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It was like watching a cat being thrown into the bath.
Subaru Natsuki, the once famous knight of Emilia, the young man who achieved the impossible again and again, was now facing a new challenge. One he had to overcome, no matter how many deaths he suffered. There was no other option!
He had to find the perfect Christmas gift for Capella Emerada Lugunica, come hell or high water… and he was sure at least one of those would happen.
That was only if he couldn’t get her to calm down first.
“No, no, no! That goes higher, you worthless meat!” Capella shrieked at the two demi-human maids, formerly slaves, that were ordered to decorate the Vollachian mansion that had served as their home since their wedding.
Those poor maids were terrified of their master’s volatile ‘dragonkin’ wife and her wrath. One was up on a ladder trying to hang garlands fashioned from twine, dyed animal hair, and red jungle berries. The other was holding the ladder steady and supplying her coworker with the almost two hundred foot long garland creation. Both were shaking in their boots as Capella flitted around the room in her efforts to have the mansion decorated by the end of the night.
Subaru, though uninterested in their plight, knew he had to step in if he was going to keep the holidays jolly and not fatal.
When she stopped in the middle of the room to glare up at the maids, he walked up behind his slightly shorter blonde lover, placed his hands on her shoulders, and maneuvered his face between her bejeweled draconic horns to softly kiss the back of her hair.
“Honey, it’s alright. Christmas is still a week away. We have time.”
Capella, just on the verge of a meltdown, suddenly flipped on a dime and pressed her back into Subaru’s chest with an adorable pout, her left hand reaching up to touch Subaru’s right.
“It’s not alright, darling! Ugh, this will be our first Kissymas! It has to be perfect!”
Subaru resisted the urge to groan. “No one had any idea what ‘Christmas’ was until Carina mentioned it two weeks ago.”
“Which means we’re two weeks late getting ready!” Capella whined and turned in his arms to give the stoic young man her best puppy dog eyes. “Carina was so excited! Just think how much she’ll love it if Mama gives her the best Krissymas!”
“Babe, it's Christmas, not Krissymas.” Subaru gently corrected, rubbing her shoulders.
She frowned. “Kissmass.”
“Christmas.”
“Kristmause.”
“... You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”
“Kiss-the-Mrs and remember you married her.”
As Capella giggled, Subaru leaned down to capture the smirking lips of his troublesome wife. The Sin Archbishop of Lust placed a hand on the back of his neck and accepted his kiss. She deepened it, enjoying the soft hum of approval from her husband. Just that interaction alone brought warmth to her heart and down lower.
Subaru could feel her desire rising up, so to spare the maids their forced experience with voyeurism, the Stargazer pulled away and cupped her cheek. “So, what do you want for Christmas?”
Capella’s reaction was not what he expected. Something shifted in her heart and squirmed with anxiety. It made him grow concerned for a moment.
What was the problem?
Instead of showing her vulnerability, Capella grinned and cooed, “Oh, there’s only one gift I want, Suba-baby~!”
He raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
She wrapped her arms around him and buried her blonde head into his chest, cheeks ablaze and eyes hooded suggestively. “To celebrate Christmas with my darling~!”
Ah, so it was like that.
“You will, honey.” Subaru said, hugging her back. “Nothing will keep us from having a great Christmas.”
“Promise?” Capella asked, her voice growing small and quiet with worry.
Was that really all she was worried about? Simple enough fix.
Now all he had to do was find her a present.
The two lovers parted with a smile. When Capella turned and saw the two maids were still having problems hanging the garland, she snapped at them again. This was turning into such a pain.
Not wanting to stay for her next mood swing, Subaru decided now was the time to go look for a gift.
“I’ll be taking Tanza into the city and be back later, honey.” He said, turning to leave.
“Oh. Alright, hurry back~!” Capella chirped.
As he left the room, Subaru was so lost in his thoughts he missed Capella’s flare of disappointment.
He also nearly ran right into one of his daughters.
Subaru swerved out of the way and narrowly avoided colliding with Maia, who was glowering at him irritably.
“Uh… what’s up?” He asked, not sure what was bothering her.
Maia, still dressed in his signature hooded cowl despite the Vollachian heat and her sword strapped to her back, crossed her arms and huffed.
“I just heard you say you’re going out with Tanza. What gives?”
Subaru furrowed his brows. “What do you mean, Maia?”
She tapped her foot impatiently, as if the act of spitting out her feelings was a struggle. Maia was always like that, so he was patient with her, at least as much as he could be. Time was wasting.
Thankfully, she forced it out before he gave up.
“We haven’t spent a lot of time together for a while now. Carina and I miss you, too, you know!”
Honestly, he hadn’t even realized. He’d been so busy lately that he lost track of time. Maybe this was an opportunity.
“... Would you like to come with me?” Subaru asked, putting hand on his hip.
“Hmph!” Maia rolled her eyes and turned on her heel. “Right, whatever. Let’s go, I guess. Gotta get your wife the perfect gift and all that.”
Subaru sighed, but let it go. He didn’t have time for this age-old problem, and it wouldn’t be resolved any time soon. Without another word, he went with Maia to get Tanza.
“UGH! This is impossible!” Maia groaned ahead of Subaru as they scoured the city for a gift.
“Do not worry, we’ll find one.” Tanza piped up, keeping her tone even. “I’m sure there is something we can find for Mistress Auriga here.”
Honestly, Subaru was having trouble believing that. The civil war had devastated economic trade, leaving little available in the markets. It was unsurprising, but frustrating all the same.
As they walked the streets, Subaru was hoping for a miracle.
“Oh.” Tanza said, voicing her thoughts. “Perhaps an accessory or article of clothing?”
Subaru hummed and cupped his chin with his thumb and forefinger. “Those wouldn’t work.”
Capella didn’t need to buy clothes, so both of those were worthless to her.
The sun was beginning to set below the battlements. It cast its last rays upon them as Maia moped around in agitation. Tanza glanced at the nearest time crystal and turned to Subaru as they walked.
“Mister Subaru, it's getting late. We should return before Mistress Auriga begins to worry.” The adorable deer demi-human said as she tugged on his sleeve to get his attention.
He knew she was right, but damn that was frustrating. Subaru contemplated using Return by Death in order to have more time. In the end, he decided against it. It wasn’t worth using yet.
Disappointed but no less determined, Subaru and the girls made their way back to his mansion.
“Suba-baby, where are you going now?!” Capella screeched and stomped her bare foot where she stood.
Subaru sighed, but hid his irritation with a gentle smile. “I’m going back into the city with Tanza and Maia, honey. I still gotta find you the perfect gift!”
They and Carina were in the mansion’s spacious kitchen, as little Carina had set upon herself the task of teaching her Mama how to make real cookies and traditional Gustekan morsel. Easier said than done, apparently, given both Mama and daughter wore frilly white aprons covered in flour and various ingredients. Their faces, blonde hair, and arms were also splotched white, an otherwise adorable scene that would have melted anyone’s heart.
Right now, however, that heart warming scene was botched the moment Subaru announced his departure.
Carina pouted, but said nothing.
It was Capella who was vocal for them both.
“Ugh, do you have to do that now?!” Capella complained loudly, her red eyes flashing.
Subaru tried to laugh it off and placate the Lust of his life, scratching his cheek with a finger. “Well, yeah, I lost an entire day yesterday. I want your first Christmas to be special.”
“But-!” Capella stepped up to him, hands on his chest, only to be silenced with a kiss.
When they parted, Subaru pulled away from her grasp and hurried out the door, leaving behind a breathless, glowering Capella.
“Be back soon, honey!” He called as he vanished.
She watched him leave and huffed irritably, no longer in the mood to make Christmas treats.
Another fruitless search, another day wasted.
Return by Death was beginning to look more and more appealing. Sadly, his wife was perceptive enough that if he looped back in her presence, she’d notice his sudden change. If things went too perfectly, she’d be suspicious. Abusing this power was getting tricky.
Subaru was visibly upset and frustrated, but still determined to make this work. He had to. His entire marriage, his plans, and even his head, might depend on it.
He sat in the den with his girls, contemplating either murder or blackmail in order to hunt down the perfect gift for Capella. As he sat on the couch, Carina, Maia, Shaula, and Capella were drawing handmade Christmas cards for those who wouldn’t be attending, such as Halibel and Frederica among others. It had been Carina’s idea, but that being said, meant Capella was determined to participate.
Though the idea of making a card for Freddie nearly had Capella breathing fire.
… Okay, she did, but they were able to put it out.
It took a big hug from Subaru, several kisses, and the help of Coeur Sirenum as he assured her it wasn’t meant to upset her before Capella calmed down. She clung to him, feral and shaking the entire time. One thing Capella always loved was Subaru’s scent, it never failed to put her at ease-
A lightbulb went off in his head.
That’s it!
He jumped to his feet and began to speed walk out of the room, his path to victory clear.
“Papa! Wait!” Carina called after him worriedly.
Subaru halted and threw on a pleasant, if hollow smile. “Yes, Carina?”
His daughter hopped up and ran to him with a paint brush dyed red in one hand and a paper with various doodles of her family in the other.
“Don’t go, Papa! Stay and help us make cards!” The blonde girl said as she clung to his leg, accidentally smearing red on his pants.
Subaru ignored the stain, years of parenthood and centuries of life having gifted him the virtue of patience. “Carina, I know what I’m going to give Mama for Christmas. I just have to go get it.”
Carina scowled. “Papa, you should just stay. Right, Mama?”
Capella was ignoring them, displeased. It seemed to him that making a card for Freddie was bothering her. The blonde woman had stopped painting and was not trying not to snarl.
Shit, I gotta hurry! Subaru thought.
“Be back soon!” Subaru said, prying Carina off his leg and dashing out the door.
Carina stood there, dumbfounded and frustrated. She looked back at Mama Capella worriedly, fearing her reaction.
Rather than raid death on the mansion, Capella stood up, drop kicked the table and it's contents across the room to smash to pieces, then stormed out of the den with tears in her eyes.
Subaru was pleased with himself. He finally figured out the perfect gift for his murder happy wife. Now, he just had to assemble it!
He managed to gather all the resources in the city. That shocked him, but hey, at least this meant no Return by Death. Thankfully, the materials had been easy-
Time screeched to a halt. Subaru, frozen, stared down at the basket of materials he purchased with growing irritation.
How the hell did I forget the buttons?
Growling, Subaru slid the basket into the back of their walk-in closet and draped a black cloth over it. This would require one more trip into the city immediately. Christmas was three days away, he didn’t have time for stupid mistakes!
Damn it!
The bedroom door opened with a loud crack, the poor thing being drop kicked open Carina-style. From the doorway, Capella skipped into the bedroom, grinning from ear to ear. As her eyes settled on her beloved husband, however, her smile faltered.
“Suba-baby, what’s wrong?” She asked as he hurriedly shut the closet door behind him.
“Nothing, just have to run one last errand.” Subaru answered quickly without looking at her, his eyes darting around the room for his jacket.
“What?!” Capella exclaimed, baring her teeth. “You are leaving again?!”
“I’m sorry, honey, but I have to.”
There was his jacket, folded over the arm of a functionally Vollachian reading chair. Subaru grabbed it and threw it on. Time was of the essence!
“W-Wait, darling!” Capella pleaded, desperate to have him stay. “Just stay here! Pollux and Castor will be here soon and-!”
Subaru wasn’t listening. He checked his pockets and found his signature holy coin, as well as a pouch of Vollachian currency. There was plenty.
He made his way to the door.
“Darling, d-do you like my outfit?” Capella asked, trying to intercept him. “See, look! I made it just like-”
“I’ll see you later, Cappie.” Subaru lowered his face to deliver a quick farewell kiss. She hadn’t reciprocated it, but that was fine. He had to go.
“Suba-baby?” Capella grabbed his sleeve and pulled on it as she changed forms. “Please, don’t-!”
Subaru escaped her grip, his only focus being the task at hand. He had to hurry, or he wouldn’t have time to create Capella’s gift. By the time he returned, the sun would be-
“I love you, ba-”
“SUBARU!”
Capella’s scream stopped him like a warhammer to the back of the head. The husband of Lust whipped around to look at his wife. What in the hell happened to cause that?
That’s when he truly saw her.
Capella was standing there in her adult form, looking somewhere between her early to mid twenties, with long blonde hair and a figure worth killing for. Not only was she in the form that she reserved for him in their private moments, but she wore a red velvet outfit lined with fluffy white fur that left little to the imagination. It was basically a two piece bikini with a skirt so short it might as well not exist, along with candy cane striped thigh high stockings.
Outfit aside, her expression was something to fear. She was gritting her fanged teeth and biting on her bottom lip to still it’s quivering. Her glare was deadly and glistening with huge tears that rolled down her cheeks to drip onto the floor. Her hands gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, her arms coming together in a V in front of her to squish her bust together provocatively as her entire body shook like a leaf.
That look was one that any good married man knew well. As someone who had been married nearly a dozen times over multiple timelines, Subaru was very aware of what that expression said. While death didn’t bother him, Capella’s teary eyed glare delivered a far more dreadful message.
He done fucked up.
“Uh… Yes, dear?” Subaru asked, body tensing up as he mentally prepared to Return by Death.
A vein angrily pulsed in Capella’s neck, her eyes fighting to maintain their malice as she wept.
“Why won’t you just fucking pay attention to me?!” Her voice cracked. She brought her hands up to her face, staring at him through the gaps between her fingers. “It’s because I’m not good enough, right?! You don’t want to be with me for Christmas!”
Subaru sputtered wildly, his temper flaring. Thankfully he was not the same emotionally unstable boy that first arrived in this world centuries ago. He bit down his anger and approached her slowly like the predator she was.
“Honey, that’s not true. Why would you…?”
“It's true, you liar!” Capella snapped, not moving an inch. “You’ve been everywhere this week but with me!”
Subaru thought about it, then tried to reason with her lest this turn into a very red Christmas. “I wanted to find the perfect gift for you, honey. To do that, I-”
“I don’t care about some stupid gift!” Capella shrieked, throwing her arms down to her sides with a frustrated stomp.
Subaru blinked.
Wait…
“... You don’t?”
“No, I don’t! Why the hell would I?!” Capella jabbed a finger into his sternum. Painfully. “I just want you, dumbass!”
“Cappie,” Subaru began with a shake of his head. He had to fix this, twist it somehow to avoid her wrath. “You deserve more than sex-”
“Ugh!” Capella gagged and shoved him away before hugging herself and turning her back to him. “You’re an idiot! I’m talking about you, Subaru- being present and a part of our family!”
He froze, completely caught off guard.
“Do you not remember who I am? I’m Emerada Lugunica… The only time I received a gift was when I was to be used, manipulated, or silenced. ‘Keep the bitch out of our way, get her a ground dragon’, or ‘Here's a fancy dress to hide the bruises the duke left on you from the night before, don’t tell his wife’! Why the hell would I want a gift?!”
That warhammer from before came back for a second swing.
How the hell did I forget that?
Capella’s head lowered slightly. “All I wanted was to enjoy Christmas with my husband and our daughter. Why wouldn’t you just listen to me…?”
Subaru was at a loss for words. He’d been so focused on giving her the gift he thought she’d want that he neglected to give her what she needed. When she said she wanted him, he thought she had meant ‘sex’. These past few days, he’d truly not heard a word she said.
She spun around on him now and shrieked, “Get out! Get out and take your stupid Christmas with you, you… You… UGH!”
As Capella shoved Subaru out of the bedroom, he tried to protest but not enough to escalate the argument. By the time he was in the hallway and the door slammed in his face, the fight had left him. He contemplated what to do on the other side of the door, but his mind kept drifting back to the easy way out.
Feeling guilty and upset, Subaru went to deactivate Coeur Sirenum so he’d not have to shoulder such pointless-
His mind went blank.
Coeur Sirenum was already deactivated.
This guilt… was really his own.
He felt his entire reality begin to spin on its head. Since when did he start feeling guilt again? Why would he, when he’s a monster? Subaru’s black, dead heart didn’t feel guilt anymore. It felt nothing, minus love for his children.
Yet he felt bad for disappointing his wife, the literal Sin Archbishop of Lust and one of his greatest assets.
What… What is this?
He couldn’t understand, and he didn’t want to. It was time to go back and fix this. Return by Death would solve this issue, this lapse in sound judgement.
Subaru was about to end it right there when he noticed someone approaching him to his left.
“That sounded rough.” Maia commented drily, unamused at the drama.
Subaru rubbed the back of his neck, not wanting to do something heinous in front of Maia. She’d been through enough. “Sorry, you probably heard that.”
“I did.” Maia confirmed then shrugged. “None of my business, though.”
Subaru nodded, opening his mouth to speak-
“Doesn’t mean you’re not an idiot.”
Since when did Maia take Capella’s side?
“... You’re seriously agreeing with her?” Subaru deadpanned, not caring to put on the mask now that he’s decided to retry this set of events.
Maia crossed her arms and fixed him with a very familiar, judgmental stare. How many times had her mother given him that exact same look years ago? His stomach knotted up at the striking reminder of who had mended his broken heart and nearly saved his soul from drowning.
Looking at Maia now, it was like the woman he considered his first wife was standing right in front of him.
“I don’t care about how she feels, personally.” Maia muttered, then brushed her bangs out of her face. She looked just like her mother, minus his eyes. “The thing is, you and Carina both love her. That’s why I think you’re an idiot. She’s part of our family now. My… The Papa I know puts our family first, but you haven’t been the same for a long time.”
Subaru winced and stared at Maia, dumbfounded. That… was not what he expected from her. When Maia called him ‘Baba’, it was because she was addressing him like a daughter; likewise, when she called him ‘Papa’ it was as his contracted Great Spirit. The implications of that aside, when had Maia become so much like her mother? He knew she was strong, smart, and a force of nature, but…
When did his little girl grow up and become wise?
The Great Spirit spun on her heel and began to walk away like every typical brooding teenager. “If you’re still the Papa we know, then you need to put her first. I’m going to be pissed if you make Carina cry because you ruined Christmas.”
Subaru thought about what his daughter said as she walked away. He could just Return by Death and be done with it, but what she said cut him deep. When had her opinion of him changed so much? For her entire life, he had been her hero. It didn’t feel real to have her look at him with such disappointment.
From her own words, those feelings had been building for a while. Probably longer than Return by Death would undo, not that he knew where his checkpoint had updated to. If he was going to fix this, he couldn’t do it so easily.
He had to earn back Maia and Capella’s respect…
How the hell am I-?
Then it hit him.
He smiled like a conspiring clown.
Time for a little demonic inspiration.
Capella was crying into her pillows, her dream Christmas ruined because of her blockheaded husband. Why didn’t he just listen to her? It’s not like she hadn’t communicated.
Stupid Subaru, stupid Christmas, stupid, stupid, stupid…
She didn’t leave that spot for a few hours. It’s not like there was a point. Not only was her Christmas a bust, but now so was their Carina’s! Talk about salt in the wound.
I’m a terrible wife… He doesn’t want to be around me… He won’t listen to me…
Does he still love me?
Capella, insecure and vulnerable without her beloved, questioned her worth.
He hadn’t even come to check on her.
The former princess curled up into a ball and threw the blankets over her head as she squeezed out a few more tears.
… I just wanted us to be like a real family.
Maybe that kind of happiness just wasn’t for them.
As she sunk into her despair, Capella heard something.
Tink. Tink. Tink.
She popped her head out of the blankets and listened.
Tink. Tink. Tink.
Thunk!
Whipping her head around, rearing to rip whatever that was to shreds, Capella leapt out of bed and-
Her eyes were glued to the huge floor to ceiling windows that lined the western wall of the bedroom.
It was completely white outside.
Snow in Vollachia was impossible. This kind of freak weather phenomena just didn’t happen, but Capella had an idea of what caused it. Only two people she knew were capable of this blizzard, and both were coming to visit.
Their idiot father was pressed against the window like a lizard, staring into her eyes pleadingly as he stood on the threshold with just his tiptoes. Snow clung to his clothes and hair, his teeth chattering on the other side of the glass. His palm smacked against the transparent divide, his breath fogged.
Capella, unsympathetic, just glared with her arms crossed.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She asked, tapping her foot.
“Honey! Please, let me in!” Subaru’s muffled response came.
“Your Unseen Hands can phase through the glass, moron.”
“I know that, but I need you to want me there, Cappie.” He said, shivering terribly.
She was still mad at him, and frankly she wouldn’t mind him freezing out there- he deserved it- but Capella wasn’t stupid. If he died, he’d Return by Death and she could be none the wiser. The fact he was trying without resorting to that was a huge sign of his sincerity, since she knew him well enough to know his own death mattered as much to him as inclement weather. With that in mind, Capella sighed.
She still didn’t want to make this easy on him.
“Why should I, huh? It’s not like you gave a shit until I got mad at you.”
Subaru shouted against the glass, “I gave a shit the entire time, but I had my priorities wrong! I wanted to give you something memorable, something that would reflect what you mean to me, so that you could enjoy Christmas! I should have known better.”
“Yeah, you should have.” She rapped her fingers on her bicep.
“Honey, I’m sorry! Please, let me make it up to you!”
Capella turned on her heel and faced away from her frost bitten hubby. “How are you going to do that?”
He pressed his forehead to the glass, looking miserable. “Let me show you.”
Capella thought long and hard about it, enjoying his shivering. When she felt he’d suffered long enough, she theatrically sighed and turned towards the window. She unlatched it and allowed him to literally fall into the room with the winter biting at his back. Unaffected by the cold, Capella let it nip the air for a few seconds before closing the window.
Subaru scrambled to his feet, hugging himself and shivering uncontrollably. He smiled apologetically at his wife, then gestured to the window. “You might want to look outside before this blizzard ruins one of my surprises.”
With a ‘hmph’, Capella moved to look out the window. It was so snowy out. Whatever her blockhead had done would surely be buried-
Her breath caught in her throat.
Down below in the yard stood a glittering white statue, unlike any she had seen before. On a central dais were two figures, both intimately familiar to her. It was like looking into a memory, a reflection brought to life in the snow.
She remembered the figures because they were here and Subaru on their wedding day.
The Snowbaru statue was a perfect rendition of the man she loved on the happiest day of their lives. He was in his suit, she in her dress, and the two were dancing. Snowbaru had an arm around Snowcappie’s waist and pulled her against him, while the other arm was held up to grasp her hand in a sensual waltz.
Snowcappie was smiling up at her beloved, her right leg up and curled around his left in a romantic promise for what came after. Both of them were blindingly brilliant. The memories shown, utter bliss.
Tears formed at the edges of Capella’s eyes as she felt Subaru gently place his hands on her hips from behind her.
“I had forgotten what the spirit of Christmas was all about.” He whispered and pressed his lips to the back of her head. “I shouldn’t have focused on the gift, but rather appreciate the gifts I’m already blessed with: my wife and children.”
Even moved to tears, Capella would not relent so easily. “We didn’t get to do anything together for Christmas…”
“We have three days to do all the Christmas activities a family can do.” He reached past her and tapped the window with a finger. “Starting with two of my favorites: sledding and making snowmen.”
She leaned into his embrace, her voice softening with winter warmth. “... Then what?”
Subaru leaned down to whisper seductively in her ear.
“Wanna find out together?”
Heart swooning, the girl inside Capella giggled and squirmed against the man while the woman in her felt something swell within her spirit. She didn’t think that she would forgive him so easily, especially not from such a blatant attempt to play on her fulfillment about her wedding day, but she couldn’t help but smile. She loved Subaru so much, even his faults, and now she couldn’t help but love him even more.
He was trying, just as she was. No matter how much she wanted to be perfect, and for everything around her to reflect that, Subaru’s perfect love for her came from an imperfect soul. She could admit to him, and only him, that she wasn’t perfect either.
That imperfection didn’t matter in the end, even if it got in the way of their relationship sometimes. So long as they loved each other, truly loved each other, then they would keep trying until the end of time. They’d blunder, forgive each other, and come back better.
Capella breathed out a relaxed sigh and leaned her head against his collarbone, enjoying the way his arms encircled her waist to pull her flush against him.
That perfect love gave her Hope for their tomorrow, and it brought Peace to her broken heart.
“Whatcha thinking about, honey?” Subaru asked after several moments of silence.
Turning in his embrace to lovingly wrap her arms around his neck, Emerada Natsuki stared longingly into her husband’s eyes.
“Hmm~? I’m thinking you better propose while I’m still in the mood to forgive you, Suba-baby.”
He chuckled and pulled away enough to get down on one knee, bringing his head level to her exposed, toned midriff. Subaru hooded his dark eyes in the seductive way he knew she liked, dropped his voice to a genuine tone equal parts loving and heartfelt. The exact same expression and tone he’d used when he proposed to her.
“Capella- no, Emerada Lugunica-Natsuki… would you-?”
The bedroom door was suddenly kicked open by an overly excited child.
“Mama, Papa! Can we please go play in the snow now?!” Carina cried out from the doorway, her little arms waving around wildly.
From beside Carina, a familiar silver-haired cannonball launched herself at Subaru’s crouched form and toppled him on impact.
“Oof!” Subaru gasped, the wind knocked out of his lungs. He tried to catch his breath, but the little girl who clung to him like a gecko on a window was wollering into his chest hard.
“Ah ah uuuwauuu! Ah ah uuuwauuu!” Castor vocalized in loving glee.
“Papa Subaru! Papa Subaru!” was the translation Subaru came up with.
He groaned from the pain, but still patted the silver loli’s head. “I’m here, Castor. You-”
“Papa, what’s Mama wearing?!” Carina shouted.
He immediately remembered exactly what she was wearing and internally shrieked. Carina was incredibly confused about all things regarding love and sex, so the last thing he wanted was to warp her any further. Whipping his head around, he opened his mouth to-
Subaru choked on his words.
Capella was in her teenage form, already bundled up in a dark purple winter coat with a fur lined hood, thick mittens, a dark pink stocking cap, dark pink scarf, metallic black tights, and a pair of adorable black, fur lined boots.
His wife slowly spun like a teenager with her arms outstretched, giggling mischievously. “Aww, does Mama’s baby think she’s pretty~?”
“So pretty!” Carina gushed like a fan girl.
Castor seconded her opinion by jumping up from Subaru’s chest and shouting, “Uuuah!”
Subaru just laid there and breathed a sigh of relief, allowing himself to melt into the floor. Crisis averted.
Carina, impatient like her Mama, hopped up and down in frustration when she saw her stick in the mud Papa just doing nothing.
“Papaaaa! Come on, let's go!” Carina whined as she ran over and lightly tugged on his leg.
“Uuuwauuu!” Castor agreed and grabbed his other leg.
“It’s not like it’s going anywhere.” Subaru muttered, his words falling on deaf ears.
“We’re wasting time!” Carina shouted at the same time Castor again vocalized and nodded vigorously.
Subaru sighed in complaint. “Alright, alright, let me get up and- no, no, not again!”
Both girls, strong in their own right, easily began dragging their Papa by the legs towards the doorway.
Subaru’s eyes widened instantly. Fearing for his life at the hands of these two little girls, he reached out towards Capella as his ass and back squealed across the marble floor.
“Honey, help me!” Subaru yelled dramatically.
It was apparently dramatic enough that Capella thought he was playing.
He was not.
“Nah,” Capella smirked and held her finger and her thumb in the shape of an L on her forehead.
He groaned, his fate was sealed. Why the hell did I have to teach her that gesture?!
Just as they reached the door, Shaula hopped into the room with the same childlike excitement as the girls.
“Master Subaru, it’s snowing! I can’t remember the last time we saw- AH!”
“Outta the way, hussie!” Carina snapped before she and Castor barreled into the scorpion girl.
They ran her over like a stampede and dragged Subaru over her. In an effort to save himself, he reached for the fallen Shaula and managed to grab her arm. His efforts were futile.
He only managed to take her with him.
As Subaru’s flailing body rounded the corner at Mach speeds, his upper body swung around to nearly collide with the wall opposite of his bedroom in the hallway. Shaula was not so lucky, her body slamming into it full force as she screamed from her unwilling admittance to the pain train. Subaru didn’t let her go, still pleading for help as his screams echoed down the hallway.
Satisfied with her retribution, Capella hummed a festive little tune as she skipped out the door after them.
As an experienced Papa, Subaru Natsuki knew what it was like on Christmas morning. His young children would knock on his bedroom door, or more often than not burst through it entirely, then he would groan tiredly and grumble empty complaints as they bounced on the bed until he pulled himself out of the protective warmth of his bed. His wife would either second his groans or, like a saint, coo and laugh with pure joy at the children’s enthusiasm.
This was the first time it was his wife and daughter together who kicked down the door to fling themselves onto his fabric fortress.
“Papa! It’s Christmas!” Carina cheered, hand in hand with Capella.
“Come on, sleepy head, get up! It’s Mama’s first Kissymas!” Capella joined in.
Watching them giggling and having a merry time tormenting him, Subaru couldn’t help but let the corners of his lips curl into a small, genuine smile.
He got dressed in a silk lounge robe over his pajamas, while Capella changed into a red velvet short dress with white fur lining the bottom of the skirt, neckline, and the ends of the long sleeves. Beneath, she wore black and white striped tights and, of course, no shoes. She topped off her beautiful holiday outfit with a little Santa hat and a very suggestive look to her hubby for later.
Like every cliche Christmas tale, the Natsuki family made their way to the den where several gifts sat under the tree. Since wrapping paper was plain in this fantasy world, Subaru began the tradition of having everyone decorate the gift themselves, either with doodles, bows, ribbons, or paint. It had been successful that Subaru opened a line of printed gift wraps for special occasions, one of many enterprises among several timelines.
That said, he and his family still did it their traditional way to add a bit of cheer.
As Capella, Carina, Maia, Castor, Tanza, Shaula, the annoying feline demi-human Tink, and even Pollux began opening their gifts, Subaru sat on the couch to watch them. It was one of the few joys left to him, so he savored it as he sipped his cof and chewed a lovingly decorated sugar cookie that looked like a tree that had been caught in a warzone. He and his girls baked them together yesterday, so they still tasted fresh. Besides, as a Papa he was allowed a Christmas morning cookie since he never bothered to bring the myth of Santa Claus to this timeline.
Such a thing had served his commercial endeavors, but he hadn’t wanted to ruin the spirit of Christmas for Carina and Maia. He wanted this holiday to mean more than the gifts they received, something had lost sight of, but now he course corrected. Even if he was a young man again, only eighteen, some of the habits he developed with age simply never changed.
The gifts themselves didn’t matter, but when he saw that everyone was eager to play with their toys or engage in other activities, Subaru put down his snack, stood up, and called for everyone’s attention.
“Alright, as you all know this is my wife’s first Christmas.” He said, earning a number of nods and agreements. “I had wanted to give her the perfect gift. I thought that was what she deserved as my beloved partner, but…”
Subaru sighed and awkwardly scratched his cheek with a finger.
“The truth is, there is no gift I could buy that could equal what she has come to mean to our family.”
Capella blushed furiously, covering her mouth with her hands as Subaru looked into her eyes.
“Words are not enough, and my actions of late have not reflected that. I forgot what mattered most on Christmas. I’m sorry, honey.”
“Papa, Mama and we already forgave you!” Carina protested, squeezing a toy dagger to her chest like a pet.
“I know, I know, but still.” Subaru cleared his throat and continued. “Christmas means a lot of things to a lot of people. Hope, peace, joy, love, family, friends, goodwill, and salvation. To me, it means all of these things and more.”
Looking out at everyone’s smiles, Subaru felt something stir in his chest. He returned the smile and dismissed it as Couer Sirenum’s effects.
He walked up to his wife, Capella Emerada Lugunica-Natsuki, and offered her his hand. She took it and let him pull her to her feet. Her million volt smile was so radiant it could’ve rivaled dragon fire.
“Honey, thank you for making snow angels and sculptures with me, even if you throw the meanest snowball I think I’ve ever felt. Thank you for baking cookies, decorating cards and gifts with all of us, and even helping the girls and I put up the tree. Thank you for stomaching our holiday hubbub. Most importantly, thank you for being a part of our family.” Subaru grinned and masterfully delivered his closure, “I love you, my perfect wife. Merry Christmas!”
Capella didn’t answer with words, and instead used her lips for something else. She stood up on her tip toes and delivered a scalding, yet somehow gentle kiss that stole his breath away. The couple ignored the silent gagging and claps of heartfelt enthusiasm for their disgustingly gushy, cheesy romance.
That is, until a gift levitated from the ceiling, courtesy of an Unseen Hand.
While Capella blinked in confusion, Subaru simply chuckled.
“All of that being said, I still made you a gift.”
Capella sighed good naturedly and took the simple wooden box tied with a red bow from the air. She undid the ribbon right there, popped the lid off, and removed the box’s single occupant.
A sewn doll in Subaru’s likeness.
Capella giggled and held it up to his face to compare them. “Someone’s pretty confident in their looks if you’re giving me a little you.”
Amidst everyone’s laughs, he couldn’t help but smirk mischieveously. “Now smell it.”
The look on Capella’s face was probably the most dubious look ever to have graced the depraved Sin Archbishop of Lust’s face.
“You want me to… smell your doll?” She asked, her face still screwed up with uncertainty.
While he was enjoying the show, Subaru took her hands in his and gently pushed the doll beneath her petite nose as he sang, “Smeeeell iiiit~!”
Reluctantly, Capella did as he asked… and buried her face into its woven black hair.
Hugging the Tinybaru to her chest, she muttered, “It smells like you.”
His smile relaxing, Subaru nodded. “Exactly.”
“Not that you stink… but why?”
Subaru went silent, his smile truly faltering. While this gesture hadn’t begun as genuine, there was a personal reason behind it. One that truly hurt him to this day.
“We aren’t always going to be right beside each other, honey. There will be a time when… I’ll be far, far away.” Subaru said, his eyes falling to the doll in her grasp. “I’ve lost a lot of people I care about, and I’ll never truly see them again. I made that doll with my clothes and two buttons from my coat, so on those nights when you miss me, you’ll have something to hold on to.”
Capella was left speechless. Rather than speak, she instead pressed her face into his chest and melted into his arms. Peace settled on her heart.
No one dared to disturb them, even Pollux who was quietly dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief.
Then Shaula jumped to her feet, her hands on her hips.
“I wanna smell Master’s doll!” She whined.
Capella whipped her head around at the speed of sound. “BUZZ OFF, HUSSIE!”
Subaru sighed. Some things really never change.
A butler knocked on the door and announced the arrival of their guests. Thankful for the distraction, Subaru beckoned them in. It was better than the next Great Disaster.
The one and only Vincent Vollachia strode into the den, followed by his advisors and Divine Generals: Yorna, Natsumi Natsuki, Cecilus Segment, and Arakiya.
Begrudgingly, the Natsuki family bowed to the Emperor in the customary greeting. It was annoying, but there was protocol to follow. Vincent, however, was simply perturbed to be there.
“I would ask why you created a blizzard around your estate, but frankly, I’m sure the answer would be a foolish reflection of your heathen holiday.” Vincent said without cracking a smile.
“Merry Christmas to you, too, Scrooge.” Subaru smiled and ignored Nana’s eye twitch.
The ignorant Vincent scowled. “If that was an insult, I won’t take kindly to it.”
“Nah, Scrooge is a cultural hero. It’s a compliment.” Subaru held up his half eaten plate of cookies. “Want one? They’re fresh.”
“... Very well.”
The rest of the day, Capella was smiling like a fool in love. She took her Tinybaru everywhere, never putting him down for Christmas dinner or any of the games they played. Not even Vincent’s humbug attitude could wipe away her joy.
That night, Subaru and Capella cuddled closely with Tinybaru, Maia, and Carina between them as they read a story from Subaru’s world about the true meaning of Christmas. Capella merely listened to her husband speak and stroked Carina’s hair as the blonde girl fell asleep. Maia, despite being close to Subaru in physical age, still cuddled against him like she had when she was a normal child.
Subaru didn’t mind one bit, because no matter how old she got, she would still be his little girl.
When the girls both were asleep, Subaru looked over their heads to his wife. “So, how was your first Christmas?”
Capella smiled and whispered back, “One of the best days ever.”
This time when Subaru’s heart swelled and he dismissed it as the effects of his Authority, he didn’t notice the difference.
For the first time in several lifetimes, that little bit of love for another had been real.
The day after Christmas, Capella was introduced to probably her favorite holiday tradition- lighting the Christmas tree on fire.
As the big tree burned hot and bright in the backyard, Tink, Castor, and Carina all ran around the tree playing tag while Subaru and Capella stood back beside Maia and Pollux. This tradition came about during the many loops Subaru spent as a vagabond, especially in the winters and his time in Gusteko, as a practical necessity. Now it was just an easy clean up, and a fun, pyromaniac memory that Carina had loved since she was born: hence, why they still do it every year they have a tree.
Both mother and daughter liked burning things, so this works out well.
Capella was giggling like a fiend, her bright eyes reflecting the flames like glass as Subaru handed her bits of the previously smashed table to keep the fire going for her amusement. This was by far the most satisfying way to end the holidays, in her opinion. No wonder Subaru did it this way!
It’s like he and I are meant to be~!
Suddenly feeling cuddly, Capella tossed the last flammable piece onto the pyre and clung to Subaru lovingly. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and purred like a kitten, earning her a mild eye roll and a tender, one-armed embrace from her husband. Oh, how she loved him so much!
“Papa, I know this is a family tradition and all, but…” Pollux glanced at his slightly shorter father worriedly. “Did we really have to do this in front of the Emperor?"
Far to Pollux and Maia’s right stood Nana and Vincent Vollachia, who was shaking his head and sighing at their insane yuletide bonfire.
“At this point, I daresay nothing surprises me anymore…” Vincent said in a tone that let them know how many of his life’s choices he was second guessing.
Oh, you would be surprised, Capella thought mischievously, enjoying that he had no idea that he was allied with no less than five Sin Archbishops.
“Suba-baby~!” Capella cooed into Subaru’s ear, still clinging to him tightly. “Can we do this every year~?”
“Of course.” Subaru replied, staring into the flames with a small, wry smile.