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Christmas in Herford was hardly a memorable experience; in fact, most of the UK was overall lazy in general when it came to the festivities. It wasn’t as is James cared about that, he was grateful enough with Christmas eve, spent in the pub’s; being led by the hand to the whisky cellars with a woman at his side was of course an added bonus.
He wasn’t as lucky now that he’d been enlisted in the army for about 8 years, barely getting the time to even acknowledge the holiday back in his early training days of shaping into a SAS soldier. At least now he could enjoy a couple of quiet days in the base, Seamus had smuggled in a few precious crates of beer. It wasn’t even that that was the best part; it was the bloody SAS’ favourite type.
And so James sat, murmuring along to Christmas songs while he spread out his legs across the sofa, a can rest in his palm. It might've not been luxury, listening to the tinny stereo Mike had bought from a local charity shop, sure the second-hand CD stalled out the songs with stutters several times, but it almost felt like home.
“Look what the Frenchie’s gave me for our decrepit tree,” Mike announced, shutting the door to the barracks firmly behind him. “It’ll certainly…bring some colour?”
James turned back, following Mikes gaze to the plastic Christmas tree they’d salvaged from the basement. It had probably been there since the beginnings of Rainbow, and that was a hell of a long time ago.
Half of the part’s seemed to have gone missing, they hadn’t found any decorations for it, instead choosing to hook the tabs of beer cans onto the remaining branches.
“Guessing they caught wind of our disastrous tree huh?” James mumbled, his gravelly tone likely caused by the extensive drinking he’d participated in over the last few days.
James could almost hear his liver crying out for help as he swung his legs off of the couch, rising onto unsteady feet as he strode over to see what Mike was holding.
“Candy canes? Sometimes I marvel at how innocent that team seem to be, I can guarantee Doc’s their ringleader, probably goes down on his knees for half of them-
“Alright, James you’ve proved your point!” Mike says silencing him with a candy cane to the face. “At least they tried to make their barracks look festive, ours looks bloody pitiful.”
James agreed with one of his wicked smiles, taking another sip of the liquid. “Come and have a drink with me, old man,” James muttered, gesturing to the empty space beside him and opening up a can before passing it onto his teammate. “I’ve been lonely without my boy.”
Mike grunts whilst taking a sip, rubbing the froth off of his lips with the back of his hand, “When did you start drinking today James, you’re going soft.”
James drew back from his can, a smirk curled upon his lips. “You miss your bird back home don’t you?”
“The difference is she’s on the other side of the country, yours is five minutes down the hall.”
James groaned, throwing his head back like an angsty teenager. “I haven’t got to see him properly in days you bugger; I’m going through withdrawal Mike.”
“Horny bastard,” Mike mumbled from under his breath, catching James’ green eyes while he took a large mouthful of the alcohol, liking the residue off of his lips.
“I have a better idea, you’re good at bet’s James, get Seamus hooked up in one and if you win we get him to perform oral on a candy cane tonight.”
James just about spat out his drink, covering his mouth while he choked on his mouthful so much so that Mike had to thump at his back. “Holy shit,” James rasps, barely after recovering from his coughing fit, “You’re more creative than I thought you were.”
“I bet it’ll be amazing for Mark to walk in on when he gets back from the lab,” Mike adds.
Oh god, why did the old man have to bring up fucking Mark?
It was too late. Images of Mark performing in front of James alone made his mouth grow dry.
Mark swirling his tongue around the curved top of the candy cane.
Mark gagging on it as he took its entirety into his throat, staring up at James with those deep brown eyes-
“I’ll go see if I can find him,” James utters as fast as he can, swallowing all the saliva that had pooled into his mouth just at the thought of his lover performing such a show, he made a beeline to the door and for the first time in his life was he thankful for the front door and the door to the halls, giving James a minute to cool off in the small space.
Oh right, he had to go pay Seamus a visit.
“Seamus! How long have you graced this earth?” James asked, cackling in delight at the sight of the older man sucking down on the candy, sporting a fake, flirtatious look; his knees spread out the beige carpet. “Oh Christ, could you imagine the look on Gustave’s face if he knew what we were doing!”
“James will you move your ass, my legs are going bloody stiff,” Mark murmured between hiccups, groaning as his joints popped, adjusting them to lay across James’ lap.
James didn’t mind, rubbing soothing circles into his lover’s ankles.
Unsurprisingly, James had won the bet and was awarded by such a show, if he had roses he would’ve already thrown them at Seamus’ feet. It seemed as if Mike was enjoying it the most out of all of them, but then again he was also hammered from the drinks that had been passed between the four. Eventually, the candy cane had fully melted and cheers rang out from the audience, Mark raised his drink and Mike chose to sprawl out onto the floor, tackling the Scotsman until their chests were heaving.
James couldn’t wait for the snobby SWAT team stationed next door to report in a noise complaint first thing in the morning; bloody Americans.
It didn’t take long until the two older men of the group dragged themselves into their sleep quarters, tripping over themselves as they stumbled through together.
James breathed deeply, simply enjoying the now quiet atmosphere as the radio droned on with the same tracks they’d repeated several times in the last couple hours. James couldn’t even begin to fathom how the radio hadn’t fallen apart by now with its constant use.
Something shuffled beside him.
Mark had curled his legs up, leaning against the older man’s chest as he hummed along to the music. James looked down at him, petting the blonde curls fondly as his lover continued to relax into his arms. James leaned over to his left, reaching for one of the abandoned sweets, hesitating before he could unwrap the plastic from around it.
It wouldn’t be fair, and James didn't want to abuse his power of being soberer than his partner. Besides, it wouldn't be long before his lover fell into a drunken state of sleep. Mark’s dark eyes were barely succeeding in staying open with the combined affection and sleep deprivation.
James was welcomed by a strong, minty smell as he peeled back the plastic. It was nicer than what he remembered as a child as he took several licks, these were definitely of GIGN quality.
"Open your mouth babe,” James whispered softly, holding the candy cane in front of his defender's face until he opened his mouth silently so James could coax him into taking it into his own hands. Mark didn’t but still suckled on it out of James' hands, confirming he hadn’t drifted off to sleep as of yet. James was left to hold it up himself, pulling his lover up to rest on his shoulder to avoid him choking on his own saliva.
There was a burst of warmth in the Londoner's chest, leaning his head against Mark’s as his eyelids began to grow heavy.
This certainly wasn't the worst way to celebrate the days leading up to Christmas.