#alex' bear is named Bearold

[innytoes]

So @hawkguyhasstarbucks made me this adorable ‘Bass Boy At Christmas’ moodboard, and I couldn’t get over the giant teddy bears at the café. So I drew them a thing. And then I wrote a fic to go with it.

“So I just passed the music store on my way here, and from the looks of it Luke and Bobby are going to be very, very late and what the hell are you doing?”

Reggie looked up at Alex and beamed. “Having hot chocolate!” With extra whipped cream and sprinkles, because he may or may not have flirted with the girl behind the counter.

They’d all split up to buy each other holiday presents, and had agreed to meet up here at the cafe at four. Reggie had gotten there early, because he’d been planning out what gifts to buy the guys since forever, calculating and recalculating his budget, doing chores around the neighbourhood to earn some extra cash. He’d been in and out of the stores in no time.

“And your… date?” Alex said, motioning to the giant stuffed bear sitting across from him. It was wearing a little Santa hat and had its own cup and saucer.

“They were offering them along with the hot chocolate to people who didn’t want to sit alone,” Reggie explained. He’d told the girl his friends were coming later, but honestly, having a conversation with a giant teddy bear was an amazing way to keep people from stealing the chairs from the table for four that he’d snagged. People were definitely avoiding the punk in the leather jacket discussing Dolly Parton with a plush animal. “I’ve named him Bearimy. He likes country music and making snow angels.”

Alex’ face did that thing where he wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh or say something sarcastic. He settled on an exasperated ‘okay’. Then, his face turned calculating.

“Luke and Bobby are going to be late,” he said.

“Probably,” Reggie agreed. If they were at the music store, most definitely.

“I’m getting one,” Alex said decidedly, going back up to the counter. The girl behind the counter grinned and came to set up the bear next to Reggie, while Alex slid across from him with his own hot chocolate. It did not have extra whipped cream and sprinkles, because Alex was not great at flirting with girls.

It was totally worth it when Luke and Bobby slunk in forty minutes late and started squawking when Alex icily informed them their seats were taken, and by much more interesting company at that.

#I blame hawkguyhasstarbucks #JatPAdvent2021 #julie and the phantoms #reggie peters #alex mercer #I wrote a thing #fanfic #I drew a thing #christmas #alex' bear is named Bearold #no he did not get a say in that