Imite woke up slowly. He opened his bleary eyes, squinting at the light outside the window. He drew himself into a slight ball, holding the blanket tightly and staring at the empty pillow beside him. He frowned, the ever-present loneliness that had been with him since the last fateful day of school making its presence known.

He had felt better after seeing his mom, but that was days ago. He hadn't even seen Vesper since, and wondered in the back of his mind if he ever would again.

Imite's antennae rose as he thought of something. Days ago? That made today...

He got up, pushing the blanket back and stretching. He opened the door and made his way down the hall, smiling slightly when he reached the living room. The tree was alight, and scattered boxes and present wrapping were scattered beneath its boughs. He idly wondered where the children went. They were usually still in the living room at this time, playing with their new toys.

Imite leaned down, picking up the wrapping and boxes. He knew better than to think there was anything there for him. A charity always managed to donate presents to the orphanage, but only for the younger children. Christmas didn't mean much to him nowadays, anyway.

"There's still one present left." Imite jumped slightly as someone suddenly spoke from rather closely behind him. It practically felt like it was said directly into his antennae.

The moth turned around. There was Vesper, holding a small box bound with wrapping.

The first thing Imite noticed about him was his new clothing; He was dressed in a sharp, clean collared shirt, and black slacks instead of jeans. His hair was combed back neatly and held into a tight ponytail, though a few stray bangs still arched over his face.

Imite found himself blushing and speechless. Vesper looked... nice.

But he also looked sad. His sapphire eyes were dulled with guilt, and his antennae were drooping. He just held out the box for Imite, who took it slowly.

"Think of it as a peace offering," Vesper said softly, glancing away and turning around, "And an apology."

Imite stared down at the box, and Vesper started to walk away. The moth looked up, lowering his antennae. "Vesper... w-wait."

Vesper stopped, looking back over his shoulder. Imite took a step after him. "Don't... you want to see me open it?"

Vesper blinked, shrugging slightly and staring at the floor. "If you want me around, I will stay."

"Of course I do..." Imite murmured to himself, looking back down at the package, then back at the mantis. "P... please... come sit with me?"

Vesper laid his antennae back and turned to face Imite. The moth dared a small, nervous smile, before sitting himself down on the couch gingerly. Vesper sat down as well, on the far end, looking at Imite with an unreadable expression.

Imite slowly took the ribbon and wrapping off, neatly, not leaving a single tear in it. There was a card, just a simple piece of paper folded in half. He opened it curiously, reading what Vesper had wrote in his best handwriting.

My mariposa,
I am sorry. I was wrong.
This is what you are to me.
(...besides everything...)

Imite squinted to read the last part. It had been written very lightly, almost hesitantly, like a shy whisper. Swallowing, he moved the card away from the plastic container.

It was a necklace box. Through the window of the clear cover, a pendant could be seen, nestled on downy protective liner.

It was a butterfly. Stylized and crafted from silver, the wings inset with an opaque stone that was a calico of iridescent purples, blues and greens. It had tiny amethysts for eyes. Imite felt his throat constricting.

"Like it?" Vesper asked softly. Imite looked up at him with teary eyes and nodded slightly. The mantis smiled slightly, and inched closer. He opened the box, which Imite was still holding shakily, taking the pendent by the ends of the chain.

"May I put it on you?" Vesper murmured in an even quieter tone, and this time, it really was whispered into Imite's antennae. The moth nodded absently, staring up at him.

The mantis reached his hands behind Imite's neck slowly, displacing his hair gently. He brought the ends together and attached the clasp, letting the pendant hang down over the collar of Imite's pajamas.

Vesper didn't move his hands away, though. He stared back down at Imite, his eyes closing partly. They were both breathing the same air, as their eyes locked together. Vesper moistened his lips in anticipation, leaning forward...

Suddenly, a giggle erupted from the other side of the room. Imite and Vesper both twisted their heads towards the sound. A few of the children were watching them from the hallway, and one of them was unable to contain their laughter.

"I thought I told you guys to give us some time alone!" Vesper snapped, his breathing unsteady. More giggles from the hall. Imite shook his head slightly, brought out of his trance. He stared up at Vesper, who was still glaring at the kids.

Is he blushing?

Imite felt himself smiling and let out a quiet laugh of his own.

Vesper looked back down at him. "What? -Oh." Turning even redder, Vesper quickly took his hands off of Imite and slid them in his pockets, scooting back over to his end of the couch, suddenly unable to look Imite in the eye.

Imite looked down at his new pendant, caressing it with his fingers. He closed his hand around it and pressed it to his heart, looking over at Vesper. Silently, he slid over to the mantis's side and embraced him around the waist, leaning his head into Vesper's shoulder and shutting his eyes.

"I missed you," Imite mumbled into the shoulder. He felt him tense up beneath his arms, but Vesper gradually relaxed, setting his arms around Imite's waist in return.

"Not as much as I missed you," Vesper breathed against his antennae. His head tilted downward, setting his cheek against Imite's hair. "Merry Christmas, mariposa." He closed his eyes.

Imite smiled and followed his example, settling against the mantis.

"Merry Christmas."

There were a few more giggles, but this time, they went unnoticed.