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there was never a day when the yashiro commission wasn’t busy. though it was nothing new as the reliable housekeeper took care of the issues as usual. thoma was in and out of the household every other hour, never showing signs of weariness or complaining. he was the ideal worker indeed, but it must have wore him out a lot. and no matter how many times ayaka wanted him to take a day off, thoma claimed it was no problem.
the sun was bright at noon, and thoma showed no signs of stopping.
ayaka caught him before he headed out the door. “wait, but isn’t today that mondstadt holiday you said you used to celebrate? what was it called, ‘christmas’?”
at the sound of the name, the blond stopped in his tracks and let out a sigh. you could see his shoulders drop a little.
he turned to face the two of you, letting out a chuckle. “oh, that’s right. i can’t believe my lady remembered, i didn’t think it was so soon.” the look he made to the side indicated that he also remembered. you didn’t blame him if he chose to forget. it had been many years since he left mondstadt, and there was no doubt he was homesick. his sad eyes quickly sparkled again. you saw a small smile tugging at his mouth. “well, i’ll be back later tonight then to make us a special dinner.”
ayaka quickly ran up to him. “oh, then let us help you. please don’t make it any more difficult for you.”
but the taller man laughed. “my lady, you know how capable i am at my duties. it is a holiday from my other home, i should celebrate it appropriately.” you remembered him telling you and ayaka about the holiday. from the gift exchanges to festive lights and frigid weathers..
coming up to the lady’s side, you stopped her from trying to get thoma to stop working. “how many times will you forget that thoma is as stubborn as a rock?” sharing a glance with the shorter woman, she pouted. “leave her to me. hurry, before she starts nagging again. we’ll be looking forward to the dinner.”
thoma furrows his brows, suspicious of your behavior. out of all the years he’s known you, you would’ve joined ayaka in the banter. he didn’t have time to question you now, he has orders to carry out. “alright then. i will see you both later. please, and i stress, do not worry about me.”
you and ayaka watched him disappear before she put her hands on her hips. she spoke first.
“why’d you stop me instead of guilting thoma into a day off?” you laughed at how she phrased it. the white-haired lady let out a chuckle as well.
tapping your chin, you narrowed your eyes at her. “as much as i’d like to, i have a better idea.”
-
later that night, you had everything all set up. ayaka wasn’t one with heights so you took to the large trees, stringing up lights and ornaments by their branches and leaves. climbing down, you both set up the rest of what needed to be done on the ground.
you both carried the gifts you bought from the earlier to the designated spot. a large fabric was placed over the grass and plants. in front was the view of a small pond. you both took off your shoes and stepped onto the cloth. the lights above were a nice touch since it illuminated the area beneath. after placing the presents down, you listened to the sounds of running water.
a firefly came into your sight before dimming its’ light and buzzing away. “this is where you performed hyouka for my birthday.”
ayaka sat with her legs crossed, smoothening out her skirt. she flushed pink at the memory. “i did.. i’d practiced it for a whole month before showing you. i wanted it to be perfect.”
you poked at the wrapped gift. “it was beautiful. your movements were so fluid and you were so elegant—“
she squeaked as if she was embarrassed. “please, it was nothing.. you don’t have to compliment me like that.”
you stood in your spot. “well i want to. in fact, you’re gonna have to do it again, you know.”
ayaka sighed. “i know, i know. but you don’t get to look this time. you’ll.. distract me.” you couldn’t help but laugh. “i’m serious! go away!” she put on her shoes and headed for the pond. “just go find thoma. this will take a while.”
that’s right. ayaka had every other available helper take over thoma’s work so he’d return quicker. all you had to do was find him. returning to the kamisato estate, you searched for the man in the kitchen where he’d surely be. and he was. thoma was in the middle of chopping potatoes to add to the giant pot of stew to his right.
you went to his side. “do you need help?”
thoma kept his eyes on the chopping block, mincing away. “what are you up to?” he said your name like you were a criminal on a lineup. “i know for a fact you wouldn’t let an opportunity pass to force me into taking a day off. what was that about earlier?” he poured some cream into the pot before adding the potatoes.
you sucked air through your teeth. “i only asked you if you needed help and you bombard me with questions.”
thoma hummed. “hmm, okay. and what about lady kamisato?”
you clapped your hands together. “good question, let’s pay her a visit right now.” thoma picked up the ladle and stirred the pot before giving it a taste. he mumbled to himself about how it would be fine to leave it on low heat. “come come, ayaka doesn’t have all night.” the man let you guide him out of the kitchen and estate.
thoma caught up to your side and he went on with his questions again to which you continued to ignore. “what are you two up to?”
patting his shoulder, you refrained from slapping the doubt out of him. “you’ll see! jeez, you’re so impatient.”
a grin appeared on your lips when you saw a glimpse of white around the corner. you stopped in front of thoma and had him close his eyes. “you’re scaring me.” he joked. you both went off the trail and more into nature. boulders and trees became more difficult for thoma to detect, he held onto your arm for support.
“almost there. promise.” you wondered if he’d been here before. no doubt he’d come across this area a couple times. you saw ayaka waiting by the bridge and she fumbled something to herself. the festive lights were clearer now that you were right under them. thoma stood waiting with his eyes still closed. ayaka exclaimed excitedly as she nearly stumbled next to you.
thoma nearly opened his eyes. “my lady?” the gifts were laid out behind on the mat, the lights were flickering brightly, and the tiny ornaments clinked against each other—you wondered if stars made noise, they’d sound like that? ayaka prepared her fan, nodding towards you.
“okay, go ahead.” you said. the two of you watched thoma open his eyes and take in the sight before him.
the scene that you and ayaka had been working on all day was now presented to thoma who was experiencing it for the first time. he’s probably had christmas in mondstadt many times but never one like this?
ayaka waved her fan toward the sky, minding the trees. a strong gust blew before snow started to fall. perfect.
“merry christmas, thoma!” the man turned to you, speechless. “i don’t know if you consider inazuma your other home. you’re not obligated to, but we wanted to do something special.”
ayaka closed her fan, tucking it in her outfit. “for all that you’ve done for us, this doesn’t compare. but thank you, thoma, for all that you’ve done.” the snow continued to fall while you took your seat on the blanket. thoma made himself comfortable in front of you both with his hands on his lap.
“i..” he started, “thank you. this is more than i could ask for. how did you guys..?” the snow started to settle in his hair, it was cute. you and ayaka set a small wrapped box in front of him. “oh. i.. you didn’t have to—“
“open it, we worked really hard to get it!” you said.
the woman beside you was biting her lips in anticipation. “thoma, open the gift or so help me i will order you to take the day off tomorrow.” he laughed and opened the top. laid in some wrapping paper was a charm. a small, neatly-folded red paper charm with a black ribbon hanging from it.
thoma held it gently, rubbing his thumb over the flames of soft gold. “it’s beautiful. thank you.” he placed it in the inner pocket of his jacket. “man, i haven’t celebrated christmas in a long time. i’m glad you guys are here.” he smiled. it was a tired one, but it was genuine. he was happy. happy to be here, to finally catch his breath..
“you better not lose that.” you tease.
he patted his chest. “trust me, i don’t plan on that.” the snow began to form a sheet on the grass around you.
“i actually got something for you, ayaka.” you enjoyed the look of disbelief on her face. presenting a gift wrapped in a reflective-like paper, she hesitated to take it at first. you and thoma watched her unwrap the box slowly. a thin, silver hairpin with small chunks of shivada jade complemented the sakura petals at the end. “i know you have many accessories, but i wanted to give you another option. i mean you don’t have to wear it to the next formal event, just saying..” that last part was a joke but you knew it went over her head.
she gasped in delight. “this is gorgeous, when did you..? wait, we went shopping for gifts together, i don’t understand how you managed to get this.” her voice rose with every word, ayaka became flustered. thoma couldn’t help but laugh.
“well, you get distracted easily so it shouldn’t be surprise.” shrugging, you didn’t have any elaboration. it was the simple truth.
she looked to thoma who had only agreed. “i’m sorry, my lady. you do get off track sometimes.”
ayaka smoothened her skirt. “in that case, i was rightfully distracted because i saw this.” she held a gift no bigger than her hands and showed it to you. now it was your turn to be stunned. your mouth formed the words to be spoken but no sound came out. thoma was just as surprised as you were.
“ayaka, wh—“ you were quickly cut off.
“go on then, hurry! the snow’ll melt by the time we’re all done.” ayaka feigned annoyance. the gift revealed a chain. a shining bracelet with a single charm. when you looked back at her, she struggled to find the right words. “erm.. i know you don’t wear jewelry like that so you don’t have to. i just saw it and it reminded me of you.”
you scoffed. “gods. can i give you a hug?” she stopped her rambling and sat still. you gently embraced her, careful not to overstep your boundaries. “thank you, ayaka.” small hands rubbed your back. thoma smiled at the exchange and gathered snow in his hands. he never held snow made by a vision before. a mischievous smile replaced his genuine one.
thoma rolled the snow in his gloved hands. “in mondstadt, we had a tradition of playing in the snow.” a cold feeling hit your back, erupting a noise from you. the snow also covered ayaka’s fingers. “it’s called a snowball fight. you hit your opponents until they admit defeat.” he chuckled. securing the bracelet over your wrist, you mumbled something to ayaka. the two of you started forming the ammunition (of snowballs of course) before throwing them at thoma. he exclaimed, getting up to take cover. “are you serious? two against one?”
you were quick to your feet, chasing the housekeeper. “you started it!”
“play fair!” he shouted back, hitting your shoulder.
ayaka cut him off with a snowball to his face. she was celebrating before growing concerned. “oh, i’m so sorry, thoma! are you alright?”
he feigned pain before throwing a snowball at her chestplate and running off. “sorry, my lady!” ayaka shouted something after him while you were too busy laughing.
-
the next morning, you shifted lazily in your bed. memories of last night came flooding in. you were exchanging gifts before ending the night in flurry frenzy. how childish. but maybe that was something you all needed.
getting ready for the day, you heard a knock at your door. opening it, there was no one there except for a medium-sized box. your name was written on the tag as you opened it. a large, knitted plush of a shiba greeted you. an ‘aww’ came from you as you hugged it. a card was at the bottom.
‘ merry christmas! from taroumaru! (just kidding, it’s me.) i may need to work on my knitting animals, so pardon his lopsided mouth. ‘
you would thank thoma later. he was a man with exceptional skill. you couldn’t ask for a better friend.
later that day, you found out he had gifted ayaka a hilt for her sword. she was over the moon when she found it was from thoma. she nearly cried, which was something you didn’t get to see every day.