Work Text:
Purpled is no stranger to the concept of birthdays.
Every summer with its blistering heat and mosquitoes marked another year since he’d been born, and was celebrated accordingly.
He received gifts, cards, and well wishes of “happy birthday” as a young child under the care of his former legal guardians. No parties, but he was never one for parties anyways.
Then came a time when those under-appreciated formalities disappeared from July’s days. With no one around who bothered to learn the date, birthdays lost a bit of the charm. What was a change in number supposed to do for him where he was?
When he clawed out of that godforsaken place, a piece of summer returned. Cake and a gift from Walli’s family found their way to Purpled no matter the circumstance while he stayed with them.
Something about it broke him the first time.
The following years with them were some of his fondest memories, but a growing restlessness had him packing his bags and bidding farewell before high school’s end.
It’s not that he isn’t treated well, and it’s not that he isn’t family because Walli will always be family. It’s a ticking timer in his mind- an unbalanced scale that’s finally tilted too far.
One day he’s gone from home, and supporting himself with the job of being an underground doctor’s assistant. When he left, he thought July would again lose any special meaning, but Ponk proves him wrong.
He doesn’t remember when he told his friend, but when he turns a year older there’s a gift on his desk and a happy birthday sign from the dollar store hanging from the ceiling.
He’s not sure what to feel, but during his lunch break he remembers going to a nearby bakery and returning with a cake. When she saw the box, Ponk cleared a space in the fridge- the promise of a celebration later painted with the grin shared by the two.
Later- a time far after that celebration, Ponk was no longer part of his summer.
This time, he’s simply accepted that July will pass without fanfare. No gifts or cake or “happy birthday” will come this year. Not because he’s surrounded by careless people, but he himself has become careless of the day.
He’s told no one, so he expects nothing.
Yet he arrives home to a slime covered package and a note in handwriting he knows didn’t come from Slime cuz the guy writes worse than a toddler.
To Slime’s friend:
Happy birthday! Slime asked me for help picking a birthday gift, not sure what you’re into since he refused to spill anything about you, but I hope you like the gift. If not, I left the gift receipt in there so you can return them.
The package contained a nice pair of purple headphones- luckily undamaged by the slime coating the box.
It brings a smile to his lips even if he already has this exact pair sitting on his desk. Technically they shouldn’t work now anyways considering the paint water he split on it last month.
His quirk works around such technicalities though. They function good as new currently… but who’s to say it won’t happen again.
The new headphones are carefully stored in his closet, for when he’s sure he’ll need them by the time Slime visits next.
He tosses the note and box. He’s got a pretty good idea of who helped Slime pick the gift, so he needn’t bother keeping them to look into.
He sets to making dinner for himself after he cleans, but a familiar tapping on his window interrupts as he’s prepping ingredients.
Purpled moves to open the window, unfazed by the unexpected visit from the local vigilantes. The group has practically claimed his apartment as their second home, so it wasn’t a new occurrence for them to show up announced like this.
As the tiredgang climbs in one by one, excitement sparkles in their eyes. It’s got Purpled on edge- he may trust them with his life, but they’re all prone to mischief and the last prank had him cleaning his carpet of glitter the hard way because the crew decided to crash overnight and he couldn’t simply use his quirk for it.
80 comes in last, carefully balancing a box in his arms. The second he’s through the window, the others pull out party poppers and with a shower of confetti- they start singing the happy birthday song.
He’s baffled by it all.
Sammy’s off key- 80’s not even singing; he’s just holding the cake as the others sing at all different tempos. Astelic and Hannah have pulled out party hats from who knows where, and Boomer and Krusty are belting out “Happy Birthday” so loud Purpled’s sure the building next door can hear.
It’s terrible- it’s the best goddamn surprise he’s ever had.
He looks at Walli when it’s all over. He didn’t think his friend still remembered after their time apart, but he’s the only one who could’ve told the others exactly what today was.
Walli grins and throws a “Happy Birthday dude.” his way before the chaos breaks.
“Should we have the cake first or-“
“Think of-“
“Okay but that could be bad for it! What if-“
“The little guy shouldn’t be waiting-“
“Guys let me remind you this is an ice cream cake, it’s gonna melt if you don’t hurry up and decide.”
80’s comment cuts through the other’s arguing and they somehow manage to come to a consensus.
Before Purpled can offer to clear the fridge, he’s dragged outside by his friends.
Fortunately he’s not out of shape, so he manages to keep up as they race to climb up the fire escape to the roof of his building.
David made it up first, followed by Hannah and Purpled. They were the two to first witness Purpled’s reaction to their gift: a fluffy, grey-white puppy yawning in a cyan colored pet carrier.
It was perfect.
Purpled approached slowly- almost hesitating in case he startled the little thing. It shook the sleep from its eyes as he sat down nearby, and when he unlatched the door it jumped into his lap.
The scene the remainder of the group was greeted with when they reached the roof was a smiling Purpled petting his new puppy in his lap.
“What are you gonna name it?”
“Dogchamp.”
When they returned to the apartment with the puppy, the cake was already half melted.
Still, the group insisted on sticking candles in the deformed dessert, which were hastily blown out by Purpled before one could fall and send his apartment up in flames.
Another attempt to sing happy birthday before cutting the cake; this time with Dogchamp attempting to bark along to the chaotic chorus.
Afterwards, cake was served and eaten as a sticky mess. Crumbs and melted ice cream covered his carpet, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.
Purpled was no stranger to birthdays- he just had the best one.