Alright, I'm pretty sure this is the last chapter, and if not, I'll tell ya, k? Enjoy the fluff.
~*~
Web had decided she hated clocks. Why? Because they went so damn slow when you needed them to be fast!
She had been sitting cross-legged on her couch, eagerly awaiting Near's arrival. Web rocked back and forth, blew bubbles with her gum, sang, and lazed around, waiting for sheep boy to come and celebrate the holiday with her. Now she was upside-down on her couch, feet pressed against the wall and head handing of the front of the sofa, letting all the blood rush to her head.
She had made sure Near's present was safely tucked away behind Warren's fish tank, hard to see from almost every angle. Everything was set up. A small glass bowl of red and green M&Ms sat mockingly on her coffee table, and an old cassette version of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer was stationed on top of her T.V.
Yes, everything was ready, but where was he? The annoying device humanity called a clock told her it was 6:45. Near should been there forty-five minutes ago. Web sat up, no longer able to stand the throbbing of her temples caused by all the blood, and she rubbed her forehead, pushing back her bangs from her face before letting them fall back down again. He forgot. She thought with a shrug, trying to make herself believe that she didn't care, He really did. The dark-haired girl let out a sigh that sounded more sad than indifferent, ah well.
She slid off the couch onto the carpet, she liked sitting there more than the couch anyway. What was she going to do now? What she would normally do at this time of evening. Read a fairy-tale. Play the American computer game Quake. Just keep herself away from boredom.
Web jumped. I know! I'll work on that book Winsley's been bothering me about. At this thought she dragged out her old laptop she'd ordered a few years ago.
"Hullo Marcus. Care to let me in?" she whispered, stroking his top tentatively. At this the computer opened, triggered by its voice recognition device. That was her password. "Good boy." Another password. The screen that had once been a lifeless black suddenly bloomed back into color, like ink bleeding into paper. It required yet another password, this one typed by hand. Her hands flew skillfully across the keyboard hitting all the keys in one swift motion with all ten fingers. Marcus opened up her cluttered desktop, littered with icons of every shape and size. Most of them were document folders filled to the brim with possible book beginning for her deadline. "Lovely." Web breathed, double clicking on a tiny icon in the corner titled 'Fantasy Library'.
This certain icon was small and in the corner because she meant to hide it, just in case someone broke through all her passwords. But that wasn't even possible, for when she stroked the top she was really stroking a small, hidden DNA pad, along which she left a trail of her skin's oils. Yes, she may have ordered this computer, but certainly not off of eBay or Amazon.
There was a story in there she had been working on called 'Tasting Air' which she hadn't gotten particularly far with. But this was going to be it, this was going to be the bestseller of all her bestsellers. Her eyes drifted to the page before the Table of Contents, reading it for the hundredth time since she had typed it.
For N,
Who is not air, invisible and flavorless, but more like mist, something nearly transparent that is not without a taste, just with one that has not been discovered yet. Not like air, which does not have a color, but like fog, whose color has been forgotten, but still has the chance of remembering.
She read it a second time before continuing to the page upon which she had left off, adding a sentence to the newly created paragraph.
Web was just about to zone out and fall into a writing spell when suddenly there was a knock at her door.
"Bullocks!" she hissed, angry to have been disrupted from her work. Another knock sounded from the door. "Alright!" she yelled, whispering Marcus's locking password so no one could get in, closed him, and slid him into the little slot she had cut into her wall underneath the couch with Xanni's old samurai sword. Indeed, Web was quite the elaborate person. "I'm coming!"
Quickly she pushed up off the carpet and sauntered to the door, pulling it open with a "The hell you want?". Web was about to spew another chain of nasty insults until she took a look at her disruptor. Near stood before her, two bruises on one side of jaw and a cut above his eyebrow. His white pajamas, too, looked a little worse for wear.
"Evening Web." She opened the door all the way, welcoming him inside.
"A good evening to you too." Her hand fluttered to a tear in the fabric near his shoulder, "Xanni and Piathes again?" He shook his head grimly."Sespin and Piathes?" at this he nodded and Web closed the door behind them, helping him to the couch. She gave him a hard look. "What did you say to them this time?" Near gave her an innocent look.
"Whatever do you mean?" Web raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Alright, alright. I simply reminded them that a man is made of what he emits. For them, it is urine." Web laughed out loud.
"No wonder they've bashed you to bits, you insulted their already low population of brain cells. But you should've fought back you big-eyed cow! I know you're stronger than you look." She sighed, wiping away a drop of blood making its way to his eye, "And now I've got patch you up." Web stood from the couch and plodded over to the bathroom, turning around when she reached the door. "Well, you coming or not?"
~*~
Finally Near was all patched up with two bandages stretched across his eyebrow cut. The two of them sat on the couch, Web sewing up the tear in his shirt with a dull needle and some thick black thread she found in her medicine cabinet, which was originally meant for stitches.
"You know, I've only had to use this thread once before," she said conversationally, stabbing the needle through the fabric, "I had to give myself stitches so no one would get in trouble." Near was silent, but she knew he was listening. "Mello pushed me into a fence, and I scraped the barb wire. I sliced open my leg, and there was so much blood, but he threatened you, did you know?" The white-haired boy perked up at this. Mello had injured Web? "And you know how I don't like trouble. So, I came home crying, sat up on the sink, alcoholized the cut, and tried to sew myself up. Of course I did a god-awful job though, and I swore a lot."
"When was this?" Near's voice was hoarse.
"A few months before Sespin ate mud. Remember, cause he took that toy you gave me a while ago?" Web laughed, "That was great." Near looked at her with his light brown eyes, studying her easy features.
"That toy, do you still have it?" Web looked up from her stitchery.
"Hm? Oh yeah," she pulled it from her pocket, handing it to Near for inspection, "all the time." Near looked up at her, and he felt his pulse quicken. She'd had it? All these years? He listened again as she laughed at his surprise. Near couldn't take his eyes off her, how happy she looked, how faultless, how-
Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! The huge Wammy house clock tower bellowed out eight ground-shaking tolls, promptly informing them it was eight o'clock in the Winchester countryside. Web clapped her hands delightedly, pulling away from Near for she had been sewing his shirt while it was still on him, the stubborn teen had refused to take it off for repair.
"Present giving time!" The dark-haired girl really did sound like a child on Christmas Eve. "Come along Near, we'll go to your room so you get your present, I'm sure you didn't stop by after getting beaten to a pulpy Near-sized ameba by 'Cesspool' and Piathes." Near shook his head.
"You are correct, I didn't." Web grinned.
"Well, come along, let's go." And they set off down the hallway.
~*~
Web sat cross-legged on the floor, grinning gleefully. Near had said he would need to borrow her bathroom for a few moments in order to deliver her present efficiently and she was just dying to find out what it was. And then, he emerged. And it was magnificent.
He stood before her, as if a jealous angel had pushed him off a cloud to chance a fall in the human world. Near wore faded jeans along with a baggy, red and orange striped fuzzy sweater, along with a matching scarf. A Santa hat sat atop his head, tousling his white locks. He was adorable.
"Merry Christmas…?" he fiddled with his sweater, looking slightly uncomfortable in his newly found attire.
"It's wonderful!" Web gushed, her cheeks flushed with joy. Since when did Web gush? To Near's surprised she jumped up and hugged him, engulfing him with cheerful warmth. He stumbled back a bit from impact.
"I-I…y-you were always telling me about how I should wear normal clothes so…" he trailed off, weakly hugging her in return. Web finally pulled away, a bit embarrassed at her sudden rush of emotion.
"It's a great present." She said, still grinning widely. Near jumped as if he'd remembered something.
"Here." He handed her a lump wrapped in brown packaging, which she curiously opened. It was a sweater and scarf exactly like his, only hers was striped green and white. She looked up, smiling ear to ear.
"Harry Potter, right?" a long time ago the two had read the books, eagerly gobbling them up one after another. Web joyfully pulled the sweater on and wrapped the scarf around her neck. "I love it." And, for the first time in eleven years, Near smiled for her. It was so relieved, so…happy. And she smiled back, her eyes glinting in the light. Couldn't they stay this way, standing like this? Only in a dream.
"Oh! I almost forgot I was so happy, I have a present for you too! Here, wait a sec." Web hurried over to Warren's tank and pulled Near's present out from behind. "I feel bad now because your present is so much better than mine. I really hope you like it." He pulled the ribbons away and peeled off the wrapping paper, being careful not to tear it too much. He held up the present, reading the title out loud.
"A 3D puzzle of Chicago consisting of more than 8, 631 pieces, parking meters, lampposts, and cars included. It's…interesting."
"But!" said Web, tapping the box, "We have to do this puzzle together, got me? No going off and doing this all by yourself." Near just nodded, still studying the box and instructions. Web knew he liked it; he would've tossed it away already if he didn't. She smiled to herself. "Merry Christmas Near. Now, I think this calls for some nonalcoholic eggnog and stolen Christmas cookies." Near looked at her, even if his mouth wasn't smiling his eyes were.
"Agreed."
~*~
They wandered back to the room, Near carrying the carton of eggnog and Web carrying a make-shift bag made of Saran wrap filled with cookies they'd filched from the kitchen.
"That was a great feat." Laughed Web, walking gleefully with a bounce in her step, "Everyone went for those cookies. Did you know I got to kick Xanni in the back? Priceless."
"It was quite amusing." Near replied, shifting the carton in his arms. They stopped in front of Web's door.
"Well, here we are. Time to enjoy the spoils of battle." She unlocked her door with the old Victorian key she kept around her neck, leaning in close so it opened. The two unsuspecting teens walked in, and nothing seemed to be wrong, at first. Until they noticed the sadistic plant hanging above their heads. Web gave a frustrated sigh upon noticing it. "Mistletoe? Damn it Piathes! He must've picked the lock and hung it up there while we were gone." She reached up and pulled it down, closing the door behind her. "Just ignore it Near."
Near felt something he was not accustomed to shoot through him. Anger. Just ignore it? Just ignore it? He knew the European tradition behind that plant and in truth, though he didn't know why, he felt hurt that Web refused to carry this tradition out. He couldn't even control his emotions now, less understand them. What was so bad about him? Was something wrong with him? He bet she would've kissed Rommy, or even Sespin, but not him. Before he could stop himself his foot shot out, tripping her so she fell to the floor nose first.
"Ow Near! What the hell is your problem?!" she said, a hand cupped over her pained nose as she sat up, cookies discarded. He had begun to freak out, he was no longer in control of his body motions any more, nor the things he said.
"My problem, is that you are an emotionless lump of clay. Therefore, it causes you to not care about other people's emotions." Web's face was blank for a moment.
"What?" This just fed Nears disdain and flaring anger.
"It would've hurt you to make contact with me, wouldn't it? Foreseeable, you would likely burst into flames." Web was silent again before speaking.
"You mean…kissing you? You think I don't want to kiss you, is that what you think? Are you crazy? Do know long I've wanted to do that? But I-" she had spoken without thinking, spitting out her feelings like a slot machine gone haywire. And now she scooted over to the coffee table, grabbing a handful of M&Ms and shoving them into her mouth, shutting herself up. Near searched her with his eyes.
"…what?" Web looked away, trying to look at anything but him, but she found she could not. She gave a defeated sigh and swallowed the M&Ms in one gulp, clearing her mouth for talking.
"You heard what I said." She muttered quietly, studying her bitten nails as if they were the most important thing in the world. Once again Near lost control of himself, as if he were slipping into someone else's body and watching from afar. Web had lain down on her side, curled inwards a bit, her gaze glued to the couch. And he knelt down next to her, trying to force her to look at him. It didn't work, she was too distressed. So he tried another tactic.
Slowly he too lay down on his side, facing her, finally catching her gaze. She opened her mouth to speak.
"Near I'm sorry that I-" she stopped herself when she noticed how close he had come, now only a feather's breath away from her face. "I…" her voice refused to finish the sentence, Near wasn't moving but he was terribly, painfully close, much to close for her to control herself. She pressed her lips against his, closing her dark eyes so she wouldn't have to see his brown ones staring into hers. Please, she thought, her heart beating at an unhealthy speed, don't pull away. Don't reject me.
And he did not, in fact he closed his eyes, following suit, feeling her warm lips against his. What was he supposed to do in a situation like this? What could he do? She was kissing him, she was finally kissing him, and he couldn't move, couldn't do anything. His heart pounded against his ribs like an angry inmate banging against prison bars, screaming for him to do something, anything, and then Web saved him. Again.
He felt her hand find his wrist and she put his palm to her hip, patting it to say Keep it here. He awkwardly scooched closer to her, not wanting anything but to be near her, to remain like this with his lips against hers. He felt her hand upon his upper-arm and her other underneath his neck, feeling his jumping pulse. And that was it. That was all he needed for all his hormones to suddenly trigger themselves like missiles from their docks.
He wrapped his entire arm around her waist, pulling her as close as he possibly could, and he no longer felt awkward, he felt happy. Web mumbled something against his lips, and he had to strain his hearing to catch it.
"Mrry Chrsms." All the vowels were muffled out of existence, but he knew what she had said.
"Mrry Chrms." He mumbled back, opening his eyes briefly to gaze at her closed ones, studying her black eyelashes before closing them again. Merry Christmas indeed.
Plants are so stupid.
~*~
The End! Did you like it? Hate it? Review! You must! The power of NearXOC compels you! COMPELS! Ahahaha! And yeah, I know Near was OOC towards the end but whaddya want from me? Review? No flames, as you already know. Fluff is niiiiiiiice.
-Valkyrie