Chapter Text
“Well, we’re here. Now where the heck are we starting?” Uma asked, looking around as she scanned the area that they had stopped in.
Earlier that day, they had all gotten in Evie’s Jeep and driven to the mall, enduring chaos the whole way from Uma and Audrey’s insanity that seemed to follow them like a shadow. Needless to say, when they had finally arrived and found a suitable place to stop in the parking lot, the other three had all been very thankful to get out of the car and have the benefit of open air.
And now, they were all standing at the front doors of the place, shops surrounding them on both sides. The entire reason that they had come today was so that they could get some shopping done both for Secret Santa and for their own gift-giving that they planned to do apart from the Secret Santa thing.
Unfortunately, none of them really had a good idea of where to start aside from Evie. She was going to the fabric store for her gift, and Mal was the only one privy to why exactly that she was headed there.
Evie placed her hands on her hips, pursing her lips thoughtfully.
“A good place to start would be splitting up and seeing what we can all find,” Evie began as she surveyed the place.
Uma raised an eyebrow.
“Alright, then, Scooby Doo. We gonna search for clues, too?” Uma deadpanned as she offered Uma a onceover.
Mal shook her head, stepping closer to Evie as she offered her defense of her sister.
“Look, Evie has a good plan. Splitting up lets us cover more ground,” Mal advocated for her best friend.
“Thank you, M,” Evie smiled, and the shorter girl returned the expression.
Uma huffed as she raised an eyebrow. She wrinkled her nose at the two of them before finally speaking up.
“So what? You and Evie and then the rest of us people?” Uma could not resist giving them a hard time at least a little bit.
“Well, that’s generally the usual,” Mal conceded, and Evie nodded as she kept close at Mal’s side.
Uma rolled her eyes.
“Just ‘cause it’s the usual doesn’t mean it’s the best,” Uma grumbled, and Evie sighed as she started to speak up and offer a response to the pirate.
However, she was then interrupted by the last person that anyone had expected to hear weigh in on this situation.
“Uma’s right,” Jane spoke up suddenly.
Everyone instantly paused as they stared at her.
Jane looked a little embarrassed at the sudden attention, and Uma looked over at Audrey.
“She actually voiced an opinion. She must be dying,” Uma told her, unable to help her laugh as she looked at the pink princess. Audrey looked at Uma admonishingly.
“Jane has opinions,” she defended.
Uma shook her head.
“Oh, I have no doubt of that. Everybody’s got an opinion. She just don’t usually open her mouth and say it,” Uma clarified, and Audrey rolled her eyes.
Jane stepped a little closer, and she looked at the group of them.
“We could switch up our usual groups and I could go with… oh, I don’t know, Mal maybe,” Jane suggested, gesturing to the faerie.
Mal squinted a little, trying to discern what precisely that was about.
“Okay…? So like you and Mal and then me, Blue, and Princess?” Uma questioned as she pointed between herself and the other two that she would be hypothetically splitting up with.
Jane nodded enthusiastically.
“Yeah!”
Jane then remembered herself as it dawned on her precisely how forward that she was being about all of this. She then shook her head as she glanced around at the other girls.
“I mean… if that’s okay with everyone,” Jane lamely finished off.
No one said anything, but finally, Uma squinted a bit as she eyed the youngest of their group. She shifted just a little more fully to face Jane, and she tilted her head as she watched her.
“You sure you ain’t dying?” Uma asked.
Audrey simply sighed deeply.
“She’s not dying,” Audrey answered with some exasperation as she addressed her.
She then shrugged, crossing her arms over her middle as she stood there with one hip cocked a bit.
“Besides, it wouldn’t kill us to have some variety,” the princess added on.
Uma let out a short bark of laughter.
“Tell that to Mevie,” Uma scoffed.
The two in question paused in the midst of whatever conversation that they currently were going over just between the both of them as they looked over at the pirate.
However, it did not take them long to offer her a response.
The two, standing strong next to one another, shared a conspiratorial glance before Evie raised an eyebrow, propping her arm on Mal’s shoulder as she looked at the pirate.
“What about Umaudrey?” Evie astutely questioned, and Uma raised her eyebrows, tilting her head back as she found herself impressed with the comeback largely because of its unexpectedness.
It was undeniable. Evie was too shrewd for either Uma or Audrey’s own respective goods, and when she actually chose to use that biting wit that laid just beneath the surface, she could rival even Uma and Mal’s comebacks.
Audrey eyed them with half-lidded eyes, not seeming to be too affected by the entire thing as she removed one arm from where it was around her middle to open her hand up.
“Look, at this point, I’ve accepted my fate. Uma and I are stuck together,” Audrey tiredly stated as she moved her hand lazily to gesture between the both of them.
Uma squinted as she bumped her shoulder into Audrey’s hard enough to jostle the princess to the side. Audrey shot her a look, but there was a warmth there that betrayed her fondness for the other girl.
“Oh, please. You thrive on me and my wisecracks,” Uma waved her off.
Audrey, keeping well with the game, replied effortlessly.
“Hardly.”
Uma huffed.
“Then how come you’re always touting that best friends crap?”
Audrey then proceeded to look absolutely flustered as she sputtered and tried desperately to think of some defense for herself.
However, she knew she could not deny it. She really did care about Uma more than she could say. They had formed a bond unlike any other that either of them had ever experienced, and it was a relationship that they both treasured.
Uma unfortunately knew Audrey’s inability to offer a good response to that. She put an arm around Audrey’s shoulders as she smirked ridiculously widely with that typical aggravating persistence. Audrey moved with the grab, and her hand sneakily made it onto Uma’s back in a gentle reciprocation.
“Yep. You love me.”
Audrey looked at her, and despite how hard that the princess was trying to look stern, everyone who knew her could see that she was really extremely pleased with Uma’s rare show of affection.
“Unfortunately, I do.”
Audrey did her absolute best to make it sound like only the deepest and most cumbersome burden, but Evie and really all of the girls surrounding did not even begin to believe that. Evie just shared an affectionate yet knowing look with Mal.
Mal just smiled back at her, knowing that it made Evie happy to see friendships grow and blossom. Evie lightly rubbed Mal’s back, and Mal leaned into her side as Evie doted on her in that nigh motherly manner that she had.
Uma then huffed.
“Hey, I even let you call me your best friend. Ain’t that nice of me?” Uma questioned winningly as she tightened her grip a little around the princess.
Audrey narrowed her eyes, her dark pools shooting in Uma’s direction.
“If I recall, you’ve told me multiple times that I’m yours, too,” Audrey commented.
Uma raised the hand that was attached to the arm around Audrey, and Mal had a suspicion of where this was likely going, knowing it was probably about to turn into a never-ending spree of Uma and Audrey’s typical battle of the wills.
She knew she was going to have to bring a stop to it if they were ever going to get anything done.
“Now, look—”
“Guys,” Mal interrupted.
They both paused, Uma’s arm still around the princess, and Audrey’s palm resting on Uma’s back.
“Let’s go and split up so we can get as much shopping done as we can,” Mal cued, trying to get their heads into the game as she pushed them into forward motion.
After just a moment of pause, Uma nodded to her, and following her movement, there were varying manners of agreement among the remainder of the group. They knew they needed to get moving. They were planning to come back and decorate one of the Christmas trees at Evie’s place later after Red and Chloe finished school for the day.
Evie looked at Mal regretfully, and Mal mirrored her expression. Evie then shifted to bring both of her arms around Mal warmly. Uma readjusted her headlock on Audrey as she looked over at Jane.
“Now you don’t let her buffalo you or nothing. Got me?” Uma informed her as if she were giving some manner of life advice and encouragement to a young child.
Audrey readjusted her hand on Uma and she looked over at her as she raised an eyebrow.
“What? Like you don’t buffalo her as it is?”
Uma placed a hand on her chest in mock offense.
“You insult my integrity?”
Mal let out a soft breath against Evie.
“I think she’s insulting mine,” Mal whispered to Evie as the girl hugged her. Evie chuckled warmly, and the vibration sounded off against Mal’s forehead.
“It’s okay. She just doesn’t know you like I do,” Evie whispered gently to her sister as she stroked her hair reassuringly.
Mal leaned into her a little more fully, and after a few more serene moments in her hold, Evie then finally let go of her. Evie let her hands run down Mal’s arms to grip Mal’s hands in her own.
Evie tilted her head a little. Her hair moved with the gesture as she regarded Mal with all of the kindness and affection in the world. Mal looked back at her as she waited for whatever Evie would say next.
“Seriously, though, Mal. Be good.”
Mal’s eyes widened with disbelief.
“Why does no one trust me around Jane?!” Mal argued, and Evie let out a breath as she kept her composure despite the twinkle in her eyes that gave away her desire to laugh.
“Look, past experience says that you ain’t always the most trustworthy when it comes to alone time with the resident FG Junior,” Uma commented, and Mal rolled her eyes heavily.
“That was one time.”
Uma regarded her with half-lidded eyes.
“Yeah, well, one time’s all it takes to break the fragile thread of trust,” Uma announced.
Audrey narrowed her eyes, shifting her gaze over to the pirate. She offered her a onceover and raised an eyebrow.
“Have you been watching soap operas or something?”
Uma turned her attention to her in a manner that was nearly offended.
“Heck, I don’t need no soap opera. I can be poetic all on my own,” Uma informed her.
“It’s because she speaks fluent BS,” Mal threw out over her shoulder. The pirate rolled her eyes.
Jane then stepped closer to Mal as she looked at her kindly.
“Ready to go?” Jane asked. Mal nodded as she released Evie’s hands.
“Yeah. Got to get away from all these naysayers,” Mal commented, shooting a playful glare in Evie’s direction in particular.
Evie rolled her eyes fondly before sending them on their way.
“Good luck, you guys. Be good,” Evie said. There was a motherly tone to her voice as she addressed the girl that she had named sister long ago.
“E. I’m always good,” Mal answered her, and Evie raised an eyebrow but nevertheless smiled.
Mal and Jane then went on their way, Jane’s eyes lingering on a sports shop nearby as her mind searched desperately to think of a possible way to at least hint at what she wanted to know from the other girl.
The truth of it all was that Jane had a very specific reason for having explicitly asked to be paired off with Mal.
Jane had drawn Uma’s name in Secret Santa, and she had been wracking her brain for something to get for her as a good present. She wanted to find something that Uma would genuinely appreciate, and she honestly felt that it was important that she got it right not just for Uma’s enjoyment of the gift but also as a testament of proof for Jane’s own knowledge of Uma as a person.
They had gone on multiple trips together and had spent a lot of time with one another, but it felt like Jane did not really even know her that well. She had no real idea of Uma’s likes and her dislikes, and it had left the girl feeling rather discouraged about the entire thing. It also made her feel really guilty.
When she had been faced with the opportunity to split up, however, she had seen the perfect way to find out more about what to possibly get the pirate. Mal knew Uma longer than any of them had, and so she would have the best idea of what to get for her.
Jane just wanted to figure out a good way to approach the subject without breaking the rules of Secret Santa. Unfortunately, however, she was thinking that probably the most effective way to get the answer she needed would be to just be direct, rule-breaking or not.
After all, Evie would probably be the only person that Mal told about Jane’s giftee, anyway, so she was probably safe from too many people knowing about it.
So Jane took in a deep breath before finally bringing it up.
“Mal, I’m really sorry, but I have to break the rules,” Jane shook her head as her confession came out in a manner that was almost more of a random outburst than anything.
Mal narrowed her eyes as she looked over at Jane with a light huff. She seemed to be confused at Jane’s sudden statement, but ultimately, she seemed to decide to simply go along with it.
“Okay…?”
“I wouldn’t normally say anything, but I really need help with figuring out what to get, and I thought you might be one of the best people to ask because you known her for so long,” Jane continued, opening her hands as she motioned to Mal.
Mal furrowed her brow as she seemed to be thinking it through.
It was only after a moment, though, that a look of recognition and intense hope crossed the purple-haired girl’s features, and Jane raised her eyebrows as Mal turned her full attention to her.
“Wait… did you get E? And if so, would you be willing to trade?” Mal questioned. She stepped closer as her light greens twinkled with the spark that they always had when she had an idea.
Jane shook her head as she somewhat guiltily offered her answer to the other girl.
“No, I didn’t get Evie…”
“Oh,” Mal answered, sobering a little as she looked a bit disappointed.
However, she seemed to shake it off fairly easily as she raised an eyebrow.
“I might still be interested in a trade depending on who you have,” Mal added on.
Jane was not sure who Mal had gotten, but it must have been a real doozy and a half.
However, letting that go, Jane sighed softly as she answered the faerie.
“No… I should keep the one I got. I really should be able to get her something, but I just can’t think of anything,” she lamented, clasping her hands in front of her as she looked down at them. She really was disappointed in herself for not being able to figure this out.
Mal tilted her head.
“Who did you get?”
“Uma,” Jane responded without any hesitation.
Mal raised her eyebrows, seeming to understand precisely the depth of what was going on now. Jane nodded to her regretfully.
“I see why you need me.”
Jane nodded, and she frowned as she very unhappily contemplated her unfortunate situation.
“Yeah! And it’s not good because I’ve spent so much time around her and I still can’t think of anything myself!”
“Don’t feel bad. Uma’s tough to buy for,” Mal reassured her as she stopped at a storefront and looked over the front of it.
Jane paused next to her, noticing the fact that it was a store largely specializing in leather clothing. She had a little hope at the sight of that. Maybe Mal had Uma in mind.
“I know… but it’s still embarrassing.”
Mal glanced over at her.
“Look, it’s not embarrassing. What would’ve been embarrassing is if you couldn’t think of an idea for Audrey,” Mal pointed out as she proceeded to lead them into the shop.
Jane nodded just a little, considering what the older girl was saying as she followed along behind.
“Maybe you’re right,” Jane conceded, still worrying over it a little but deciding to let it go at least for now.
“So what were you thinking?” Mal asked as she moved over to look through the racks of clothing. Jane followed after her as she somewhat fearfully took in the sight of the biker that was standing not too far from them looking at a jacket.
Mal seemed completely unbothered by the man, and she instead focused on the clothes. Tentatively, Jane brought herself to do the same thing, but not before shooting him one more look of fear.
“I really don’t know. I was thinking something leather. And we’re here at this store, so that works out well,” Jane nodded as she hopefully waited for how Mal might respond to that.
“Huh. I was thinking you could give her tickets to the aquarium,” Mal answered her, chuckling as she enjoyed her own joke.
Jane shook her head, continuing along. She was too wound up in her own troubles with Uma to really think about Mal’s comment.
“I thought about a goldfish, but I was worried it might be insulting,” Jane admitted, and Mal huffed, smirking as she looked like she was about to say something.
However, she very quickly quieted as she paused for a moment. Jane was not quite certain what that meant, but she watched her with hope for whatever the girl was thinking. Maybe it was an excellent idea for her.
Jane eyed her curiously as she waited for whatever that the faerie would say next. Mal tilted her head a little, her hair shifting with the movement as she turned those greens onto Jane’s own blues.
“I just had the perfect idea for what you could get for Uma.”
Jane was instantly paying close attention as she raised her eyebrows. She turned to face Mal a little more fully, excitement filling her in spite of herself.
“Really?! What?”
“Well,” Mal dragged out the last part of the word as she turned her attention to a jacket before her. Jane watched with bated breath as she waited eagerly for whatever that Mal had so magically thought of.
Mal then glanced back at Jane, a smile growing a little on her face.
“So… One thing that might be helpful for you is that Uma really loves tourney,” Mal declared.
Jane paused abruptly and uncertainly as her eyes widened a bit with surprise.
That had been the last thing that Jane had expected to come out of Mal’s mouth as a gift suggestion.
“Tourney? She’s never mentioned that before,” Jane pointed out, furrowing her brow as she took it into consideration.
Uma and tourney did not even really seem like they should go in the same sentence.
After all, the guy that she was literally married to had once professed how dumb that Tourney was and had no problem pointing it out any time that he heard it mentioned. Jane knew how obsessed that Harry was with Uma and that if she loved something very much, he would never make any comments about it like that.
Unless Harry did not know how she felt about the sport? But that did not really make a lot of sense either.
Mal looked at her with bright eyes.
“Yeah, she loves Tourney! Haven’t you heard her talking about it before?”
“Not really…”
“Jane,” Mal looked at her as if it were supposed to be completely obvious. There was an element of disappointment in her voice, and Jane shifted her weight uncomfortably at the sound of it.
She already felt unhappy about the fact that she obviously did not know Uma all that well. Mal was not particularly helping with that sound of dissatisfaction.
“You’ve had to have heard her talking about her favorite team before.”
Jane shook her head, hating to have to say no but feeling bound to tell the truth all the same.
“Who’s her favorite team?” Jane asked uncertainly.
Mal raised her eyebrows, and it was clear that she was completely invested.
“The Mighty Shrimps!”
Jane went completely stock still.
Shrimps.
Hm.
Jane did not say anything for a few moments as she tried to decide whether or not that Mal was telling her the truth.
Mal looked completely serious, though.
Finally, Jane swallowed.
“The Mighty Shrimps?” Jane tried uncertainly.
Mal nodded effortlessly.
“Yeah! Haven’t you heard Carlos talk about them?” Mal asked expectantly.
“Yeah, I mean… I’ve heard of them,” Jane conceded, trailing off as she remained staring at the faerie before her.
Despite Mal’s insistence, Jane still had a hard time believing it.
It was too coincidental that Uma supposedly liked the Mighty Shrimps team and that Mal happened to call her Shrimpy. It actually seemed a lot like Mal was trying to throw her off with this and turn it into some manner of gag or prank on Uma.
But Mal looked so genuine and so honest. And surely she would not trick Jane into getting Uma a gift that she would not like.
Right?
Plus, if she thought about it, it did sort of make sense that Uma liked the Mighty Shrimps. It was sea-themed, and that fit with Uma’s typical mode of operation.
“So… she likes the Mighty Shrimps… and so the gift I get her could be something related to that?” Jane asked tentatively.
“Definitely. You could get her like a t-shirt or something so that she could get it signed at one of their next games,” Mal suggested as she shrugged and played with the corner of a jacket hanging on the rack nearby them.
Jane nodded slowly, the idea seeming better and better by the moment.
It was then that she remembered the sports store that she had seen when they had all split up.
Jane raised her eyebrows as she looked at Mal excitedly.
“The sports store!!!”
Mal smiled at her in a manner that was nearly proud as she patted Jane’s shoulder.
“There you go,” Mal encouraged, and Jane nodded, already looking toward the exit.
“Oh, my gosh, I hope they have shirts for that team!” Jane fretted, looking between Mal and the exit. Mal seemed in no hurry to leave whatsoever, and Jane really wanted to go to find her present for Uma.
Mal waved her on as she focused in on some stuff on a nearby shelf.
“You go ahead and go look for it. We can all meet up later. I’m going to look in here a little longer,” Mal expressed.
Jane tilted her head.
“Looking for a present for your Secret Santa?”
Mal shook her head dismissively.
“Oh, no. This is Merry Christmas to me,” Mal answered, a giant smirk spreading across her face as she held up a container of leather oil.
She then moved her head noncommittally as she played with the container in her hand.
“Besides, E likes for me to scope out the competition whenever I get a chance,” Mal acknowledged as she looked back at the clothing behind her.
Jane simply nodded in reply, not spending much time focusing on that as she proceeded to bid Mal adieu. She had a gift to get, after all.
“Well, good luck! I’ll see you later!”
Jane then headed toward the exit, pointedly avoiding the biker as she glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes.
Mal watched her go. The moment that she disappeared from view, Mal smirked just a little more wickedly, scratching lightly at the brand-name on the oil.
“Merry Christmas to me, indeed…”