novelraw Chapter 107: It’s December
Chapter 107: It’s December
The cabin was warm when they came back, almost too warm after the bite of the night air.
Snow still clung to their boots as they stamped them against the mat, the faint smell of iron and smoke carried in with them. The door shut behind them, the bar slid into place, and for a long moment none of them spoke. Just the sound of the fire crackling, wood popping as it adjusted to the flames.
Sera dropped onto the couch with Oogie anchored at her hip, the ridiculous weight of the plush grounding her in a way nothing else could.
The creature inside her was quiet for once, stretched out and purring rather than pacing.
Across the room Alexei flopped into a chair with a groan, throwing his head back and muttering something in his mother tongue that sounded suspiciously like a complaint about his knees.
Elias ignored him entirely, pulling his kit onto the table and beginning the meticulous work of sorting supplies—bandages, sutures, antiseptic, each one laid out with precision.
Zubair leaned against the mantle, hands clasped loosely, watching the fire as though it told him things the rest of them couldn’t see.
Lachlan stood with the poker, shifting a log, sparks jumping in a small, harmless shower.
"December," Lachlan said at last, breaking the silence like he was saying something that mattered. He didn’t turn around, just kept his gaze on the fire.
Sera looked over at him, head tilted. "And that’s supposed to mean something?"
"Means Christmas is close," Lachlan replied, his voice easy, almost careless. "We might not have tinsel or a tree, but we’ve got heat, power, food, and a roof. Could be worse."
Alexei gave a loud snort. "Ugly sweaters, terrible movies, hot chocolate. That is Christmas. What else do we need?"
"Sleep," Elias said, eyes still on his supplies. His tone was dry, but not unkind.
"You’ll get your sleep," Lachlan promised. He set the poker down and finally turned to face them, a half-smile tugging at his mouth. "But I was thinking... a movie first. Something stupid. Something we don’t have to think about."
There was no argument. They all knew they needed it, even if none of them would say it out loud.
The kitchen became a small bustle of movement: Lachlan digging out cocoa mix and heating milk,
Zubair setting mugs in a neat line like it was a military exercise, Alexei trying—and failing—to sneak cookies off the counter until Lachlan slapped his hand away with mock irritation.
Elias stayed at the table but accepted the steaming mug set down at his elbow without a word, sipping while he counted vials and strips of gauze. Sera’s cocoa ended up piled high with whipped cream from the can that was in her fridge. Alexei tried to steal a swipe of it with his finger until she smacked him hard enough that he laughed.
"You have mountain," he teased, pointing at the wobbling tower of cream on her mug. "I only take little hill."
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile.
"Children," Zubair muttered, though his mouth twitched at the corner.
They carried their mugs back into the living room, the fire glowing low and golden, shadows stretching long across the floor. Lachlan crouched by the battered DVD pile, holding one case up. "Die Hard. Classic Christmas movie."
"That is not a Christmas movie," Elias said immediately, his tone flat as though he’d been waiting for this argument.
"It absolutely is," Lachlan countered. "Takes place at Christmas. Tree. Carols. Hostages. Boom—festive."
"Barefoot on glass," Alexei added, far too delighted. "Very merry."
Elias sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering about logical definitions and scientific categories of what did and did not constitute a holiday film. But he didn’t stop Lachlan from sliding the disc into the player.
The opening credits flickered across the screen, light bouncing against the walls, and for a little while the weight of the outside world faded.
Alexei stretched his legs out, mug balanced precariously on his stomach, and launched into one of his old stories—something about a mission in Country S where his commander had insisted the map was right side up even when they were walking in circles.
He told it with flair, gesturing wildly, his voice dipping and rising, until even Sera was laughing, hot cocoa forgotten in her hands. Elias tried to hide his smile behind his mug, but it was there, faint and unwilling.
The movie played on, ridiculous and violent, but it was the laughter that filled the room. The warmth of the fire. The quiet comfort of being together without needing to talk about survival or wolves or what came next.
Zubair watched, silent but not detached, his eyes softened in a way Sera rarely saw. Lachlan leaned against the arm of the couch near her, his hand brushing hers once when he reached for his mug.
He didn’t look at her, didn’t say anything, but the touch lingered like something unspoken.
By the time the credits rolled, the fire was low and the cocoa was gone. The storm outside rattled faintly against the windows, but inside the cabin was a pocket of calm.
Alexei had nodded off halfway through his own joke, chin tucked against his chest. Elias was still awake, though his kit had been packed neatly away, supplies stacked in careful order. Zubair remained by the mantle, as steady as ever, but even he looked less like a soldier on duty and more like a man allowing himself to rest.
The door opened suddenly, cold air rushing in, snowflakes scattering across the floor. Noah stepped inside, scarf tugged down, his hair damp and shoulders dusted white. He shut the door behind him, leaning against it for a breath before smiling.
"The military finally got its act together," he said, pulling the scarf loose. "Evac’s ready. By the end of the day, the Rec Center will be empty." His eyes swept the room, lingering on each of them in turn. "So, I’m moving back in."
For a long moment there was only silence, the fire crackling softly, the faint hum of the DVD menu looping on the screen. Then Alexei lifted his head, eyes half-shut but grin sharp. He raised his empty mug like a toast. "Bring vodka and we keep you."
Noah laughed, shaking his head as he stepped further into the room. "Deal."
The warmth of the fire and the quiet laughter lingered, soft and fragile, but real. For the first time in a long while, it felt like they could breathe.