Son of Santa (3 page)

“I need a coffee. Good-bye, Fannar.” He turned away, heading to the end of the line.

He heard Fannar’s light chuckle, and then it was gone on the wind, much like he was.

N
OEL
TRIED
to avoid Ruby’s intense gaze.

She wasn’t giving him the space to do so. A new day, a new time, but they were back on their favorite study couch and he faced her inquisition. “Are you quite sure?”

“Perfectly.” He highlighted a line in his textbook. He risked a glance at her and saw she hadn’t looked away from him. “Fannar and I—we’re not… anything.”

She snorted, sounding surprisingly cute and dignified as she did. “You do realize what I am, right? And what I can see?”

“You’ve been off the job for a while.”

“You know as well as I we’re never truly off the job. It doesn’t leave us, even if we’re on a break.”

It was true, but he ignored it, because he didn’t like the alternative.

They’d been dancing around this conversation for days, ever since Fannar’s little appearance at their study session. Noel hadn’t heard from Fannar since, not a surprise visit or even a heads-up of one, and it put a cloud over his mood.

Ruby could tell. It didn’t cause her any worry, however. Instead she seemed determined to make him admit something he didn’t want because he knew it wasn’t true.

“There’s a connection between you and Fannar,” she stated. She sounded unusually smug—not in a bad way, but entirely confident. “Perhaps you haven’t reached the relationship stage, but the foundation is there. I
know
it.”

Noel put down his highlighter. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “If I tell you I used to have a massive crush on him, will you leave me alone?”

“A-ha!” She triumphantly waved her hand in the air. “I knew it! I’m not that out of tune with my job.” She paused and tilted her head. “Except you’re partly wrong. The whole ‘used to’ thing. You still do.”

“I haven’t spent much time with him since I’ve been in the human world.”

“Oh. He’s why you ran away, is he?”

“I did not
run away
. And no, it wasn’t because of him.” He spoke adamantly because, for all he used to crush on Fannar, he wasn’t the reason why Noel left the North Pole. “Besides, it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t see me that way.”

Ruby pursed her lips together and didn’t speak.

“What?” Noel asked. His treacherous heart started to pound a little faster.

It was her turn to be reluctant. “I can’t get into details. We don’t talk about that, remember?”

“Then stop bringing it up!”

Her shoulders slumped. “I know, I know, I got caught up in it. I do love my work, you know. And I used to specialize in same-sex couples. I know what I’m talking about here.”

“Really?” he asked curiously. “That probably was difficult, over the history of time.”

“Tell me about it. It got easier recently, and I was very busy. My boss gave me a couple of years off, and other cupids filled in because it’s an exciting, happier time. But I do miss it.”

“Also,” Noel said, “I thought you weren’t allowed to mess with realm folk.”

“We don’t ‘mess with’ anyone. We do our part to help lovers and couples find each other. Like you do your part to help people find the right gift to give, correct?”

Noel nodded. It’d been his job as Distributer. The myths and legends of Santa Claus in the human world didn’t have it quite right, but it was the spirit of it all that Noel worked in.

“But you are right,” she continued. “We don’t get involved with realm folk. It never goes well. It doesn’t mean I can’t see a foundation in the works.” She winked at him. “You’re in the works.”

Noel rolled his eyes. It was the cheesiest line he’d ever heard. And not in the cards for him—not where Fannar was concerned.

“What you have wrong is Fannar has never seen me that way. He never will. You saw how awkward you made him the other day, even alluding to it! I’m not his type.”

“How do you know? You’re a great guy, Noel. Maybe he’s realized it, with you being gone. Maybe he wasn’t ready before, but he is now. Maybe he misses having you around.”

“Maybe, maybe, maybe.” Noel shook his head. “I’m telling you, an ice sprite isn’t going to slum with the Son of Santa.”

She giggled. “Aren’t you something like the prince of the North Pole?”

“Hierarchy doesn’t work that way there. But he and I aren’t the same.” He shifted awkwardly. “There isn’t anyone like me. I don’t fit in.”

She patted his arm gently. “Maybe the problem is you believe so, but it’s not true. Or if it is, there are others willing to make space for you. Like your handsome ice sprite.”

Noel groaned and let his head fall against the back of the couch. “It makes it worse that he’s so beautiful.”

Her laughter was light and bright again. Thankfully, she left it alone and didn’t push any more. But it didn’t quickly leave his mind.

N
OEL
WOULD
be the envy of his classmates if they knew he’d finished his major assignments a week before the end of the semester. He’d overheard a number of them in class that day talking about how much work they had left to finish before they could imagine studying for exams.

Luckily for him, he had more spare time than most of them. He wasn’t taking a full course load, and he didn’t have to work to pay for rent and bills. He’d learned the lesson the last time he’d attended university and had also long ago learned how to invest in the human world. He was spoiled, and maybe it was cheating a little bit, but he was realm folk, and not all rules applied to him. On the other hand, he couldn’t help but be happy his stress levels were kept to a minimum.

Besides, none of his human classmates would know what it was like working in the North Pole during the holidays. While he understood their stress, he knew how much worse it could be.

He had a week before he would have to start pounding the books for studying, which wasn’t as hard for him. Not because of his course load, but because he had a wealth of knowledge stored in his brain.

He might’ve been exaggerating a little to Fannar about the necessity of school, but he would study to refresh his knowledge and write his final exams the same as everyone else.

But he was lucky enough he could take a week to relax, and he had no desire to leave his apartment. After finishing a stressful group project and having to listen to the increasing murmurs throughout the city of the approaching holiday, he didn’t want to deal with people.

Spending the weekend having a lie-in and some quality time with Netflix and a bottle of wine sounded like the best sort of rejuvenation he could possibly have.

He’d got an early start on it on Friday night, scrolling through the menu while sipping from his glass. Human alcohol didn’t affect realm folk the same way it did humans, but to Noel, wine made for a tasty juice. He was about to pour a second glass when a vibrating noise from the top of his kitchen table distracted him.

“You have got to be kidding me,” he said aloud to his empty apartment. He put the glass on the end table, pushed off his comfortable couch, and padded over to the table.

The plaque vibrated, a clear sign someone was trying to communicate. There was a small hope it was his father, but Noel doubted it. It was likely Fannar, whom he hadn’t heard from for nearly two weeks.

Noel reached out and brushed the flat gray marble with the limited magic he had in his capacity in the human world. Bright light shone from the marble, curving over it in a dome. Miniscule snowflakes danced around within the light. It looked like a snow globe, though it lacked the liquid of one.

Fannar, then. He liked to communicate in snowflakes. Most of the North Pole communicated in snowflakes or pine needles, save for Santa, who preferred the embers of a hearth.

Either way, Noel was trained to read all forms of communication. And he read the snowflakes. Fannar’s message asked if he was available for a visit this weekend. Noel waved his hand over the snowflakes, composing a message of his own that would show as pine needles in Fannar’s communicator. He was free.

The light of the communicator went out, and one second later there was the buzz of Noel’s apartment’s intercom. There was someone at the door downstairs looking for entrance into the apartment building.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Noel said again. He guessed who was there before he buzzed down. “Hello?”

Fannar answered. “Let me up.”

Noel reluctantly pressed the buzzer to let him in, not even considering denying Fannar. It might be the only time Fannar was available this weekend, but Noel hadn’t expected him so soon, and he still wasn’t sure if he was comfortable with Fannar in his space. At least Fannar had the decency to contact Noel first.

With the knock at the door, Noel opened it, and Fannar breezed his way in.

“You know, I meant communicate and we’d arrange a time,” Noel said.

“We did. You said you were free,” Fannar answered. He paused in the living room, his gaze sweeping over the small yet neat apartment. At least Noel had taken the time to clean earlier.

“Yes, but I thought we’d negotiate a time. Set something up.”

“Oh. Sorry.” Fannar did not look sorry at all. He frowned at the apartment. “There’s no decorations.”

“It’s November.”

“The end of November. It may as well be the holiday season. Will there be any in December?”

“No.”

Fannar tsked, but he didn’t look surprised at Noel’s admission he wouldn’t be decorating for the holidays. Noel didn’t see the point. It was only him there, and maybe Ruby who went all out in her apartment, so if Noel wanted to spend time surrounded by tackiness, he’d go there.

“Sometimes I can’t believe what a grump you are,” Fannar said, shaking his head. He smiled, teasing but not mean.

“I truly am on a sabbatical.”

“Don’t forget your roots.”

“I never would. It’s impossible. I’m reminded quite thoroughly every year. Anyway, what’s the reason for your visit? I’m assuming it has a purpose.”

“It does.” Fannar held a little marble plaque in his hand, one that looked nearly identical to Noel’s. “Your father sent me embers.”

Noel’s eyes widened. He warded off the disappointment Fannar had heard from his father when Noel hadn’t. “Oh? What’d he say?”

“That he’s fine and to stop looking.” When Fannar saw Noel’s frown, he gave a small, reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I won’t. I’ll talk to him directly and ask him to come home. I would have over communicator, but my snowflakes didn’t make it through.”

“He doesn’t have it activated often,” Noel said. “Just when it’s convenient for him.”

“Like father, like son,” Fannar muttered under his breath. Before Noel could question him, Fannar continued. “I’ve passed on my message. Now let’s go to the mall.”

Noel blinked at him. “Excuse me?”

“I did not come all this way to visit and sit around in your depressing, undecorated apartment.”

“You came this way to pass on a message.”

“And for a visit. Noel, I’m trying here. Do you have to be difficult?”

“Maybe,” Noel said, but without any heat to it. “Okay, but the mall?”

Fannar’s face lit up. “I love the mall at Christmas.”

“It’s still November.” The holiday spirit would have taken over commercialism by now, which was exactly why he avoided the mall this time of year. Fannar looked so hopeful he couldn’t help but give in. “Fine,” he said grumpily, “but you forfeit any right to ask me to go in December.” Because he would definitely put his foot down. No way would he step inside a shopping center during the holiday rush.

Fannar didn’t look like he took the threat seriously but seemed happy he would get his visit to the mall. He paused and looked at Noel critically. “Please go change first. That’s not proper attire for the mall. That’s not proper attire for anywhere.”

Noel wore a pair of comfy black sweats and a bright yellow muscle shirt that said “Sun’s Out, Guns Out.” He liked the shirt. It showed off the biceps he’d been working hard on for four years.

“I like it,” Noel said simply.

“It’s November, and even if it wasn’t….” Fannar frowned. “I will not be seen in public with you like that.”

“Oh, good, I don’t have to go anywhere.” Noel was teasing, but he made to sit on his couch. A gust of wind pushed him upright before his ass could hit the cushion, and he laughed. “Okay, okay, I’ll go change.” He didn’t want to admit it, but unless he was hitting the gym or lounging around home, he wouldn’t have worn this outfit anyway. He liked being comfy, but he wasn’t a complete slob all the time.

He went to his room to quickly change into dark blue jeans and a soft dark blue sweater. Fannar nodded his approval when he went back into the living room. Noel put on a parka, as winter had truly arrived in a stunning snowstorm the week before, and shoved his wallet and keys into his pocket. Once he was ready, they made their way down the stairs and out of the apartment building.

As they stood on the front steps, Fannar held out his hand. “Quick transport?” he asked hopefully.

Noel took Fannar’s hand, because why not? He braced for the whirling sensation of being carried on the wind. He didn’t have that power, so he’d not been winded away like this in quite a while. It only took a few seconds to make it to the shopping center, which wasn’t too far from his apartment anyway.

They landed on the far side of the second level of the parkade, right beside a large pile of snow cleared to the side. Noel took a moment to catch his breath. He only noticed Fannar still held his hand when Fannar finally let go, and Noel shoved both hands into his jacket pockets.

“Come on,” Fannar said. “Let’s go.”

F
OR
ALL
his usual cool demeanor, Fannar looked entirely happy and comfortable walking through the mall. Noel had never seen him in this setting before, out in public surrounded by this many humans, and he was surprised at how relaxed Fannar was.

“I love humans. I really do,” Fannar said. They were window-shopping at one of the clothing stores. “They’re a fascinating species.”