Chapter Text
The little open air market the town put together surprised Kravitz with how cute it was. There were stalls of all different kinds of vendors, and honestly? It was impressive that most of the items being sold were handmade.
So Kravitz walked down the length of the market, Angus next to him occasionally pointing out something he found particularly interesting or cool. They were looking for gifts mostly for each other, since they still didn’t know many people in the town, save for Taako and the teachers at the school. Kravitz was walking with Angus for the first time around the market so that the boy at least knew where everything was when he ran off to go buy gifts on his own. It wasn’t that Angus was known for getting lost, Kravitz just still worried for him.
“Hi sir!” Angus called from next to Kravitz, knocking him out of his thoughts. He looked up to see Taako walking towards them and pulling out his earbuds.
“Hey Ango,” Taako reached them and messed with Angus by pulling his hat down almost in front of his eyes. Angus chuckled and fixed it. “Hey Krav, my man.” Taako shot a smile at Kravitz while he crossed his arms and settled on the heels of his feet. “You two doing some shopping?”
“Yeah,” Kravitz answered, “Angus was about to go do his shopping on his own. You got the money I gave you?” He asked as he looked at Angus who pulled out a bag of coins from his pocket and smiled. “Well go have fun then,” Kravitz smiled and Angus excitedly made his way towards the first stall he was interested in.
“Bye Taako!” Angus called before he disappeared into the crowd.
“I’m guessing you’re shopping too?” Kravitz asked when Angus had disappeared.
“Absolutely my man, got a whole ass list of people who need gifts.”
“Really? For the most part it’s just me and Angus getting something for each other,” he paused, “and Hurley and Sloane.”
“Oh yeah,” Taako held up his hand and began counting off on his fingers, “I gotta get gifts for Lup, obviously, Barold, Magnus, Julia, Merle, something for his kids, Carey and Killian, Lucretia, Davenport, and Ren. I think that’s about it. I was also thinking maybe something for you and Ango, if you’re up for exchanging gifts.”
“That’s a lot!” Kravitz's jaw hit the floor as he heard Taako list them all off, “I wouldn’t want to make your list longer and make you get something for us.”
“It’s not a big deal my man,” Taako assured him with a pat on the shoulder, “It would be fun anyway.” He paused for a second, “Oh! And I have to get something for the white elephant party Mags and Julia are hosting.”
“That definitely sounds fun,” Kravitz attempted to hide the slight disappointment in his voice at not having been invited to a party this year, not that he completely minded because quiet time was also good. He also didn’t know a lot of people in town so it made sense.
Taako paused as he was thinking something over, “How about you join us?”
“Oh I wouldn’t want to impose!”
“Not an imposition if I invite you,” Taako grinned and gently elbowed Kravitz’s side, he then moved over to the closest booth and looked at the homemade candles. “Plus cha boy could use a silver lining for the party.”
Kravitz quickly followed after him, “But I hardly know anyone you mentioned. I’ve seen Lup maybe once? And have been in Magnus’ shop a couple of times, I went to Merle’s once for a plant and just I don’t think I want to be back,” He shivered slightly.
Taako laughed, “Merle does have that effect,” he picked up a candle and smelled it, he made a face and set it back down. “I think Hurley and Sloane will be there too, I know you know them.”
“Yeah but still….”
“It’s your choice handsome, either you take Taako’s invitation or you don’t come,” He shrugged, “Ango’s invited too. Might have some fun with Mavis and Mookie, Merle’s kids,” he made sure to preface, “Although on second thought he might just be helping Mavis keep Mookie under control.” Taako grimaced at his own words.
“I’ll think about it,” Kravitz conceded.
“Great!” Taako picked out a candle and swapped some coins for it as the owner wrapped it in a bag. “If you come, bring something to eat and a gift for white elephant. Also maybe wear something a little more casual than the suits I see you wear on a regular day.”
“They are comfortable and professional.”
“Sure thing my man,” Taako replied as he moved to the next stall, hand painted ornaments.
They spent some time walking through the booths, each occasionally buying something they liked, until Angus came back- a couple bags of gifts on his arms.
“You find everything you’re looking for, Ango?” Taako asked as he finished counting his coins and slipping them back into his jacket.
“Yes sir!” Angus grinned.
“You can drop the sir.” Taako said.
“By the way Angus, Taako invited us to a holiday party,” Kravitz explained.
“Really?” Angus bounced on the balls of his feet with excitement.
“Really.” Kravitz confirmed as Taako nodded.
“That sounds like a lot of fun! Thank you, Taako!”
Kravitz could tell they were at the right place automatically, the house was decorated top to bottom in lights with multiple displays in the yard, one decoration looked to be a dog wrapped in bright lights. Kravitz chuckled a little and shook his head with a smile on his face.
He reached the door, Angus next to him holding the tray of kugel, and knocked on the door. Soon after the door was opened by a dark skinned woman with short cropped white hair, she opened the door and welcomed them in. Holiday music was playing as people milled around in the background, most with a cup in hand.
“I’m assuming you’re Kravitz?” She asked, holding a hand out for him to shake which he quickly did.
“That would be me,” He smiled at her, “And you are-”
“Hi Miss Lucretia!” Angus exclaimed after he had closed the door behind them and turned to see her.
“Hi Angus,” A soft smile appeared on her face as she looked at the young boy.
“Angus, I would love to know how you know more people around here than I do,” Kravitz chuckled as he started to shrug off his jacket.
“Oh! Miss Lucretia is one of the librarians at the library downtown! She has some really good recommendations!,” Angus responded and Lucretia held her hands out to take the tray from him so he could also take his jacket off.
Lucretia chuckled slightly, “I’m glad you like the books I suggest Angus. I hope you two have a fun time and I’ll take this,” she held up the tray of kugel, “over to the rest of the food.”
Kravitz and Angus said their thanks as they began to survey the room, they picked out Sloane and Hurley sitting on the couch with another couple next to them, a dragonborn and an orc. Magnus was in the kitchen with his arm around Julia who leaned against him, both with smiles on their face. They were talking to Merle and Davenport (Angus informed Kravtiz that he also works at the library and that’s how he knows him).
Soon enough Taako came meandering over to them both, cups in his hands, “Are you two going to just stand there or join the rest of us?”
“Sorry, I was just looking at who was here. I thought there would be less people.”
“Nah, Magnus always finds a way to invite a bunch of people, like Avi and Johann should be here at some point,” Taako checked the imaginary watch on his wrist and shrugged, “Eh whatever, more drinks for us until they get here. Here,” he held out one of the cups to Kravitz, “It’s mulled wine if you want it.”
Kravitz took it in his hands, “Oh thank you, Taako.”
“And Ango, go talk to Magnus, he’ll get you some juice or eggnog or whatever you want to drink.”
“Thank you sir!” Angus gave a little wave as he moved through the room over to where Magnus was standing.
Not even moments later, Lup appeared at Taako’s side, she placed her hand on his arm and guided him back towards the kitchen with a wave and smile at Kravitz as they disappeared. Taako tried to protest and Kravitz was too in shock at the swiftness of Lup’s advance to say anything.
Once they were out of earshot from Kravitz, Taako turned to Lup, “Lup, I love you so much, but what the fuck was that for?”
Lup simply shrugged with a smile on her face as she pulled out a tray from the oven, “Oh it’s fine ‘Ko, let him meet your friends.”
“Sure, fine, he can do that but I also wanted to be there instead of the kitchen.”
“You? Not wanting to be in the kitchen for once in your life? I’m surprised,” Lup placed a hand over her heart, “You must have it bad if you’re not wanting to micromanage the food.”
While she said that, Taako had tried to take a drink of his wine but ended up almost spitting it back out at Lup’s words. He quickly looked around for Angus, once satisfied that the boy detective was not in the kitchen and probably off somewhere else Taako spoke up, “I do not ‘have it bad’.”
“Mmmhm, I saw how you darted over from the couch when you saw Lucretia let them in,” Lup remarked, moving some cookies onto a plate.
“I was being hospitable ,” Taako replied while Lup just scoffed. After a moment Lup turned to face him with her hands on her hips, Taako groaned, “Gods was I this insufferable when you were pining over Barold?”
“Yup,” Lup replied, popping the p, “You love me, she said with a smile.
“Too much sometimes,” Taako rolled his eyes good naturedly, a smile appearing on his face.
Everyone was milling around, some with cups others eating an array of food that was brought. After a while they began to unwrap the gifts that had been brought for the white elephant exchange. There was a groan from most of the group when Magnus opened one that turned out to be a statuette of a white elephant. With Sloane speaking up and saying, “Well someone took that a little literally.” Followed by a laugh from Hurley and a couple others.
For most of the night Taako and Kravitz saw very little of each other, as Taako kept getting dragged off in different directions by his friends. And Kravitz seemed to keep bumping into someone he hadn’t met before everytime he turned around and of course they all wanted to get to know him.
After getting out of a lengthy conversation with Magnus and Julila about what type of dog they should adopt (and deciding that they’d go to the shelter soon) Taako found himself sitting on the stairs, away from the rest of the party, with Angus.
“Ango you brought a book to a party?” Taako asked as he took a drink from his cup.
“Yes sir. I get worn out being around a lot of people after a while,” Angus replied without looking up.
Taako leaned back against the steps and sprawled his legs out, “I feel you. People are tiring. ”
Angus nodded and flipped another page, Taako tried to lean over without being too obvious to see what he was reading. A detective novel of some sort it looked like, he chuckled a little to himself, it fit the kid.
“Sir, are you drunk?” Angus asked, closing his book, marking the page with his finger.
“Hmm maybe tipsy,” Taako replied, taking another drink, “Why?”
“No reason,” Angus answered and paused for a moment before speaking again, “Do you like my dad?”
“Yeah and I like you too little dude, y’all are cool and shit.”
Angus chuckled a little, “No I mean do you like him?”
Taako’s eyes widened and he could feel a blush on his cheeks up to his ears, he attempted to hide himself by taking a drink, “I’m not drunk enough for this conversation.”
“You do!” Angus’ face lit up and he fully turned to face Taako.
Taako immediately sat up straighter and leaned close to Angus, poking a finger at him, “Do not tell anyone.” Angus mimed zipping his mouth shut, smiling the whole time. “I will not hesitate to fight you even if you are a toddler.”
“I’m not a toddler sir, I’m in middle school. Also please don’t fight me.”
“Figure of speech, Ango. But don’t you dare say anything, I already have Lup on my ass about this.”
“I understand.”
“Good.”
“It would be cool to have two dads though,” Angus said offhandedly as he moved to look at his book again. Only stopping when he saw Hurley and Sloane wave him over for something. He closed the book and stood up, smoothing out his pants. “Thank you again for inviting us!” Angus said to Taako as he made his way across to the two women.
Taako sat on the stairs, alone, with his mouth open wondering what the fuck Angus meant by that.