This will take place the year after y/n arrived at the Protocol, so about a year ago from the current timeline. Sage hasn't died yet.
Neon's P.O.V.:
It was Christmas season and everyone has been feeling a little bit happier than normal because of it. I was pretty excited myself, because Christmas was always a special time of year for my family. We would have a dinner together, listen to music, watch movies, and enjoy each others company.
The protocol had planned a sort of party type of thing for everyone. Including all the agents and some other people who had connections with us, like the medics and pilots and other types of things.
We didn't have to get anyone gifts, but I wanted to get something for y/n. Something tells me its been awhile since he has been able to celebrate Christmas.
I had a problem though. I didn't quite know what he wanted. When I tried to imply getting him a gift, and asking him if he wanted anything, he answered with, "I want to see the Omega world crumble and die".
Not exactly helpful.
I remember talking to him about the party and Christmas in general. Luckily he knew what Christmas was, and he knew what a formal was, so I didn't need to help explain to him what it was.
But back to reality, I didn't know what to get him. He didn't really have many hobbies. And the only thing he wanted wasn't really something I could give him.
I walked into as many stores as I could, and nothing seemed right. I searched for a good while, before sighing and sitting down on a bench.
"Its hopeless", I said out loud.
"What's hopeless?", I heard someone say, which startled me. I hadn't known I sat next to someone.
"Sorry I didn't mean to startle you", the boy said. He looked to be about fifteen maybe, nothing out of the ordinary, just a normal random person.
"No, it's fine", I replied. "I just can't seem to find a gift for someone", I answered his question.
"How come?", he answered.
"He just doesn't have any hobbies, he doesn't have anything that he likes other than a small set of things that I can't get him. He's secretive, so anything he might like, I don't know about it". I said.
"Is he a friend of yours?", he continued questioning me.
"Yeah", I answered.
"Close?", he added.
"I don't know to be honest", I answered a little disappointed. I mean, I would hope so, but I couldn't confidently say yes.
"Well, you have hobbies right? If you tried sharing your own with him, he'd probably accept any gift", he said.
Huh. I didn't really think about it like that. If y/n didn't have any hobbies, then maybe I could try to get him into my own.
I chuckled, before looking back at the boy.
"Thanks for the advice", I said before getting up and walking away, saying goodbye before I left.
One thing I did like, probably one of my favorite things was music. I could get him something related to that.
Y/N P.O.V.:
'Fuck this' I thought to myself.
I couldn't find anything. Nothing felt right, nothing felt good enough for her. I had gone through so many places, looked at so many things, it was exhausting. And I was in the exact same spot I was when I started.
"Its hopeless", I said.
"What's hopeless?", someone asked. I looked beside me to see a woman, she looked to be in her thirties.
I didn't know whether or not to trust her, so I didn't respond immediately.
She just turned her head, and waited for me to answer, patiently. I guess there wouldn't be any harm in answering her.
"Finding a gift", I said shortly.
"For a friend?", she asked me.
"Yes", I answered.
"Close friend?", she further added.
"I am not sure", I replied. I didn't know if we were or not. I would hope so.
"What does she like?", she asked.
"Running, music, food, and sleep", I paused thinking if their was anything I missed. "That's about it", I finished.
"If you know what she likes, what's the issue?", she asked.
"It just seems like nothing is good enough, I can't get her something that I don't feel is adequate", I answered.
"If she is truly your friend, it shouldn't matter should it? If it came from you, then the thought is enough, right?", she asked.
Wow. That was a good point. If she truly was my friend, then she would like anything I got her right? I would think so, she's not particularly picky.
I got up from the bench and looked at her. "Thank you", I said before leaving.
I still had no idea what I was going to get, but I at least wasn't setting the bar so high anymore.
Time skip. . .
I was late, really late. Not that there was a set time to arrive to a party that was hosted for me and the others, but still, arriving almost two hours after the official start time wasn't the greatest choice.
I walked into the main hanger, which was where they decided to host the party. I thought it was a little childish, but as of now, the party hasn't gotten out of control yet.
We were told to wear our suits, which didn't make sense to me, but I didn't question it.
I looked around, and the place was filled with lots of workers, not many agents, because the ratio of agents to everyone else was extremely low.
"Oi, y/n, get over here!", I hear Phoenix's signature accent.
I didn't have anywhere else to go, and no excuse to ignore him, so I walked over to him.
"You sure took your time", Jett said to me.
"I was out", I replied shortly.
"Well better late then never I guess", she said.
I looked around, trying to find a particular blue and yellow haired woman, but she was no where to be found.
"Neon is getting drinks, she'll be back in a minute", she said. Wow, she knew who I was looking for, that's embarrassing.
I didn't respond, anything I would've said would have made it worse for me.
A few moments later, I hear the sound of crackling electricity, followed by a gust of wind behind me. I turn around, and was met with the girl I was looking for, holding a lot of alcoholic beverages.
"Ayy! Ms. Neon coming in with the drinks! I owe you!", Phoenix said behind me.
"Its a party isn't it?", she said setting them down, but keeping one for herself.
Before she took a sip though, I took it from her. Alcohol and Neon, that was as bad of an idea as swimming in shark infested waters.
"Hoy!", she yelled at me.
Before she even said another word, I shut her down.
"You're not 21, making it illegal for you to take and consume alcohol. You're small, and you would have a very low tolerance, and I don't feel like bringing you back to your room. You would have one drink, then you wouldn't be able to stop yourself from having more. We are not having this discussion, sit down", I said, clear and concise.
She didn't argue, for once I was going to be the one to stop her from doing something she shouldn't be. I honestly felt proud of myself. I made a statement she had no way of arguing against. Good job y/n, you've saved the day yet again.
"Hey loosen up a little! Its a fiesta after all!", Raze suddenly appeared.
"Why don't we show y/n how to party!", Brimstone came in as well.
'Why me?' I thought.
Another lazy time skip. . .
'I don't think parties are really for me' I thought as I was crammed into a giant mosh pit of people dancing. I was being shouldered and wasn't enjoying myself.
I managed to escape, and fled to a table with no one in it. I let myself fall into the chair, my social battery was drained, and it had only been an hour.
I sat there for a few minutes, before Neon had managed to find me, and sat with me.
"The party is almost over, since you showed up half way through it. You won't be forced to suffer for much longer", she joked with me.
I chuckled a little, but it was more like a sharp exhale than anything.
She looked slightly nervous, which was a little unusual for her, but I didn't really pay any mind to it until she shoved a wrapped box in my face.
"Here, its yours", she said.
I was shocked to be perfectly honest. I wasn't expecting any gifts from anyone. It was a small box, but not like tiny, handheld would probably be the best way to describe it.
I opened it, revealing a small device.
"It's a music player. You don't have any hobbies at all, so I didn't know what to get you. But everyone likes music, so you have to like music, and I spent money on it so you better like it", she said not looking me in the eye.
To say I was touched would be an understatement. It's been a minute since anyone has given me anything.
I turned the device on, revealing some songs already loaded on it.
"I took the liberty of giving you a few options", she said.
I felt a smile creep onto my face, not a big one, but a sincere one.
"Thank you", I said to her. I was reminded that I had something for her too.
"I also got you something", I said.
"Huh? Why?", she asked.
"Because I wanted to", I answered, handing her my gift to her.
She unwrapped it, and gasped. I hadn't bought her anything, rather, I had a plain black hoodie that I got early on in my days here at the protocol, that she took a particular liking to. I mean, I would think so since I find her stealing it every chance she has.
"You can have it, so now you don't have to worry about stealing it from me", I told her.
She seemed overjoyed, and immediately put it on. It was big on her, but it was my size, so it wasn't like I wouldn't know.
"Thanks", she said.
"You're welcome", I said.
We sat in silence for a minute or so, but then she spoke up.
"They're about to play the last song, w-would you like to dance?", she asked.
I didn't have anything else to do, and I would be lying to myself if I said I didn't want to dance with her.
(Cringe warning and shitty writing up ahead)
I extended my hand to her, signifying that I wanted to take it. She willingly gave it to me, delicately.
Her hand was rough, but felt smooth compared to mine. They were just so small, and fit like a glove with mine.
Her other arm rested on my shoulder, and mine around her waist. We began to dance slowly to the music, which was a soothing tune. We swayed together, and it just felt like everything else faded away.
"Ohhhhh look what's happening", I heard Jett's voice. She was holding something above me and her. Before I had the chance to look up and see it, Neon had already shocked her to such and extent that she was blown back to the group at the chairs, twitching a little.
I wasn't complaining, I just looked down at her.
She was smiling at me, and like an infection, I found myself smiling too. There was something that just felt right about this moment. She felt so close, I felt the same attraction to her that I felt the first time we danced, but this time, I didn't give in to it, I didn't want to ruin this moment with anything.
"Merry Christmas, Tala", I said.
"Merry Christmas y/n", she responded.
Word count: 2151
Wow, I have so many apologies. First off, sorry for the cringeworthy writing in this chapter, but it is a christmas special, so it was like, it has to be this way. Also its like 4 AM so, I'm fucking exhausted. Second off, I haven't updated in awhile. There are a lot of different reasons for this, one is that I've been spending time with my family, and school kicked my ass before winter break, and to be honest I haven't been very motivated to write. But I have been thinking a lot about the story, and I really have been thinking a lot about how I want it to continue, because for awhile I feel like I've just been writing and going with it without giving it much thought. But I'm trying, I hope that this will be good enough for y'all for a little while. Thank you for reading.