Merry Christmas, Kyoya~ ✩
The first of Ashlie’s presents to Kyoya was something very typical of Ashlie– something utterly ridiculous that reminded her of him. It was accompanied by a short handwritten note saying, “I know this always makes you laugh, a sound that’s slowly becoming one of my favorites… I love seeing those more candid sides of you, and this gift is a celebration of that. Joyeux Nöel, mon amour. :)”
The next was tiny box containing something more personal that she wanted to give him for quite some time, but never really managed to do until today…
I was supposed to give you earlier, but I’ve already failed twice– on our anniversary and on your birthday. I’m not sure why… maybe because part of me is still reluctant to give it up. But I actually really want you to have it (and I have a feeling he would too), so I figured I should just write a note to go with it since I am more articulate that way anyway…
Inside the tiny box was pocket watch, aged but otherwise well taken care of. Engraved on its edges were the words ‘I shall never know at what hour my heart is to be ready to greet you,’ from Ashlie’s favorite book as a child– The Little Prince.
This was my grandfather’s… He left this for me as a reminder that one day, my heart will be ready to greet and welcome the love and happiness he knew I deserved. He trusted in me and knew that like time, I’ll keep moving forward and that one day I’ll start to see myself in a different light. Surely enough, just when I was starting to lose faith in his words, an overhaul started in my heart February last year.
This little thing got me through a lot of tough times because I trusted his words so much, and repeated them in my head to beat those other voices… Naturally, I was scared to give away because I thought that with it gone, I might forget time and again that I’m worth being loved or being happy like he said… But I don’t think I need that reminder anymore, since happiness has become so effortless since you came along. So long as I have you beside me, I won’t forget anymore that it’s okay for me to be unapologetically happy. Thank you for that… :) I’m sure he’d want you to have this had you guys gotten the opportunity to meet. (Oh, and I’m sorry that this got rather sappy. Now you see why I chose to write a note instead of telling you all of this in person.)
Also in his gift pile was some French wine from her parents (particularly her dad’s favorite wine, she noticed), a pair of dress shoes and a rather embarrassing matching shirt to the one she gave Ashlie, plus some more things from Ashlie– a digital frame she filled up with their photos together, an Iron Man flash drive (for my favorite genius, billionaire, playboy (?), philanthropist. ;) ), and a pair of well-fitting jeans that she had bought for him before and knew he’d look good in.
Of course, there was also her little update about the current status of her application to Harvard Medical School and her current thoughts on her impending decision… but as excited as she was, that one can wait.
After having paused for a brief moment after Ashlie had opened her gifts, Kyoya scooted back to his seat and the gifts that had been piled in front of him. Coughing to clear his throat, he lifted the one on the top into his lap, sliding his fingers gently along the seams and working off the tap so that none of the wrapping ripped.
"Ha!" One guttural laugh rumbled in his throat and made his way through his lips as he looked down at the custom made pajama set. Yes, it made sense that something this queer yet functional was among the set of gifts Ashlie had given him, but he found it satisfying that she was playing into the joke from one of his favorite television shows. The two had been watching it together, and while the gift was not only highly amusing, he found it to be an added validation that she shared one of his more irrational interests.
"Thank you, dearest. It would not be a gifting holiday if I did not get something absolutely inconsequential," The right corner of his lips lit slightly into a self-satisfied smirk, lifting his hand to press his glasses up with his pointer finger, "But this is one of my favorite moments. I suppose I have something else to wear when I am in your presence. Perhaps they are just perfect for mornings you request pancakes."
Letting out a small, huffed chortle at his lame attempt at a joke, he placed the folded pajama set down, picking up a smaller package from the top and extracting the gift from the wrapping in the same careful way he had before.
"Ashlie..." Kyoya's voice was barely a whisper, clearly stunned by the gift. The explanation made a lot of sense, and as he turned the pocket watch over in his hand, studying it intently with open eyes, his smile grew soft. Looking up, he reached forward to lay a hand on Ashlie's cheek, looking once back at the card before looking back up to her, "Rationally speaking, as long as you have me, and I have this, this pocketwatch is not gone at all. Neither is what it stands for."
His response may have seemed cold and businesslike to the casual observer, but Ashlie would understand the depth of meaning behind it, and truly, Kyoya was more than a little stunned at the gift. In truth, he was honored beyond his capacity to reason. Even so, the morning would be wasted if he were to continue examining the watch and neglect the rest of what his girlfriend had planned, so he tucked the watch gently in the space between his folded legs rather than away from his person, and continued the expected Christmas morning tradition by opening his gifts.















