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December picked up her guitar, looking up at Kris sitting on the carpet of her bedroom.
"Ready?" she asked, smiling widely, filled with excitement.
Noelle shifted uncomfortably from her place next to Kris, cutting them off before they could reply. "Uh...a-are you sure mom won't find out, Dess?" Getting found out listening to a song like this was not a good idea. Mom would get mad, and probably ground December and not let Kris over for a while. ”That would be the worst…” Noelle thought.
Hearing her sister's tone of pure concern, December tilted her head, her face shifting to show the fact she cared. "Don't worry, Ellie. Mom's super busy at her boring job, and dad wouldn't snitch on us. You know that, right?"
Noelle looked to Kris, trying to see if they were worried too or not. Kris merely smiled, their signature smile that only warned of danger. Noelle sighed, turning back to December.
"Okay, if you say so..." She moved a bit from her seat, bringing her knees to her chest, half hiding her face.
December's shoulders dropped, but she smiled. Maybe to reassure Noelle. "Aww, don't be silly Noelle. We'll be fine, there's nothing to worry about. Mom won't come home early- you know she doesn't do that." This little speech always preceded the moments December got to drag Noelle into her mischief. She understood why (Noelle was so eager to make their parents happy all the time), but at one point she had to have fun, too. Life with the rules their mom put was boring.
Noelle squinted, but decided to let it go. She was right, mom didn't usually arrive early, and if she did, she would call beforehand. Either way, December wasn't going to not do it even if begged not to (maybe if mom was home, though...). "Her life, her rules", as she says sometimes.
Meanwhile the sisters talked, Kris was busy trying to destroy the carpet by ripping it apart. December noticed. "HEY! Kris, don't do that!"
Kris flinched as December dropped to grab their wrists after gently putting down her guitar. (It was... majorly expensive, she liked it, and mom would go absolutely mad if she broke it.)
"...sorry." Kris mumbled, face heating up. They'd done this a couple times already, and December got reminded of the fact she probably had to find them something they could play around with without destroying stuff. She shoved the thought away to be addressed later. They wouldn't need it right now anyway.
Kris turned their wrists a bit to tell December to release them, and she did quickly. "It's alright, don't worry. I'll try to find you something you can play around with other than my carpet," December said, almost laughing.
Putting their hands on their lap and immediately playing with them, Kris smiled and giggled lightly. "Thank you." Just as December was about to reply, Kris straightened up. "Can you play the song now??" they asked, excited.
December smirked, standing up. "You silly," she teased, and Kris smiled. "Yeah, I can." She turned around, grabbing her guitar. "Okay, you two, ready?"
Noelle nodded as Kris practically bounced from their seat.
December turned to her computer, putting on the song she had been practising for a couple weeks now. She'd gone to the forest with Asriel and a music player to practice the song without being interrupted, and also so Noelle wouldn't hear. Oh... she wished Asriel was here. He was being forced to help out with cleaning his house, though. He was upset too (he really wanted to see Kris' reaction), but only Kris got away with going out.
Kris didn't really like being recorded, either…
When the song started, December got the guitar into position. She took a deep breath, and started to sing too while she started playing. There weren't any vocals in the song, but the lyrics were written and it was easy to figure out how they were meant to sound.
Noelle perked up, almost instantly recognizing the song. She smiled just a bit, but it reached her eyes anyway. Kris was swaying side to side with a smile- they hadn't heard this song yet, but they were enjoying it. Where did Dess even find such cool songs? Every time she played something, it was awesome.
As she sang, December kept her eyes on her guitar, dancing along as best she could. She loved this song, how could she not dance along too?
When the demon heart is crying
and the blood is gushing bright
raise up your bat for the burning fight
When your hope's slowly dying
and your future's lost its rights
raise up your bat and face the fright
Let's knock 'em dead into the night!
Noelle murmured along, even if she thought the lyrics were a bit... inappropriate, like their mom would say. And Kris' too, but anyway. She smiled, seeing how much Kris and December were enjoying it. If they liked it, she could like it too.
Kris, on the other hand, had stood up, bouncing and swaying back and forth on the beat. The tone of the song changed…
Come follow me into the dark
with your heart as the ark
which shall shine you the way...
Because I'm with you in the dark
with your heart as my mark
which shall guide you the way
through the waves...
December opened her eyes as she sang, looking between Noelle and Kris, as if what she was singing was more something she was telling them. She gave them a nod, and both of them nodded back.
As that part of the song ended, she closed her eyes again, focusing on her guitar and singing once more. She smiled wide, bopping her head to the music.
Kris sat back next to Noelle, grabbing her arm and shaking her a bit. She startled. "W-what?"
Kris smiled, their eyes crinkling slightly. "Isn't it so cool?"
Noelle smiled back. "...it is."
Kris got up again, letting go of Noelle's arm as they put full attention to December again. December herself giggled at their interaction, but she pretended she didn't hear them. It was too adorable to make them (or, Noelle, specifically) embarrassed over.
After a bit of debate with herself, Noelle sang a bit louder, but her voice was low enough that it was still quieter than December’s, layering nicely.
Both Kris and December looked at Noelle, making her lose a bit of her confidence from having eyes on her- but Kris’ smile said all she needed to know. She smiled as she sang too, looking away to see December’s matching smile.
When the demon heart is crying
and the blood is gushing bright
raise up your bat for the burning fight
When your hope's slowly dying
and your future's lost its rights
raise up your bat and face the fright
Let's knock 'em dead into the night!
Noelle got up at the last moment to sing the last note of the song louder, even overpowering December by just a bit.
Kris cheered, raising their arms and running to hug Noelle. “That was great!,” they practically yelled, but being careful to not yell in Noelle's ear directly.
Noelle's face heated up immediately, patting Kris on the back to tell them to ease up. Kris separated. “Sorry- why don't you sing more? You sound awesome…”
December walked up to them, ruffling Noelle's hair just the slightest bit. “‘Cuz she's a scaredy cat. Your stage fright really sucks, y’know? You'd make a great singer,” December half-teased, hugging Noelle after.
“Ah…thank you, hah-” The door opens.
The three turn to look at the door.
“Kris. Your mother wants you home. Now.” Carol stood in the doorway, turning the atmosphere cold and unwelcoming.
Kris nods, grabbing their backpack. Carol goes outside, and Kris looks back at December and Noelle to wave and mouth a “bye”.
They both wave back.
The door closes.
December sighs and sits down on her bed, patting the space next to her so Noelle knew to sit down with her too.
“Bummer…” December mumbled, looking at the closed door. “When they're older, they won't have to go home so early and we can play together for longer,” she grins. “Wouldn't that be cool?”
Noelle smiles, still looking at the door. “Yeah, it would.”