Ficlet - Victory, holiday request

[cornerofmadness]

Victory
cornerofmadness
Disclaimer –
Rating – PG-13
Pairing – None, Komui & Reever centric
Summary – AU set after the end of the war
Author’s Note – this is for flamingly_fey who wanted Komui and Reever; "War Is Over/Merry Xmas" as a prompt. Sadly, I can’t really follow the series online so I’m only up to volume 6 of the printed series so I’m just speculating on who might make it to the end.
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Komui staggered just a bit as he navigated the packed Black Order cafeteria. It was hard to hear, harder to think between the raucous celebration and the freely flowing booze. It felt like he carried all the bruises and slices the Exorcists had earned in the final battles – suffering spiritually as his friends and relatives fought and bleed – even though the amount of action he had seen was minimal. Still, not even the Black Order compounds had remained unscathed and Komui felt he deserved to let his hair down so to speak.

Whiskey making him loose-limbed, Komui cruised past Kanda and Ravi who drooped over their chairs like melted candles, limbs twisted in a drunken version of yoga. In a dark corner, he saw his bandaged-decorated sister locked in an intimate embrace with an even more ravaged Allen. Komui would kill the boy later for touching his beloved sister but, for now, the beatific expression giving Lenali’s face an inner glow stayed his hand.

Komui flopped down at the table, rousing Reever who peered at him with drunken myopia. “We’s alive,” Reever slurred.

“Who would have thought it,” Komui reached for the two cleanest looking glasses scattered about on the battered table and poured from the whiskey bottle in front of Reever. “Here’s to victory.”

“Victory!” Reever clinked his glass to the scientist’s. He scooted his chair around and tossed an arm over Komui’s shoulders. “You drive me crazy, boss, but you’s a good man. I’s proud to work with you.”

Reever nearly fell into Komui’s lap. The scientist lurched to his feet, dragging Reever with him. He gazed out over the partiers, thinking something was missing. Not just familiar faces, those who died for the cause. No, something else was missing. If not for the singing, no one would know what season it was. “Come on, Reever. They’re caroling. Let’s go join them.”

Reever peered into the crowd. “Is that caroling?” He didn’t sound convinced.

Granted exceedingly loud and obviously drunken wasn’t the normal way carols were sung but Komui figured they could be forgiven their excesses. “Indeed.” Komui muscled Reever along, careening off tables as they made their inebriated way into the singing throng.

“’Kay, I’ll sing but if you find any mistletoe, I’m not kissing ya,” Reever said.

“You can’t imagine my relief.” Komui laughed. He cast another glance back at Lenali and Allen who seemed to be asleep in spite of the commotion. Komui turned his gaze to the sky, visible through a hunk of missing ceiling. They were all alive and they had won. Time had died and been reborn. It was a wondrous time to bear witness to. The alcoholic fog seemed to lift and Komui joined in with the singing. “Silent night…”