Fablehaven Oneshots

Bah Humbug!

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Set pre-Fablehaven, while Vanessa and Warren were in their Knights era
⟢ Vanessa/Warren ⟣
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Vanessa and Warren had been sent to rural Poland on a quick mission. But, when a freak snow storm buries their hotel (which, coincidentally, had only one bed available), they're trapped over the Christmas holiday. With so much downtime, the two end up becoming a lot more than just mission partners.

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Ever since running away from her very Italian, (and consequently very Catholic) home as a teenager, Vanessa Santoro had neglected to celebrate Christmas. It simply had not been on her mind. From Society missions to her double agent status with the Knights of the Dawn, she stayed booked and busy. And, even if she had time and remembered the holidays, who would she celebrate with? Just herself in her home alone?

That would make the holidays even more depressing than usual.

For all these reasons, she barely realized it was December 22nd until she looked up from her uncomfortable airport seat to spot Warren towing his luggage complete with felt antlers and the ugliest Christmas sweater she had ever seen.

"Oh my god." Vanessa took off her sunglasses and looked him up and down. "Santa has lost one of his elves."

Warren sat down in the seat across from her. "Now, why aren't you dressed up?"

"I'm not quite sure that was a requirement in the mission file."

"You're a scrooge." He flicked a hidden switch on his sleeve, and the lights on his sweater turned on. Acclaimed pop hit Santa Baby began to play, presumably from some speaker on the accursed sweater.

Vanessa shot to her feet immediately. "I cannot be seen with you."

Warren accompanied her on her brisk walk. "Why not?"

She sent him a look that hopefully conveyed the irrationality of such a statement. "There should be a car waiting at Terminal C to take us to the hotel. Let's go so you can change out of this as soon as possible."

Warren laughed and slung an arm over her shoulder. Heat burned where their skin met.

If Vanessa knew anything, it was that Warren Burgess was not a name she would be forgetting any time soon. This was their fifth mission together ever since she had joined the Knights as an undercover agent six months ago.

They were slowly becoming permanent mission partners as their missions ended up significantly more successful than any other combination of Knights.

Together, Vanessa and Warren were even faster, more efficient, and smarter than they were on their own. And that was saying something considering how highly rated the agents were as individuals.

Simply, they were a dream team.

As Vanessa plucked his blinking, musical arm off her shoulder, she tried to ignore the voice that said there was something more than just efficiency going on.

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It was nearly midnight by the time the cab dropped them off at their hotel. Or, sorry, inn. The entire place was two stories and about as large as her own penthouse back in the city. Vanessa sighed. She did not have high hopes for the amenities.

"Thanks for the ride," Warren said. He paid the cab driver, and slid out of the car to stand behind her. "Very with the season, right?"

Vanessa raised an eyebrow.