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Apple Pies and a Will to Live

Christmas was supposed to be a happy occasion. To celebrate with family, have a feast. Open presents and give what you have.
For Sinclair, it was none of those. Every winter was another year of remembering the horrible incidents that unfolded and led him into this company in the first place.
Everyone knew this - They witnessed the results of his mistakes through dying to Kromer. The Manager especially was aware, but...
Sinclair Sinner #11
That's a lot of apples!
...They wanted to host a celebration regardless. An idea that might not be the best course of action, but something Sinclair was relatively okay with joining in on.
Sinclair Sinner #11
I know I was told to take it easy, but can we really bake that many pies in one day?
Their job was to make pies. Some one or two dozen, as some other departments agreed to help out in the feast. His assigned coworker for this reason was Fafnir, who seemed a little more open than usual, yet still retained their indifferent expression.
Fafnir Sinner #18
(Is that even a question? There's two of us, so it speeds things up.)
Sinclair Sinner #11
I suppose you're right. Let's get to working, then...!
The two of them get to work. Fafnir cuts the apples into little slices as Sinclair works with kneading the dough. It's a lot of work, but to both of them, it's probably better than having to shop and set up decorations. Since it was just those two at the moment, they're more coordinated, even without the assistance of anyone else.
That was the result of them being closer to each other than everyone else. Where Fafnir is usually indifferent or even hostile to some sinners, the air is much less tense when Sinclair is talking about his day.
Sinclair Sinner #11
Back then, my family would always be a little overboard with the food. We'd have leftovers for weeks. Especially when it comes to the turkey. Haha...
Sinclair Sinner #11
Do you like turkey, Fafnir?
Fafnir shakes their head, stopping to sign in reply. By then they have already sliced most of the apples. They're quick with their work, but there's cores that indicate they've been eating a bunch of them too.
Fafnir Sinner #18
(Too dry. I like apples. Hence why I suggested we make pies.)
Sinclair Sinner #11
Oh! That explains a lot! Do you, um...like them because of tradition?
With that done, the two barely stop as they prepare to make the sauce. Sinclair does most of the work; Fafnir becomes busy indulging in the extra fruits.
Fafnir Sinner #18
(My family was always big on Nest traditions. We passed apples around in our community.)
Sinclair Sinner #11
Sounds like a lot of fun...!
Sinclair laughs, but his hands slowly stop mixing the ingredients as he remembers how far he's gone. In his case, his family isn't ever coming back. That was it. He'll continue to have nightmares but nothing can ever change that fact.
He wonders if it's a similar case for his friend. They did not speak fondly of their family beyond their conversations during the colder months, and even then it was a mixed opinion. You could never really tell with how they rarely elaborate.
Fafnir Sinner #18
(Sinclair.)
Sinclair Sinner #11
Ah, I'm sorry...
Fafnir taps him. They don't need him to explain for them to know what he's thinking.
"I miss my family." Is what he'd probably say. They don't need to hear that after all the times they've spoken about it during late nights.
How could you comfort someone who lost everything? Fafnir was never the type for such manners.
But still, they wanted to try.
Fafnir Sinner #18
.....
Fafnir Sinner #18
(You should taste the apple sauce.)
Now reluctant, Sinclair brushes his finger on the sides of the bowl to gather a large sample. Then, he tastes the mix.
The sweetness was a lot for him, but surely ideal for everyone else. Especially for those who enjoyed these kinds of treats.
Sinclair Sinner #11
It's sweet...
"Of course it is." Fafnir doesn't say or sign, instead pointing at Sinclair's mouth. There's a bit of the mix on his lip. He blushes upon this being pointed out, but can't help his laughter.
Sinclair Sinner #11
Let me get a tissue—
Fafnir Sinner #18
(No need.)
Then, swiftly they lean over and grab Sinclair by the cheeks - the softest they can with those sharp claws. They worry the grab will still bruise, but no matter.
Attempting to be affectionate, Fafnir licks the mixture off Sinclair, practically kissing him. Then they take a moment to stare at the increasingly flustered look on his face.
Sinclair opens his mouth, trying to say anything at all. Yet the embarrassment holds him back. His heart beats full of love, but there wasn't any time to dwell on it.
Sinclair Sinner #11
Wh...Wh-What was that...
Fafnir Sinner #18
(A reminder.)
As though it was just another intermission in their pie-making process, Fafnir lightly pushes him away and gets back to work. But at that point, Sinclair needed a break. He sits down, covering his face to try and process what that was for.
Sinclair Sinner #11
Goodness, oh...I should get you back for that one...!
For that few seconds, the lingering guilt he had was shoved aside and a new realization hit instead. Even if he was alone then, that wasn't the case now. In many, unconventional ways, even during the season where he would normally spiral the most... Fafnir showed him that he was loved.
The moment he joins them with putting the pies in the oven, he makes a very important note to himself for when the future comes and he'll inevitably need to ground them like they did with him.
Slowly, Sinclair found himself eating apples more often.