Count Down
By Jedi Princess Clarrisani
Note: This vignette was written for a challenge at The Redblade Forums. Unfortunately that site is no longer with us, however I am posting this vignette here. The criteria were that the fic had to feature a gift and be less than 600 words, and I have since edited it since it first appeared at Redblade a year ago. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or the characters within.
It sat on the table, unmoving, light catching on the yellow reflective ribbon and throwing golden specks of light around the walls of the silent room. Blood red paper completed the perfect wrapping of the box, edges bound together expertly and artfully, tape almost invisible unless closely inspected.
Whoever had wrapped it had known what they were doing.
Crimson eyes narrowed as he scrutinised the object, one finger reaching forward to prod the surface. There was no give, indicating that whatever was inside was in fact solid, and after circling the box, he found all the sides to be the same.
"Hn."
He completed another circuit, eyes studying every inch, looking for some indication of who had sent the gift. Finding none, he shook his head, mind buzzing as he began to mentally check off those he knew.
His fellow Blade Breakers were out. Ray didn't use paper but rather cloth that could be reused. Max always wrapped gifts in loud blinding colours, and Tyson's gifts tended to look like he had used seventy rolls of tape on them and needed a chainsaw to open. Kenny's wrapping was precise, but so were his tags, placed prominently upon a gift and irremovable.
No, he had no idea where this present had come from.
Rubbing his chin, he came to a decision. Long fingers plucked at the ribbon which easily became untied with a little persuasion. Then came the paper, again proving that the present had been wrapped to be opened quickly yet gently, as haste would have led to tape sticking to fingers and a mess larger than the one in Tyson's room the day before laundry day.
He frowned, taking in the metal sides of the box, head tilting to the side in an almost birdlike fashion. A pale blue eyebrow rose marginally as he still had no clue as to the origin of the gift. Shaking his head, he pulled open the box's lid-
"Oh crap."
The timer activated, bright red numerals revealing 0:00:10 and slowly beginning their descent. His eyes shot around, and he at once knew that nothing that he did, nowhere that he went, would save him from the fireball that would sweep through the small space.
His eyes drifted down to take in the amount of explosive. Yes, this room was gone. As was the apartment for that matter. Actually, make that the block. There would be a lot of fireworks tonight.
0:00:03
"Figures."
Strange box, no sign of who it had come from, and he just had to open it. With his training at the Abbey, he should known better than that. Guess he had been around Ray for too long.
0:00:01
He closed his eyes despite himself, ready for the blazing heat that would encompass him, wiping his existence from the world. He waited…
…
…
…
Crimson eyes cracked open, blinking. Nothing? Nothing at all? A hoax?
The burning red numerals were gone, replaced with a scrolling message that sent a bright anger through him.
'MERRY CHRISTMAS PHOENIX - FROM FALCON.'
His rage was interrupted by a harsh trill, Kai snatching his mobile phone from his pocket as he forced himself back to his normal calm so not to betray the anger building within him. Probably Tyson wanting a ride to the party tonight. "Hello?"
"Like your present, Phoenix?"
"BRRYYYAAANNN!!!!!"
Dekiagaru
There you are. I do hope you've enjoyed it. I'll have to put my Valentine's Day challenge vignette up. :p