Secret Santa Giftie--A Flowery Tale

(ships Silver/Kotone. It's Silver's birthday, incidentally.)

Like most people, Kotone loved the holidays. The snow made Johto even prettier than normal, and having snowball fights with her friends and their teams never got old. Songs about peace and love and the eternal Savior (or just the present-getting part of Christmas) echoed over loudspeakers and through the streets. All the Gyms closed, giving trainers a chance to rest and visit their families. Or, in Kotone's case, stand out in ankle-deep snow, so warmly dressed she felt like a penguin, singing with the New Bark Town Community Choir.

"Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus lane," she (and the rest of the women in it) sang. "He'll come around when the chimes ring out and it's Christmas morn again~"

"Peace on earth will come to all if we just follow the light," the men's section added, their one moment of glory before everyone joined in. "Let's give thanks to the Mons above, cause Santa Claus comes tonight!"

Professor Elm, bless his heart, broke into applause as soon as they were done. "That was wonderful! Kotone, if you weren't already the Champion, I'd bet good money you'd be on a concert stage somewhere!" he enthused.

Kotone blushed. "Professor, the point of the Community Choir is to give all of us a chance to sing," a forty-something tenor explained. "You know, I'm of the opinion that singing in a group makes you a better person. Maybe it'd even work on that redhead I've been hearing a lot about lately!" Everyone except Kotone laughed. "That redhead" was Silver, her de facto rival and an irritatingly handsome—

Wait, what? No. Silver does not get to be called that, she reminded herself fiercely. He stole his Meganium from the Professor, he treats his team like simple tools, he's probably a liar and a cheat as well. He looks like a girl, for crying out loud! Champions lead by example and don't condone their rivals!

But he's been getting better about all that, hasn't he? another part of her added. This mental debate continued all the way back to her house, and eventually ended in her deciding she just wouldn't think about him for the rest of the week.

~~~
Later, during Kotone's Christmas Eve party...
"Hey, Kotone, why are you staring at the door like that?" Hibiki asked. "I know the mistletoe wasn't exactly what you wanted here, but you're kind of weirding me out a little."

"I'm waiting for someone," she replied simply. One hand reached down to scratch her Ninetales behind the ears. The other thumbed her PokeGear, though she knew no one would be calling her for a while and the battery was dead in any case.

Hibiki sighed. "Kotone, we've already got the entire town and a couple Gym Leaders here. Who else could you be waiting for, Lance?" A few people laughed at his crack. "Stop sitting around and enjoy your party. Come on, Whitney made her special hot cocoa and everything!"

She smiled. "Only for you, Hibiki." And the party was actually quite enjoyable—a dramatic reading of "A Christmas Carol," Christmas-carol karaoke/sing-alongs in which Ethan's dad and Jasmine completely forgot the words to "Sleigh Ride," watching and riffing on holiday movies (not including It's a Wonderful Life, sadly), and a "Night Before Christmas" parody contest. Pryce won that one.

All in all, it was a very successful Christmas Eve party. So why did she still feel like something was missing...?

Ding-dong! "I'll get it!" Kotone beamed. The second she opened her front door. her heart tripped over its feet and fell on its face.

Standing there holding a big red box was Silver himself. Wearing a Santa hat, no less. "...uh, hi," he said at length, trying to avoid eye contact. "I was told this was your house?"

"You were told correctly. Come on in before you freeze to death," she smiled, forcing herself to stay calm. "Most of the activities are done already. We're all sitting around talking now, but I could get everyone to—meep!"

Silver was pointing at the plant above the door. "Mistletoe?" he smirked. "Real smooth, Champion Kotone." He set down the box. "For one thing, that sprig looks almost dead. For another, I doubt most of your guests like each other that way."

Kotone shivered, whether from cold or anticipation she couldn't tell. "Oh, well," he shrugged. "A tradition's a tradition. Pucker up." Without waiting for her response—typical—he pulled her off her feet (temporarily) and into his arms. Somehow, that made it immensely more awkward than if he'd just straight-up kissed her.

"You can't be serious!" she cried. "I've got literally all of New Bark Town and half the Gym Leaders inside! What if one of them sees this? What if Hibiki does? What if...oh Arceus and Mesprit, what if my mom sees?"

"The hell with them," Silver replied, and kissed her full on the lips. Kotone's heart went off like a racecar, her face could have toasted a marshmallow, and she was pretty sure someone was watching.

But all of a sudden, she found she didn't care. Which was why she snaked one arm around his skinny waist and kissed him back. Best Christmas Eve ever, she thought.