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With all the enthusiasm of an innocent man headed to the gas chamber, Gion headed over to grab the present. He clearly suspected that whatever was in the long tube was grotesque. “You really, really didn’t have to get me anything, Thar. Really.”
He grudgingly ripped off the black, Darth Vader wrapping paper and pulled out a rolled-up blueprint. Gion blinked.
So did everyone else.
Nia and Ty exchanged a baffled glance.
“What is it?” Gion asked warily.
“It’s plans to a bomb shelter!” Tharsis seemed thrilled with his gift. “It’s actually right below us.” He pointed towards the ground. “It’s left over from the Cuban Missile Crisis era. I found out about it when I was researching your party. We can go look at it later.”
“Why would I want to look at a bomb shelter?”
“‘Cause it’s cool? It’s a bomb shelter, Guy.”
“Right.” Gion still didn’t seem overjoyed, but he managed a nod. “A bomb shelter. Fine. That gift could be worse. Somehow. I guess.”
He set the blueprints aside and picked up the next present, which was haphazardly covered in duct tape and paper silhouettes from a firing range. There were bullet holes straight through the box.
“This one is from the Fire House. …And it’s moving.” Gion sighed and looked towards Sullivan. “It’s a snake, isn’t it?”
“Knowing my in-laws? Two snakes.”
“Why don’t we open that one later.” Ty nudged the Fire Houses slithering present aside and handed Gion a more respectable-looking package. “Here. This one is from Cross and Nia.”
Gion arched a brow at Cross. “You got me a gift?”
“No, Nia got you a gift and signed my name to the card. You’re welcome.”
Gion tore open the tasteful silver wrappings. Inside the slim box was a sword. His eyebrows shot up.
“It’s 3D printed in ultra-strong resin.” Nia volunteered. “It doesn’t need to be sharpened and should be very deadly against Elementals, because of the plastic. Oh, and it’s designed to look like the one from The Lord of the Rings.”
Job made a sound of approval.
Kahn grunted, grudgingly impressed. He’d read The Lord of the Rings. “A blade is always a worthy gift.”
Mannus, Daven, and Julius nodded. Rye would’ve nodded too, but he wasn’t there. He was still locked in a bedroom someplace with Tallulah Jayne.
Gion gave the sword an experimental twirl, still looking for booby-traps and not finding any. “Good.” Relief flickered over his harsh features. “This is actually normal. Thank you, Nia. You’re currently my favorite relative.”
She winked at him.
“What about me?” Cross complained. “Aren’t you going to thank me?”
“You had nothing to do with my new sword. Nia got it for me.”
“My name’s on the card, isn’t it?”
“Gion, open mine next!” Daven called, cutting off the argument. “It’s a lamp. It’s green.”
“The green lamp is from both of us.” Mannus decided.
“No, it’s not!”
Ty nudged the box towards him and Gion opened it, probably just to shut the brothers up. “A green lamp.” He intoned, peeling off the crumpled newsprint it was wrapped in. “What a surprise.”
Mannus and Daven beamed.
