Til Death

39. Daniel/Blake

DANIEL 

One year, the families decided to play secret Santa to avoid the stress of buying gifts for everyone. Especially since all the children were at the age where nothing pleased them. Daniel drew Blake's name and he told his mother he didn't have a gift ready in time, so she sent a maid into town to buy something.

She came back with a basketball and on Christmas, Blake did a decent job pretending he liked it. Daniel had lied to everyone, but his old bodyguard Samson, who took him into town and helped Daniel pick out the perfect gift.

Well after all the gift giving and after most of the family were in a comatose state from gorging on cookies, hot chocolate, and other treats. The parents were watching White Christmas while Link and Damien were asleep on the couch.

Daniel snuck away.

His gift was technically wrapped, but he didn't know how to make all the edges nice and smooth. The gold paper shined and was sprinkled with glitter. Not his first choice, but it was all the paper left. He hoped the big gold bow in the middle made up for his lack of skills.

After breakfast, Blake disappeared into the library. All Daniel had to do was walk through the large ornate glass and white woodened doors... but he couldn't. They were locked only in Daniel's mind.

"Your highness," Adrian said, jolting Daniel out of his anxiety induced pacing. Adrian was the same as always, dressed in the same simple gray suit with the same quirked brow and same elegantly quaffed hair and brown all-knowing eyes as always. The man was nothing but consistent. His hands behind his back, he leaned slightly. "Are you looking for Blake?"

"Um..." Daniel swallowed nervously. "Maybe."

"Is that present for him?"

"Uh, yes."

With a smile, Adrian nodded. "Thought so. Get in there already."

"Thank you," Daniel mumbled and hurried into the library. He caught Blake standing on his tip toes on top of a step ladder. Blake's skinny legs wobbled and Daniel sighed, dropping his present and was there just in time to catch Blake before he hit the floor and the whole family had to spend the rest of Christmas in the emergency room.

Underneath his mop of curls, Blake went wide-eyed and tomato red. "Wh-what? Danny?" He searched Daniel's face like he couldn't believe he was even there. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing in here? Everyone's watching a movie."

"I asked you first a-and you can let me go."

Daniel hadn't realized his arm were still around Blake. Blake hadn't even touched the floor yet. Flustered, Daniel quickly let him down and Blake stumbled to catch his footing. "Sorry," Daniel mumbled, quickly avoiding Blake's eyes by looking for the gift. He snatched it from the ground and hid it behind his back.

"If you have to know," Blake said, not trying to hide his irritation. "I was just looking for a book I was reading yesterday. I left my bookmark in it. Typically," Blake was still talking and as every second dragged on, the more Daniel's anxiety was getting worked up. "I dog ear books, but I feel like this castle is old enough for the kind of ghosts that would get really mad if I did that so—"

"Blake, it's fine. Whatever. I just wanted to give you this." Daniel held out the present just to rip the band-aid off, but Blake stared at it like it would bite.

"What's this?"

"What do you think it is?"

"But you already gave me my gift."