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Mira smiled to herself as she finished wrapping the small gift. She’d started to get good at it over the last few years. Although she wasn’t sure she could even give this one. It wasn’t something to present in front of the whole group, but the opportunity seemed too perfect.
“Mira?” Kaya’s voice shocked her. She slipped the gift off the table and into her hand before turning to face the borrower. She never expected grabbing a stray cat in her backyard to reveal a community of small people. She stood and walked over to the table Kaya stood on.
It still overwhelmed her that someone so small trusted her. Especially after grabbing a bunch of them at once and forcefully treating cuts caused by a cat. It probably helped that she just let them all go after. She didn’t even bother them except leaving some stuff hidden near the tree in case they needed it. She felt lucky they never left.
“Hey,” she whispered. Slowly she crouched until her eyes were even with Kaya. They looked almost nervous and their bag seemed bigger. She grew worried. Carefully she brought a hand up to try and hold them, but Kaya stepped back. “What’s up?”
“Um… we-we were talking about the secret santa thing today,” they started. She nodded, it was something she’d been looking forward to too. Explaining secret santa had taken some time, but it became a tradition between her and the other borrowers from Kaya’s colony. “We think it’s better i-if you don’t come this year…”
Mira felt her eyes go wide. It took all her control not to tighten the hand holding the gift into a fist. She couldn’t understand why they’d decide so suddenly not to include her. Had she done something to them? Did they have a reason to stop trusting her? Her fingers near Kaya twitched and the borrower flinched in response. It was almost easy to forget that at the end of the day she was basically a monster to them.
“I see,” she said.
Her own voice sounded foreign. The small brown eyes she’d started to dream about stared at her with something akin to fear. She didn’t want Kaya to be afraid of her, she didn’t mean for that. She wanted to know why, to have a reason about what she’d done. After years like this now they were afraid again.
She closed her eyes and took measured breaths to calm herself. She jumped when she felt the small hands tapping her fingers. Peeking open one eye, Kaya was staring at her with worry. They didn’t seem afraid at least. She opened her eyes completely and slowly flattened her hand. They climbed on her palm without hesitation. This seemed completely different from when they were just talking. Mira couldn’t make herself lift her hand, the idea that they were doing this just to appease her had her frozen.
“It’s been cold and we don’t want you to get sick again,” they whispered. She curled her fingers up, the borrower on her palm leaned into her fingers. She smiled a bit.
“What do you mean again?” she asked. Kaya’s eyes were shining, it felt weird to see them so clearly. It took Mira a minute to realize she’d leaned closer, her breath ruffling the loose clothing on their frame.
“Last year you were sick for a while after… We don’t want that to happen again. I brought your gift though.” She could see the blush growing on their face. “I.. had you for the secret santa this year.”
“Kaya, I won’t get sick. It’s fine, you don’t have to worry. We can do secret santa like-”
“No! I thought you weren’t gonna be ok!” Their shout made her jump. Staring at their eyes, she realized that she might not be the only one dreaming about someone. Carefully she pressed her forehead against them. She felt their arms press against her and she smiled. “We can’t bring you inside and it’s so cold. Just… not this year ok?”
“Ok…” Mira felt Kaya’s weight increase against her forehead. She could tell that they were relieved she agreed. She wasn’t used to someone else caring about her, she liked the feeling. “Can I give you my gift then? I had you this year.”
Mira pulled away slowly to stare down at an excited Kaya. They were already nodding as they hopped off her palm. She brought her other hand up and flattened her fingers to show the carefully wrapped gift. Kaya was bouncing on their feet by the time she’d stopped moving. They climbed on her palm to grab the gift. Before climbing back off they pulled a big (to them) package out of their bag.
They shuffled off her hand and stared up at her. Slowly Mira pulled back her hand and took the package they left between two fingers. It was bigger than what any of the others had given her in the past. She gave Kaya a look, they just nodded at her. Carefully she used one of her nails to start to pull off the covering. It wasn’t obvious what it was until she dumped the contents out onto her palm.
A small ring landed against her skin. It looked like it would just fit one of her fingers. She held it up, admiring the design on it. She recognized it, but couldn’t place quite where. Mira turned to look at Kaya, the fear she’d seen earlier was back. Moving to rest her hands near them she slipped the ring on her index finger. It fit perfectly.
“I… I asked everyone if I could give you that. It’s our colony’s symbol. We all wear a band like that on our arm. Just in case we get separated others can tell where we’re from. I thought it would be good to give you one. I thought maybe other borrowers would recognize it and trust you. I didn’t have enough for an arm band though. Is… Do you like it?” Kaya murmured. Mira felt her heart racing.
Leaning forward and pressing her nose into Kaya’s chest Mira said, “Thank you. I think this might be the best gift I get this year.”
Kaya squeaked and stepped back. They busied themself pulling open the gift Mira had given. She smiled as their confusion started to filter onto their face. Normally it would be something she found useful for the borrower she’d been given. This time it was more personal, something that only she knew Kaya would want.
They stood up letting the bits of wrapping paper fall away. Her grin grew as they held the fabric close to them. With slow movements they started to unfold it, holding up the small outfit. Mira had spent weeks trying to get it right. Looking at it now, the size was still a little off, but it would fit them well enough. Kaya’s eyes were watering by the time they stared up at her rather than the dress.
“You said,” she started, reaching forward and moving their arms down to see them better, “that you wished you had some clothes like mine. That the fabric of the dress I’d worn a few times felt soft. I cut up parts of the sleeves to make you one like it. It’s not perfect, but-”
She was cut off as the borrower launched forward. They did their best to wrap their arms around her nose. Mira chuckled and brought a hand up behind them holding them tighter. She took the chance to move up slightly, their arms fell from her skin. Once she’d moved enough she pressed her lips against them, a light kiss just to test things. She almost screamed once she felt a small sensation on her own.
When she finally pulled away Kaya was blushing fiercely. Mira smiled cupping her hands around them so they were out of sight.
“Why not try on the dress, there’s time before you have to go back,” she whispered. There was a quiet hum that she took as a yes. She waited patiently, keeping her hands tightly closed until Kaya started to push against her palm.
As she pulled her hands away Mira felt her cheeks warm. Kaya slowly twirled in the dark green dress. It fit them better than she expected. All she could do was smile as they started to twirl faster. They stumbled on their feet and she caught them before they hit the ground. Their laughter just made her laugh with them.
“You know… you could just stay here. Not just tonight, although just tonight is ok too,” Mira said. It felt weird to offer. All this time she never once offered to have them stay unless the weather was dangerous. She was terrified of Kaya growing afraid. They were the only one she knew she couldn’t recover from losing. Small arms wrapped around her finger, she gasped as she felt lips press against her.
“I’d like that,” they said. Mira brought them close and held them in a hug over her heart. It seemed like this year’s secret santa went much better than she could have hoped.