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Snow swirled gently against the frosted windowpane, casting soft patterns of light and shadow across the modest room. Raine sat curled up in her favorite chair, a steaming cup of tea warming her hands as she gazed out into the quiet street. Iselia felt particularly quiet tonight, the usual delicate hum of life muffled by the blanket of fresh snow.
She’d always found a certain peace in the stillness of winter evenings, but this year, the solitude felt heavier than usual. Genis was spending Christmas with Lloyd and Colette at the former Chosen’s house, and though she insisted he go, the echoing quiet of her own home seemed to stretch with every passing minute. She told herself she didn’t mind. After all, it was just another day.
Except it wasn’t.
Her gaze drifted to the small pine tree in the corner, sparsely decorated with the few ornaments her brother had made over the years. No gifts sat beneath it– not for her, at least. There never had been.
For as long as she could remember, Christmas had been a day like any other. A day for surviving, for getting through. Presents weren’t part of her reality growing up, and by the time she and Genis had found themselves on their own, the idea of receiving gifts was a relic of someone else’s childhood.
She could live with that though. Being the center of attention was never quite her thing, and she was happy with just offering her brother whatever she could during the holiday season. It was never much, but he always seemed very happy and appreciative with whatever she managed to put together for him.
The woman took another sip of tea, the warmth doing little to chase away the ache settling deep in her chest. It’s fine , she told herself. It’s just one day. You’ve had plenty of Christmases alone. This one’s no different.
A sudden knock at the door startled her, pulling her from her thoughts. She frowned. Who would be out on a night like this?
Setting her cup aside, she rose and made her way to the door. The knock came again, a little more insistent this time. “Alright, alright, I’m coming. Give me a second,” she called, her tone clipped with rising irritation. It was no secret that she hated people who were impatient, but she despised impromptu visitors just a little bit more.
She opened the door to find Zelos standing there, bundled in a thick coat and scarf, his usual flamboyance somehow softened by the snowflakes clinging to his hair. He wore a grin that could light up the darkest winter night, and in his gloved hands, he held a neatly wrapped present, tied with a crimson ribbon.
“Merry Christmas, Professor!” he said, his voice bright and full of warmth. “I figured you might need some company.”
“Zelos?” she asked, startled. “What are you doing here?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” he replied, brushing snow from his shoulders with a theatrical flourish. “I’m here to spread holiday cheer! And, of course, to see my favorite person.”
Raine arched a brow, her initial surprise quickly tempered by her usual skepticism. It was never that simple with him. There had to be an ulterior motive. “You traveled all the way here in a snowstorm for that?”
“Don’t look so doubtful.” He held out a package wrapped in shiny golden paper, the light catching on it just right and giving it the appearance of a buried treasure. “I come bearing gifts.”
Her gaze dropped to the parcel, her lips parting slightly in confusion. “A gift?”
“For you.”
Raine hesitated. It wasn’t often she found herself at a loss for words, but the sight of Zelos standing on her porch, offering her a present of all things, left her momentarily adrift. “I… I don’t understand. Why?”
His expression shifted, losing some of its usual playfulness. “Why not? You told me no one’s ever given you a Christmas present before.”
She blinked, her breath hitching. It had been a passing comment, a fleeting moment of vulnerability amidst one of Zelos’ endless tales of extravagant holiday feasts and mountains of gifts. She had listened quietly as he reminisced about the gaudy decorations and over-the-top festivities that defined his childhood, until he’d turned the question to her. Her response had been calm, detached even, though perhaps the hollow tone of her voice hadn’t been as well-concealed as she’d originally thought: My family didn’t have the money for celebrations, let alone gifts. And after my parents left us, well… it didn’t matter anymore. She hadn’t expected him to remember, let alone act on it.
“Are you going to invite me in, or are we doing this heartwarming moment out here in the snow?” he asked, gesturing to the swirling flakes around them.
Still stunned, she stepped aside, clutching the gift to her chest as he breezed past her into the warmth of her home. The small space suddenly felt miniscule with him in it, his presence filling every corner like the rich scent of pine wafting from the single candle burning on the kitchen counter.
Zelos glanced around, taking in the modest decorations– if they could even be called that. A small wreath hung near the door, and a threadbare ribbon was draped across the mantle, its edges fraying with age. It was as understated as Raine herself, but somehow, it suited her perfectly.
“Cozy,” he remarked, shrugging off his coat and draping it over the back of a chair.
She followed him into the room, her grip on the gift still tight. “You really didn’t have to do this,” she said softly.
“Of course I did,” he replied, as if the answer was obvious. “It’s Christmas, Raine. Everyone deserves to feel a little special. Especially you.”
She stared at him, her emotions threatening to bubble over. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” he said with a shrug, taking a seat at her kitchen table. “Just open it. I promise it’s not a prank and nothing will jump out at you.”
Raine set the gift down carefully, her fingers lingering on the ribbon as if untying it might undo her composure entirely. Slowly, she pulled it loose, peeling back the paper to reveal a hardcover book. The title caught her eye immediately– a rare historical text she’d once mentioned in passing, dismissing it as too expensive and impossible to find.
Her breath caught as her fingers brushed over the embossed lettering on the cover. “Y-You remembered.”
“Of course I did. You’re not exactly easy to impress, so I figured I had to go big.”
Raine didn’t respond immediately. She couldn’t. The lump in her throat made words impossible, and before she could stop herself, tears welled in her eyes, spilling over as she hugged the book to her chest.
She’d always thought of Tethe’alla’s Chosen as someone who lived for attention and theatrics, a man who loved to be loved but never seemed to take anything too seriously. But this? This was different. The thoughtfulness behind the gesture, the way he remembered something so menial and unimportant and acted on it without asking for anything in return, painted him in a light she wasn’t sure she’d ever truly seen before.
It wasn’t just a gift– it was proof that he did listen, that he cared. And it left her feeling both exposed and deeply, unexpectedly grateful.
“Hey, hey, don’t cry,” Zelos said, rising from his chair and crossing to her side. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
She shook her head, laughing softly through her tears. “You didn’t. I just…” She looked up at him, her voice breaking as he pulled her into his arms. “No one’s ever done something like this for me.”
“Well, they should’ve,” he said, his tone gentle and sweet like honey. “You deserve it.”
She pulled back slightly, wiping at her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater. “But… I don’t have anything for you,” she said softly, guilt creeping into her voice. “I didn’t even think–”
The redhead chuckled, shaking his head as he placed a hand lightly on her cheek. “Raine, come on. Do you really think I came here expecting something in return?” His usual teasing smile was replaced with genuine affection. “Your presence is enough of a gift for me.”
The words caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless. She searched his face for any trace of insincerity, but all she found was warmth and an honest, almost loving, smile.
“I mean it,” he added, stepping back to give her space. “Besides, what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t look out for you once in a while? I know you’ve spent so much of your life making sure everyone else is taken care of. You deserve to be a priority too, you know.”
Raine swallowed hard, emotions threatening to overcome her once more. She held the book tightly, its weight grounding her in a moment that felt almost too perfect to be real. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything.”
Zelos flashed her a grin, though it was softer than his usual flirty one. “Anytime, Professor. Anytime.”
They stood there for a moment, the silence between them no longer heavy, but comfortable. The snow continued to fall outside, painting the world in soft shades of white, but inside her modest home, the warmth of his presence seemed to melt away the cold that had lingered in her heart for years.
Finally, he clapped his hands together, breaking the moment with a touch of his characteristic flair. “Now, how about some of that famous tea of yours? It’s dang cold out there, if you hadn’t noticed.”
Raine managed a small smile, her tears drying as she nodded. “Alright. But don’t expect anything fancy.”
“As long as it’s made by you, I’m sure it’ll be perfect.”
As she moved to the kitchen to prepare his drink, she couldn’t help but glance back at him, staring out the window, his breath fogging up the glass, looking more at home than she ever thought he could. For the first time in her entire life, Christmas felt like more than just another day– it felt like hope.