Work Text:
As soon as he left his residence, Maxwell shivered because of the cold wind blowing in his face.
"I reminded you to wear a scarf when I went out, Maxwell."
Wilson, who went out with him, reached out his hand with fingerless gloves from his coat pocket and touched the tall man's cheek.
"Is it cold? With such a large area of air contact, the heat from your face will be lost quickly."
"Thank you for your concern, pal. If we go there earlier, we won't have to worry……uh."
Maxwell was interrupted by the sudden temperature before he finished speaking.
He tugged on the scarf wrapped around him and complained, "I understand your kindness, but it's a bit difficult to wear the same scarf with the height difference between us…… It's a bit tight."
"Is it too tight?" Wilson loosened some parts of the scarf, "I just think that if I give my scarf to you, you won't be willing to wear it."
"Can we go back and take another scarf? I don't think you can't think of this option, Wilson."
"Of course I know there is this option, but you rarely go out, I want to…… try to do this with you."
==
"Butter, onion, garlic and bacon……" Wilson was reviewing a shopping list while pushing a cart.
"Don't forget the turkey, that's the most important." Maxwell reminded him with his gloved fingertips tapping the paper.
"Of course! But I still can't understand why I have to be designated as your shopping partner just because you rarely want to go out? I should be at home preparing interior decorations with Webber at this time." The scientist who is not good at shopping complained as his patience gradually wore out while picking up a stick of butter from the shelf and putting it in the cart.
"Someone should be responsible for purchasing, sir. The ladies have been tired all day yesterday for our clothing issues, and you won't agree to let me and WX go out alone, right? Why are you getting impatient now?"
Maxwell answered while checking the ingredients in the cart.
"Oh, pal, the brand you picked is a gimmick, put it back, don't waste your budget on it." The tall man stretched out his hand and passed by his ear, picked up another blue packaged brand from the shelf and put it in the cart.
"I didn't expect that you usually use those colorful magazines to kill time to be useful…… You even read the product introductions of this kind of store?" Wilson compared the prices and ingredients with some hesitation, and was surprised to find that the other party was telling the truth.
"That's just one of my channels for collecting information, Higgsbury. I always have to find a way to understand the outside world when I don't go out."
==
"Was my tone not very good just now? But this…… is really too much." Wilson stepped deep and shallow in the snow, and the whole person seemed to be buried by the shopping bag.
"Even if I am much younger than you, it doesn't mean that I should carry everything!"
"I'm not so mean, Higgsbury. At first, you didn't let me carry the heavy things." Maxwell, who was holding two paper bags and paying attention to his steps, replied slowly.
"Yes, but…… ah!" A scream, looking up, only to see Wilson half-sunk in the snow.
"Uh…… Maxwell, can you help me?"
"Ah, how could I leave you, my friend." Putting down the paper bag temporarily, Maxwell stepped forward and hugged Wilson's waist.
"Remember to hold on tightly, one, two…… three!"
After a while of leaning back, the two fell together on the soft snow.
"I think you should eat more for dinner later. You're still a little thin." "……Can you get off me before you are dissatisfied with my figure? Higgsbury."
==
"What do you mean Maxwell can go into the kitchen but I CAN'T?! He's even British!" Wilson, who was tempted by the smell, clung to the kitchen door frame and retorted in disbelief.
"I just need a taster, Mr. Wilson." Warly replied firmly with a little apology and a gentle smile, "And Mr. Maxwell's picky taste buds are just right for this job."
"I think my taste is not bad, why don't you choose me?"
"Yes, you can also do this position, but you are more suitable for decoration work, Wilson." Warly kindly reminded, "I am very grateful for bringing me the ingredients necessary for cooking, but Webber has been waiting to decorate the Christmas tree with you for a while——he insisted on leaving this part of the tree with you."
"Mr. Wilson! I can't reach it!" At this time, Webber's voice sounded at the right time.
"Okay." The stubborn scientist finally gave up, "Thank you for your understanding, Warly. It is indeed unsafe to let Webber rush into the kitchen to find me while I am preparing food."
"Thank you for your understanding, Wilson." Warly finally stopped stopping him, smiled and waved his hand and turned to go into the kitchen.
"Mr. Wilson, look at the spider pendant I made!"
"Webber, you did a great job!"
Wilson walked back to the living room and rubbed the child's head.
"Let's go, let's hang these up!"
==
"We're almost done, Mr. Wilson! We just need to put the stars on the tree at the end!" Webber waved the star decoration in his hand happily, "Can you carry me up like you did just now?"
"It may be a little difficult, Webber." After gesturing the height of the treetops, Wilson replied with some embarrassment, "With your height added, even if I fully stretch my arms, I may not be able to reach the top…… Almost all the decorations on the top layer that were thrown on tree by Abigail."
"Oh……" The child's tone changed with some disappointment, "Mr. Maxwell——" Webber began to shout towards the kitchen again, "Can you come and help?"
"Wait…… wait, Webber!" Frightened by the child's frankness, Wilson said a little hurriedly, "I can go and get a ladder, you don't have to……!"
"Mr. Maxwell——" Before he finished speaking, the child greeted the person he didn't expect to really appear with a happy cheer.
The old man, who staggered backwards because of the impact of the child rushing towards him with his body, picked up the lively child, raised him up as he wished and say.
"You'd better hurry up, little guy, my old bones can't support you for too long."
"Mr. Maxwell, you're the best——" Webber happily and quickly placed the star steadily on the tip of the Christmas tree, and when he was put down, he also printed a wet kiss on the cheek of this important helper.
"This is just a good deed done on a whim during the holidays, no need to thank me." Rubbing his face with his palms in disgust, Maxwell fled back to the kitchen with red ears.
==
"This is a glorious feast indeed!"
When the smell of roast turkey filled the whole house, Wigfrid's loud voice echoed in the living room.
"Come and help serve the dishes, Higgsbury——"
"Are you used to ordering me around, Maxwell?"
Wilson complained, but he didn't refuse the task. He still stood up and walked to the kitchen door obediently.
"I don't pick people casually, Wilson."
The warm light in the kitchen shone from behind him, and Maxwell leaned against the door frame with a raised eyebrow and a smile.
"It's impossible to let the children serve. The chef is still busy with the other dishes. Wolfgang and Woodie have just finished dealing with the firewood and are sorting out their appearance."
"Besides, I have another reason."
Before Wilson asked, a mouthful of hot turkey was stuffed into his open mouth.
"Hiss……" Wilson exhaled two breaths of hot air, and waited until he got used to the temperature in his mouth before he could speak. "I thought you were the one in charge of tasting the food."
"Because I couldn't bear to let my dear friend continue to starve? Or maybe I was malicious and wanted to whet your appetite before the meal, making your waiting process more painful?"
Maxwell used a spoon to stir the meal, and covered the place where the meat was torn off with the vegetables roasted together. After ensuring the appearance of the dish was perfect, he stepped aside to make way for the other party to take over.
"How does it taste……?"
"Very delicious! Although the taste seems to be different from the past……Warly adjusted the recipe this time? It is more in line with my preferences."
"I did refer to your preferences to thank you for provided the party venue. As the chef who cooked this dish, I received your careful evaluation." When Wilson turned around, Maxwell bowed slightly.
"Wait, this turkey is you in charge of ?!" Wilson was glad that he hadn't picked up the dish yet, otherwise this perfect work might have been ruined by his shock.
"Haha! Surprised? I still remember your distrust of my cooking skills." The arrogant and complacent voice answered.