Archive of Our Own

‘Alright everyone, now don’t mess this up! Draw the name, keep it folded, and once we all have one, we’ll open them.’ 

Anju hoisted up the pointy red hat that they’d each thrown a crumpled piece of paper in, scribbled with their name. She shook it a bit, jostling the slips around so that the selection process was as random as possible. Turning to Raiden, who was closest to her, she extended her arms and offered him the hat.

‘Oh, and this goes without saying, but don’t say the name of your person out loud.’

‘Ma’am!’ The group in front of her cheered happily. 

It was two weeks before the Holy Birth celebration and the 1st Armored Division, which was the regiment that Lena and the rest served under, was on a long awaited leave. Ernst had suggested they all spend the Eve together, volunteering his home as a venue, and Anju offered up the idea of a surprise gift exchange. For this reason and for the sake of organization, they’d all decided to meet up at a cafe in Sankt Jeder’s downtown to pick names. 

The friends chattered as Anju went around, presenting each of them the hat. They hurriedly dug through its contents and plucked a piece of paper without wasting any time- they were eager to discover who they were shopping for. Frederica, in her haste, almost knocked over Kurena’s paper cup of hot chocolate, her elbow tipping the drink over the side of the table and towards Lena. Like the mother hen he was, Raiden’s watchful eye allowed him to catch the cup before it fully spilled on Lena, exchanging a sugary mess for a few brown splotches on her light blue blouse. Both he and Kurena, who had almost lost her drink, turned menacingly towards Frederica. As if they were one unit, they pounced on the girl and scolded her, tugging at her plush, youthful cheeks as a deserved consequence.

While the small girl was being reprimanded, Lena fretted over her blouse. She didn’t mind Frederica’s mistake, of course, as it was just an accident. She was, however, slightly disappointed about the spoiling of her shirt. It was such a nice color… now, though, it was hard for her to tear her eyes away from the dark discoloration decorating her front. The liquid was also served as a heated beverage, meaning it was uncomfortably hot against her skin. Lena scrambled for a napkin, coming to the dismal conclusion that she had forgotten to grab one. 

Shin, noticing her plight, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gently offered it to her from across the table. Lena’s eyes lit up at his gesture and she smiled warmly, taking the cloth from his hands and dabbing at the stains of her shirt. Shin did not return her smile, his face retaining its typical serene expression, but when she mouthed a silent ‘thank you’ to him, he nodded softly. 

After the dilemma had been resolved and Frederica’s cheeks were sufficiently sore, Anju returned to her seat next to Shin, who had been the last to select a name from the hat. Anju pulled the final name out, which was automatically relegated to her, and smiled widely to everyone.

‘It’s fair game now! Read your name!’

Each of the teenagers assembled rushed to reveal the person they would be gifting. Lena gingerly placed the handkerchief to the table, reminding herself to wash it and return it to Shin.

Speaking of him…

Lena didn’t necessarily have a preference as to what name she drew, seeing as she would be happy to purchase a gift for any of them. Each person before her was a precious friend with their own set of unique traits and interests that would make shopping for them exciting. That being said…

…She had to admit to herself that the prospect of going out to buy a present for Shin made her giddier than it should’ve. 

As she unfurled her own slip of paper, Lena watched the expressions of her comrades around her. Most of them maintained perfectly composed poker faces, not revealing their opinions about the person they selected. The exceptions, namely being Kurena and Frederica, displayed a myriad of emotions upon reading the name on their slip. 

Lena finished unrolling the paper she’d chosen, and her breath caught in her throat.

Scribbled in the neat yet somewhat stiff handwriting of a boy his age was the name that she’d secretly hoped for, despite not knowing that fact herself.

Shin.

Lena’s eyes subconsciously drifted up from her hands to his face, surprised to find his red gaze already on her. Their eyes both widened in surprise, and Shin quickly looked away. Lena glanced at the slip of paper he held gingerly in his palm, the pure white paper looking oddly small and out of place next to his sunkissed, calloused fingers. She returned her eyes to Shin’s profile, but he was still avoiding her gaze, instead raising a concerned eyebrow at an anger-flushed Frederica.   

The girl shook in her seat, as if trying to restrain an outburst, but seemed to give in. Slamming her paper onto the table and rising to her feet, she lifted two clenched fists into the air and shouted indignantly:

‘I absolutely refuse to accept this; I demand we redraw names at once! Raiden is utterly impossible to shop for and is impudent at that, and he won’t even appreciate what I give him, so-’

‘Frederica!!’ everyone yelled. Some brought exasperated palms to their foreheads or hung their heads in vexation in response to the girl’s petulance. Raiden and Kurena returned to their earlier duty of pinching her cheeks. 

Lena laughed at the heartwarming (?) display, turning a blind eye to Frederica’s desperate calls for help. She looked down at the paper in her hands, happy and relieved that she got the person she was most eager to shop for. Suddenly, though, a disheartening realization sent a chill down her spine. 

Anju sighed deeply, and as if she were reading Lena’s mind, said, ‘Well, I guess this means we really will have to pick new names if we want this to be a complete mystery. Thanks for that, Frederica.’ The only response she got was a shrill cry as the young girl resisted her tormentors.  ‘Ok, everyone fold your papers and put them back in the hat. We’re only repeating this once, though, so keep your mouths shut!’

‘Ma’am,’ the group answered her, this time less enthusiastically. 

As the names were returned to the hat, Lena looked down at the one in her hands. Saddened, she reached over to drop it back in, knowing it was unlikely she’d be lucky enough to draw it a second time. Allowing herself one small huff of frustration, she pouted for only a second. Then, to calm herself, she looked up to watch Shin’s serene face as he also returned his name to the hat. What she found, however, was not his usual neutral expression. He let go of his slip of paper slowly, as if he was unwilling to give it back. Accompanying this strange gesture was his expression, which looked slightly… peeved. 

The name finally fell from his fingers and dropped into the dark abyss of the hat, and Shin reclined back in his chair, his placid features returning smoothly. Lena quickly looked away from his face, worried he might catch her staring, and fiddled with the corner of his handkerchief.

‘Just who,’ she wondered aloud, her wistful voice drowned out by the hustle and bustle of her noisy friends, ‘did you pick?’  

Raiden and the others heard the pleasant ringing of the doorbell as they finished hanging up lights. Teresa, as diligent as she was, simply could not reach some of the higher places where the vibrant glass bulbs needed to go, so she recruited the unoccupied teenagers to help out. 

Theo jumped up like a cat who had spotted a bird, and almost toppled off of the stool he was standing on. Raiden, who stood across from him (without a stool) hissed in annoyance as the string of lights they were hanging almost plummeted. 

‘I’ll get it!’ the Jade boy exclaimed, scrambling across the gathering space and out to the hallway. His friends looked at one another curiously, each of them wondering who might be behind the door and why that person had caused Theo such a reaction. Deciding to quell their interest, they returned their focus to the vibrant light fixtures they were almost finished setting up. The room twinkled merrily, the colorful bulbs adorning the fireplace mantle and various other spots on the wall where Teresa had directed them to secure the lights. 

The group heard a disappointed grunt in the entryway, followed by the shuddering of a slamming door and dragging footsteps down the hallway. Theo reappeared, Dustin now in tow, and grumpily flopped onto the couch. 

‘Oh,’ Kurena said dismissively, ‘it’s just you.’

Dustin’s eyebrow twitched as he regarded his friends. ‘Just me?’ he said, hurt. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ 

‘Oh, nothing,’ Anju said sweetly, naturally sliding into the role of mediator. ‘You’re pretty tall, Dustin, so would you mind helping Raiden finish hanging that?’ She smiled kindly, and Dustin went a little red in the face.

‘Oh! Well, uh, okay then!’ He quickly clambered over to the pile of gifts that had accumulated since the cafe meeting two weeks ago and placed his wrapped parcel at the base. He then joined Raiden by the windows, where together they finished hanging a line of lights above the curtains. 

Frederica entered at some point, examining the mountain of presents with wide eyes and a devilish smile. She poked and prodded it, even going as far as putting her ear against some of the boxes, as if the gifts inside would make any noise. She stopped when she noticed the teenagers staring at her, their incredulous expressions making her realize how childish she appeared. She stiffly turned towards the couch, throwing herself onto the cushions. When Theo, who had sat up by now and was watching festive commercials on the television, noticed the faint glow of her irises, he grabbed both of her shoulders and shook her out of her ‘trance.’

‘Hey, stop that you imp! You’ll ruin everything, again!’ He wrestled with the squirming girl, who tried and failed to push him away. ‘Guys, Frederica’s trying to peek at our presents with her vision. Someone, come handle her!’ 

Conveniently, Teresa was entering the gathering space at that very moment to deliver a platter of holiday themed cookies and warm cups of coffee and tea. When she noticed Theo’s predicament, she called to Frederica and beckoned her to come over. The little girl obliged and ran to the kind woman like a bee to honey, crying all the while about how mean the older kids were. Stroking her hair, the caretaker guided Frederica out of the living room with promises of fruit cake and juice in the kitchen. Before they left, Teresa looked over her shoulder and winked at Theo, who nodded in appreciation.

Having finished stringing a garland around the staircase banister, Shin was drawn into the living room by the wafting aroma of the coffee Teresa had brought in. He sat next to Theo on the sofa, enjoying the warmth of the mug in his hands and the mindless chatter of his friends. The room in which they’d gathered was always quite warm, seeing as Ernst preferred to keep the fireplace lit, and yet today it felt especially cozy. Perhaps it was the buzzing of the teenagers, excited for their holiday party, or the fragrant smell of spices flooding the room from the scented candles on the coffee table. Maybe it was the ambient noise the television contributed, showing people at village festivals and other celebrations. Each face that was projected was filled with merriment and the background music of the broadcast, a seasonal jazz tune, was pleasant to Shin’s ears. 

Or, perhaps the night’s undeniable cheer came from the small weight hidden inside his sweater’s pocket, right over his heart. A part of him worried he wouldn’t find the right time to reveal the little secret he was keeping, and yet that nervous energy was simultaneously quite thrilling. 

‘Hey Shin, do you think that spot right there looks kinda empty?’ Theo’s question pulled him out of his thoughts, and he directed his gaze where the blonde boy nodded. ‘Y’see the top of the fireplace? I think some of those little animal carvings Teresa was talking about would look good there. Mind helping me get them?’ 

Shin recalled the figurines that the caretaker had talked about, but he forgot where they were. He was disheartened by the idea of leaving his comfortable place on the couch.

‘Can’t you get them yourself?’ he asked quietly, but Theo heard him and lightly punched his arm.

‘They’re on the top shelf in the closet by the stairs, and I’d rather not have the whole box come tumbling onto me. Just lift it out for me and I’ll find them.’ 

Shin nodded reluctantly, mumbling a terse ‘Fine,’ and arose from the cream colored cushions. He and Theo shuffled out of the living room and into the hallway, though they didn’t make it to the closet before the doorbell rang again. 

For a second time, Theo bolted towards the door, passing Shin and racing the extent of the hallway. He threw the bolt, undid the latch, and swung the door open to reveal…

a surprised Lena, the tips of her ears and nose flushed from the cold. 

‘Oh,’ Theo grumbled, once again disappointed. ‘It’s just you.’ 

Lena raised her eyes in concern. ‘Just me?’ she asked, looking hurt. ‘What does that mean?’

‘Whatever, forget about it,’ Theo said dismissively, waving his hand as if to brush off her concerns. ‘Welcome in. Shin, take her coat n’ stuff.’ 

Lena peeked her head around Theo’s shoulder and spotted Shin down the hallway. She smiled gently and lifted a hand in greeting.

‘Hi, Shin,’ she called to him.

He nodded awkwardly back at her. 

Theo shuffled out of the entryway and returned to the living room, seemingly having forgotten about the animal figurines he’d wanted to locate. The audible slump sound from the couch probably meant he’d returned to his previous position as the lump on the log. 

Shin approached Lena slowly, his footsteps inaudible on the smooth floorboards. She shut the door and kicked off some of the snow from her boots, rubbing her hands together all the while. 

‘It’s pretty cold out there, especially when you’re walking. I had to keep telling myself that the Kingdom’s climate was far worse, but I think I just barely made it.’ She undid the buttons of her trench coat, slipping the thick material down her shoulders. Shin appeared behind her like a shadow, reaching over to lift the jacket off of her. As he was pulling it from her frame, the back of his hand accidentally brushed a sliver of skin on her neck. It was freezing cold, proof of the weather outside.

‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ they both apologized, flinching simultaneously. An awkward pause followed, as they just stared at each other in shock. Lena broke the silence when a small giggle left her rosy lips. She stepped away from Shin, allowing her to fully shed the coat, which he now held in his arms. 

‘Um,’ he started, searching for words to broach a conversation, ‘you walked here?’ He turned away from her, flipping her coat over in his hands so he could hang it on the hooks.  

‘Yes, that’s right,’ Lena answered him. Behind his back where Shin couldn’t see her, she was adjusting her blouse and smoothing over any unruly strands of hair. She was glad for the cold, as the natural flush that came from being outside hid the fiery blaze threatening to capture her cheeks.

After all, his hand had been so warm and… so close.

‘I intended to pick Annette up along the way, but she sent a message over the phone saying that she came down with a sudden fever and was in an infirmary. I offered to stop by, but she told me to enjoy the party. When I looked up from my phone,’ Lena said, her voice taking an embarrassed tone, ‘I realized there were no public transportation stops around. So, I had to walk.’

‘I see,’ Shin replied understandingly. He lifted her coat to the hook, situating it so that it was secure. The violet fragrance she always wore wafted down to him, and a strange feeling planted itself in his mind upon hearing of her journey. It was an unpleasant emotion, something that coiled around itself and tightened its hold on his heart.

The thought of Lena walking in the cold, her only armor against the biting chill of the wind being that single coat wrapped around her body, sort of irritated him. And more than that…

Imagining her alone, walking the streets in solitude, sort of made Shin feel like he had missed out on something.

‘C’mon,’ he called to her, brushing those thoughts aside and gesturing for her to follow him into the gathering room. ‘They’re all waiting for you.’

‘Well, I guess we can start now that we’re all here,’ Anju said, clapping her hands together. The group cheered in excitement, giddily laughing and joking with each other. Frederica had rejoined their ranks, now settled down with a plate of sweets in her lap and a gluttonous grin on her face. 

Theo, despite being just as merry as everyone else, was the most dejected upon hearing about Annette’s absence. Shin felt disappointed for him, and even someone as emotionally unintelligent as he could guess who Theo had been waiting for at the door. Contrary to his sour mood, however, Theo’s smile did not falter when everyone got up to grab their gifts.

They used both the couches and the floor, really choosing whatever felt the most comfortable. Lena sat on the plush carpet in front of the fireplace, letting the warmth seep into her frigid skin whilst her eyes danced over the room, trying to fully digest its beauty. She didn’t know how long they had spent decorating, but her friends must have put in a lot of effort. Lights and garlands filled every empty corner, illuminating the whole room and sending colorful flickers of light across everyone’s faces. The smell of cloves and spices was sweet and fragrant, emanating from the gentle flames dancing in the glass jars of the candles on the coffee table. It was all quite lovely. 

Loveliest of all, however, was the warmth she spotted flickering in Shin’s eyes as he gazed over the same scene. He regarded all of the same facets of the room with equal awe, and Lena remembered that despite having celebrated the Holy Birth last year, he probably couldn’t recall celebrations as extravagant as this. 

She smiled, deeply and from the heart, unable to stop the joy she felt for him from making its way onto her face. 

‘Uh, Theo,’ Raiden said hesitantly. ‘What the hell is this?’

‘C’mon man, you haven’t even opened it yet! Just gimme a chance.’ Theo wore a wounded expression, though there was a mischievous glint in his verdant eyes that couldn’t be missed. He pushed his parcel into Raiden’s hands, and the taller boy looked down at it like it was offensive. 

The issue wasn’t the gift itself, but… its wrapping. It was awful, so bad that it probably redefined ‘minimal effort.’ Theo had chosen a plain paper, which was dark green and lacking in any personality. It was creased and folded haphazardly around whatever its contents were, with edges sticking out in most places and extra pieces of wrapping taped over spots that had likely torn. It was shocking seeing such an unaesthetic display from Theo, who was excellent in the arts. 

‘Whatever you say man,’ Raiden said dubiously, unsure as to where to start unwrapping the present. He appeared to give up on doing it neatly, instead just ripping a corner open and pulling the paper apart. He rummaged through the contents for a second before pulling out a crumpled piece of dark fabric.  

Unfolding it, Raiden lifted the cloth up so he could see just what it was. His left eye twitched.

‘Theo…’

‘Yes?’

‘...Do you want me to hit you?’

‘What? Obviously not, why?’

Raiden flipped the fabric around so the rest of the group could see what it was, and many of the teenagers choked on their drinks. It was an apron, with the words ‘KISS THE COOK!’ printed in a bold font across the front. 

‘Woah woah woah, that is not what I ordered, I swear! They must've sent me the wrong one, I mean it!’ Theo was scooting away from Raiden, waving his hand innocently. Raiden was already rolling up his sleeves, preparing to give the Jade boy a friendly beating. 

‘I have a feeling that the one you intended to get wasn’t that much better,’ Raiden said curtly, a fake smile plastered across his face.

‘I can confirm!’ Frederica interjected, her crimson irises glowing. ‘Theo originally bought an apron that said ‘Mr. Good Lookin’ is Cookin’.’

The group burst into laughter, and Theo ran for his life. He dodged Raiden’s outstretched hands nimbly, relying on his small stature to avoid the taller guy. 

Frederica sat up proudly, the cute, child sized parasol Raiden had given her resting in her arms. Anju and Kurena laughed heartily, pointing at the two boys playing cat and mouse. Beside Anju’s leg was a box containing the blue comb Shin had gifted her, and in Kurena’s lap was the pair of stylish leather gloves Lena had bought for her. Dustin had his hands wrapped around his core, chuckling deeply, the colorful knit scarf Anju gave him already tied around his neck. 

The gift Kurena had chosen for Annette, revealed to be a glasses case for the bespectacled girl, was sitting unopened by Lena, who promised to deliver it to her. Thinking about her friend, Lena turned to Anju with a question.

‘What about the person Annette picked? They won’t get a gift, will they?’ 

Anju bit her lip in contemplation, her eyebrows creasing with thought. Her eyes brightened, though, when she seemed to remember something.

‘Actually, I’m pretty sure Annette dropped off her present a week ago. I think she said that she was in the area and felt it was more convenient to leave it here.’ 

Lena smiled softly, relieved that her friend’s present could be accepted. Anju got up and went to the gift pile, now mostly empty save for the flat, rectangular package that Annette had left. The bespectacled girl had hidden an envelope under the ribbon, probably a discreet way of identifying the recipient. Anju opened it reverently, smiling when she read the name Annette had written.

‘Theo,’ she called, interrupting his skirmish with Raiden. ‘This one’s for you.’

Raiden paused his assault on the Jade boy, seemingly deciding to show mercy, and untangled him from his arms. Theo stumbled over, rubbing the side of his arm where Raiden had landed a strong punch. Taking the parcel from Anju, Theo slumped down onto the floor and tore it open with the same haste that one opens an envelope from a faraway friend. 

Inside the box was a picture book of sorts, with prints of famous artists’ works on every page. As he flipped through the pages, Theo smiled softly. 

‘So, who hasn’t opened a present yet?’ Anju asked, drawing everyone’s attention away from Theo. They’d all been staring at him warmly, and when he’d looked up and noticed their gazes, he wore a painfully embarrassed expression. 

Lena and Shin raised their hands at the same time.

Noticing the other’s similar gesture, they both flinched in surprise. Lena drew her hand back immediately, signaling Shin to go first. Although he looked apprehensive, Shin nodded at her while Dustin handed him the gift he’d purchased. Upon seeing who had shopped for him, Shin’s expression became even more wary, but he still thanked the bespectacled boy and undid the ribbon around the package. 

After pulling out the small box hidden within, Shin removed a strange, rectangular piece of metal from its contents. It was black and shiny, with a glass screen and a few tiny buttons. Shin held it in the palm of his hand, clearly unsure as to what it was, when Dustin puffed out his chest proudly and put his hands on his hips.

‘It’s a music player,’ he stated happily, ‘so you can listen to music whenever and wherever you want!’

The small device was foreign and light, and Shin had no idea how to use it, but…

‘Hey, that actually isn’t a bad gift,’ Raiden said, peering at it over Shin’s shoulder. He voiced Shin’s own thoughts. ‘I’m surprised, Dustin. Good job.’

‘Ok, what the hell,’ Dustin grumbled, deflating. ‘Did you think I would pick something awful?’

‘Not necessarily,’ Kurena answered him, squinting at the black rectangle. ‘I just thought that whatever you chose would probably be kind of lame, like a hat or something.’

‘What? Obviously I wouldn’t, um, even consider something like that.’ Dustin chose to omit the fact that when he’d gotten to the point of giving up on his gift search, he had thought of getting Shin a wool cap. 

‘Thanks, Dustin,’ Shin said simply, giving him a soft expression despite a smile not quite reaching his lips. 

‘Of course,’ Dustin responded, a warm feeling blooming in his chest when he noticed Anju grinning at him in approval. 

The tender moment was interrupted when Frederica shot up from her seat, squealing in delight.

‘It is finally my time to shine, you fools! My present will make all of you weep from your inferiority, so prepare yourselves!’ She grabbed the small baggie sitting on the sofa next to her and rushed over to Lena, shoving it into her arms and plopping down next to her to watch her reaction closely. Lena, startled by the girl’s intense gaze, fell backwards a bit. Frederica followed her, bringing her small face as close as possible to Lena’s. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, and Lena laughed nervously as she took the stuffing out of the bag and lifted the gift out of it. 

The whole group went stock still in amazement at how…

feeble the present was. 

From the bag, Lena pulled a flimsy paper crown, embellished with drawings of circular jewels and comical sparkles. Each point of the tiara was uneven and clumsily done, some of the tips folded over and crinkled. 

‘A crown suitable for the queen of the Eighty-Six!’ Frederica boasted proudly.

‘That thing wouldn’t even suit Fido,’ Theo remarked.

‘Huh?!’ the small girl exclaimed, shocked at the gall of his words. 

‘Yeah, Theo’s right, you dummy,’ Raiden added, disheveling the top of Frederica’s hair. ‘If you want to be a part of a gift exchange, you have to give something that actually resembles a present-’

‘No, I…’ Lena murmured, interrupting him. Everyone’s eyes moved to her face, hidden by her hair. When Lena looked up, they couldn’t help but let their own faces melt into grins. ‘I really like it.’ She was smiling warmly, her eyes appearing slightly glassy. She cradled the crown in her arms, holding it as if it really was crafted from precious metal. ‘Thank you, Frederica.’ 

Frederica herself seemed to be taken aback by Lena’s gratitude, but regained her composure and puffed her chest out proudly. ‘Ha! I told you, you impertinent buffoons! My gift does reign supreme, after all, if a queen is so entranced by it!’

The group burst into laughter once again, teasing Frederica and making sly comments about what she considered worthy of royalty. They joked and conversed with ease, making the room feel even merrier and warm than it already was.

The exception was Lena, who was still staring in awe at the paper crown she gingerly held in her hands, and Shin, who could not take his eyes off of her. 

‘I should probably get going,’ Lena said eventually, rising from her place on the floor. She put a protective hand around the tiara on her head, which Frederica had crowned her with after she’d opened it, to prevent it from slipping as she got up. ‘If I don’t head out now, I’ll miss the bus,’ she said, smiling when her friends groaned in protest. 

‘Shin will walk you out,’ Anju said, glaring at the red-eyed boy expectantly. He looked up from the black device he’d been fiddling with, his eyes meeting Lena’s as she looked down to him. When he saw the faint smile on her lips, he looked away nervously, then met her gaze again and nodded. 

They exited the living room, waving goodbyes to their friends and wishing them happy holidays. Frederica was passed out on the sofa, her punishment for consuming so much sugar. Lena laughed at the touching scene as she moved into the hallway and the faces of her peers disappeared. 

She and Shin walked in silence to the entryway. The subtle creaking of the floorboards under Lena’s feet was the only noise breaking up the quiet atmosphere, with Shin’s footsteps as inaudible as usual. They reached the coat hangers and the door, and Shin went to grab Lena’s jacket. He lifted it off of the hook, and then turned around to find her standing behind him with a wrapped package in her hands. 

‘I, u-um,’ she stammered, not meeting his eyes. ‘Even though I didn’t end up with your name for the gift exchange, I still wanted to get you something.’ She noticed her coat in his arms and realized she’d chosen a bad time to broach the subject, as he didn’t have any free hands left. She awkwardly looked both directions, searching for somewhere to set the parcel down, when Shin closed the distance between them. 

Lena watched as his front came substantially closer to her own and his arms became parallel with her head. Holding her coat by its collar, he swung it behind her back and rested it on her shoulders, pulling it snug around her nape. Shin met her eyes as he adjusted the garment, and she saw an almost imperceptible impression of fondness in the depths of those two crimson jewels. She was stuck in his gaze, her pale irises glued to his red ones.

When he looked away, redirecting his focus to her hands, Lena snapped herself out of the trance she’d entered ogling him. She wordlessly offered the present to him, their fingers lightly brushing one another as the gift was exchanged. Lena busied herself with pulling her arms through her coat sleeves and fastening the buttons, and when she looked up again, Shin was holding the book that had been previously hidden under wrapping paper and a blue bow. 

‘Around the World in 80 Days,’ he said, reading the book’s title out loud. His fingers stroked the cover, tracing the lettering with his fingertips. ‘What inspired you to buy this?’ When he looked up to meet her eyes, his lips donned an incredibly soft but boyish smile. Seeing this, Lena flushed.

‘Well, you know. The world is so much vaster than what we’ve seen. I thought that by giving you this, maybe… maybe it could show you a world beyond the Legion. Places we’ve never been.’ She said these words with a flustered expression, but her lips slowly curved into a bittersweet smile. ‘That being said, eighty measly days isn’t nearly enough to see everything that’s left, is it?’ Lena laughed warmly, but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. Noticing this, Shin spoke up. 

‘It’s enough,’ he said ardently. ‘It’s more than enough.’ She looked up at him curiously, his sudden vehemence clearly taking her by surprise. Shin reigned himself back in, schooling his features and hugging the book close to his chest.

Suddenly, the weight above his heart felt a little heavier.

‘Thank you, Lena. I…’ he smiled at her once more, his face relaxing. ‘I really like it.’ He repeated the words she’d responded to Frederica with, and Lena blushed at his teasing.

‘I’m glad,’ she said shyly, turning her back to him. She fiddled with her gloves, pretending to adjust them in order to give herself time to recover from the foreboding attack that was Shin’s honest smile.  

When she was ready to go and they had said their modest goodbyes, he walked to the door and undid the lock. Her present remained in his hand, and Shin was glad she didn’t notice how tightly he was gripping it. 

If I hold onto this, then maybe you won’t go, was what the voice in his head seemed to be saying. 

Ignoring his own wishes, Shin opened the door for her, the freezing chill of the air outside making them both shudder. As Lena stepped out, the biting wind whipping her silver hair around, Shin was overcome with a strange feeling of loneliness. She had only just stepped through the doorway, and yet…

…something tugged at his heart, prompting him to speak. 

‘Wait,’ he called for her. Lena stopped and turned immediately, the tips of her cheeks and nose already rosy from the frost. Her eyes, like molten silver, regarded him kindly as she tilted her head inquisitively. ‘I, uh,’ Shin mumbled, reaching into his sweater pocket with his free hand. ‘I also… got you something.’ When his hand retreated, two card-sized slips of paper appeared. He extended his arm, offering them to her, and Lena accepted them. She gazed down at the slips resting in her palms, colored with a blend of cool blues and purples. As she read words printed at the top, she gasped in surprise. 

‘A planetarium?’ she exclaimed, bringing the papers closer to her face as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. 

‘I had a friend who told me he went there with his sister. He said it was… beautiful.’ Shin gave her a gentle smile. ‘I thought you might like to see it with a partner, so I got you two tickets. Maybe you could take Annette, or… or someone else.’

Lena nodded, taking his consideration to heart. Someone she might like to go with…

Gripping the tickets firmly, as if seeking encouragement, Lena steeled herself.

‘Say, Shin… is there any chance you might go with me?’ She tried to deliver the request confidently, but the words sort of stumbled from her lips in a broken train. Lena hoped she didn’t come across as too needy or selfish, seeing as the tickets themselves were already a lovely gift.

That being said… Shin’s company would prove to be an even more wonderful present.

He stared at her, his eyes wide in surprise. His features morphed into an expression Lena couldn’t quite place, then returned to his usual look of serenity. 

‘Yes,’ he said softly. ‘I think I’d enjoy that.’ 

She beamed at his words, her alabaster eyes warmer than any of the candlelight or colorful bulbs they’d seen that evening. 

‘We’ll go together, promise.’

She lifted the tickets up to her chest, pressing them flush against her heart, and Shin was suddenly relieved that he’d been able to give them to her. The look of pure happiness she unabashedly displayed on her face was magnetic in a way. He yearned to be closer to her, to bask in the warmth and ease of her smile.

His foot crossed over the doorway as he outstretched a hand to her.

‘I-’

‘Ha!’ a boisterous voice interrupted behind him. Shin’s head whipped around, his heart leaping in shock. Lena wore her own startled expression. Their friends were peeking from around the corner, watching the private exchange with knowing, sly grins. Frederica had jumped into the hallway, pointing her finger and laughing at the pair. ‘I can’t believe someone actually fell for it! What fools you are!’

Taken aback, Lena and Shin gaped at their friends, who had been blatantly spying on them.

‘Fell for what?’ Shin asked nervously. Lena was just as apprehensive. 

‘Are you dense, man?’ Raiden chuckled, not perturbed by the dark glance Shin sent his way. ‘Look up, ya idiot.’

Following his instruction, Shin and Lena both turned their eyes upward. Hanging from the ceiling of the overhang was a bushel of herbs, tied together with a clumsy bow. Lena was standing under it, and probably had been since she’d left the house. However, now that Shin had also stepped through the doorway…

‘It’s a widespread tradition that anyone caught under mistletoe has to share a kiss!’ Frederica declared matter-of-factly. ‘I saw a commercial about it on television and got Raiden to help me hang it. Don’t worry, Lena,’ she said, her eyes narrowing and a wicked smile crossing her lips. ‘This is your real present.’

‘H-huh?!’ Lena shrieked in embarrassment. The small, cunning girl fled immediately, scrambling up the stairs.

Shin turned back to Lena, their eyes meeting instantly. They each wore equally tortured expressions. Lena’s cheeks had already taken on a rosy hue before, and now they’d become even redder. Shin’s resolve had seemed to crack, as he too appeared slightly flushed. Their friends glared at them expectantly, the strength of their stares palpable. 

Shin swallowed nervously as he gazed down at Lena’s bashful visage, his eyes subconsciously drifting to her lips. Her delicate face wasn’t far from his own… all he needed to do was lower his head a couple inches, and after that…

As if the thought of the action was all he needed, Shin’s body moved on its own. He closed the distance between them, initially unaware of what he was doing, and lowered his face to level it with Lena’s. As their lips got closer and closer, all he could do was stare into her eyes, wide and full like the moon. 

They were the last thing he saw before he shut his own.

A sweet, warm pressure overtook the nerves in his lips, dizzying his brain. The sensation of Lena’s mouth against his was unfamiliar and a tad awkward, and yet…

Something in him had ached for this feeling. Something had craved this moment, this channel of emotion. And, upon finally satisfying his urge, it almost felt unfair to himself to let her go.

Lena did not back away from the kiss, instead reciprocating Shin’s advances. One tentative hand found its way onto his chest, a way for her to steady herself. When they finally separated, her hand remained there. She could feel his heartbeat through his sweater.

When Lena turned to look at her friends, she was startled to see the pages of Around the World in 80 Days blocking her view. Shin had apparently raised the edition up, spreading the pages with one hand and holding it in front of their faces to prevent the others from watching the kiss play out. 

The disappointed grunts and boos from the other Processors revealed Shin’s plan had worked, and both he and Lena sighed in relief. They noticed the other mirroring their actions and laughed, smiling fondly at each other.

Shin lowered the book as the rest of their friends returned to the living room, complaining about his stubbornness and vowing to trick him again. After they had all disappeared from the hallway and he was positive they weren’t eavesdropping once more, Shin stepped back through the doorway. Lena regarded him thoughtfully, her eyes containing a multitude of feelings that Shin didn’t have time to decipher. She opened her mouth, but no words left her lips. Whatever Lena wanted to say, she decided to wait.  

‘Happy Holy Birth, Shin,’ she said quickly, giving him a brief smile before turning around and fleeing down the path. Shin watched her go, her hair fluttering in the night breeze. He could just make out the blushing tips of her red ears. 

Shin looked down at the book he still clutched in his hands. 

‘Eighty days, huh?’ he wondered aloud, his voice blending in with the echoes of the wind. He thought about the words he’d wanted to tell her when she’d made that comment. He wanted to reassure her; he wanted to entrust her with a secret. 

It’s enough. It’s more than enough, because however big or small the world ends up being, it won’t matter. No matter how much time it takes, exploring it will be worth a lifetime to me so long as I get to see it… all of it… with you. 

He shut the door behind him and stepped into the entryway, the warmth of the house all too different from the mellowness he’d just felt spreading throughout his whole body. That sort of warmth came from within, stemming from the place where one particular emotion was slowly consuming his being. 

Shin brushed a finger over his mouth, reminiscing the softness of Lena’s and the phantom whisper her lips left behind. He’d been upset about having to return the name he’d originally picked from the hat, feeling as if he was letting a small miracle slip through his fingers. That being said… 

Maybe in exchange, he’d received a gift that was much, much sweeter. 

Shin felt like he could live with that.