❝Happiness is not the absence of problems, it's the ability to deal with them.❞
[X AMBASSADORS ¤ RENEGADES]
DIALOGUE
#853c41
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Loretta stuck the diary into the folds of his clothes before the duffle was zipped, tossed over his shoulder for the long haul. He took her hand after she pulled the hoodie over her head and he chuckled, too adorable. They went downstairs and the tension the staff didn't show ebbed off them in waves of suppressed concern. The trip could go anywhere, they'd either make it one-piece, or something might pop out at them. Zero steeled himself for it, he couldn't be surprised anymore.
He walked Loretta out where the crisp early winter air dusted them in flurries. He stilled when her hand slipped from his grasp and his eyes tore from the line of vehicles to her frolicking in the snow. One would think she'd never seen it in her life.
With a sigh he waited patient, and kept it to himself that her little snow collection wouldn't last. He ruffled her hair, "We can make snow men when we get to where we're headed. That and gloves. You'll need it." He held the door of the SUV open for her.
When they pulled away he checked to ensure she was buckled in, but Loretta's attention were on the multi-colored lights that decorated the few houses that cared to continue on a human's pagan holiday. Beings didn't have any God, nor did they value any such ideals as religion. How curious. Maybe they did it for their human companions, because no, they're not pets. Humans who still believed they lived in a world with a God that could save them, hear their prayers, grant them relief from their daily sufferings under being law like some miracle.
He couldn't help stare himself, it is strange isn't it?
"Those are lights, it's a human conception, the time they celebrate a certain religious event. One that took place decades ago, they call it Christmas."
Or perhaps beings celebrated the holiday selectively. They decorated out of habit because maybe, it gave them something to do in the long winters and the endless nights that came.
Vague lights and carols echoed in the corners of memory, some light reflected off shattered ornaments, presents wrapped in day's old newspaper. The compass and pocket watch a glimmer of the past that bled into his present in constant rememberance. He couldn't recall any other time but that one. Any other year they exchanged a gift, brother to brother. Memories liked to slip away as rain drops, or stick as snow flakes on glass.
"Pretty sure Doc might celebrate it this year, considering." Zero said, he slipped his hand into the duffle behind him to brandish the cell, he took out the battery, slid the window down and chucked the phone. Hopefully the maids hadn't packed Loretta a phone. If they did he'd get rid of it the next stop. No more risks.
He stared out the window, were they seriously being escorted by a team? How descreet of Doc. Let the entire block know they were leaving. They should've taken the old car, the one that couldn't be detected by GPS, the one no one would suspect had Loretta in it.
Zero leaned forward and tapped Grell's shoulder, "We gotta rendezvous point right? Let's call it the garage, somewhere to switch out? Tell me you guys didn't forget that." They couldn't go all the way in this giant neon sign. He hooked his thumb over his shoulder indicating the only human in the vehicle, "After all, precious cargo."