{"id":476,"date":"2017-12-23T03:32:58","date_gmt":"2017-12-23T03:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/?p=476"},"modified":"2017-12-23T03:32:58","modified_gmt":"2017-12-23T03:32:58","slug":"december-23rd-a-bay-city-christmas-carol-by-m-butterfly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/?p=476","title":{"rendered":"December 23rd- A Bay City Christmas Carol by m. butterfly"},"content":{"rendered":"

Author\u2019s Note:<\/strong><\/span> for przed, who did the first beta and provided the title; and Flamingo and Cyanne, who still talk to me even though I\u2019m a last-minute pain in the butt. Merry Christmas and love to you all!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMove, Ebeneezer.\u201d Starsky stood and frowned down at Hutch.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m moving already! Hold your damned horses.\u201d Hutch slid out of the booth so that Starsky could get out without trampling him to death.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not my horses that need holding,\u201d Starsky mumbled as he charged toward the men\u2019s room.<\/p>\n

Hutch settled back into his spot on the padded bench. \u201cWhat?\u201d he asked the man seated across from him. It was late \u2013 very late \u2013 and the end of an unbearably long day. They were the only people left at The Pits, which had served its last paying customer nearly an hour ago.<\/p>\n

Huggy shook his head slowly. \u201cDo you really hate Christmas that much, or is it just an act you put on to drive Starsky crazy?\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Hutch smiled and took a sip of beer. \u201cAs much as I love getting him riled up, the answer is yes. I really hate Christmas that much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? And don\u2019t give me all that \u2018crass commercialism, religious hypocrisy\u2019 bullshit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not bullshit. But I\u2019ll admit there are other reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSuch as?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hutch stifled a yawn. \u201cYou\u2019re not seeing anyone in particular at the moment, correct?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough it\u2019s hard to believe,\u201d Huggy gave a little toss of his head, \u201cI\u2019m currently on the market.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you know what it\u2019s like. Every time you turn on the TV, or read a paper or a magazine, all you see are ads with loving couples and families and other happy people doing Christmas stuff together. It\u2019s bad enough being alone this time of year, so I don\u2019t appreciate the world rubbing my face in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou? Alone? You gotta be kidding me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wake up alone, I go to sleep alone.\u201d Hutch drained the last of his beer. \u201cThe times in between don\u2019t count.\u201d<\/p>\n

Huggy sat back and folded his bony arms across his bony chest. \u201cI don\u2019t believe this. You do know that denial ain\u2019t just a river in Egypt, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea what you\u2019re talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHere comes your partner, otherwise known as the reason why you\u2019re wallowing in self pity. Let\u2019s ask him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hutch\u2019s face turned crimson. \u201cNo!\u201d He was struggling to keep his voice down. \u201cNo. Leave him out of this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave who out of what?\u201d Starsky asked. He used his hip to nudge Hutch, then plunked himself down and pushed himself into place, forcing Hutch to move into Starsky\u2019s original spot.<\/p>\n

Despite the warning glare from Hutch, Huggy clasped his hands together on the table in front of him and leaned toward Starsky. \u201cBlondie here is having a case of the holidays blues.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNah.\u201d Starsky elbowed Hutch playfully in the ribs. \u201cHe just hates Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what he says, but he don\u2019t fool me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuggy,\u201d Hutch growled.<\/p>\n

Starsky\u2019s eyes traveled from Huggy to Hutch and back to Huggy again. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing\u2019s going on. I just want to get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Starsky wasn\u2019t budging. \u201cUh-uh. I need to know what\u2019s wrong. Hutch? You won\u2019t even look at me, babe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hutch squeezed his eyes and shuddered. \u201cStarsk, please\u2026\u201d He grabbed Starsky\u2019s beer, finished it off in a couple of noisy gulps, and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. \u201cCan we go now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot until someone tells me why you\u2019re acting so weird all of a sudden.\u201d He poked Hutch again. \u201cYou were fine \u2013 grumpy as usual, but fine \u2013 when I went to the bathroom. What did you say to him, Hug?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI merely let him know that I know he\u2019s got a thing for a certain guy \u2013 and should own up to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starsky chuckled, but eyes held no mirth. \u201cI think you\u2019re confused, Hug. Me and Hutch like girls.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but you and Hutch love<\/em> each other,\u201d Huggy said. \u201cYou\u2019re just too blind or too stupid to see it. Or both. So, me pointing it out to you is my Christmas-slash-Hannukah present. You\u2019re welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hutch ran his hand over his face \u2013 and left it there. \u201cGoddammit,\u201d he muttered into his palm.<\/p>\n

While Starsky just sat there with his mouth hanging open, Huggy dug something out of the front pocket of his jeans and placed it on the table. \u201cHere. This is the spare key to the front door. Make sure you turn off the lights and lock up when you leave.\u201d He rose and gave each of them a long, stern look. \u201cAnd if you\u2019re gonna have sex tonight, have it anywhere but here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuggy!\u201d Even in the dim light, Hutch\u2019s face was now visibly red.<\/p>\n

Huggy ignored him and started his trek to the exit. \u201cYou two oblivious idiots have a lot to talk about. Good night \u2013 and good luck.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t leave now!\u201d Hutch called after him. \u201cNot after stirring up this \u2013 all this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

But, apparently, he could. And he did.<\/p>\n

The bar was uncomfortably quiet with Huggy gone.<\/p>\n

Hutch finally broke the silence. \u201cGuess he was half right, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d Starsky shifted is body so he could address Hutch \u2013 Hutch\u2019s profile, at least. \u201cHalf right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout me. But he was way off base about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Without hesitation, Starsky put his hand on his partner\u2019s shoulder. \u201cOne of us must be more tired than I thought because you\u2019re not making sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hutch sighed but continued to stare straight ahead. \u201cYou\u2019re always cheerful, especially this time of year. So, logically, that means you\u2019re okay about being alone. And that you\u2019re perfectly fine with us just being friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou big, dumb, beautiful blond.\u201d Starsky\u2019s hand slid down Hutch\u2019s tense arm to his wrist and squeezed gently. \u201cThink about it. We spend most of the time between Thanksgiving and New Year\u2019s Day together, whether we\u2019re seeing someone or not. And my favorite holidays are the ones when it\u2019s just the two of us. Even if you are an old grouch bag and give me crappy presents \u2013 or no presents. Nobody in their right mind is happy about being alone, but I\u2019m always happy when I\u2019m with you. And maybe I\u2019ve always been secretly hopeful that we\u2019d become more than just friends one day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re saying\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat Huggy\u2019s a pretty observant guy. And I think he could be right about you and<\/em> me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hutch finally turned to face Starsky, his posture a little straighter. \u201cSo now what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get some sleep, okay? We can talk about this tomorrow, when we\u2019re not so beat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hutch nodded and followed Starsky out of the booth.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the way,\u201d Starsky said as he shut off the lights, \u201cthere might be something you\u2019re not supposed to see on the dining room table, so no peeking when we get home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hutch stopped walking. \u201cAre we \u2013 Am I staying with you tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWouldn\u2019t be the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, but this time it\u2019s different. Or could it be. Or\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook. We\u2019re both exhausted, and my place is closer than yours. I\u2019m just being practical.\u201d<\/p>\n

That earned some raised eyebrows.<\/p>\n

Starsky prodded Hutch out onto the sidewalk so he could lock up. \u201cSo, you gonna stand there until the sun comes up, or get in the car?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope you have the energy to get us home in one piece.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do.\u201d Starsky made a small show of opening the passenger side door. \u201cAnyone ever tell you that you worry too much?\u201d<\/p>\n

But once Starsky was behind the wheel, he didn\u2019t seem in a hurry to actually drive the Torino anywhere.<\/p>\n

\u201cStarsk?\u201d Hutch tapped Starsky\u2019s elbow. \u201cYou getting cold feet?\u201d<\/p>\n

Starsky\u2019s head whipped to the right. \u201cNo. Of course not.\u201d He scooted over and took Hutch\u2019s face in his hands. \u201cI just \u2013 I want to try something before we hit the road.\u201d He tilted his head and kissed Hutch \u2013 softly at first, then more soundly when Hutch kissed him back.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow,\u201d Hutch whispered, his forehead resting against Starsky\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d He swallowed. \u201cWe\u2019ll probably just pass out the second we lie down, but I think you should sleep in my bed. With me. If that\u2019s okay with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is. More than okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starsky gave Hutch a quick peck on the lips before letting him go, sliding back to his side, and starting the car. \u201cYou know what we need to do tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hutch reached out and rested his palm atop Starsky\u2019s thigh. \u201cI can think of several things. But what have you got in mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides that.\u201d Starsky was grinning broadly. \u201cWe should get something for Huggy. You know. To thank him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a great idea, partner, even though there\u2019s nothing we could get to thank him enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about a really nice card that says, \u2018We didn\u2019t have sex in your bar\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hutch howled. \u201cI wish I\u2019d thought of that. Love it!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think you might love Christmas now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI might hate it a bit less. But at least I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. At least I love you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Author\u2019s Note: for przed, who did the first beta and provided the title; and Flamingo and Cyanne, who still talk to me even though I\u2019m a last-minute pain in the butt. Merry Christmas and love to you all! \u201cMove, Ebeneezer.\u201d … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,16,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fic","category-safe-for-work","category-slash"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=476"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":480,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476\/revisions\/480"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}