Fic - Simple Gifts (Dogs: Bullets & Carnage)

[cornerofmadness]

A new year, a new fandom. not one I foresee myself doing tons of stuff with but still.

Simple Gifts
Author -cornerofmadness
Fandom- Dogs: Bullets & Carnage
Disclaimer - not mine, all rights belong to Miwa Shirow
Rating - PG -13
Characters - Heine pov
Time line/Spoilers - none, set early on
Summary - even little gifts can bring a lot of joy
Word Count - 508
Author's Note - written in response to anat_astarte's prompt 'caroling' My first story in this fandom, brand new fandom for a brand new year (this can be found on onemanga.com for those who don't know it)

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Heine stares at the people in the blind priest's church. They're singing carols to a god he's not entirely sure anyone believes in any more. The albino wishes he understood this behavior. He finds it oddly frightening that people could come together, wishing for peace and joy. That's an upper level concept. Here in the lower levels, it's kill or be killed and some deity that probably didn't exist never stepped in to change it.

Heine stays to the shadows of the church. He hadn't expected this, had forgotten that it was a holy season. Growing up as a lab dog in a place that prized genetic experimentation over children, he had never been exposed to the idea of faith, just blood and a death. The carolers look in part ecstatic, mostly the older ones or bored, the younger. Bishop shockingly leads them in song. His voice is better than Heine could have guessed.

A soft susurrus of feathers catches his attention and Heine turns to see Nill standing next to him in a frothy black and white dress; Bishop's Goth-loli fetish striking again. Her wings flutter as she smiles at him. Heine returns it. A genetic freak like him, Nill is the one girl who doesn't frighten him. Heine brushes the thought away. If he thinks on why he fears women, he'll be on his knees keening and what would the carolers think.

The strong stench of cigarettes jerks his attention back the other way. Badou slinks along the back wall to stand next to him. "Surprised to see you here," he whispers, his breath reeking of tobacco.

"Why are you here?" Heine shot back.

Badou brushes past against him then holds out something to Nill. The girl takes the small box, opening it. Her eyes light up seeing chocolates. She pops one in her mouth, her eyes shutting as the chocolate melts on her tongue. Nill holds the box out to Heine and Badou.

Heine waves her off, feeling something in his pocket. As Nill hugs Badou as a thank you, Heine digs in his pocket. To his surprise, he finds Badou had slipped another even smaller box into his jacket. Badou nods toward Nill several times and Heine offers her the box, realizing Badou had given him a gift for the girl.

Nill opens it, eyes wide with excitement. The silver necklace inside isn't really expensive. Even Heine could see that but with its blue stone and flower pendant, it is pretty. From Nill's expression, it could be made of platinum. Her hand catches his and she squeezes it, knowing he doesn't like being touched.

Heine leans a little closer to Badou and mouths 'thank you.'

"Happy Holiday, Heine." The one-eyed man grins and starts caroling with the rest of the people in Bishop's church.

Heine doesn't join in. He doesn't know the song but he lets Nill lean against him, her wings brushing against his arm. He feels oddly at peace. Maybe that means something but he isn't the type to hold out hopes.