String:
“Oh! I almost forgot!”
Iruka dashed out of the room.
With all they had here, Kakashi couldn’t begin to imagine what could be missing.
The sound of cupboard doors opening and slamming shut. Little things hitting the floor. The whirr of a motor. Oh. Popcorn.
Popcorn? What did that have to do with Christmas?
Admittedly, Christmas had been a low-key affair, at best, in Kakashi’s family. This first Christmas with Iruka was eye-opening. Kakashi wandered into the kitchen.
“What do we need popcorn for?”
“Can you please go grab a sewing kit from the bathroom? We need popcorn strings, too!”
It won’t let me post the rest individually, so…
Warning: discussion of a previous death in the family at Christmas.
Lights:
When Kakashi brought the bowl of popcorn into the living room, Iruka was opening a box full of Christmas lights. They would be a myriad of colours when lit.
Iruka was frowning and muttering.
“What’s wrong?”
Iruka sighed heavily.
“The last time Dad and I packed these up was a couple of weeks after Mom died. She loved Christmas so much. We all did… do… but I was so upset when we were packing up — I ripped the lights off the tree and threw them in the box.”
“They’re all tangled now.” His eyes teared.
Kakashi hugged Iruka tightly.
Star:
Kakashi held Iruka for a while. When Iruka loosened his hold, Kakashi gently suggested, “We can go for a walk and do this tomorrow night.”
Iruka drew in a shuddery breath and gave a tremulous smile.
“I think I’d like to go for a walk, just a short one. I’d still like to decorate the tree tonight.”
Another hug and they bundled into winter gear. Outside was fresh and chilly. There was a sliver of moon in the clear sky.
Kakashi stopped on the walk out front.
“Look, Iruka! We can see every star in the sky!”
Iruka smiled brightly.
Garland:
The whole neighbourhood looked ready for Christmas. Their short walk became a meander. They wandered up and down streets, holding hands and looking at the yards.
“Look at that one!” Iruka called out.
The yard he pointed to was filled with inflatable Santas, snowmen, and reindeer. Floodlights shone on everything and Christmas music blared from hidden speakers.
“How has no one filed a noise complaint?!”
“They must shut it down before 10.”
“I prefer that one.”
Kakashi pointed to the house next-door. It had simple lighted garlands draped over their patio rails and a simply decorated tree in the window.
Presents:
The tree was decorated. There were evergreen branches and stockings above the fireplace. The air smelled of sweets — cookies, tarts, chocolate. Somehow, it didn’t clash with the smell of the tree. Kakashi wasn’t quite sure how that worked.
Kakashi had squirrelled presents away where Iruka (hopefully!) wouldn’t find them. He knew better than to look for his own. Iruka’s retaliation after he’d pulled out his birthday gift early didn’t bear thinking about.
“Is it time?” He called out.
“Think you’ve got the self-control to bring it out yet?”
This was the present Kakashi had really been waiting for: mistletoe!
Tinsel:
This stuff had to be worse than glitter. There was no way he should still be finding it in their home. They’d packed all the Christmas things away months ago!
And how on earth did tinsel end up in his hair?! The stuff was too big to hang around in the air, unseen, for weeks!
A giggle.
Kakashi growled and spun around quickly.
Iruka darted down the hall. The chase was on!
Eventually, Kakashi caught his prankster partner. He wrapped his arms around Iruka and tickled.
“I yield! No more tinsel around the house, I promise!”
Kakashi kissed him gratefully.
The mental image 