The Crimson King

VIII. A Slayer's Holidays

It was the Christmas day, five in the morning. Jake was already up, fully dressed and struggling to wrap the presents he bought weeks before. Despite being pretty dexterous with his hands, that was a task that made him feel dread. But after some struggle and almost snapping a few pencils in half, he finally managed to wrap the gifts for Sam and Jen. The one he got for Kate, he had a different idea as to how to give it to her.
"That took way too long."
Jake gathered the presents, putting a label for the correct sister and went downstairs. In the living area of their place were Christmas lights hung on the walls and in the corner across the couch was a Christmas tree.
He turned on the lights on the tree and placed the presents under it. Jake turned on the coffee machine, but instead of coffee, he was making tea. On one hand it was good for Jen and on the other hand he and Sam preferred tea over coffee. Jake went to the fridge, taking out a few of sandwiches he bought the day before for himself. Some were for his breakfast and some were for his lunch during his shift today. Jake was almost done with his breakfast when he got a message.
"I'll be at your place in 10. be ready." - Old timer 5:43 AM
"Just let me brush ym teeth" - Jake 5:43 AM
"Typo." - Old timer 5:45 AM
"Shut it" - Jake 5:46 AM
Jake took the last bite of his sandwich and threw the other sandwiches in his backpack that was already there. After that he ran to the bathroom and brushed his teeth.
He wasn't in a hurry. It was just typical for Jake not to rush getting ready, but then again, he just didn't bother with it in the first place. Let's face it though, Jake just didn't feel like leaving his place and he was enjoying the little time he had left before he had to go. The clock hit 5:55 AM and Jake put on his boots, got his coat and backpack and left.
He locked the door and finally went to the elevator. Jake stuffed his hands into the pockets of the coat, leaning on the wall of the elevator.
At the front of the building was a small truck and sat in it was Isen. He waved at Jake, a bright smile under his orange mustache with a few white hairs in it and his hair. Isen was in his fifties at this point, he had a few wrinkles here and there, but it was the white hairs mixing in with his ginger hair that was the bigger tell. Even so, he was a healthy and active man, maybe just a back problem here and there.

Jake went over to the other side and got into the truck. Inside he was greeted by a cup of coffee in his face. Isen was grinning under his mustache, well aware Jake doesn't drink coffee.
"This is getting old, you know I don't drink coffee."
"You're going to need it little Russell, we're on the field until eleven. And I made sure it was a latte."
"To hell with you for forcing me to work that long, but I'll accept the latte."
Jake grabbed the cup and buckled the seat belt. While he took a sip from it, Isen started the truck, but also glanced over to Jake.
"I'm not paying you for this old timer."
"Is that how you treat your boss!?"
"If he didn't work me to the bone I might consider treating him better."
Isen scoffed and look back to the road. In the corner of his eye he could see Jake, looking out of the window, resting his chin in his hand and a smile on his face. It made Isen happy, especially because it was his best friend's son he was looking after. When Jake's dad died, Isen stepped in and took the father figure, at least partially. Jake wanted to be less dependent on others so Isen let him earn the money for rent and the bills, though he pitches in with paying school for his sisters.
"Today will be a long day, you ready for that?"
"I should be asking your old bones that old timer."
Isen hit the steering wheel, turning towards Jake within a second. Jake jumped in his seat, not from the older man hitting the wheel, but because he was in panic mode. There were only a few things that scared him, but the driver not paying attention to the road gave Jake nightmares.
"Eyes on the road you crazy bastard!"

While Jake had been working for hours at this point, Kate had only woken up. Ten in the morning, it was the longest she was able to sleep in the last two months. As always she was sleeping in one of the hoodies she stole from Jake and it was far too big for her. That's why, if she wasn't wearing any shorts no one would even know.
Kate turned around under her blankets for ten more minutes until she finally reached out for her phone. She had a bunch of notifications from her friends and family. All wishing her a Merry Christmas, but there was only one notification she was looking for. But of course, he didn't send her a message. In the end, Jake never really celebrated Christmas. She pouted, upset that Jake didn't really care about her favorite holiday.
"Stupid."
She finally got out of the bed, pulling the hood over her head. Kate wasn't much of a morning person, but she was still better than Jake. Well, he always got up early, he just hated it with a passion. Kate was just not a fan of early morning hours when the city was quiet, it just felt dead to her, the exact opposite of Jake's likes.
"He's not getting off easy." Kate mumbled as she creaked the door of her room open, peaking outside if anyone was in the hallway. Determining the coast was clear and that no one was in the bathroom, she grabbed what she needed and went in for a shower.
Twenty minutes later she was out was the bathroom. Refreshed from the shower, clean hair and again warm and cozy in Jake's hoodie. She went to the living room, it was pretty small like the rest of the flat her family lived in. And in the custom of Crimson Valley, the living room and the kitchen were joined into one room.
At the back wall was the couch with a coffee table in front of it and the TV across from the couch. The dining table acted as sort of a counter between the kitchen and the living room. Their Christmas tree was tucked into the corner of the room to save space and right under it were the Christmas presents. Under the tree, unpacking one of the many presents, was Kate's little brother. He had a smile plastered on his face from ear to ear as he saw the large fire truck he got.
"Good morning."
Kate yawned as she walked in front of the TV, her dad leaning to the side to see the screen. There was no way she cared one bit, in the end, when Kate got angry, even her dad was scared of her. She pulled out one of the chairs and sat down at the table, her breakfast already waiting for her. The only thing that was missing was the hot cocoa her mom was just finishing.
"Morning dear. Did you sleep well?"
"I did, though last night was colder than usual."
"The building has heating problems again."
Her dad jumped into the conversation, but he never looked away from the TV. His eyes were glued to the baseball match. Kate finally got her cocoa and started her breakfast.
Despite not getting along to well with her dad, especially because he didn't like Jake one bit, Kate still enjoyed the mornings they could spend together. With college it was hard to do that and there were times she wouldn't come home and just stay with Jake for a night or two.
"Eat up dear, we're going to the fair later."
"Jake is there since this morning."
"Maybe we should pay him a visit."
"I want to see big brother!" Kate's little brother, Noah, also had something to say. There was a little divide in her family. The only one who didn't like Jake was Kate's dad. And those two were stubborn as all hell, though Jake knew when to back down. Knowing Kate helped with that actually.
"I don't want that punk anywhere near you Katelyn."
Kate just shot her dad a glare. He flinched, the remote in his hand falling to the floor. Even if he was once in the Russian army, his daughter was the only thing that struck fear into his bones. Well, she only got that from her mother that was just as fierce when angry.
"I don't remember asking you dad."
"Then I think we'll go see him before we go home."
"Sounds good to me mom."