Son of Santa (2 page)

Noel rubbed his temple. “You could’ve opened with this sooner. You let me think….”

Fannar tilted his head to the side, and a smirk played on his lips. “What
did
you think, Noel?”

“Shut up. I didn’t know what to think, but you should’ve mentioned it sooner. There is a North Pole Christmas Crisis on our hands!”

“Oh my gods, Noel, it is not a crisis.”

“You still should have said something!”

Fannar ducked his head bashfully. Noel wasn’t buying it. “I suppose I should have. I haven’t seen you in a few seasons. I didn’t know how you would take me being here. Not well, apparently.”

“Even worse now,” Noel said. “Being the bearer of bad news.”

Fannar’s icy blue eyes met Noel’s. He spoke firmly, confidently again. “There is no bad news, Noel. No one has any doubt your father is fine, because you know he is. You would know better than anyone if there was a real problem.”

It was true. Next in line, the magic of the North Pole would’ve called Noel home if something dire had happened to his father.

Fannar continued as casually as could be, as if there wasn’t a big problem occurring, like Noel’s father gone missing. “Your mother has sent me to track him down and ask him to return sooner rather than later to help out with the Christmas rush.”

“He’s Santa. He works one day of the year.”

Fannar laughed. “You know that isn’t true. And yes, the North Pole is turning the holiday cog without him, but his presence would be appreciated.” He paused significantly. “As would yours.”

“No,” Noel said flatly.

“Your mother misses you.”

“My mother is fine. You said so yourself. And she was the one who encouraged my sabbatical into the human world.”

“Sabbatical? Is that what we’re calling it?”

Noel shrugged. “It’s what my family has been calling it. What would you call it?”

“Sad. I call it sad.”

For a moment Noel let himself believe Fannar was actually sad about it. But there was a twinkle in Fannar’s eye, so typical of a mischievous sprite that Noel couldn’t help but scowl.

“You’re full of shit.”

Fannar pulled a face. “Your human vernacular is unbecoming.”

“Deal with it.” Noel paused. “Or I suppose you won’t have to, since you’ll be leaving.”

“I am on a quest,” Fannar said with a nod. “I should be off. Noel, it was good seeing you.”

He sounded sincere, and Noel believed him. For whatever they were, they’d known each other all their lives.

“You too,” Noel said, and it was the truth. “Look, when you find him—”

“I’ll stop by, let you know.” Fannar grinned. “Or I’ll tell your old man to make amends for scaring you like this.”

“I’m not scared.” Worried, maybe. Concerned, definitely. But not
scared
.

“You know what I mean. Either way, I’ll make sure you’re filled in on the news.”

“Thanks, Fannar.”

“Yes, of course. Contrary to your belief about me, I’m not a complete jerk.”

Noel decided not to dignify that with a response, and Fannar rolled his eyes.

“I’ll be off, then. I’ll see you around, Noel.”

With a gust of wind, Fannar was no longer standing on the sidewalk.

Noel turned to his front door, fishing his keys from a pocket in his messenger bag. As he slid the key into the lock, he noticed a big, fluffy snowflake fall onto the back of his hand.

As he looked skyward, he saw a torrent of big, fluffy snowflakes dancing in the sky, making their way to the ground.

Noel couldn’t help but smile. It was one small comfort in the world.

“O
H
,
NO
,”
Ruby said, “what’s gotten into you? You’re missing your—”

“Don’t say it,” Noel warned.

“—holiday cheer.” Ruby smiled sweetly. As a cupid on sabbatical, she apparently didn’t have any other kind of smile. Sweet, lovey-dovey—both perfectly described her. Except when she saw couples fighting. Then she frowned. At least there was no frown right now.

She removed her book bag from beside her on the couch, and Noel flopped down. He glanced around the university’s student center. There weren’t many people there yet on this early Monday morning. Most of the students who made it in at this time were in their classes. Ruby had staked out a prime spot, managing to claim a large area as hers despite her petite frame. No one encroached on her space, but Noel was always invited.

Noel should pull out his laptop, like she had hers, but he wasn’t awake enough yet to deal with it. He slumped against the back of the couch, his knees spread wide, listing sideways toward her.

“Oh, honey,” she said, patting his hair. “Seriously, what’s the matter?”

He shrugged one shoulder. He didn’t want to get into it. Ever since meeting Ruby, they had a rule—don’t talk about their home realms. Both of them were on a break, and neither particularly wanted to get into it. This was supposed to be an escape from it all.

The fact they’d found each other was enough. They were close because precious few truly understood, but they weren’t close enough they would spill all their secrets. Theirs was an easy friendship.

“I don’t want to talk about it. It’s a family matter.”

“Ah,” Ruby said. She tapped the side of her nose. “Got it.”

He snorted but sat upright. “Exactly.”

“I know we don’t really discuss this, but if you need… I’m willing to listen.”

“Thanks, Ruby.” He smiled. “It’ll be fine.”

She looked relieved. “All right. Good.”

In truth, he would be fine. He’d had a shaky weekend, sleep eluding him as he worried about his father’s disappearance. He tried to forget it, focus on the positive in remembering this wasn’t unusual behavior for his father—not
too
unusual. And the North Pole realm took it seriously. Obviously, if his mother had sent Fannar to investigate. Everything was fine. Everything would be fine.

He pulled out his laptop and opened it, firing it up. He had a paper to work on. “News from back home threw me off, you know? But nothing to worry about.” Not much, anyway.

She nodded seriously, her dark brunette ringlets bobbing around her face. “I get it. I do.”

“I know.”

“Sometimes I forget what it’s like back there,” she said, “until something just—
boom!
—reminds me of it.”

“Hmm. Yes, that happens.” Fannar certainly was a boom.

But Noel never really forgot what it was like. He remembered home vividly, and there was always a slight tinge of guilt in not being there, especially this time of year. It was ridiculous of him, since both his parents had granted and encouraged him to take a step back.

Shaking his head, he tried to push the thought aside. He had a major paper due in a week.

Ruby understood the need to focus, and they both fell quiet, each lost in their coursework. After ninety minutes, Noel sat straight and stretched his arms over his head. “I don’t have class for an hour yet, but I need a coffee. I’ll run to the café. Can I get you anything, Rubes?”

A light, cold wind breezed through the room, and Ruby visibly shivered.

A male voice answered, “I would love one of those peppermint hot chocolates they do. Closest thing to home, isn’t it?”

As if appearing out of nowhere, Fannar sat on the other side of Noel.

Noel groaned. “You’re being a little obvious about what we are, don’t you think?”

Fannar leaned forward to look past Noel, right at Ruby. He smiled charmingly at her. “But she understands.”

It was easy to pick out other realm folk, with the way the aura of their home realm shone around them. Ruby’s was a light, shimmering pink with specks of gold, which was so stereotypical Noel had laughed when he’d walked into his first Introduction to Human Anthropology class years ago and saw her. But she laughed back at him. He didn’t know what his aura looked like to the folk of other realms, but she said it reminded her of a candy cane.

It was the last thing the Son of Santa wanted to hear. He didn’t bother bringing it up again.

Fannar reached across Noel. “Fannar, of the North Pole realm.”

She smiled. “Ruby, of Eros.”

“What are you doing here?” Noel asked. “I talked to you three days ago.” A sudden thought came to him. “Oh, wait, did you—”

Fannar’s headshake cut him off. “I’m sorry, not yet.”

Noel deflated. “Oh. Okay. Why are you here?”

“Have you heard any word?”

“No.”

“Did you try?”

“Yes, of course I did.” Fannar had to know Noel wouldn’t leave it at their little run-in last week. He’d made a couple of phone calls and reached out in the old magic communicator plaque ways. He didn’t make it obvious Santa was missing, but none of the contacts he spoke to seemed to have any clue, and none had seen Santa recently. They’d all jovially asked after Noel’s father, but not in a way that caused concern.

“Hey, don’t get mad at me. I was only checking.” Fannar displayed his hands defensively, though he didn’t look particularly upset. He never let Noel’s prickly attitude get to him much, taking it in stride. Probably easier, since he was the cause of it most of the time.

Noel looked at him expectantly. “Well?”

“Well what?”

“What have you found out?”

Fannar frowned, looking past Noel at Ruby again. “This might not be the time or place to get into it.”

“Oh, shove off,” Noel said, despite Fannar being right. They should probably go somewhere more private to speak. “You’re the one who showed up out of the blue.”

When Noel glanced at Ruby too, he saw she frowned.

There was only one reason why Ruby frowned.

“Oh, no.” Noel shook his head. “He and I aren’t… it’s not like that.”

She raised her eyebrows, surprised.

Fannar asked, “Like what? What are you talking about?”

“Forget it,” Noel said. “I know nothing, you know nothing—”

“Hey,” Fannar protested mildly.

“—so let’s move on. You can go. Thank you for the update.”

“I’m starting to think you’re not interested in having me around, Noel. Is this how you treat an old friend?”

“We’re not friends.”

Noel swore he saw a flicker of hurt pass over Fannar’s face, but he must’ve imagined it, because Fannar pulled a ridiculous frown. He put a hand on his chest, right over his heart, and feigned a wounded expression. “Ouch. You cut me to the quick with your words.”

Noel rolled his eyes, a little bit of guilt settling into his stomach. “Come off it, you know what I mean. We’re… us.”

Ruby muttered under her breath, “You’re certainly something.”

Heat rose to Noel’s cheeks, and Fannar went tense beside him. Usually Fannar was fluid and loose like the wind, but now he sat as rigid as an icicle.

Noel stood abruptly. “I’m going to get us those coffees.” He realized his mistake. Leaving Fannar alone with Ruby wasn’t a situation that would lean in his favor. They were going to swap stupid stories about him, and he couldn’t be there as a buffer if he left.

Perhaps Fannar noted his discomfort, because he stood as well. “Truth be told, I should be on my way. Miss Ruby.” He stuck out his hand to shake hers again. “Pleasure to meet you.”

She was smiling again, relaxed and unconcerned. “Likewise. I’m sure we’ll meet again.”

Fannar side-eyed Noel before smiling at her charmingly. “I’m not too terribly sure about that, but if we do, I look forward to such a meeting.”

Noel wasn’t sure he could take watching this anymore. “I’ll be back in a few, Rubes.”

“I’ll walk with you,” Fannar said.

Noel had stuck his foot in his mouth enough for the morning and didn’t point out Fannar could make like the wind and whisk away, unbeknownst to any humans in the area. Without believing in or being suffused with the magic culture, they rarely noticed. And if they did, who would believe them?

Fannar did no such thing, however. He walked quietly beside Noel, up the steps to the next level and down the corridor toward the cafeteria to the little coffee stand. He didn’t follow Noel to the line. Instead he reached out to place his hand lightly on Noel’s lime-green hoodie, causing him to pause in place.

“I would like to apologize,” Fannar said formally. He paid no mind to the students beginning to mill around them.

Noel blinked. “I should be the one to do that. I haven’t been very friendly.”

Fannar smiled wanly. “My presence has been an unwelcome surprise, I know.”

“Not
unwelcome
.”

Fannar arched his eyebrows, and Noel sighed.

“All right, a little bit. It’s more the surprise part that’s thrown me off.”

“I should have let you know of my visits first. An oversight on my part. I’m glad to see you, Noel, and to know you’re doing well. Truly. I’m sorry to have been, as you said, the bearer of bad news. I’m sure it hasn’t helped the matter.”

“Not entirely, but it’s not your fault.” Noel shrugged. He didn’t know what to do with this softer, kinder Fannar. “Look, if you could give me a heads-up next time you’re stopping by, that’d be good. And maybe not at school, if you could help it. I really am trying to focus. I have a lot to do in the next couple weeks.”

“I don’t understand why you’re enrolled in university again.” Fannar frowned, picking invisible lint off the sleeve of his oatmeal-colored sweater. “You’ve graduated once before.”

Noel lowered his voice. “In the 1960s. The world has changed drastically since. There is so much for me to refresh and to learn.”

“I suppose it has. All right, I will not bother you at your school. But I will keep my word and inform you when I hear more about your father. Fair?”

“Yes, please. I’d appreciate it.”

“And I will give you notice. You have your plaque?”

“Yes, I do. I packed it away after I last spoke to my father, but I’ll get it out especially for you. You can communicate with me that way.”

Fannar seemed pleased. “I’ll reach out to you in snowflakes.”

Noel couldn’t help but smile. “Of course you will.”

Fannar’s entire posture changed, sliding back into his relaxed stance. His playful smirk returned, and he ran his hand through his blond locks. More than one or two people walking by checked him out, and Noel rolled his eyes as Fannar winked at a couple of pretty girls and one cute guy.