A Visit With Marvin: The Holiday (Book 2)

1

Outside, the storm continued on, raging against the sky and streets so they couldn't tell if it was day or night-they were lucky it hadn't yet knocked out their power, as the clocks became a reliance for the two sharing the small apartment.

Something positive about it, though, was the fact that they were even together. Chase and Marvin hadn't seen each other for a few months, so when Marvin called him up a few days ago with an invitation to the mall for some not-quite last minute holiday shopping, Chase took the opportunity in an instant, despite how strange he initially felt.

It had been four days since then, and the time they'd spent together had proven beneficial for both of their mental health, but the arrangement was still set to end in the next week.

"Hey, I made something for you," Marvin whispered, walking into the living room with a tray and two big mugs. "Coffee, with a little something special."

Chase smiled, backing away from the fireplace shelf holding two stockings that Marvin swore up and down he'd bought on accident. Chase didn't have the means to dispute it, putting them up for them and sneaking folded up drawings into the one Marvin had claimed, so he had something to look forward to on Christmas, since they hadn't been able to get out again for more gifts. "Thank you."

"Mhm." Marvin set the tray down on the coffee table and lead the way to the couch, beckoning Chase closer and pulling the blanket up around him. They grabbed their drinks and Chase watched Marvin take a big sip from his first, before trying his own.

"Eggnog?" he asked quietly under the sound of the fireplace crackling. "It's good, I'm not complaining, but very..."

"Strong?" Marvin helped. "Yeah, I know. Figured you could use the kick since I can't get you any alcohol right now with this weather."

Chase paused, staring into the depths of his cup and keeping his voice quiet. "I'm not supposed to drink, anyway. You know that. Don't feed into the temptation just to make me happy while I'm here."

"Because it's temporary and you don't want to get attached?" Marvin asked, watching as Chase's head shot up, but he continued quickly with, "Because it doesn't have to be."

Chase set his mug down, curling his arms around his legs. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, I know we said the holidays, but if you'd like, I can easily clean up some more and give you the extra room to yourself. You don't have to go back to the others if you don't want to."

Chase scratched the back of his neck. This was the first time they'd talked about this since the first day. "I don't know. I lost my phone and can't talk to any of the others because of it, or my kids once Christmas actually comes. But at the same time I feel so not caged here. You let me be myself, and you always did stick up for me when the others tried to boss me around."

"I've always only wanted the best for you," Marvin admitted, setting his cup down, too. He watched the tree lights twinkle, almost distractedly mumbling, "You're something special, Chase."

"What?" Chase asked. Marvin shook his head but didn't answer more. "I mean, I guess I feel the same? I don't know. Like I said, you let me be myself, but you're so aloof sometimes I didn't know how to approach you. You're unpredictable, and sometimes your magic goes haywire with your emotions, and-"

He stopped, looking at the tree to try and see what Marvin was seeing. He hadn't taken his magic back off the branches after they'd bought the thin, scraggly tree, leaving it with a slight glittery effect that you'd only see if you were specifically looking for it. But Marvin's focus wasn't on that, it was on the ornaments-specifically the ones he'd let Chase pick out the day they got here. "The little snowman one. Why did you refuse to grab it at the store?"