A little Christmas chapter for you all. Happy Holidays! 

The airship was aglow with Christmas lights, their soft hues reflecting against the polished metal surfaces. Outside, the cold winter air clung to the windows, but within, the warmth of the decorations and the scent of a home-cooked meal created an inviting atmosphere. Arackniss leaned against the doorframe, watching as Pentious finished adjusting the ornaments on the tree. The tree itself was modest, but it was perfect in its simplicity. "Not bad," Arackniss said, his tone softer than usual.

He wasn't one for Christmas, but something about seeing Pentious take the time to decorate, to make the holiday special, made him feel... something. "Still don't get why we bother with all this, but... I'll admit it looks nice."

Pentious chuckled, his tail swishing behind him in that familiar, contented way. "Traditions are important, darling. They're still worth cherishing even if we're starting our own."

Arackniss didn't respond immediately. Instead, he glanced down at the small box in his hand, the one he'd been hiding for days. He was nervous. This wasn't like him. He wasn't the sentimental type, and Christmas, for all its sparkles and songs, always felt like a hollow reminder of what he had lost. But as he thought about Pentious; about how much he had come to mean to him, he couldn't help but feel a small flicker of hope, of warmth. Maybe this year could be different.

"I, uh... got you something," Arackniss muttered, stepping closer. His voice faltered slightly as he kneeled to place the wrapped box beneath the tree. "It's not much... but I thought you might like it."

Pentious paused, turning toward him with an expression of quiet surprise. "You... got me something?"

Arackniss fidgeted, avoiding Pentious's gaze. He wasn't used to giving gifts and wasn't sure how to make it feel real. But he pushed the anxiety down and nodded. "Yeah. I figured... I wanted to get you something that meant something."

Pentious crouched down and carefully unwrapped the box. He revealed a small, carved wooden ornament as the paper fell away. It depicted a serpent entwined with a spider, their bodies interwoven in a gentle, protective embrace. Pentious's eyes softened as he traced his fingers over the intricate carving, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's beautiful," he said, his tone thick with emotion. "Arackniss, you... you didn't have to—"

But Arackniss cut him off, suddenly a little too raw to hold back. He had tried to avoid this, buried the emotions that had come flooding back when he'd chosen the ornament but couldn't. Not now, not here.

"No, it's... it's because I wanted to," Arackniss said quickly, though his voice wavered. He took a breath, trying to steady himself, but the memories flooded back. "It reminded me of... well, of us. Of what we are. We don't always fit the typical... whatever. But I think we make sense, together." His hand hovered awkwardly in the air before resting on Pentious's, and he looked down at the ornament.

His gaze shifted to the tree, but his mind wasn't there. It was drifting back in time, to his childhood, before the demons and nightmares. Arackniss was young again, only a child, sitting beside his mother in front of a large fireplace. The fire crackled merrily, its warmth enveloping them in the dimly lit room. His siblings, much younger than he, were running around, laughing, and playing with brightly wrapped presents. His father, before all the abuse was watching with a smile on his face. His mother, with her gentle smile, leaned down and whispered in his ear.

"You know, Salvatore, Christmas is a time for family. A time for love."

Arackniss smiled back, then he got tackled by his younger siblings to the ground. The three of them started playing together while their parents watched. Love was something that felt so rare, so precious, yet his mother made it seem like it could still exist, even in a place full of cold hearts and silent judgments. She was the warmth. She was the reason he believed in family. But that warmth was gone too soon, and the fire of that love faded when she died. The abuse from his father only grew worse.

Arackniss blinked, shaking off the memories that threatened to overwhelm him. The smile he had given Pentious moments ago had now vanished, replaced by something darker. Something far too familiar. Pentious seemed to sense the change in his demeanor. He gently placed a hand on Arackniss's shoulder, drawing him out of the memories. "Hey, it's okay," he said softly. "I understand. You've been through so much. But I'm here now."

Arackniss took a shaky breath, his chest tight. He forced himself to focus on Pentious, on the warmth in his touch. For a moment, everything else fell away, and all that mattered was this connection, this quiet understanding. Pentious was here, and for the first time in a long time, Arackniss didn't feel so alone. "I never thought I'd have this," Arackniss murmured. "A real Christmas, I mean. Not after... well, everything. But with you, it feels different."

Pentious smiled warmly, his eyes full of affection. "I'm glad you're letting me be a part of your life, Arackniss. And... I'll always be here for you, through all of it."

Arackniss's throat tightened, and he quickly turned away to hide his reaction. This wasn't how he wanted to be; vulnerable, emotional but he couldn't help it. Pentious was there, offering him the one thing he had thought he'd never receive again: true care, without the strings of manipulation or pain. "Thanks," Arackniss said hoarsely. "For this. For... everything."

They stood there for a moment, the quiet of the night settling over them before Pentious gently pulled him into an embrace. "Merry Christmas, Arackniss," Pentious whispered into his ear.

"Merry Christmas," Arackniss replied, his voice soft, but full of the emotions he had struggled to bury.

At that moment, he realized he had something he had never expected: love. And it was real, and it was here. As they pulled apart, Arackniss hesitated for a moment, his hand lingering on Pentious's chest. "There's something... something I've been meaning to tell you," Arackniss said, his voice tinged with nervousness. "Something I've kept hidden for a long time."

Pentious looked at him curiously, his eyes full of understanding. "What is it?"

Arackniss's heart raced, but this moment felt like the right time. "Something I never told anyone, but I want to tell you."

"Nissy..."

"It's.... You know it's hard for me to trust people and, well this is one of the few intimate things that sinners can share so..."

Pentious cupped Arackniss's cheek, waiting for him to speak. "My name is Salvatore" Arackniss spoke in a low voice.

"That's a beautiful name. Doesn't it mean savior in Latin?" Pentious asked.

"Yeah, it does." Arackniss chuckled, "Ironic, right?"

Pentious stroked Arackniss's cheek; he was so lucky that Arackniss was willing to share his living name with him. "I suppose it's only fair for me to tell you mine." Pentious softly spoke.

"Penn, please. I want to know everything about you." Arackniss said, leaning into his lover.

"Alright. My name is Arthur."

Arackniss sighed, "I like that. I think I'm gonna have to call you King now. Please, call me Sal."

Both Arackniss and Pentious pressed their forehead together and then shared a kiss under the mistletoe. A special Christmas with the one you love.