[MODERN AU]

Cinnamon filled the air, a soft aroma that wafted from the laboratory kitchen. Mel was baking. Accompanying that, was the scent of pine, Jayce was covered with pine needles as he pushed the tree up into its stand. It was the smell of Christmas, one you’d gotten so happily accustomed to.

The HexTech company was the biggest in the world, spanning across all continents and raking in millions of dollars. Yet, Viktor gazed at Jayce and Mel— how happy they looked, so in love— and he couldn’t help but feel empty.

Sure, he had Skye, but she was a friend. She wasn’t what Mel was to Jayce. No amount of money in the world could fill that void.

You and Viktor were on decorating duty- he on lights, you on baubles. The sound of Wham!’s Last Christmas echoed through the room, adding to the laughter and the cheer.

Viktor spun around the tree, a roll of lights had been wrapped around his cane and were being woven into the Christmas tree.

You’d never…seen Viktor this way. Maybe it was the Christmas setting…maybe it was the soft glow of red and green lights illuminating his soft pale skin. But Viktor had never looked so beautiful— so happy. And honestly? That was the best thing about Christmas. His smile.