#dear.events

of course, there had to be a murder on christmas.

of course.

of course.

and of course it had to happen when he had finally managed to convince haibara to give him an antidote.

(she had finally relented when he used you as an excuse, because no matter how cold she was, she knew that you two longed to at least spend christmas together.)

"no flirting," was her last rule, but shinichi was already long gone.

"can't they be murdered on some other day," he muttered, leaning back onto the couch with a tired sigh.

"rather," the corners of your mouth twitched upwards, "can't they not be murdered at all?"

"i want cases, [name]," he huffed, gaze softening as you walked in with hot cocoa, "just-just not today, of all days."

"but you solved it," you reminded.

"of course i did," he huffed, smirking up at you and shuffling over to give you room, "i'm the best detective there is."

"maybe second to hattori," you mused thoughtfully, grinning as he whacked you over the head.

"i'm allowed to become me again and you use it to tease me, of course," he fought the rising colour down.

"who's to say i wouldn't tease you if you stayed as conan," you grinned at his groan.

"it's humiliating enough to be conan!"

"it adds to the fun," you hummed.

"it's humiliating, [name]!"

"remember what happened last christmas, show-off?"

"stop it," he groaned into his hands, "don't remind me."

he didn't like thinking about almost twisting his ankle on the ice-skating rink.

"look, mistletoe," he muttered, gazing upwards cheekily as you groaned.

"you planted this here," you accused at his snicker.

"your proof?"

"your cocky little smirk, for one, which i hate. next, your knowing gaze. need i go on?"

"is this how criminals feel when i corner them," he wondered aloud, "you may overtake me as tokyo's best detective if you keep this up..."

"no, because you're being an irritating idiot," you growled lowly, "get over here and kiss me, moron."

"mean," he huffed, grinning and relenting, closing the distance between the two of you.

"how much longer do you have left on the antidote?" you muttered, pulling away as he scrunched his nose.

"don't ruin this for me," he muttered, burying into your shoulder, "don't worry, [name], i still have a while."

you sighed, threading your fingers through his hair.

"how long is a while, shinichi?"

"i have a while," he insisted stubbornly.

a silence fell upon you both.

"i never want this night to end," his voice was slightly muffled, "it's not her fault, it really isn't, but..."

he sighed.

"i just want to be me again."

"is that your christmas wish this year?" you hummed as he nodded into your shoulder.

"guess haibara is santa this year, then."

just remember to breathe, freminet, lyney had told him minutes prior before slinking off with a sly wink.

they like you, so there's nothing to worry about, lynette added quietly, they'll like it, don't worry. you're good at what you do.

archons, his hands wouldn't stop shaking. all he wanted was to find his diver's helmet, shove it unceremoniously onto his head and crouch in the corner, unwilling to respond or talk to anyone. archons, he knew his rehearsed speech would go out the window - how did lyney do this all the time in front of hundreds of people including their archon? all he wanted to do was to dive into the ocean and find the deepest parts, ones that he was sure even neuvillette didn't know about.

"freminet?"

fuck.

"hello," his voice came out a lot higher than he intended, and he cringed internally, coughing into his fist, "h-hello..."

fantastic start, freminet, you bombed it.

"lyney said you wanted to give me something?"

fantastic.

fan-fucking-tastic.

he made a mental note to (accidentally) break the drainage pipes near lyney's room later.

(a little bit of little brother revenge never hurt anybody, after all.)

he hated everything about this.

he hated how clammy his hands were getting, how they were trembling, how he could feel his pulse fluttering as his hands not-so-subtly hid the gift behind his back.

"freminet?" you peered around him as he squeaked and shuffled away, turning away from you with a small frown.

very subtle.

"i did," he muttered, fiddling with the ribbon, clearing his throat again, "i did want to, ah, give you something, but-but it's-it may not be to-you may not like it."

just remember to breathe, freminet, his brother's damned words echoed in his brain as he cursed under his breath (easier said than done).

"i-"

they like you, so there's nothing to worry about, they'll like it, don't worry. you're good at what you do.

okay.

he could do this.

"i wanted to give you-the-"

well fuck.

"freminet, take your time," you beamed, slightly amused.

he really needed you to stop looking at him like that.

"you're not good for my heart," he muttered finally, reluctantly giving in and taking his hands out from behind his back, timidly showing you the mechanical penguin in your colour.

"aren't i?" you hummed, gently taking it and letting it rest in your hands (it fit perfectly, you noted), "i think i'm perfectly good for your heart."

"it shouldn't be beating this fast," he muttered, "it's not normal."

speaking of lyney...

my dear flower,

i do apologise for not being able to make it this year, the mission seems to be taking up far more time than i anticipated. i think of you every day while i'm gone, and my only wish right now is to be back at home celebrating the holidays with you but alas, the grand master will have my head if i do, and i know that neither you nor i want that for christmas this year.

speaking of christmas, what did you want? i have a gift planned already, and i've made sure that it's to your tastes, but is there anything else? naturally, the first gift is a surprise, so i unfortunately cannot tell you just yet, but i'll be waiting for a response from you.

your love, kaeya

you sighed, draping an arm over your eyes as you read the note again.

i do apologise for not being able to make it this year.

he's not going to make it this year.

you huffed again, lying back onto the couch with a small frown. your gaze flickered over to the small gift on the table.

i do apologise for not being able to make it this year.

you couldn't really remember a time where kaeya and you hadn't spent time together during the holidays, even before the two of you had gotten together. he had always managed to find some excuse to find his way to your side during the festive season.

"idiot," you muttered under your breath, sitting up, "he's an idiot."

you made your way into the kitchen, where the two of you had promised to spend this year together.

"evening, flower," a sultry voice murmured lowly into your ear, snickering as you jolted in surprise.

"you-"

"surprise~" kaeya grinned, resting his hands on your hips and turning you around.

"you-in the letter you-"

"i snuck out," he murmured into your ear, "told the others to lie to diluc."

"you're an asshole," you sighed.

gorou was a strong general who, when asked by his junior officers and soldiers, could quickly come up with solutions. gorou had fought many battles, gained the trust of sangonomiya kokomi. gorou had defeated and defended the island, snapping at anybody who dared pet him (you were a begrudging exception).

and yet, here he was.

"general gorou, defeated thousands but defeated by tinsel," he muttered bitterly, struggling to unwrap himself, "i'm sure the news would have a laughing stock."

"i'm sure they would."

he let out an undignified yelp, jolting as his ears twitched, whirling around to face you.

"general gorou, startled by their lover coming up behind them unknowingly, despite their guard being up at all times."

he let out a low growl as you neared him.

"how long have you been standing there?!"

"a while," you hummed, coming to a stop in front of him and the corners of your mouth twitching up.

"don't laugh," he muttered bitterly, "it's not funny."

"it is," you grinned, "just a little."

"i wanted to surprise you," he huffed, burying into the crook of your neck and no his tail was not wagging, "stupid tinsel..."

"surprise me, how?" you hummed in mock thought, "i'd say seeing you tangled up in tinsel was enough of a surprise for me, i shudder to think of what other surprises you have in store for me."

"it's not funny, [name]!"

"it is, though."

"it's not!"

"are you going to help me or not," he grumbled, gripping to you tighter.

"i think i like you like this," you hummed, "i dunno if i should..."

"[name]!" he pulled away from you with a snarl.

"alright, alright," you relented, biting back a laugh, "don't get your tail into a twist, i'll help you, general gorou."

he grumbled as you led him to a softer patch of grass, gently turning him around as you grabbed one end of the tinsel, seeing his tail twitch in irritation.

"hurry up."

"there's a lot of tinsel," you shot back, unravelling him, "how'd you even get yourself into this situation, anyway?"

he fell silent, his ears tugged back.

"gorou?"

"wanted to surprise you," he was not pouting, "the-i asked her excellency if i could help out and-she... she said that i could decorate the island and-and our house and so-so i got out the tinsel but i didn't know it was going to be that much and i also didn't know that the box on top was also tinse-"

"gorou, breathe."

he exhaled, stumbling slightly as he turned again.

"when are you going to be done," he muttered bitterly, raising his arm to let you unravel the tinsel.

"i'm almost done," you huffed out a laugh, finally pulling him free.

he jolted as you ran a hand through his tail.

"stop teasing me!"

he brought the hot chocolate to his lips as he gazed outside the window at the three children next door, accompanied by a bumbling old man and two other children hovering near the doorway, staring flatly at the others. he turned his attention back to his laptop, furrowing his brows slightly as he read over his (fake) thesis again.

"come to think of it," he heard a familiar voice at the door, "it's the first time since we met that it's snowed, isn't it?"

he hummed lowly in agreement, drawing his attention to you and letting you drape yourself around him - he wasn't a very physically affectionate person, he preferred to let his actions do the talking, but he supposed he didn't mind if it was just you and him behind closed doors.

"do you hate it?" at his confused gaze, you continued. "winter, i mean."

he wasn't quite sure.

winter was cold, but that meant warm nights by the fireplace and your hot chocolate that was a little too sweet (but he didn't mind). winter was unforgiving, but that meant early mornings spent under the covers with you. winter was bright (maybe a little too bright sometimes), but it wasn't as bright as you (maybe he had read a few too many of the romance books in the kudo mansion's library.) winter meant his hands weren't as flexible, but it meant you could hold his hand (and who was he to refuse).

(and he supposed it did give him a valid excuse to continue wearing that turtleneck the waiter at poirot despised.)

he stared back outside at the children. sensing someone was watching them, the three paused, grinning up at him and waving excitedly, jumping up and down.

"insufferable brats," you muttered, coming up next to him and pointedly ignoring their visible gasps and kissing acting.

"now, now," he hummed, smirking bringing you in closer and sparing a final glance outside the window at the now-cheering children.

"don't humour them," you grumbled, pushing him away slightly.

"why not?" he hummed, making no move to fight back and allowing himself to be pushed away.

he received no answer from you.

"so? why'd you come in here in the first place?" subaru continued, "surely you didn't come here to just interrupt my revision?"

"the professor - well, the kids - wanted us to come over to bake cookies with them and teach them how to have a 'proper snowball fight'," you quoted, scowling slightly as you recalled their cries indignation, "according to haibara and conan-kun, they're doing it wrong and so they'd like... another adult opinion."

his eyes shone in amusement behind his glasses, a flicker of challenge flashing in them.

"you sure you don't just want to see me get pummelled by elementary schoolers?"

you smirked.

"who knows."

"i can't believe you managed to convince the instructor to let you go out," you muttered in slight awe as he made his way towards you, raising a hand in acknowledgement, "don't salute to me, i'm not your commanding officer, hiro."

"force of habit, i suppose," he hummed, taking your arm in his, "shall we?"

he led you through the city, expertly weaving and dodging the crowd heading the opposite direction, eyes shining fondly as he led you to the town square, which, as expected, was bustling with people.

"i didn't know it would be this busy," he muttered, glancing down at you, "are you alright?"

"i'm fine," you hummed, leaning into him, squinting up at the bright lights above you as they flickered, changing colours, "don't worry about it, hiro, really."

"are you sure?" concern flickered in his eyes as he looked you over. "i brought you out, i don't want you to not enjoy this..."

"i enjoy it," you reassured him, dragging him to a less stimulating place, "but let's move here for a bit."

he hummed, letting you drag him along into a quieter place, resting your head on his shoulder.

"i was hoping you'd bring us somewhere quieter," he hummed, taking off the guitar case - had he brought it along? you hadn't noticed - and grinning widely at your perplexed look. "why would i not bring it along?"

"it's christmas," was all you said.

"so?" he scoffed, adjusting it on his lap and tuning it, noting how your gaze lingered on his fingers, "i want to play for you, can't i play for you?"

"you can," you muttered, "but we're in public."

"music was always meant to be played for an audience," he murmured, continuing to tune it and strumming it with a hum, ignoring how a crowd had started to gather around the two of you.

but he wasn't focused on them.

after all, you were all he ever needed underneath the lights.

"i've always preferred playing for an audience of one," he hummed, playing a familiar tune, "i don't care about them."

your eyes were on him, only on him, and his heart fluttered with ecstatic joy at that fact, at knowing that you were his, his his his his his, all his, and nobody else's. he adored knowing that you only ever looked at him, that you only ever paid attention to him.

"i can't believe i have a match on christmas," he whined, "it's christmas, i'm not supposed to be having matches, i'm supposed to be spending time with you... [name]..."

"but unfortunately, you do," you hummed, dodging his hug as he whined again, "and, it's christmas, which means a christmas miracle will happen and you'll win. and then we can spend time celebrating together after."

"of course i'll win," he huffed proudly, "hattori's never defeated me before."

"i suppose there's a first for everything," you muttered, the corners of your mouth twitching upwards as he scowled.

"whose side are you on?!"

"yours, of course," you hummed, dodging his wooden sword as he playfully moved to whack your shoulder.

"are you really," he frowned, "meanie."

"you'll be fine, soshi."

"i know i will," he smirked, slinging his sword over his shoulder, "after all, i've got you in my omamori too. it's my good luck charm~"

you remained silent.

"[name]," he whined again, "you're being mean to me. i want to hold you before my match." a beat. "and after - i want to hold you after my match too."

"soshi," you scrunched your nose, "i'm not hugging you after your match until you shower, you know that."

"boo," he huffed, standing as his match was announced, "wish me luck~"

the match, unsurprisingly, ended in his win.

"[name]~" he sung, draping over you after he took his helmet off, "hold me~"

"no," you muttered tersely.

"you never hold me after my matches," he whined, "you're so mean."

"shower first," you pointedly shrugged him off, huffing, "and then maybe i'll hold you."

"maybe?!"

"maybe," you echoed, standing as he deflated, "but congratulations on the win."

"congratulations on the win," he mimicked, pouting, "you knew i was going to win. now hold me."

you huffed as he moved in front of you with his arms crossed, gazing down at you with his brows furrowed.

"hold me."

"you're so demanding," you argued pointedly, "i'll hold you after you shower."

"you don't want to hold me," he accused.

"i do!"

"then hold me!" when you remained unbudging, he took it upon himself to drape himself over you. "i'll lean into you and then you'll have to hold me~"

"gods, you're so impatient, soshi," you muttered, reluctantly holding him as he grinned victoriously.

"merry christmas, [name]~"

you huffed.

"welcome," wriothesley smirked, "to my humble abode down here in hell."

"i'm honoured," you stated wryly, "thank you, oh grand duke."

"no problem, my dear~"

"i can't believe you asked me to come to prison for christmas, what an awful christmas present."

the man laughed, following closely behind you up the stairs with a sly grin, shrugging off his fur coat as he sat down in his chair, sighing tiredly.

"i can't believe i have to stay down here when it's christmas," he muttered, massaging the bridge of his nose, "it's so boring down here."

"what, you don't have anything to do down here?"

"it's so lonely," he lamented, "that's why i brought you down here with me, [name], so we could do things together... but if you don't..." he gazed at you under his bangs, smirking victoriously as you relented.

"can't you go back up to the surface?"

"what, and leave all of them by themselves for christmas?" he scoffed, "have you no manners?"

"just a suggestion," you backed off, wandering aimlessly towards the closet in the corner of the hall, his icy eyes following your move as he placed his gauntlet down with a groan.

"there's nothing in there, you know." a beat. "and you need keys to open that."

"well do you have the keys, oh grand duke?"

he smirked, standing and sliding the chair back.

"and if i said i did?"

"then i'd ask you, kindly, grand duke, if you could open the closet so we could if it is, as you say," you hummed, turning around and letting him move past you, "truly empty."

he feigned surprise as he yanked the door open unceremoniously, grinning wolfishly.

"well, would you look at that, it's a christmas miracle."

"jerk," you huffed, taking out the wooden box, "you planted this here earlier."

"your proof?" he huffed, gazing down at you with a raised brow.

"because nobody else is allowed up here, minus the very fortunate - or unfortunate, i should say - criminals, and sigewinne," you listed, "and i'm not quite sure how any of them would be brave enough to manage to sneak a board game in here, find a locked closet, steal your keys, proceed to lock it again and give your keys back."

"you gonna arrest me?" he muttered lowly, fingers twitching around his metal handcuffs.

"just shut up and play," you scoffed, the corners of your lips twitching upwards slightly as you strode past him and placed the board on the table, "if i win, i take you up to the surface with me?"