Chapter Text
Date: March 20th, 1722
For as long as he could remember there was only one thing he knew for certain and that was that Christmas has its place. Every year, for centuries, the graying elf had worked alongside Chris Kringle to bring Presents to the children of the world. The days of riding in the sled and making sure regions were still secure, or venturing out into the world to speak with children or even observe however had long since passed.
Silver Volkov found himself sitting idly by filing paperwork in his office, his mind occasionally wandering back to simpler times such as the celebrations in Rome in 372 AD, he was a younger elf then. Instead he had been helping Krampus with his usual duties as Eyvon and Atticus, his second, passed on in an accident in December of 1522. They had also been his friends, it was the least he could have done for them, though he still mourned their loss he was doing his best to continue on.
Today however had no room for wistful thinking or nostalgia as the man that would be filling the role of Krampus’s second would be here any minute. Silver hummed reaching up and twisting the end of his gray goatee as he mumbled to himself,
“Something is wrong with the employee charter again… I’ll have to speak with Kringle sooner or later about it but some of these names are out of date.” he sighed, grabbing his quill and began making the edits needed so he could copy the charter over to new sheets with the correct information. There was a light knock at the door that drew attention away from what he was doing,
“You may enter.” Knowing who would be knocking on his office door it was either the man he was told about or something important. He heard the door creak open and without looking up he continued writing as needed. “I hope your day is going well so far,” he stopped writing and looked up after finishing his last time. “Ah you must be the young man Krampus told me about. Styx was it?”
The younger man smiled sheepishly, he was clad head to toe in black a lightweight ruffled shirt hanging off his frame, tighter pants and heavy looking boots. Examining his face Silver couldn’t help but stare into those gray eyes for a moment, they seemed familiar but couldn’t place how. It wasn’t long before the younger man spoke,
“Yes Mr.Volkov, Krampus sent me over saying you had some important information about the position he’s set me up with.” The older man smiled softly,
“No need to be so formal you may call me Silver. Besides you and I are equals just on different sides of the fence. While we may not work with each other much it is important to note that it is okay to be familiar.” Silver grabbed some of the older books off the shelf that were designated to the Second of Krampus.
“Alright then.”Styx sounded a little confused as his father hadn’t exactly told him much other than to be prepared to break limbs if necessary. “What exactly did he have you doing if I may ask?” Silver hummed a little as he set the books down on the desk with a few other things he had been borrowing,
“Nothing that would be egregious I assure you. I have had to slip out to deal with the humans on his behalf from time to time when the wicker was short, nothing a quick caning can’t fix.” Silver chuckled a little, “It is however mostly boring paperwork I promise.” Silver knew he was playing down the potential for violence but he was more than certain that Krampus had likely filled the young man in, rather than be gruesome he would rather be able to provide Styx with some sort of comfort. He was aware of what had brought Atticus to the job and only surmised that it had been similar for Styx.
“Well I was warned the job could be kinda violent… though I would hardly call caning violent.” Styx chuckled a little looking the older man over, “But you don’t strike me as the kind of man that doesn’t like to get his hands dirty, no offense.” Silver nodded,
“And you would be correct in that. I will warn you however…” He stepped from behind his desk walking up to the shorter man looking at him over his glasses. “Be sure to hide your ears if you can when moving about. Humans are cruel.” Silver was busy looking him over trying to figure out why he was so familiar still, he did find it a bit odd that a natural born imp at his maturity would have no horns, or at least a tail. Styx looked more like an elf than an imp.
Styx noticed his eyes looking him over and smirked a bit “Late bloomer.” Silver nodded, “Ah I see..” Silver was a little ashamed that Styx was picking up on what he was looking at but it couldn’t be helped. Styx allowed the older man a moment to collect himself, “I take it he didn’t tell you who I was, did he?” Silver raised a brow looking over the imp,
“Tell me what pray tell?”
“That I’m his son.” Styx looked him in the eye, he was calm as he once again explained his existence to yet another person. “Not by birth, he adopted me some time ago… Apparently my parents didn’t want me.” Silver took a slight step back, “I apologize I hadn’t realized that he had taken anyone in, much less raised them.. He didn’t tell… any of us”
Styx gently nodded, “I know, he wanted to be able to at least keep me away from people to raise me. Why I’ll never know but it probably had something to do with the tensions between imps and elves, and my appearance? I’m sure it doesn't help. I don’t really know much about who or what my parents were other than that I am an imp so I’m flying on good faith.”
“I see.” Silver had a number of questions floating about his mind, it wasn’t every day that there would be a whole person raised in secret now standing in front of him, though this did mean he was going to go check in with Krampus. It was possible that the young man was pulling his leg but he looked so hauntingly familiar that it was starting to bug him.
“Tensions were especially high these few years, you being a late bloomer I’m sure would have been rough on you, I apologize.” Styx shook his head, “There’s no need to, it's just a fact of life. I am excited however to finally get to see the world, meet people, maybe make some friends around here. It would be nice to have someone to talk to that's not my dad.” Silver chuckled a little,
“Consider me the first friend then. I may be friends with your father but I know what he’s like and I also know that things can be stressful in our positions. So if you are ever looking to talk I don’t mind lending an ear.” The elf smiled, “ I also have a few tricks up my sleeve if you ever need them.” The smirk that spread across Silver’s lips was a little devious but when you’ve been alive as long as he had you can’t help but cause a little trouble here or there. It was a wonder that working for Krampus here and there over the last two hundred years hadn’t caused horns or a tail to sprout for the older man.
“Is that so?” Styx cocked his hip to the side and chuckled, “I like you, encouraging me to be a little naughty with a look like that. Dangerous game.” Silver leaned back against his desk mulling the younger man’s words over before it came crashing down on him like an avalanche in the mountains, Atticus . He looked like Atticus if he hadn’t had those massive horns that sat on his head or those scales that Silver was familiar with from the long nights he shared with Atticus and Eyvon unwinding over dinner. The tone Styx used was unmistakable, figures the man’s attitude was passed down to his son. It was clear however the young man hadn’t been told the truth or at the very least didn’t know what happened,
“Well I would be remiss to not encourage a little bit of trouble where I cannot. That aside I assume Krampus showed you around the factory and gave you the basic run down yes?” Styx nodded a lock of his hair falling in his face,
“He did, I know what’s expected of me and it’s all easy enough. He started teaching me certain practices when I was a child so I would be more than aware he did however send me over with paperwork for you as a means to show me how to handle the charters because and I quote ‘I don’t know what I’m doing your predecessor and Silver have always handled these for me’ ” Silver sighed, “That certainly does sound like him, take a seat and we shall begin.” Styx looked around the room for a second chair as Silver stopped leaning on his desk and moved back behind it but didn’t take a seat.
“Uh…there’s only one chair” he sounded more than a little confused before Silver smiled a little,
“I don’t need to sit, take my seat and we can go from there.” he tapped the back of the chair he had been sitting in earlier and watched as the imp took his seat setting the papers down. “ Now let’s get started” Silver lent over the desk off to the side of Styx spreading out the documents to look over, “Ah I see. Employment records and certificates of employee discharge. So all you’re doing is referencing the current employee roster as you go through the discharge paperwork. Simply cross out the name and-” he grabbed one of the books he had pulled down and flipped it opentabbing over to the year 1722 month of March, “You’ll just slide the discharge papers behind this leaf here. They are all in alphabetical order from the looks of it so it shouldn’t get too crazy as you go down the list. I was doing something similar earlier though Kringle sends his to me for proofing currently as I’ve been pulling double duty.”
Styx picked up the quill and started looking over things humming in acknowledgement,
“All of that work must be a drag, I hope you manage to let loose sometimes.” Silver chuckled a bit as he stood up right not wanting to crowd the younger man in. “When I’m at home, I enjoy a good mead and a smoke before bed before unwinding.” Styx brushed the hair from his face as he started making the adjustments needed to the roster,
“I admit that you’re something of a marvel to me.”Styx smiled to himself, “You may not have seen me but I certainly have seen you in passing a few times in the past few years, everyone looks at you with respect. I only hope that I’m met with a similar look someday” Silver raised a brow, “Why wouldn’t they?” the older man asked seemingly confused by the notion that they wouldn’t respect Styx,
“I look like an elf and I’m expected to be an imp at minimum. Even elves that have left the workshop to come work in the factory look more impish than I do.” Silver sat in thought leaning back against the wall before letting out a sigh. “Well there's a few things you could do… The first that comes to mind is to attempt to get their respect by doing your job fairly, or perhaps being more hands on when you start? I know that you’ll be carrying out punishments and the like but I like to think that you should be respected for being in the position in the first place.” If Styx was already thinking about this it was safe to say that there had been enough whispers that managed to reach his ears. Silver shook his head,
“It will be alright I promise and if you want help I will always be here to lean on for support as will Krampus. I want to see you succeed.” Silver eyed Styx as he kept at his work never once looking up during this conversation,
“I appreciate it, though I hope I won’t have to run to you at every turn. I’m hoping that I won’t need to lean on anyone, he did say that relying too much on others may make me appear weak which will only make the situations I have to deal with harder to control.” Silver mindlessly re-twirled his mustache in thought, while the young man had a point Krampus was wrong for discouraging assistance. There had to be a reason for it surely but right now that wasn’t important, what was important was making sure Styx knew the job more than anything.
“Perhaps, but still a little bit of help is required from time to time. Working your way up to not needing assistance isn’t a bad thing either, just know that you may always call on me, at any hour should you be needing my tutelage.” Styx nodded, he was already halfway through the small stack of discharge papers as there hadn’t been many that month,
“I appreciate it, really I do.” Silver nodded, “Of course. Now once you’ve finished this up you’re going to want to copy over the current roster to fresh sheets and discard the older one. I wish there was a better method but alas nothing has really been set up.” Styx looked up and raised a brow,
“You’re joking right? Krampus literally is the reason I don’t have better equipment. He doesn't believe the printing press would benefit us at all and it's older than I am.” Silver Blinked, he knew he had not been on sleigh rides or out for a while to really examine the changes of the modern world outside of the north pole but the printing press? What on earth was a printing press? Silver’s expression was one of confusion as he looked down at the younger man,
“I take it you don’t know what a printing press is?” Styx got up and turned to face Silver and smiled with a little bit of enthusiasm. “So it’s this machine where you can slide in these wooden blocks that have the alphabet and numbers carved into them.” Styx was motioning with his arms in an attempt to show Silver Roughly the size of the machine and how one would slide in these wooden blocks, “You just organize them to number and spell things as needed per sheet, it makes it incredibly easy to make multiple copies of a document. If there's no implementation in the factory perhaps it could be of use in Santa’s Workshop?”
Silver allowed a smile to slowly spread across his face as he listened to Styx talk about this odd machine, he was right it could be useful but maybe not for what he was initially hoping as the young man had stated. Silver twirled the end of his mustache looking at the younger man,
“You may not have convinced Krampus but you certainly convinced me. I’ll take it up with Kringle in the morning, it could make things easier for a number of our elves and possibly even speed up production.” Styx went wide eyed,
“Really? You mean it?” Silver found himself chuckling at Styx’s reaction it was clear that Krampus was so busy teaching the man to follow the old ways and shutting down new thoughts or practices that he had barely given him praise growing up,
“Of course I mean it. It would be incredibly useful for any number of projects in the workshop; we would just need several on a production line.” Silver found himself enjoying Styx’s excitement; it was exhilarating to hear fresh ideas and never mind meeting a new face. The passing thought of how cute Styx looked being excited flitted across his mind for a split second but he paid no mind to it. His eyes shifted to the clock a moment taking in the time,
“Ah it seems it is time for lunch, or rather past lunch. I’m sure the factory or workshop have already had their meal breaks by now and pack things away. If you would like, we can table the work for now and I can make you some food over at my abode.” Styx grinned,
“I would love to, admittedly I haven’t eaten much. This morning I didn’t eat much as I will admit I was a little nervous. First day doing any of the administrative work and all that.” Silver smiled as he moved around the desk grabbing the cloak he had set to the side of the room and wrapping it around himself to stay warm he looked back to Styx,
“Did you not wear any other layers?” Styx shook his head, “No it was comfortable when I left… why?” Silver blinked in awe “It was snowing something fierce this morning…. And you are wearing a linen shirt.” Styx shrugged seemingly un-bothered.
“I know,” he came around the desk meeting Silver at the door as the older man opened it, “The cold doesn’t really bother me. Come to think of it, it never really has.” Silver shook his head and lifted up his arm beckoning Styx to come closer,
“I won’t allow you to potentially catch a cold under my watch, especially if I am to feed you this afternoon.” Styx moved in, allowing Silver to wrap part of the cloak around him, the rabbit fur just hanging down the back brushing his cheek, slightly catching him a little off guard. Styx looked up at Silver,
“What will people think seeing you walk around like this with a young man like me?” He half teased, unable to resist poking a little fun at Silver, seeing as the two looked like an unlikely pair of friends. The older man let out a chuckle,
“ You’re bound to be trouble for someone aren’t you Styx? But they won’t think much of it. I often have guests of varying types. They've all come to see me as I try to help those I can when they need. I’m no stranger to picking up a heartbroken young elf in need of some cheering up either.” They both began to make their way out the door to The two of them then made their way toward Silver's home just a little ways off from the Workshop.
“Heartbroken? I hope that doesn’t happen any time soon… Though there was a sweet looking elf I saw on my way here that caught my eye.” Styx chuckled a little and Silver quirked a brow,
“Is that so? What did they look like if you don’t mind me asking? I know most if not all under Santa’s care perhaps… I could give you a little bit of information?” Silver kept at a pace that would be easier for the younger man seeing as he was slightly smaller than him. He was curious, the first day out and allowed to mingle and he’s already looking at people? It wasn’t shocking since it was obvious Krampus kept Styx away from people until now Silver just prayed that he hadn’t kept him so in the dark that he would act like some uppity youth,
“He’s got this shaggy brown hair, looks like he works with the animals maybe? And the prettiest golden eyes I’ve ever seen. I should probably get more acclimated before I even think about asking after someone though huh?” Silver let out a gentle chuckle at Styx’s rather astute observation,
“Right, you are to think carefully about it. He really kept you all to himself? You’re a delight, someone I certainly wouldn’t mind having around when I need advice myself. That being said, let me give you some advice and perhaps some information. The elf you speak of? His name is Allo’w he’s relatively quiet but ambitious. Always climbing to the top through any means necessary. Please Styx… be careful if you choose to pursue him in any fashion. He shies away even from me.” Styx nodded slightly as he could see a house come into view. It was a small cottage, warm, welcoming and altogether homey looking. Nothing so extravagant as he thought the elf before him was.
“This it?” he asked with a smile, he was getting to see and talk about so much in one that he honestly didn’t know what to do with himself. Silver chuckled,
“Aye, that’s home sweet home. Let’s get you inside and fed hmn?” Silver ushered the young man into his home and began getting him settled in so the two of them could get started unwinding over lunch. Perhaps Silver could learn a few things while he cooked about Styx, that was the plan after all. As Silver set a pot of water to start boiling over the fire he looked to Styx with a warm smile,
“Tell me everything.” With that the two would begin discussing anything and everything that Styx knew or wanted to talk about as the older man wanted to give him a chance to spread his wings a little before he would be going to confront his old friend, Krampus.
Later That Night
Silver had seen the young man off hours ago and knowing that he wouldn’t be near Krampus’s Office, Silver had marched directly to the factory to give the old man what for. Wrapped tightly in his cloak he shoved past the two imps at the factory entrance making his way to the office door down the hall from the door that led into the bowls of the factory where the especially heinous were kept. Silver scrunched his nose able to smell the stench of sulfur coming from the doorway before turning on his heel to face the office door.
Taking a deep breath the elf prepared himself for what he was about to do, he had been quietly steaming for the last couple of hours as Krampus had hidden information from both him and Kringle about their friends. Silver threw open the office door,
“HOW DARE YOU” Silver yelled with his full chest staring down the roughly seven foot tall horned mass that was Krampus. “You fucking lied to us! All of us !” Krampus blinked in response looking slightly confused before it dawned on him,
“Oh you mean Styx? Atticus and Eyvon asked me to protect him, so I did just that. Unfortunately there are some matters that have arisen that have led me to change course on how I will proceed in protecting him.” Silver was stunned,
“Protect? You call isolating him protecting him? Do you even hear yourself?! Krampus this is absurd, and change course? What on god’s green fucking earth could warrent him taking Atticus’s job? You know the risks.” Krampus stood up from his chair letting out a sigh as he grabbed the book from off his desk as if he had been prepared for Silver to come looking for answers.
“You are right old friend I do know the risks but the risk of him being what he is is worse. Styx does not know who his father was and I would prefer to keep it that way for now. Him knowing would put him at higher risk. The only reason I sought to keep him from you and Kringle was because I knew that it would expose him to others, where if they found out who he was would immediately either cause problems or worse…. It wasn’t safe Silver.” The elf was in disbelief, he should have known Krampus was hiding something, someone. But in all of those meetings he never so much as heard or even seen evidence of a child. How? That wasn’t important, what was important was that there was a here and now.
“What exactly is it that could throw your entire protection plan into chaos then? Hmn?” Silver spat the discontent clear on his face,
“Death.” Silver’s expression fell as Krampus handed him the book, “I will die, I have already spoken with father time on the matter. My time on this plane is limited due to the shifting nature of the world and how this all works. My body will grow weak and Styx will be in danger if one of the imps in the below has the title transferred to them as was my case many, many moons ago when humans started to believe. They will search for more power that won’t upset the balance…. Styx is part dragon and as such he will be first on their list. He needs to become Krampus in my stead, even if it is what causes my death before it is my time.”
“You realize how dangerous that is? He’s not- Styx can’t easily take on that mantle, would it not be painful for him?” Silver frowned, “That's why you have him taking Atticus’s place, so he can slowly change rather than quickly.”
“Precisely why. I am sorry Silver, I know I should have told you but I was acting in my son’s best interests.” Silver feigned understanding,
“I see… I understand now, could you come here?” Krampus moved closer,
“No,no closer” He inched cautiously forward standing by the elf as the elf transferred the book under his left arm,
“Lean down for me my darling friend” Krampus nodded and lent down without much question, till his dying day he likely will question why he listened in the First place as what he had not noticed was the balling first Silver had in his right hand. The second he was in range Silver swung full force cracking his fist into Krampus’s jaw,
“ You overgrown billy goat! What remotely made you think any of this was a good idea! You should have come to your FRIENDS ! It wasn’t your god damn fault, you could not have known that there was going to be a party of humans seeking out creatures like us for sport.” While Silver was small he still packed a mean punch, it was the only reason he had so willingly taken over some of Atticus’s duties, he knew he could handle it. Krampus was busy rubbing his face with a clawed hand as he listened to his friend yell at him for a moment,
“I know it is not my fault but it does not make me feel any less responsible. They had been separated from us. I should have kept them closer to me. When I found them they made me promise to keep him safe. I am only trying to honor their wishes.”
“Do you hear yourself? Really truly hear yourself? Kra-”
“Silver stop.” Krampus cut him off, “I understand why you’re upset, I know you’re still hurting, I am sorry. But what’s done is done and I need to keep him safe.” Silver took a deep breath, his rage not satisfied but that was something he would have to deal with later.
“You owe him an explanation at some point… Swear to me that you will tell him.”
“Silver-”
“Swear it, or gods help me.”
“I swear to you I will tell him.” Krampus sighed in defeat, there was no point arguing with the elf. “Just… that book explains everything Silver. The only way to keep him safe is by taking my place.” Krampus let out a sigh offering Silver the book he was holding, “This is for you should he need any help when that day comes. It contains everything he will need to know should I run out of time before I tell him.” Silver took the book shaking his head,
“Why on earth are you putting me in this position? You know exactly why I shouldn’t be in possession of this.” The book he had handed silver looked old and tattered along the edges as if it had been well loved and it had been. On its binding there were no letters to indicate what it was but Silver knew because he had often seen Atticus scribbling away in it when they were all younger. The elf didn’t want to be holding on to his now deceased friend’s journal and much less wouldn’t want to even explain to Styx why he had it or how he knew his father later on down the road with the flitting thought that had crossed his mind, Silver full well knowing that would potentially cause problems for him if that happened again and went unchecked.
“Silver..” Krampus had seen the look that subconsciously spread across his face, “You had one of thoughts when you saw my boy earlier didn’t you?” he asked, looking unsurprised. Silver shook himself from the thought and narrowed his eyes,
“How dare you insinuate that I was looking at Styx in such a way.” Silver’s voice was nearly a growl as he spat these words at Krampus, feeling almost as if he had to defend his honor from such a notion.
“Silver… You made him lunch and let him spill his guts to you. He’s not a child and I very much can't control him either. But he listens to you far more than he listens to me it seems.” he sighed slightly, “Besides I know how you used to look at Atticus, it’s no wonder you look at Styx that way. He’s so much like his father despite having never met the man.”
“Atticus was a friend, nothing more. You know that.” Krampus scoffed,
“You really don’t think Kringle and I were blind do you? You have a thing for black haired pretty boys, you always have.” Silver scrunched up his nose, he did not like where this is going in the slightest as this meant Krampus fully intended to send Styx to him regardless of circumstances,
“You sneaky little goat. You know how to do all the work of the second. Is that why you sent him to come learn from me?” Krampus stuck out his long tongue with a satisfied look on his face teasing Silver,
“You catch on quick” Silver was in shock,
“You can’t be serious, you know I have rules. I don’t care how sweet he is, you know I won’t be pursuing him given that we work together. Besides the poor thing has a crush already” Krampus raised a brow at this his demeanor changing,
“What do you mean he has a crush?” Silver looked to him crossing his arms,
“Just that, he has a crush. A young Elf boy, Allo’w which is interesting since Allo’w is probably one of the most anti social elves in the North Pole despite being as ambitious as he is.” There was a pause and the concern that was in Silver’s voice and on his face read easily. It was very unusual for an elf to dislike or even avoid him as all he ever wanted to do was help but Allo’w did that constantly and Silver couldn’t place as to why he would.
“I don’t like that look Silver… I can only assume that the elf in question worries you?” Silver nodded lightly his features scrunching up as if he had smelt something rotten.
“He’s avoidant. I worry, I suppose. Styx is inexperienced and I am unsure of this one… but that’s all I can say on the matter. I do not know the elf in question well enough.” Krampus looked shocked,
“You don’t know him well enough? That is unsettling, you get to know everyone.”
“This one has been avoiding me for some reason… and I’ve yet to place why.” Silver clicked his tongue and while he wanted to dislike the elf he had no reason to yet,
“I can see it in your eyes Silver, you don’t like him.” Silver sighed,
“I don’t. It is only a matter of time before I find out why he rubs me the wrong way however. I can’t have him messing around with anything that could throw everything out of balance.” Silver paused mulling over a few thoughts that were zipping through in his head before speaking again,”Perhaps I don’t like that he’s so incredibly insistent on doing this his own way rather than falling in line but It is not as if myself or Kringle have ever imposed our will on him. We just leave him to his devices and if I attempt to offer help he just glares at me. It is bizarre.” Krampus thought a moment as he listened to Silver before he looked the elf over and shook his head,
“He may just be like that Silver. In either case I think we’ve done enough squabbling, no?” Silver rolled his eyes at the large goat like man,
“After dealing with you I need more than mead so you best be sending me off with a good drink before I leave. You do not get to just drop all of that and not pour me a drink at the very least.” Krampus laughed grabbing a bottle of scotch from his desk and opting to pour two glasses,
“A drink and then off with you then. It’s past your bedtime isn’t it old man?” Silver took the glass that was offered to him and took a sip making his way over to one of the plush chairs his friend kept in the office shaking his head,
“You are one to talk ye old fuzzy rapscallion.” He slid into the chair, eyes watching his friend as he took his own sip of the drink. “And besides we have other things to really catch up on before I head home.” Krampus nodded swirling the contents of his drink,
“That we do, old friend, that we do.”
Silver and Krampus spent the next few hours filling each other in on the happenings between the factory and the workshop these past few months. Much of which was minor in comparison to the argument that transpired moments ago. Once Silver had finished his drink and bade Krampus a good night he started the trek home to get some rest before morning. Where he knew he would once again be tutoring Styx and hopefully the young man wouldn’t feel as though he was ill prepared to be released from hands-on lessons.