Wrapping paper is an important attribute in the gift-giving process, garnishing the gift itself and enhancing the emotion of appreciation in the recipient. Not only is wrapping paper psychologically proven to boost a person’s mood by mere association, but it also helps enhance the surprise, personification, and thoughtfulness to the item itself.

That being said, how was he so blummin’ awful at it?

Joel cursed loudly in frustration as he tore off the wonky wrapping paper and crumbled it up into a ball. He tossed it against the wall of his car-shaped building, and the wrapping paper ball bounced off of it and into a cluster of other rejects. At this point, he had gone through almost a full roll and he was about ready to give up.

Fingers combed through his hair as he tried to collect himself, nearly on the verge of tears. He hated this; he hated feeling incompetent. Why was this so hard? Why did he keep messing it up? His scalp tingled as he tugged at the strands, the faint pain grounding him to the moment. 

Joel released his hair and reached toward the roll of wrapping paper. He unfurled some off of the roll, cut down the designated line, and tried his hand at the task again. If all went well, this would be the last time he attempted the same simple task. The same blummin’ simple task.

It was easy! 

It should be easy!

It just… wasn't for him, for whatever reason.

Okay, you can do it, Joel–

Place the item in the center of the wrapping paper. 

Fold the left bit over the side of the box. 

Fold the right bit over the side of the box. 

Tape them together.

That part was simple enough. The next was where he typically fumbled the most. There were more complicated folds and something about making triangles and– UGH!

Joel tore the wrapping paper off of the box, crumbled it up into a ball, and hurled it as hard as he could toward the wall.

The wrapping paper ball flopped to the ground before it even reached the other side of the car’s interior.

Joel threw his head back as he cried out in frustration. Stupid, flippin’ idiot!

He ignored the way his back cracked as he snapped forward, hunching his shoulders as his torso and upper limbs ache in wailing protest. Joel shoved his face harshly against his palms as he rested his elbows on his knees. He sucked in sharp breaths, one after another, in an attempt to stay calm. His body shuttered with the effort, his ego deflated and his pride malnourished in the pits of his stomach.

Joel removed his hands from his face sometime later, promptly surprised that they came away wet. He rubbed his closed eyes against his forearm once then observed said area just to find it streaked with a water-like substance. He assumed they were tears, but when had he started crying?

The realization of the tears’ existence seemed to only spur on more, his vision going blurry as rivers formed on his cheeks. A voice, distant but distinctly his, spoke to him within his mind, whispering about how pathetic and rubbish he must look. He was crying over fancy paper, for void’s sake! More specifically, he was crying at his inability to manipulate said fancy paper properly, but that didn’t help his case. If anything, it made it worse, made him worse.

Snap out of it! Joel ordered himself, slapping his own face so hard that he’s sure his cheek grew red at the impact. Soon after, one slap became two, and the slaps turned into banging his skull with his fists, which morphed into blindly biting, scratching, and whatever other pain he could inflict on himself. 

Joel despised being inadequate, but how could he make this up? He couldn’t fight, insult, or playful-teasingly dismiss his way out of this one! There was no action he could do to make him any better, nor to spare his ego. He had no outlet and no way to let out these emotions, not without turning inwards. 

Even his superiority complex couldn’t save him now, though that had always been more of a coping mechanism and survival strategy than anything else. His crippling fear of inferiority creeped in, taking over his senses and reaffirmed by all the discarded wrapping paper scattered around him.

What a meager, pitiful, wretched reason to come undone. Joel hated it, but even he, in all his strength and skill, couldn’t stop straw from breaking the camel’s back. Everyone had a breaking point, and he certainly was no exception.

“Joel, calm down, deep breaths,” a voice– Gem’s he recognized– broke through his spiraling thoughts. “I’m here for you. It’s okay. Stop– Joel, stop doing– Joel, it’s okay, just focus on me. You’re safe. It’s okay.”

Empty promises, they must be. Besides, he was Joel! He didn’t need anyone! He didn’t need their validation, their praise, their–

But I do though, Joel couldn’t help but admit to himself something he knew in every fiber of his being to be true… I crave their validation and praise.

Gem pulled him into a hug, her hold warm and familiar. She wasn’t huge on physical affection, and neither was he, but it was always a treat whenever she gave it. Gem was strong and safe, despite her small frame, inciting a sense of security Joel was conflicted on enjoying. She was warm and her scent was familiar… she felt like home, in a weird way, in the way only true family could.

Joel returned the hug, his face buried beside the strap of her overalls as he wrapped his arms around her torso. I can wrap my arms, but I still can’t wrap a simple box properly–

“I’m not sure what brought this on, nor do I know what the issue is, other than… yeah,” Gem murmured in his ear as she rubbed a hand against his back, “but you better remember that, while you’re an idiot, you’re my idiot and I love you. We’re Family, Joel, not by blood, but by choice, and it isn’t like me to choose to stand beside those I don’t think are worth it. You’re competent and skilled at many things, making you a valuable asset, but you’re also just a fantastic teammate, a great friend, my family. My loyalty doesn’t come cheap, but for you, I can’t imagine–”

“Sap,” Joel accused half-heartedly, a weary smile growing on his lips as he sat up to look at her properly.

Gem rolled her eyes, though Joel knew her well enough to know it was fond. “Yeah, yeah, don’t let my words give you an even bigger head. When your ego is too inflated, you get reckless, and I would prefer to keep you around ‘til the last session.”

“More like the other way around,” Joel corrected lightheartedly, drying his face with his sleeve. “I’m going to win this season, I know it.”

“I’m personally hoping we get to have our own cactus circle,” Gem hummed knowingly, referencing a previous version of these games that she hadn’t attended personally, “our own fighting ring. Something like our Fight Club back on Hermitcraft, but for triumph in a death game instead of Player heads. You and me, together, united until the end. It’ll feel like victory even if I don’t personally walk out as the winner this time around.”

“I suppose I won’t hate you forever if you steal my victory, either.” Joel flicked a bit of her ginger hair that escaped her new-ish headband, prompting her to roll her eyes affectionately again and tuck the strands behind her ear. “Family sticks together, after all.”

"You don't turn your back on family,” Gem quoted in response, “even when they do.”

Joel’s face lit up. “Is that a Fast and Furious quote?”

“Maybe,” Gem teased, “but don’t get too excited. I still haven’t watched it, I just looked up quotes on my communicator during break.”

“I’ll make a film fan out of you yet.” Joel tapped his fingertips against one another as if this were his dastardly scheme. “You’ll never see it coming.”

“Uh-huh, keep dreaming.” Gem shoved him away with one hand, resulting in his body turning more than actually creating distance. She used none of her true strength, though, for, if she had, he would not have stayed seated like he was. “Now do you need help with the gift wrap?”

“You’ll help me?” Joel furrowed his brow, shame and embarrassment pricking at his skin as he became far too aware of the discarded balls of wrapping paper, but, to his credit, he did try to ignore them.

"We're family.” Gem shrugged a shoulder, glancing to the side at nothing in particular. “We got a problem, we deal with it together."

“That’s another one!” Joel exclaimed excitedly, a sputtering laugh following close behind.

“Yeah, yeah,” Gem dismissed with a wave of her hand, “Gem is great, I know.”

“We are great,” Joel corrected cheerfully, his spirits lifted compared to previously.

“True,” Gem conceded, mirroring his grin. “We are great. Our Family is great. We more than got this, but first: wrapping presents!”

If you enjoyed the oneshot, please like slash reblog here and/or kudos slash comment on AO3, thanks <333