———  0011. d e c e m b e r  1 1

my future

Being back in Bryn’s apartment in Reykjavik was calming and disturbing at the same time. Tomten took my previous spot on the couch so… I had to sleep with Bryn in her bed. I felt like a child, I was so awkward and scared. 

Lucky me, nothing embarrassing had happened. And by embarrassing, I mean no accidental cuddling or spooning had happened while we were sleeping. I woke up in the same position I fell asleep in, feeling completely stiff. Bryn was a morning owl - although you wouldn’t guess -, so she was already awake, making coffee in the kitchen. 

I walked out of her bedroom, brushing my auburn hair with shaky fingers. Then… I saw her. She was dancing to whatever song came from the radio, and she was only wearing an oversize t-shirt that she used as pyjamas with old shorts. But her usual shorts were gone. I gulped as I looked around my shoulder. Tomten was nowhere to be found. 

Thank Santa!

“Good morning!” I managed to press out of myself some words, felt my cheeks blushing as Bryn jumped when she heard my voice from the door and looked back at me. 

“Hey! Good morning!” she just smiled, she didn’t care that half of her bum is practically visible (as she didn’t wear any underwear) and she couldn’t care less that I’m seeing her practically naked body. 

Okay, she was wearing a shirt. But… it was a completely sheer, white shirt. Left nothing for imagination. As it was… morning… and rather… cold. 

I gulped again. Help me, Santa! She is killing me! Does she know she’s killing me?! She must know, she knows I’m attracted to females too! She must know!

I never felt that kind of heat before. Not with Gertrude or anyone else. I lived for a half millennia… but this… warmth… caught my surprise, swept me off my feet, weakened my legs, painted pink brushes on my face… 

I was falling for her. Falling hard and deep. 

The realization hit me like a shovel on the back of my head. I never knew what does it feel like to fall in love with someone. Especially with someone who was not even the same species as I was. She was the embodiment of forbidden fruit. I was a Christmas Elf, Santa's right-hand man. She was a girl from the Naughty List. 

Doomed connection. 

And I didn't even know if she likes girls or not. 

I never felt like this before. How could I? I've only spent a week with Gertrude every year since I was 200 years old. A week per year is not enough for falling in love with someone. 

So I thought. Because I only knew Bryn for a week too. 

"Aren't you… Cold?" I asked finally, choking on my own tongue. Santa sees my soul, I tried really hard not to stare at her. At her beautiful, long legs. Her waist that was being outlined by the thin T-shirt. Her hard nipples. Her lips that she chewed on. 

"No, I'm rather… Hot. And flushed." she chuckled as I finally took my seat next to the kitchen counter. 

"Hey, where is Tomten anyway?" I looked around once again, trying to change the subject from our temperature. 

"He left because he wanted to visit some old friends in the city." she shrugged, not particularly interested in our helper's whereabouts. 

"Did he see you… Parading through the kitchen in a single T-shirt?" I asked rather cautiously, catching her eyes above the rim of my mug. 

"Nope. He just left a note on the desk." Bryn smirked and she sat down next to me. 

"Thank Santa." I rolled my eyes as I imitated her smile. 

"Do you… Not like Tomten?" Bryn asked me carefully. 

"No! No, he is fine!" I shooked my head immediately. In all my long life, I've never disliked a person. I never hated anyone. Never. It was not in my spirit. I was not capable of hate. But damn, Tomten… No. No. Even Tomten. I appreciated him. I was grateful we've had found him. I liked him. "He is helpful. He is just… A new person. And I'm not good with new people. I barely got used to you."

"Wow, an elf with trust issues? I thought I'm the only one in this conversation with mental health problems and insecurities." Bryn liked darkly. Gaylia told me it was really common in Generation Z to… Be dark about themselves and make fun of their problems. 

"Everybody has problems," I assured her with a gentle pat on her hand. Then I reached for a bowl and the box of cereal that luckily were next to her hand so I had some kind of reason why I touched her in the process. 

"What the hell are you doing?" she asked while I was making my breakfast. 

"Cereal…" I answered but it sounded like: obviously. 

"What do you mean cereal?" she tilted her head closer to see into my bowl. 

"It's cereal!" I was crying out loud. 

"But it's milk!" Bryn was freaking out. Literally. 

"Yes. Milk before cereal is the only way to make a bowl of cereal." I said, matter of factly. 

"But you can't judge the quantity! Cereal first, then milk. Then it doesn't overflow. It's not complicated." Bryn jabbered angrily, and the only thing I could do was chuckle. "You made me mad, I need to calm down!"

 I saw the smirk in the corner of her mouth so it didn't offend me. 

"Come on! Is this a dealbreaker?" I laughed nervously. 

"Yes! I can't be with someone who puts the milk first!" I froze when I processed her words. "I mean… I can't be on an adventure with someone."

"Yes... sure." I coughed a little to hide my confusion and slight embarrassment. 

"Okay, you have to make this up to me now!" Bryn jumped up from her seat, reaching for a sweater that hung from the empty chair. 

"Now? We have to make plans!" I wanted to eat, the spoon froze in my mouth when I started to pout. 

"Tomten is gone, I don't know when he's coming back. So we have the day. So I'm gonna take you out."

"Take me out where?" I brushed away my hair so I could keep up with her speed as she run through the living room, collecting her jeans and quickly put it on. 

"On a date!" she laughed easily. "Come on, I'm gonna show you something amazing, and I'm sure we are gonna agree on that."

She grabbed my hand and dragged me up from my seat, pushing me to the bathroom to dress quickly. 

"Come on! Don't pout!" She hugged my shoulder with one arm as we walked down the stairs from her loft to the street. "I'm literally from the Naughty List, don't be surprised how cunning I am!

"You have to stop using 'I'm literally on the naughty list' as an excuse. It's not a real excuse!"

"It is, ever since I knew you!"

a/n: hello hello, everyone, on this wonderful winter evening! ❤❤❤

these two are really getting somewhere 😍😍😍😍❤❤❤