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Enzan loosened the tie around his neck with a groan, barely making it back into his office before tossing it against the nearest wall. Seven PM was too late for meetings, but multiple time zones meant adapting, and this just couldn’t wait until tomorrow morning. The sun having already set made Enzan more bitter about the whole ordeal- couldn’t even escape the office to see the sun outside of the windows of his office.
Grumpy, he slunk to his chair and plopped down. A glance out the tall windows reflected the snow falling against the window and melting down it in small rivulets. It was the first- second?- snow. It had waited long enough, what with it only being a few days out from Christmas.
Right- end of the year deadlines. Enzan dragged his attention from the window and back to his PC. “What’s next,” he asked, though it sounded less like a question and more like a command. He didn’t mean for it to be. He was just dreading whatever was next on his laundry-list of to-do-
“Nothing, sir. Your agenda is empty.”
Enzan paused, raising his fingers from the keyboard. He settled them back down, then raised them again in question. “Nothing.”
“Yessir.” Blues’s image on the monitor gave a curt nod. ”You have no other items…for the remainder of the holiday.”
“The holiday I’ve worked through for the last-” he paused, glanced at the date- “four years.”
”Yessir.” Blues’s expression didn’t change, even though this was strange. It made Enzan suspicious. Had Blues modified his schedule since the last meeting? He swore there was a deadline for an earnings report tomorrow, and he had to be on call over-
”I have ideas of how to spend the time. If you need them.”
Enzan folded his arms, leaning back in his chair. He leveled his stare at Blues. It was growing obvious Blues had done something to his schedule, but he had no means to check or prove it.
And did he really want to?
“Well,” Enzan stretched as he spoke, “seeing as how I’ve never celebrated this holiday on my own, I suppose I do need your ideas.”
Both of them knew Enzan wasn’t stupid. He knew what you did during a holiday.
But he could indulge. And for Blues, he would indulge quite a bit.
”The first item is ice skating, sir.”
Enzan wasn't sure about this idea. He was certain of his ability to do it, but the idea of doing it so publicly was another story. He didn't want to get recognized, and have to deal with the idea of people trying to bother him while he was trying- key word being trying- to enjoy his holiday. Of course, though, Blues had the solution ready.
”I had the Ijuuin pond prepared for skating for this purpose, sir.”
That gave credence to Enzan’s running theory that Blues had planned this in advance. Blues quickly added, ”It was for a publicity event that fell through, sir.”
Enzan sighed, but couldn't help a smile. He was pulling on ice skates, his PET strapped to his shoulder. He’d done this once or twice before, but never like this- wobbling to his feet, he held onto the door to the outdoor shed to keep his balance. Blues appeared on his shoulder as a hologram. ”If you need aid, there is a copyroid nearby. In the other storage shed.”
“I think I remember,” Enzan scoffed, all confidence. He pushed the door open, and took pause.
There were lights adorning the edges of the pond. They twinkled softly, illuminating the space, instead of the spotlights that usually were over the pond at night. Enzan stared for longer than he really should have.
Blues did all of this? There was no one else who came to mind.
”Is everything alright?”
“Y-Yes. Yes, Blues. Did you-?”
”…For the function, yes.” Blues did not look at Enzan when he responded. ”It was requested. To look good for a photoshoot.”
“Right.”
Enzan was smiling as he ambled to the frozen lake. He listened to Blues report that it was adequate for skating on, taking a small test step. It held his weight- satisfied, he pushed off, and took a slow glide around the pond. They spoke quietly as Enzan made his way around the pond, discussing their next plans.
Blues knew this plan was working- Enzan didn’t stop smiling the entire time. It wasn’t as if he was that dedicated to ice skating, but he was dedicated to spending time with his navi. This was as good an option as any. Excellent. He would have to send his regards to Roll, for the idea.
”If you would like, sir,” Blues piped up as Enzan made a slow turn, ”There is a lights show downtown. You could go and look at the lights.”
“Is that what you do around this time of year?” Enzan asked, though he knew the answer. He wasn't that much of a shut-in. He just was imploring Blues to talk more.
”Some do. You are free to do as you please.”
“Do you want to see them?”
Blues didn't respond for a while. He was somewhat shocked Enzan had asked. Not that Enzan didn't value his opinion or needs, but what would a navi want to see lights for? There could be the most spectacular displays in the net, what could possibly match that in the real world-
“Shit-” Enzan hit a slick patch of ice, his right foot losing balance under him. He reached for the railing around the edge, but he was just a bit out of range-
He gasped as his body moved without prompting- the familiar feeling of synchro like a fire inside of his chest. Blues couldn’t save Enzan from falling, but at least he could prevent him from fully cracking his head against the ice. His elbow was going to definitely get a nasty bruise, though, as he slammed against the pond with a heavy thunk.
The light from Enzan’s eyes gradually dissipated. He groaned with the feeling of pain that Blues was holding back spreading up his arm. ”Are you alright, sir?”
“Yes,” Enzan said automatically. He grumbled, slowly pushing himself up to get off of the ice. A twinge of “I think I’ll have to pass on lights, though, damnit-”
”It is alright. There is plenty of time, sir. Shall I call for your ride home-?”
Enzan flexed his shoulder and bit back a noise. “Yeah. Damnit.”
Enzan was truly disappointed that they had to cut the time shorter than expected. He observed the bruises starting to blossom down his arm from such a hard fall in the mirror, thankful that Blues had protected his head.
He grabbed the loose shirt he’d brought with him to the bathroom and threw it over his head, rolling his shoulders to get the residual pain out. He flopped down on his couch, and scooped up the PET. “You planned all of this out, didn’t you?”
Blues’s expression didn’t change. Maybe, just maybe a smile was tugging at the corners of his mouth. ”I think it is what they call a Christmas miracle that your schedule cleared, sir.”
Enzan rolled his eyes. “Alright then, what do you have in mind now?”
”People watch movies around this time of year. And drink warm beverages.”
“I could go for a coffee…”
Blues did smile at that. He disappeared from the screen, and Enzan heard the heavy footfalls of the copyroid coming to life. He allowed himself the moment to relax, knowing Blues found joy in the work of taking care of these sorts of needs.
A moment later, he was holding a warm mug, and a blanket in his other arm. He took a sip of it, and frowned. “This isn’t coffee.”
“It’s ‘hot chocolate’.” Blues made quotes in the air as he said it. “Though it is mostly milk. It is festive.”
Enzan still frowned, but he didn’t ask for coffee instead. He spread the blanket over his legs. “What movies do you have in mind?”
Enzan’s hand patted the spot next to him. Blues blinked down at it. Slowly, he joined the space next to Enzan on the couch. “There is an old Netopian movie that…was…recommended to me.”
Enzan leaned on Blues’s side. “Sure,” he murmured. A warm drink, warm blanket, and warm netnavi were combining to make him excessively tired. He wasn’t sure he’d survive much of the movie. Blues put it on anyway, committed to his plans.
And Enzan’s guess was right. He was dozing off quickly, weight of the day’s activities making his eyelids droop. (The movie wasn’t all that interesting to Enzan, either.)
Blues gently grabbed the cup of hot chocolate, halfway finished, before Enzan could drop it in his lap. He reached to set it down on the coffee table-
He was stopped by Enzan, who gripped onto his arm with a grumble to stay put. Blues slowly relaxed back, holding the mug in his hand. This time, he did allow himself a smile.
“Merry Christmas, sir,” he said softly, as Enzan began to snore.