A/N: Finally writing for my OTP at long last! I couldn't wait until a future longer fic and I adore Christmas, so wanted to write a Christmas oneshot for them. I hope you enjoy it!

A Ray of Hope

The streets were hardly bright and cheerful. Instead of the gift of a 'White Christmas', rain was falling down onto the concrete below, the sky dark and covered with clouds of different shades of grey. However, there was still laughter from families out for a walk, the splashes of feet and paws on the pavements. It was hardly the weather one would hope for on Christmas day, but no matter how much water fell, it could not distinguish the spark of light in people's passionate hearts.

Perhaps the fall of rain was a pathetic fallacy of the mood of the person two individuals were on their way to visit, bags of presents in their hands.

"You okay, Sorey?" said the girl, named Alisha Diphda. Her friend had been silent for a while now, which was unlike him.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied, smiling. It didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm just worried about Mikleo."

"We'll cheer him up," she said encouragingly. "No matter where he is, he can't possibly not enjoy your company on Christmas day."

This time, Sorey's smile was genuine. "Thanks, Alisha. I'll make sure to still make this one of the best Christmases he's had!"

That was more like him. Satisfied with the change in his demeanour, Alisha looked forward again. Soon enough, her eyes landed on the hospital on the street. Still walking with more of a bounce to his step, Sorey walked up to the receptionist, who recognised him instantly.

"Merry Christmas! Come to keep Mikleo company?"

"That's right! We didn't want him to be alone on today of all days." He grinned at her. "I must commend you for working today."

"I'll be home in a few hours, and honestly, I just love seeing happy patients when they get visitors. Have a lovely time!"

"We will!" Sorey responded, before leading the way down the familiar route through the hospital. Down the corridor, turn left, climb up the stairs, another left, forward, right… Then there he was through the open doorway, sat up in bed with his gaze fixed on the window, perhaps in longing despite the foul weather. Sorey handed his bags to Alisha, put a finger to his lips, crept through the open doorway with as soft footsteps as he could manage, and leaped.

"MIKLEO!" he yelled as he landed on the bed, his arms landing round Mikleo.

"Ah- Sorey, get off, stop it!" Mikleo cried, bursting into laughter when Sorey's hands attacked his sides. "Seriously, stop, you know I'm too weak to fight back!"

"Sorry, sorry," Sorey laughed, clearly not apologetic in the slightest. Mikleo's eyes were already shining, his face lit up a considerably larger amount than what it would have been if Sorey had greeted him normally. "Merry Christmas, Mikleo!"

"Merry Christmas," Mikleo replied. He turned his gaze to Alisha, smiling. "To you too, of course."

"And to you," she said, placing the bags onto the bed.

"The presents between Alisha and I are in those." Sorey hummed in thought, looking inside the bags. "Uh… I don't think there's any for you, Mikleo. Sorry."

"Give over," Mikleo chuckled, weakly – but playfully – hitting Sorey on the arm. "I deserve to be treated like royalty considering I'm stuck in here."

"Just like a princess," Sorey said, patting Mikleo's white hair. He scowled, but said nothing. Admittedly, he was disappointed when there was no longer a hand on his head. Contact was something he missed everyday, despite how often he was visited. He even missed the crowds of people he used to walk past in the streets, just because that busyness made him feel more alive.

Sorey could see a fall in Mikleo's expression. He beamed despite the pang of pain which went through his chest, and pulled a present covered in a frosty wrapping paper out of a bag. "Okay, okay, here you are."

At least that seemed to soften Mikleo's expression slightly. Frail, pale hands tore at the wrapping paper – to some regret, Sorey noticed, which made him grin. Mikleo opened the box inside, and pulled out a necklace. Sorey knew that Mikleo's heart melted on anything which added femininity to himself subtly. The chain was thin and silver, with a small but beautiful purple gemstone hung on the end.

"It matches my eyes," Mikleo said softly, holding up the necklace in front of his face to inspect it from various angles. It caught the light, gleaming with an almost supernatural shine.

"Of course, that's why I picked it!"

"Don't sound so egotistical about it," Mikleo chuckled. But the smirk was quick to soften to a smile. "I love it, thank you so much."

"I knew you would! Turn around; I'll put it on for you."

Alisha watched fondly as Mikleo turned 90 degrees, allowing Sorey to fasten the necklace around Mikleo's slender neck. He held onto the gemstone, twisting it in his fingers. 'I never want to take this off,' he thought to himself, but didn't express these words aloud.

"Here's a present from me, as well," Alisha said, handing over a rectangular box. Mikleo shook it briefly out of curiosity before unwrapping it. The smile which had already been on his face for the last couple of minutes grew.

"Macaroons from the bakery!"

"I knew how much you missed them," she smiled. "I didn't want you to have to wait any longer!"

"This was so thoughtful of you, thank you," Mikleo said, popping of the macaroons into his mouth, visibly melting in delight at the sweetness. "They're as good as I remembered."

He handed the box out to Sorey and Alisha, who both took one each. Their reactions were the same fondness.

"These are great!" Alisha commented.

"Yo-" Sorey stopped himself immediately, deciding that mentioning that Mikleo's own home-made macaroons were better would be a thoughtless comment. He knew how much Mikleo missed baking. He instead changed his words to the first words that came to mind without a thought. "Your reaction to them was so cute."

He admittedly felt quite proud of how quickly he switched to that.

"O-Oh? Uh, thanks..." Mikleo said, his cheeks reddening. It wasn't the first time he had been complimented in a similar fashion, but he hadn't expected it and had been caught off guard. He coughed awkwardly as he looked down at his bed sheets, which made Alisha burst out laughing.

"Am I a third wheel?"

"Anyone is a third wheel when they're around us two," Sorey joked, though there was a fraction of truth in those words. "Anyway, Alisha! Don't you have a present for me?"

Wrapping paper was stuffed in the bin, the Christmas bags now filled with presents; lots of food, hygiene products, fragrances, books, clothes and other items. Mikleo had his arms around a white cat plush, which Sorey had stated 'looked just like him.' He was beginning to look a lot more drained than he had previously, but was trying his best not to let it show too much.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get any of you presents," he said, guilt evident in his voice.

"Don't say sorry for something you can't apologise for!" Alisha responded.

"She's right Mikleo, it's not your fault."

"I'll make you both something, if I..."

His face fell at the word 'if' and his words drifted off. A sudden tension filled the room. Mikleo swallowed, hugging the plush cat closer to his chest, his head bowed forward so that his fringe covered his eyes from view. Alisha had to break the silence awkwardly.

"Mikleo, I have to go to Rose's parents' house soon..."

"You can go, Alisha," Sorey said reassuringly. "I'll stay."

"I understand," Mikleo added. "It's okay, I've already seen you for a couple of hours now. You really helped cheer me up, so thank you."

Alisha pulled him into a gentle hug, one hand resting on the back of his head. "Don't thank me, Mikleo. I just did what any friend would." She grabbed the Christmas bag belonging to her as she slid off the bed, turning around when her hand rested on the door handle. "I'll be back to see you as soon as possible. Rest up, okay?"

Mikleo nodded. "Enjoy the rest of today."

Alisha gave him one last smile, wiping away a tear as she closed the door after her. Silence fell again, but only because of actions; Sorey shuffled along the bed so he could put an arm around Mikleo's shoulders, pulling him closer. He rested his head on Sorey's shoulder, the warmth relaxing him, if only slightly.

"Do you need to talk?" Sorey asked quietly. Mikleo's lips trembled.

"I'm trying to be happy today, I really am, but..."

"I understand. Anyone would be like you in your position." One hand brushed Mikleo's hair comfortingly. "But you'll get through this, Mikleo. Then we can go spend time together like the old times."

"But-"

"That's not a request, Mikleo," Sorey grinned, poking Mikleo on the forehead. "It's a demand. I'm taking you on a date."

"A… Date?" Mikleo shook his head, staring down at his hands. "No, I can't think of that again, Sorey. I know it's hopeless."

"Am I really that bad?" Sorey joked, but the reply was anything but amusing.

"Of course not! I want to, I really, really do..."

Mikleo's voice cracked, and suddenly, the tears which he had been forcing back were no longer in his control. He buried his face in his hands, whole body shaking as he sobbed.

"It's all I've ever wanted, and you know that!" he cried. "You know how I feel, you have to. But I might not even get out of here alive! How can I say yes to something like that, rising both of our hopes, when it might be completely hopeless?" Sorey didn't utter a word, knowing that Mikleo needed this moment to vent; he just pulled him closer, and his response was hands clutching at the shirt on his chest, a head buried between them. "How can it be so cruel? That we've become like this, only for fate to play with us and tear us apart? I just want you to hold me, kiss me, let me feel safe in your arms, but even with your understanding, it's not possible. Why… Why does it have to be this way?"

Sorey's sorrow for Mikleo grew so strong that the pain was physical. He couldn't stand to see the boy he had always known to be strong to have such a devastating breakdown – but of course, he knew it would arrive sooner or later. Within these hospital walls, it only took so long before you felt trapped with nowhere to go.

"Listen to me, Mikleo," Sorey said gently, still resting a hand on Mikleo's shoulder and head. "It isn't certain that you won't beat this, all right? There's still a chance of you surviving. And you know what is going to make that chance stronger?" Mikleo shook his head against Sorey's chest. "It's going to be how strong I know you can be. The moment you give in to your illness and accept the fate it wants to give you is the one which would cause your downfall, uneven the percentages. But what doesn't do you any harm is you telling yourself that you will fight it, that you have too much to live for to give up now. I'm not saying that it's easy, or that you have no reason to be frightened, but you can fight Mikleo, I know you can."

Finally, Mikleo's head slowly rose, so that purple eyes met green. His voice was hesitant and unsure. "You really do?"

Sorey grinned, "Of course! I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it. You've always been stubborn, you know. As if you'd let yourself stay in this bed forever!" His voice quietened, his hand brushing Mikleo's fringe back so he could plant a kiss onto his forehead. "After all, we all miss you."

"I'll try," Mikleo said. "I'm honestly completely and utterly terrified..."

"Of course."

"I've lost most of my confidence..."

"Understandable."

"And I don't know what the future holds..."

"Do any of us?"

Finally, Mikleo's lips turned into a grin, even if it was small. "But I will try. And if – no, when – I'm stronger, I can change that 'try' into something more certain. Because you're right, Sorey. I have too much to live for to give up now."

"I'll be with you every step of the way," Sorey said. "And don't worry. I'm much bigger than you, so if you fall, you've got someone who isn't a midget to hold on to."

"You're such an asshole. Leave me alone now, you're too close. Talk about clingy."

"And who is the one who was just bawling into my poor shirt minutes ago?"

"I'm the one whose life is threatened, you know. I have an excuse."

"Such a drama queen."

They both started laughing, clearing away the last remaining tension that had been hanging in the air.

"How about I take you for a walk?"

Mikleo nodded, "Yeah, I'd love that."

After receiving permission from a nurse, Mikleo was helped into a wheelchair with a white blanket over his lap. He received this treatment everyday from the nurses to get out of the same room he was in constantly, but it felt that little bit more enjoyable with Sorey. Hearing his voice, his laughter… It just gave him a sense of security. When he listened, sometimes with his eyes closed, he momentarily forgot where he was.

Sorey wheeled him outside the front entrance of the hospital to allow him to breathe in the fresh air. Mikleo couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh, wow. It looks so much like Christmas."

"Well damn Mikleo, I can't control the weather."

"It's fine like this," Mikleo responded seriously, listening to the drops of rain fall onto the concrete. "It still makes me feel more alive. Thank you for taking me out here."

"No worries."

"I want to walk out in the rain again. It's so simple, and so many people hate it, but… It's the freedom, you know? Just being able to walk outside, no matter the weather."

"You will walk out in it again. I'll help you get to those steps. Then, we can walk through the shopping centre and I'll get you your favourite food."

"All on you?"

"All on me. And I'll get you a new jumper."

"You already did for Christmas. Two, actually."

"But they suit you."

"It'll probably not even be winter by the time we do this, you know."

"Fine, dungarees. That'd be cute."

"Stop dressing me in your mind."

"Would you rather be undressed in it?"

"Oh, shut up." But he was laughing again. It was such a heavenly sound, especially compared to the hysterics he had been in earlier. "We could play arcade games, too."

"You suck at them."

"But they're fun. There's just so many things I want to do. I'd love to swim again, if I ever have the strength."

"Keep on focusing on those things, Mikleo. That'll begin your journey."

"Thank you for being with me for this. I couldn't be doing this without you."

"What's this? Mikleo, of all people, being sappy again?"

"You're ruining the moment!"

"Nah, I'm not. You adore me the way I am." Sorey crouched in front of him to take his hands into his own. "We can do this together."

Mikleo stared down at their hands. "And you'll wait for me?"

"As long as it takes."

In the real world, rain was still thundering down, but it was no longer a pathetic fallacy for Mikleo's emotions. The sky in his mind was becoming clearer, rays of sunlight beaming through the darkness. He had one person to thank for his own spark of light which he had thought was already distinguished.

A/N: I really enjoyed finally writing for these two. Hopefully it turned out all right! There's a lot in this that I have actually felt myself, wanted to be told and have told myself, so hopefully that helps the emotions to show through. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!