Work Text:
"Seriously?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
"Monsieur Trudeau et Katy Perry?"
"And they had a date in Paris!"
"Does Monsieur le Président know about this?"
"Know what?"
Emmanuel was passing through a corridor in L'Élysée when he eavesdropped into two officials talking. They were startled seeing him around the corner.
"What do I need to know?"
The younger official, a man in his late 20s, scrolled in his phone and turned the screen towards him.
"Sir, have you seen this?"
It was an Instagram post, kind of a quite recent one. There was a woman in that photo, and the man holding her was -
Justin.
"How did I not see this?"
Emmanuel asked, handing the phone over to the official.
"I think you were busy with choosing a Prime Minister, sir." The official said, smiling.
"Sorry, sir. We know you liked him."
Emmanuel waved it off. "Ehh, it was high time that he find a good woman after his divorce."
Officials smiled and he bid them farewell to go on his way.
"I think he is hurt about this." One said to the other official, when the President was out their sight, and they nodded affirmatively.
Emmanuel was still in thought. He obviously heard rumours about Justin and Katy, but he didn't think it was serious. He couldn't forget how Justin was looking at Katy in another short clip she posted. This train of thought was only interrupted with his chief of staff running towards him.
"Monsieur le Président? The President of Ukraine is on the secure line."
Of course Emmanuel forgot what he was going to do before he stopped on his way there. He quickly ran to his office where all his diplomatic staff was gathering and picked up the phone.
"Volodymyr?"
"Oh Emmanuel! Good afternoon and Happy Christmas Eve!"
"Same to you! So, what do you want to talk about?"
"This god-forsaken peace plan! I am this close to telling President Trump to go to hell with it!"
The French diplomatic team smiled in agreement.
"Volodymyr no-"
"Don't tell me to be patient!"
Emmanuel calmly whispered his team to go out and he will get back to them shortly. After they left, he leaned on his chair leisurely.
"So, tomorrow's Christmas. What are you going to do?"
"What's that got to do with-?"
"Just tell me. What are you going to do tomorrow?"
"Not much. I am celebrating it alone this year, you know."
"Why alone? Where's family?"
"I can't risk Olena and the kids' safety. They are going to hit on Christmas."
"So, no gifts this year?"
"I think I am too old for gifts, Emmanuel."
They shared a laugh over the phone. Suddenly, Emmanuel had an idea. A brilliant one at that, like always.
"We'll talk about that peace plan when you are cooled down, okay? Have some rest. You deserved it, honey."
They bid each other farewell. Once the connection went out, Emmanuel quickly dialled his intercom.
"Allô, Monsieur Ben? What do you say, we go on an impromptu trip? Oh and couple of stops on the way to the destination."
After having recorded the Christmas message to his citizens, Volodymyr exited the great hall of Marinskyi Palace to get to his office in Bankova. The Christmas tree and decorations were lovely, but an unusual melancholy was still inside his heart. He could hear a soldier somewhere singing "Jingle Bell Rock" with totally an out-of-pitch voice, and even Maksym couldn't help but crack a weak smile with him. He could hear St. Sophia's cathedral bells ringing, calling people for the midnight mass, but there was an added weight- maybe it's fatigue- in his steps. So Volodymyr dragged his feet to bed, and slept a dreamless sleep without even checking the day's work, while the World around him erupted with joy and fireworks.
Volodymyr woke up to a cold, snowy Christmas morning with someone tapping on his shoulder. He sleepily opened his eyes to see Maksym holding something strange. Something so strange that it was totally out for his character.
A rose. A red one nonetheless.
Volodymyr was wide awake now, and Maksym was still gingerly holding the red rose by the edge of its stem, like it's some kind of an alien object.
"Aw Maksym, its not Valentines yet!"
"This is for you!"
"Wha- for me? Who gave this to you? Is it safe?"
"I checked. They're all safe."
"There's more?"
"I think you better come and see for yourself."
"What's happening?"
Volodymyr stepped out of his cabin in his pyjamas, and every last person on his way, didn't forget to wish him Merry Christmas. Some soldiers stationed on hallways gave him neatly wrapped little gifts and some lady soldiers even gave him roses to collect to the ones which are already in his hand. He accepted it all with blushing red cheeks, seriously puzzled with not knowing what was going on.
Volodymyr was now at the sight of Bankova's courtyard, and he could see snow falling outside. He stood in the doorway with his arms cradled with a bunch of roses and little gifts and he could see a man with a tall silhouette, long blue over coat, a scarf wrapped around the neck, a bouquet of red roses on his hand, a familiar pair of blue eyes-
"Emmanuel!" Volodymyr ran down the stairs, and across the courtyard leaving what was in his arms to the floor. He didn't mind it was cold, he didn't mind the ground was wet and slippery, so he was so close to fall and faceplant to the ground, if not for Emmanuel's arms catching him beforehand and wrapping him strong and tight in them.
"Oh Volodymyr." Emmanuel whispered.
"You are here! But how are you- I just called you yesterday afternoon!"
"I just wanted to see you. That's all." And Emmanuel leaned in for a kiss.
"Wait! No, no, we can't kiss now! There's no mistletoe here!"
"I don't care. I absolutely don't care."
And they shared a heartwarming kiss in that snowy courtyard.
"So, what did you bring me?" Volodymyr asked after changing his pyjamas into comfortable work clothes.
Emmanuel smiled and put a big gift and some small gifts which he already saw, on the table. Volodymyr's eyes went wide.
"All for me?" Volodymyr asked, almost too excited.
Emmanuel nodded affirmatively, and signed him to come closer. Volodymyr made grabby hands and sat on Emmanuel's lap.
"So, you are my Santa, in a way."
"Please don't-"
"No really, I wished for not to be alone on Christmas day. And now you are here with me."
Volodymyr dragged several of those small gifts towards him and opened their wrapping.
"Oh my god, are these-?"
"Yes chéri, this one is a Mirage 2000, this one is a Rafale, and as you can see there are several CAESAR guns, Leclerc tanks, all actual replicas, Christmas tree ornament sized."
"I want to hang these on the tree! Please can we?"
"Yes we can, amour. Don't run!"
Emmanuel helped Volodymyr onto a chair high enough and together they hanged the little tanks and fighter jets on the Christmas tree. Then Emmanuel spinned Volodymyr around, lifting him off the chair, and carefully dipped him down in his arms to properly kiss him underneath the mistletoe.
Melting into the kiss, Volodymyr thought that maybe he is not alone anymore, and Emmanuel thought that maybe he doesn't need those who were gone, because his heart is with someone special now.