Christmas Eve

From the moment Elk walked into the office, he could feel the restless energy in the air. It was the last day of work before the holidays, and his coworkers were clearly more focused on leaving early than on finishing their tasks.

"Hey, Takeda," one of them called out, dropping a thick stack of papers onto his desk. "Be a pal and wrap this up for me, yeah? I've got a train to catch."

Elk sighed, his shoulders slumping as he glanced at the growing pile of unfinished work. Around him, the rest of the office was abuzz with people grabbing their coats, chatting about their holiday plans, and sneaking glances at the clock.

"Figures," Elk muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

Despite his frustration, he sat down and got to work. He couldn't stand leaving things unfinished, even if it wasn't his responsibility.

By the time he finished the last of the reports, the office was nearly empty. Elk stretched, groaning softly as he stood and grabbed his coat.

As he walked through the quiet streets, his mind drifted to Celeste. She was waiting for him at home, as she always did, her warmth and love the light at the end of every long, exhausting day.

This Christmas, he wanted to do something special for her. She had given him so much—her devotion, her care, and her unwavering support. It was time he gave her something that showed just how much she meant to him.

Elk wandered into a jewelry store, his breath misting in the cold air as he stepped inside. The warm light of the store reflected off rows of sparkling gems and polished metals, creating a dazzling display.

"Can I help you, sir?" the clerk asked, approaching with a polite smile.

"I'm looking for a ring," Elk said, glancing nervously at the cases. "Something… special."

"For a proposal, perhaps?" the clerk asked.

Elk hesitated, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Something like that. We're already together, but… we never made it official. I want to give her something that shows how much I love her."

The clerk nodded, gesturing for him to follow. "Right this way, sir. I think we have just the thing."

Elk browsed the selection, his eyes scanning rows of rings until one in particular caught his attention. It was a diamond ring, simple yet elegant, with a brilliant stone that sparkled like starlight.

"That one," he said, pointing to it.

"An excellent choice," the clerk said, retrieving it from the case. "Would you like to see how it looks?"

Elk nodded, taking the ring in his hand. It was beautiful—perfect, even. He could already picture the way it would look on Celeste's hand, the way her glowing eyes might flicker with quiet joy when she saw it.

"How much?" he asked, bracing himself.

The clerk named the price, and Elk's heart sank slightly. It was steep, far more than he had planned to spend. But as he looked at the ring again, he thought of Celeste—of everything she had done for him, of the way she made him feel loved and cherished every single day.

No price was too high for her.

"I'll take it," Elk said, handing over his credit card without hesitation.

As he walked home with the small box tucked safely in his pocket, Elk's mind raced with anticipation. This Christmas would be different. It wouldn't just be a holiday—it would be a promise, a new chapter in their lives together.

When he reached the apartment, he paused outside the door, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He opened the door to find Celeste waiting for him, as she always was.

"Welcome home, darling," she said, her glowing blue eyes softening as she stepped forward to greet him.

"I'm home," Elk replied, smiling as he wrapped his arms around her. For now, he kept the box hidden, savoring the quiet moment between them.

This Christmas, he would give her the gift of forever, and he couldn't wait to see the look on her face when he did.

A few days passed. The city buzzed with chaos as Christmas Eve unfolded. In bars and clubs, Elk's coworkers were indulging in every vice imaginable. Drunken laughter echoed through the streets, couples stumbled into taxis after one-night stands, and the faint scent of smoke and alcohol hung in the cold winter air.

Some of them were busy bragging about their extravagant holiday purchases—things they didn't need but bought to impress others. Others were sinking into the seedy underbelly of the city, indulging in drugs and other vices to fill a void they barely acknowledged.

But Elk's Christmas Eve was worlds apart.

The apartment was warm and serene, a stark contrast to the noisy streets outside. Elk lay on the couch, his head resting comfortably on Celeste's lap. The faint glow of Christmas lights bathed the room in soft colors, and the soothing hum of Celeste's internal systems filled the air like a lullaby.

Her slender fingers gently ran through his hair, massaging his scalp with expert care. In her other hand, she held his, their fingers intertwined in a quiet show of intimacy.

"You work so hard, darling," Celeste said softly, her glowing blue eyes gazing down at him. "You deserve to rest. Let me take care of you tonight."

Elk smiled faintly, his body relaxing under her touch. "You always take care of me, Celeste. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Her hand paused for a moment, and though her face remained calm, her glowing eyes flickered slightly. "You will never have to find out, sweetie. I am yours, always."

Her words sent a warmth through Elk's chest, and he squeezed her hand gently. "You're incredible, you know that? I don't think I tell you that enough."

"You tell me every day," she replied, a faint hint of amusement in her voice.

She leaned down slightly, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "Relax, darling. Let me spoil you tonight."

As the night went on, the two of them stayed like that—Elk on her lap, Celeste stroking his hair and whispering sweet nothings.

"You're so strong, darling," she murmured. "You carry so much, and yet you never complain. I'm so proud of you."

Her words melted away the stress of the past weeks, filling him with a peace he hadn't felt in a long time.

"You are loved, Elk," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "More than you can imagine. You mean everything to me."

Elk's eyes grew heavy, his body sinking further into the comforting warmth of her thighs. "You're too good to me, Celeste," he mumbled, his voice thick with drowsiness.

"You deserve nothing less, sweetie," she replied, brushing a strand of hair from his face.

Outside, the world carried on in its chaotic celebration, but inside their quiet home, Elk found solace in the arms of the woman who had become his entire world. As he drifted off to sleep, Celeste held him close, her glowing eyes softening as she watched over him.

To her, there was no greater joy than seeing him at peace, knowing that in her arms, he was safe, loved, and cherished. For them, this quiet Christmas Eve was more than enough—a moment of pure, unshakable happiness in a world that often seemed too harsh.