Work Text:
Calliope Mori huddles in her coat as a cold wind swept across the city.
Why do I have to do work on such a cold night?
Calli had the day off as not many people die on Christmas and Death-sensei could usually get by with a few assistants. Today, however, was different as more than a thousand people had died in Asia alone and Death-sensei's team was severely understaffed, so in a desperate measure he had called out all his apprentices, even his first apprentice Calliope Mori.
Calli wasn't exactly happy about it as she usually took more time off during winter and avoided doing jobs in cold places because she couldn't handle the cold well, but today was just another bad one for her.
She had already taken care of more than 50 jobs today but there were still a few more left before she could call it a day. She made her way around the block and found herself at a plaza. The plaza was wide and was warmly lit with lights that made one feel comfy inside. In the centre of the plaza stood a tall Christmas tree. Many chic cafes, restruants and boutiques lined the circular plaza. It looked like a popular place for high school and university students but today it was choc full of young couples laughing, walking hand-in-hand and enjoying themselves. There seemed to be a world of difference between where Calli was standing and where the others were enjoying their Christmas.
It looks like a good place to grab a bite but I guess that isn't happening anymore..
Calli turned her back on the warm scene and retraced her steps to the city centre. She glanced back a few times and caught glimpse of two girls kissing passionately behind a lamp post.
Geez, get a room...
Calli hastened down the road and tried to erase the image from her head, but came to a stop when she realized something.
Wait, doesn't she live somewhere around here?
Just as this thought crossed her mind, her human phone started ringing. She quickly took it out and picked it up without checking who it was.
"Heyyy Calli!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas! Where are you right now?" said the caller, very excitedly.
Calli was taken aback by the sudden entourage that came her way but she quickly recovered when she realized who it was.
"Shut up Kusotori! Haven't I told you before not to call me when I'm working?" replied Calli
"Awww, didn't you want to see me though? I know you were thinking about me!" said the ever-peppy Kiara
"D-don't get it twisted Kusotori! I did no such thing!" said Calli frantically, she could feel her face getting warmer.
There was a moment of silence.
"Aww, no need to be shy," Kiara then replied in a teasing tone,"anyway, where are you right now?"
"I'm in your city right now."
"See, you were missing me! You came all the way out to my city!"
"No I'm not! I'm just here for work!" said Calli, her voice was getting louder and her face redder.
"Would you like to come to my place to have some dinner maybe?"
"Thanks for the offer but, I'm not hun—" began Calli before she was rudely interrupted by the rumbling of her stomach.
"Oh you shouldn't lie Calli!" said Kiara, "I'll have the dinner ready soon, you know the place"
Calli began to protest but resigned herself to her fate. A small part of her wanted this to happen but she hated to admit it.
"Fine, I'll be there in 20 minutes" replied Calli
Calli hung up the phone before Kiara could try anything else. It would only take her a few seconds to get there if she used her powers but decided against it.
Death-sensei still doesn't know about Kiara, I don't want him to figure it out without me telling him
Death-sensei could detect when and where any of the apprentices use their powers. This was to ensure that the reapers' powers aren't misused.
Calli made her way down the deserted roads, the sound of cheer and laughter leaked out from the townhouses nearby. Calli used to envy the humans and how they could celebrate such superficial things as their birth anniversaries. But when she met Kiara she understood why they did what they did. They just wanted to fill their short lives with happy memories.
Calli had met Kiara a few hundred years ago, she had met and befriended a cheeky young girl, right when she was at her loneliest. Those around her discouraged her from befriending a human, because their death brings too much pain to the heart of an immortal being. But Kiara was different, she was a phoenix, no matter how many times she dies she would be reborn in a different form. This had helped her largely avoid the pain her seniors and relatives had gone through when they inevitably befriended or fell in love with humans, and suffered the pain of their deaths.
Soon, Calli stood in front of a simple townhouse, the entrance showed two nameplates with room numbers and names. Kiara's apartment was on the first floor. She made her way up the metal stairs to the side and stood in front of her apartment door. She took a deep breath and knocked.
On the other side, she heard some hurried footsteps, a shriek and a huge thud.
This idiot....
The door soon opened and Kiara peeked her head out with a smile as if she hadn't taken a huge fall a few seconds ago.
"Hey Calli, come on in" greeted Kiara
Calli stepped inside the apartment. It wasn't too big or too small, just the write size for a single person. There was a small kitchen attached to the living space and a single bedroom on the other side of the door. The living room was decorated quite well, with a TV and sofa set taking the centre stage.
On the table that probably served as the dining table, sat a spread of holiday food. A roast turkey stood in the centre with mashed potatoes and bread bringing up the rear gaurd. There was even a bottle of wine which was surprising as Kiara doesn't drink alcohol.
Man. she went all out didn't she...
"How were you able to roast a damn turkey in 20 minutes?" asked Calli
"About that..." began Kiara with a short giggle,"I actually ordered the turkey and wine because I wanted us to have a proper meal!"
"You didn't have to go that far..." said Calli with a sign
"But its Christmas!" said Kiara with some new found energy
Calli resigned herself, took off her coat and hung it up on the coat rack. Kiara went and sat at the dinner table, the whole while her face seemed a bit flushed.
Don't make it weird, Kusotori
Fortunately for Calli, nothing weird happened while they had dinner. She couldn't comprehend what would've happened if Kiara had try to pull something on her right then. They exchanged lighthearted banter and talked about what they'd been up to since they last met.
"You know," began Calli "I missed you..."
Kiara was stunned and her face immediately turned a deep red but she recovered quicker this time.
She's getting better at this...
"I missed you too" she said simply, a beautiful smile decorating her face.
After they ate their dinner clean, they huddled in front of the TV and watched Shrek together.
By the end of the movie, it was about ten at night and Calli had had quite a bit to drink. She wasn't completely wasted but letting her go back now was sure to cause some trouble.
"Hey Calli," Kiara began when she saw this opportunity "it's gotten quite late, why don't you stay the night?"
"Hmm?" Calli seemed confused at first but immediately snapped back "No no no, I've already overstayed my welcome, I also have to report back to Death-sensei!"
"It's fine, it's fine," Kiara calmed her down,"I don't mind you staying with me, also you can just call Death-sensei and report to him"
"Oh yeah, I can do that." saying this Calli stepped out to make a call to Death-sensei
"After all, I felt so lonely without you Calli..." whispered Kiara.