Standing outside in the freezing cold was definitely not how he’d imagined spending Christmas Eve. Though it had only been a few blocks, Edgar was already unable to stand anymore of the weather. It had to be below freezing, perhaps even in the single digits. He breathed into his hands to warm them before pressing Johnny’s doorbell.
ZZZAAHHHHHHKKKK!
He cringed. He still hadn’t gotten used to that.
He waited a minute or so before knocking. Maybe the doorbell wasn’t working. Still, nothing. Shrugging, Edgar tried the doorknob and it twisted easily. He pushed open the door slowly, stepping over the threshold and into the house. Closing it behind him, Edgar noticed with no small degree of concern that it was not much warmer inside than it was outdoors.
He coughed and cleared his throat, “…Johnny?” he called, peering into the living room. No sign of anything save a heap of threadbare blankets. The same tattered couch sat where it had always been, a knife with crusted blood shoved into its side; the television was in its rightful place flickering with images of some holiday special… nothing out of the ordinary.
That’s gotta say something. Doesn’t it bother you that this looks familiar?
What’s wrong with that?
Oh, nothing. Only that you find it settling to be in a place that resembles Silence of the Lambs.
He bit his lip and ignored the voice. He sighed and took one more glance around the living room. Again, the only addition to his surroundings was the mess of blankets near the back of the room. He wouldn’t have thought anything of it, until he realized that the pile seemed to be shivering.
“Nny?” He asked, moving toward the shaking heap. “Johnny… are you under there?”
“…C…c-c…cold…”
Edgar gently pulled the blankets back to reveal Johnny’s thin frame convulsing from lack of heat. The homicidal maniac hissed and opened one eye enough to recognize the figure kneeling beside him. “O-oh. Edg…Edgar, it’s yo-ou.”
What are you doing why don’t you help him?
I - I don’t know what to do...
Make him warm; he’s freezing to death!
He quickly took hold of Nny’s thin hands, rubbing them between his own. His fingers were like ice. Edgar shivered at the touch but continued anyway.
At this rate, he’ll die faster without the blankets you idiot!
Frustrated, he wrapped the thin man in the tattered covers and gathered him into his arms. Nny tried to protest, but slipping in and out of consciousness prevented his attempts from achieving any degree of success.
He’d never been so thankful to see his apartment. He gently placed Johnny on his bed, pulling back the sheets and pulling them over his thin body. Nny was still shivering uncontrollably, his teeth chattering against his will and it looked as if tears had frozen on his cheeks. Edgar noticed this and reached out to touch his face and felt a pain in his heart upon learning that he’d been right.
He must have been in so much pain… Edgar thought. He sat down on the bed next to Nny’s sleeping form and took one thin hand in both his own and held it until the warmth returned to it, but even after that he did not let go. Finally he began to relax, confident that Johnny would recover. He sighed and closed his eyes for just a moment – only to rest them (or that was how he justified it in his mind, anyway). It had taken so much energy to get Nny here… carrying him through the freezing streets. The adrenaline was quickly wearing off and he was feeling the effects. He was just going to rest his eyes for a few minutes… just a few minutes…
Edgar opened his eyes and found himself in a very familiar position. Nny’s hands were wrapped around his neck and he was rendered completely immobile. That was okay. Nny didn’t have any weapons. Unless he’d gone into the kitchen… or decided to use the lamp… or the clock…
“What are you doing?” He hissed angrily.
“I was… um… I was sleeping?”
Good. Real smooth, Edgar.
“What’s going on?!”
Edgar took a deep breath… or however deep Johnny’s grip allowed. “I stopped by your house to see you a few hours ago… you were freezing. You didn’t have any heat or anything and you looked pretty bad so I brought you back here…”
For a man who’d nearly frozen to death only hours ago, Nny was impressively strong.
“You… how… how did you get me here?”
“Um, well…I uh… I didn’t have my car so I had to… I had to carry you.”
That was eloquent.
Shut up.
Nny blinked a few times and slowly relaxed his grip on Edgar’s throat. He was grateful for the breathing room and inhaled deeply. He was used to these fits by now.
“Why … why did you do that?”
“Well, you would’ve frozen to death if I hadn’t brought you here.”
“But why were you by my house at all?”
Answer that one.
Edgar scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. “I was… I was on my way to mass and I ended up in your neighborhood.”
Nny cocked an eyebrow in confusion. “The church is on the other side of town.”
He was silent for a moment.
Admit it, Edgar. You were worried about him. You wanted to be the one to help him and get him all nice and warm again. You wanted to be with him tonight. You know it.
“I guess… I guess I just wanted to… see you.”
“You wanted to be with me? It’s Christmas Eve, Edgar.” He replied flatly. Why would he want to spend his holiday with me he’s religious and I’m the opposite of everything he believes in…
He has a point.
Shut up.
I’d love to hear your answer to this one.
“It’s just that… well, I don’t… I don’t have any family, and I’m really not close with anyone in particular… and you… well, I care about you. I figured that maybe you would want someone to spend Christmas with…”
Smooth. You have a way with words.
Silence.
“I… I didn’t mean to attack you before. I was just…”
“It’s okay.” He replied with a smile. “I’ll be fine.”
“Okay.”
Oh these awkward pauses. So many and you’re still trying to fill them.
“So, are you feeling better?”
He nodded.
“Would you like something to eat? I have Skettios, if you want them.”
“No… but do you have any Fiz Wiz?”
“Cherry. You want some?”
Johnny nodded happily.
Edgar smiled and stood up, “I’ll be right back.”
You know what’s pathetic? You don’t even drink that stuff. The only reason you keep it is because of him.
So?
So, you have his favorite soda, his favorite food, and neither of which you like. You keep it so you have an excuse to keep him longer. If you’re so content by yourself, why do you go out of your way to keep his company?
I just want to keep him happy.
No Edgar. It’s beyond that and you know it.
Edgar sighed and made his way back into the bedroom with a can of soda for Johnny, who was at this time sitting back under the covers quite comfortably, propped up on one of Edgar’s pillows, looking something like a cat who’d just made himself comfortable.
He smiled and handed the soda over to Nny, who took it happily and drank it rather quickly. “Do you want to sit down?” He asked.
“Oh, no I’m fine standing.”
“Are you sure? It’s a big bed.”
“I know… it’s okay, really.”
Johnny’s face fell. “Oh.”
“What’s wrong?” Edgar asked, noticing this change.
Hmm let’s see, he invited you to sit with him maybe he actually wants to be near you.
But he hates being touched.
Think about Devi. Did he hate being touched by her? He was about to kiss her, wasn’t he? He let her touch him because he trusted her.
What does that have to do with me?
Scribian sighed. He trusts you, Edgar.
“I’m not going to hurt you.” He replied through Edgar’s internal banter.
“What?”
“I’m not going to hurt you if you sit down next to me.”
“I know that, I just thought you might like some space. I mean, I know how much you hate people invading it.”
“Oh.” He said pointedly. “Edgar… do you trust me?”
“… Yes.”
That rare, genuine smile of happiness crossed Nny’s face. “You can still come sit down if you want.”
“Okay.” He replied, taking a seat on the bed beside Johnny who seemed pleased with his behavior.
Let’s see… Johnny just invited you to bed. This is getting interesting.
Shut up, he didn’t mean it like that.
How else did he mean it?
“Thank you… for bringing me here.” Nny said, staring at the bedsheets.
“It’s fine, you don’t have to thank me. I’m glad you’re here.”
“No you’re not.”
“Nny, why would I have brought you here if I didn’t want your company in the first place?”
Nny couldn’t answer.
“I like having you here. I enjoy your company.”
Johnny looked at him with a strange expression, as if trying to read him. “Why… why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Keep me. Why do you even want me around?”
He sighed. “Johnny, I’ve told you this before. You’re my friend. I care about you. I like you.”
“But why? All I do is hurt you.”
“That’s not true.” He said, “You do make life very… interesting for me, but I can’t say that your presence is a bad thing. You’re… you’re something in my life that… that I can trust. You give me… a purpose, in a way. I don’t know if I’m making sense, I’m sorry.”
“You always listen to me.” He said more to himself than to Edgar.
“Yes.”
“You trust me.” His voice sounded far away.
“Nny… are you all right?”
“I think… maybe… I don’t… no. It’s… it’s…” he paused and hung his head, words failing him.
“Is something wr-”
Before he could finish his sentence, Nny’s lips stole it from him. Edgar was completely shocked and unprepared, sirens sounding in his brain and panic flooding his senses but in a way that was what made it all the more exciting. He awkwardly tried to return the gesture with little luck, but he knew that Nny probably did not expect much especially with so little notice.
Johnny pulled back, a nervous expression on his face. Edgar just smiled and looked at him, raising a hand to Nny’s face. As somewhat expected, Johnny collapsed like a rag doll on top of Edgar, who simply pulled him into a close embrace.
“Edgar.”
“Yes, Nny?” He asked softly, running his fingers through dark blue hair.
“I’m going to kill you.”
“I know.” He replied with a smile. “Merry Christmas, Nny.”
The thin man nuzzled happily into Edgar’s chest. “Merry Christmas, Edgar.”
A/N: started this before xmas, hopefully it’ll work for the challenge even though it’s like AN HOUR LATE!!!!!