A week before Christmas, Avery's father made an announcement that there would be a family dinner, just like every year. Avery expected it. But this time, he had no intention of going.
He hadn't told anyone, not even Noël.
There was a strange thrill in the idea of disobeying his father. For once. His entire life had been molded by expectations, demands, and tradition. Every move carefully measured to fit within the family's legacy. But things were different now.
He wasn't alone anymore.
There was Noël.
Avery planned to simply not show up and instead spend Christmas and Noël's birthday following the surprise he had meticulously prepared.
Noël, on the other hand, was aware his birthday was fast approaching. He realized he had never mentioned it to Avery, and he wasn't sure he should. It wasn't that he expected anything; in fact, he already felt overwhelmed by how much Avery had given him. Comfort, safety, affection. To ask for more felt selfish, maybe even like he was taking advantage of Avery's kindness.
So he decided to let it be just a simple Christmas, the way it had always been at the orphanage, quiet, modest, heartfelt.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the front door unlocking.
Avery was home.
He had been gone for two days on a short business trip. The moment Noël heard the door, he ran toward it and leapt into Avery's arms without hesitation. Avery caught him easily, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Welcome back," Noël whispered, then leaned forward and kissed Avery gently on the lips.
Without saying a word, Avery scooped him up and carried him upstairs, leaving the suitcase by the door. He laid Noël on the bed and rained kisses all over his face and neck, making Noël burst into laughter.
"It tickles!" Noël said between giggles.
Avery smiled, brushing a strand of hair from his eyes. "Give me five minutes to shower I feel gross."
Noël nodded, still grinning.
After Avery finished, they went downstairs for dinner. The air between them was light and warm, filled with the comfort of quiet love.
While eating, Avery asked about Noël's days while he was away. Noël shrugged. "Not much, really," he said. Then, with a bit of hesitation, he added, "I've been thinking about Leo. I wanted to see him, but... I didn't know if you'd be okay with it."
Avery blinked.
Leo. That name had stirred something dark in him before. Jealousy, maybe even insecurity. But as he looked at Noël now, it hit him: Leo wasn't a threat. He was Noël's only friend. The only person outside of Avery who had ever really stayed.
Noël had been alone in this house every day for weeks. Avery was used to solitude. Noël wasn't.
He came from a world of people, of shared space and noise, of laughter and chaos. Silence could be unbearable to someone like him.
Avery swallowed his pride.
"Let's invite him to dinner," he said. "Wednesday. Two days from now."
Noël's eyes widened. "Really?"
Avery nodded. "Yeah. You should see your friends."
Noël didn't reply with words. He stood up, walked over, and wrapped his arms around Avery in a long, heartfelt hug.
Avery watched Noël's bright smile as he agreed to invite Leo. He didn't expect to feel this strange warmth in his chest, but knowing he made Noël happy even over something that involved Leo, gave him a quiet sense of pride. Whether he liked Leo or not didn't matter in this moment. What mattered was that Noël felt heard. Seen.
After dinner, Avery excused himself to the study to finish some last-minute work for the holidays. Noël, meanwhile, returned to his room, excited and slightly anxious as he began planning the dinner. The idea of seeing Leo again filled him with mixed emotions. Comfort and nostalgia, but also guilt.
He suddenly paused, eyes drifting to his phone on the bedside table.
He hadn't even asked Leo yet.
He picked it up and dialed, pacing slightly as the phone rang.
"Hey," Noël greeted when Leo answered. "Are you free this Wednesday evening? I… was wondering if you'd like to come over for dinner?"
There was a small silence on the other end before Leo answered with a note of enthusiasm. "Yeah, I'd love to."
Noël smiled with relief, but that only made the weight in his chest heavier. "There's something I should tell you before you come over."
Leo hummed. "Go ahead."
"I… I've been staying with someone. You already know that," Noël began, trying to find the right words. "But… I didn't tell you the full truth. Avery and I… we're kind of… together."
A longer pause followed this time.
Noël's voice softened. "I'm really sorry I didn't say anything earlier. I just… I didn't know how. If it makes you uncomfortable, I'll understand. You don't have to come—"
"No, it's okay," Leo interrupted gently. His tone was calm, unreadable. "I'll still come."
Noël blinked. "Really?"
Leo exhaled slowly. "Yeah. I had a feeling anyway, from the way you talk about him… Guess I just didn't want it to be true."
His words tugged painfully at Noël's chest.
"But I want to see you," Leo continued, voice a bit more composed. "And besides, it's just dinner, right?"
Noël smiled again, quietly grateful. "Yeah… just dinner."
After they hung up, Noël leaned back on his bed, staring at the ceiling for a few seconds before grabbing his notebook and scribbling down meal ideas. He wanted everything to be perfect.
_______
The next day, Avery was officially off work for the holidays. He had finalized all the surprise preparations the night before and was finally able to relax. Noël, eager about the dinner, asked if they could go shopping together.
Avery agreed immediately. "Of course. Let's go now."
They drove to one of the largest malls in the city. A luxurious, modern space that just happened to be owned by Avery's younger sister. As they strolled through the wide corridors hand-in-hand, Noël kept noticing that they were being treated… differently.
Shopkeepers smiled too much, employees bowed a little lower, security guards cleared the way without being asked.
At first, he thought it was just good service, but after the fifth time someone offered to carry even a small bag, he turned to Avery, squinting.
"Is it just me," Noël asked, "or are we being treated like royalty?"
Avery chuckled under his breath, a little awkward. "It's… complicated."
Noël narrowed his eyes. "You're avoiding the question."
With a sigh, Avery rubbed the back of his neck. "Okay. Two reasons. The first one, some of them know who I am. The second …" he hesitated. "They saw the card I used earlier."
Noël tilted his head. "Card?"
Avery held up the sleek, matte black credit card. The kind that didn't even have numbers on it. Noël blinked.
"That's the VVIP card," Avery explained reluctantly. "It's reserved for a very small circle of people in the city. High-level executives. Or, you know… owners."
"Oh," Noël said, staring at the card like it might bite him. "So basically, you're… loaded."
Avery smirked. "Only when it comes to cards. I'm useless at grocery shopping, remember?"
Noël laughed, nudging him playfully. "Okay, mister secret billionaire. Just don't start handing me diamond rings instead of onions."
"No promises," Avery teased.
They continued shopping, with Noël finally growing used to the quiet luxury that seemed to surround Avery's life. And yet, despite the glamour and attention, what meant the most was the way Avery walked beside him—not in front, not behind. Just close, always within reach.
It made Noël feel safe, wanted, and more than anything… loved.