A Little Shift

Another new year. If asked, Klaus would say he didn’t hate the new year. The idea of celebrating the coming of another long cycle of seasons in the Burrowgatory wasn’t lost on him. Festivals, sparklers, fireworks, food, drink. Yes, yes. It was all very fun he was sure, though before meeting Breakfast, he never attended. Not for some strange reason or anything. 

He just didn’t like parties that much.

Too much work to be done while everyone else was out enjoying themselves. Plus, it wasn’t like the Burrowgatory changed much in all of Klaus’ years. What was there to celebrate? Even still, every new year came and went. For most buns, it was an excuse to get absolutely trashed. He could respect that, though it made the others loud and obnoxious, which he liked less.

But for Breakfast, she used it as an excuse to spend time with her ‘workaholic-boyfriend-best-friend bun’. Or so she called him. Klaus didn’t sanction off that nickname. 

It was always Breakfast who came to pick him up, dragging him from his work desk to take him out into the world proper. 

“It’s a wonder all the work in the world doesn’t finish because you spend all your time on it.” She said, taking him by the hand to remove him from his desk. They walked out now into the city, headed to a park nearby where they’d walk about in the night air. 

“The work is never ending.” Klaus admitted. 

“Then what’s the harm in enjoying something that only comes once a year? The work isn’t going anywhere.” 

He hated how right she was. It wasn’t going anywhere. Even if it felt like he was being taken against his will, Klaus was always quick to concede to his ‘party animal-girlfriend-best-friends bun’s’ antics. Even if he didn’t like parties, he hadn’t been to one with her that he didn’t enjoy. Though, today, their plans didn’t necessarily involve loud music, bustling crowds, food, or even drinks. 

It was a walk, and all things considered, it was a peaceful one. The moon hanging overhead, a soft night wind between them, stars glistening in the sky. Breakfast still held Klaus’ hand as they walked, and he couldn’t help but notice how small her hands were. That alone made this trip worth it. The cacophony of celebration for the new year could be heard, muffled about the Burrowgatory as they finally reached their destination. 

They weren’t alone, as a few other buns had made their way to the relatively peaceful park to do the same thing the couple were here to do. Sparkles lit up the park, dancing lights flickering before eventually being snuffed out.

Breakfast produced a few sparklers of their own, speaking up at Klaus’ signature grimace.

“Don’t give me that look. Sparklers are fun, aren’t they?” 

“I don’t see the point.”

“You didn’t see the point last year either.” 

And yet he still did it, and despite his words, Breakfast knew he was enjoying himself. Handing him off his own, she produced her lighter for her cigarettes, igniting the sparkler in her hand. Sparks began to fly, illuminating her smiling face. Klaus reached for his own lighter, to which Breakfast waved him off. 

“Let me,” she said. 

Touching her sparkler to his, they both lit up with beautiful dancing lights. With that, the two watched them flicker, and Breakfast whipped hers about to make streaks of light. She laughed, and the sound of her excitement was enough to make Klaus’ expression soften slightly. 

Come to think of it, the Burrowgatory some years ago had changed a little. Not much, but just enough to make it worth what Klaus was doing here. That day when he met Breakfast. There was just a little shift. A reason worth celebrating.