energy about Jon he hoped he could settle a little. The former champ was in a vulnerable place, and he seemed almost afraid of offending or somehow displeasing his host. He could understand. After having your armor on for so long, it was hard to be without it. “Merry Christmas, ya handsome devils.”
Jon took a gentle sip of cocoa, grinned, and said, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”
"Jingle jangle, boys." Grinning and picking up his mug, Axton clinked it gently against Jon’s and then Silvio’s in cheers, taking a welcome sip of mulled wine. It warmed him immediately, and both the others in the room could see his face relax, tension leaving his brow.
He didn’t have to be anywhere but here tonight, right now.
“If we all walk out of there with the gold,” he said, looking up at the ceiling in thought, “let’s agree now that we go get lunch somewhere together with our belts on our shoulders. Just because. And I’m not just saying that because it reminds me of the last scene in the first Avengers movie.”
Finishing a sip of his cocoa, Silvio grinned in return.
“Alright. It’s a date.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Sil, you’re gonna have to handle the star. You’re tallest.”
Outside, a fresh layer of powder snow began settling on the rooftops--a pristine mirror to Axton’s peace of mind, and a promise of a serene, restful break for all.
With everything that had happened concerning UC6, especially stuff with The Entourage coming to a head, the tattoo artist figured it was probably best to provide some kind of distraction. Dom had hit a few sore spots for Axton in particular, and Silvio was certain being called an, ‘infatuation,’ probably didn’t sit well with Jon.
“I got some mulled wine going, and I was thinking maybe we could do something a little festive this evening.”
With Jon’s arm around him and the warm, familiar holiday smells cascading from the door with Silvio’s greeting, Axton felt some of the horrible tension in his shoulders release. The cold air adding a rose tint to his face helped to conceal that he’d been teary-eyed from anger.
In that moment, though, he knew he was going to be okay tonight.
“That sounds amazing,” he sighed, closing the door gently behind himself and Jon. “Hey, loco--pass me your coat, I’ll hang it up…”
Jon smiled and removes his coat, passing it to Axton and giving him a quick, close hug and a kiss on the cheek. Jon had been through so much this past year, and he was overjoyed to be spending the last few weeks of the year in such stellar company.
In his heart of hearts, he felt pained for Axton, but found himself completely unfazed by the words of Dominick Strife. Jon knew that what he and Axton shared was something very special, and he’d been called far worse than “a passing infatuation” in his time. If any words kept him up at night, it wasn't Dominick’s.
One day, maybe someday soon, Jon might feel comfortable enough to reveal to Axton that he still hears those words, “I HATE YOU”, said by his former best friend, the man now incarcerated for filming him and blackmailing him, those words spoken in the raised tones of a raving maniac, still echoing in his nightmares. But tonight was not that night. Tonight was Axton’s night, as the two most important men in the rockstar’s life gathered to talk about certain things, most importantly, how they planned to raise the spirits of the man both hold so near and dear to their hearts.
“I’m so glad we’re all finally together. I’ve been really looking forward to getting to know you in a less punch-y, suplex-y way,” Silvio said to Jon as he gestured toward the living room. “And I thought maybe we could do something special tonight.”
Silvio’s apartment was decorated in an almost excess of sentimentality; walls lined with photos, artwork, and shelves. Several bookcases stuffed with various tomes, novels, comics, and text books lined the living room, but what drew immediate attention was the tree.
“It’s artificial, but I figure you guys wouldn’t mind,” Silvio said, nodding to the deep green Christmas tree in the center of the room. “I hadn’t decorated yet and I know how much you love Christmas, Ax. I was thinking...maybe we could do that tonight. Together.”
Axton’s heart leapt into his throat, his meadowgreen eyes going wide at the sight of the pristine, ready-to-adorn pine. He failed to stop the tears from welling in his eyes, barely managing to keep them from falling as he looked between Jon and Silvio with a bleary blink and a wavering smile.
“I… this… you guys…”
He laughed, rubbing at his eyes with the cuff of his hoodie sleeve.
“I’m bad at feelings. I mean thanks… thank you, for doing this. Honestly I feel so much better already. Like an hour ago I was so pissed I was shaking… Some of the shit Dom said just...”
“It’s okay, Ax,” Jon said, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend in a warm hug, “We’re here. I’ve even got a special little surprise.”
Jonathan let go just long enough to reach into his pocket and revealed two Christmas Tree ornaments: the symbol of Team Rock Lobster, and a cartoon characterization of a tree lobster, the small insect Jonathan kept referring to himself as.
“It’s the Christmas season,” Jon said, “And I feel like we’re all long overdue for some Christmas cheer. People can look down on us. People can judge us. People can call us names. But those kinds of people aren’t important to me. My fans are. My friends are. You, Axton. You’re important to me. I care what you think. And I know you love me. And I know I love you. And that’s good enough for me.”
Axton looked from the ornaments up to Jon's face, a full smile breaking out over his own.
“That's… everything right now. These are so cute. Just like you, loco.”
“Those are great.” Silvio beamed at the little ornaments Jon brought.
Axton turned toward Silvio, making the shape of a star with his fingertip.
“Babe, do you still have the photo ornament I gave you at my Christmas party the year before you left? The one with the pic of us at the skating rink?”
At Axton’s query Silvio blushed, looking bashful for a moment. “The one where I spent more time on my butt than my skates?” he laughed. “Yeah, I got it.”
He nodded the pair into the living room where a few red-and-white striped boxes stood nearby the tree. Kneeling, he lifted the lid off of one and revealed a gridwork array with various ornaments safely stored within. Humming a little fanfare, he lifted the ornament from its spot; the photo in a circular frame of delicately spun silver wires.
“Rock Star and Bruise-Assed Tattoo Artist in Repose,” he declared in his museum guide-iest voice. Said rock star and artist were rosy-cheeked and laughing, bundled in down jackets, Silvio seated on the ice and Axton kneeling to help him up in the photo.
“You two look so good together,” Jon said, “And I’m happy it all worked out in the end. You two deserve all the happiness in the world. I know we haven’t talked much, Sil, but I just want you to know that I’ve always really respected you. I could tell from the moment you walked in here that you were one of the best. We haven’t really crossed paths much in the time we’ve been in Carnage, but I’m happy that that’s going to change. The last time we crossed paths…”
The memories swelled up within Jonathan again: Jon had been preparing for his match against Silvio Leon and the Lab Rat King when he decided to turn to an old friend for advice and guidance. An old friend named Noah Twiler. And just like that, the memory of Noah’s crazed tirade against him comes bubbling back up, the famed “DJ 2TURNT” screaming like a crazed animal about how much he hated Jon, how much he was going to enjoy the public humiliation and ridicule Jon would face once his sex tape was released.
But now, looking at the sight of his boyfriend and his boyfriend’s boyfriend, at the unique bond they share, at the light in both their eyes, Jon realized that it all worked out in the end. The trolls will always be trolls. The haters would always hate. The skeptics would always doubt. But so many other people, in Carnage Wrestling and all around the world, accepted Jonathan as what he was, after he pretended for so long to be something he wasn’t. And now the world of Jonathan Willis has expanded to include both Axton Gunn and Silvio Leon. And he couldn’t be happier.
“You know what? Never mind. It’s in the past. I’m more excited about the future. And I want both of you to be part of that future. I know how much you love Ax, Sil, and I know you can probably tell by now how much I love him too. And Ax is the type of person where he has enough love in his heart for both of us. So I’d like for us to be friends, Sil. I think we could learn a lot from each other, both as wrestlers and as people. I think all of us, all three of us, are strong enough and bold enough and courageous enough to make this work. We, and no one else, can define who we are, what type of relationship we want to be in, and who we want to be in that relationship with. I don’t care what any nay-sayers have to say. I wouldn’t trade this moment, right here and right now, for anything. And I can’t wait to start making more moments like these.”
Silvio raised an amused brow, straightening up and handing the framed ornament to Axton. “I don’t think,” he said, “I’ve ever known anyone to have their heart as tuned into their vocal cords as you, Jon.” Reaching out, he gently squeezed his shoulder. “It’s really courageous of you. I admire that.”
“Same,” Axton said fondly, looking from Jon to the ornament in his hands.
That was the honest truth; Jon wore his heart on his sleeve more than anyone Axton knew. As someone who struggled daily with emotional intimacy--even with the two men in the room with him right now--it was a quality Jon had that he strived for himself. Between the two of them, Axton saw Silvio’s optimism and self-determination, and Jon’s emotional intelligence and faith in other human beings… and he set himself a target. Maybe not now, or tomorrow… but he’d get there. He was figuring it out.
He just needed the people close to him to be patient in the meantime. He told himself Dom just didn’t get that yet. Right now, he didn’t have to worry about any judging eyes.
The photo still made him grin. He remembered that night clearly--Silvio had never been in ice skates before. It had been a blast trying to teach him. He looked to the bare tree, hanging up the ornament under a blue-white light.
“You know…” Axton hesitated, but pushed forward; he could do this. For Silvio, for Jon, he could have a vulnerable moment. “... I never got to do this with my family… Mom was never home for Christmas and dad…” he just shook his head, spinning the hanging ornament. Axton's father had never raised a hand or voice to him, but the gaping silence he provided instead had done more damage than the musician could really understand. “I used to get jealous of those people in the Hallmark movies, decorating trees together, having big Christmas dinners. Finally getting to do this with people I care about…” He swallowed a tightness in his throat, laughing a little. Embarrassing.
“It… it’s special.”
“You deserve special,” Silvio said gently. He nodded to Jon. “You, too.” Smiling, he rubbed his hands together. “So, cocoa? Mulled wine? Horchata? Our refreshments are festive as heck up in here.”
“Oh, hit me with that mulled wine,” Axton laughs. “I’m still a bit shook… it’ll help.”
Jon smiled and begins helping Axton decorate the tree, using some of the novelty Christmas ornaments he brought in a small plastic bag. There was R2-D2, and Pikachu, and the Carnage Wrestling skull. There was Freddy Kreuger and Master Chief and anime-style “Chibi” ornaments of Jon, Axton, and Silvio that Jon was able to get custom-made by a very talented artist friend of his. Jon gave Axton a light kiss on the cheek as he brushed past him and thought about his own history with Christmas.
Christmases with his father were the same as any other occasion with his father… complicated. The whole world knows by now that Jon’s relationship with his father was very… complicated. Jon’s father raised Jon alone, and tried his best to instill virtues in him like honor, integrity, and perseverance. He tried his best to support Jon and give Jon all the love a young growing boy needs.
He was also an unabashed bigot that hated gay people.
Jon sighed slightly, recalling the mixture of love and hatred, anger and grief, and other similar contrasting emotions he went through when his father died. Once again he was pulled to memories of the past, once again he was pulled to a time where he had decided it was better to feel nothing at all than to feel what he was feeling, and once again, simply being around Axton and Silvio helped take him out of those moments.
“My sweet tooth demands cocoa.”
“Natch,” Axton chuckled, taking a picture of the ornament he’d just hung up with his phone as Jon continued.
Silvio gave the pair a wink before moving off into the kitchen to prepare their drinks.
“And I agree with SIlvio, Axton. You deserve special. We all do. People like us tend to forget that we deserve to be happy. That’s why it’s so important to have a support network. My first few years of sobriety were the hardest of my life. But I got through them by leaning on fans, friends, and family. When I moved back to Houston, when I signed my contact with Carnage Wrestling… I was more nervous than I’d ever been. But I took a chance. I signed the contract. I re-established a connection with my old coach. I joined the local chapter of Narcotics Anonymous. All I had to do was look for it, all I had to do was reach out, and both old friends I never thought would ever speak to me again and total complete strangers were willing to help me become a better person.”
“You worked your ass off to get back on top,” Axton said, a note of admiration in his voice. “I’m kinda just starting that climb… I know I made a lot of mistakes, not just when I got here but like… in general, in life, heh… so… thanks for being patient with me. Both of you.”
Jon smiles, and gently wraps his arms around Axton for a hug.
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. That’s something I believe in now more than ever. So just remember that I’m here for you, Ax. You too, Silvio. We’re all in this thing together. We don’t need to be afraid anymore. We don’t need to be alone anymore. And we don’t need to hide who we are anymore. We can be loud. We can be proud. We can be gay, and trans, and poly, and anything else we want to be. We can create the future we want for ourselves. Together. And I’m looking forward to that future very much.”
Returning with two mugs of cocoa and one of mulled wine, Silvio smiled. “I’m glad you two have my back, and I really can’t wait to see what the new year brings for everybody. Heck, we all might be going into the new year with titles to our names.” He set the mugs, redolent of chocolate, fruit, and spices down on the coffee table and looked the tree over with a wistful little smile. “It’s nice. Thank you guys for helping me decorate it.” Neither he nor Axton had ever thought to hide who they were; never had to. Silvio knew how lucky he was in that respect, and he certainly didn’t take it for granted. Leaning over he gave Axton a peck on the cheek and Jon a playful little nudge on the chin. There was a certain nervous energy about Jon he hoped he could settle a little. The former champ was in a vulnerable place, and he seemed almost afraid of offending or somehow displeasing his host. He could understand. After having your armor on for so long, it was hard to be without it. “Merry Christmas, ya handsome devils.”
Jon took a gentle sip of cocoa, grinned, and said, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”
"Jingle jangle, boys." Grinning and picking up his mug, Axton clinked it gently against Jon’s and then Silvio’s in cheers, taking a welcome sip of mulled wine. It warmed him immediately, and both the others in the room could see his face relax, tension leaving his brow.
He didn’t have to be anywhere but here tonight, right now.
“If we all walk out of there with the gold,” he said, looking up at the ceiling in thought, “let’s agree now that we go get lunch somewhere together with our belts on our shoulders. Just because. And I’m not just saying that because it reminds me of the last scene in the first Avengers movie.”
Finishing a sip of his cocoa, Silvio grinned in return.
“Alright. It’s a date.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Sil, you’re gonna have to handle the star. You’re tallest.”
Outside, a fresh layer of powder snow began settling on the rooftops--a pristine mirror to Axton’s peace of mind, and a promise of a serene, restful break for all.