DCA Promptober Day 30: Birthday
I have chosen violence with all of my promptober responses, this one is no different. That being said, hope you enjoy!
Word count: 1531
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"Robots can't have birthdays, silly!"
You set down the box you're carrying, glancing up to Sun, "You don't think?"
"Of course not," He scolds, pulling out another strand of streamers to hang up, "We're not born, we're made!"
You pull a bag of balloons out of the box, "Yeah, but still, there was a point where you didn't exist, and now you do. I'd still consider that a birthday."
Sun seems to ponder your words for a moment, rays spinning idly.
You blow up a few balloons, watching as he puts his fingers under his chin, staring at the ground as he taps his foot in thought. It makes you giggle and lose the air in you'd built up in your balloon.
He comes to a decision finally, nodding once as he looks back to you, "I suppose you're right! Though, I can't seem to recall when that would be, to be honest."
"Well, we could always pick a day," You get more supplies out of the box, there should be a staff bot stopping by with cake and pizza anytime now, "If you want."
You start organizing party supplies, counting out what party favors you have and may need to run and grab more of for prizes and such during games. The bot helping you has gone quiet, and you assume that the conversation is therefore over. That doesn't last, however.
You feel Sun's presence before you see him, he bends down to your level, tone in awe, uncertain, "Really? You mean that?"
You nod.
"Would, would today be alright? After, after the party, of course."
You smile, using both hands to cup his faceplate, "Of course," You kiss him softly, then pull away, "If that's what you'd like. Moon can pick his own day, if he wants."
Sun's rays spin rapidly, and he has to use his hand to stop them. He speaks dazed, "Today is fine, he said."
You chuckle, "Today it is, then."
You finish setting up for the party, and it goes off without a hitch. Sun, very excited at the prospect of celebrating his own 'birthday' only does the basics of cleaning up, leaving up the decorations and the likes to give them an additional use.
You order another cake from Chica's, and after some calculated thinking, manage to come up with a decent gift for him and Moon both.
To Sun's disappointment, Moon gets to go first, as the cycle hits just right for it.
"You know I can't eat cake, right Star?" Moon chuckles as he sits down across from you at the miniature table. You'd stuck a party hat on his head, and while it looked silly with his other hat, it simply had to be done.
You flick on the lighter, lighting the candles, "True, but you still get to make a wish! So let me sing and just sit there looking pretty, alright?"
"Alright," His tone is smooth but with the quiet noise of his fans you know the comment flustered him.
You sing, and once you're finished, Moon blows out the candles by clapping once, the resulting air extinguishing them. You cheer and after smearing a bit of cake across his faceplate, hold out his gift. You found some stars and moons themed wrapping paper lying around, making for the perfect gift, even if you'd just come up with it during the previous party.
He finishes removing the frosting from his features, "You didn't have to get us a gift, you know. This was a 'last-minute' decision as you would say."
"Well, I would also say that it's your birthday, and I got you a gift," You hold up Sun's gift in your other hand, wrapped in red and yellow paper, "And Sun! I figured you would argue otherwise."
Moon snickers, taking his present from you, "You would be correct."
He takes a moment to shake it, but doesn't seem to figure out what it is. He then methodically unwraps it revealing a sketch book.
"You always talk about wanting to draw, but with being the naptime attendant not getting to so..." You trail off.
He hums, then laughs. Then, reaches over and takes your hand, pressing it to his smile, "It's wonderful, thank you."
You cough, face hot, "There's um, a couple little sketches in there of mine, to get you started. And a message. But don't look at it until you're alone! Okay?"
"I won't," He promises.
After that, Sun becomes very impatient, insisting on opening his present before blowing out his candles.
You laugh as he all but snatches your gift to him from you, ripping it open in a rush, "You're supposed to make a wish first!"
"Wishes can wait, this is far more important!" He says, finally disposing of the last of the packaging.
Inside awaits a music box, which he immediately starts winding the key to. Once wound, the box pops open, a small glass couple are revealed to be dancing to Pas de Deux, from the Nutcracker.
Sun's stare is hyper focused on the box and its occupants, hardly moving an inch as the tune plays, and the couple spin round and round. When they finish, there's a click as a small compartment opens, you put your hand over Sun's before he can reach into it and grab the paper inside.
"Ah, ah, that's for later, please," You glance up at him, slightly nervous, "What um, what do you think?"
His words are soft and full of adoration, "Oh Sunshine, I love it. It's so thoughtful! I didn't know you'd remember how much I like the song."
"Of course I would. I introduced you to it, didn't I?" You tease.
Something clicks for him then, "This is your music box. I, I can't have this, it belongs to you."
"Sun, I gave you both something that meant a lot to me, so much so that I want you to keep it as a way to think of me, yeah?"
His hands entwines with yours, nodding once, "Yeah."
"Good. Now, how about that wish, hm?"
He nods again, "Right! The best for last!"
You light the candles for a second time, and sing once more. However, when Sun goes to clap out the candles, one stubborn candle remains lit. He claps again, and again. A final large clap makes it go out, only to lit back up again.
Your snickering becomes audible, and he catches on to what's happened.
Sun gasps, "Starlight! You would pull a prank on me?"
You burst out laughing then as his scolding raises in volume, having to take several minutes to calm down again.
The memory fades out as you sit down at your kitchen table, scootching your chair in after a moment.
There's no one sitting across from you, there's no one else in your home. It's just you, a lighter, and some unlit candles sitting on a cake.
You stare at the cake for a moment, then grab the lighter. One by one you light the candles. You'd considered adding a joke candle this year, but you don't think you have the heart for it. Maybe next year, you always tell yourself.
On a nearby wall is your calendar, today's date circled. It's the one from that following year, you never could bring yourself to take it down and replace it, instead utilizing your phone and a calendar in your office instead. That one was much more subtle with its markings. Just a small note scribbled in the corner of the day's square. It made you feel guilty each year you wrote it down so unceremoniously.
It's relatively dark in your apartment, a singular light on over the sink. It makes the shadows caused by the candles that much larger, and the flames seem to burn that much brighter. You've never been a fan of fire. That only got worse after what happened.
You're stalling, you know it. You'd better start before the wax starts dripping into the frosting and wastes a perfectly good cake. Not that you were very hungry anyway.
You lick your lips, voice unsteady, "Ha-Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday to you..."
Tears start to well up and fall soon thereafter, your throat begins to tighten, but, you continue.
"Happy, b-birth d-day dear-" Their faces flash through your mind once, but it's more than enough. A sob wracks through you and you have to stop singing.
Your hands come up to your face, crying openly but embarrassed, even in the comfort of your own home.
After a minute or so, you take a deep breath, collecting yourself. The candles are still burning. You owe them this.
You pick up after the point you left, to save yourself a little grief, "H-happy birthday t-t-to you..."
You wait another moment, your sniffling being the only noise in the quiet kitchen. Then, you blow them out, and you're left in half-hearted darkness.
You wipe your eyes and sigh, "Happy birthday, boys. I love you."
You stare at the cake like it's somehow going to make them appear. Make the last several years disappear along with your heartache and grief like some bad dream.
It doesn't.
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Man I am NOT treating you all nicely with these last few huh? Bah, you can handle it I'm sure, besides, we've got one more that I think you'll really enjoy. Or at least, I'm going to :)