Rain still covered the city when they left the warehouse.
Cold water streaked down the car windows in uneven lines while the streets outside blurred past in gray and gold reflections.
Inside the car, silence settled heavily.
Not uncomfortable.
Just full.
Dante drove.
One hand steady against the wheel while the other rested near the gearshift.
Izana sat beside him.
Quiet.
Looking out the window.
The weapons deal was finished.
Successful.
Clean.
But the conversation inside the warehouse still lingered in the air between them.
They know about your son.
Dante glanced toward Izana briefly.
"…You're thinking again."
Izana didn't look away from the window.
"…Yes."
The answer came easily.
Too easily.
Dante noticed that too.
For a moment neither of them spoke again.
The city moved around them instead.
Crowded sidewalks.
Storefront lights.
People rushing through the rain carrying shopping bags and wrapped boxes beneath umbrellas.
Then—
Christmas lights.
Rows of them hanging across the street ahead.
Soft gold and red glowing against the dark weather.
Dante slowed slightly as traffic built near the intersection.
Children stood near one of the decorated shop windows pointing excitedly toward a display inside.
Izana's eyes shifted toward it briefly.
Then toward another store farther ahead.
More decorations.
More lights.
A pause.
Then—
"…Christmas."
Dante glanced at him.
"…What."
Izana's gaze stayed outside.
"…It's in a few weeks."
Dante blinked once.
Not expecting that conversation.
"…Yes."
Silence again.
Then suddenly—
"…Stop the car."
Dante looked at him immediately.
"…Again?"
Izana finally glanced toward him.
"…Yes."
Dante exhaled quietly through his nose.
But pulled the car over anyway.
The street was familiar now.
Small.
Warm lights lining the sidewalks.
And halfway down it—
the toy shop.
The same one from before.
Izana looked at it for a moment through the rain-speckled window.
Then opened the car door.
Dante stepped out immediately after him.
Rain hit against their coats instantly.
Cold.
Sharp.
Neither reacted.
The bell above the toy shop door chimed softly when Izana stepped inside.
Warmth replaced the cold immediately.
Soft music played quietly somewhere deeper in the store.
Shelves lined with toys stretched around them.
Wood.
Stuffed animals.
Small painted trains.
Everything calm in a way the outside world never was.
The shop owner looked up from behind the till.
And immediately recognized him.
His eyes widened slightly.
Then softened.
"…You came back."
Izana stepped farther inside.
"…Yes."
The older man smiled faintly.
"…So the baby arrived safely."
A small pause.
Then—
"…Boy or girl?"
Izana answered without hesitation.
"…A boy."
The shopkeeper's smile widened warmly.
"…A son."
Izana gave a slight nod.
The man leaned lightly against the counter.
"…And now you're back already."
His eyes flicked briefly toward the street outside.
Toward Dante waiting near the door.
Then back to Izana.
"…Christmas present?"
Another pause.
Then Izana answered quietly—
"…Yes."
Something in the shopkeeper's expression softened further at that.
Not because of the answer.
Because of how Izana said it.
The shopkeeper stepped out from behind the till.
"…Well then."
He gestured lightly deeper into the store.
"…You should choose properly."
Izana followed him.
Dante stayed near the entrance.
Watching silently.
The shopkeeper walked slowly through the aisles.
Pointing things out as they passed.
"…Most people start with wooden toys."
He picked up a small carved train.
"…Or these."
Izana looked at it briefly.
Then shook his head once.
"…No."
The man nodded thoughtfully.
Placed it back.
Then showed another shelf.
"…These are popular too."
Blocks.
Small plush rabbits.
Handmade dolls.
Izana looked through them carefully.
Actually carefully.
Not the quick dismissive glance Dante expected from him.
He was genuinely considering them.
Dante watched from across the store quietly.
Still not entirely used to this version of Izana.
The one who negotiated illegal weapons deals an hour ago—
now standing silently in a toy shop trying to choose the right gift.
The shopkeeper noticed Izana lingering slightly near a shelf of stuffed animals.
And smiled knowingly.
"…Ah."
He walked toward another section.
"…Then perhaps over here."
Stuffed animals lined the shelves from top to bottom.
Bears.
Foxes.
Wolves.
Dogs.
Soft fabrics in muted colors.
Izana stepped closer slowly.
His gaze moving over them carefully.
Then he spoke quietly—
"…He likes soft things."
The shopkeeper glanced back at him.
"…Already?"
Izana's expression softened slightly without him noticing.
"…Yes."
A pause.
Then quieter—
"…He sleeps holding one."
The shopkeeper smiled warmly.
"…Then you're definitely in the right place."
Izana moved slowly down the shelf.
Actually taking his time.
Picking some up briefly before setting them back down again.
Too small.
Too rough.
Too bright.
Nothing felt right.
Then—
he stopped.
Completely still.
Dante noticed immediately.
So did the shopkeeper.
Izana reached toward one plush resting near the middle shelf.
A lion.
Soft blonde fur.
Deep red stitched eyes.
Small enough for Zarek to hold eventually.
The moment Izana picked it up—
the room seemed to quiet around him.
Blonde.
Red eyes.
Leah.
Himself.
Zarek.
All at once.
The shopkeeper looked at the lion.
Then at Izana.
A small smile appearing slowly.
"…That one?"
Izana stared at it for another second.
Then—
"…Yes."
His voice was quieter now.
Almost thoughtful.
The shopkeeper nodded slowly.
"…Good choice."
Izana's thumb brushed lightly against the lion's soft fur.
Testing it.
Carefully.
Like he was imagining Zarek holding it already.
Dante walked closer finally.
Stopping beside him.
His eyes shifted toward the lion plush.
Then toward Izana.
A small pause.
"…Looks familiar."
Izana glanced at him once.
Dante smirked slightly.
"…Blonde hair. Red eyes."
For the first time since the warehouse—
Izana smiled slightly.
Small.
Real.
"…Yes."
The shopkeeper watched the interaction quietly.
Then folded his arms lightly.
"…First Christmas?"
Izana looked down at the lion again.
A pause.
Then—
"…Yes."
The answer landed softly in the room.
The shopkeeper nodded once.
Understanding more than Izana probably intended to reveal.
"…Then this one matters."
Izana didn't deny it.
The older man carefully wrapped the lion afterward.
Protective paper.
Dark ribbon.
Simple.
Izana watched the entire process.
Silent.
Patient.
When the shopkeeper handed it over, Izana took it himself immediately instead of letting Dante.
Careful with it.
Like it already belonged to Zarek.
The shopkeeper smiled faintly.
"…Your son's lucky."
Izana looked down at the wrapped lion briefly.
Then answered quietly—
"…No."
The shopkeeper blinked once.
Izana's expression softened slightly again.
"…I am."
Silence followed that.
Not awkward.
Just warm.
Then Izana turned toward the door.
Dante opened it for him.
Cold rain swept inside again immediately.
The warmth of the shop fading behind them.
But this time—
something followed Izana back out into the cold.
Something quieter.
Softer.
He stepped into the car with the lion carefully resting in his hands.
And during the entire drive home—
he never once let it go.