[Gift] Sparkling

Evening had settled over Burrowgatory with a palpable excitement, the streets outside filled with laughter and lights despite the dimming of the overhead crystals. Loud music blared from stores and many succubuns gathered around their TVs, watching as the countdown for the new year ticked closer and closer. Despite the darkness above, crowds were still alight with sparklers and many succubuns were making last-minute trips to buy fireworks to light in areas where the cave ceiling reached much higher.

Beyond the crowds of succubuns chattering and drinking to their hearts’ content, Valentine slipped into a tiny store selling sparklers by the forest's edge. The place was less densely packed due to its position, though it was along the usual path Val took to her home. She had taken Akio with her this time, though their other partner, Luka, had opted out for one reason or another. Valentine was used to him being busy, of course - and having Akio around was all the company she could need. She held his hand in hers as they flitted between aisles, searching for a sparkler that caught his eye.

“Oo, what about that one?” Val gestured to a blue-stemmed sparkler promoting its blue, purple, and white light, taking it from the hook where it hung to present it to Akio. He took it with his free hand, his eyes on the image of it mid-burn.

“W-wow… I d-didn't know they c-could come in this color… I thought they were all gold… I-it almost looks like a crystal!” Akio's voice was its usual unsuredness, though Valentine could see from his wavy smile that he truly did like her pick. She watched him turn it over in his hand, nervously scanning the instructions on the back before his eyes found her watching him, “A-are you going to get one too, Val?” 

“Oh, yeah. I was just gonna get the same thing, so we could match. I like this color, anyways. It reminds me of you,” she poked the tip of his nose playfully, watching red spread over his face and his smile wobble. She chuckled, reaching out to grab a matching bag before Akio's voice piped up weakly.

“Y-you can have that one… A-and I can get a p-pink one for Luka, s-so that leaves me with purple..!” The suggestion was nervous and timid, his voice wavering un-assuredly as he looked to Val for affirmation. She paused, grinning and steering towards the other colors.

“That sounds like a great plan, Kio.”

The bell overhead rang as Val opened the door, a blast of icy wind hitting her cheeks. She pulled Akio along behind her, turning to adjust his scarf before her own. Behind him, the store clerk waved the two goodbye, watching the door shut between the two succubuns and him. Snowflakes flitted downwards, nestling into their hair and resting on the tips of their noses. Valentine shivered and pulled her mittens over her hands, instructing her lover to do the same.

“Keep your scarf up, okay? We'll be home soon,” she assured, reaching out to grab his own mitted-hand and pulling him alongside her. He looked out over the snow, eyes sparkling behind his glasses.

“O-okay…. It's so… Beautiful… I n-never got to… Um, a-appreciate it before, sense… W-well…” His laugh was nervous, though Valentine couldn't mistake the awe in his words. The wind whistled through his hair, though he didn't seem the-least-bit worried about how it might've looked. He watched other succubuns prance around the snow, some annoyed while others threw snowballs at their unsuspecting company. He seemed tearful when he looked back at Val, clutching her hand to make up for words. Valentine pulled him close, holding him to her chest and slipping her fingers through his hair.

“I know… It'll be your first new year's eve where you aren't alone… We'll make it a good one, okay?” She pulled away to look him in the eyes, planting a kiss on his cheek when a smile finally found its way back onto his face.

“O-okay… Thank you, Val.. You really are the best girl a guy could ask for…” 

The walk home was cold, spent huddled next to eachother and giggling through conversations. Soon, Valentine could make out their front door in the distance through the thick snowfall, their porch and walls a sharp contrast in the white surrounding it. The last few steps were rushed, the both of them bolting towards the door hand-in-hand. Valentine reached for the doorknob, relieved to find it easily twist without the strain of a lock. 

“Luka, we're home! We brought the sparklers!” Valentine opened the door to see their house well lit and filled with people, most crammed in front of the television with mochi and alcohol in hand. Luka stood from his spot on the couch, moving past the collection while his hand disappeared into his pocket. He presented a lighter for a moment, though it was disregarded when he reached the two. He kissed both of them on the cheek, ushering them back outside with gentle nudges.

“Let's light ‘em outside, too many people in here to risk it,” his voice was raised to overcome the chatter underneath it, eyes flicking over to the source before it could be hidden from view. The snow outside had mercifully begun to dwindle, the wind carrying less snowflakes by the second. Luka's finger flicked the lighter to life, the little flame dancing and illuminating his hand in a gentle orange. 

“What are we waiting for, then? Let's get to it.”

At his words, Valentine and Akio fumbled for the sparklers they'd bought, tearing them from their packages and lighting one each in the flame. Blue sparks were joined by purple, then by pink with a quiet sizzle. The pink was pressed into Luka's hand, the blue into Val's, and the purple into Kio's. The light danced between the three of them, sparkling and wavering in the wind but never quite fading. Valentine turned to see Akio's face shining purple, his yellow eyes wide and sparkling by the light. His mouth hung in a slight gape, his tail wagging as he caught Valentine staring.

“I-it… It really is so… So pretty…” he kneeled to the ground, staring at the tiny light even closer as Valentine and Luka joined him. Val could see Luka's hand on his back, rubbing comfortingly in a slow rhythm. 

“It is… Your first time with sparklers, right? It must be nice…” Val spoke quietly, watching her own blue sparks dance alongside his. There was more silence between the three, broken only by Luka.

“You know, usually it's tradition to eat mochi today, too. Something about some demon. I don't pay attention-”

“Allocer.. But I don't think that part really matters… But, well… You like mochi, right? Would you want any for yourself?” Val watched Akio's smile meet his face again, lighting it up brighter than a sparkler ever could.

“Y-yeah… That sounds… Really nice, V-Val…”

Val beamed, planting a kiss on his forehead before standing.

“...Then I guess we'll have something to do when these things stop shining.”