Misadventures of Kit: Chapter Thirty
written with @ocsickficsideblog
Everyone continued to eat and chat for a while, save for Kit, who was just sipping his one cup of tea and occasionally throwing out quips. Finny had taken a seat under the table, his ass on Alistairâs feet, his tummy on RiagĂĄnâs, and his front feet on Siofraâs. She ruffled his ears, sending Cillian to go get more beer so she wouldnât have to bother the dog. By the time everyone was full, there was an astonishing dent in the buffet that had been filling up the table. There was enough food for maybe a few normal-sized people to have lunch, but that was really it. Kit stared in astonishment for a moment before helping to gather empty plates.
âWhat, never seen a functional family before?â Siofra smirked.
âWell⊠no. But I was more shocked at how much you all eat. I would actually die if I tried to eat that much.â
Siofra snorted, patting his shoulder as she set the remaining ham on the counter. âYeah, well youâre tiny, anâ ye sit on the couch feelinâ sad anâ dramatic all day. Weâre big, anâ we fuckinâ work out. Calories in, calories out, anâ all that shit. Câmon, weâre gonna watch whatever dumb Christmas film is on, then dessert.â
Kitâs jaw nearly fell off his hinges. âWeâre still having dessert after that?â
âWell, yeah. Itâd be a right lousy holiday if we didnât.â Siofra shrugged, wrapping up the leftover ham before dragging him to the couch. Kit looked hesitant to take up space when there were so many family members not seated yet, so Siofra just pulled him onto her lap. He yelped in surprise, but didnât move â she was soft and warm and remarkably comfortable. RiagĂĄn snorted and plunked down next to them.
âYe lovebirds havinâ fun?â
âMm⊠not till you go to sleep.â She grinned.
Cillian fake-gagged, squeezing into the remaining corner of the couch. âGross!â
âAt least I have a boyfriend, not a pillow I kiss at night.â Siofra said. RiagĂĄn snorted and Cillian smacked at them both with a throw pillow. He mostly just hit RiagĂĄn and Kit, since Siofra was being blocked from the front and the side. RiagĂĄn grabbed a cushion and smacked back, while Kit just yelped again.
Gran shuffled in with a mug of tea. âBoys! Not my good pillows! Beat each other with the ratty ones.â
Alistair just sat on the floor, leaning against the wall. He was starting to wish heâd just gone with Julius instead. He wanted him so badly. Siofraâs family were all friendly and boisterous, but Alistair wasnât really attached to them like Kit was, being Siofraâs boyfriend. He was only there for Kit, and Kit seemed to have had enough of him too. He felt squeezed out on the edge again.
Kit was doing his best to play along, but he didnât really feel any more at home than his cousin. He felt like an idiot jumping out of his skin every time a pillow flew at him, but he wouldâve felt like more of an idiot asking the boys to stop. He slouched down, resting his head on Siofraâs chest, and she ran her fingers through his hair. Finny trotted into the living room, looking quite offended to see his ownerâs lap taken. He laid down on the ground with a deep doggy sigh.
A moment later, Mr. Rafferty finally came to sit, taking the armchair opposite Granâs rocking chair. He turned on the TV, flicking through channels of useless sludge until he hit the opening credits of A Christmas Carol. Kit knew every version of the story, inside and out, and before long, the familiarity was going in one ear and out the other while he stared off into the abyss. Alistair was similarly preoccupied, sitting with his chin on his knees. He kept his eyes closed, trying to blot out this other family he didnât belong to. He was rudely interrupted by a wet nose snuffling his face. Finny was similarly peeved about his favourite human being preoccupied, and wanted attention.
Alistair smiled at him, letting Finny cuddle on his lap. He suddenly felt dangerously near tears, and blinked fiercely to stop himself weeping, hiding his face in Finny's fur. A large, pink tongue that smelled of gravy and mashed potatoes lapped at Alistairâs hair and the exposed parts of his cheeks. Alistair smiled a bit, ruffling Finnyâs ears. âUgh, gross,â he said fondly. Finny just licked his face again, letting out a low, cheerful boof. The sound caught Siofraâs attention and she nearly broke her neck turning to face Alistair without knocking Kit off her lap.
âYa wanna take âim outside? Heâs been in all afternoon.â
âYeah,â Alistair said, desperate to escape. âCome on, Finny.â
The dog hopped up at once, wagging his tail and running to the front door. Alistair got his leash on, stepping out into the frigid winter air. Soft snowflakes were falling, and Finny was delighted, running around trying to catch them in his mouth. Alistair watched him, laughing â and then the giggles turned to tears so suddenly even Alistair was surprised. He didnât even really know what he was crying about. It was just that it was Christmas, and he was lonely.
Finny immediately turned around, running back to Alistair and tackling him into the snow. He laid down on top of the now-prone Alistair, snuffling and licking his face. Alistair squealed and wrapped his arms around the wriggling lump of fur, half laughing, half crying. Finny continued to lick his face â that was the only way he knew how to fix crying humans. Snow was gathering on the tips of his dark ears, making them look like tiny mountains. Alistair tried to sit up, gently brushing the snow off. âCome on, itâs freezing. We should better go inside to play gooseberry.â
Finny shook himself off, hopping off of Alistair to run in circles around him. His fur kept him plenty warm, but he still returned to the front door after a minute, nudging Alistair along. Alistair laughed. âItâs like youâre looking after me,â he said, taking him back inside. Finny ran back inside, sniffing around to see if more food had come out in the interim. When he found nothing, he flopped down on the rug. Kit hadnât moved an inch, still staring vacantly into the same spot on the wall. Gran waved when Alistair and Finny came back in.
âHello, boys! How was the wretched tundra?â
âBloody freezing, as expected. Howâd you live out here? I thought old people got more cold,â Alistair said tactlessly.
Gran snorted. âThatâs what alcohol is for. Why dâye think the Russians are known for vodka?â
âBecause it originates there?â
Gran paused for a long moment, then turned back around to watch the movie. âWhat a sheltered childâŠâ
âIâm not sheltered,â Alistair grumbled.
âIf ye donât like shelter, ye could go back outside.â RiagĂĄn offered. Siofra elbowed him in the stomach.
âThereâs hot chocolate on the counter.â She told Alistair. âCilli wanted some, so we made a bunch. Knew yer fat arse would drink the rest.â
âMy fat arse will,â Alistair said gratefully, going to grab a cup. Finny followed him, hoping for food. Alistair ruffled his fur. âHavenât you eaten enough, greedy-guts? Youâre as bad as your Siofra.â
âOi!â Siofra called from the living room. Finny boofed in response, then turned back to Alistair to beg. Alistair couldnât resist him for long, ferreting in the cupboards for a treat.
âYouâre a menace, Finny. Giving me those big eyes.â
Ruff. Finny snuffled Alistairâs hand, happily crunching the treat. Alistair squatted beside him, sighing. âHow come I can only make it work with you guys..? Animals. Maybe I wasnât meant to be flipping human. My mother used to say I was half wild.â Finny licked his face.
Alistair stroked him fondly. âWe should probably go back to the roomâŠâ Finny turned around obediently, thumping Alistairâs legs with his tail before returning to the living room. He stared indignantly at Kit, who was snoring on top of Siofra, flopping down on the rug again. Alistair flopped in a similar fashion beside him, curling around Finny like they were two dogs together. Finny wrapped his tail around Alistair, giving his face a big, sloppy lick. Siofra chuckled.
âDâyou two need a room?â
âBugger off,â Alistair said lazily. Finny licked his nose again, happy to have attention since his owner was preoccupied. Siofra just chuckled.
âHe seems pretty happy with ya.â
âItâs only because Kitâs purloined you.â
âOh, so youâre both jealous?â Siofra grinned.
âI mean, thereâs space on my lap for two more. Kit is like the sizeâo my leg.â
âItâs a lovely offer, but I think Iâll pass,â Alistair said, rolling his eyes. âKitâs happy there anyway. Itâs nothing against you, Iâm just...protective. Trust me, if you were a lanky streak of piss like Kit, your brothers would be the same.â
Siofra snorted so hard she nearly woke Kit, and her brothers laughed as well. Gran just chuckled and shook her head. Alistair grinned, curling back up with Finny. He could hear his soft heartbeat through his thick fur. The dog licked his nose more gently before curling up to sleep.
By the time the movie was over, Finny, Kit, and Cillian were all sound asleep. Siofra finally nudged the snoring red lump in her lap. âOi. Get off, I want dessert.â Kit groaned dramatically and didnât move.
âCome sit with me and Finny,â Alistair mumbled sleepily.
âIâm not sitting on the floor with the dog.â Kit sighed.
âI thought your fat arse would get up when ye heard âdessert.ââ Siofra teased.
âDepends on what youâre eating.â
Siofra looked at him strangely. âPudding, soda bread, cake, tarts. Yâknow⊠dessert?â
âWe always had just one dessert at home, theyâd just be like âitâs meringuesâ or âitâs banoffee pie.â I am aware of what dessert is,â Alistair said.
âWe had lots of desserts at parties.â Kit mumbled.
âCourse ye did, Princess.â Siofra lifted him off of her, setting him in the warm spot sheâd left on the couch. She kicked Cillian lightly. âOi. Dessert.â He popped up like a jack-in-the-box.
RiagĂĄn was already barrelling past his little brother into the kitchen, while Mr. Rafferty helped Gran out of her chair.
Alistair rolled his eyes. âLike Pavlovâs dogs.â
âYer mumâs a dog.â Siofra mumbled. Finny lifted his head and barked. Heâd heard âdog.â
Alistair was distracted, ruffling Finnyâs ears. âOoh, youâre so clever!â Finny licked his face and trotted off to the kitchen as well. Alistair followed Finny, walking two steps behind him, as if he was the dog and Finny the human. Everyone was crowded around the counter, piling plates full of dessert. Meanwhile, Kit pattered off down the hallway, in search of his guest room. Alistair backed away from the crowd too, anxiety overwhelming the desire for dessert. He made a dash for his room. Kit was already there, rooting in his suitcase, and he yelped in surprise.
âAl! What are you doing here?â
âGetting away from everybody. Itâs all a bit intense. Whatâre you doing?â
âLooking for a handkerchief.â Kit mumbled. âAre you really so scared of Siofraâs family that youâre avoiding dessert?â
âNot just all the people. Itâs Christmas itself,â Alistair mumbled, flopping back on Kitâs bed. âIt freaks me out when I see all these families being all happy and jolly together. I used to do it with Jules too.â
Kit rolled his eyes, but he didnât comment. He needed Alistair to leave, but he wasnât sure what to say. âIâm surprised Finny didnât follow you.â
âHeâll be wanting table scraps. Whatâre you doing hovering by your case?â
âTrying to find my⊠handkerchief.â It took Kit a minute to remember what heâd said he was looking for.
âJust blow your nose on some bog roll. Do you want me to get some?â
Kit had to swallow a sigh of relief. âYes, please. Meet me back in the living room.â
âOkayâŠâ Alistair was a bit perplexed by that, Kit was the type whoâd leave the room to blow his nose in private, but he left to grab some toilet paper anyway. By the time Alistair found the bathroom and got back, Kit had stumbled back to the living room, arms piled high with wrapped gifts.
Siofra had just finished fighting her brothers over a particularly large tart, and she turned to walk back into the living room. When she saw her boyfriend staggering under a heap of gifts, she nearly shrieked.
âWhere in fuck did those come from?â
âWhat the fuck are you yelling about..?â Alistair mumbled, trailing into the room. His jaw dropped when he spotted Kit. âFuck me! Did you loot a whole shop?â
âIt didnât all come from one shop. Even Amazon wouldnât have the right things for everyone.â Kit huffed. He was setting down gifts by everyoneâs seats, and there was a stack of several boxes where Alistair had been laying on the floor.
âCan we open them now?â Alistair asked excitedly.
âWait for everyone to get settled. Go grab dessert or something. I know youâll bitch if everyone is sitting here with sweets but you.â Kit said. Alistair poked his tongue out at Kit, but did as he was told. Finny was still lingering in the kitchen, trying to appeal to Gran for sweets. She rolled her eyes.
âYe canât eat tarts, ye great foolish beast.â
Finny barked in protest. Alistair slipped him a bit of pastry when he thought she wasnât looking. Gran saw it, but she just smacked him with her napkin and shuffled back to the living room. There was still a fair amount of dessert left â she always made more than enough for the group she was hosting. Alistair grabbed a few more tarts and then hurried back to the living room. He was curious about the gifts. Finny padded after him, sniffing curiously at the small package that had been left where he sat.
Kit shifted nervously on his feet. âEr, if itâs alright, Iâd like Siofra to go first. Since sheâs the one that brought me here and allâŠâ
Mr. Rafferty was staring incredulously at the tiny, neatly-wrapped box in his seat, still gobsmacked that heâd gotten a gift from this borderline stranger. He looked up when Siofra threw a pillow at him.
âDad? Can I open mine?â
âOh, uh, go ahead.â He nodded.
Siofra tore into the box at once, revealing a gold pendant with green gemstones clustered into a loose circle. The gems ranged in colour from pale and yellowish to deep blue-green, and many of the hues reflected in her eyes as she held it up. She couldnât hide the grin spreading across her face.
âBloody hell⊠this is stunninâ. Donât tell me how much ye spent on it. I might have to kill ya.â
âWell, then it suits you. Itâs a one-of-a-kind piece. I like the arrangement of gems, it almost reminded me of freckles.â Kit murmured.
Siofra scoffed. âYa sappy pieceâo shit.â She was grinning even as she said it, and she yanked him closer for a suffocating hug. Once she released Kit to breathe again, she looked around the room. âAlright, whoâs next?â
âUm, letâs do your brothers. I want Al to go last.â Kit said.
Neither Cillian nor RiagĂĄn offered to let the other go first; they tore into their boxes nearly simultaneously. Cillianâs gift was a pair of blue, black, and white Air Jordans, the colours almost identical to his favourite jacket. He gasped. âShit! Siofra, did ye tell âim to get these?â
She shrugged. âI just gave âim yer size. He did the shoppinâ.â
RiagĂĄn was similarly awestruck by his gift â a glossy William Henry pocket knife that looked more like a piece of jewelry than a weapon. This time, Kit spoke for himself.
âSiofra told me your old knife broke last time you were camping. This one should be a bit more⊠resilient.â
âFuckinâ hellâŠâ RiagĂĄn was staring slackjawed into the box. âI⊠shit⊠I mean⊠thanks, mate. That sounds pathetic, but, I just⊠I dunno what to say.â
Kit just smiled and shook his head. âItâs okay. As long as you like it, thatâs all I need to know.â
Siofra was bouncing on the edge of her seat, just as delighted by the othersâ gifts as her own. âDad! Yours now!â
Mr. Rafferty chuckled and shook his head. He wasnât sure what to expect; he didnât know Kit personally like his sons, so it would probably just be a really expensive gift card or something. His beard and lower jaw nearly dropped off his face when he unwrapped the tiny box to see tickets to Yo-Yo Maâs Bach Project performance in Barcelona, with accompanying plane tickets to Spain for the week of the show. He looked at Kit like he was expecting it to be a joke, but Kit just smiled.
âSiofraâs told me a lot about you. I tried to find something I thought you would like. If itâs not to your interest, I can get something else.â
âNo, no no no. This is⊠amazinâ. Iâm just wonderinâ⊠why?â Mr. Rafferty was still staring at Kit in utter confusion.
âItâs nice to make people happy. I have more money than I could ever spend. Why not do something decent with it?â Kit shrugged.
Mr. Rafferty still seemed a little blown away by the whole thing, but he nodded. âThatâs⊠I suppose thatâs fair.â
Kit was already turning to smile sheepishly at Gran. âIâm sorry, I know the wine must seem a bit anticlimactic. Siofra didnât give me much notice I was going to be meeting you.â
âDear, yer pretty arse stayinâ in my house is enough to make my Christmas merry. Wine is just the icinâ on the cake.â She grinned, her eyes scrunching and sparkling much in the same way Siofraâs had.
Kit chuckled. âYouâre too kind. Al? Would you like to help Finny open his gift?â
Alistair did as he was told silently, a little awestruck by all the other gifts. He put Finnyâs paw on the package as he ripped the paper to make sure Finny knew it was his present. Finny snuffled it curiously. At first the box looked like it held fancy candy, but upon closer inspection, they were actually gourmet dog treats. Finny was nosing at the box, clearly eager to examine its contents.
Siofra laughed. âNow ye can have dessert too, ye fat furry bastard.â Finny barked at her. Alistair opened the box for him, letting Finny stick his nose in and rootle around. The dog scarfed up a treat at once, trying to eat a second one before heâd even finished chewing. Siofra let him have a second, but then she took the box before he could devour them all. Kit was hovering nervously by his cousin, watching as Finny settled down.
âAlright, Al. Your turn.â
âFinally!â Alistair said, but he sounded nervous too. Maybe it was just everyone watching him. He started tearing the wrapping paper off the top box, struggling with the sellotape with his bitten nails. It finally gave, revealing a book of cold-press cotton paper and a tray of sixteen high-end watercolours.
Alistair had been preparing a thank you on his tongue, but he couldnât speak now. Heâd have never been able to afford these himself, but heâd always wanted to try them. He leapt over the box and hugged Kit hard â and he was still only on the first box. The older boy let out a strangled squawk.
âAl! Donât choke me yet. Iâd like to see you at least open your other giftsâŠâ
âOkay, but Iâm choking you afterwards,â Alistair said, tearing at the next box. This one was something Kit had researched for hours before picking it out â a 24-inch Wacom Cintiq Pro drawing tablet.
Alistair looked like he was going to have a heart attack. âKit, youâre fucking amazing.â
âOpen the last one, then suck my dick.â Kit grinned.
âYouâre awful. I love you.â Alistair couldnât sort through his emotions when he was this excited. He eagerly opened the last box. It was smaller than the Wacom, a sleek silver Macbook Pro.
âI figured your old computer wouldnât hold up to Photoshop very well. Or rather⊠the salesman who helped me pick out your tablet figured.â Kit said.
âDude. Kit.â Alistair almost did throttle his cousin when he hugged him this time. âTheyâre the most perfect presents Iâve ever been givenâŠâ
Kit made a louder squawking noise, trying to pull away enough to breathe. Finny was nosing curiously at Alistairâs things, but he knew better than to lick or chew on them. Alistair went and hugged him too. âLook at the stuff Kit bought me, Finny! Now I can do art like a real artist! Isnât he fucking awesome!â
Kit just smiled, sitting on the couch to help Siofra with the clasp of her new necklace. Finny boofed, excited because Alistair was excited. He gave the boyâs face a big, sloppy lick. Alistair romped on the floor with him, bouncing off the walls now. He was like a kid on a sugar high. Finny rolled around, delighted to be getting so much attention, while Siofra and her family settled on the couch to eat dessert. Gran was pouring wine for those who wanted it, and Kit gratefully took a glass. He leaned on Siofra, but stayed awake this time, quiet and watchful.
âWhat about your presents, Kit?â Alistair said under Finny.
âMe? What could I possibly need as a gift?â
âIâll give you mine later,â he whispered. âI donât want everyone seeing it. Donât get excited though, like you said, youâve got everything.â
âI mean, I have somethinâ for ye, too, but itâs also not somethinâ I can give ye in public.â Siofra grinned. Kitâs cheeks flared red, but the Rafferty boys and Gran just laughed.
âGross, Siofra,â Alistair mumbled.
âYer mumâs gross.â She smirked.
Finny boofed, and Siofra smiled. âDonât worry Finn, yer mum was lovely.â
âYou knew her?â Alistair said curiously.
âNo, but I did. She was quite the charminâ bitch.â Mr. Rafferty grinned.
âWell. Thatâs good,â Alistair said awkwardly. Finny saved him from further conversation by trotting over to the door and whining. Alistair leapt up at once. âIâll take him out.â
âThanks.â Siofra smiled at him. âTake a jacket, itâs bloody baltic outside.â
Alistair grabbed the first one off the rack, which must have belonged to one of the Rafferty men, since it looked like it was trying to swallow Alistair whole when he put it on. âCome on, Finn.â
Finny boofed delightedly, barreling out the door as soon as it was open. Snow had been falling heavily, and it was up to his belly fur, but he ran through it without hesitation.
âJesus! Look at this!â Alistair ran out into the show, shivering. Heâd shoved his bare feet into somebodyâs gigantic trainers, and they were offering little protection. âFuck, my feet are cold, Finny.â
Finnyâs fur seemed to be doing a stellar job of keeping him warm. He ran around chasing snowflakes for a while before even remembering heâd been let out to piss. Alistair tried to run after him, but the borrowed shoes were so big he kept stepping out of them and stepping into the snow in his bare feet. âI am losing toes here, Finny,â Alistair called, but he still didnât go inside.
Finny eventually wore himself out, running back to Alistair and snuffling at his legs. He was full after being spoiled with snacks all evening, and not as hyper as earlier. When Alistair let the dog back inside, Siofra and Cillian were helping clean up dessert dishes, and Gran was asking Kit about his travels. He seemed a little flustered to be in the spotlight, but once she got him going on a story about visiting Japan, he rambled enthusiastically, telling her about the temples heâd seen. Alistair staggered into the kitchen with snow in his hair, his feet practically blue.
Siofra snorted. âJaysus, whoâs the Ice Princess now?â
âThe bloody snow outside is deep.â
âYa coulda taken my boots.â She grinned, âTheyâd fit just fine.â
âI just took the first shoes I found,â he grumbled.
âFigured. Would some hot chocolate warm ya up?â Siofra asked.
Siofra laughed, going over to the stove to make fresh cocoa. Finny had joined them in the kitchen, hoping to catch any dropped crumbs. Alistair didnât have food to offer, but he pet Finnyâs ears. The dog wagged his tail, thumping Alistair's legs. He watched Siofra eagerly as she worked on the stove.
âThis ain't for you, fat-arse. You've already had fancy treats and all sorts'o scraps.â She told him. Finny sighed, laying down right in the middle of the kitchen floor.
âCanât he have a little bit of something?â Alistair asked.
âNo. He's already had way more than usual. Don't want âim gettinâ sick, or fat.â
âFat dogs are super cute.â
âThey're also super unhealthy.â Siofra replied sternly. She finished the cocoa, pouring some into a fresh mug.
âSorry, Finny. I tried.â
Finny boofed, continuing to lay right in Siofra's way. She just stepped over him and handed Alistair the mug. He took it gratefully, trying to warm his freezing hands.
âGo sit on the couch. We got plenty'o blankets.â
âWho else is there?â Alistair asked warily.
Siofra rolled her eyes. âYer cousin. RiagĂĄn maybe, but âe's probably gone to set up sleepinâ bags.â
âOkay.â He mooched off to the living room, going to cuddle up with Kit on the sofa. Kit was still nursing the same glass of wine, and he yelped when his cousin sat down.
âGood Lord, Al, you're freezing!â
âI know. My feet are numb.â
âThereâs blankets on the backâo the couch!â Siofra yelled from the kitchen. Gran and Mr. Rafferty had left the living room, so RiagĂĄn had taken over the armchair.
Alistair grabbed a couple of blankets, wrapping Kit up too. âThank you so much for those gifts, Kit. You spoil me.â
âI try.â Kit mumbled, leaning on Alistairâs shoulder. He was still holding his wineglass, but heâd stopped sipping from it a while ago.
âI wish I could get you something as special,â he sighed.
âLike what, Al? Youâre not being rude by not spending money you donât have.â
âIâm just saying, I wish.â
âI wish I was in bed.â Kit mumbled. His eyelids were fluttering as he fought to keep them up, and he had to set his wine down before he dropped the glass.
âWant me to carry you?â Alistair offered.
Kit nodded. âMm. Come to bed with me. Get warm.â
Alistair snorted. âI thought you and Siofra were having a holiday hump?â
âTomorrow. Iâm tired.â
âGlad to know Iâm valued!â Siofra called from the kitchen. Alistair grinned, hauling Kit up in his arms. Cillian waved as they walked off to the guest room.
âNight,â Alistair said back, plopping Kit on the bed carefully. Kit held his arms out, hoping his cousin would crawl in bed with him. He hadnât even changed out of his clothes. Alistair couldnât resist him, climbing under the sheets beside him. âDonât you want to change?â
âOh⊠I suppose I should.â Kit was so tired, he hadnât given it the slightest thought.
âDo you want me to just do it? Itâs not like I havenât dressed you for bed before.â Alistair offered.
Alistair grinned. âOkay. Stay still then.â
Kit just flopped on the bed like a dramatic ragdoll, allowing his cousin to dress him. He heard snickering and looked up to see Siofra in the doorway.
âI didnât think nobles still needed servants to dress âem.â She grinned.
Kitâs cheeks flared red. âI⊠itâs not like that!â
âReally? Didja go quadriplegic in the last five minutes?â
âThen whatâs it like?â Siofra asked.
Kit hung his head, clearly embarrassed. â...Iâm tired.â
She snorted. âToo tired to put on yer own pyjamas!â
âHe offered!â Kit cried.
âThis is quite a usual thing,â Alistair agreed. âItâs just easier than forcing him up to do it himself.â
âChrist. Ye rich folk are really somethinâ else.â Siofra shook her head, but she was smiling.
âIâm not a rich folk anymore.â
âAh, right. Youâre just weird. Well, Iâll leave ye weirdos to it.â She walked off down the hall, and Kit could hear her talking to Finny out in the living room.
âSheâs the weird one. This whole family is weird,â Alistair said. He didnât sound mad, just perplexed. âThey all like...love each other.â
Kit laughed so hard, Alistair had to let go of his sleeve. âAl⊠thatâs how normal families are.â
âItâs weird! Theyâre not any bit of drama or resentment. Even Julesâs dad has been screwing someone else. Even his family is a bit fucked up.â
âWell, I mean, Siofra said she never liked her mum much. But itâs really not as weird as youâre making it out to be. Iâm sure they fight sometimes.â Kit shrugged.
âOh god, I bet thatâs a riot.â
âYouâre a riot.â Kit mumbled, flopping down on the bed with a sigh.
âAre you too tired to open my present tonight?â Alistair asked quietly.
Kit sat up, trying to smooth himself out. âOh, no. I just forgot. Sorry.â
Alistair grinned. âShocker. Like I said, donât be too excited⊠I wish I could afford to get you something really nice.â He rifled in his case and pulled out a little oblong parcel wrapped in deep blue paper.
âI can buy myself nice things. Iâm just curious to see what you thought of.â Kit took the parcel, peeling off the paper slowly and carefully.
It was a necklace, very dainty and delicate, the chains so fragile they seemed as brittle as a daisy chain. There was a rose pendant at the bottom, uncannily similar to the ring Kit wore to remember his mother: same design, colour, roughly similar in size. Alistair had bought it second-hand, but heâd polished it up until it shone like it was new. Kit immediately looked down at his ring, stricken by the similarity. As far as heâd known, the ring didnât have a companion piece â it was an old heirloom, one of the few remnants of when his motherâs family was wealthy. He was quiet for a long time, chewing thoughtfully on his lower lip.
âHow⊠where did you find this?â
Alistair nudged his shoulder gently. âYou know, you do still have an auntâŠâ
Kit nearly dropped the necklace. âItâs actuallyâŠâ he stumbled over his words, too choked up to articulate himself, âIt was hers? Or⊠the familyâs, at least?â
âYep. I wouldâve told you Iâd been in touch sooner, but I wanted to give you this first,â Alistair said. âMĂĄire wants to talk to you again, too.â
Kit clutched the threadlike chain, his hands too shaky to put on the clasp. He was quiet, save for small, shuddering breaths, before collapsing against Alistair, sobbing and hugging his cousin tightly. Alistair held him just as tight. âSo yeah⊠MĂĄire was kinda part of your present.â
Kit shook his head, burying his face in Alistairâs shoulder. âShe wonât want to see me. Not like this.â
âOf course she will! She was dead excited to hear from even me, so sheâll be really happy. I showed her a picture of you and she couldnât believe how much youâve changed,â Alistair laughed.
âIâm sure that picture looked worlds better than I do now.â Kit sighed. He was all too aware of how corpse-like heâd looked as of late.
âWell, itâll probably make her auntie instincts come out. She kept telling me I hadnât changed a bit.â He rolled his eyes. âMnn, flattering.â
âYou still donât brush your hair.â Kit was chuckling through the tears now.
âShe kept trying to smooth it down just like when we were kids,â Alistair said, grinning. âShe said how handsome you are now.â
âWhen did you go see her?â Kit asked.
âNot too long before we came out here. I found her on Facebook and we chatted for a bit first.â
Kit nodded. âDoes Julie know?â
âYeah. Heâs the only thing that kept me from telling you. I almost caved a hundred times this week.â
Kit couldnât help giggling. âYou were always awful with secrets. Itâs probably good you didnât realize you were gay sooner.â
âI know, Iâd have told everyone in a heartbeat. Iâd have had to live in your cupboard or some shit like a fucking war criminal.â
"Virgin war criminal more like." Kit smirked. He was no longer crying, and he sat up enough to put the necklace on.
âI couldâve seen your hair during your Draco blond phase,â Alistair said, helping Kit do up the clasp.
Kit cringed. "Oh god. I think I burned my yearbook from that phase."
"What phase?" Siofra popped her head into the room, as she'd walked over to check on the boys.
"Doesn't matter." Kit replied hastily.
Siofra smirked. "I'll be nice enough to pretend I believe ya. I thought ye came in here to sleep?"
"I did," Kit said, "I forgot Al still had a gift to give me."
"Ye know I do too, right?" Siofra asked.
Kit shook his head. "Not while we're sharing a room with him. That's just cruel."
"A real gift, ye twit. I was jokin' âbout fuckin' bein' yer gift. I'll fuck ye anytime, holidays be damned."
"Oh." Kit blinked. "Do⊠do you want to give it to me now?"
"Nah. You're havin' a moment. I can leave ye two here. D'ye need anything before I go?" She asked.
"Er⊠I don't think so. Al?"
âNo thanks. But you can do the gift exchange if you want,â Alistair said. âIâll go piss or something if you want privacy.â
"Nah, I'm not that fussed. It's nothin' fancy. I just thought I oughta offer more than a shag." Siofra shrugged. She dug through her own bag, which was sitting on the floor, and pulled out a wrapped box. Kit opened it as meticulously as the last gift, eventually revealing a small wooden box. He undid the latch, revealing an ornate silver hairbrush, with a matching mirror and comb.
"It's lovely," he smiled, lifting the mirror and turning it over. The back had delicate scrolling detail like the brush, and it was immaculately glossy.
"Oh, good." Siofra grinned, seemingly relieved.
"What, did you think I wouldn't like it?" Kit asked.
"Honestly, I was afraid you'd already have ten."
âYou are a nightmare to buy gifts for, Kit,â Alistair agreed. âJust cause youâve got fucking everything.â
"Well, that's why I don't ask for anything!" He cried defensively.
âIâm just teasing you, dope,â Alistair said fondly.
"You're a dope," Kit mumbled, leaning against his cousin with a drowsy sigh. Siofra took the box off his lap, clasping it shut and setting it aside.
"You lot get some sleep. I'll be to bed in a while." Â
âIâll look after him,â Alistair promised.
Siofra nodded. "Ya got enough blankets?"
âFor me, yes. For Kit, we could probably do with a couple more.â
"Figured. I'll be right back." Siofra stepped away, returning a few minutes later with some soft throw blankets and a handmade quilt. "This oughta do ya." She dumped the blankets on the boys, and Kit groaned dramatically. "Sorry princess, no peas in the mattress."
Alistair snorted. âThat really is you.â
"Is not," Kit mumbled, "my servants know better than to leave peas in my mattress."
âWho the hell would do that in the first place?â Alistair muttered.
Siofra snorted. "Get some sleep, idiots," she said, closing the door quietly and walking off down the hall. Her brothers and father were in the kitchen, drinking beer and talking rugby, but Gran was sitting in the living room, peering through her coke-bottle glasses at a book. Siofra walked through the living room, stepping into her boots to take Finny out.
"Ye really like that lad, don't ye?" Gran's voice behind her made Siofra jump.
"I like 'im well enough." She shrugged.
"Better than enough, I'd say, if ye bothered to bring 'im all the way out here."
Siofra huffed, shaking her head and lacing up her boots. "I'm feelin' it out, Gran. I ain't committed to nothin' yet."
"Well, feel him out a bit extra for me. He's a good-lookin' one." Gran said, her magnified eyes twinkling with mischief.
Siofra couldn't help snorting. "I will. Just don't harp on about nothin' in front'o him. He had a bad breakup not too long back. You'll scare 'im off if ye get too serious."
"I'm too old to take things serious. Just have fun with 'im." Gran shrugged.
"I plan to. I gotta take Finny out now, alright? Get some sleep." Siofra bent down, hugging her grandmother tightly before standing up and whistling for the dog. Finny bounded over at once, tail wagging eagerly as Siofra clipped his leash on. "C'mon, lad. Let's see what the forest looks like tonight."
