Title: Good Night
Pairing: SouKazu
Fandom: Soukyuu no Fafner
Theme: #24 good night
Disclaimer: Don't own any of it. Why else would I be writing fanfics?
Notes/Warnings: Supposed to take place a few years after the end of the series, but there really aren't any spoilers. There might be a few problems with the overall connection to canon (for example, it being a couple years after what has been announced as happening in the ova, and do they even celebrate Christmas on the island?), but nothing that will hurt your mind too much. I don't think, anyway. Not angst for once! And this is by far my longest one yet, longest thing I've written in awhile.

Good Night

Christmas was coming up, and the entire island was busy getting ready for the occasion. Lights were being hung on every building, gifts were being bought, and in every house a tree was being decorated.

Kazuki and Soushi's was no exception. They had only recently moved in together, having picked out a small house on the outskirts of town. It was a gift from Alvis, a meager reward for all of the hard work they had put in and sacrifices they had made for the good of humanity, they had been told. They said at first that it wasn't necessary, but everyone pointed out that since they had recently been saying they were thinking about moving in together anyway, wouldn't it be smart to just take this gift and do it now? Unable to argue with that logic, they accepted.

At Kazuki's insistence, they had put up a small Christmas tree. Soushi argued it was a useless hassle, and in exasperation Kazuki asked if he had ever even celebrated Christmas at home before. Said with a straight face, the answer was no, not since he was a small child. Kazuki thought about this a moment, thought about Soushi's stern father, before agreeing that that made sense.

"Well, this year we're having a tree. We have to make up for all the Christmases you missed in the past."

"...fine."

And so they went to the only pine tree farm on the island, kept running solely for the Christmas season and managed by an ex-New United Nations soldier. However reluctant he may have been before, once they got there Soushi certainly got into the spirit of things, speaking as if he were preparing a battle strategy against a Festum attack rather than picking out a Christmas tree. This display had made Kazuki smile fondly at him in amusement, standing silently beside him with his hands in the pockets of his warm jacket as Soushi finally proclaimed a tree worthy of their home.

Decorating it was another matter all together, and Kazuki had to teach Soushi a little thing called 'abstract' ("The ornaments don't need to be lined up, organized, or in any kind of pattern!").

After the tree were lights for the house. Kazuki's father had given him some of their old ones, saying that they had way more than he needed. Borrowing a tall ladder from Maya's family, Kazuki leaned it against the side of the one-story house and scrambled nimbly up without fear, carrying a string of lights with him. Soushi stayed below and held the ladder still, looking up at him the entire time and calling out every once in awhile to be careful, that it was dangerous, and that he'd rather have Kazuki safe on the ground than have lights on the house anyway, so to come down if he was having trouble. Eventually, Kazuki looked back down at him ("Don't look down!" Soushi shouted as he did so) and told him to shut up already, he would be fine. After Festums, what was hanging a little string of lights? Besides, he knew he wouldn't get hurt with Soushi there to catch him.

Soushi shut up.

Finally, the lights were all hung and sparkling in the night, and all that was left to do in preparation for the holiday only a few days away was to wrap presents. They had been shopping for them the past couple weeks, going together although Kazuki was the one who ended up picking most of them out. Though he did want to give them all gifts, Soushi didn't know the others well enough to know what would be good for them, and relied on Kazuki's knowledge instead.

He did however pick one of the gifts himself. Even more surprising was who it was for.

The two of them were walking home together one evening, holding hands and enjoying the peace and quiet as they watched the sun set behind the mountains in the distance before them. Lost in his thoughts, Kazuki didn't notice that Soushi had come to a stop until his hand was pulled back abruptly and he turned to see what Soushi was doing.

He was standing in front of a store's window display, face expressionless as he stared silently inside. "Soushi?" Kazuki asked, wondering what was wrong and moving to peer around him. Behind the glass was a display of rock climbing equipment, very professional and expensive looking. "What is it?" he asked, not understanding why such a thing would have caught his lover's attention.

"Toomi likes rock climbing."

Kazuki blinked. "Yes." He looked back at the display again. "We still need to get her a gift. I haven't been able to think of anything good enough," he mused aloud, wanting Soushi to make the suggestion.

"What about this? We have the money. Would she like it?" Soushi asked, sounding almost worried, though only Kazuki would be capable of detecting that tiny trace in his voice.

"Yeah, I think she'd love it," Kazuki replied with a smile. "I'll make sure to tell her it was your idea."

Soushi turned away, "Don't do that." But Kazuki could tell he was pleased with himself for finding it.

However, despite his great insight with Maya's present, they both quickly discovered that he had no clue about actually wrapping anything. Kazuki had gotten out the wrapping paper and ribbons and bows, then set those in between them and a boxed gift in front of Soushi, taking another for himself. He quickly finished his own, picking it up and setting it aside before turning to see how Soushi was doing, only to find him sitting there holding a piece of wrapping paper in one hand and a piece of tape in the other, box untouched before him, staring down at it with a look of outmost concentration as he tried to figure out exactly how he was supposed to do this.

"Um...Soushi?" Kazuki asked cautiously. "Do you want some help?"

"No, I'll figure it out." He didn't look up from the box.

"Come on, let me show you how to do it." Kazuki reached out for the box, but Soushi grabbed his hand, dropping the piece of wrapping paper to the floor.

"Kazuki, I'll figure it out myself," Soushi said, looking at him now. It was cute how determined he looked, almost like a willful child.

Kazuki withdrew his hand, nodding. He knew how stubborn Soushi could get, and how he didn't like having to rely on others for anything, even instructions.

He looked away from Soushi and picked up another boxed present, one almost identical to the one sitting in front of his lover. Slowly, he began wrapping it, pretending not to notice that Soushi was discreetly watching him out of the corner of his eye and following his movements. Before long, both presents were wrapped and set aside, and both moved on to another, working side by side in comfortable unison as usual.

That night, as they lay in bed together trying to fall asleep, Kazuki suddenly leaned over and kissed Soushi gently on the lips. Turning his head to look over at him as Kazuki lay back down, Soushi asked, "What was that for?"

"I love you, and I'm proud of you. I just want you to know that, Soushi."

Silence reigned for a minute, before Soushi reached over and wrapped his arms around Kazuki, pulling him closer. "I do know. Just as you know I feel the same about you." Though it wasn't said as a question, Soushi gave him a look that seemed meant to check that he really did know, so Kazuki merely nodded his head. "Good. Now, go to sleep already."

Soushi closed his grey eyes, but Kazuki kept his own brown ones open a little longer. Reaching a hand up, he gently brushed a few stray pieces of hair out of Soushi's face, whispering,

"Good night, and Merry Christmas."