December the Thirteenth:

Lucia's Birthday

Despite the orphanage being of English regime, it had adopted several foreign traditions. One of them was the Lucia, from the Scandinavian parts of the world, and Matt had never liked it. Well, he had no problem with the music, the music talents the orphanage had formed really were something special, however being awoken several hours before the crack of dawn to be forced down into the common room, which temporarily was being used as an assembly hall; was not Matt's cup of tea.

Everyone had gathered in the common room, sitting in the great half-moon shaped ring of chairs and pillows. The youngest children sat in the first row, and Matt sat beside Mello in the third row of chairs. From above them, angelic voices bright and clear were sipping through the floor, in between the cracks of the wooden boards. Their steps only thudded slightly, nearly soundless. Everyone turned around as the door creaked, and the trail of people singing started seeping in. First was the lucia, one of the older students with long blond hair (Due the tradition, even though Lucia from the start was Italian) and sparkly blue eyes. Upon her head was an ornament of four candles, burning – And Matt pitied her hair that, most likely, would be dripped with candle wax. They were all dressed in white, but the girl at the front had a red silk band around her waist and the ends of it touched the floor as she walked, the girls and boys after her also had robes in white but nothing around their waists. All had candles in their hands.

Matt let his eyes rest on the Lucia, who was named Ann; she surely was a beauty with her long silk hair and blue eyes. Actually, now when Matt rested his eyes on her, she did remind him a bit of the boy sitting next to him. He glanced quickly up at his friend, and saw the half lidded tired eyes of Mello, apparently even Mello didn't have the energy to be alert this early, and the blonde hair that framed his face with perfect strokes. On second thought, Mello was more beautiful than Ann, Matt guessed it was because he knew Mello. He imagined the determined gleam in his eyes, even when it wasn't there, and he knew what Mello had been through – Or at least a small part of it. Mello had never once asked about Matt's past, despite Matt knowing he had been curious from time to time, and had a few times comforted Matt through heavy nights. Matt had done the same for Mello, but as well as Mello didn't know about Matt's past, Matt had no idea what the blonde had been before the orphanage. He wasn't sure he wanted to know.

The songs faded at last, and the room filled with the odor of smoke from the candles that they suddenly had put out. When they were allowed out a rumble erupted, everyone wanted to be first into the dining hall to eat breakfast and get gingerbread afterwards. Tradition is tradition, Matt thought as he yawned greatly and arose slowly from the chair. Mello arose after him, joining in the great yawn. "God" He mouthed. "That was boring. Really nice singing and all, but boring" He said and then turned on Matt.

"So, where's my present?" He asked rapidly, his voice and eyes clearly alert now. Matt groaned. "Up in the room" He mumbled tiredly and let Mello drag him along.

Well up at his room he threw Mello the bar of chocolate he had hid under his bed. "I have another four, but I won't give you them until later. I don't want you to go all hyper on me" He mumbled and lay down on his bed – too tired to even want food. Mello sat down beside him.

"You really have no imagination" He blamed Matt, patting him on the head and pulled his fingers through the thick red hair. "You always give me chocolate, I'm getting used to it by now" He whined, and Matt rolled his eyes, curling up where he lay.

"Shut up" Matt suggested, however Mello had no intention on shutting his mouth. "Do you really know me at all?" He asked teasingly, letting his fingers trail down Matt's side, threatening to tickle him. "I'm a fourteen year old guy now. Maybe I don't want chocolate anymore" He poked him in the side, and Matt jerked involuntary.

He peered at Mello and grunted frustrated. He only wanted to sleep, couldn't Mello let him? "You know what I think?" He asked Mello, who curiously leaned over him. "What?" He asked, his hair dangling from their roots.

"I think YOU should apply for Lucia next year" Matt suggested, this earned him a hard hit in the head with the chocolate, and was the start call to a wrestling fight. Matt, being much weaker than Mello was easily beaten, however Mello didn't hold him down too hard. Matt whined and tried to get away from Mello's clutches. He negotiated. "If you let me go I give you another present" He promised.

Mello peered down on him, and slowly loosened his grip. "What kind of present?" He asked, curiously. "And what if you're lying?" His hands hardened around Matt's wrists again. The redhead shook his head. "I promise, trust me Mells! I promise" He pleaded, a smile adorned his features. Mello slowly let go.

"So, what's your present?" He asked, as Matt pulled him down beside him. He hugged him close, even though he could hear Mello groan and stutter out through his teeth. "Matt.. this present sucks. You're just being clingy as usual" He pushed the other away and inspected him.

"My present is my loyalty" Matt said, angling his gaze up into the ceiling and flipped onto his back. "I'll always be on your side, no matter what. Lifelong promise. I think that it's a pretty awesome gift" Matt continued, pouting slightly.

Mello laughed and also turned so he lay upon his back. " I already knew I had your loyalty." He locked his pinkie with Matt's, holding them up in front of them. "And you have mine – That's how it's always been, isn't it?"

"Yeah." Matt breathed out.

"Best friends forever?" Mello reassured himself.

"Yup. Best-" He made a seconds pause for a slight sigh. "Friends forever"