Yuletide Lessons
Chapter 13
December 23rd
Lucy subtly adjusted her pantyhose as she gripped the boxes in her other hand, praying no one would catch her in the act as the hose was severly riding up where it sure as heck wasn't supposed to. She didn't remember this costume being so constricting the year before, but now she was seriously wondering just how much weight she'd put on over the course of one year. Mentally grumbling at her uncomfortable outfit she quickly put a smile on her face as the doors of the orphanage were flung open, followed by multiple cries of happiness.
"Someone order a Santa complete with a feast and gifts?!" Makarov bellowed and chuckled as a swarm of children swamped him, all chattering excitedly.
"Now, now no pushing you guys. We've got things for everyone." Mira cooed, a beaming smile plastered on her face. She loved kids with a passion and looked forward to this every year.
"Natsu, can you and some of the other guys set the tree up in the corner and then line the boxes of decorations along the wall beside it?"
"No problem Mira, we're on it!" Natsu and Happy saluted her and helped bring in a rather large looking tree, followed by a mountain of boxes.
"Oh wow, look how big that tree is!"
"Yeah, it's way bigger then the one from last year!"
"I wanna do the lights!"
"Can I help set up the food?"
Lucy laughed softly as she helped carry boxes in and opened them to set the food out for their big dinner.
Rogue helped her bring most of the boxes in and stayed relatively glued to her side, which she didn't miss for a second. Frosch was happily zipping around the kids, delighting in their excited squeals.
As the girls moved to open the boxes and set out the food, Lucy turned to look at Rogue, who seemed to be shifting from foot to foot uneasily, his eyes busy darting here and there looking like the slightest movement would send him running.
"Rogue?"
He jumped slightly and she frowned. "Yes Lucy?"
"You ok? You seem really uncomfortable."
He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "I'm not uncomfortable."
She narrowed her eyes and leaned in closer, seeing his eyes widen in return and studied him for a few moments before sighing softly.
"Rogue it's ok if you haven't been around kids before, I was the same way a few years ago, but if you don't learn to relax then the kids will pick up on that."
He frowned in return, his eyes scanning the bouncing children around them apprehensively. "I don't wish to make them uncomfortable with my presence."
She smiled and poked his cheek, startling him making her laugh. "Then relax and smile. They're just kids, they won't eat you alive… if you give them enough candy that is."
At his panicked face she tried to squash the smile but it came out along with another giggle. "Oh don't worry I'm only kidding. These kids are the sweetest in existence, so there's nothing to be worried about."
"Miss Wucy?" A little wobbly voice rose up from around their knees drawing their attention. A little chubby hand was latched onto her skirt as the bluest eyes Rogue had ever seen blinked up at them.
He was taken aback at just how much she looked like Lucy, with her little blonde curls framing her pudgy little cheeks and if not for the blue eyes he could've sworn she was her little sister.
"Oh Hanna, there you are!" Lucy squealed, scooping up the little girl and twirling her around, making the little girl shout with delight. She brought her in for a tight hug and leaned back to study her face intently. "How have you been sweetie? Is your cold all gone? Where's your brother?"
Rogue had to smile at the rapidly fired questions and as he watched their interactions that warm feeling bloomed within his chest again. He found himself wondering if one of Lucy's children would look like this little one, but instead of blue, perhaps a deep red pair of eyes that would look at him in adoration. He cleared his throat and pushed that thought aside for a later time only to jump when he felt a tugging on his pants. He looked down curiously, wondering if he'd snagged his pants on something when a pair hazel eyes blinked up at him. He tilted his head and studied the child, noticing his sandy colored hair lay haphazardly over a chubby face much similar to Hanna's.
"Oh there you are Matty!" Lucy's voice broke through his thoughts as she kneeled down to engulf the little boy in a hug also. "I see you've met Rogue." Matty nodded timidly as she ruffled his hair softly. "Why is your hair so long? It looks like you haven't gotten it cut in ages." She frowned.
Matty seemed to sense her displeasure and clung to Rogues leg which confused him more and made him shift. He'd never really interacted with children before, except for Frosch and Lector, so he had no experience and really didn't know how to react when the little boy plastered himself to his leg.
"Matty always hid when Father Gewald said it was time for a haiwcut." Hanna piped up from beside Lucy.
Lucy sighed, smiling softly at the boy. "How come you don't want your hair cut Matty? You've had it done before remember?"
Matty's eyes scrunched and he frowned as he shook his head.
"Matty doesn't want to have anyone else cut his haiw, but yaw spiwit." Hanna stated proudly, and turned to him. "Wight Matty?"
Matty nodded his head timidly, his hand clutching harder to Rogue.
Lucy smiled and nodded. "Ok if that's what you want then that's what we'll do." She held her arms out for him, but he only clung tighter to Rogue.
"I think he wants to stay with Wogue."
"Seems like it," Lucy whispered. "Do you want Rogue to carry you then?"
With another nod she stood and faced the still confused man, whose leg was still being held captive with a smile.
"You think you can carry him so we can give him a haircut?" Rogue's eyes went decidedly wide and she could see he was starting to panic quietly, so she grabbed his arm firmly and made him focus on her instead.
"Rogue, it's ok." She soothed and noticed as he relaxed somewhat. "It's just like carrying around Fro, so if you think of Matty as her it should help. But you don't have to if you don't want to." She bit her lip and looked down at the pair of kids beside them. "I've just never seen Matty gravitate towards anyone before like this and he's clearly taken with you. It even took me ages for him to willingly stay around me."
Once again Rogue's eyebrows rose as he looked down.
From what he could tell, these two were related and while his sister was the more outgoing one the boy was clearly more introverted and he wondered what had caused his closed off personality. It must have been something significant to land them both in an orphanage and something inside of him squeezed his heart painfully at the thought of them being similar. He hadn't had a sibling to cling to though, and that was something the boy had in his favor, but whatever had happened made the boy recede into himself almost as a protection against the world around him. The fact that this little one chose him to approach and looked up at him with trust took him aback but he hadn't the heart to refuse a comforting touch to this tortured soul. So if he wished to be held by him, then he couldn't refuse such a request.
He squared his shoulders and caught Lucy's eyes with a uncertain but determined smile and nodded.
"I believe I can do that." He hunched down and the boy stared at him in awe, almost as if he had been waiting for him to brush him off and timidly lifted his little arms. With the thought of the boy being similar to Fro had him relaxing as he put his hands around Matty's waist and lifted him, standing up to full height. Matty immediately latched onto his body and he shifted him to the side trying to mimic Lucy's actions as she hoisted Hanna in her arms, leading them to a nearby bathroom. Lucy grabbed a chair and set it in the center of the room as she set Hanna down to sift through her keys. "Go ahead and set him on the chair and I'll summon Cancer."
"Alright." Rogue replied, shifting the boy to set him on the chair only to pause when the boy refused to let go, instead he clung tighter, which was a feat onto himself. Vaguely, he was impressed with the youngsters strength as he tried to coax his arms to let go. Rogue frowned and Hanna seemed to notice as she came closer.
"He doesn't wanna sit on the chaiw by himself."
Rogue tilted his head and studied the little girl standing before him. It was like she was his interpreter and he wondered how she knew exactly what the boy wanted, only to be interrupted by Lucy's words.
"They're twins, that's how she knows what he wants." She laughed seeing his incredulous expression. "What? Sometimes I can tell what you're thinking. You have these distinct looks you give when you're confused or thinking too hard."
Lucy approached with a soft smile and laid a hand on Matty's back, the action made him relax somewhat against Rogue and again the dragon slayer marveled at how comfortable she made the ones around her with the simplest of actions.
"Don't worry sweetie. You don't have to sit on the chair by yourself. Rogue can continue to hold you while Cancer cuts your hair, it will just be a little more stuff to work around but he's good at what he does." She turned her eyes to his red ones.
"Would that be ok with you?"
Like he could ever tell her no, he mused silently. "I think that's fine." Matty shifted to look up at him and he offered the boy a small smile as he sat on the chair and shifted the child to face outward, until Lucy stopped him suddenly.
"Wait wait, turn him back around to face you!" Rogue turned him back around confused.
"Perfect, now Cancer won't have to work that hard."
Hazel eyes looked up at him as little fists clenched onto his shirt, making his lips quirk in amusement and he nodded, suddenly seeing just how it was going to work.
"Ready?" Lucy whispered and with a slight nod from the boy she brought the key out. "Open gate of the giant crab Cancer!" She waved the key with flourish and with a flash of light stood her spirit, brandishing his scissors.
"Need a haircut, baby?"
Lucy nodded and gestured towards the pair sitting on the chair.
"Remember our friend Matty? He needs a cut."
The spirits eyes shifted to the boy and grinned. "No problem, baby."
Rogue had to hand it to the spirit, he never blinked at the weird way they were sitting, just immediately set to work. But then again he was probably constantly summoned into weirder situations, so this wouldn't faze him one bit.
"See, nothing to be scared of Matty." Lucy whispered, leaning in towards the boy, which brought her close to him as well.
Matty nodded with a small smile, which brought a surprised gasp from Lucy as she turned to look at Rogue. "He really likes you Rogue, don't you Matty?"
"All done baby!"
"Thanks Cancer, excellent job!"
With a bow and a flash he disappeared leaving the group.
"Wanna see?" Lucy asked and with a nod she gently turned him in Rogues lap to face the mirror. His hair was neatly cut, no longer shading his eyes from the world as they all stared into the mirror.
"Ok!" Lucy clapped her hands. " You guys hungry?" Both children nodded in response. "Well then lets go back out there and have some dinner you guys."
With Matty still in his arms and Hanna hanging onto Lucy's hand they returned to the main room, finding the tree halfway done and the food all spread out.
"Lucy, Fro found you!" Fro zipped up close to the blond.
"What's up Fro? Need something?"
"Fro found a gift for you mixed in with the ones for the kids."
Lucy faltered. "Oh, really?"
"Yup. Here ya go." She thrust the package into her hands and circled Rogue as she excitedly asked him questions about Matty, while the child's eyes stayed glued to the cat.
Lucy sighed, turning the package over in her hands.
"Wucy?"
Lucy kneeled down to Hanna's height. "Yeah Hanna?"
"Awe you gonna open it?"
"Yeah, open it Lucy!" Fro piped up.
Lucy smiled weakly and nodded. "Ok, I'll open it for you guys." Fully aware that Rogue's eyes were trained upon her.
She peeled back the wrapping and frowned seeing a puzzle piece, only one with half a heart. But try as she might she couldn't find a paper with this one and that only gave her more questions.
"How come thewe's only one piece?" Hanna questioned.
"There isn't a note with this one either." Her eyes looked to Rogue and he shrugged. With a sigh she tucked the piece away for scrutiny later and focused back on her little friends.
"Come on, let's get you some of Mira's yummy food."
As they ate, both kids sitting in their laps she turned to Rogue with a smile.
"See? This wasn't so bad right?" Her elbow bumped into his slightly.
"Yes, this was quite the experience." He replied, knowing this would stick in his mind for a long time to come.
(¯`¥´¯`·.¸.:¨NIchiki ¨:.¸.·´¯`¥´¯)
