Author's Notes: I don't own any of Hirano's works or characters….enjoy anyway.
T'was the season the season of Joy, and gift giving. Regardless of their ruthless reputation and bad rap, the Notorious Millennium Group was enjoying some holiday yuletide festivities of their own….well almost. Only the Captain shyed away from such things; no one was sure why. At the Christmas party, he seemed to be enjoying himself-listening to Christmas carols, hearing the laughter and joking from his comrades, watching Schrödinger dance to "Rocking around The Christmas Tree" while pulling at the Sharpshooter Lieutenant's arm to have her dance with him- however, Rip tried to push the cat boy away from her; and of course, the Major talking about war…again. Maybe the Captain was just shy in general?
Anyway, Christmas was coming; in fact, it was in three days. While Rip and Schrödinger were wrapping gifts in their rooms, Captain was busy walking up and down the corridors; it was his job to make sure everything was secure before he turned in for the night. As he passed Rip's quarters, he noticed her door cracked halfway open, and her light on. He assumed that Rip had fallen asleep with the light on again; she's done it countless times, sitting in her chair with her feet propped up on the desk, or relaxing on her bed with a good book (mostly tragic romance or dramas). She'd read on until the early hours of the morning, and eventually fall asleep. So, being that he was on duty, he went to turn her light out…he knocked on the side of the door first.
"Oh Captain! You scared me." Rip cried.
If the Captain could show any expression, then he would be surprised-for Rip had her tie and black blazer removed, showing off her white work shirt that had been unbuttoned one button down exposing the base of her neck; the shirt also revealed curves everyone thought didn't exist. She sat there on the bed cross-legged; her bear feet hidden from view except her knees which seemed to be stretching out her black pants.
She quickly pushed something behind her back, as if she were hiding something. He didn't notice what it was; her long hair had hidden it from his view; and if he did catch a glimpse, he wouldn't have cared. The Captain didn't say a word, just slightly nodded.
"So, um…did you vrap any presents yet? Christmas ist three days avay you know." She said, trying to strike up a difficult conversation.
You see, the Captain was a mute-or at least that's what he wanted everyone to believe. Rumors had it that in WWII, his throat was severed by a British soldier, or when he was a child, he developed a throat infection causing him to become very ill; his voice box had to be removed….or while he was growing up he was trained to be "seen but not heard". All very possible explanations, but like rumors, they were only assumptions.
The Captain shook his head slightly, causing Rip to look at him with wide blue eyes and mouth agape. The Lieutenant got to her feet, and approached him. He looked down at her; from his view, she looked like a teenager-though he knew very well not to mention it; she was centuries older than that.
"You mean to tell me you haven't vrapped your gifts yet? Or are you trying to tell me zat you haven't gone Christmas shopping?" She asked, folding her arms in unbelief.
The Captain was silent….he only blinked once.
"Okay," She sighed "Let me help you zen. Who do you vant to give a gift for?"
Rip knew that she wasn't going to get an answer right away; she walked over to her desk, and pulled out a pencil and pad.
"Just vite them down und ve'll go from zhere." She said handing him the utensils.
She watched silently as the Captain walked over next to her, and started to write down a list on the writing pad. He then handed over the contents to the Lieutenant; she adjusted her round glasses and read off the list.
"Schrödinger, Doc, Major, Joleen…" She started. Her voice dropped low as a whisper as she read off the last name to herself. She looked up at the silent Captain and smiled.
"Vell, this ist a good start. Now, vhat do you vant to get zhem?" She asked.
Again, Captain scribbled something down on the paper and handed it over to her to read. As she did, she nodded in understanding. The note said "I don't know. What do you suggest?"
"Vell, try using zher characteristics; you know zhat Heir Doctor ist a surgeon. Get him a new lab coat or something. Um…for The Major, I dunno, get him a gift card for a doughnut shop." She joked.
Captain didn't laugh, which made Rip feel like she were alone in a field full of singing crickets. "At least they vould laugh at my joke." She thought to herself.
"Okay, und as for Schrödinger, um…vell…hmm….I don't know vhat vould vork for the boy. So, be creative." " Und, I know zhat Joleen said she needed some cleaning solution for her scythe; she ran out." She added.
The Captain nodded to the suggestions.
"Und as for me … I don't vant anything for Christmas…except for von thing…I vant you to speak for me."
The Captain's eyes averted towards the hard wooden floor. What thoughts went though his mind as he heard this request?
"It doesn't have to be anything big like a poem, Hans. Just von vord vould satisfy me." The Lieutenant added with a smirk.
The Captain thought for a moment, probably wondering what he had gotten himself into. Maybe he should have ignored the light in her room and kept walking. But now, he had to find and buy gifts for these people and do one thing he hadn't done for most of his life: speak. Finally, he gave in and nodded as if he were saying "Alright, I'll do it." Rip smiled and clasped her hands together with joy.
"Oh this ist going to be the best Christmas ever!" She said cheerily. And with this, the Captain nodded to almost a slight bow, and turned to leave.
Alone, Rip resumed back to wrapping up her gifts. She had everyone's finished….well, there was only gift left to wrap: The Captain's. She retrieved the box from her hiding space, and preceded to envelope it in plain green wrapping paper; a faint shade of pink appeared on her pale cheeks as she did. Rip never made this known to anyone, but she had hidden feelings for the Captain; she didn't know why. Maybe it was his silence that drawn her to him. For years she wanted to say something, but was afraid to. So she kept her crush a secret.
48 hours later, it was Christmas day! The Major made an announcement speech that had everyone falling on the floor in disbelief. Rip mentally slapped her forehead as to how stupid it was, let alone how stupid the major was. Afterwards, everyone who still stayed behind, i.e. Rip, Captain, Doc, Major, Joleen, and Schrödinger sat near the Major's "throne" and opened up gifts. Schrödinger was the first to open his. He received a book on boy scouts and how to survive in the wilderness from Doc, a pocket knife from the Captain, and from Rip, a T-Shirt that had the words "Okay, your point?". Joleen got the cleaning solution Rip suggested to Captain two days earlier, and a black choker. The Doc got a brand new lab coat…actually 6 new lab coats, and the Major received books about war, books about good speeches that didn't involve war, and a gift card to a doughnut joint.
It was Rip's turn to give a gift. Blushing, she handed Captain the present clad in forest green wrapping paper with a white bow. He held it in his hand and stared at it for a minute.
"Come on Captain, I order you to open it." The Major said.
Captain continued to stare down and hard at the gift. Placing his hand over top the bow, he gently tore it off, and peeled the paper back exposing a small black box. He pulled the box from out of the wrapping paper and opened it. It was a photograph of him 40 years ago before he was assigned to the military. He was young, and handsome; standing alone in front of a cottage; his childhood home. Thoughts ran through his mind as he studied the photo; he missed his old home, as well as his sister. He and his sister Bridgett grew up as orphans; their father was killed in WWI and their mother abandoned them because she could not provide for them. Being the oldest, Hans had to find work in order to provide for him and Bridgett. He finally had enough money for them to live off of as well as take care of the cottage. Suddenly, Bridgett fell ill with pneumonia, and depended on him to take care of her. Unfortunately, at the same time, the German Army was recruiting; he was drafted into the German Army/Millennium Division and was to report to HQ at once. Before he left, he promised his sister that when the war was over he'd return to take care of her, and in turn, she promised to wait for him.
He wasn't too sure if she waited long enough for his return; he received news that she passed away peacefully in her sleep. He missed her so much and still never forgave himself for leaving her when she was in serious need. He wondered where Rip had gotten the picture from; she wasn't around at that time, let alone they didn't know each other. But aware of Rip's abilities, he didn't bother to ask questions. He continued to study the photograph, when a tear un-noticeable to anyone, ran down his cheek. He never knew how thoughtful and warm-hearted a person like Rip was. Through his eyes, shadowed by his hat, he looked up from the picture and over to Rip who noticed and smiled.
After the moment of gift-giving was over, everyone was either in their rooms or away somewhere. Rip was sitting alone in her room listening to an old record: Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. She closed her eyes and imagined the music in her head; each music note swaying up and down the music bar like a rollercoaster. She was so into imagining the musical ride, when she heard a small tapping on her door. She turned around to see the Captain standing there.
"Oh Captain, vhat a surprise." She said trying to hide her true feelings from him.
The Captain approached her, and held out his hand-taking her hand into his. She looked at him in confusion and embarrassment. He noticed her blushing this time, and smiled. He closed his eyes, and leaned in towards her and kissed her lips. Rip's eyes went wide as she never imagined that ever happening. Her heart skipped a beat or two as it raced. She could feel her palm become sweaty as it was gently held in his hand. When he pulled away, she drew in a breath; her face now as red as a tomato. Again, he leaned in towards her. She assumed he was going to kiss her again, but instead of aiming for her lips, he leaned in towards her ear and whispered a single word…..
"Danke."
Author's note:I learned from my old French teacher (who was in fact German) some of the German dialect as well as words such as Danke...meaning thanks.