Tales Untold

Turkey Coma

"Kai!" Thorne yelled as he came into Kai's study. It was early afternoon, and Kai had been working all afternoon on different ways to integrate lunar cultures into the Commonwealth. They wanted to introduce the people to different aspects and traditions of Luna, and they thought it would be best to start with the fun stuff.

Looking up from his papers, Kai saw a disheveled Thorne standing in the doorway, looking horrified. "Thorne, I'm kind of busy, so unless it's important-"

"Kai!" Thorne yelled, cutting Kai off his spiel. Thorne looked horrified, and suddenly Kai was worried that something had happened. What if Luna was struggling again or had a mass killing, or what if the Grand Minister had been assassinated? What if Cinder had been kidnapped or-

Standing up, Kai grabbed his portscreen and checked his feeds. There was nothing in it. Kai looked back at Thorne, slight irritation in his gaze. "Thorne, what the heck is going on?" Kai asked.

"What is going on? You're asking me that?" Thorne yelled incredulously, "It's the fourth Wednesday of November, Kai! What is going on at your palace?" Kai jumped back as Thorne's voice rose. What was going on at his palace?

Kai thought a moment longer, taking a glance at his portscreen's calendar and observing nothing. "Um, nothing?" Kai asked, unsure what was supposed to be going on, and wondering if he should call Cress down to talk some sense into Thorne.

Cress and Thorne had been staying at the palace to visit and help with the upcoming wedding, though it was still months away. They themselves would probably get engaged soon, and Kai was surprised that Thorne had yet to pop the question.

"Aces, Kai," Thorne mumbled, "are you really this stupid? I am literally about to revoke my blessing upon your marriage with Cinder." Thorne rolled his eyes, eyeing Kai with suspicion, as though he thought he were playing dumb.

It was Kai's turn to roll his eyes. "First of all, we don't want or need your blessing on or marriage, and I have no clue what in the name of the stars you are talking about. It you would care to enlighten me, do so now, before I call palace security to remove the psycho maniac from my private office." Kai stood up and crossed the room. It was almost time for lunch, which meant that Cinder should be back from her meeting.

"Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving, Kai! It's a holiday where you literally put on your eating pants and eat turkey and stuffing and pie! Pie, Kai! Pie!" Thorne yelled, making Kai wish that Thorne had an off button more than ever.

"Holy stars above, Thorne, be quiet!" Kai yelled, instantly feeling like an idiot for telling him to be quiet, by yelling. "Thorne, I've never heard of Thanksgiving, or eating pants. What are you talking about?"

Thorne huffed, putting his hands on his hips sassily. "Kai," Thorne said, raising an eyebrow, "I'm going to introduce you to the best American holiday there is."

***

"What are you wearing?" Cinder asked Kai, as he walking into the room. He was wearing sweats, but they were also stretchy pants at the same time. He had on an XXXL t-shirt, that literally seemed to drown him, and made him look like a child.

Kai put his hands on his hips, striking a pose, "Why, Cinder," he said, rolling the R in her name, "these are my eating pants."

Cinder looked at him as though he had lost his mind. Kai laughed, and sat down next to Cinder on the sofa. She was in Kai's gray sweatshirt, and her baggy cargo pants. She had her hair in a messy ponytail, and even had a signature grease splotch on her face from working on the rampion that afternoon.

"You sound like Thorne," Cinder said rolling her eyes, but she was smiling. "He's been going on and on about Thanksgiving since yesterday. I can't believe you're going along with it." Cinder said, though there was a hint of a laugh in her voice. She found it amusing, even if she was annoyed.

Wrapping his arm around Cinder, Kai leaned his head on top of hers, making her freeze, before she melted into him. "I thought it would be fun to learn about some different traditions. Plus, these pants are really comfortable. I might make them into my everyday uniform."

Cinder laughed and turned her face to look at him. Her eyes were sparkling with happiness, as they had been ever since she had come to live at the palace. She had fit easily, perfectly into life in the Eastern Commonwealth, and she was being accepted more and more. They hardly got any death threats anymore, and there had been less jabs at their relationship as the wedding drew nearer. The people loved Cinder, and not just because she saved them all from her crazy aunt Levana. They loved her for who she was.

Kai smiled at her, loving the way she looked when she laughed. The way her nose crinkled and her eyes glittered, and her smile. Her beautiful smile that made his entire world seem to glow. Stars above, he just loved Cinder.

"What?" Cinder asked, gazing into Kai's eyes. She smiled in mock questioning, her eyes taking on a mischievous twinkle.

"Have I ever told you that I love you?" Kai asked, feigning seriousness. Cinder giggled, and grinned.

"Why, I do believe you have," Cinder said, also faking seriousness, and making Kai laugh. Kai felt happy. There was no other word for it.

Leaning down, Kai pressed his lips against Cinder's, they were soft, and warm, tasting slightly of dust and engine grease. Kai smiled into the kiss, and felt Cinder smile back. Kai wished that the moment could have lasted forever.

It didn't. As Thorne chose that moment to start yelling about how he had shoved his hand up a Turkey's butt for them, and needed them to come and appreciate the delicious meal that he claimed to have made.

Laughing together, Cinder and Kai got up, and went to go and eat some turkey.

***

"I am so full!" Kai moaned as he sat down on a couch. He had eaten more food than he could ever remember eating in his entire life. Turkey, yams, green beans, potatoes, pomegranates, jello, stuffing, gravy, rolls, and even some weird cranberry goup that he did not like.

Cinder plopped down next to him, laying her head on his chest. Kai wrapped his arm around her, and pulled a blanket up around her. They picked a movie, and Cress and Thorne came and joined them, sitting on the other sofa.

They watched old net drama's and cuddled on the couch. Cinder eventually fell asleep, and Thorne told Kai that it was due to a Turkey coma. Kai smiled and looked down at Cinder. She looked so peaceful when she slept, and it made her look her age. Being the Queen of Luna had really taken a toll on her, and watching her, so calm, Kai could tell that she was just a regular eighteen year-old.

Kai pulled her closer to him, and Cinder nuzzled her face into his shoulder. Kai had looked up what Thanksgiving actually was, not really believing that it was about turkey and eating pants. It had told him how Thanksgiving was a holiday that came out of gratitude. It was about expressing thanks, and if Kai were grateful for something in his crazy world, it was Cinder.