Let's just cut to the quick

So usually Christmas is just another day for Michael. Nena makes him buy stuff for her (but that isn't really anything out of the ordinary anyway) but apart from that, he's not really big on the whole gift exchanging thing. And he certainly never feels obliged to return the gesture, if someone's stupid enough to send him something.

Doesn't explain why he's standing inside the karma terminal though, waiting for Gale.

Michael doesn't get sentimental (except when his siblings are concerned, but shut up), but Gale pretty much became his new best friend with the present he gave him. He idly tossed the knife he had in his hand. Someone looking out for his life like that? Michael could appreciate that.

Michael was royally pissed. It had just been one thing after another for the past week - "Oh, by the way? We decided not to chip you." - and then to top it all off, this goddamn virus had to happen. He was in a bad mood already when some idiot thought they could pretend to be his brother, so this whole thing with Zechs was the last fucking straw that broke the camel's back.

The journey there had been made in silence - and he still couldn't believe he was stuck using that rat bastard for a worldhop - as he was fuming over the fact that he had to have a chaperone, because he wasn't trustworthy and-- Michael cut that thought off before he destroyed something else.

He was extremely grateful when Nena offered to wait outside Zechs' apartment, happy that, when it came to her, he really didn't need to explain himself.

Scowling to himself - Zechs had better be in his apartment - he picked the locks (fuck, Zechs was one paranoid bastard) and let himself inside.