Tale – A Little Package

The package landed in front of Teekay, abruptly waking him from his nap. Whoever delivered it shouted a quick apology before disappearing upstairs, leaving Teekay capable of only muttering a few curse words. He wanted to go back to sleep, after all, Teekay hadn’t slept properly in weeks, but the curiosity of the package was simply too much.

Unfortunately, it had been too much for someone else as well. Deekay, who was probably the person who delivered it, had opened the package to check its contents. He had to, the amount of times some retard had tried to mail a bomb or poison or something retarded like that, to either the K-Class or the Vice General, was, well, retarded. Too cowardly to do it in person, clearly. He could tell it was Deekay, because Deekay had attached a little note on the package, apologising for opening it, and that he didn’t know it was a personal thing.

That was what confused Teekay the most. Outside of the K-Class, Teekay had no friends. He had a handful of friends of friends, people who were friends with other K-Class and Teekay would get dragged out with them, but actual real friends? Nothing. It wasn’t so much that Teekay didn’t have time for friends, although that was often the case, especially with recent events and all the travelling they’d been doing. It was more that Teekay just… liked being on his own. He spent so much time with other people that he needed to be alone at the end of the day. A little peace and quiet was all Teekay ever wanted.

Well, there was something else he did want, but Teekay never had the courage to go and buy something like that. Or order one. Or get a friend to do so. Anything and everything Teekay had ever bought had been scrutinized, sometimes openly. Unfortunately, Teekay spending vast amounts of money on oversized soft toys meant for baby Rethans would reflect badly on his peers. Plus he didn’t really have room for them in his tiny little flat that he never really got to visit.

Someone peered round the corner. It was Veekay, telling Teekay that his guard shift was starting soon. Teekay nodded a reply, then went back to his package.

Apart from the white paper packaging on the outside, it was rather neatly wrapped. Multiple layers of orange and silver paper, covered in various stripes and patterns. Whoever did this had clearly just printed out sheets of normal paper, rather than buying actual patterned stuff. As Teekay got to the second last layer, he spotted a note and put it to one side. He wanted to know what the wrapped up item was.

Finally, he found it. It was a small stuffed alogon toy, with a horn on its head and a fluffy mane and tail. But the most interesting thing was a chain tied around its stomach. From the chain hung a small, thick, x-shaped silver pendant, with an orange stone in the middle. It was absolutely beautiful.

Confused, Teekay reached for the note, wondering who it was from. He scanned the note, looking for clues, then gave up and just read the text.

“This is one of the many gifts I should have given you fourteen years ago.”

Teekay blinked, suddenly realising exactly who the gift was from. He gently untied the chain from the stuffed animal, then tied it around his neck.

“I knew you wouldn’t forget…” Teekay grinned as the pendant hung elegantly from his neck. “Thank you…”