Trauma At Its Finest (Lip Gallagher X Male Reader)

Ch 67. First Christmas As Husbands

It's almost the best day of the year again—at least according to most people: Christmas. With Lip's recent success, Carl returning from the military, and the festive atmosphere all around, the family feels blissful. Everyone in the house is busy decorating.

Despite everything looking bright, a problem soon comes up.

"You're working?" Lip asks in disbelief as he and his husband decorate the tree.

"It's not my fault my boss scheduled me on Christmas." Y/N replies with a bit of snark. Lip clearly isn't happy to hear it. "At least look at the positive—I get double pay."

"Call in sick, then." Lip mutters, frowning.

"Yeah, because that won't be obvious." Y/N replies dryly. "We can always celebrate together next year."

"No, no, no. I can live with you working nine to five, but not now." Lip insists. "This is our first Christmas as husbands, and I don't want to spend it with you stuck in a restaurant."

"Does it look like I want to?" Y/N snaps back, then sighs, lowering his guard. "Look, the only way I'm not working is if someone takes over my shift—which no one will—or if I'm genuinely sick. Broken bones, terminal illnesses, the kind of shit doctors would actually recommend staying home for."

That makes Lip pause, thinking. Then his face lights up. "Alright. Then we get you sick."

Y/N raises an eyebrow. "You don't understand what I meant. I'd need an official letter from a doctor."

"I can work with that." Lip says confidently. "Either we get a fake letter, or we get you sick."

Y/N cocks an eyebrow. "I'm not getting sick."

"Fake letter it is."

-

Back at Vlad's apartment, the redhead lies naked next to Avrora. While the woman is on her phone, looking annoyed as usual, the younger man wants to be closer to her—though he only receives cold responses.

"Тебе не обязательно быть такой холодной." 'You don't have to be so cold.' Vlad caresses the woman's leg, earning a sharp glare in return. "Я могу быть достойным человеком." 'I can be a worthy man.'

"Ты?" 'You?' Avrora scoffs. "Ты — ничто. Как твоя мать вообще могла вырастить тебя таким?" 'You are nothing. How could your mother even raise you like this?'

Vlad looks a bit awkward. "Ну... она этого не сделала." 'Well... she didn't.'

"Я это вижу." 'I can see that.' Avrora spits.

An awkward silence fills the room. Avrora remains glued to her phone, while Vlad desperately hopes for her approval. He tries again, touching her more intimately—only for his hand to be slapped away.

"Остановись." 'Stop.'

Vlad lets out a deep sigh, sinking back into the bedsheets. "Прости, что я не купил кольцо." 'I'm sorry I didn't get the ring.'

"Ничего страшного. Мне стоило ожидать от тебя меньшего." 'It's fine. I should have expected less from you.' She replies coolly.

Vlad masks the sting, forcing himself to look carefree. "Я могу попробовать ещё раз." 'I can try again.' Avrora glances at him from the corner of her eye as he adds. "Я могу украсть его." 'I can steal it.'