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The faint crackle of the fireplace filled the room, its glow reflecting off the delicate ornaments still hanging from the small tree in the corner. Raine hadn’t yet found the time to take them down, though it wasn’t for lack of noticing. Every so often, her eyes would drift to the tree before inevitably falling back to the open book in her lap– a book that still carried the newness of its recent gifting. She traced her fingers over the embossed cover, savoring the texture as much as the words within.
It wasn’t that she’d forgotten about the decorations. It was just that curling up with the rare text Zelos had given her felt like a much higher priority. She told herself she’d take the ornaments down tomorrow, but she’d made the same promise yesterday, and the day before that. Perhaps she could get it done now, if she could manage to pull herself from the comfort of her loveseat.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, drawing her attention sharply to the front of the house. She frowned, closing the book carefully before standing. Who could possibly need something from her at- she glanced at the clock hung beside the door- 10:32 PM on December 31st? Preposterous. Still, her curiosity outweighed her irritation. She crossed to the door and opened it, her breath catching when she saw who the uninvited guest was.
The infamous Tethe’allan Chosen stood on her porch, a crooked grin on his face and a bottle of sparkling wine in one hand. He looked, as always, perfectly put together, his crimson hair catching the faint light spilling out from her doorway. “Happy almost New Year, Professor!” he declared, his tone as bright as the stars scattered across the cold night sky.
“Zelos?” Raine’s brow furrowed, her surprise quickly tempered by her usual guarded tone. “What are you doing here?”
“Visiting my favorite person, of course.” He held up the wine like it was proof of his noble intentions. “Can’t let you start the new year off all by yourself. That’s just bad karma.”
“I wasn’t–” She sighed, cutting herself off. What was the point in protesting? He was here, and he clearly wasn’t leaving anytime soon. “Come in before you catch your death out there.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” he said, stepping inside and giving the room a once-over. His sharp gaze took in the small tree and the remaining baubles on the fireplace. “Still cozy, I see. You really know how to make a guy feel welcome.”
The half-elf followed his gaze, sheepishly admitting, “I’ve been meaning to put everything away, but I’ve been... busy.”
“Busy reading that?” Zelos nodded toward the book on the armrest of her chair, the grin on his face softening slightly. “Looks like I made the right call, huh?”
Her cheeks warmed, but she only shrugged. “You really didn’t need to go to so much trouble.”
“Sure I did. But hey, we’re getting off-topic. I brought booze!” He held it up like a trophy. “Care to join me for a drink?”
With a small sigh that was more fond than exasperated, she turned toward the kitchen to find them some usable glasses. “Why not, I guess. But you’re opening it. I’m not going to be responsible for cleaning up any spills.”
“Trust me,” he assured, following close behind, corkscrew already in hand. “I’m a certified professional. You’re in good hands.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” she replied, grabbing two mugs from the cabinet and placing them on the table.
“... Do you not own wine glasses, woman?”
“Why would I? I don’t drink, and my brother most certainly doesn’t either.”
“We know what I’m getting you for Valentine’s Day,” Zelos mumbled underneath his breath, shaking his head in amusement.
“What was that?”
“Oh, nothing! Just claiming that cute blue one!”
The man made quick work of the cork, his movements practiced but still accompanied by his typical dramatic flair. The pop echoed softly in the little kitchen, and a slight fizz bubbled up before he expertly tipped the bottle and poured the sparkling liquid into the mismatched cups Raine had provided. He handed one to her with a wink, his fingers briefly brushing hers.
“To new beginnings,” he said, raising his own glass with an easy grin.
Raine studied him for a moment before she clinked her mug against his, a small, resigned smile tugging at her lips. The first sip was crisp and refreshing, and though she rarely indulged in alcohol, it felt appropriate tonight. “To quieter evenings.”
“Hey, with me around, quiet’s overrated,” the redhead quipped, taking a sip before glancing back toward the living room. “Now, come on. You’ve got a fire going, a book waiting, and a yummy drink to enjoy. Let’s bring in the new year!”
She shook her head, her smile persisting as she followed him into the other room. The fire cast flickering shadows across the walls, its warmth a stark contrast to the chill outside. Zelos plopped down onto one end of the couch with his usual nonchalant grace, cradling his drink like he’d been there a thousand times before.
The professor settled on the opposite side, tucking her legs beneath her as she reached for the thick tome she’d set down earlier. She glanced at the ex-Chosen, expecting him to start talking or rambling, but instead, he leaned back, letting the comfortable silence stretch between them.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The only sounds were the occasional crackle of the fire and the faint clink of mugs being set on the table. It wasn’t an awkward silence– quite the opposite. It was easy, natural, a quiet that felt like a rare gift.
Raine’s thoughts drifted as she stared into the small flames, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her cup. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d shared a moment like this with someone. Most of her days were spent in solitude, her responsibilities leaving little room for companionship. Yet here was Zelos, interrupting her peaceful routine in a way that didn’t feel like a disruption at all.
Across from her, the man reached for a book she’d left on the side table, flipping it open with a kind of reverence that surprised her. He skimmed a few pages before settling back against the cushions, looking quite pleased with himself, “Mind if I borrow this one? I might as well try to look like I fit in around here.”
She studied him for a moment, struck by the way he seemed entirely at ease, as though this were exactly where he was meant to be. “Go ahead. Just don’t dog-ear the pages.”
He gave a mock gasp. “What kind of savage do you take me for, Professor?”
“You don’t want me to answer that– your ego might not survive.”
Raine nestled deeper into the cushions, the heat from the fire mingling with the soft fizz of the wine on her tongue. Across from her, Zelos appeared completely at ease, his book balanced in one hand while the other clutched the mug that he happily sipped from. The firelight danced across his features, softening the sharp edges of his usual machismo. It was a side of him she rarely saw– serene, unassuming, and utterly present.
For a moment, she allowed herself to appreciate the simplicity of it. No pretense, no obligations. Just two people sharing the kind of peaceful company she’d forgotten was possible. It was strange, almost disarming, how natural it felt.
When Zelos finally broke the silence a little while later, he did so by nudging her with his foot and with a comment of, “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever done this before.”
“What, drink wine out of a mug? Or do you mean read a book?”
He laughed, hard and genuine, at her comment, “No, I mean just sitting around like this. No big parties, no crowds, no noise. Just... relaxing.”
Her gaze softened as she regarded him. For all his flamboyance, there was something honest about the way he seemed to appreciate the simplicity of the moment. “And?”
“And I think I could get used to it.”
Raine hummed softly, returning her attention to her book. She didn’t read, though, not right away. Instead, she let the quiet ease between them, the wind outside her window and the turning of Zelos’ pages filling the space where words might have gone.
Hours slipped by unnoticed as they fell into a comfortable rhythm. Reading, sipping their drinks, occasionally exchanging quiet observations about the texts in their hands (she was a bit off-put by the fact that her guest had picked up one of her steamy historical romance novels, and part of her was kicking herself for not putting it away, but it wasn’t like Zelos hadn’t experienced firsthand the things contained in those raunchy pages) – it was a kind of intimacy Raine had never realized she craved, the kind where words weren’t necessary to fill the space.
It wasn’t until the clock on the wall chimed softly that she realized how late it had become. The fire had burned low, and the wine bottle had long since been sitting empty on the table between them.
“You should stay the night,” she said suddenly. Her tone was practical, but there was a softness beneath it. “It’s too late for you to be flying back.”
Zelos raised a brow, clearly surprised. “You sure about that? I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”
“You’re already here,” she replied, her voice matter-of-fact, yet still very gentle. “And I’m not going to be responsible for you falling asleep mid-flight.”
“Well, when you put it that way...” He grinned, though it softened quickly. “Thanks, Raine.”
“Take my bed. You’ll sleep much more comfortably there.”
Leaning back into the couch cushions, fully intending on getting comfortable for the night, he asked, “Your bed? What about you?”
“I’ll sleep right here,” she replied with a small shrug, as though the matter were already decided. “It’s fine, I don’t mind. I’ve done it many times before.”
He let out a sharp huff, shaking his head. “Yeah, no. Not happening. You’re not giving up your bed for me, Raine. Not in your own home.”
“It’s the right thing to do,” the half-elf countered, crossing her arms. “You’re the guest.”
“And I’m not going to let you sleep on this tiny couch while I sprawl out in your bed like some royal jerk. I like to think I’ve got better manners than that.”
“It’s not about manners.” Rolling her eyes, she rose from the loveseat and collected their empty mugs from the table, placing them neatly in the kitchen sink. She then made her way to the linen closet to gather an armful of two pillows and spare blankets, and returned to the living room to hand one set to Zelos. “Here.”
He eyed her with a wry grin, taking the items from her. “Oh, so you finally see things my way?”
“No.”
Before he could respond, she quickly turned off any remaining lights and proceeded to curl up on the far end of the couch, pulling the remaining blanket tightly around herself. She wrapped her arms around her legs, her small frame taking up as little space as possible.
Zelos stared at her in the dimness of the room, incredulous. “Are you kidding me?”
“Not at all,” Raine deadpanned in response, her voice muffled slightly by the fluffy throw pulled up to her chin. “Now shut up and get some sleep.”
He let out a laugh, shaking his head in defeat. “You’re impossible.”
“So I’ve been told.”
With a resigned sigh, he snuggled up on the opposite end of the couch, stretching his legs out as far as he could without encroaching on her space. He adjusted his pillow, settling in with surprising ease. “Okay, fine. Sweet dreams, Professor.”
“Sweet dreams,” she murmured, her voice softer now.
The fire burned gently in the hearth as the room grew still, the warmth lulling them both into a shared serenity. Minutes ticked by, the only sound filling the room was the rhythmic crackle of the wood and the occasional rustle of the blankets as one or the other shifted to be more comfortable.
Just as the woman began to drift off, Zelos spoke again, his voice low and surprisingly gentle. “By the way, Happy New Year again, Raine.”
“To you too, Zel,” she hummed softly, her sleep-laden tone carrying a trace of gentleness. “Thank you for coming over.”
And with that, the small living room fell into silence, the pair sharing the same tiny couch, content in the silent comfort of each other’s presence.