The living room was a disaster.
A warm, festive disaster.
Wrapping paper covered half the carpet already despite the fact they had barely started opening presents.
Ribbons were tangled around the sofa legs, the fireplace crackled softly nearby, and the Christmas tree lights cast golden reflections across the room.
Zarek sat in Leah's lap near the tree.
And, so far, he seemed significantly more interested in the shiny ribbons than the actual presents.
He stared at one dangling gold ribbon with complete concentration while clutching his lion plush against his chest.
Izana sat beside Leah on the floor, one arm resting behind her while quietly watching Zarek attempt to grab the ribbon again.
Clara pointed immediately.
"…See? He has priorities."
Dante sat further back on the sofa looking like he wanted no involvement in any of this.
"…He's smarter than all of us."
Elias calmly sipped his coffee.
"…That is not difficult."
Clara clapped her hands suddenly.
"…Alright. Nobody is allowed to act emotionally constipated today."
Dante looked exhausted already.
"…Then we're doomed."
Leah laughed softly.
Izana ignored all of them.
Zarek finally caught the ribbon.
Victory.
A tiny happy sound left him immediately.
Then, naturally—
he tried putting it in his mouth.
Izana removed it instantly.
"…No."
Zarek blinked at him.
Then reached for it again.
Izana moved it further away.
"…Still no."
Clara watched the interaction with open fascination.
"…You really argue with him like he understands you."
Izana looked at her flatly.
"…He does."
"He's a baby."
"He's intelligent."
Dante muttered under his breath:
"…This child is going to be impossible."
Leah smiled faintly.
"…Too late."
Clara reached for the nearest present beneath the tree and immediately tossed it toward Leah.
"…Open yours first."
Leah caught it carefully.
"…Why me?"
"Because Izana looks like he'd rather negotiate a weapons deal than participate willingly."
"…Accurate," Dante added.
Izana didn't even deny it.
Leah smiled while looking down at the present in her lap.
The wrapping paper was black.
Of course it was.
She glanced sideways at Izana.
"…You wrapped this yourself?"
"…Yes."
Clara looked horrified.
"…Why would you do that to yourself?"
Izana's expression stayed calm.
"…It isn't difficult."
Dante leaned forward slightly.
"…Boss, there are three different types of tape on that box."
Silence.
Then Leah burst into laughter.
Izana looked mildly offended.
"…It stayed closed."
"That's not the point," Clara said immediately.
Leah carefully opened the present anyway, still smiling.
Inside the box was a small velvet case.
Her laughter faded immediately.
Slowly, she opened it.
A necklace rested inside.
Delicate silver.
And hanging from it—
a small red stone.
Deep crimson.
The same shade as Zarek's eyes.
Leah went completely quiet.
Clara leaned closer slightly.
"…Oh."
Even Dante stopped talking.
Leah carefully touched the necklace with her fingertips.
Then looked up at Izana.
"…You picked this?"
"…Yes."
"You hate shopping."
"…Correct."
Leah smiled softly.
"…Then why?"
Izana looked toward Zarek for a brief moment before answering.
"…Because you'd wear it."
That somehow made it worse.
Leah's eyes softened instantly.
She leaned closer and kissed him gently.
Quiet.
Warm.
When she pulled back, Izana's hand rested lightly against her waist automatically.
Clara stared at them dramatically.
"…Disgusting."
Dante pointed at her.
"…You started this."
Leah laughed quietly before reaching for another present beside her.
"…This one's yours."
Izana looked at the box she handed him.
Smaller than his gift.
Neatly wrapped.
He opened it carefully.
Inside was a silver lighter.
Simple.
Elegant.
And engraved on the side.
For a moment, Izana said nothing.
Leah watched him carefully now.
Waiting.
Izana's thumb brushed slowly across the engraving.
Then he went still.
"…You kept this?"
Leah's expression softened.
"…Of course I did."
Clara looked between them.
"…What am I missing?"
Leah smiled slightly.
"…He lost his old lighter a long time ago."
Izana's eyes remained on the gift.
Quiet.
Thoughtful.
Then finally:
"…Thank you."
Simple words.
But everyone in the room understood how much they actually meant.
Dante looked deeply uncomfortable witnessing emotions.
"…I should've stayed at work."
"No you shouldn't," Clara replied instantly.
Then she reached for another gift dramatically.
"…Father, your turn."
Elias sighed quietly but accepted the present anyway.
Meanwhile, beside Leah—
Zarek had discovered wrapping paper.
This immediately became the greatest moment of his life.
Tiny hands grabbed at the paper while he made soft excited noises at the crinkling sound.
Izana watched him carefully.
Zarek tore a piece accidentally.
Then stared at it in amazement.
Clara immediately melted.
"…Oh, he's adorable."
Dante rubbed his forehead.
"…Everyone in this room has become weak."
Izana calmly reached over and removed another ribbon from Zarek's reach before he could eat it.
"…No."
Zarek looked personally betrayed.
Leah laughed softly.
"…You're ruining his Christmas."
"He keeps trying to consume decorations."
"That's part of the experience."
Izana ignored her.
A little while later, Clara finished opening another gift before suddenly looking toward Dante.
"…Wait."
Dante immediately looked suspicious.
"…What?"
Clara slowly grinned.
"…You didn't get anything."
"…Good."
Izana finally looked toward Dante then.
"…Dante."
The room went quiet instantly.
Dante looked alarmed already.
"…Why did you say my name like that?"
Without another word, Izana reached beside the sofa and picked up a small wrapped box.
Then handed it to him.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even Clara blinked.
Dante stared at the gift like it might explode.
"…Why?"
Izana looked unimpressed.
"…It's Christmas."
"That does not explain this."
"You work for me."
"…Izana, respectfully, that still explains nothing."
Leah was already trying not to laugh.
Clara looked emotionally devastated.
"…Oh my god."
Dante pointed at her immediately.
"…Don't."
"He got you a present."
"…Stop talking."
Clara clutched her chest dramatically.
"…He cares about you."
"I'm leaving."
"You haven't even opened it."
Dante looked deeply exhausted as he finally unwrapped the gift.
Inside was a watch.
Black.
Minimal.
Expensive enough that Dante nearly dropped it.
Then he noticed something else.
The design.
Specific.
Exactly the one he had stopped to look at months ago during a meeting in the city.
He slowly looked up.
"…You remembered that?"
Izana's expression remained calm.
"…You kept staring at it."
The room went quiet again.
Dante genuinely didn't know how to respond to that.
Clara looked like she was seconds from crying from emotional damage.
"…This is the most affection I've ever witnessed from him."
Dante stared at the watch another second before muttering quietly:
"…Thank you."
Izana simply nodded once.
And somehow that made it feel even more sincere.
Meanwhile—
Zarek suddenly attacked another piece of wrapping paper with great determination.
Leah laughed.
"…I think this one might be his favourite gift."
Izana looked down at his son.
Zarek sat surrounded by torn paper, clutching the lion plush in one hand while trying to grab another ribbon with the other.
Izana removed the ribbon immediately.
"…No."
Zarek stared at him.
Then smiled.
Tiny.
Bright.
And Izana's entire expression softened without him even realizing it.
Clara noticed immediately.
So did Leah.
So did Dante.
Nobody said anything.
Because somehow—
that moment said enough already.