The Hearts Mirror (Twisted Wonderland One-Shots + Requests)

Gift (Malleus x Reader)

Happy Birthday Malleus!!!

~~

Malleus stood impatiently by the gates of the Ramshackle dorm, holding a small box in his hands, wrapped in appropriately-themed Diasmonia colors. The paper was black with a subtle thorn pattern as a design, flourished with a bright-green ribbon and bow on top. He was grateful Lilia had been around to help him - his first attempts at wrapping had been... less than favorable. 

Once that ordeal was finished, he'd approached your dorm with high spirits. How could he not? It was his precious Child of Man's birthday, after all! When you'd let slip it last night, he was confused to say the least. 

"Don't humans appreciate birthdays?" Malleus had questioned. As a fae, he could understand why those of his own race didn't celebrate it every time the day rolled around, but he was under the impression that humans were intent on making that day 'special'.

"Well, yes... it's just... different." You'd given the vague response with a sad smile. While Malleus hadn't understood the cause of your sadness at the time, he'd done his best to console you.

Later, when he'd explained what had happened to Lilia, he felt guilty for not realizing earlier. You were in a brand-new world, far, far away from your friends and family back home - and sure, you had your new friends here, but it likely didn't make up for the lack of people you usually spent your day with present. 

Though he never fully understood the appeal of birthdays, they were a famously human celebration, and therefore he wouldn't allow you to pass the day in sorrow. So he steeled his nerves and thought about the best way he could brighten your day. It had to be something birthday-themed, of course, but also something you actually wanted, not just something cheap like a banner you would throw away when the day was over, or a cake that would eventually disappear (probably very fast, knowing your beast companion's appetite).

With all that said and done, what better way was there to improve your mood then with a gift? Luckily for Malleus, he'd had the perfect gift in mind too. Something to lighten up not only your day but the rest of your time at Ramshackle.

He quickly assembled what was needed, waited with baited breath, and then turn up at your door. Being away from the main campus the weather fairies didn't typically pay much mind to your decrepit home, so the night was cold, but strangely enough the thought of your smiling face warmed him up from the inside. 

Even if it had been almost an hour.

The single line of thought made Malleus dejected. It wasn't as if it was late - he'd made sure to arrive earlier than your typical 3AM meeting time, and he'd seen movement inside the building a little bit after he arrived. So why weren't you coming out...?

Could you not see him? Or were you just not expecting him? Maybe he should just go up to the building and knock-

"Tsunotaro?"

Malleus turned to the side, blinking in surprise. There you stood, in a more casual version of your NRC uniform, a plastic bag with the logo for Mr. S's Mystery Shop on it, looking just as perplexed as you.

"How long have you been out here for? You've got goosebumps!" You continued, concern gracing your features. 

"I'd say... about an hour?" Malleus offered, not completely sure himself. 

"An hour!?" Your expression grew even more worried. You moved past him to open the gate and walk up the stairs to the dorm, indicating for him to follow. "Come on, come inside! It's not much, but the fireplace should warm you up at least a little bit."

"Ah, Child of Man, wait." Malleus held forward your gift towards you, intent on seeing your reaction.

He noticed a twinge of pink blossom on your cheeks once you realized what was in his hands. However you shook your head and indicated to Ramshackle. "Let's just focus on making sure you don't have a cold first."

With little choice left, Malleus followed you up the path and into Ramshackle, ducking his head to make sure his horns didn't make a dent in the door frame. He followed you further into your dorm, an odd but pleasant feeling spreading in his chest. 

He sat down on the couch nearest the fireplace as you instructed him to then took the chance to look around. Admittedly, it wasn't the best dorm he'd seen - there were cracks on the floor, tears in the wallpaper - but he liked it.

"There we go." His attention turned back to you as you backed away from the fireplace, rubbing your hands with a pleased smile on your face. He wasted no time pushing the gift back in your direction once you turned to him.

"Here." Was all he said, not seeing the point of saying much else. 

"...Thank you." You hummed in appreciation and took the seat next to him.

He watched with avid interest as you unwrapped the present slowly, feeling as if time was stopping. You open the box underneath, and...

...blinked in surprise.

"Seeds?" You pulled out the numerous picture-labelled packets from the box and looked at them in your hands, as if that would give anymore of an answer than when they were stored together.

"Rose seeds." Malleus clarified. "I'm unsure if there are any differences to growing roses that vary in color, but I can give you pointers on the white ones, at least."

You looked between Malleus and the seeds before letting out a laugh. That single peel of laughter was music to Malleus' ears.

"Luckily, I don't think they do." You spoke through your laughs. Once your laughter had mainly subsided, you looked up at Malleus with light dancing around your eyes. "...Thank you. You didn't have to."

"I wanted to." Malleus replied honestly, his smile making butterflies erupt in your chest. "Seeing you always makes my day a bit brighter, so I wanted to do the same for you for once."

The pink returned to your face at his bluntness. He probably didn't even realize how much his words meant, did he?

No matter. You lean against him, the happy smile Malleus had wanted you to have so badly displayed for all the world to see.

"Thank you."