by KC Burn
"Okay, okay. You may have a point." Tony could concede on that, however grudgingly. But there was no way a Christmas display like that—lovingly and exactingly crafted by hand—had been the brainchild of someone who hated Christmas, no matter how much he protested. Tony refused to believe it.
"Thank you." Dean flattened out one of the napkins, placed his uneaten sandwich on it, and wrapped it up before tucking it gently in his coat pocket. The process completely derailed Tony's original line of thought.
"Is there something wrong with your meal?" Tony had already devoured both soup and sandwich, and was considering a second trip to the counter for a few doughnuts as well.
Dean's razor-sharp cheekbones pinkened right back up again, but at least this time it wasn't the angry, blotchy flush he's sported a couple of minutes ago.
"No, it's fine. Just thought I'd save it for lunch tomorrow. The soup was plenty."
Plenty? On what planet? Dean's clothes weren’t designer but were of good quality. His car, although several years old, appeared well maintained. He wasn't hurting enough for cash that he'd need to save half of an admittedly skimpy dinner, but Tony wasn't about to risk pissing Dean off again. If Tony had his way, he'd have lots of time to figure out the quirks and foibles of Dean's existence.
"Uh. Okay. Sure." No doughnuts for him. Probably time to wrap up this impromptu date anyway, given the way the snow had piled up in the short time they'd been sitting there. "Look, I know you think you're all Christmas-ed out, but I think maybe you're missing out on some great stuff. Will you give me three dates? Three dates to show you there's more to the holidays than what you see in the pharmacy?"
Dean lifted an eyebrow, his haughtiness wrapped back around him like a shield. It shouldn't have been hot, but Tony wanted nothing more than to ruffle him out of his poise, unsettle him with carnality and cuddles.
"You think you can change my mind in three dates?"
"Oh, Mr. Murphy, I think I can." Skeptical or not, Tony didn't miss the flare of interest in Dean's bright blue eyes.
Dean tapped a finger against his lips while he considered Tony's offer. It was perhaps the longest few seconds Tony had ever endured.
"On one condition."
Tony wanted to reply with the word 'anything’. That was totally how they did this romantic shit in movies, but he wasn't sure yet what sort of concession Dean would ask for.
"What would that be?"
Dean shrugged. "I’m not watching that movie with the blond kid. No way, no how.”
“You mean A Christmas Story? Are you trying to tell me you’ve never watched it in its entirety?”
“Not hardly. I think I’ve seen enough bits and pieces just channel surfing that I’ve seen the entire soppy thing.”
Tony pretended to consider Dean’s condition for a moment, but in truth, he’d have agreed to more stringent conditions because he hadn’t been wrong about their connection, and if Dean was willing to sign up for three Christmas-themed dates, he had to have felt it too. If he could get some plans in place, Saturday night would be the first date.
He also had a tiny germ of an idea for something non-Christmas themed, but either way, he'd bring back some of the Christmas magic to Dean's life, and they'd get to know each other better. And there was always a chance he’d be able to talk Dean into watching the movie later… maybe once he was sexed out and defenseless.
"You got it, Mr. Murphy."
They exchanged phone numbers, and the corner of Dean's mouth twitched up, like he wasn't sure if he should be happy or not. "We should probably get going. The snow doesn't look like it's letting up."
They pulled on their coats and headed outside. As beautiful as the swirling snow was, it would make driving shit, and Tony really didn't want anything to happen to his early Christmas gift. "Do you have far to go? Can I follow you home, make sure you get there safely?"
"Follow me home? I've been taking care of myself for a long time, you know."
Oh, no. He'd misspoken again, and the defensiveness was back. Tony was going to have to tread carefully if he wanted this to work. Maybe he shouldn't care so much so soon, but that didn't change the fact that he did.
"I know. But don't forget, I'm a nurse. I'm kind of hardwired to worry about people's health. And even more so when it's people I like."
The blush came back, and Tony had to fight down the urge to grin triumphantly.
Dean smiled, a proper one this time. "I appreciate the thought but I'll be fine. I don't have far to go."
For the first time, Dean reached out and touched him. Sure, it was just a pat on the shoulder, but Tony didn't think Dean voluntarily touched other people often. He'd spent enough time interacting with people in his line of work to have a decent interpretation of non-verbal cues.
"I have your number. I'll call you when I'm home." Dean frowned slightly. "What about you? Do you have far to go?"
"No, I'm close, too."
Tony smiled. He wanted nothing more than to kiss Dean, take him in his arms. Coax him into agreeing to go back to Dean’s place. But Tony didn't want to treat Dean like a casual hookup. Something inside told him fighting past Dean's defenses might be one of the most important things he'd ever done.
"I'll look forward to your call." And when he wasn't imagining Dean naked, he'd be planning just how he was going to change Dean's mind about Tony's favourite holiday.
CHAPTER TWO
TONY SMILED at Dean sitting tentatively in the passenger seat. As he’d waited in the car for Dean, he hadn’t been able to quiet the niggling fear that he was misremembering how attractive Dean was, or that his determination that Dean could be important to him would disappear. Or even worse, that he’d imagined Dean altogether.
Not exactly plausible, since they’d spoken briefly on Wednesday night after getting home from Tim Horton’s, and longer the following two nights. But talking on the phone and a big Saturday first date weren’t exactly the same.
As soon as Dean appeared though, Tony realized if there was any misremembering going on, it was in the opposite direction. Just having Dean in the seat next to him, taking this small chance because Tony had asked him to—that was everything. It let him know his faith in holiday magic wasn’t misplaced.
The phone calls on Thursday and Friday had flowed well, the conversation rarely stalling, even when Dean adroitly changed the subject when his youth, family, or parents came up. However, those calls somehow hadn’t properly prepared Tony for seeing Dean in person, and he was at a loss about what to say.
Dean fidgeted in his seat and cleared his throat. If the silence felt long and awkward to Tony, it was likely a hundred times worse for Dean.
“How was work today?” Perhaps not the best opening salvo, but Tony had to start somewhere. The phone calls had started out a little stilted too, before they'd smoothed out into actual conversations.
From the corner of his eye, Tony saw Dean’s attention shift from the scenery outside the window, and his face relaxed into a relieved smile.
“Ha. Went about as well as could be expected. Had someone insisting we had a sale on those ridiculous Christmas crackers, which I don’t even order because they’re too expensive for the shelf space they take up, and when she finally pulled out a flyer for proof, it turned out to be from the grocery store.”
Tony listened as Dean talked. There was almost a manic quality to his words that told Tony maybe Dean didn’t have too many people in his life who cared about how his workday had gone.
When Dean finally wound down some, he cleared his throat. “So, um. Your day. How was it?”
Manfully, Tony suppressed a laugh. Poor Dean. Obviously, he hadn’t had much practice with this kind of small talk. But he was trying, and that was enough to warm Tony’s heart.
Tony told him a bit about his patients. He’d called Dean after his niece’s Friday night recital, and he’d already relayed the highlights of that, so he didn’t have much else. Not that he could go into much detail, for privacy reasons, but t
hey were still able to build a conversation around it.
Out of nowhere, in the middle of a silence while Tony tried to execute a tricky merge due to poorly signed construction, the strained awkwardness returned. As soon as Tony was safely in his new lane, he risked a glance at Dean, who was rubbing his thigh in a manner more akin to agitation than soothing an ache.
“What’s wrong?”
The silence stretched and expanded, making Tony wonder if he was going to get an answer at all.
“Look, I know I said when we agreed to this that I only had one condition.”
“Yeah. I remember. No watching A Christmas Story.” Tony did take it as a bit of a personal challenge, but Tony’s plans to coax him into a viewing was information Dean didn’t need to know just yet.
“I don’t really want any visits to Santa, either. Considering it’s some guy in a suit, who could be just about anyone in real life… the whole concept squicks me out a bit.”
Tony wondered if it had more to do with the plethora of kids. Dean wouldn’t be the first poorly socialized person Tony had come across who had difficulty dealing with children. But Tony was cool with this restriction. Visiting Santa was one hundred percent a kiddie event, and Tony had never had any sexy Santa fetishes.
“No problem. No Santa, I promise.” A spin on Tony’s lap, however, might be in the cards, fairly soon.
Dean relaxed, and their conversation picked up again.
* * *
"WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY DRIVING to the North Pole, are we? I’m sure I just said no Santa visits. That includes touring his home."
Tony laughed and tapped the GPS on his dash. "No, we're almost there. Should only be a few more minutes."
They had been driving a long time, but at least Dean had loosened up enough to tease him a bit. There hadn't been any more snow since Wednesday night, but traffic on Jane Street was often heavy, especially north of Eglinton. Aside from the two items he’d vetoed, Dean probably had no idea what would constitute a Christmas themed date, much less one that would require their presence in this part of the city.
They drove a little further, Dean tapping along to the music. He'd insisted Tony switch from the Christmas station he'd been listening to, but that was okay… for today. Slow and steady, and Tony would wear away that Scrooge-like exterior to the Christmas-loving marshmallow within.
In 500 metres, turn left.
That couldn't be right, could it? He'd just seen a tiny blue sign that indicating the place they were going was on the right. Was the parking lot—inexplicably—on the other side of Jane Street?
"Aren't you going to get in the left lane?"
Tony grimaced and nosed into the left lane, choosing to trust in the technology because he was still hoping to surprise Dean, if he could. Actually, he was kind of amazed Dean hadn't figured it out, given their location and the blue sign that, although small, had seemed a blazing beacon announcing his intentions.
Two turns later, they were supposedly at their location.
"Are we going to a party or something?" Dean asked.
A reasonable assumption, given that they were currently in the middle of a completely residential area.
Tony sighed. "No. Damn GPS is an evil, lying bitch."
Dean snorted. "Oh yeah? I take it we're lost."
"No, we're not lost." Not yet. Tony turned the car around, determined to return to the place he'd seen the blue road sign and go right this time instead of left. At least he'd allowed plenty of travel time because he didn't want to be late.
He turned off the GPS, despite Dean's questioning look. They were close, and if it came down to it, he could always call and get directions. People found things all the time in the days before GPS, and Tony wasn't going to be defeated by this.
It only took a few minutes to get back on what he hoped was the right track. Be worse if it was snowing, but the accumulation from the day he'd met Dean remained on the ground with no new snowfall. A thick white frosting covered everything except the streets, which were clean and dry.
This wasn't, however, the impression he'd hoped to give Dean. He'd been doing so well on Wednesday, because he had the impression Dean never allowed people to pick him up at work. He'd been riding high off that success. Today, it was like the holiday spirits, who'd led him to Dean in the first place, had totally abandoned him.
They drove a little further, but no more signs appeared. Was he supposed to turn off? Continue straight?
"Did you go to York University?"
Tony glanced at Dean. "No, I went to university in Vancouver. Why?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Tony saw Dean shrug. "Dunno. Just figured if we were going to something on campus it was because you knew your way around."
If Tony weren’t controlling a moving vehicle, he'd have slammed his forehead against the steering wheel. "We're not on campus, are we?" He didn't think he'd ever been to York U, but the buildings certainly had an institutional air about them.
"I assumed that's what the sign back there meant. And also, this is a dead end."
Tony stopped the car and looked around. Now they were in serious danger of being late, and he had no fucking idea where he was.
A smothered laugh came from Dean's direction, and Tony glared at him.
"What?" Dean sounded completely unrepentant, but he also appeared genuinely amused, and Tony couldn't be mad at him for that.
"I'm turning back. It's got to be around here somewhere." Tony suspected this might be easier if there was any daylight left, but it had been almost dark when he'd picked Dean up.
"Maybe if you told me what you were looking for, I could help."
Tony debated with himself for only a couple of seconds. The last thing he wanted was to let these tickets go to waste.
"Fine. Black Creek Pioneer Village. There was a sign out on Jane Street that said to turn along here, but I haven't seen any others."
There was a general air of disbelief from the passenger seat, but Dean didn't make any remarks, snide or otherwise.
Within seconds, Dean spoke up. "Here's the sign for the university, so I'm guessing it's between here and Jane."
Tony had to agree, but there wasn't all that much ground to cover.
"Wait. There." Dean pointed to the right. Set well back from the road was a sign by a parking lot.
Taking the turn harder than was probably wise, Tony guided the car along the rough driveway and through the parking turnstile.
After they'd parked, Dean got out of the car. "I was starting to wonder if this place was like Brigadoon, and only visible to people with better navigating ability." And for all he knew, that was the truth. He only vaguely remembered the name, but had no real context for what their destination entailed.
Tony's eyes narrowed in mock anger before he laughed. "I was starting to wonder if I'd imagined the sign that I'd seen."
Dean didn't know if this place qualified for the title of attraction, but the entrance was tucked away down some stairs, bordered by trees that would probably make the place even more obscure and difficult to find in the height of summer.
There weren't any garish decorations, which made him wonder just why Tony had chosen this place for the first of their three dates. It surprised him still that he’d agreed, but even from that very first second, Tony had noticed him right away and saw well below the neutral surface he presented to the world. Each year, Dean faded a little more into the background, or so it seemed. He was well used to being alone, but Tony's attention fed something deep inside that Dean hadn't even known had hungered. The fact that Tony was sexy as hell might have also had something to do with it.
But he couldn't let down his guard. Tony's exasperation and his "scenic" route to their date had softened Dean. That was the first step toward letting someone into your heart, and that way led to disaster.
"So, Black Creek Pioneer Village. What's here, exactly?"
Tony stopped in his tracks, forcing Dean to turn. "Don't you remember coming here for school field
trips?"
Blood rushed to his cheeks, warming them. He should have realized this whole scheme of Tony's would include having to recall all the reasons why he hated this fucking season, but he hadn't expected to be smacked in the face with it all quite this soon. He'd even been enjoying their simple conversation in the car.
"No. I've never been here before." And the reasons were none of Tony's business. He'd known the man for all of thirty seconds or so, he sure as hell didn't need to puke out his whole, ugly life story.
"Huh. I thought every elementary school in southern Ontario made kids go, at least once."
Tony shrugged, and the muscles in Dean's jaw relaxed slightly when he realized Tony wasn't going to probe any further. Because yes, his class had gone here and to other destinations, but Dean hadn't attended one single field trip during school.
"Consider me a blank slate and let me know what we're in for."
Tony frowned. "Uh... well, I wasn't expecting to have to explain. It's kind of a re-creation of a pioneer village. They've got people in period dress and they do a bunch of demonstrations, like how to make lanterns, candles, weaving, things like that. I think they do tours, but we can wander around as well."
"Okay, that doesn't sound so bad, but I thought since we had to be here by five that we'd be having dinner."
"Oh shit." Tony looked at his watch. "C'mon. We don't want to be late."
Dean's stomach let out a little grumble. It was five on the dot, and well before his normal dinnertime, but he'd skipped lunch so he could leave work early for this date. Tony said he could try to book whatever this was for later, but Dean had assured him it was no problem. And he could leave early, sparingly, at this time of year, although this was the first time in years he’d actually done so.
If they were going to tour this village, it might be a long time before he got any food.
Tony smirked at him. "Don't worry, we're going to eat. The seating is in half an hour."
"Here? Uh... we're not going to have to catch it or slaughter it or cook it ourselves, are we?"
Tony laughed again, a deep comforting sound that resonated in Dean's chest. Yet another weapon in Tony's arsenal. Everything about Tony seemed perfectly poised to break past all of Dean's barriers. But Dean wasn't going to let them fall. He couldn't afford to, no matter how much he already liked Tony—despite his love for the "festive" season. With a fault that gigantic, there had to be others lurking underneath the surface. It was only a matter of time.