Work Text:
Gift exchanges weren’t common in The Agency. When they couldn’t even afford to get anyone paid days off, or unpaid days off for that matter, how could the higher ups afford to buy anyone anything? And everyone was always so busy, and Zoraxis never took Christmas off, and it was just a whole ordeal.
Usually, the most that anyone would get was a decorated office, hot chocolate, and some well wishes. But Ollie wasn’t usual.
Ollie didn’t really have a good way to get into anyone’s offices. For one thing, most of his agents worked in entirely different buildings, often in entirely different parts of the world. For another, he didn’t work in any office building. He worked in a hidden, personal office in its own building in the middle of nowhere.
The good news was that he had that office because Zoraxis was trying to kill him and he needed extra security. Well, ok, that itself wasn’t good news. That was pretty terrible news, actually. But it meant that he knew the Head of EOD Security. And Ollie got along great with them! So all he had to do was ask them for a small favor.
The Head of Security wouldn’t grant Ollie clearance to enter every office building on Christmas Eve. Unsurprisingly. But they did say the presents could be delivered by security personnel on Christmas Eve. It’d have the same effect. When the EOD employee entered their office on Christmas, or whenever their next shift was, they’d find the gift on their desk. Apparently, there was even precedent for it.
Ollie agreed. He entrusted the Head of Security with the various presents 5 days before Christmas, and hoped they’d all arrive safely.
(Oh, and he gave them their present a bit early. They loved it.)
——
Agent 13 entered her office on Christmas morning feeling a bit anxious. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust The Agency to deliver her gift. It was just that packages sent to or from her had a tendency to get lost no matter who was delivering it. That, or they’d just get delayed for so long you’d think they were lost. And she really wanted it to arrive on time.
She sat down at her desk. It took her a second to realize something unusual was on it. She was surprised, but she shouldn’t have been. Of course Ollie would get her something. That was just the kind of person he was.
The gift bag was a shimmery green. A pattern of gold and silver stars, all varying in sizes, covered the whole thing. It didn’t make much sense. Was it supposed to be a green night sky? Or a very papery looking pine tree with lights on it? Still, it was Christmasy and pretty. That was all it really had to be.
A tag had been tied to the handle with a ribbon. The writing was in a neat cursive script.
“Merry Christmas, Agent 13! Thanks for a great year!
-Ollie”
13 threw aside the tissue paper and took her gift from its wrapping.
It was a snow globe. A very sturdy snow globe. She didn’t know why or how, but she just knew it wouldn’t break easily. Something about it just didn’t feel as flimsy or fragile as most felt.
She’d always really liked snow globes, but she broke them way too easily. They’d always get knocked off her desk, or something would fall on them, one even flat out exploded. Sometimes she’d get one, but they were always cheap ones. No need to waste money.
But this one didn’t seem cheap. In fact, it seemed custom made.
Iridescent glitter fluttered around a train. It was the train their first mission together had been on. The train where, for the first time, 13 met a handler she thought could really understand her. Sure, she’d gotten along with some other handlers before Ollie, but she’d never stayed with one consistently. On that train, she’d met someone she could actually call her handler.
The miniature was so detailed and accurate it was almost uncanny. Almost. But it was just beautiful.
There was one other thing. A soft, warm, red scarf. She’d complained plenty of times about hating the cold. Ollie must’ve remembered that.
13 put on the scarf and spent some time watching her new snow globe. The glitter swirled in such a mesmerizing way. She could only hope Ollie liked his gift as much as she loved hers.
——
Agent Phoenix wasn’t surprised at all when they saw the gift on their desk. Ollie was one of the nicest people they’d ever met. Of course it wouldn’t matter to him how Christmas was ignored in The Agency, or how he might come across as unprofessional, etc. He’d made it clear multiple times that the happiness and health of his friends mattered more to him than any of that.
They knew Ollie would get them something, because they knew Ollie.
They practically jumped into their chair. It slid and swiveled wildly at the sudden weight. It made it a bit hard to balance, but they managed. Maybe they should’ve controlled their excitement a bit more. But then again, it was Christmas! AND THEY EVEN GOT A PRESENT!
They took a moment to admire the wrapping. Whatever it was, it’d been placed into a small box. The wrapping paper was a deep, fiery red, with a golden sheen visible only when the light hit it. A small golden bow was taped to it. There was also a tag that read:
“MERRY CHRISTMAS!
To: Agent Phoenix
From: Ollie”
It was unnecessary. They already knew who it was for and who it was from. Still, it really tied the look together.
The moment of appreciation ended. They tore into the paper without hesitation, and threw the scraps onto the floor behind them. They didn’t even bother taking the bow off first.
They took the lid off the box, picked up what was inside, and held it up to the light.
It was a lighter. Specifically, a novelty lighter, one meant to look like a mini red Kinesi-Yum Bar. Just like the ones that had been in the vending machines when they’d first met. It was incredibly detailed. Even the nutrition information and unreadable safety warnings were there.
Phoenix chortled. To the outside observer, it’d look like the gift had no real thought behind it. Sure, it referenced when they met, but it was just a novelty lighter. People always got novelty trinkets for people they didn’t know well.
But Phoenix liked lighters. They didn’t collect lighters specifically, but that was only because they collected anything and everything novel. Their office was filled with trinkets, and they loved every single one.
With a flick of their thumb, a flame flickered to life. They watched it for a little while. To them, it was the perfect gift. It was better than anything they possibly could’ve asked for. Their gift for Ollie probably wasn’t quite so good, but they were sure he’d like it. Their Christmas was off to a wonderful start.
——
At first, Reginald thought the gifts were a trap. Christmas presents? Who would even think of giving him a present?
Phoenix would. He lowered his guard. But the second gift giver was still a mystery. He hesitantly approached the presents to look closer.
One was a simple golden gift bag. There was a tag, and the handwriting on it was absolutely horrible.
“To: Reginald Crane
From: Your Third Favorite Agent.”
It was from Phoenix, alright. He smiled fondly. He hadn’t exactly gotten a gift for them, but he’d been making extra fancy desserts and some nice hot coco for them all week. That should suffice.
The second one was wrapped in a box. The paper was white, with the occasional illustration of cardinals scattered around. A shiny red ribbon was wrapped around it and tied into a bow at the top. There wasn’t a tag, but there was an envelope tucked beneath the ribbon. Written on the envelope, in very neat cursive, was simply his code name.
“Mason.”
He was still suspicious of it. How could he not be? But he figured that whoever knew him by that code name probably wasn’t an enemy. Besides, The Agency certainly knew how to deal with anthrax poisonings by now.
Reginald took the envelope and opened it. Inside was a Christmas card with a painting of a Christmas tree printed on it. It was simple, but pretty. The paper it was on was good quality, too. It felt very sturdy, and it had a bit of texture to it.
“Dear Mason,
Thank you for letting me work with Phoenix earlier this year! I know how hard it can be to trust another handler with the safety of your agents, and I’m honored that you thought I was skilled enough to help them. I seriously appreciate all the help you’ve given me with getting used to my new job, too. Merry Christmas, and happy New Year’s!
Thanks again, Ollie!”
So that was who left him a gift. Of course. It all made sense. He’d gotten Ollie a gift too, but he wasn’t expecting to get one in return. He probably should’ve been, though. Ollie was unbelievably friendly.
Reginald carefully untied the bow and unwrapped the paper. They were nice. There was no need to destroy something that could be saved, even if only to look at.
The box had styrofoam and bubble wrap inside, so whatever it was, it was delicate. That scared him slightly. Not because he would break it, but because Phoenix might when they’re in his office.
The present was a cup. It had one of those “WORLD’S BEST BOSS” designs that are so common on mugs. Only, it wasn’t a mug. It was a teacup. It’d never even occurred to him that you could put such a design on a teacup. And it was a good quality teacup, too.
Reginald chuckled. It was such a simple and silly gift. It was one of the last things he would’ve expected Ollie to give him, and yet, it wasn’t all that surprising.
It came with some high quality teas, most of which were kinds he’d never tried before. He didn’t know if he’d like them, but he was excited to try them nonetheless. You can hardly call yourself a tea fan if you’ve only tried teas that seem familiar, after all.
He hoped Ollie would like his gift, too.
(If you’re wondering, Phoenix’s gift was just a pack of batteries with the note “present not included.”)
——
Ollie was shocked to see three gifts on his desk on Christmas morning. He’d been told no one really celebrated. He’d been under the impression that he was the only one who’d be giving gifts to anyone. Well, maybe Phoenix and Mason would exchange some. But surely that wasn’t something he’d be involved in.
The first gift was in a box. A very crushed and beat up box. It definitely had wrapping paper, but it was so torn and crinkled it was hard to tell what the design was. He knew it was green, though. The tag was unreadable, but that was ok. He had a feeling he knew who it was from.
His suspicions were confirmed when he saw that the gift inside the box was in perfect condition. Something like that would be a Christmas miracle, if it wasn’t just Agent 13.
It was a candle. It smelled like fresh water lilies and water hyacinths. He loved how those flowers smelled. He’d tried so many times to find candles, perfumes, or anything that could properly capture the scent. He’d found plenty that claimed to be scented that way, and most of them smelled nice, but they all smelled like their non-water counterparts. But this one was perfect.
It smelled floral and sweet, with that subtle stinging kick that was like some sort of sour fruit. It even managed to capture that lingering, indescribable aquatic smell without being fishy or unpleasant. And on top of that, it wasn’t chemically at all! It was spot on! And was that a hint of lotus to mellow everything out?
It was in a glass container, as scented candles tend to be, but it still looked beautiful. Most of the wax had swirls of teal and white to represent water. But whoever made it somehow managed to put tiny wax sculptures of lavender colored flowers, lily pads, and dark green leaves on top. They covered almost every spot that surrounded the wick.
It was so gorgeous that Ollie really didn’t want to light it and ruin it. He could always just pick the candle up to sniff it. He didn’t have to light it, right? 13 wouldn’t be offended, would she?
Agent 13… he’d gotten her a gift too.
He felt warm inside as he realized something. They’d both gotten each other something the other wanted, but couldn’t find. And, assuming the snow globe could withstand her luck, they both succeeded at finding them for each other.
He smiled. He’d definitely be keeping the candle on his desk.
The next gift was in wrapping paper, but it didn’t feel like a box. The paper was baby blue, with iridescent snowflakes, and a silvery sheen overtop it all. There were two bows stuck to it. The larger one was an iridescent white. The smaller one right next to it was blue, a darker shade than the wrapping paper, but still pretty light. The tag had a cartoon snowman printed on it. It said:
“To: Ollie
From: The Phoenix”
The paper was pretty enough that Ollie wanted to save it. The bows ripped off some of the top layer when he removed them, but that was ok. It wasn’t a big deal. He tore it a tiny bit when he was taking off some tape, but again, it was fine.
Then he accidentally tore all of it in half. That, combined with some smaller rips, made it basically un-savable. He sighed. If he used some scissors to cut off the worst of it, he could still keep a small square, at least.
But he wasn’t too worried about the wrapping, because now the present was visible.
It was a cookbook, with recipes and tips all about how to cook fish. His favorite food! Phoenix remembered, they actually remembered! Ollie was impressed. He’d only brought it up to them once or twice.
Then again, maybe they didn’t know, and just guessed. They might’ve guessed it the first time they met. There had to have been some reason they gave him a fish instead of something from the vending machine. Maybe it was just because they knew Zoraxis food isn’t great for you? He didn’t actually know. They never told him, and he never wanted to ask.
But if they did just guess, which wasn’t likely, it was still equally impressive.
Just skimming through it, the recipes looked tasty, and the instructions seemed easy to follow. It was a great gift.
The final gift was in a bag. It was a plain brown paper bag, but it had some extra decorations. A couple ribbons had been glued to the front of it in straight, perpendicular lines. Where they overlapped at the top right corner, there was a poinsettia corsage. There wasn’t a tag on it, but an envelope had been tied to the handle, and there was a tag on that.
“To: Ollie
From: Mason”
Ollie was way more surprised by this gift than the ones from 13 and Phoenix. He was surprised to get any at all, but if anyone was going to give him gifts, it would be those two. But Mason? That’s one of the last people he’d expect to get him something.
He carefully tore open the envelope. Inside was a Christmas card, the type you’d find at a grocery store. The front said “Merry Christmas” and had a cartoon drawing of a wreath. Inside was a handwritten note.
“Ollie,
First of all, I’d like to thank you for covering for me when I was sick this year. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Phoenix give such an outstanding review of a substitute handler before!
You may not have realized it, but you’ve had a swift and obvious impact on the EOD since you’ve arrived. I’ve never seen anything like it. You’re an amazing handler. Keep up the good work!
Merry Christmas, Mason.”
Ollie almost started tearing up. He didn’t think there was any way he was that good, but the compliment meant a lot to him, anyways. Even if it was slightly exaggerated, it was clear Mason meant it to some extent. If he didn’t, why bother getting him a gift? Why bother writing him a letter?
In the bag, carefully wrapped in tissue paper and bubble wrap, Ollie found a tea cup. The outside was a warm pink gradient. It was darkest at the bottom, and faded into an almost white shade near the top. The inside was bright yellow. It was subtlety shaped to look a bit like petals. It came with a matching green saucer that looked like a lily pad.
Ollie wasn’t sure if he’d mentioned liking tea and water lilies to Mason or not. Maybe Mason just asked Phoenix about things he likes? But it was a very nice tea cup. The prettiest one he’d ever seen.
It came with some fancy hot chocolates, too! They were at the bottom of the bag, so Ollie almost missed it. A bit weird to go along with a teacup of all things, but he was excited about it! He loved drinking seasonal drinks when they were in season.
Ollie grinned. The gifts he’d gotten were incredible, but that wasn’t even what he was excited about. Three people had thought and cared enough about him to get him gifts, even though that wasn’t common practice in The Agency! He could barely believe it!
How lucky was he to go from a job where he was expendable, where his boss actively tried to abandon and kill him, to this? The gifts he’d bought everyone weren’t enough to express a fraction of his gratitude. Nothing would EVER be enough to express that.
He looked forward to the new year. No matter how many things went wrong, he knew it would be infinitely better than the last. This year, he wouldn’t be alone.