Love at the North Pole - (Steve Claus x Fem Reader)

Part 4: Man eating lions!

𝟻:𝟻𝟹 𝙰𝙼 𝙸𝙳𝙰𝙷𝙾, 𝟷𝟼𝟹𝟺𝟹 𝙼𝙸𝙻𝙴𝚂 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚆𝚁𝙾𝙽𝙶 𝚆𝙰𝚈...

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Arthur clung desperately to the roof of the "Leaping Deer Auto" dealership, struggling to remove the golden reindeer from the top of the sign. His hands slipped on the cold metal as his breath puffed in frantic bursts.

"Bash it with a brick, Arthur! Go on!" Grandsanta barked from below, his patience wearing thin.

Arthur groaned, gripping the reindeer's antlers. "It just won't budge!"

"Grab its antlers and tug!" Grandsanta snapped, gesturing with exaggerated annoyance.

You stood nearby, trying to stay out of the line of sight but feeling the rising tension. The Idaho winter bit at your cheeks, but the bizarre sight of Arthur wrestling a reindeer decoration and Grandsanta shouting unhelpful advice distracted you a bit from the cold.

Bryony, standing beside you, fidgeted nervously as her HOHO beeped. "I may just be a wrapping operative, sir, but this contravenes-" her HOHO chirped again, "- *17* specific mission regulations!" I look down at her as the HOHO beeped.

"I'm in charge here, not Billy the Bureaucratic!" Grandsanta snapped, turning to her with a glare before refocusing on Arthur. "Come on, lad! You're as useful as a cheese chopstick!"

Arthur strained, his fingers gripping the reindeer's antlers tightly. "It's stuck!" he grunted.

Grandsanta's ears perked up at the sound of Bryony's HOHO, which now beeped urgently *18*. "Shh!" he hissed, motioning for silence. He turned to Bryony and waved a dismissive hand. "Elf, wrap your head!"

Bryony blinked in confusion. "Sir?"
I look at Grandsanta with a raised eyebrow.

"Wrap your head!" Grandsanta repeated impatiently.

"Yes, sir!" Bryony squeaked, quickly tearing a piece of wrapping paper from her supply and awkwardly wrapping it around her head like a makeshift helmet. The glossy paper crinkled noisily as she tightened it and added a big red bow on top of her head. You couldn't help but stifle a laugh at the sight of her shiny, gift-wrapped head but also concerned.

Arthur's grunts grew louder. "I think I've got it-oh no!" he gasped as the reindeer slipped from its mount, teetering dangerously on the edge. He turned it around towards us, showing that it was only half a reindeer, the backside full of wires.

Grandsanta muttered something about Aunt Betty and waved a hand dismissively. "It'll have to do. Pass it down!"

You rushed forward to help, steadying the golden reindeer as Arthur lowered it to you. It was heavier than you expected, and you nearly stumbled under the weight, but you managed to keep it upright. "Got it!" You called out, setting it down carefully.

Bryony whimpered through the wrapping paper helmet. "Permission to breathe, sir? I have about nine seconds before I black out!"



Grandsanta barely spared her a glance. "One breath."

Bryony gasped loudly, her eyes darting to the lit window of the dealership owner's house. "Sir!" she whispered urgently. I look in the direction Bryony is looking at my eyes widening.

"I said one!" Grandsanta growled. I tried getting Grandsanta's attention to warn about the lights that went on. "Grandsanta!"

"But don't we need the whole thing?" Arthur asked. "To balance the sleigh?"

Grandsanta shook his head, exasperated. "Balance? That thing'll slow us down faster than a reindeer on a treadmill. It's for Gwen! Eight beautiful reindeer-that's what she dreams of. The jingly bells, the sleigh on the roof..."