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The Spankoffskis were not ones to over decorate at Christmas. Ever since Ted had got his own place, he'd never really bought anything for it. He didn't need to. He already had everything he wanted when he moved in and he never had any complaints about them.
The largest was the Christmas tree; it had probably seen better days after years of use with its branches needing repair every time it came out of the box but Ted was reluctant to get a new one when this one had been through so much with them. It was his and Pete's annual tradition on the first day of December to put aside time to decorate it together. The same outdated cheap baubles each time, lights which were warm but dull and the homemade star for the top. For all intents and purposes, it was nothing special and yet, they would never go without it. It was theirs and theirs alone. Something they would spend time together on and let it sit proudly in the place they created as their home. It wasn't special to anyone but them and that's what made it so important.
There was the string that Ted put up to hold their gifted cards, which Pete insisted was not a decoration but Ted would not give in and admit he was wrong on.
And most importantly to Ted, there was the small collection of Christmas ornaments on the shelves which Pete had made throughout his childhood. Some from kindergarten, some from school and a few which Ted has fond memories of Pete making at home. Every year Ted joyfully displays them where he can see the mix of paper, clay, and craft assortment creations and look upon them as they warm his heart. They are as expected; poorly constructed, misshapen and technically somewhat hideous but Ted wouldn't have them any other way. He insists they need to be put up each year despite embarrassed protests coming from Pete when they come out. The blush that covers Pete when he sees them is just more of a reason for Ted to want to keep them, not that he needs more of a reason, he already treasures them and will always win the battle to have them adorn the shelves.
But this year, Ted purposely went out of his way to get one new decoration... Mistletoe.
It was mostly a joke as he told himself. Him and Pete had only started exploring the recent development of their relationship this year and Ted had thought it would be amusing to buy mistletoe considering the circumstances. A new chapter of their lives added to the collection of old memories through Christmas decorations. The mistletoe wouldn't mean anything though like the rest of the stuff. It was just a playful excuse to kiss Pete more and maybe get Pete to blush at something else. A joke that Pete will complain about but ultimately enjoy too. It was just a form of amusement, nothing more.
Ted won't admit that it possibly meant much more to him than that. He won't admit that a small part of him warmed to the idea that it might work and they could have some sickly sweet moment together that cliché couples tend to do.
And he knows it's not like he couldn't just ask for a kiss now when he wants, it's something they do regularly enough unprompted which often leads to much more but a mistletoe kiss was unparalleled. Something about standing beneath it with the only intention to kiss and have the world fade away to that singular moment compelled Ted. He never really cared about those kind of sappy things until Pete, and yet, here he was longing to follow a tradition that was painted as a romantic but corny thing to do and all because he loved Pete enough to want to make silly sentimental memories with him that they could hold dear; to be like any other real couple in love and having fun.
Not that he'd force it to happen. It was, as he said, just a joke... nothing more. Pete will call him stupid for putting it up and they'll laugh about it and they'll both move on from the idea and Ted wouldn't be disappointed in the slightest. Nope. Not at all.
It was just a silly thought.
Unimportant really.
And because Ted doesn't want to make a big deal about it, he forgets about it after he hangs it up in the kitchen doorway.
Pete does make a small comment from the sofa not far away about it when he does so, like Ted thought he would, but it's said with that sweet teasing smile that lights up Pete's face and Ted can't help but let his heart fall deeper into the love Pete sparks in him. His heart belongs to his brother after all and it happily beats to Pete's command. Ted can't even remember what he replied with at the time, something equally teasing back probably which led to Ted taking him by the hand up to their bedroom and neither of them had a thought to the mistletoe after that.
He completely pushes it to the back of his mind and it becomes an absent thought. He has other things to think about and other things to do like buying Pete the perfect gift, finishing files at work before the end of the year, cuddling up with Pete on cold nights as they watch trashy Christmas films, food shopping and the biggest distraction of all, exploring each other in ways they never had before.
It's a good December overall.
So when it does finally happen, Ted is surprised how much he needed it.
There's only a few days left before Christmas and Ted and Pete had decided to start on the baking for the festive day. They do it every year together and somehow, it always manages to cause one or the other to become mischievous. Both of them in the kitchen together is a recipe for playful distraction, a weakness the Spankoffskis share and one of the many reasons that neither are professional bakers. It takes them twice as long as it should and somehow it's even worse than normal. Previously, they may have caused minor havoc for each other for a few laughs but ever since they got their act together and got together, every other part of their lives became flirtatious disorder. Unable to keep their hands off each other, or stop teasing each other, or spend five minutes without longing for the attention of the other.
And it's not like they attempt anything too fancy or difficult to bake. Making chocolate twist pastries is within their skill range and shouldn't be as difficult to complete as their own spirited selves make it. It's simple enough for them to do. They were never the best in the kitchen but it tastes good when they eat it and that's enough for them.
But they hadn't got that far, both stood in the kitchen covered in flour and chocolate from head to toe. Ted will deny starting it. It's definitely worse than most years with flour hand prints on Pete's arms, chest and bottom and practically the identical evidence of misbehaviour on Ted. They have custard drying in both of their hair. Chocolate mysteriously dotted over their bodies and notably Ted has a smudge of the chocolate on his nose where Pete had decided to tap it after distracting Ted by pulling him in close. Their bodies had been pressed together, Pete's hands on Ted's hips still from dragging him towards Pete, and just as Ted bit his lip and began to lean forward, Pete had victoriously lifted a hand to dot the chocolate on the centre of his brother's face, before wiggling out of their interlocked position and escaping Ted's reach so his brother couldn't enact his revenge.
They giggled like school girls as they became more ingredients than human.
It is only once Ted feels satisfied he has won, Pete pinned beneath him on the kitchen floor, hair dishevelled and with a smile that could light up the darkest day, that Ted decides they should probably go get cleaned up before trying to finish the pastries.
"Come on-" Ted pulls himself and Pete up but he doesn't let go of his younger brother's hand, joining their fingers as they right themselves and neither of them wanting to lose that connection anyway, "-lets go get cleaned up. There's no way you can see through those flour covered glasses enough to not hurt yourself. We're more edible than the food is." Ted walks them towards the door with the intention of dragging them both to the bathroom... where there's a high chance they'll both get distracted again.
"Yeah and who's fault was that?" Pete sticks out his tongue childishly to the amusement of Ted. They walk side by side, Pete's hand squeezing his to tell him there's no real anger behind his words. A comfort Ted is happy to take despite not needing the reassurance. There's no one he knows more than Pete and their dynamic has always been light-hearted.
Still, they reach the door together and Ted stops to turn his body towards Pete. He's never one to miss an opportunity to tease Pete. "Hmm, as I seem to recall, someone was over enthusiastic in smacking my ass with their flour covered hand first," the effect is instant and Pete blushes. They've seen each other naked multiple times and still his brother becomes shy at any mention of even the smallest indecency. Ted loves it. Loves the red that tinges Pete's cheeks and travels down his neck. Though it's harder to see with the flour hiding it in places.
A stark reminder of what they must look like. They must look ridiculous and suddenly Ted begins to laugh. He cannot stop it coming. He must look insane stood there consumed by humour with no outwards indication as to what set him off and yet, it speaks volumes that Pete just seems to get it with no explanation needed, or maybe, Ted thinks, he's finding Ted's display funny in itself. Either way, they understand one another like no one else and as such, the laughing is contagious and Pete finds himself joining in, leaning further into Ted's space as he does. There's a joy between them that's comfortable. It's an accumulation of all their antics catching up with them mixed also with the euphoria of the past few months together removing any weight they may have felt.
Ted's not sure how long they stand there, hands remaining interlocked, heads leaning in close and bodies shaking with joy. However, their little bubble couldn't last forever and eventually it starts to quieten down. Breaking off into small huffs of noise which Ted can feel warming his neck when Pete exhales. Though the laughing dies off, a content happiness settles in their chests with the last few huffs of amusement easing and it stays nestled there.
Everything about the moment feels right.
Ted lifts his free hand up for no reason other than to explore this tenderness further. His fingers find the ends of Pete's hair which he follows to softly brush the fallen strands behind his brother's ear. It exposes more of Pete's face allowing Ted to run his thumb over Pete's cheek. He leaves a streak in the flour which dusted Pete's skin and Ted only feels more endeared by it.
His hand falls back down by his side and Pete slowly moves his head further away from Ted's neck, a lose if Ted has ever felt one, but it gives him the pleasure of being able to see Pete's face fully. A fondness blossoming from it. Ted's drawn in by the main focus though- his sparkling crinkled eyes which are framed by skewed glasses. They reflect something back at him that Ted knows resides in himself and Ted realises what he's feeling is love. Pure and simple affection. Sincere and burning bright. The moment feels frozen there, Ted can't look away and as large as every emotion he is feeling is, it's suddenly feels still. The air is fragile around them and neither say a word as they catch their breaths. Ted just can't stop looking at Pete, his cheeks dimpled and eyes watering from the laughter. He's the most beautiful sight Ted has ever laid his eyes on.
It's broken not by Ted but by Pete, who looks up to something. Ted couldn't say what, too hypnotised by the scene in front of him which he's trying to paint in his memory forever.
"We're under your mistletoe, Ted" Pete points out, breaking the silence that had settled in the house. He sounds as fragile as Ted feels. Pete's expression morphs into something softer, if that were even possible. It's mesmerising; a mix of encouraging contemplation and a longing desire.
And it's obvious that Pete is hinting at a kiss. It's not a strange request really, Ted was going to kiss him anyway without the knowledge of the mistletoe being there and he knows it's the most natural thing to expect to do under it. But Ted's hands feel sweaty. He put that mistletoe up, he knew what it meant. Nothing serious. A little bit of fun... and still his hands feel sweaty. He has to look up himself to confirm it's really there which is stupid because he put it there. This was his idea, another decoration for his amusement so why was he the one sweating.
He wants to kiss Pete. He loves kissing Pete. It's one of his favourite things to do and he can feel the alluring pull to kiss him now too, deep beneath this unexplainable pressure. There's no doubt in his mind that if be leaned in now, he would love it like the countless times before that he's kissed his brother.
So why was he so nervous? It's ridiculous. He was unquestionably cocky not long ago and now it's fading. Replaced with a version of him that he often didn't show. Ted swallows hard, only slightly louder than his beating heart.
"Oh... I forgot that was there" Ted whispers for a lack of anything else to say. His mind has gone blank and he's worried he's ruining the moment but he can't think of anything to make up for it. No flirtations, no smug lines, not even something romantic. The fear of not being perfect seems to have doomed him in that fate and he might mess up the sweet tradition of mistletoe. If he was anyone but himself, maybe this would be easier.
Yet, Pete's got that soft look still and doesn't seem put off by Ted. Pete's not worried that Ted isn't enough; he doesn't falter over this made up pressure Ted's created in his head for it to be everything he thought it could be and Ted desperately clings to every part of Pete that shines with certainty that this is for them. Pete steadies him. He holds a confidence that Ted is enamoured by.
As the older brother, he's used to taking control and being the braver of the two but it isn't Ted that gets the ball rolling, it's Pete. He leans forward towards Ted, Pete has no hesitation like Ted and it's exactly the thing Ted needs.
Ted has to remind himself that they've done this plenty of times before when their lips shrink the gap between them and come together. A feathered touch at first which sends a shiver down Ted's spine. Small movements which electrify with each brush of the other's lips and their hands find ways to each other's faces in a soothing manner. Even if Pete showed no worry over it before, they both seem to treat it delicately, like it could prove something they don't want to think about if they do it wrong, like the electricity could become too much, like it really matters. And it does but not for the reasons Ted stressed over.
A pause and suddenly Ted's world is bursting into colour. The fragile nature of it strengthens with all the pieces fitting together naturally. This is so familiar, so right, so perfect, that Ted wonders what he was even worrying about. It's magical like it was always going to be with them. The touch of Pete's lips wash over him and clears his head. This is them. It's always been them and it always will be.
He's not afraid to deepen the kiss. The gentle brush of lips grow into something more passionate and Ted dares to run his tongue along Pete's lower lip, asking for more. Pete allows him entry and Ted boldly follows through. His tongue slipping in with practiced intimacy. Something which is clearly appreciated by Pete who moans into the kiss. It spurs Ted on further and he puts his hands on Pete's hips, holding him tight and pulling him impossibly closer.
There's a heat building up low in Ted but he doesn't push it any further than that. Making out is enough. This isn't about sex, though he's sure he'll make it so later, it's about them just being together as they are, showing every part of themselves to each other fully for something so simple as a mistletoe. Everything they feel for one another and how profoundly they feel it is never too much.
It lasts a lifetime and simultaneously not long enough. They have to break away to breathe, even if Ted has a new desire for mistletoe kisses to last forever but they don't move too far. Their foreheads rest upon one another's while they process what just happened.
Ted couldn’t explain why it felt so important if Pete asked but he knows now that it isn't necessarily a bad thing to have new ways to kiss Pete. They were a real couple after all. It was no different than any other time they shared one and also completely unique in its enjoyment. Being with Pete is full of new experiences that Ted wants to keep on exploring.
He's not quite brave enough to voice those thoughts though.
And in favour of not saying any of that aloud, Ted instead pulls away to reroute the attention of his own mind. With a few inches more between them, he can see the flour still covering Pete’s cheek, it must have smudged even further sometime during them making out. Something that was evidenced by red swollen lips that glistened in the light- swollen because of Ted. It stirred him on further- attractive was the best way Ted could describe how Pete looked. His most beautiful brother, who admittedly he could taste in his mouth. Like chocolate that he knows Pete had been sneaking while they were attempting to bake.
As he had found himself doing a lot that day, Ted broke out into a grin. No matter him trying, he couldn't get control of his cheeks to lessen it but it was no matter, Pete stood close reflecting it back at him. They were standing there beaming at each other. Ted's heart beating for a different reason now.
Pete's timid voice travelled between them, "Merry Christmas, Ted." I love you, Ted.
"Merry Christmas, Petey." I love you, Petey.
Ted was the happiest he had felt since they first got together and though he didn't want to, Ted knew he had to be the one to make them move from the spot.
"We still need to get cleaned up, you know." He smirked.
"Yes. Yes, Just-" Pete's feet still plastered to the ground, he tiptoes a little and pecks Ted on the nose, right where the chocolate lay. Once. Twice. And a third time lower to Ted's surprise. Pete quickly leans in, eyes closed, to give Ted one more kiss on lips. It's short-lived compared to their last and Ted amusingly chases after it, "-There. That's better. Now we can go."
His cheeky brother looks proud of himself and Ted has an urge to ruffle his hair but he'll let Pete win this one. Ted's feeling elated and full of affection. There's nothing that could change that.
He takes Pete's hand once more and passes over the threshold of the kitchen with him following. They're leaving their little circle under the mistletoe but it's not as dramatic as Ted expected. Maybe that was because the real source of his happiness was coming with him. Ted looked behind him to it- to Pete. "Come on. And close your jaw, it's dragging on the ground. I know my kisses are spectacular, but you're going to pick up more dirt like that. You're already a mess." Yeah, Ted was feeling steady again. His cockiness has returned and his brother's love completes him.
And as he pulls Pete to bathroom, Ted has to bite his lip to control the grin stuck on his face.