Niko

The storm continued to bluster outside as I woke the next day. I frowned at the snow piled along the windowsill, frosty condensation still covering most of the glass. Heading to breakfast, I found Lucia and the others. Most of them were triple-layered in sweaters or wrapped in blankets– Sasha, for the last one.

"Cold?" I asked rhetorically, slipping onto the bench and scooting in close to Lucia.

"Duh." She responded, passing over a steamy bowl of porridge.

I dug in. "Only three days till Christmas!"

"Yeah. I gotta wrap my gift today." Lucia agreed, hunching her shoulders against another chilly draft.

"Same." I sighed, "but I suck at it."

She chuckled. "How 'bout I give you hand then?"

I paused. "Yeah, that's fine. You can help."

Lucia rolled her eyes. "Honestly, I know you don't have me."

I raised my brows, setting aside my empty bowl. "Really? How?"

"Please, I saw the horrified look on your face when you pulled the name; you clearly had no clue what you were going to get."

I pulled a face. "You're right. I would've known exactly what to get if it was you."

"Oh, shush." Lucia rolled her eyes. I burst into laughter. She dug an elbow into my ribs. "If you're done eating, then let's bounce."

"Oh, yeah, okay." I stood up with her, looping our arms together. "Shall we do it in your room?"

"Yeah. Tape and paper's already there."

"Okay, cool." I nodded, "I'll go grab my gift." I untangled my arm from hers and headed to my room. It was freezing inside as I glanced around and fished the box out from under my bed. I shoved it under my shirt— a poor way to hide it, I know, but I'm not very creative— and hurried down the hallway to Lucia's. I made it without stopping, though I did get some weird looks, and closed the door with a relieved exhale.

"Hi." Lucia greeted as I stepped over to her. She finished taping the last part of her wrapped present. "There." She pushed the perfectly wrapped gift aside.

I gaped. "How did you do that?"

She laughed and rolled her eyes. "It's simple, I'll show you. Here, give that to me." I passed her my box, watching as she measured out the size on the wrapping paper. Lucia talked as she folded and taped the paper around the box, but I zoned out, my gaze fixed on her face.

"And that's how it's done." Lucia glanced up, meeting my eyes. "Uh... Niko?" She waved a hand in front of my face.

I jumped, feeling heat rush to my face. "Oh, uh, sorry. I spaced out."

"Yeah, I can tell." Lucia tucked a flyaway from her braid behind her ear, drawing my eyes again. "Anyway, here." She pushed the wrapped present over.

"Wow, thanks." I touched the smooth paper, picking it up. "C'mon, we should go put these under the tree." I stood up, gift under one arm, and offered the other hand to help her up too.

"Oh, yeah." Lucia nodded, placing her palm in mine and allowing me to pull her up.

I opened the door for her, hooking my arm through hers as we walked down the hallway. Tazi and Lizzie were in the hallway, they broke apart as we passed, both red in the face and waving awkwardly.

"How much d'you wanna bet that they were snogging?" I whispered in Lucia's ear.

"Excuse me?" She glanced at me, feigning horror to hide her smirk.

"I mean, did you see Sasha and Zay yesterday?" I made an exaggerated kissy-face, adding some smooching noises for effect.

"Niko!" She giggled and smacked my arm. "Don't be gross."

"Too late." I laughed and shrugged it off good-naturedly.

"Which tree?"

We'd arrived in the hall, and were trying to decide which of the four Christmas trees to place the gifts under.

"I think that one was the one that we decorated with the others." Lucia indicated the biggest one.

"Yeah, I remember." I nodded. "Plus, Navia just put a gift under it."

"Oh." Lucia let her eyes follow the Arctican girl. "I didn't even see her."

I raised a brow, walking up to the tree with her. I smiled at Navia as we passed, and the ginger offered a wry grin in return.

"I'll put mine here." Lucia crouched and placed her present underneath the tree, in perfect view.

I shrugged. "Does it really matter?" I, too, knelt and put down my present. Christmas was never this extravagant in my village, where everyone was either dirt poor or rich as a king.

"Hm." Lucia pulled me back to my feet. She looked around the hall, slight sadness etching her irises. "This reminds me of home." She sighed.

"How so?" I frowned at the decorations. In my neighbourhood, people had no trees, tinsel, bells, ornaments or stockings. At most, we had a stick-woven wreath hung on the door and a meal where everyone had one full plate.

"My father and I would always decorate for Christmas." She answered nostalgically. "My cousins came in from the countryside and stayed with us, then my aunts and uncles would pay us a visit and bring tokens and souvenirs from the wonderful places they'd explored."

"That sounds..." I trailed off, thinking about my own meagre Christmas celebrations.

"What? Wonderful? Amazing? Yeah." She paused and shook her head. "But then again, being here with all of you is just as good."

I felt my cheeks grow hot again. "Really?"

"Duh." She rolled her eyes. "I don't just talk for the pleasure of hearing my own voice."

I raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Lucia narrowed her eyes.

"Nothing!" I responded innocently, bolting away.

"Nikooooo!" I heard Lucia called, laughter and footsteps echoing through the cold, drafty castle as she chased me. "Get back here!"

"Can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!" I called over my shoulder in a sing-song voice, all the while giggling gleefully.

As I raced past the windows, Lucia following on my heels, the storm never let up its wrath outside. It sure was going to be a white Christmas this year.

It's late and I'm sorryyyyy. I was very busy today (doing last minute Christmas shopping whoops-) anyway, I'll see y'all tomorrow with the next special! Stay tuned and happy holidays!

edit: 22/12/22
awww
some more edits on this guy, clearly I was v tired writing it but I forgive past me
anyways enjoy!!!