{"id":66,"date":"2016-12-08T06:24:45","date_gmt":"2016-12-08T06:24:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2016\/calendar\/?p=66"},"modified":"2022-02-08T22:46:58","modified_gmt":"2022-02-08T22:46:58","slug":"december-8th-blue-eyed-reindeer-by-dppatricks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2016\/calendar\/?p=66","title":{"rendered":"December 8th- Blue-Eyed Reindeer by DPPatricks"},"content":{"rendered":"

This story came to me in response to the Me_and_Thee 100\u2019s Challenge 353 – Dream<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The strangest reindeer Hutch had ever seen walked toward him out of the fog. Not that he\u2019d ever seen one in real life, but PBS documentaries and Christmas specials couldn\u2019t have been that<\/em> wrong. Could they?<\/span><\/p>\n

This animal had a coat of dark brown curls instead of tan fur, and its legs were all slightly bowed as if it had been riding something barrel shaped. It was the eyes though that mesmerized. They were a darker, deeper shade of midnight blue than Hutch thought possible. He knew eyes that color, only they didn\u2019t belong on one of Santa\u2019s Christmas Eve beasts of burden. Did they?<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s when he noticed the rack of antlers. Where the usual spikes pointing in various upward directions should have been, there were nine vertical protrusions, lined up across the animal\u2019s head, side to side, all sprouting from a central bony column. It looked like a menorah.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the moment that thought occurred, the middle spike lit up with a small flame. Now, that\u2019s just a little too weird, Hutch decided.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s weird about it?\u201d the reindeer asked in an amused masculine voice. One corner of his mouth swept up in a lop-sided grin that made Hutch shiver. He knew that expression, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStarsky,\u201d Hutch said, firmly, attempting to come to grips with this illusion, aberrant perception, hallucination. \u201cWhat are you doing wearing a reindeer suit? You look ridiculous!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo would you if you\u2019d drawn the short straw,\u201d the animal retorted. \u201cI have to stay in this silly outfit until you wake up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUntil I<\/em> wake up?\u201d Hutch asked, confused. \u201cWhat about you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not the one havin\u2019 the dream, Hutch,\u201d the northern tundra critter replied patiently. \u201cYou said you could handle the combination but, when you slid off the couch, everybody drew straws to see who\u2019d watch over you in Neverland.\u201d Lifting a foreleg in a jaunty gesture, the creature snorted softly. \u201cI admit I rigged it so that I\u2019d win. Couldn\u2019t have you wanderin\u2019 around out here, all by your lonesome.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch glanced at the surroundings but all he could see was fog. \u201cWhere\u2019s \u2018here\u2019?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the wrong one to ask, pal,\u201d his four legged companion replied, blue eyes sparkling mischievously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut a menorah-topped reindeer?\u201d Hutch queried. \u201cIs that the best you could do for a costume?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLike I said before, Hutch,\u201d the reindeer replied, \u201cit\u2019s your delusion.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Hutch muttered. \u201cHow many lighted antlers do I have to wait for? And how long is this going to take?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A second pointed protrusion sprang to flame.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo idea,\u201d the sleigh-puller replied, good-naturedly, shrugging a muscular shoulder. \u201cWanna dance while we wait?\u201d He began to move gracefully and energetically to the beat of disco music that suddenly filtered through the mist.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDisco\u2019s pass\u00e9, Starsk,\u201d Hutch muttered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cObviously not in your imagination,\u201d the critter that spoke with Starsky\u2019s voice said, smugly. He bumped against Hutch\u2019s hip, suggestively. \u201cCome on, help me out here, big boy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch stepped back a pace and held his hands up. \u201cBy all means, enjoy yourself,\u201d he muttered, wondering if getting pissed would speed things along.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t be mad right now, Hutch,\u201d the reindeer said, gliding forward and rubbing his neck against Hutch\u2019s arm, clearly being careful not to burn Hutch with the two lighted prongs of his antlers. \u201cYou\u2019re much too happy. This is our first Christmas since Gunther and you and I are finally, as of this very evening, more than partners, friends, pals and buddies.\u201d The animal rubbed itself more sensuously against Hutch\u2019s body, eliciting feelings that were decidedly not of the angry variety.<\/span><\/p>\n

Letting go of the dregs of his irritation, Hutch draped his arms around the warm neck and leaned his cheek against the soft curly hair. The compelling creature moved provocatively against him while a third and fourth tip took fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

Swaying and moving to the progressively slower music, in sync with the unfamiliar configuration of the body he now knew intimately, Hutch was blissfully content. Eventually, all nine \u2018candles\u2019 were lit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch looked into the twinkling happiness of the single eye he could see. \u201cI think I\u2019m ready to wake up now, Starsk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The fog miraculously vanished and Hutch was staring up into the indigo eyes of his partner, his best friend, his brand new lover.<\/span><\/p>\n

Glancing around, Hutch realized that he was lying on the floor of his apartment, between the couch and coffee table, his head nestled in Starsky\u2019s lap. The curly hair-fringed face leaned over him, mouth quirked with humor and devotion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEdith? Dobey? Huggy? They all left you here alone to take care of me?\u201d Hutch asked, wonderingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI told \u2018em I could handle it,\u201d Starsky replied, shyly. His smile was kind with understanding. \u201cSimmons, Babcock, and their wives offered to stay and help clean up but Minnie shooed them out. She and Huggy straightened up a little before he took her home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll bet they\u2019ll never let me live it down, huh?\u201d Hutch asked, contrite.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNone of them knew you\u2019d polished off most of a magnum of champagne before they got here,\u201d Starsky went on, softly. \u201cAfter I explained that we\u2019d been celebrating my reinstatement, and I showed them the empty bottle, they understood.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt did make a delicious accompaniment to the other pre-party festivities,\u201d Hutch noted with satisfaction.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI forgot to ask what everyone was bringing though,\u201d Starsky said, apologetically. \u201cIf I had, I\u2019d have suggested we both limit ourselves to one glass. You said that was all I should have but I didn\u2019t realize you\u2019d need to be careful, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI promise, babe,\u201d Hutch said, picking up Starsky\u2019s hand and kissing the knuckles, \u201cno matter what wonderful moments we celebrate in the future, I will never combine spicy sausage and green pepper pizza, Huggy\u2019s heavily spiked eggnog, and champagne, again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky helped him to his unsteady feet, put a strong arm around his waist, and guided him toward the bedroom alcove.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou looked good as a reindeer, Starsk,\u201d Hutch said, sexily.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d Starsky asked, his interest piqued. \u201cTell me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe someday,\u201d Hutch replied, enigmatically. \u201cI have the picture in my head and, believe me, I\u2019ll never forget it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMerry Christmas, Hutch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMerry Christmas, Dancer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The vision was strange<\/span>
\nbut joy, compassion and love<\/span>
\ncame through just fine, thanks<\/span><\/p>\n

END<\/span><\/p>\n

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

This story came to me in response to the Me_and_Thee 100\u2019s Challenge 353 – Dream. The strangest reindeer Hutch had ever seen walked toward him out of the fog. Not that he\u2019d ever seen one in real life, but PBS … 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":[5,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-66","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fic","category-slash"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2016\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2016\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2016\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2016\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2016\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=66"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2016\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":382,"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2016\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66\/revisions\/382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2016\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=66"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2016\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=66"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2016\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=66"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}