Oh boy I'm late. Ended up being significantly more busy than around this same time last year. But there's still snow on the ground, so I guess it could be worse. Anyway, here we are. I don't have a proofreader, so apologies in advance for any silly mistakes.
Victim: Feurox
Prompt: This year I want to see what home life is like over the Christmas holiday for one of the cast characters that is NOT depicted in game (characters in the class CG are A-OK).
Slowing down to a jog, I struggle to wipe the slush from my eyes. My eyebrows are already caked in snowflakes, and I may as well be running with my eyes closed. Oh well. We know the path well enough anyway, so we'll just do it by feel.
People used to tell me I was crazy for going out in this kind of weather, but they'd understand if they really tried it. The stinging feeling of the snow pelting your face, the drag on your feet as you push through the slush, the sea of white illuminated by the postlamps.. it really reminds you that you're alive.
I'll have to keep my eye on Emi though, it being her first time running in this kind of weather. I told her we didn't need to go today, but she wasn't having it. Maybe she wanted to go, or maybe she could tell that I wanted to go and didn't want to disappoint me. Either way, here we are. Her legs are kicking up in an awkward rhythm as she seems to be trying to get a feel for how best to approach the terrain. No sign of complaining in her body language though.
Her head aimed down at the ground in front of her in focus, Emi doesn't seem to notice that I'd stopped for a moment. She's about bowl right into me, so I ready myself to intercept her with a hug. At the moment of impact, I wrap my arms around her waist and lift her up to eye level. She's not impressed.
"What are you doing?" She spits out irritably, as though I'd just stolen the dessert off her plate.
"Just making sure you're okay." I reply.
"Put me down, I want to keep running." She pouts.
"Okay." I kiss her on the forehead, and the snow crunches lightly underfoot as she's lowered onto it. Not wanting to waste any more time either, I pivot and dash forward.
**
Before long, we hit a wall. Almost literally. Here we usually take an easy-to-miss entrance to a humble little forest trail. It's not well-developed or anything, and there are no interesting landmarks of note, but it gets us further away from the annoying sounds of distant cars. I'd wondered if anyone else around here even knew this trail existed. However, judging by the way its entrance has been turned into a dumping ground for snow, there doesn't seem to be much interest after all. It's almost comical how thoroughly our path has been blocked; somehow it's already taller than me.
"Those idiots!" Why'd they put the snow here!?"
"It's okay, Emi. They probably thought nobody would want to go in there like this anyway. And maybe they've got a point. It wouldn't have been very safe."
"It's not fair! We should block their driveways with snow, see how they like it!"
Seems like Emi's still got plenty of energy to burn. Well, time for a different plan, I suppose. I pick up a clump of snow from the ground, ball it up, and send it flying.
..A direct hit! Following a graceful u-curve, the small projectile plops apart over her pink winter beanie. That should get her attention.
"HEY! You.." She seems to struggle with how to express her irritation.
Action over words, she decides. Using both arms, she clumps together an ambitious-looking snow cannonball. Seeing well in advance how this will turn out, I can't suppress a little laugh as she proceeds with her work. When she at last attempts to toss the snowball with both hands, it partly crumples into dominant hand on release, uselessly falling down two feet in front of her.
"Here, watch how I do it", I say calmly. Emi watches with quiet determination as I demonstrate my snowball crafting method. Whenever I try to teach her something, no matter how silly, she always pays careful attention. She never expresses it with words, but in these moments my heart is warmed by her trust and respect for me.
..Not that it lessens her indignation at all. Emi is a quick learner, and she acts with little hesitation. Soon we find ourselves in a proper little snow fight. The snowfall has largely calmed down by now, and our makeshift arena is pleasantly lit by some Christmas lights from the nearby houses. Perfect conditions for a fight to the death. Or at least, a fight to having an uncomfortable volume of snow slipped under our clothes. Emi makes up for her relatively short limbs with raw determination, and I quickly find that I can't afford to go easy on her.
"TAKE THIS!" Emi yells in a voice that probably woke at least two people up. I feel the impact cleanly on my right cheek. I probably should have taught her to avoid putting any ice in the snowballs.
**
When we finally walk back in the door at home, we look quite a sight. It was an all-out snow war, and we count ourselves each among the casualties and victors. Meiko is sitting in a nearby chair next to the heater, reading a book.
"What the heck happened to you two?" Meiko, despite not seeming particularly surprised, gives us a perfunctory expression of disapproval.
"Snow pirates" I offer simply. Emi and I had gotten our cover story straightened out beforehand.
"Yeah. Snow pirates." Says Emi as she fumbles with getting her boots off.
"Snow pirates, huh?" Asks Meiko, dripping with sarcasm. "You'd better have won, at least, if you're coming home like that."
"Yeah, we got them good!" Emi replies with obvious vigor.
"They'll know better than to show their filthy, snow-covered beards around these parts again." I add.
"I can always count on you two to keep us safe, can't I? Anyway, I've got the bath ready. Emi, please hang your stuff up to dry and get in. It's already past your bedtime."
"Okay." Emi replies softly, hanging up her winter gear and leaving the room, just as she was told. She's no big fan of her pre-bedtime baths, so I must have really tuckered her out back there. Come to think of it, I could use a bit of a rest myself.
**
About a half hour later, Emi is safely tucked into bed. A kiss on the forehead, and she went off to sleep without a fuss. A Christmas miracle if there ever was one. Meiko and I also have wordlessly settled in, relaxing in our favorite chairs. I examine how the multicolor lights on our little tabletop Christmas tree paint our simple living area in pleasant, soft hues. I thought it somewhat strange when Meiko suddenly bought it last month, but she's right; it really is adding to the atmosphere in here.
Meiko looks up from her book. "Did you really have to get her covered in that much snow? She's half your size."
"If you'd only seen the look in her eyes.. If I didn't defend myself, I probably wouldn't have come out alive" I reply.
A small giggle from Meiko. She well understands what I'm talking about.
"Christmas is a little different every year, isn't it? Emi's really growing up so fast." Says Meiko wistfully.
"It's true." I say. Ever since Emi was born, it's file like time has been running off at a blistering pace. I've learned by now that I need to fight hard not to miss a single moment.
"Before long we'll have to worry about her going off with some boy on Christmas night instead of fighting off snow pirates." I add.
"When the time comes, try not to kill the poor lad." Meiko teases. She knows I can get a little overprotective at times. Not that she isn't guilty of it too.
"And then, after all that, we'll have to figure out what to do with our Christmases when it's just the two of us." I say.
"I wouldn't worry about that. We've never had any trouble finding things to do together on Christmas night." Meiko says playfully.
I laugh. Over a decade Meiko and I have been together, and she's as exciting as ever. I almost want to.. no, best to get to bed early tonight. It's a long day at work tomorrow, and the roads are probably going to be quite treacherous. Better get as much rest as I can.
I pull myself up out of my chair. "I'll probably be out the door before I see either of you tomorrow morning, don't worry about getting up early. Goodnight, dear."
"Goodnight, love." Meiko reaches out for a kiss as I pass by.
I walk away from the warmth of the living area. How could anyone be so lucky, I wonder? I must savor every moment, as much as I can. Nothing is promised, after all. Sooner or later, everything finds its end.
