Another Twist | Safehouse 21

Somewhere in Russia
Christmas Eve


The lights in the safe house were bright, as this had been the one the members had chosen for Christmas. The decorations were almost lavish enough to challenge the ones in the official Popov house, where they were officially supposed to be staying - or he was at least - but he favored these ones. The mixed matched decorations were... enjoyable. He liked the fact that the way they clashed was what made them look more uniform, if that made any sense.

He sat on the couch in the living room, having been ordered to sit down at the first sign of weariness - it was a yawn. His wings was getting a bit over protective, not that he was complaining - and so he was watching the members and his Leenie put the finishing touches on the Christmas Tree. It was Christmas Eve, and this was tradition. They always decorated the tree together on Christmas Eve, as a family; or at least as a pseudo one. And now, the familiar debate was bursting forth. Soon enough, there would be guns drawn, bets placed, egos stroked and belittled, and a whole slew of bribery all around.

They never could whether to put an angel or star at the top of the tree.

Sighing and tilting his head back to rest on the edge of the couch, Tre melted, the exhaustion from his stubborness to stand beside Ash and help decorate sweeping through his system like a wave over a peaceful shore. One of his eyes had darkened, behind his lids, but it was brightening again, and would be back to normal before his eyes had opened again.

For now, he would just...

Rest.

Ashleen, quietly nit picking over where a few of the ordiments had been placed, smirked to herself as she listened to the debate rage behind her. She'd stay out of it, for now.

There was no point in getting as worked up as the others would. She knew what would be placed on top of the tree before this night was done. After all, she always won.

Even if some years it didn't look like she had been participating at all.

"When is you're charming voice going to be heard?" Francesco's voice was amused as he came up beside her, taking on of the ordiments she had moved and put it back where it was. "You never did have a good sight for these things."

Shoving the man playfully with her hip she took the small red ball and placed it back where she had put it, "Whatever do you mean?"

The man just rolled his eyes and smirked, walking away from her as if they had never spoken at all. Smirking herself she followed him with her eyes, as he disappeared back into the room. Travelling from Francesco, she took in the rest of the room with an amusement, until her gaze landed back on the couch, frowning slightly at the boys closed eyes.

Heaving a sigh, she decided it was time to end this yearly argument early. She wasn't even sure she had given them enough times to land their bets.

"Will you lot shut up!" She barely raised her voice, just the addition of it was enough to silence them for the moment. They would start up again if she didn't start talking again though, "He's actually asleep."

She gave a pointed glance to Tre and then glared at everyone else. Whether the boy was asleep, or just attempting not to do so Ashleen didn't actually know, but she didn't care. He appeared to be doing so, and the girl was going to use it to her advantage.

If there was one thing everyone in this room knew, it was not to mess with Ashleen once she had gotten into mother hen mode.

"Now, what are we gentlemen? Twelve year olds? Honestly, you'd think you'd be far more mature than all this, we can handle this like civilized people," her voice was calm as she took a measuered step towards the fighting members. "Now Frankie, put that away before you hurt yourself - you do remember what happened two years ago, don't you?" she clucked her tongue at the man before turning to the next member, "Teddy, darling. You know I love you... but you're insane if you think the star's going on top of that tree."

She raised her eyebrows at the members, some pouting, others glaring, the rest just smirking, but all were silent, "Good. Now Franny dear, if you'll do the honours - and I will be making you fix it if you don't put it on straight."

Nodding her head, again, she shoved the angel into Francesco's hand and flounced over to the couch as she heard Teddy mutter to himself, "Lady Leen always gets what she wants."

"And don't you forget that now, Teddy!" she called easily as she curled up beside Tre, snuggling as gently as she could, attempting to to disturb him if he was in fact asleep.


||Outfit||

Tre had actually - by some miracle - slipped into a light slumber, though he was moderately aware of everything that was going on around him. He relaxed into the couch, letting the argument wash over him. The sudden silence was suspicious, but it was soon filled with her voice, and that made it alright. She always made everything alright.

His wings.

His eyes remained closed, but his arms longed to hold her, and he wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold her close. Even across the room felt too far away.

Then she was beside him, and everything was better.

Wrapping an arm around her middle and pulling her close, he curled into her, resting his head on her shoulder. "What if I wanted a star on the tree this year?" He whispered teasingly, opening a single eye - the golden one - to gaze up at her. She was as perfect as always, from her glowing blond hair to her bright blue eyes. Sometimes he wondered what color his eyes would be, had he been born human, hazel like his fathers? Blue like his angel's?

Cuddling her, pulling her closer, he pressed a sweet kiss to her cheek before settling back on her shoulder, closing his eyes again. There was nothing in this world more comforting than Leenie's presence. Nothing.

Losing her would be almost mortally decremental to his fragile health.

A smile crossed her features as he curled into her. Reaching up a hand, she began to run her hand through his hair, "Too bad. You heard Teddy - I always get what I want, and I want the angel, Angel."

She smirked slightly to herself, as she hummed, looking down at the boy. She was worried about him. It was evident on every part of her face. He may have been good at hiding it, or pretending it wasn't happening, but...

He was barely getting better. It worried her. She didn't know what she'd do if he -

"How are you feeling?"

He purred at her touch, relaxing further. "Maybe I don't look so good at the top of a tree, did you ever think of that?" He teased, nuzzling into her. "You haven't smelled of more than worry since I woke, Leenie." He mumbled. "I want to smell your happiness." His other arm came to wrap around her, and he slowly added his weight to her until she had laid down, much more comfortable curled into her side with the couch at his back. What may have passed as gentle leading was really just a weak suggestion. He didn't have the energy to move her. The fabric of the turtleneck sweater was unfamiliar over his skin, but it kept the chill at bay.

Cold. What a strange thing to feel.

"I'm-" he paused, feigning a yawn that felt real as he continued to nuzzle into her, getting more comfortable. "-fine. Just tired." His exhaustion was enough to back the lie, enough that he barely believed that he had been asleep for three weeks. He nearly slept twelve hours a day, now. He didn't know how he would get through this, only that he would.

He wouldn't leave her again.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she murmured absentmindedly, hardly even putting the effort into the lie. There wasn't really much of a point. She fidgeted slightly, before following his suggestion. "I'm prefectly happy. I've got you haven't I?"

She gave him a quick smile, before glancing to the tree, Franny had finally placed the angel on top of it and someone had light up the lights.

"Its still crooked, Doofus!" she called glaring at article ontop of the tree.

"It is perfectly fine! You're insane D'Angelo."

"Am not! It is crooked! I can see it from here!" Grumbling, someone moved towards the tree. "Oh! And someone get me some hot chocolate will you. What do you think this is? And there better be marsh mellows in there! Or someone will have hell to pay!"

Returning back to Tre, she glanced at him for a moment, before sighing, "If you're sure then. Hey," she said a slight smile tugging at her lips, "Guess what."

"I want hot chocolate." He half sighed into her skin as he slipped into his usual half-slumber. Her voice still relaxed him, even when raised. His angel was such a brat. He loved her for it, though. He loved everything about her.

He hummed softly, keeping his eyes closed as she returned her focus to him. He could feel the shift in attention underneath his skin. "What?" He asked, peeking up at her, single golden eye quivering. It seemed, for the briefest moment, that it would expand, but it settled back to normal relatively quickly. "Is it a present?" He asked, his face lighting up like... well... a kid on christmas.

"Make that two hot chocolates!" she called at Francisco's retreating back. The man only gave a one armed wave, that clearly told her to shut it. She just smirked at his back, sharing a wink at Teddy who just shook his head, an amused expression on his face.

It was good to spend christmas with the family.

"Not yet," she teased slightly, his expression so purely excited that for a moment her amusement dispelled the worry that kept crushing her because he'd only open one eye. "You have to wait til tomorrow for presents silly. Its the rules." She nodded her head slightly, her amusement softening as did her voice, "No, I just remembered... I'll have been here in Russia a year tomorrow. I suppose, that makes it an anniversery of sorts - if one were interested in keeping track of those things anyways."

Blinking both eyes open at her, he rose a little, looking down at her. "A whole year." He said, grinning. "I don't know about you, but I'm definitely one who keeps track of these things. I even got you a special present." Using his words as an excuse to press a soft, lingering kiss to her lips, he pulled away, snuggling back into her neck and closing his eyes again. Even that simple movement had made him dizzy, not that he would show it. His hold on her tightened, and he relaxed once more.

"A whole year." He repeated, his voice a breath. "I love you."

"A special one huh?" she teased, giggling slightly as he pulled his lips away from hers, "Almost makes me want to break the sacred wait until christmas rule."

The warm feeling that was always there in her chest when Tre was around spread as it always did whenever he said those words. There was nothing quite like that simple phrase when it was uttered from his lips.

"I love you too."

"Hey! Why don't I get some love?" Teddy's voice crashed over her, she could hear the smirk on his face, though she did not feel like turning to see it. There was a chorus of chuckles and some mermered agreements, all of which Ashleen chose to ignore.

She snorted and shook her head, "I do believe, Teddy, I told you I love you less than an hour ago, and yet you forgot already."

Shaking her head, the girls meladramtic proformance was cut off as a mug of hot chocolate was stuffed in her face.

"Put that in your mouth girlie," Franny grumbled good naturedly, "Maybe that will shut you up for a few moments."

Eyes twinkling Ashleen looked over at the man, "Now, now Fran, when have you ever known me to shut up?"

"Teeeeeedddyyyyyyy." Tre whined, peeking out at the man from around Ash's chin. "I told you not to talk about our relationship in front of Ash." He teased, nipping teasingly at Ash's throat. "She doesn't like me to talk of my various lovers in front of her, right Cisco?" The man turned away from them both, the back of his neck turning flaming red as he attempted to hide his blush by adjusting the christmas tree ordainments again.

"Angel, you know better than to tease us with a girl in the room." Teddy chastised, though his eyes sparkled with humor as he held out a mug of cocoa for the boy. "Take this, stud." Winking as Tre straightened to drink his hot chocolate, reaching for and taking the cup.

"Aw, thanks dearie." Tre simpered, bringing the cup to his lips. He froze, blinking a few times before looking down at the cup. The steam rising from the cup had been replaced by the creeping mist remnant of dry ice, the chocolate had frozen solid, a thin layer of frost sitting a top the once-hot drink. Frowning mournfully down at his cup, he held it upside down, shaking a few times, only to have it not move an inch. "Whoops."

Ashleen, already curling herself neatly into the corner of the couch, rolled her eyes above her steaming drink, rolling her eyes at their antics.

"Oh, I don't mind who you play with Angel," she simpered, reaching out to caress his hair possesively, "As long as everyone's aware of who you belong to at the end of the day."

"Franny! Stop touching my decorations," the girl grumbled, snaping her fingers, and sipping her drink again, only to frown over at Tre.

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, letting go of her mug with one hand to pinch the bridge of her noise. For a long moment she stayed like that, attempting to get ahold of the worry that was threatening to take a hold of her again. She had spent weeks in that dark place, unsure whether he was going to come back to her again, too concerned to even bother taking care of herself. This wasn't the place for that - she was going to be happy and-and...

Besides it was just a stupid misplaced magic trick.

"Promise not to repeat that," she said with a forced light tone, her lips curling up, though her eyes still have yet to open. "You can have some of mine."

Purring slightly and leaning into her touch, Tre's eyes flashed, flickering toward the girl he belonged to. The gilded irises brightened for the briefest of moments, and he grinned. "Angel on a Leash." he teased, leaning closer to her, golden eyes sparkling mischievously. "It's almost unfair, how much control you have over me."

Wrapping his arms around her waist after settling his cup back on the table, he nuzzled his nose against her jawline, his eyes on her closed lids. "Nah." He murmured. "Didn't want it that much."

Slowly she let his touch coax her eyes open again, her nerves calming further more. Letting out a sigh, she smiled, this one without a trace of worry. What was the point anyways?

She just needed to relax and let go.

"Don't whine Angel," she cooed, tilting his head up so his lips were more avalible for her to press her own against them, "You'd be lost without me."