Work Text:
When Musa imagined what her Christmas would be like, being sent to the Andros Specialist Air Base was certainly not in her plans. The royal treasury is suspicious that the Specialists are using the airplanes irresponsibly; the cost reports seem accurate, but fuel costs are high. Andreas, Solaria's Head of Security, said it could be for training purposes, but as it's not an active area of military operations, the Queen didn't accept this justification and ordered an official inspection. The Fairies were put in charge of this investigation and Senator Rosalind quickly appointed her secretary Musa Applebaum as the most qualified for the task. " Sometimes it's hard to be so efficient. ", Musa thought during her flight to Andros.
She was greeted by the lovely Aisha, the youngest mayor in Solaria's history and a very skilled Water Fairy, who gave her information about the overland journey that would need to be made. The base to be investigated is on the edge of Andros, past the sea cliffs and sandbanks of the dunes, leaving the metropolis and entering the isolated Specialist Air Force Base. As she got out of the jeep, her feet found the warm white sand of the beach, and the driver drove off saying that an officer would come to meet her. Musa looks around, the beach is deserted, except for a dark blue Specialist jumpsuit and a pair of military boots next to the rock.
– Strange. – Musa looks at the clothes on the floor. – Could he have drowned?
– No, lady. – A male voice sounded from behind the rock. – I can swim very well.
– Captain Thorp? – Musa's eyes widen when she sees a handsome young man emerge from the water wearing nothing but a pair of printed shorts. He has perfectly defined muscles, coppery hair in a military cut and disconcerting green eyes. " It smells like trouble. " – I'm Musa Applebaum, from the National Corregorate of Solaria.
– I thought you wouldn't be here until nine. – He extends his hand in a firm greeting. – Aren't you overdressed for the beach?
– First of all, it's already nine o'clock. – Musa forces a smile, this man doesn't seem the least bit trustworthy. – Secondly, don't you think you're underdressed for a federal official?
– I got the time wrong. – Captain Thorp flashes a gallant smile. – I'll get dressed and take you to the base.
Musa watched him put on his overalls and boots, then they walked along the beach to a dirt road, where the captain picked up her suitcase and helped her into a jeep. On the way to the base, Musa took out her cell phone and looked up Captain Riven Thorp, acting S-series commander of the 734th Air Mobility Squadron. A cargo pilot for nine years, he graduated from the FRA with honors and a warning for fooling around with the colonel's car and a skunk. " A big troublemaker. Why did they send someone like him to be my guide? ", Musa thought after closing Captain Thorp's file. The radio was used in the meantime and Musa discovered that the Specialists use war names in their communications, so she didn't take long to identify " Claus " as Riven's name.
– Why do they call you Claus ? – Musa can't contain her curiosity.
– I like Christmas. – He shrugged. – Oh, we've reached the lodgings. You'll be staying in a shelter for short-term guests. – Riven parks in front of a small, square-roofed chalet. – You must have flown all night, do you want to rest? We can start tomorrow.
– No, we'll start in thirty minutes. – Musa can't waste any time, she's only staying for five days and there's so much to see. – I just need to change my shoes and answer a few emails.
– As you wish. – Riven gives her the key to the chalet and puts her suitcase in the living room. – I'm going to change, I'll see you in thirty minutes.
Musa didn't answer, she just waved her hand and looked inside her bag for her laptop. There were a lot of messages from Rosalind and almost all of them said " Don't let anyone know about your power and find out what they're up to. " There were also some messages from her father and Flora, her best friend and work colleague. She answered them all, checked the list of facilities to be visited and packed her bag, then changed her high heels for sneakers and left the chalet when she heard the engine of Riven's jeep.
》》》🎄《《《
After a completely unproductive day, Musa was sure that Riven was hiding something. He took her to various places, but there were always broken elevators or huge files that hadn't been scanned, by the end of the day she had blisters on her feet and her bed was sunk in piles of paper. It was frustrating, but she realized that all the weird trails and long paths were avoiding the hangar. Musa also realized that there was no point in being direct with Riven, who always has a sharp answer and a beautiful mischievous smile on his lips, which combined with his green eyes makes anyone give in to his charms. " No, I have to play his game. ", she thought as she put on a pair of sneakers and packed her backpack, because this place was definitely not made for high heels and designer handbags.
She had a plan that consisted of welcoming Riven with a broad smile and pretending to give in to his invitation to visit the beaches. His ego and arrogance made him believe every word and flash a crooked, mischievous smile. The beaches really are beautiful and if she wasn't on official business she would certainly take a dip, but it was just a distraction. She told Riven she'd get her cell phone from the car to take a picture and left him standing on the beach with his bare feet in the water, started the jeep and drove off in the direction of the main road, where the signs indicated the air force hangar. Her ears picked up his screams as he realized he had been tricked and her eyes could hardly believe what she found when she arrived at the hangar. " Food, medicine, books, hygiene products and lots of decorations. Are those Christmas hampers? ", she observed as she hid behind the huge wooden boxes used to ship supplies.
– Captain? – A blond-haired, blue-eyed Specialist is surprised to see Riven enter the hangar sweaty and looking for a radio. – What are you doing here? Where's your shadow?
– She's a bit rebellious, but I'll manage. – Riven finds the radio and tunes it in. – Claus to Nebula Tower, are you keeping an eye on Pixie?
" Cloud Tower to Claus. Pixie was last seen in Air Mobility, hangar three. ", came the radio reply and Riven cursed the worst swear word he knew. When she heard her codename, Musa's face reddened and her blood heated up. She could no longer hide and came out from behind the box with anger flashing in her black eyes.
– Pixie? – She says out loud with obvious notes of indignation. – Like the little fairies who help Santa?
– I told you the Grinch was a better match. – Murmurs the blond Specialist.
– Musa, how did you get here? – Riven tries to keep a smile on his face, but it's hard to hide his displeasure.
– I left my cell phone in your jeep and tracked you here. – Musa crosses her arms in a proud defensive posture. – I figured you'd go to the last place you'd want me to see.
– Wow, she's good. – Says a curly hair specialist.
– So, Specialist Air Force base or Santa's village?
– I can explain. – Riven seems really disarmed for the first time.
– You can start by explaining what's going on in Crystal Bay, where instead of survival training I found Christmas decorations. – Musa sees Riven and the other Specialists looking at each other with concern. – It's time to put the Christmas cards on the table.
– Okay, what you saw in Crystal Bay is for the charity party on Saturday night. – Riven points to the dozens of boxes scattered around the hangar. – And it's all part of the Operation Christmas Present.
– And what would that be? – Musa frowns, she really wasn't expecting that.
– It's been a tradition for almost 50 years. We deliver medicine, food, toys and other presents to the people of the Desolate Islands.
– The Desolate Isles? – Musa's eyes widened in amazement. – These islands were sanctioned in the Pact of Light, they can't trade with the mainland.
– That's the problem! – Riven raises his voice. – They are old people, women and children who don't have access to health and education.
– The Desolate Isles supported the Blood Witches in the Magic War!
– That was almost a century ago! – He shouts and gestures his hands frantically. – Gods, the people who live there don't even know what happened back then! It's not their fault what their ancestors did!
– It's a very noble point of view, but you can't use public money to bring supplies to sanctioned islands. – Musa is distressed, she was prepared to find a money laundering scheme and not a humanitarian mission. – It's against the law.
– But taxpayers don't pay a penny! It's all donations.
– What about the Specialist force needed? – Musa looks at the Specialists who carry the boxes to the ships. – And the cost of fuel, the wear and tear on the aeroplanes...
– We work on the mission on our time off and our base needs to carry out low-altitude training, Specialists from all over Solaria come for this and this mission is perfect.
– And why isn't that in the reports?
– General Silva records all the training sessions, only not specifying our route for obvious reasons.
– Look, I'm really surprised. – Musa lets out a long sigh and runs a hand through her long black hair. – It's a good cause and good training, but apart from the costs, I don't see how it helps the base function or how I can explain it in my report.
– For most of these Specialists, like Sky and Kat you've just met, this is their first Christmas away from home. – Riven lowers his voice and looks at Musa with an almost pleading look shining in his green eyes. – So they feel they are doing something important, this mission also helps our mental health.
– I promise I'll put it in my report. – Musa says sincerely. – But I can't take it easy on you because you're a good speaker and have a nice smile.
– Do you admit I have a nice smile? – Riven purses his lips in an almost malicious smile. Musa just rolls her eyes in response and tries to hide the blush spreading across her cheeks. – We're a family here, Musa. What you say could lead to the base being closed down.
– I don't make the decisions, Captain Thorp.
– But your report could make a difference. – Riven faces her with determination. – You have three more days, let me show you what we really do here and you can write whatever you want in your report.
– I think I understand why the general chose you as my guide. – Musa lets out a smile.
– He explicitly said that I was the only one who could strike a bargain with the Magix bureaucrat. – Riven extends his hand towards Musa. – Did I?
– You have two days, Captain Thorp. – Musa shakes his hand firmly. – On the last day I'll write my report and leave.
》》》🎄《《《
Over the next few days, Riven took Musa everywhere as if she were his little keychain, calling her Pixie and filling her with Christmas goodies. Spending so much time together and with so many activities, two things happened to Musa. Firstly, she was completely won over by Andros, the base and the Desolate Isles. The Specialists are efficient, the locals are welcoming and the islanders are very kind. Musa helped load the crates, was a passenger on the airplanes, visited the nearby islands, decorated the palm trees with Christmas decorations and made one of the biggest donations at the charity event.
Secondly, she was completely won over by Riven. At first she thought he was just a cynical, flirtatious Specialist, but she realized that his smiles weren't entirely fake and that his green eyes never strayed from her. Yes, he's charming, kind and honest. She can't be wrong about that, the reason she was sent to Andros is because she minds magic works like a lie detector. Riven has a good heart and really wants to help the people of the Desolate Isles, but there is a touch of sadness in him that makes her very curious. Musa has realized that her last day in Andros has come and she doesn't feel like leaving, she wants to take part in the Operation Christmas Present and she wants to do it alongside Riven.
It was this thought that brought her to Riven's lodgings on Sunday evening. She put on the comfortable white overalls she'd gotten from Kat, the soft boots she'd love to be able to wear in Magix and let her long black hair down over her shoulders, swaying in the sea breeze. The door to Riven's cottage is open, cheerful Christmas music is playing and there's a strange smell of instant noodles in the air.
– Is this your Christmas dinner? – Musa smiles when he sees Riven sitting on the floor in front of the television and eating a Cup Noodles.
– I can't cook. – Riven gives her a genuine smile, but that touch of sadness is still there. – Shouldn't you be having dinner at the general's house?
– I said I needed to work on my report, which is not a lie. – Musa looks around and doesn't see a single piece of furniture, just boxes of donations and a pine tree without any decorations. – It's a lot less Christmassy here than I expected for someone codenamed "Claus".
– Christmas dinner and decorating trees is something we do as a family, it would be strange to do it all just for me. – Riven tries to keep smiling, but Musa finally figures out where the sadness lies.
– You don't have family. – She whispers unconsciously.
– How do you know? – Riven frowns.
– I shouldn't tell you this, but I'm a Mind Fairy.
– Ah, now it makes sense that they sent you.
– I would know if someone was lying or hiding something.
– Well, all is revealed now. – Riven stares at the television. – I imagine your report is ready and you've come to say goodbye.
– Yes, my report is ready. – Musa approaches and crouches down next to Riven. – No, I'm not going to say goodbye.
– What do you mean? – Riven still avoids looking at her, he's embarrassed to have his feelings exposed.
– I want to take part in the Operation Christmas Present. – Musa sighs with relief as she feels the happiness flicker inside Riven. – And I'd love to help decorate your pine tree while we eat Cup Noodles.
– Acting like a real Pixie. – Riven flashes a genuine smile again. – Why are you so keen to decorate that pine tree?
– It was my favorite Christmas activity. – Musa finally has the attention of Riven's eyes again. – My family would get together to sing carols and my mother's voice was the loudest of them all, my father would make hot cider, gingerbread cookies and the best supper in the Magic Dimension, and I would decorate the pine tree.
– Is that why you were so angry when you found out that we only had coconut trees here? – Riven laughs at Musa's positive nod. – At least we got some, didn't we? But why do you talk about it in the past tense? What has changed?
– My mother died two years ago and my father remarried. – Musa sniffles to disguise her lowered voice. – My stepmother is a really lovely woman and she treats me very well. She's just not... well, she...
– She's not your mother. – Riven gently touches her hand. – You know, when I came to Andros I learned that we can always create new Christmas traditions.
– How do you decorate coconut trees, make coconut snow and dive in the reefs?
– You loved the Christmas dive. – Riven gives him an accusing look. – It was something new and fun.
– Just like decorating a pine tree while eating instant noodles. – It's Musa's turn to flash a genuine smile and it has an effect on Riven, there's a warm feeling forming inside him, as well as in her own heart. – Come on, you're Claus!
– And you're my sidekick Pixie. – Riven laughs and gets up. – The boxes of decorations are in that pile by the fireplace, I'll put some water on and come and help you.
– There are no gold stars. – Musa realizes as she spreads the ornaments out on the floor to separate them. – But we can use one of those starfish we found in Crystal Bay.
– That's what I call adaptation. – Riven comes out of the kitchen with a stool in his hands. – To help you with the higher decorations, Pixie.
– Thank you, Claus.
When her eyes meet Riven's, Musa is sure that the Desolate Isles aren't the only ones to receive Christmas presents from Specialized Aeronautics this year.