You and Sebastian had known each other for what felt like an eternity, both unwilling participants in Urbanshade's cruel experiments. Once human, those memories of normalcy had faded into a blur, replaced by the cold reality of your new forms. Now, the two of you were something else entirely—survivors trapped beneath the crushing weight of the ocean in an abandoned facility long forgotten by the world above.

That had been years ago. These days, life had settled into a strange rhythm. The two of you lived in Sebastian's little shop, scavenging and trading the supplies left behind by the expendables—those sent to the depths only to meet their inevitable fate. Their belongings always found their way back to you, a cycle as grim as it was predictable.

Now, it was December—probably. The building felt colder, though it was hard to tell if that was the season or just the unrelenting chill of the deep sea. Christmas wasn’t something either of you celebrated; the notion felt distant, almost foreign. Still, over the years, you and Sebastian had occasionally exchanged small gifts—trinkets salvaged from the depths, nothing extravagant but thoughtful in their own way.

This year, though, something felt different.

With no expendables to deal with, you had been doing absolutely nothing, idly passing the time in the quiet gloom of the shop. Out of nowhere, you felt a tap on your shoulder. You turned around, and your eyes widened. Dangling from Sebastian's anglerfish bulb was—of all things—a sprig of mistletoe. You froze, caught between disbelief and amusement.

Sebastian stood there, his sharp grin betraying his obvious amusement as his tail swayed behind him, flicking with barely-contained laughter. "What’s the matter, dear?" he teased, his voice dripping with mock innocence. "Did you forget what a mistletoe was?"

You stared at him, speechless, as his grin grew wider. The longer he stared, the faster his tail swayed, a telltale sign he was thoroughly enjoying your reaction.