"Cute" [DISCONTINUED]

12.

So I decided not to do the thing just yet bc it's kinda messy when I typed it up and I want it to be good. Soooo here's a sappy filler chapter merry christmas bc i never wrote a holiday chapter btw this is in the past

~

December 25th.

The room was silent other than the familiar tocking of the grandfather clock. Presents wrapped in shining green and white and gold paper sat neatly under the tree, few in amount.

Three people sat on the couch, staring at the presents with solemn expressions. 

One is a pale girl with dark hair and long lashes. Her neck is covered by a thick turtleneck sweater. The dark gray pigment of the clothing matches the floor length skirt she wears. At first glance she appears to be very religious person, but those who assume do not know the true story.

The eldest is a man with circle framed glasses and long brunette hair. His eyes are sad, wringing his wrinkled hands in his lap. A frown tugs at the corner of his lips, wrinkles forming at his chin. His face is tired, worn with the times of sadness and stress.

Lastly sits a boy looking the same age as the girl, though they look nothing alike. His skin is dark and golden and his eyes a strange, undescribable mix of colors. Tears threaten to spill from his eyelids as he gazes upon the harmless boxes, though to him they are anything but innocent.

Finally, after a few moments of watching the gifts, the man straightens his posture. "Well," he says. "I suppose it's time to open them."

The girl nods slightly, leaning forward to grab one with the name "Mikasa" written on it. 

A quiet, gurgled sound escapes the boy's pink lips, resembling that of an animal that's just lost their young except not nearly as loud.

He lifts one with the name "Eren" scrawled on the name tag, the tears leaking from his eyes and slowly streaming onto his cheeks as he tears the paper open.

Inside is a simple black sweater, though he knows who's it from.

He brings the fabric to his face and inhales deeply, sobbing now as the familiar sense of her overwhelms him. 

"I don't think I can do this," he says weakly, looking at the girl and the man. The girl holds a beautiful red wool scarf in her hands, hands gripping it tightly.

The man scoffs and looks at his hands. "Then go upstairs," he says as the girl hands him a box. "Grisha" is inked on the tag.

His hands shake as he peels the paper back, letting it flutter to the ground in a rejected mess of trash.

Hidden in the paper sits a shiny brown briefcase, still wrapped in plastic and brand new.

The man stands, a muscle in his jaw jumping. "I'm going upstairs," he says, and without another glance or word he walks upstairs.

The boy stares at the sweater. His eyes are still watery, bottom lip quivering.

An arm is suddenly slung over his shoulder. "Eren," the girl says, sitting in the seat the man has vacated. She hugs him tightly. "It'll be okay. We've gotten through one of the hardest parts of today. Now we need to give her the present we got her."

Another neatly wrapped gift has been placed under the tree, this one nameless and simply tagged with "C." It's a small gift, clearly holding some sort of jewelry box of sorts.

The boy- Eren- nods, shakily grabbing the cube and standing up. Him and the girl go outside, the box clutched tightly to his chest as they begin walking down the sidewalk.

It is a silent trip, frosty plumes clouding at their faces when they exhale. Snow crunches under their feet as they approach a small park.

Under a tall tree they pause, both crouching down and the girl using her long nails to pick away the frozen snow that's collected on a flat stone.

"She always loved this tree" the stone reads, and under the imprinted letters is a date.

A whine comes from Eren as he places the box in the small space the two had dug in advance. It fits perfectly, and together they cover it with dirt and snow.

Together in sad silence, they return to the house and disperse to their rooms.

The first Christmas without Carla was not a good one.

~

SORRY IT SUCKED