Chapter 56: Christmas Apocalypse
The day was blanketed in white by the snow, the cold settling in the streets of NYC. Today, the city oddly felt peaceful.
In the Walker household, it was the same situation. Today, Allen woke up in high spirits, donning his red suit and a red hat, a look almost anyone would recognize him as Santa Claus.
Allen strolled into his living room to see Christmas decorations everywhere.
"Good morning," MJ greeted from the kitchen as she prepared everything for the grand dinner.
Natasha was wandering around in her underwear... wait, what?
"Hey, what kind of Christmas spirit is that?" Allen rolled his eyes.
"Allen? this is Christmas underwear~... Wait, since when do you like Christmas so much?" Natasha looked at her nephew dressed as Santa Claus, yet she remembered that Allen wasn't someone who celebrated the holidays. If it weren't for her, he'd forget half of his birthdays.
Allen covered Natasha's mouth and whispered, "It's a special Christmas episode; I have to be more festive, you know?"
"You're not supposed to say that..." Natasha rolled her eyes.
Allen shrugged. "It doesn't matter because it's not a canon episode."
It's been six months since Allen got his system and his strange adventures began, if you could call facing an apocalypse every week an adventure.
Allen had experienced many ups and downs and met a lot of people, and now, he decided to spend Christmas by summoning the Christmas spirit to ensure nothing interrupted this day.
...
Allen finished setting up the pine tree in his living room; it was tall, reaching the ceiling. Allen adorned it with ornaments, baubles, and lights, but due to its height, he needed reinforcements, and the only one available was the girl who least liked the idea of Christmas, Wednesday Addams.
*Allen's POV*
"Christmas doesn't exist; it's just a social construct to consume useless products and keep the masses away from real issues," Wednesday grumbled beside me, holding a box of red and gold baubles for the Christmas tree.
"Wednesday, I get it, you hate Christmas, now help me hold these lights."
I didn't pay attention to Wednesday's negative attitude; if she truly didn't want to help, she'd simply leave. I wound the Christmas lights around the tree, ensuring they weren't too close or too far. It was a tall tree, so I needed many baubles and lights.
Wednesday, the expressionless girl, reluctantly handed me more Christmas baubles to hang as I climbed onto a chair.
Wednesday narrowed her eyes at me doing this. "Why don't you use one of your many abilities to do that?"
"For the same reason you continue to use your human form despite it being the most vulnerable."
"...?"
"There's a special meaning in not forgetting who I am despite the power I possess."
"Whatever," Wednesday sighed and passed me more baubles.
...
I heard the oven's sound in the kitchen and turned to see Gwen wearing gloves, pulling out a huge turkey, and placing it on the counter.
"Alright, it should be good!" my girlfriend said, wiping sweat from her forehead.
She had been honing her cooking skills and asked me to let her handle dinner for this day, though she didn't expect the pressure that came with cooking on Christmas. In her mind, if something got burnt or tasted bad, it would ruin the dinner. No matter how I tried to convince Gwen not to stress, she didn't relent.
She looked like a surgeon performing a heart transplant right now. She even wore a white apron, tied her blonde hair into a bun, and a white shirt; she reminded me of a professional chef's uniform.
"Umm~ huhu~"
In contrast to my blonde girlfriend, there was a beautiful redhead named Mary Jane Watson in the kitchen too. She was preparing a large apple pie for dessert, humming along to music with headphones on. MJ was dressed casually, with her red hair tied up in a ponytail—there was a world of difference between them.
"Could you stop dancing? You're distracting me," Gwen spoke without turning to the other girl in the kitchen.
"Mm~ Mm~" MJ didn't even hear Gwen and continued dancing while setting the table.
"We'd all be happier if you went with them and let me get back to my book."
I stopped looking at the pair of girls with a smile and focused on the tree and Wednesday. It's true; I coerced Wednesday into helping me, but if I didn't, this girl would vanish into her room until tomorrow.
Wednesday glared at the bright tree. "Christmas... the beautiful celebration where everyone indulges in one of the world's biggest money-wasting extravaganzas," Wednesday added while holding a decorative bauble. "The working class sweats and bleeds to enrich the businessmen, and when they wonder why they spent five times more on a turkey this day, they'll still feel stupid. It's not too late to cancel everything, Allen..."
"I get it, you hate Christmas. Now be a good girl and pass me the Christmas Eve..." I ignored her manipulative speech and placed my red hat on her head. If it were someone else doing it, she'd disappear until next year, but after the time we've spent together, I have the confidence to do these things with her without her getting angry.
Wednesday grabbed the red flowers and, contrary to her words of displeasure with this activity, she handed me the ornaments with a calm face. She hadn't even removed the Christmas hat I put on her. I couldn't tell if I should be happy that she obeyed me or laugh at how she looked with that hat on.
I sighed and looked into Wednesday's eyes. "Many people associate Christmas with religion or capitalism... and they're right; it's a holiday created by corporations, originating from the birth of Jesus. But people don't think about that on this day; they just see it as a good day to forget their troubles, smile, and have a good time with family... just look at it the way I do. Today is a pleasant day to be together."
"..."
"Wednesday, I won't force you to participate, but I'd like you to be present. It's our first Christmas together... and I want you to be with me."
"Tsk, I hate your emotional blackmail..." Wednesday adjusted the Christmas hat and began hanging the baubles herself. I felt like laughing, but if I did, this girl would disappear until next year for sure.
...
Half an hour later, Artoria arrived from the store; she managed to get her hands on two bottles of good wine.
Artoria approached me, dressed casually and with a stoic expression, although I noticed a faint smile on her face. "Can I help?"
"Thanks, you can place the gifts under the tree; they're in my room."
Artoria nodded and left. My aunt Natt approached me, looking incredulous. I kissed her, and then she whispered in my ear, "How did you get Wednesday to decorate a Christmas tree?"
"Charisma and affection..." I replied shamelessly.
Natasha shook her head with a smile and turned around to drop off what Artoria bought, making sure to sway her hips as she walked away.
...
Shortly after, Rebecca and Felicia arrived, accompanied by some guests. Rebecca leaped at me, and I caught her; the girl demanded a reward for behaving well and not causing any trouble on the way.
I looked at Felicia, and she nodded, confirming it was true. It's not that Rebecca can't control herself, but for some reason, while I attract apocalypses, Rebecca seems to attract trouble. She pouted like a hamster when I told her I'd reward her tomorrow.
After that, I could focus on the guests; one of them was Diana, better known as Wonder Woman.
Seeing Diana, I immediately went to hug her. It hadn't been long since I went to DC, but it had been almost a month since I last saw her.
"I missed you," she clung to me for a while until other women accompanying her started getting annoyed.
"I missed you too, Diana," I replied, holding her in my arms for a bit longer.
"Stop hogging him," said a beautiful blue-eyed blonde as she saw we weren't separating. She was Kara, Clark's cousin, and she came up to me after Diana let go for a hug too. I obliged since we hadn't seen each other in a while.
"Hi, Kara, and welcome. This is your home too."
"I'm mad; you owe me a date still~..." she pouted but leaned her head against my chest, closing her eyes and sporting a smile.
I smiled and placed my hands behind her back. "Alright... there are places I promised to show you in my world, Kara."
She nodded with a blushing face but pretended to be angry. "You'd better not regret saying this is also my home."
My relationship with her hadn't reached the point of being a couple, but there was still a romantic tension between us.
I turned my attention to the other women who came with Diana and Kara. They were Raven and Starfire, both carrying two bags.
"Hi, Allen, we brought salad~" Starfire smiled, approaching cheerfully.
Raven was like Wednesday and disliked the idea of Christmas, but she didn't reject my invitation.
"I think this celebration is utterly useless... but I've endured worse," she came close to me but not too close.
"It's nice to see you again, Raven~" I smiled softly at the girl in the dark cloak; she'd faced many things in DC, and reminiscing brought nostalgia. She lowered her hood to hide her blushing face. Starfire beside her nudged her with a teasing smile.
"Allen, I want a hug!" Starfire teased, demanding a hug. This infuriated Raven, who used her powers to encase her in a bubble.
"This is unfair!" Starfire pouted, inflating her cheeks with anger. "It's not my fault you're too shy to admit it—Uhh!" Starfire's mouth was shut by Raven's powers, and I could see how nervous she was.
...
I checked my watch, and it was almost time. 'Where did those girls go...' After Artoria, I thought I wouldn't be surprised if another doll appeared, but no, that wasn't the case. Now, all I could do was sigh and hope they arrived on time.
[Host, I recommend you control yourself; at this rate, you'll be exhausted on your wedding night.]
I coughed, trying not to choke. I'm not a guy who goes looking for women, but I inevitably end up getting involved with them. However, not all of them have a romantic relationship with me... I think.
[Host, stop deceiving yourself.]
I'll deceive myself all I want!!
The doorbell has rung five times in the last hour and with them have come more women than I have met this yea, I had to alter the dining room's space to make it seven times bigger.
As I sat at the head of the table, I looked at everyone present.
"This has been an... intense year; there were many problems... more than I'd like. However, here we are, ready to have a Christmas without complications."
Dinner began and ended with a warm atmosphere. After that, we sat on the couch to watch a Christmas movie. We looked out the window at the snow falling slowly, and I was grateful that nothing bad had happened that day.
*Crash*
My window shattered, and a girl dressed as Santa Claus burst in, scanning everyone and fixing her gaze on me.
"Allen Walker, I need you to save Christmas!! And the world!!"
Damn it!!
"Let me guess, another apocalypse?"
===
A/N: Good day, everyone. I know there are people from all over the world reading this, and I also know that many of you don't celebrate Christmas.
I'm not big on celebrations either, but I don't hate them. I just want to say that I wish you all the best wherever you are and whatever country you're from. Thank you for supporting this story and me.
From your friend Aizen-san, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ;3
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