December 24th, Evening.
The Christmas spirit was felt all over Herefordshire. Many decorations, from multi-color lights to small Santa Claus were distributed all over the building.
The mess hall was the most decorated, with a huge Christmas tree in the center. It had various ornaments, red, silver and gold balls, some brighter than others, and a huge golden star at the top. The gifts, which were many and of various sizes, were already underneath, and waiting at midnight to be opened.
Nearby, the five oldies from Rainbow were playing a friendly game of poker.
"How are you feeling, Kaid? It's your first Christmas here at Rainbow." said Gilles, with a confident voice, sure he was going to win this round.
"Besides having those two Germans complaining day and night about their ACOGs, and haven't won anything since I joined this game tonight, awesome, yes."
"First time you face Tachanka on a roll?" Vicente laughed.
"All right, let's get this over with." Mike emptied his glass of whiskey. "I'm in" he added, pushing his chips to the center of the table.
"I'm out" Vicente shook his head and left his cards on the table.
Gilles, Kaid and Alexsandr looked at each other expectantly. Tension filled the air, as if all their fortune was in the bet. The old Englishman, on the other hand, was quietly waiting.
"Hey, Thatcher," a female voice was heard from behind.
"Oh!" Mike turned around. The Korean attacker was there, wearing a Santa hat with the usual number on it, 707. "What's wrong, Dokkaebi?"
"Do you know where is M ...?"
"Look and cry, comrade!" Alexsandr laughed loudly, showing a trio of aces.
"Come on! That's it, you're cheating" Mike protested, but also laughing..
The Russian operator grinned and took all the chips to his side of the table. Gilles threw his cards at the table and took a sip from his glass of cognac.
"I know how you're winning." he said.
"Do tell" Kaid replied, shuffling the cards.
"That thing" the French shieldbearer pointed to the bottle of vodka that was next to Alexsandr.
"Oh, really? Do you want to play fair terms?" the Russian offered the bottle to the others.
Kaid served himself as soon as Alexsandr finished speaking.
"Merde, I want to win too." Gilles emptied his glass, and took the bottle from Kaid. The more they served, Alexsandr's grin grew bigger.
In the blink of an eye, each player had his glass full of vodka.
"За нашу дружбу!" exclaimed the Russian defender, raising his glass.
"Uh, what?" Kaid raised an eyebrow.
"I think he's cheering in Russian." Mike also raised his glass. "Cheers!"
"Á votre s-santé" Gilles was already a bit tipsy.
Kaid and Vicente also joined the cheer and smiled.
"Thatcher!" Grace said loudly, almost yelling.
"Heeeeeeey, Grace! Whatcha looking for? Wanna join? I don't recommend it, Tachanka is cheating. "
"No. I just want to know where is ..."
"Are you looking for my boys?" Mike looked away briefly to the other side of the room. "Sledge is there"
He pointed to the sofa in front of the big TV. Seamus, who had a Santa hat on his bald head, was playing Mario Kart with Ela, Marius and Dominic. He was having fun..
"Eh,no, let me finis...""
"Ooooh, are you looking for Smoke? There he is" Mike interrupted her, again, and in one sip emptied his glass.
He pointed this time to the other sofa that was facing the chimney. On one side, James was flirting shamelessly with Elena, and on the other side, Timur was looking at them with disgust, but he'd rather say nothing, as he had Taina resting on his lap.
"I only want to know where is Mark!" the Korean exclaimed, making almost everyone present turn to look at her.
Without being able to avoid it, her cheeks acquired a light tinge of pink.
"For the adolescent and young love!" Alexsandr yelled out of nowhere, raising his glass again.
"For...! Hey, mine is empty." Gilles growled at his own glass, a little bit annoyed.
"Well well, little Marky is a little Grinch, did you know?" Mike served another shot to himself and Gilles. "Every year that we've been here, he's never celebrated Christmas. He must be in his room or something. Good luck, lassie. Hey, Kaid, done with the cards?"
"Thanks." Grace turned around, and went to the door.
Next to it was Yumiko, playing with her cell phone. As the Korean approached, she looked up and stopped her.
"Hey Grace, if you are looking for Mute, he's at the workshop."
"Oh, thanks, Yumi." she smiled at her, and left the room.
Just in that very moment, Masaru entered the mess hall, with a sandwich in his mouth and controlling Yokai with his wrist device.
"Masaru, where's my sandwich?" She crossed her arms, waiting for his response.
"Mm ..." the Japanese defender came back the way he came.
"Damn it, Masaru, you really want me to hit you, don't you?" Yumiko followed him, raising a fist.
"Ow! What are you doing, Yumiko?" several hits and punches were heard.
"Merry Christmas, Masaru Enatsu."
The workshop was almost completely dark. There was a only one light on in one of the tables, but it was enough for Mark, the only one there, to be able to work. He wore his gas mask, as usual, and dressed as he usually did, only with a scarf for the cold. He didn't use to celebrate any holiday. He hardly just celebrated his own and his roommates's birthdays and that was it.
He preferred to avoid the noise, the people, and any time he had to be more sociable than necessary. So, instead of going with the others, he stayed in the workshop, with Moni, his jammer.
"But Dokkaebi is coming to the party! You have to get out of here at least today!" He remembered what James said a few hours ago.
He did not want to go. Nobody was going to force him to break his routine, not even the girl he liked.
He started the night working with Masaru's company, a few tables away. Each one focused on their own drone, and without making any noise. Mark was already getting used to his presence, when suddenly, Yumiko, the Japanese's roommate, appeared, and almost literally, dragged him out the workshop.
"Hey, Mute." She smiled at him before leaving.
He waved back, and turned back to Moni. At one point, he turned off the lights and switched on the lamp on his table.
After a while, Yokai, which was still in the same place, lit up and began to float in the air. Mark looked up and saw the path of the drone, which went to the door, and gave it a couple of knocks.
The young brit smirked inside his mask and went to open it. Yokai buzzed as thanks and floated down the corridor.
Returning to his desk, Mark got back to work, hoping nothing would interrupt him again.
Grace just wanted to give Mark a Christmas gift, and she was going to give him the best she could think of.
She was already outside the workshop, preparing a good pick-up line. She felt strange, she could not think of any. Maybe she should just say hello. Yes, maybe that's the answer.
She opened the door slowly. Mark was working on his jammer, under the light of a lamp. She wanted to be as stealthy as possible, in order to surprise him, so she went to turn off the lights in the corridor, but when she came back, the young brit was waiting for her at the door.
"Something wrong, G-Grace?" He tried to look firm but it was obvious that he was nervous.
"No, I just wanted to know why you didn't answer my calls." she said, but regretted almost instantly, realizing it was not the best she could have said.
"You were calling me? Sorry, I think I left one of my jammers on, haha ..."
"Oh, well you should be more thoughtful"
An uncomfortable silence came in. Adding that they were almost in the darkness.
"And why did you call me? Was it something really important?" Mark asked, breaking the silence, even though he saw almost nothing.
"Would you invite me in? It feels weird being out here." Grace wasn't going to give her gift to him so carelessly..
Once inside, she preferred to stay in the dark. It was a better atmosphere, and they had the workshop all for themselves.
"What were you doing?" the Korean asked, approaching Mark's table
"I was trying to make a Moni Mark II"
"Mark II, ooooh, a better one? It reminds me of Iron Man though." She let out a giggle.
"Not much better, I just wanted it to be more resistant, especially to electricity."
"Bandit bothers you a lot?"
"More than usual recently, and now I must add Kaid to the jam."
"Oh, look at this." She started to examine Moni, and deliberately put one of her hands on top of one of Mark's.
The young brit was releasing steam from within. Despite being winter and snowing outside, a touch of Grace was enough for him to melt.
"Can it withstand many electric shocks?" she asked, without moving her hand.
"We-Well, I-it ca-can resist small shocks, but nothing really strong, like the PEM grenades of the old man... I mean Thatcher."
"Hm ... so this is the thing that prevents me to call you, right?" Grace stared at Mark, breaking the few defenses he had left.
The young brit just shook his head. He'd rather not answer as he was going to start babbling.
"You're so adorable ..." she gave a little tap with her index finger into his mask's visor.
Mark laughed, nervous, and removed his hand from Grace's without realizing it.
The Korean had him on the ropes, it was the time.
"The reason I came, was for this." Grace stood up and took off the Santa's hat she was wearing.
From his pocket she took out a red ribbon, one of those that are put on gifts, and put it on her hair, as an ornament.
"Merry Christmas, Mark Chandar." she murmured, crossing her legs and fidgeting with her braid, nervously.
Mark was surprised and for a moment he felt like Marius, unable to understand anything. After a few seconds, he caught the gist.
The truth was that he had no idea what to do, but the most appropriate seemed to give her something back. He had nothing on himself but Moni, his tools, his own mask and his cell phone.
Discarding every bad choice, he chose the best he could think of.
"Here." He took off his gas mask and gave it to her. "I hope you like it."
Grace's eyes lit up. She was not looking at the mask at all.
"Oh, my. You're really handsome." she whispered, with a genuine smile.
"Eh, ah ..." he was speechless suddenly. He was going to babble again.
Mark stood up, supressing all his nerves, kissed Grace on the cheek.
He totally surprised her, making her step back a little. She burst out laughing, which lasted for a while.
"What are you laughing so much?" Mark asked, leaning on the table, annoyed. He had the vague idea that all of this had been one of her jokes.
Grace stopped laughing and, leaving the mask on the table, jumped and caught Mark in a hug.
"I never thought I could like someone this much." she murmured in his ear, then rested her head on his shoulder. The difference of ten centimeters was noticed more than ever.
Again Mark was speechless, but he knew exactly what he could do. He broke the embrace gently, grabbed her by the shoulders, and kissed her on the forehead.
The tenderness in that kiss was so much that it could give hives to Masaru.
"Merry Christmas, Grace Nam." Mark said after awhile
The one that was melting now was her. She had underestimated him.
Suddenly, he let her go and sat down again.
"I suppose you are giving me yourself as a gift, hm...?" The young Brit grinned maliciously.
His smile was so unusual and charming to see that she, stunned, nodded.
"What can I do with you?"
"Anything you want, Mark." Grace was not sure what she was saying.
"No limits?"
"None."
"Well, get to work, today we must finish Mark II."
"What? Oh, come on, can we do something more exciting?"
"You should have thought that before giving me my Christmas gift."
"You're impossible."
"I cannot be impossible, I exist."
"And I love that existence."
They both started laughing. Almost sickly.
They were interrupted by the sound of fireworks, which were already beginning to decorate the sky.
Holding hands, they quickly made their way to the rooftop, where most of Rainbow was already. Those who weren't in groups were in pairs, enjoying the show. Erik and Jordan were the ones setting off the colourful light into the sky.
"Merry Christmas to all!" Alexsandr roared, with his bottle of endless vodka in his right hand.
"Oh, Marky, without his mask, and holding hands with Dokkaebi, I must be very drunk." Mike found them among the others. "I'm proud of you, son, and you, if you break ma boy's heart, Imma kill you, you hear?"
"Do not worry, Thatcher, and give me that" Grace took his beer from his hand.
"I thought you were funny" the old Brit returned where the other oldies group were.
"I've never seen the old man drunk." whispered Mark.
"Me neither, Maybe I should take a couple a photos" the Korean replied, and took her cell phone out of her pocket.
She took two photos of Mike and about twenty of Mark. Maybe the next day he came out with another gas mask, hiding his face again. She should take advantage of everything she could.
After half an hour, the fireworks rate was reduced. Most of the operators went down to the first floor for dinner, only the couples remained on the roof.
Mark and Grace were holding each other, still watching the sky, in silence.
"Hey Grace."
"Hm?"
"Would you be my girlfriend?"
"I would not be here if I did not want to be."
Without wasting any second, she tiptoed and kissed him.
All thought of Mark disappeared at that moment. He could only see Grace, and feel the taste of chocolate in her mouth. He couldn't help but think of her and her lips. After minutes that seemed like days, they separated.
They didn't say anything, they just smiled to each other.
"Hey, Mark! When's the wedding?" the voice of James were heard from afar.
The couple ignored him. They were locked in each other eyes.
"May this Christmas never be forgotten!" James roared, and set off a last firework.
Mark and Grace turned and watched amazed. It was beautiful.
Maybe life could end in any moment. Maybe any mission they were into could be the last. But any second enjoying life would be the best. Merry Christmas to all.