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1 day before Christmas, December 24th…
It was snowing in Prim Town, the faint rays of the sun were obscured by the fog and the streets began to fill with a thick white blanket, meanwhile in an old and almost ruined mansion a child was cleaning the snow from the entrance, he was wearing a rather large blue wool coat and blue boots, it was still early 10am but if it got later it would probably start to blow very windy and the next day the snow would cover the first floor and he wouldn't be able to go out to see the insect shelters he had made for the worms, larvae and eggs that hatch in the spring, lately some species are being too fragile and were coming out before spring, putting themselves in the sights of different natural hunters, he doesn't want their number to decrease so he will do everything in his capacity to protect them.
After finishing some chores left on the list by his responsible guardian Akuma he left the old mansion ready for his mission, for the sake of the bugs. He ran with his blue coat and his face frozen by the cold deep into the forest to check on how the small larvae and eggs were doing in the shelters inside the warm wooden trunks that he had filled with leaves, dry branches, cardboard and some honey for when they came out. But when he was near the forest on his way he suddenly tripped over something on the ground and fell face first into the soft snow.
-”ouch…what is it-?”-His monotonous words stopped when he thought he found a large pink pupa buried in the snow.
This was incredible, he knew that insects in prim were somewhat larger than in other worlds but this was completely new and fascinating.
-”Owww”-The giant pupa suddenly began to move and make sounds, so Sig became alarmed and picked it up.
-”...I'll take it to a safer place”
-”Whaaa?!”-A small cry came from inside this pupa but this voice was strangely familiar-”H-Hey!! Who is there?!”
-”...? Amitie?”-Sig recognized the voice immediately as he looked at the pupa carried in his two arms for a moment…this was not a pupa but a winter sleeping bag and Amitie's face peeked out of an opening.
-”S-Sig is that you?”- Amitie slowly opened the rest of her sleeping bag with her hair disheveled and still had some dried saliva on the corner of her lips.
-”Amitie are you okay? … … …”-Sig worried that she had slept all night outside although… He admits she looked very pretty buried like a beetle egg under the snow.
-”I’m fine but I can’t believe the snow covered me completely achoo!”- a slight sneeze escaped her when the freezing winds chilled her skin after her warm sleep.
-”mmmh”- Sig worried when she started to sneeze and with her face red from having exposed to the snow, he knew that Amitie didn’t tolerate closed spaces and she slept in sleeping bags outside but at this rate she could catch a cold.-”...got it!
Sig exclaimed proudly as he continued to carry pupa Amitie in his arms like a princess and headed somewhere.
-”Wait Sig what are you doing? This is… somehow embarrassing”-Amitie blushed as she was being carried like this while looking at Sig’s face from below and snuggled up a bit in the warm sleeping bag-”Where are we going?”
-”I’ll build a shelter…for Amitie”
-”Huh? S-Shelter?!”
-”Yeah, maybe at the entrance of a cave? That way it’ll be open enough , we can put blankets and decorate it a bit”
-”B-but I’m fine you don’t have to bother”-Amitie was worried about Sig’s unusual attitude, of course he cared a lot about her and took care of her when she overexerts herself or when she was really tired but she also knew that he wasn’t that energetic and making a whole shelter would require a lot of work…
-”I want to do it…”-Was all he said as he headed towards the direction of the closest cave he knew.
-”W-Well okay…Thanks Sig”-Amitie thanks him somewhat embarrassed as she was touched by the kindness of her secret crush.
… … …
-”Could it be here?”-Sig said as he looked at the entrance of a wide cave.
-”Yea! I have been here a few times before but staying so deep…it just gets a bit overwhelming sometimes so I prefer to keep sleeping outside”-Amitie remembered how frustrating it was, she felt like she was lacking air and that she was left without movement, with no escape, trapped...and then she always ran out as quickly as possible.
-”see, then it doesn’t have to be inside we can make the entrance more quality”
-”*gasp* That sounds perfecto!”-Amitie hadn’t thought of it before-”That way I can still see the starry sky at night!”
-”Maybe a bonfire… a few wooden logs…”-Sig began to write down in his small notebook the plan for a new shelter for his best friend.
But suddenly Amitie looked at Sig for a moment…
Suddenly it felt like she had to remember something…that today was an important day…
One that she had to remember because she couldn’t bother people that day since they were busy… preparing for an important holiday.
-”WAIT!!”-Amitie remembered with a scream as she became alarmed-”N-No Sig you can’t make a shelter today!”
-”? "No?"-Sig scratched his head confused at the sudden denial
"Siiig maybe...DID YOU FORGET WHAT DAY IT IS TODAY?!"-Amitie exclaimed in panic, although she is the one who forgot.
-"...yes"-Sig nodded indifferently after thinking about it for a while.
-"Today is Christmas Eve!"-Amitie said agitatedly as she looked at him waiting for a reaction.
-"...ah... and?"-Sig still didn't understand what the problem was
-"aaaand it's not usual at all right?"
-"Something changes this day?"-Sig seemed confused
-"Of course it's one of the most special days of the year, because there are so many things to do and you have to spend it in... well you know...at home... with your family... and you have to... you have to be with them not with me"
-”...”-Sig noticed it, Amitie seemed to have a hard time saying those words...it's true, Amitie lived alone since who knows how long, maybe that meant that she had also spent Christmas alone?... what was happening to Amitie this day? It was something he was afraid to imagine, seeing her alone was so unusual for someone who enjoyed the company of others so much that it must be...
-"So maybe we can make the shelter another day..."
-"Why don't...spend it together?"-He said quickly with a carefree tone.
-"Huh? Together?..."-Amitie remained analyzing the words with her eyes open for a moment as if it were something shocking.
-”Yep”- Sig stared at her while waiting for her answer.
-”But…”
-”It’s a 5 day trip to my house, too long, I’ll write a postcard”-although part of that was true, He didn't want to go back there… even if it wasn’t that far away -”I was going to spend it alone anyway”
-”But spending Christmas Eve outside…”
-”It´s Okay, don’t mind”
-“No? Really?”
-”Yeah”
-”Then we can spend the whole Christmas Eve together?!”-Amitie smiled as she jumped up and down with joy-“We-we could even, you know, have a sleepover and ambush Santa!”
-“…ambush?”
-“ahaha I mean wait wait”-she laughed suspiciously.
-“Yeah…sleepovers together are fun”
-“mmmh”-Amitie puffed out her cheeks holding back her scream of excitement as she moved from side to side-”Then I also have to find something delicious to eat together and make the best hot chocolate on the campfire with marshmallows to have the best night!!! and this and that Ahhhh”
-”I guess there are a lot of things to do”-Sig smiled at Amitie's enthusiasm as she was still in their pajamas.
-”Much Much More!!!”-Amitie hugged him as her heart was beating strongly and she didn't think with the excitement
-”ah…”-Sig was quickly being intrigued by Amitie's enthusiasm as her face blushed slightly at the warm hug.
-”Well what are we waiting for! We have to hurry to prepare the shelter and dinner!”-Amitie quickly took his hand and her backpack full of things and started running.
...how exactly will Amitie celebrate Christmas?
Sig wondered internally as he let himself be dragged by the grip on her hand, while she happily hummed Christmas carols with her red cheeks perhaps because of the cold in the city, Amitie was excited to show Sig how she had fun at Christmas in her own way and he just let her carry.
I see… Amitie has the free spirit of a butterfly…
he thought as he tightened his grip on her right hand, If it's Amitie he…wanted to fly with her too. He smiled unconsciously at the thought.
… … …
-”First, collect!”-Amitie pointed at the trees as Sig nodded enthusiastically.
-”Maybe some firewood would be good for the campfire, with some large pieces you could make seats”-Sig said as he collected a large amount of wood and thought about the best way to make a cozy place.
-”Also, red berries and pine trees are nice to decorate, we could put it in the edges of the entrance with tree leaves”-Amitie kept collecting all the pretty things she saw until
-”ah..Those are Snow Flowers!”
Snow Flowers, a rare species that is only found in Prin town, white flowers that grow in the cold climate.
Sig delicately plucked a couple and walked towards Amitie.
-”Amitie, do you like this flower?”
-”Snow Flowers!!!”- Amitie got excited as she looked at the small but bright flowers in Sig’s hand.
-”Here”- Sig handed them over with a bit of indifference and then turned around to continue collecting wood-”There are some over there”
-”O-Okay I’ll bring some”- Amitie’s face turned a bit red after receiving it, she looked at the flower for a moment and felt a slight tightness in her chest when she remembered that giving flowers was something couples did but she quickly discarded that silly thought, but still keeping the flowers in her backpack for her adventure album later.
After a few hours they had both collected quite a few things for the shelter.
-”How are you doing with the wood Sig? Wha-?!”-Turning to look at Sig, Amitie saw the large amount of wood that Sig was carrying on his hands. A normal human couldn't bear that much weight, but she assumed that he had some help with his red hand. In addition, Sig was presumed to be the strongest in the entire class after Raffina.
-”Will this be enough?”
-”Y-Yes, Wow, some of the branches are really big, they almost look like trunks.”
-”Really?”
-”Let's go back to the shelter quickly, I don't want you to hurt yourself carrying so much”
-”I'm fine”-Sig said as they walked back to the shelter.
… … …
-”WOOW SO PRETTY!!!”-Amitie squealed at the decoration they had achieved.
A beautiful arch at the entrance of the cave was filled with leaves, branches with red berries and bright white Snow Flowers, a small improvised snowman on the side and a pile of wood ready to light a campfire with 2 large branches surrounding it that would serve as seats.
Amitie clung to Sig again as they looked at the work they had accomplished and inside Sig felt satisfied that Amitie liked this improvised shelter they had achieved.
But now they both found their hair full of snow, twigs and leaves and they still had to see some food before night came.
-”Amitie, I have an oven at home, we can bake cookies there”
-”Sounds good to me!"-Amitie smiled happily at the idea-"and umm could I... well, if it wasn't annoying... use the shower hahaha it's because I got covered in leaves and snow”
-”Yea, you can ask for it whenever you want”
-”o-okey thanks”-Amitie with a slightly red face thanked the offer and they walked to Sig's house, which had previously been the house of an ancient ancestor of his, so it was a big house but somewhat old. The stories of his family used to say that the inhabitant of this house stayed locked up and never went out…maybe this person used to be the opposite of Amitie, Sig found it curious so he told Amitie.
-”What?! Get really real, he never went out? I would go crazy! How come he didn’t even get bored?”
-”I guess he acted like Four eyes who always reads”
-”So maybe he looks more like his ancestor than yours?”
-”Maybe”-He laughed at the thought that maybe if they lived in the same timeline they could get along.
After Amitie took a shower, she took out of her backpack a white coat with pink fluff on the collar and sleeves with cute hearts embroidered on the sides.
-”I'm ready to make cookies!”- She smiled as she quickly ran to see Sig-"Does it take long?"
-"...No It won't, it's fast"-Sig assured her as he saw that she was starting to get anxious about the place.
-”Okay!”- Amitie said as she squeezed her hands somewhat uncomfortably-”It's not that I dislike your house or anything but…”
-”understand, just have to mix everything in here.…”
Amitie added the ingredients while Sig quickly mixed and a dough began to form and with his hands covered in flour, Sig began to spread the dough, trying to homogenize and compact it and Amitie add more of the chocolate chips, she also took care of putting butter in the tray and turning on the oven with the always help of her trusty flame spell.
-”...have this to shape it”
-”Aww this is very pretty, heart-shaped, star-shaped and puyo-shaped”
Sig spreads the dough while Amitie quickly formed small cookies with the molds and put them in the tray.
Once finished they put the cookies in the oven.
-”The dough tastes really good”-said amitie as she tried the leftovers
-”You shouldn't eat the raw dough...although it is delicious”-said sig as he also ate some sweet raw dough.
Amitie went to relax in the courtyard while waiting for the cookies to be ready
Sig followed her shortly after having taken a shower himself and also having prepared some lunch sandwiches for both of them.
-”Amitie here”-Sig extended his hand with a sandwich to amitie who was sitting in the snow.
-”Thanks, it looks delicious.” She smiled and took it as Sig sat down next to her and they both ate happily while watching the snow fall.
Sig didn't say anything as he listened to Amitie talk with his mouth full about some anecdotes of adventures she had had lately this year, some in which she had to face threats that threatened the well-being of the entire universe, but everything turned out well in the end when she was with her friends and trusted them. Sig suddenly felt that even though the weather was really cold right now, his chest felt really warm and as if he had somehow kept butterflies under his coat... it was a somewhat strange feeling that he didn't quite understand, he just thought as he finished what was left of the sandwich.
When they finished eating, Amitie quickly stood up and dropped on her back on the snow. Sig looked confused but just stared at her as she calmly approached. Suddenly he saw her move her hands and legs.
-”Amitie, what are you doing?” he asked
-”Snow Angels! It’s fun, try it!”-Amitie took Sig’s hand and let him fall beside her.
-”Do we just move our hands like this?”
-”Yes but more extensively so they will be big wings”
Amitie took his hand while showing him how, both of them moved their limbs carelessly and laughed carefree for a while…
Amitie then stood up again and looked at the snow angels and ran to see her camera in her backpack that she had gotten in Ringo's world and took a couple of pictures, smiling at the fact that today she was making a lot of memories with her bestie Sig.
Then, the cookies in the oven were starting to give off a nice aroma, so they both went to the kitchen, they were already somewhat golden and their size increased.
-”Are cookies ready yet?”- Amitie asked as she looked at the cookies with excitement in her eyes.
-”need to stay in the oven a little longer, we have to wait for the timer to go off”
-”I have some marshmallows in my backpack maybe we should put some on them”
-”It's a little late for that, they should have been mixed with the dough”
-”Oh but we can still roast them by the campfire and eat them together”
-”...”- Suddenly Sig's stomach growled a little at the thought.
-”Ahaha I guess so right?”
-”mmh”-Sig puffed out his cheek a little at Amitie's little mockery as he stared at her.
-”Hey! you make fun of me most of the time, it was my turn to get revenge”
-”Revenge is bad”-Sig said jokingly as he smiled a little again-”Besides…it's fun to tease Amitie a little”
-”See!”-Amitie smiled as they both watched the cookies finish browning and the oven glass reflected them both together watching.
A few minutes of silence but they didn't feel uncomfortable, it was quite the opposite, they felt as if they wouldn't mind if this moment lasted a few more minutes until the cookies finished cooking, just the two of them looking at what they had made, even Amitie completely forgot that she was in a closed place, she just discreetly observed Sig's reflection in the glass and… smiled unconsciously, after all this had been the most fun Christmas she had ever had.
-”Amitie?”-Sig asked when he saw her wandering off for a moment and smiling.
-”Huh? W-what’s wrong?”-Amitie got a little worried that he had noticed her watching him a lot.
-”Is this how you spend Christmas?”
-”Ah! *giggles* Are you curious?”-Amitie came back down to earth and was a little surprised by Sig’s sudden question, she didn’t usually take much interest in people’s affairs so it seemed unusual to her.
-”Well more or less, I don’t think many people celebrate like this”-he tried to kindly explain the reason for his curiosity while scratching his cheek thinking about the words he said, like when he avoided hurting a small insect.
-”Actually, at least for me it's not that bad”- she smiled although something in Sig could tell that smile was somewhat forced-”Usually Miss Accord gives me something, I buy candy to eat at night and then I watch the lights of Prim Town on top of a hill and when I go to sleep I look at the stars, it's not much but it's quite pretty and quiet”- The last thing was a lie but Amitie didn't like to pity other people after all she wanted this day to be entertaining not to depress Sig, but the truth is that this day was somewhat sad and lonely for her she would only go to sleep contemplating the stars of the night while listening to laughter and music coming from the houses in the distance.
-”…”- Sig just looks at her without knowing what to say, there was nothing he could do about it after all…
-”But this time is different”- Amitie smiled again while shaking her head from side to side dispelling past thoughts-”This time you are here, Sig! and that... well, that makes me very happy...”- Amitie's cheeks blushed as she tried to contain the beat in her heart that had accelerated when she said those words, they were embarrassing but she had to tell Sig how happy he had made her, it's somewhat ironic mostly she was the one trying to make him smile but Sig also made her smile a lot.
-”Me?...”- Sig's eyes widened for a moment surprised-”I didn't do much... ... ... but if you're happy... that makes me happy too”- he smiled back at her
When suddenly the small timer had gone off and the cookies were ready, he stood up while placing an oven mitt on her right hand
-”Shall we take out the cookies now...?...ah!”
Amitie stood up anxiously as she remembered again that she was surrounded by 4 walls
-”...? Amitie?”- Sig looked at her with concern for a moment when he saw her pale a little
-”Y-Yes everything is okay!”- she hurried to say while anxiously moving from one place to another while she felt his chest closing and her head getting dizzy-”I-I'll wait outside!”- She hurried to say seeming as little anxious as possible-”I-I'll wait for you there Sig”
She ran out while it was heard that she was trying to breathe heavily when she left.
-”Amitie…”- He said worried about her, after he saw her leave he hurried to arrange the cookies in a bag to reach her.
… … …
(Prim Town Shopping District)
-“feeling better?”-He asked as he handed another cookie to Amitie who slowly ate one with a fragile smile.
-”Y-Yea just got a little scared”-She said softly as she took another bite of the cookie-”mmh they were delicious I'm glad we made a lot!”
-”I think there will even be some left over”- Sig said as they walked towards the Shopping District.
-”You are very good at baking Sig! Next time, could you teach me more about baking? I also have a small oven in my backpack!”- a small plea with sparkles in her eyes and she tried to blink as much as she could to try to convince him, she would be very happy to continue spending time like this.
-”...?okay...but I only know the basics”
-”Don't say that, you are the most wonderful baker!”- She exclaimed with a smile as she finished the cookie
-”...”
Amitie is always like that, somehow she makes me feel…
Sig thought inside despite having a monotonous look and seeming like he wasn't listening to Amitie inside he begins to feel that his heart feels light again and her words were really comforting so much that they make his cheeks blush, but he still didn't understand why it made him so happy that Amitie called him great.
-”...hey sig can we stop for a while in the Street shops I need to look for an special object" - Amitie suddenly said as they walked.
- "do you want to buy?" - he wondered as he tilted his head
- "I won't take long, I just want to find some white lights to decorate the entrance of the cave" - Amitie smiles thinking about how nice it would look while they were both at the foot of the bonfire, it would definitely make it cooler, she had to make this night more than incredible, it was special after all Sig was there with her and she wanted it to be the best possible.
She took Sig's hand and quickly dragged him to the store.
(Street shops in the the shopping district)
There were many wizards sitting in selling their products on the go in the streets of the shopping district, it was quite varied and colorful although they had to be careful to check what exactly the wizard or witch was selling, not all the objects were good after all.
- "mmh lights lights" - Amitie searched hard among the very varied and exotic stores.
-”...”
-”OH how cute!”-Amitie exclaimed as she broke away from her search and looked at the hair accessories at a small stall on the way, there were all kinds of bows, ponytails, clips with many different designs and accessories.
-”?”
-”Look Sig, this one has a blue butterfly!”-Amitie showed her friend the light blue ponytail with a butterfly ornament.
-”It’s cute”
-”Don’t you want to try it?”-Amitie encouraged him with a sparkle in her eyes
-”How?”-Sig said, he didn’t exactly have long hair to wear one
-”Like that”-Amitie reached for his hair and placed the ponytail on his antennae -”Now it looks like you have a ponytail”
-”Oh…I look cute?”
-”Yeah! Super duper cute!”-Amitie squealed with happiness as Sig smiled
she took out her camera ready for a souvenir.
-”Shouldn’t you choose one for yourself first?”
-”Me? but my hair is a mess”-amitie laughed as she tried to hide her lock of hair under her hat.
-”mmh how about this one”-sig pointed at a hairpin with a moon sunflower charm.
-”M-Moon sunflowers! I love it!”-Amitie got excited as she looked at the little hairpins, she really liked flowers-”how do I wear this?”
-”Let me help you”-Sig combed her hair a little while smoothing it with his fingers.
Amitie blushed as her heart beat strongly at the touch, she suddenly felt relaxed, somehow it felt comfortable, like a kitten being gently petted.
-”Ready”
-”mmh”-Amitie pouted when sig stopped petting her, maybe she liked it too much-”Can you help me put another one on?”
-”Sure”
Amitie laughed happily as they went back to petting her hair to place another hairpin.
-”It looks good! What do you think Sig?”-Amitie thanked although internally she felt guilty for the caresses before.
-“cutie”-he said although with a monotonous tone.
-“seriously! *giggles* Alright, time for another memory!”-She seemed satisfied now as she placed her camera for a photo.
*FLASH
… … …
After buying the lights, they both headed to the shelter and with the lights they began to decorate together around the campfire.
-”Hey Sig, this made me remember something”-Amitie was holding the lights and looked for a moment at the white ground while she wandered in her memories, maybe the sunset that indicated that night would soon come made her somewhat nostalgic.
-”What is it?”-Sig asked her while still attentive to placing the lights at the top of the cave entrance.
-”Well, it's like the time when we worked as leader and sub-leader at the school festival, right? doing our best to make it the best stand! You did a great job that day, everyone loved the decoration and the parfaits you made *giggles*”
-”...”-Sig stopped for a moment while nodding slightly and continued with his work-”No... Amitie was the best leader”
-”Huh?”
Amitie watched him for a moment as she swore he had a slight smile on her face.
For Sig this memory was something bitter but also sweet, after all he had become closer to Amitie that day, he had realized how important he was to everyone, and he had had fun preparing…
-”Sig are you smiling?”
-”?”-Sig realized, he usually didn’t notice when his facial expressions changed and just like he didn’t notice when they didn’t change at all but Amitie could always see it, something he appreciated-”I didn’t notice”
-”*giggles* Well it’s a nice smile”
-”...”-Sig blushed again as he looked away continuing to place the decoration
-”Hey Sig could I try to put the lights up too”-Amitie came closer
-”It’s okay but be careful with the balance”
-”Hey! You remembered! I-I won't fall again I swear I've practiced my balance more since then, stacking puyos on my head" - She smiled proudly while with the help of a log she tried to reach a high place. - "Now I practically have the balance of a princess!" - She declared while standing on her toes.
When he heard that he stopped adjusting the lights to get closer to Amitie, he definitely had to hold that log but-
suddenly a red puyo got too close to her feet, Sig quickly noticed it and was going to move it away before Amitie stepped on it but her steps were too slow.
- "Eh? WHAAAAAA"
- "Amitie!"
*PUFFF*
Amitie fell on her stomach on something floffy like a coat. After opening her eyes, she could see that she had fallen on top of her best friend in a compromising pose. He was just staring at her, but Amitie could feel his face getting hotter and hotter. His face was so close that she could feel his breathing and stare into his heterochromatic eyes, something that Amitie could only think was beautiful... they seemed about to kiss.
-”-S-S-SORRY!”-Amitie screamed as she quickly stood up and felt like her heart was going to jump out of her from embarrassment.
-”It doesn't matter”-Sig said calmly as he cleaned his coat with snow-”Just...be more careful Ami”-He said as he looked away avoiding eye contact. In truth, deep down, he felt that feeling of butterflies again.
-”Y-Yes, emm, we should start putting the cauldron with milk on the fire, right? Hahaha”-Amitie quickly avoided what happened before and began to look for something else to do.
-”Ye, I will go get the ingredients”-Sig also began to take out of his bag some ingredients that he brought from home while he hopes to escape the situation.
... ... ...
After forgetting that event
Amitie gets very happy because she can't wait to turn on the magic-activated Christmas lights, it's already dark and it's starting to get a little cold so Amitie lights the campfire to warm up while she places marshmallows attached to a stick around it and meanwhile Sig placed a pot with milk and a melting chocolate bar on top, Sig added some honey to make it taste sweeter and some cornstarch that he also used so the cookies would be softer and a pinch of vanilla, while she was mixing Amitie finished preparing a sandwich that consists of two cookies with a marshmallow and a piece of chocolate in the middle.
-"Can I try one?" -Sig said as he continued to stir the hot chocolate ingredients so that no clumps would appear.
-"Okey! Open your mouth" -Amitie approached him with the prepared dessert.
-”a”-Sig slightly opened his mouth as he took a bite.-”*nom”
-”They're delicious aren't they”-Amitie finished eating the cookie she was holding.
-”...that was for me”-Sig pouted.
-”come on you can have more later”-Amitie laughed.
Both sit together as they watch the fire. At midnight some fireworks usually light up high and are clearly seen in the sky, Amitie smiles watching the light show although on the other hand Sig can't help but look away and contemplate Amitie as if her smile at this moment was more dazzling than the fireworks around her, it was strange but he felt trapped in her gaze.
With a cup of hot chocolate milk in their hands, marshmallows and cookies… They spent the night late just talking and laughing about various things that from the outside look like the most silly and meaningless conversations, but for them it was something special that they would never forget.
-”Hey Sig, when we were making the cookies I forgot to ask you something”
-”?”
-”Do you like Christmas? What is it like spending it with everyone?”
…it seems that now it was Amitie’s turn to ask about what his Christmas was like
-”...mhh”-he thought for a moment while he looked at the stars in the sky partially covered by the cave.
-”I mean I was curious too”
-”I don’t know”
-”Huh?”
-”Personally I didn’t like it very much”
-”Huh?!”-Amitie seemed somewhat shocked-”No?!”
-”No, but it's for something personal”
-”...”-Amitie stared at him undecided whether to ask him why that matter after all he had said it was personal but still she wanted to understand more about her friend and why he say he didn't like that day.
-”*sigh* I just don't like being the center of attention”-sighed Sig while opening up a little to Amitie, after all she seemed so confused and it was okay if she was the one he told it to, he didn't know why but Amitie knew a lot about him and he felt safe trusting her.
-”center of attention?”
-”Yes, for this”-He looked at his hand for a moment with a somewhat gloomy face-”I think they were just worrying about me, but I still don't like it, I don't like to think about it or how it will be in the future”
Sig didn't like this holiday very much, he had always spent this evening at home where many of his relatives came but he hated it since he could see how he was constantly looked at for his strange condition that he acquired or how his parents used to talk about it all the time with the relatives who asked how it was expanding.
Apparently that topic became the center of attention in family conversations with endless questions so he simply stayed in his room reading one of his insect books or feeding the insects in his terrarium and talking to them until he fell asleep early.
-”Ah! s-sorry, I remember"- Amitie gave an answer that surprised Sig a bit, who turned to look at her and Amitie had a sympathetic and also somewhat tender look with her eyes slightly half-closed. -"You told me that yourself that time at the school festival, about how It was progressing... that made you a bit anxious, I'm sorry for bringing up the subject again" - she looked sadly to the side while blaming herself, tonight was supposed to be special and her curiosity and meddling was just ruining everything... again- "I ruined it, didn't I?" - she felt a lump forming in her throat.
- "That's not true"
- "...?"
-”It changed with Amitie, it’s fun this way”-He smiled as he reached for her shoulder and tried to calm his agitated friend-”I like it with you”
-”*thump *thump W-with me?”
-”...Yes”
-”That…that too, I like it with you too! ”-Amitie stammered shyly but also with a very happy tone
She smiled with such an innocent and genuine smile that Sig could swear that the darkness of the night was completely illuminated by it and filled with quality golden lights like a dream. It was so beautiful that it even seemed unreal...
... ... ...
Amitie wanted to stay like that for a while longer but a yawn from her lips made Sig insist on going to sleep, but Amitie had to warn him then…
-”Oh Sig, be careful with the corners, there may be spiders or centipedes and-”
-”!!!”-Sig's eyes suddenly lit up-”centipedes!”-He exclaimed while at the same time wondering what other insects had hidden from the winter cold here-”Great! I've heard that the ones in the caves are small and a nice brownish yellow or chestnut color-”
Sig continued talking excitedly about all the species he could find while Amitie felt relieved that Sig didn't feel uncomfortable sleeping tonight in a cave almost out in the open next to her, also grateful to have a friend almost as peculiar as she could be.
-“…I’m glad you don’t dislike it”-Amitie whispered lightly with a small smile
-“...? ”-Sig in his little hyperfixation attack looked at her again but Amitie shook her head.
-“It’s nothing, I’m going to get the sleeping bags”-Amitie ran to her backpack to see her sleeping bag.
… … …
Sig wrapped himself in his sleeping bag next to Amitie while he watched some spiders weave their webs on the edges of the entrance and part of the stars high up in the corners, seeing this Sig thinks that he has spent Christmas like he never thought he would, before he believed that Christmas was characterized by spending it in homes, but somehow while he saw Amitie also lying in her sleeping bag looking at the stars next to him… this was definitely better than any Christmas at home… with Amitie it was better.
-"I love sleeping in the cave"- said Sig while caressing a small spider at his side
-"R-Really?!"- Amitie was still somewhat confused by Sig's decision to sleep tonight with her.
-"Yes, there are so many spiders weaving beautiful webs, they are so talented! Don't you think so?"
-"Y-Yeah"-Amitie cheered up as she pulled her sleeping bag closer to him so they wouldn't be too cold-"You know... I'm so glad you're having fun"-suddenly Amitie's enthusiastic tone calmed down a bit, they seemed a bit lower than usual.
-"...always fun with you"-Sig smiled after the splendid day he'd had spending Christmas away from home but he still felt warmer and cooler at the same time-"It's the best Christmas thank you"-Sig took her hand as Amitie's cheeks began to blush and little flecks formed in her eyes.
-"Ami?"-Sig worried a little at her unexpected reaction-"Does something hurt?"
-"N-No, it's nothing "-she waved her hands in panic as she quickly wiped her tears with her forearm. -"It's just that when You said that, I felt so happy that I think my emotions got a little out of control ahaha" - she laughed embarrassed while continuing to rub her eyes.
-"...ow" - Sig didn't know what to do or say now, he felt frozen seeing this reaction from Amitie.
-"It's just that it's the first time I spend Christmas with someone, it's mostly just me and everyone goes with their families and-and I actually lied, it didn't like it at all..." - Suddenly Amitie confessed the truth that she had kept to herself when they were preparing the cookies and opened up emotionally.
-"..." - Sig was surprised by Amitie's sudden response as he tried to calm her down by stroking her head and delicately placing his right hand to dry her tears - "it's okay you still have Ragamuffin, Lidelle, even four eyes"
-"Ahaha You're right, I'm very lucky to have them"
-"..."
-"But sometimes when I look out the windows at everyone happy I can't help but feel a little jealous...but I think I'm just being envious"-She lamented while twisting her hair anxiously-"But I don't have to be anymore, because I finally spent Christmas with part of my family"
-"..."
-”It was so fun but I was a lot worried, I was trying to make everything go well and be perfect, I was worried because I didn't want you to dislike it, I wanted you to want to spend it with me again, I-I...I am really selfish right?"-she laughed sadly
-"I would love to"-Sig said as he interrupted and Amitie remained frozen in silence just looking at him-”this way...I would love to spend it together again”
They both looked at each other for a long moment before Amitie's face blushed thinking about how to break this commotion in her heart.
-"A-ammh I, I don't know what to say"
-"...Amitie, would you like to?"-Sig extended his pinky, a pinky promise-"would you like to continue spending it like this?"
Amtie happily decided, smiling, she nodded and interlaced her pinky although there was still some water in her eyes
they both swore it in the depths of their hearts, wishing to stay together.
- “I think we should go to sleep, right?” If we stay up all night talking, Santa might not leave us our presents" - Amitie said as she pointed at the milk and cookies on the edge of the cave where some spiders had decided to go snoop around a bit.
-"Mmm really we have to go to sleep?"
-"I don't think it will be hard for you, right?" - Amitie joked as she gently nudged her jokingly.
-"won't be, assured" - he laughed as he closed her eyes -"Good night Ami"
-"..."
-"Ami?"
Suddenly Sig felt a hug gently enveloping him as Amitie pressed her face against her side and Sig felt a bit of warm water tickling her ribs.
-"...Thanks Sig" - Amitie whispered lightly as she began to fall asleep -"I like you so... so much" - as she spoke she fell asleep.
-"...Sig took her arms out of her sleeping bag and also hug-"Me too Ami~" he smiled as they both fell asleep.
(10 years later, December 25th)
-”Come on Sig, time to wake up!”
-”Mmmh, 5 more minutes”
-”We don’t have any of that! Lots of fun things await us today”
A small open tent, a cold place far from Prim Town, yet they were both together…
Sig’s hair had grown longer and Amitie’s face looked more mature, every day she looked more like a goddess next to Sig’s sleepy face.
-”Don’t you want to see all the decorations and stores? Ah! You have to choose a special gift that you really like in one, I’ll give it to you!”
-”Mmmh nooo”
-”Huh?”
Amitie was embraced by his hands and when he applied a little force he gently pulled her and Amitie fell on top of Sig while she had her face on his shoulder.
-”I want Amitie as a gift”- Sig said, still somewhat sleepy, as he hugged Amitie like a stuffed animal and closed his eyes again.
-”Y-You can't ask for that”- Amitie said with a red face.
-”Why?”
Suddenly Sig felt a kiss on his lips that made him open his eyes again, his lips wrapped softly before letting go a second later, as he looked at her warm, happy and somewhat mocking gaze.
-”Because that's something you already have, silly”- she said, emphasizing the ring on his ring finger.
-”...well then… I want more time to sleep… with you”- he said as he hugged Amitie again and snuggled up.
-”Okay, you win”- Amitie said as she pouted and began to snuggle up to him-”but then we'll go visit the square”
-”Yeah *yawn* yeah... zzz”- he fell asleep again as Amitie caressed her lover's locks of hair and laughed happily.
-”It's a promise”- she said as she also slept a little more.
End (´ ∀ ` *)