Disclaimer: Noblesse isn't mine.
Tis the Season (Part 4)
"Check this out." Tao plugged in the Christmas lights and stepped back to admire his creation. Reindeer were scattered across the lawn, and they slowly lifted their heads as if looking up from eating grass.
"That's it?" M-21 asked rather flatly, leaving no doubt that he was unimpressed. "You made such a big deal about it that I at least expected it to be set to music."
"Like in those Youtube videos?" Takeo asked and shook his head. "Those things take months to prepare. With this short notice, the best you could do would be to put it on a motion sensor."
"I'll do it!" Tao announced. "And I'll finish it before the boss gets home."
[-] [-] [-]
Frankenstein stopped at the edge of the driveway and glared at the house. Even in the darkness, he could see the wires hooked to the siding. Where ever Tao was, he would pay for this.
Rai kept walking, tripping the motion sensor, and a thin line of lights illuminated either side of the path. Music began to play, slowly at first, but it rose in volume and fever as the lights spread further into the yard. Patterns flashed in time with the sounds, creating an impressive display. Then, the music began to somber into a kingly march, and perfectly on cue with Rai's steps, the reindeers came to life. Each one was paired across the path, and they lifted and lowered their heads in unison, bowing before the Noblesse.
Frankenstein smiled and followed behind his master. Tao's punishment could wait a few days.
Tis the Season (Part 5)
"Wake up."
The covers flew from his bed, and Regis scrambled to catch them. "What are you doing."
"Get out of bed." Tao whispered as he returned the blankets. "Get dressed. We're going to wait for Santa."
"Who's that?"
"Stop teasing the kid." M-21 flipped on the light and leaned against the doorway. "We're sneaking out. Hurry up."
"But it's midnight." Regis pulled his blanket over his shoulders and looked between the two men. "M-21, you're okay with this?"
"It was his idea." Tao laughed.
"Hurry up." M-21 pulled Tao out of the room so that Regis could get dressed and joined Takeo in the living room. "What's open this time of night?"
"You set this up, and you didn't even check to see if there's anything open? It's midnight on Christmas Eve." Tao pulled out his phone and began to search the internet for the nearest location. "Looks like Noblesse Café."
Rai looked up, and they all flinched. No one had noticed him there.
"Would you…" M-21 walked over to the coffee table. "Would you like to come?"
[-] [-] [-]
"Hey, why isn't there any Christmas music playing?" Tao asked as the waiter delivered their meals.
Derrick shrugged carelessly. "The boss got tired of listening to it."
"It's the last day that you can hear it. Christmas is almost over. You have to play something."
"It's the boss' decision."
"If you want to hear it that badly, why don't you sing one yourself?" Regis asked sarcastically and instantly regretted it. He glanced over to make sure Tao hadn't taken him seriously, but it was the waiter that had a gleam in his eyes.
"I can do that." Derrick announced, setting down his tray. "What do you want to hear?"
"How about Jingle Bells?" Tao asked, and Takeo kicked him under the table. "What was that for? He offered."
"Pick something harder than that." Takeo pulled out his wallet and held it up between his fingers as he looked at the waiter. "We'll each add a dollar to your tip for every song you sing, but you had better be good."
"What song?" He grinned.
"Silent Night?" Regis said hesitantly. "But I don't have any money."
"Don't worry about that.' Tao leaned over the table to face the nobles. "Takeo'll cover both of you."
"Money on the table." Takeo threw his cash down while the others anted up, and he looked at the waiter expectantly. "It's a deal."
Derrick cleared his throat and began to sing.
M-21 smirked across the table at Takeo. "Hope you brought a lot of cash. He's good."
"That was great!" Tao laughed, already thinking of choices for the next song. "Too bad the others aren't here for this!"
[-] [-] [-]
"Hey, sorry we're late." Shinwoo shoved a table next to theirs and slid into the seat beside Rai. "It took Yuna awhile to convince her mom to let her come out this late."
"She only agreed once she heard that Principal Lee was going to be here with Rai." Yuna peeled off her coat and hung it from the back of her chair. "Where is he?"
"Um…" Tao leaned over far to close for M-21's comfort and lowered his voice. "Did you mention this to the boss?"
"No." M-21 pushed him away. "Who do you think would invite the kids?"
Tao glanced over to Rai. "Oh."
"Newcomers, huh?" Derrick appeared with a pitcher to refill their glasses. "You're my second set of customers tonight. Not a lot of people out this late on Christmas Eve."
"It's Christmas Day now." Frankenstein walked in with Seira and frowned when he saw the seat next to Rai was taken. He quickly replaced it with a bright smile. "Merry Christmas, everyone."
A chorus of "Merry Christmases" rang through the air in return.
Tis the Season (Part 6)
"I am ready." Rai stood, and with that quiet movement, all focus fell upon him.
"Yes, master." Frankenstein grabbed his coat and pulled it over his shoulders as they walked out the door. Snow gently drifted from the sky, and a think layer of white already coated the sidewalk. "I thought the park this year."
"Very well." Rai walked in silence. Trees lined the sidewalk at intervals, and the Christmas lights wrapped in their branches lit the path as much as the streetlights above. These increased as they neared the park until lights filled the sky like a halo of stars.
"This is breathtaking." Frankenstein stared into them as they passed overhead. "I have been coming here every Christmas for years. I had hoped to be able to show them to you someday."
"Would you like your Christmas present here?"
"Yes, let's sit down." Frankenstein quickly dusted off the park bench, and Rai sat beside him. "I'm ready now."
"This year has been full of many new things." Rai smiled as he stared into the lights, and hours passed as he spoke.
A/N: Merry Christmas~
(In case you're wondering why the waiter is named Derrick, it's because that is his name. That really happened although I didn't tell the whole story.)