-Twenty-Five Days-
A Psychonauts Christmas Fanfic by Digitaldreamer
Day Eighteen: Christmas Promises
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Man, my updates are just getting later and later...is that why you guys aren't reviewing? I'm really sorry, I'm trying as best as I can! I just hope I can finish this...
Right, so...my beta reader got Twilight Princess, so she won't be around for awhile...so once again, I apologize for any mistakes, any you see just means you should pray extra hard that she beats the damn thing soon.
Right, onward!
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Parties at Psychonauts Headquarters were always a strange affair. On one hand, you had a bunch of stiff government agents all forced into a big room with streamers placed here and there in hopes to induce a "party" sort of setting. On the other hand, these were Psychonauts. They weren't exactly your regular government agents. Thus, the main floor of the agency was a buzz of conversation, ranging from the more somber, traditional agents to the ones with much more...er..."character". And of course, the addition of the PsiCadets certainly made things...interesting, although most of the kids just seemed bored. All sorts of decorations hung around the room, ranging from simple garlands to something as elaborate as snow constantly falling from the ceiling with the help of cyrokinetics. At the center of it all stood the Infamous Tree, looking gorgeous in spite of the horrors involved with putting it up. Bits of psitanium were placed along the branches gave it quite a shine, along with all the tinsel, ornaments, and lights.
Raz was currently situated at the snack table, munching on a cookie. He was a bundle of nerves. On one hand, he was insanely excited, as this was his first party with the agency. On the other hand...he never did find Lili a present, hence the reason why he was staying out of the thick of things.
What was he going to do!? He could already imagine her face when she realized he was the only secret santa who had failed, the mask of indifference pulled up to hide hurt, an expression he had seen gracing his girlfriend's face many times before.
God, he really didn't want to be the one to cause that sort of face.
"Man...what am I going to do?" Raz murmured, putting his face in his hands.
"Razputin?"
Raz blinked, glancing up to see Sasha standing there with a glass of wine and a Santa hat placed upon his head. "...Sasha?" The goggle-headed boy quirked a brow, nodding towards his idol's new, rather out-of-character accessory.
"Milla." Sasha explained shortly.
"Ah..." Raz couldn't help but crack a small smile.
"What are you doing over here?" Sasha asked, raising an eyebrow. "I would have thought you'd be the type to...er...enjoy this sort of thing." He gestured towards the crowd of agents, not quite able to keep a hint of disdain out of his voice. Sasha really wasn't one for big social outings.
"Oh..well...yeah, I am...just...you know." Raz muttered, glancing down at his feet.
Sasha watched him in silence for a moment. Then he said "Do not worry. I am sure you will think of something."
The goggle-headed boy sighed. "They're supposed to be passed out now." He said.
"Ah..." Sasha winced. That wasn't good. "Well...do not worry. I'm sure you'll work something out...you always do."
Raz blinked, glancing up at the older agent. "You really think so?" He asked, eyes searching.
"Of course." Sasha nodded, giving a small smile. When Raz smiled back, he deemed it safe to pull a wrapped package from behind his back. "Now then, would you mind delivering this to Agent Shive?"
Raz's brow furrowed as he blinked, taking the gift. "Wha?"
"Santa is supposed to be 'secret'. That means I need an elf." Sasha said simply.
The goggle-headed boy's brow furrowed. "Hey! I'm not an elf!"
"Of course you're not, you ungrateful little heathen." Sasha drawled as he spun Raz around and pushed him gently in the direction of the gift's intended receiver "Now shoo."
Raz stumbled forward, then paused to turn and stick his tongue out at Sasha. With that, he marched across the room towards the agent Sasha had pointed to. "Um, excuse me?" The boy asked, interupting the agents conversation.
Shive blinked, glancing down at Raz. "Hm? What is it, Razputin?" Shive was a man in his mid-thirties, whom had the kind of appearance you'd expect from a lawyer, wearing a nice suit with neatly trimmed hair and thin-rimmed glasses. In spite of this, however, Shive was known for laughing loud and often, and was actually quite friendly.
"Um...uh..." Raz shifted, then held Sasha's gift in front of him, forcing a wide smile. "Merry Christmas! Your secret Santa asked me to deliver this to you!"
"Huh, really?" Shive grinned, taking the gift. "Well, thanks, Raz."
"You're welcome. Good luck trying to figure out who it's from." Raz said, grinning back.
Shive snorted. "Shouldn't be too hard...oh, before you go, could you deliver mine?" He asked, pulling out a small package.
Raz blinked, then groaned, shoulders slumping. "Who's it for?"
"Agent Kowalski." Shive said with a smile. "Thanks, Razputin!"
Raz sighed, then forced a smile and headed off.
Meanwhile, Lili was glancing through the crowds, searching for Raz. "Gah...where is he?" She muttered after a moment, stomping her foot. She really just wanted to give him his present...screw the whole secret Santa thing, she worked way too damn hard for him to not know she got it for him.
"Lili!"
The brunette blinked, turning to see Milla standing there, dressed in a tight red top, a black mini-skirt, and a Santa hat. "My, aren't we festive." Lili drawled, crossing her arms before her.
Milla sighed, shaking her head, the little bells on her earrings ringing with the motion. "Come now darling, I know these silly businessmen can make things kind of dull...but that just means we have to liven up the party, hm?"
"No thanks." Lili snorted.
"Come on, Lili, where's your Christmas Spirit?" Milla chirped.
Lili just stared blankly at her.
Meanwhile, Raz was rushing past, carrying yet another gift. As he was walking along, however, he noticed Lili. His eyes widened and he promptly ducked behind the tree, praying she wouldn't see him. Fortunately for him, however, she seemed at least mildly interested in her conversation with Milla at the moment, a conversation which Raz only just barely caught...
"Oh...now listen, darling...I know things can be tough around this time of year, what with your father being so busy...and I know Christmas doesn't exactly hold the best memories for you--"
Lili snorted at this. "Milla, my mom left on Christmas Day. Said she never wanted to see my dad again during an argument and just left...just like that. She never came back" The brunette murmured, her eyes dark with painful memories.
Milla winced. "Oh darling...I know. It must have been terrible..." The woman placed her hand gently on Lili's shoulder. "But...that was then, this is now. You have a chance to make new memories now...good ones."
Lili bit her lip, looking away. "Why? I've tried...stuff like that just...doesn't work out for me."
"Lili, darling--"
"Hey, Lili!" Truman suddenly called, cutting Milla off. He walked over briskly, taking his daughter by the wrist. "Can you help pass out secret Santa gifts?"
"Uh..." Lili stuttered.
"Ah, Truman, sweetie--" Milla began, but was cut off.
"Great! Come on!" Truman beamed, pulling his daughter off in the direction of other agents. Milla watched in silence for a moment, then sighed and walked away as well.
Raz, meanwhile, remained behind the tree, eyes wide. "...Oh my gosh..." He murmured. "Lili..."
Well, this certainly explained a lot. Like why Lili hated Christmas so much...but how could he change that?
He stood in shock for a moment, so stunned he couldn't move. After a few moments he shook his head, making as if to come out from behind the tree.
"Okay, now what should I--"
"Hey, Raz!" An agent called out. "Come on, what about those gifts!?"
Raz let out a long, frustrated sigh. "Alright, alright! I'm going!" With that, he ran off in the opposite direction of Lili.
The two continued dashing this way and that across the room, delivering gifts with forced smiles and well-wishes before they were off yet again.
"Damnit..." Lili muttered as she shuffled across the room for what seemed like the millionth time, lugging along yet another gift. "Where the hell is Raz!?"
"Damnit..." Raz muttered as he stumbled down a staircase, gifts in hand. "What am I supposed to do!?"
Finally, after what seemed like hours, all of the gifts had been delivered. The moment his task was complete Raz considered flopping into his chair...but it was then that he spotted Lili across the room, handing off a gift with a dour nod. "Aha!" He exclaimed, a grin coming to his face. His gfrin fell as he realized something, however.
He still didn't have a gift.
And of course, Lili chose that exact moment to turn and finally spot him, her eyes lighting up the moment they fell upon him. "Raz!" She called out, rushing across the room towards him.
"Lili!" Raz called back with not quite as much enthusiasm, forcing a grin. Oh man, what was he going to do!?"
The two met in the middle of the floor, both slightly disheveled from running this way and that playing "Santa's little helpers". Both panted for breath a moment, Lili smiling, Raz trying his best to hide his inner panic.
"Raz...I'm so glad I finally found you, I've been looking everywhere for you!" Lili gasped out.
"O-oh, really? Heh...great...sorry...I've been everywhere..er...delivering secret Santa gifts." Raz replied weakly.
"Really? Me too! What a pain, huh?" Lili asked.
"Uh-uh...yeah..."
The too stood in silence for a moment.
"So..um...anyway...not like it's a big deal or anything..." Lili paused, reaching into her jacket.
Raz's eyes widened. 'Oh no...'
She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "But you know...I really hate secrets, so..."
'Oh God I am so screwed!'
Lili gave a small smile. "I'm your--"
"Agent Aquato!"
Both Raz and Lili jumped, spinning around to see Truman striding across the floor at an insanely face pace.
"Dad!?" Lili sputtered.
"Mr.Zanotto, sir?" Raz blinked, giving a salute on automatic.
Truman came to a stop before the two of them, his expression grave. "Seems there's some sort of crisis going on up in Canada, it's an emergency. Most of my other agents are already busy, and the rest don't really have the right requirements,...Agent Aquato, I'm afraid you've been assigned to the case."
Both Raz and Lili stood in shock for a moment.
"...What!?" Lili cried.
"...You...on the holidays...sir?" Raz sputtered weakly.
Truman let out a sigh. "I'm sorry you two...I hate to send you away on the holidays, Razputin. But really, I don't have anyone else I can send at the moment." He explained, looking as if he was truly, honestly sorry. "You won't be alone, Agent's Nein and Vodello have already been informed that they will be going as well.
"But...you're sending my boyfriend away!? On Christmas?" Lili shrieked, her hands balling into fists at her sides.
Truman winced. "I'm sorry Lili, he's the only agent I have for this kind of--"
"That's not fair!" Lili screamed. "How could you!? It wasn't good enough to never be around for me, now you have to take my boyfriend too!?"
Her father said nothing, though hurt was clearly written across his face.
"...It's okay, Lili" Raz finally said.
Lili spun to glare at him. "What do you mean it's okay!? No, it is not okay! It's--"
"Lili...I'm a Psychonaut, remember?" Raz said, giving a small, sad smile. "It's my job. You shouldn't be mad at your dad...he's just doing his."
The brunette was quiet, staring at him with wide amber eyes as she searched for something, anything, that would make her boyfriend stay. 'Don't go! Don't you dare go!' she wanted to scream.
But she knew she couldn't.
"...I suggest you pack your bags, Agent Aquato. Your plane leaves tonight." Truman said quietly before turning and walking away.
Raz and Lili stood in silence for a few moments, neither looking each other in the eye. Finally, after a few seconds, Lili thrust toward a thin, tightly wrapped gift, her head hanging low so Raz couldn't actually see her expression.
"Here," She snapped.
Raz blinked at the gift for a moment. Then he smiled, shook his head, and pushed it back. "No. You keep it."
Lili's face snapped up, her eyes narrowing. "Raz--"
"No. You keep your secret and I'll keep mine, okay?" He said, still smiling. "We'll unwrap them Christmas morning...okay?"
The brunette stared at him, her face one of utter, total despair. In her experience with missions, they always took at least more than a week. "But...you won't..."
"I'll be home in time." Raz said quietly.
Silence for a few moments. Then, wordlessly, Lili stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her boyfriend and burying her face in his chest. Raz let out a soft sigh, encircling her in his own arms, entwining her hair between his fingers, eyes falling closed and wishing he could just stay like this, in this moment.
But he couldn't.
After several seconds passed Lili finally pulled away, biting her lip. "Promise me you'll be back in time?"
Raz beamed and nodded. "You bet. Wouldn't miss it for the world"
"...Say it?"
The goggle-headed boy stood there for a moment. Then he grinned, giving a light salute. "Scouts honor." With that, he turned and walked away, the party still bustling around him. "Don't worry," He added over his shoulder.
"I'll be home for Christmas, I promise!"
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To Be Continued...