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„Finally in the warm !“ Dread thought to herself as she enterd the Main Office Building. Passing the front desk a woman greeted her:“Welcome back, Miss Dread. Warden Sauzando is waiting in his office for you.“ Dread just nodded and headed to the elevator. She held her I.D. Card to the scanner *beep* „Assistent of the Warden Dread. Calling elevator“*beep* a robotic voice from the scanner announced.A few Seconds later, the door opend and the red-hooded woman stepped inside. She pressed the button fort he 20th floor
Leaning back at the wall of the Elevator she was drifing of to in her thoughts : Why did she agree to go to the mall in minus 12 Clesius weather only to get Shin these mini Marshmellows with lil faces on them? Well sure it wassnt a big trip and he did ask her very nicely with that sweet voice of his „But it wount be my grandmas Chrismas Hot chocolate without then! Please i will give you the first cup of it to warm you up“
She remebers his words they made her blush….but was it truly Chrismas allready? As far as she know it was December 21st not 25ths.But for Nanba Prison North Chrismas starts early it semes : The Past 3 weeks were spend with decorating all Buildings and Floors oft he Prison with glitter,Lights and Cheesy Chrismas decor. In the Mall was even a Chrismas Market with lots of boths Full of snackes sweet and salty, warm or cold and Hot drinks like Coffee with cinnamion and a thing called ‚Kinderpunsch‘ that Supervisor Rosentrum brought over from Germany some kind of sweet hot cheery punch with tea and spices. Basicly every single person here was in a Jolly Hollyday mood! *Ah * she signed ,she never understod whats so special about Christmas. It all looked very Pretty thou like in a Farytale..
*bing* 20th Floor Wardens Office *bing* the robot voice shook dread back to reallty.Stepping outside and down the floor wear that it's end Shins office and with it Shin and a the promiesd cup of Hot chochlate to warm her up. After the long line of security she was there right in front of the office door, as opent it with the key Shin gave her she could hear Chrimas music playing over the sound boxes.
Shin was making the hot chocolate he was talking about. He looked up wehn he heard the door close behind the blonde woman.“Ah Dread you are back! Thanks a lot!“ Shin said walking back to his desk.The tall man was wearing his normal Winter Uniform and instead of his Warden cap, he wore a green-blue Santa hat. Dread found it a bit silly but, she knew how mutch shin loves Christmas (or any Hollyday to be honest). That hat also made Shin look much cuter. As she stepped forwards towards him,Shin raised his hand tos top her :“ Dread, sorry but would you leave your Hood at the wardrobe? It’s all wet from the snow outside. I don‘t want you to get a cold so close to the main event.“ She hesitatetet but followed the ordes and hung the hood on a hook. Ever since the poison took over her body, she was even more angsty about it. Her hood was always with her from the day she becamme a Hitman to now, and it showed.The Hood was ragged, with torn edgers on the ears. It was her shield from the outside world. Luckly she knew with Shin she could be herself.
Shin still stond in front of his Desk but in a manner as if he dont wannt her to See whats on that Desk.She made her way over to him and layed the bag of mini marshmellows on the counter :“ I have to be hornest with you Dread i didnt needed those. „ Dread looked at Him with a questioned experion „ dont get me worng i didnt wannted you to go away so i have my quite. Ist becurse i‘f got a lil something for you and i didn‘t whanted it to get spoiled for you by seeing it to early.“ She blinked .the wihte haired man giggled :“ Now my lil Assistent colse your eyes for me okay ?„ he winked at her also. Dread coud feel how she blushed. He always knew what to say to turn her weak. As soon as she closed her eyes she coud hear something bingen unpaket from paper. Than she heard shins commig closer and standig right in front of her, he smellt like chocolate,mint and office paper all smells she was found of.
Suddly somethig was put on her head. Something soft and warm and that something also was huging her simlier to her Hood. She flinshed a litte „ Oh im sorry did i hurt you?“ she heard „No sir i was just surprised thats all.“ „okay im almost done.“ Shin said. Dread could feel that something like a cord was bond in front of her neck by Shin. : „ So that's it now turn a bit to your left“ Shin helped her turn by guiding her shoulders to the left. „Perfect! Now open your eyes!“
Dread looked in the mirror in front of her : That somethig she feelt on her head was a Long red Cloek it somewhat looked like her Hood it even had the ears of it! It also had a Wihte fluffy fur border going around the edgers , and are these belles on the ears part?Hold in Place by a silky red glitter ribbon tied into a bow under her neck.
The Blonde woman looked at the man Behind her in the mirror.“ Is this truly for me? But why? I dont understand.“ The taller one just smiled .“ Why? Dread, its Chrismas! I dont need a other reason to get you some thing! Not to say but i thourt that your normal Hood would be a bit chilly in these weather even wehn you wear your armor undereath it. And i hoped it would bring you in Hollyday mood! You were so sad the past days that i was truely worried about you.“ He looked worried indeed. „So a lil pre Chrismas eve treat was my idea to cherr you up!“ He moved dircetly behind her, puting his Arms on her shoulders „Your Happieness means the World for me. Only the Best is good inoff.“
His words rung deep within her chest suddnly she feeld tears roll down her face from behind her googels. „Oh No ,no Dread is anything okay ? “ Shin said in a light panic“ Dont you like it i can give it back and get you somethig els! Please dont be sad. Just tell me whats worng.“ „No I Love it! im not crying becours im sad Shin im Crying becours…..Becours….Its the first Time someone gave something on Chrismas that wassent a punch….“ Dread awnserd.
Shin was at first just standig there looking at her but than droped to his knees and hug the smaller one as thigt as he could. „ How could someone ever hit you on a day like this !“ his strong voice shaked as he was crying too „ Didnt you have a Family to Celebrite it with?“
„Well i think i told you a little about my so called Family? Did i?“ Dreads voice had an sad undertone „guess i forget to metion how thery where on the Hollydays.Should i tell you ?“
Shin nooded as he stod back up. The two of tham walked over to the tea table near the windows and Shin pured Dread a big cup of hot chocolate. Taking a sip dread started : „Okay here it goes…“
„As you know i grew up in one of the poorest Nighborhoods in New York. It was only me and my Parents living in a rundown apptment. Niether of my Parents worked.They lifed oft he child support from me. They would either ignoring me completely or beat me up violently for the smallest mistakes , like closnig the door to loud.
Some might think that during the Chrismas time they would at least show some kind of kindess but nope! They would get drunk of the cheap hollyday alcohol and pass out. I remeber that once in elementary school we learnerd that if we wirte a letter to Santa it would come true. So i worte one, i didnt asked for mutch, just for my parents stop drinkig and a winter coat…I leaved it on the window still so i could bring it to the post office in the morrnig. My dad found it and showed it to my mom after they came home from a night of drinking.
They woke me up in the dead of the night pulling my hair and sreaming things like „Do you think you are better than us?“ ,“Ungreatfulbrat! „
After that, they burnt my letter..Other than that one time Christmas was no diffrent from other days. Just wehn school started again and all my classmates would talk about what they get for Christmas and i said „nothing“.
My classmates would laugh at me. So, Chrismas never gave me these warm and cozy feeling it gives others. It never was some thing that feelt like a special day.“
Dread looked up from her cup. Her eyes meet Shin‘s who had tears roll down his cheks.“Dread….“ his voice cracked as he speaked „ im so sorry i didnt know…. Thats horrible!“
Dread simply shrugges „ Well Shin…No way of changing it now..but i wish i could understand what Christmas truly feels like…Like comig back to a loving home and just spent a quiet and peaceful time with pepole you care about and care about you. But i know i will never have that..“ Dread allmost started crying again thinking about a life she would never have.Suddenly she heared a loud crash. She saw Shins cup laying on the floor brocken in a hunrded pices.
„What the …“ she started, as Shin lifed her up in his arms like a bride on her wedding day. Shin looked her deep in the eyes and basically screamed : „ Sofia! Dont you dare say something like this ever again! I personally make sure that you never feel lonely and that every Christmas will be the best day oft he year for you! Do you understand?!“
Dread‘s heart skipped a beat as Shin spoke her name, her true name,with passion in his voice. She nodded as the massiv blush on her face cerpt to her ears.
„ Perfect! Now, let’s go my dear. There is a hole Chrismas market with an ice rank to explore. Later we’ll eat dinner togever.And dont worry, i shall cook for you today.“ Shin explained bevor heading off with Dread in his arms.
„And thats why i go all out for Chrismas!“
An older looking Shin was sitting on a large table in a heavily decoraed room in a rather large, expensiv mansion. In front of him where boxes with lights for the big Chrismas tree in the livingroom.
„Okay Dad but isnt it a bit much though?“ a young girl asked. She was in her early teens with Shin‘s silver hair and her mom‘s blood red eyes (and attiute). She had given up on detangeling the tree onaments in front of her.“I mean, i get why it is so important for you and Mom. But you started getting the decor in Sepbember and planed the dinner weeks before! Also really? New decor every year? And don‘t get me stared with you and persent shopping.“
The older man just gave his daughter a well meanig smile.A boy in his late teens giggeled from the other side oft he room. His chin long blond hair he inherted from his mother was in is't usualy messy state and his ice blue eyes contrasted with his naturally taned skin : „Well, it’s not that you complain about the mountain you get or lil‘sis?“
He ruffeld his sister‘s hair as he walked over to his dad. „ That also explainds why we nerver meet our grandparents on Mom‘s side, right? They‘re not even on the Chrismas Card list. And everyone this family knows is on that one.“
He turned to his father: „i think the rose-gold one would look the best,Dad“ he pointed to the one on the far left. Shin decided he was right and picked it up to be put on the tree. „Well as a matter of fact i tryed to contact your mom‘s parents shortly after we married. But they made clear that they don‘t care. So let that be it.“
The siblings exchanged looks of „No, you go ask if he told Mom that“ between each other. They heard a voice from the dinigroom .“ Shin! Kids! Im home! The cookes are bringing Dinner. So go wash your hands bevor coming to eat..“
„ We commig darling!“ Shin answerd.He truned to his children „ We don‘t wannt to leave your Mother waiting now,do we? „
The two of them stood up, and all three of them walked tot he dinigroom Celebrate Chrismas.