Christmas Eve starts the same as every other day, with Clay sticking his hand out and asking for Tommy's mana.

"C'mon, man, it's Christmas."

"...Okay?"

"You are like the villain in a Hallmark movie, you know that. You are like the fucking, uhhhhhh, the grinch, except worse. You're even green. And I am like the hero who knows the true meaning of Christmas. Like Santa Claus."

Clay rolls his eyes. "Just give me your mana."

"Please, can I keep it? For Christmas? It can be my Christmas present."

"It's not Christmas yet. Plus, I already got you your Christmas present."

"Wait, you did?"

"I mean, obviously, you're my friend."

"Oh."

"Are you going to give me your mana or do I have to hit you for it."

"...I guess if you're getting me a Christmas present I should get you one, huh."

"Sure, Tommy."

And Tommy puts his hand in Clay's and gives Clay all his mana.

It... doesn't hurt. Not on his body and not inside, either, like he's a fish being dragged along on a hook all up in his guts and he's trying to swim but just flopping around on a boat, the way it does when he says no and Clay takes it anyway. It sort of reminds him of when he used to do this with Wilbur.

He knows as soon as he does it that he's not going to be able to go back to fighting Clay every morning.

Maybe that's for the best.

"There you go. Thank you!"

"...Yeah."

"--Actually, give me that knife, too."

"...No, I don't have a knife."

"I just saw it. Don't lie."

"Please, man, it's the only knife I have, I made it myself."

"Just give it to me."

"It's Christmas! What would Jesus do, He would want me to keep it. I worked so hard on it."

"Come on. Tommy."

"...You're right." And he hands over the knife.

"Good! Thank you, Tommy, I really--I really appreciate that."