Work Text:
Silver blinked as he saw Ortho standing at the entrance to Diasomnia’s dorm. “Good morning,” he greeted with a confused expression. “What brings you here, Ortho?”
“Good morning, Silver! I was wondering if you’d come with me back to Ignihyde Dorm--it’s my brother’s birthday and I wanted to surprise him with a party!”
Silver let out a low hum from his throat. “Oh, it’s that time, right…yes, I’ll join you,” he answered with a smile. “Let me tell Sebek and Malleus I’ll be out for a little while. Take a seat anywhere--I’ll be back shortly,” he added as he let Ortho inside, gaining the interest of a few other Diasomnia students in the lounge.
“Oh right, could you wear your dorm uniform?” Ortho asked as Silver began to walk off.
Silver thought that the castle-like atmosphere of Diasomnia couldn’t be more different from the computers and pulsating blue lights that characterized Ignihyde’s dorm as Silver and Ortho continued to decorate alongside a number of other students.
“I already had the other students set up the birthday decorations--they’re not much because we decided this very last minute. Idia always insists on not having a party because he finds them tiring,” Ortho lamented.
“I think birthdays should be celebrated, personally. It’s wonderful being able to see another year,” Silver responded as he set up some plates on the table next to a large ornate cake.
“That’s the attitude I wish Idia would have,” Ortho piped up as he inspected the flames on the pillars in the lounge. “I thought that bringing you would help him have a better outlook on this occasion.”
Of course, Silver knew that Ortho had a second agenda to this that he was well aware of himself.
“Hopefully it works,” Silver hummed as he made sure everything was arranged neatly. His presence hadn’t gone unnoticed--some of the other Ignihyde students who were nearby seemed to stiffen up and whisper to each other. Not that it bothered Silver that much--it must have been odd to see a Diasomnia student wandering into the Ignihyde dorm, after all. He stood out in the crowd of blue with the neon green colors on his own coat, and how everyone seemed to be standing away from him as if he was someone of great importance.
Ortho let out a small giggle as he hovered upward to get everyone’s attention. “Thanks for setting up, everyone! Wait here please--I’ll go get him out!”
Idia’s voice could be heard from the hallway. “Ortho, who would want to actually come to see me unless Mom or Dad showed up by some miracle of being free from work? I was collecting voice clips from my favorite characters from all my daily logins…”
“Classic Idia,” one of the students next to Silver said and another laughed.
Silver could at least tell that it wasn’t malicious intent--they were just simply teasing their house warden. Even he had to smile a little as he thought of what to say. “ Another chance to put Father’s teachings to use .”
Silver waited with bated breath as he saw the brothers enter the lounge. Idia was wearing his dorm uniform as if he was expecting someone important--possibly the parents he just mentioned. It was his first time seeing Idia wear this, actually--he looked more neatly kept in it, even with his hair flowing loosely. Silver wondered how Idia would react to everyone’s well wishes.
Sounds erupted from the various Ignihyde students in the lounge as they wished Idia a happy birthday.
“Guys, guys, calling me out for a party? I appreciate the sentiment, but…ugh, I’ll do this just because it’s you all,” he said with a resigned expression. He scuffled his feet and looked around at everyone, though he froze up upon seeing the sole non-Ignihyde student in the vicinity.
“S-S-Silver?!” Idia asked as a shocked expression came onto his face from seeing such an unexpected visitor. “What are you doing here-” he asked as he blinked in confusion as Silver approached.
“Ortho invited me, so I’m here,” Silver answered with a small smile.
Idia looked between Ortho and Silver a few times, a strained expression replacing the initial shock. “Oh come on, you couldn’t have given me a heads-up before attempting a raid?” he asked Ortho with an exasperated sigh. “I’m not geared up and I haven’t even gotten to check out a tutorial yet!”
Silver tapped Idia on the shoulder and let out a chuckle as the other jumped. “Slow down, Idia, you’re getting flustered again. It betrays how cool you look in your dorm uniform.”
“He really is as princely as he looks,” someone nearby whispered, and Silver definitely heard the comment.
“Let’s go light the candles on the cake!” Ortho announced cheerily as he steered Idia toward the table. As he met eyes with Silver, he gave him a small wink and thumbs-up, to which Silver responded with a hint of a grin.
“Really guys? It’s just another year gone by closer to death,” Idia said in a deadpan tone as Ortho lit the candles. His sentiment was ignored as Ortho led the group around them into singing. Once they were done, the candles were blown out, and the cake was being distributed amongst everyone, he crossed his arms but he still had a small smile on his face. “Just because it’s you all, it’s not that bad. I still need to go finish my login bonuses though and finish recording all the birthday wishes, and also test out that weapon one of my friends got me.”
“Leaving so soon after I came all this way to come help set up the party?” Silver asked with crossed arms and a forced sad tone.
Idia groaned. “S-Silver, you’ve gotta stay in character, this is throwing me off again…” he pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You’re not looking my way, though,” Silver continued as he leaned forward a little.
“F-for a good reason,” Idia countered as he turned around. “Ah fuck,” he hissed in a hushed whisper.
There it was. “And what reason is that?” he inquired in a sly tone.
“Can you not say it like that? This feels way too much like an otome now…” Idia remarked with a strained voice and the student next to him nodded in agreement.
“Can’t I be happier for your birthday celebration though? Ortho was kind enough to invite me,” Silver asked as he walked in front of Idia to go get a piece of cake for himself. As soon as he caught Idia’s glance, he winked and walked on as if nothing had happened.
Idia hid his face in his hands as Silver nonchalantly picked up a plate.
“Idia, your hair is doing the thing again,” one of the nearby students remarked and Silver smiled to himself as he took a bite out of his slice and turned around to take a look at his handiwork. Teasing Idia really was fun, especially if it meant he could give him a birthday to remember.
“You think you’re so cool, huh?” Idia asked with a sigh as he turned around and leered at Silver as they walked to the dorm entrance together. “Ortho said I should see you off since you did come all this way…” he added as he grasped at his arm and glanced the side. “...thanks for coming.”
Silver smiled, back to his usual demeanor rather than the playful mood he was in earlier to fluster Idia. “Your dorm members really do care about you. Make sure to thank them properly after all of this is said and done,” he remarked.
“Mm.” Idia looked conflicted as if he wanted to say something.
“Oh also, Idia? I’m sorry I got carried away earlier; it was easy to get swept up in the moment while your dorm members were having fun teasing you.”
“Mhm, suuure. What’re you gonna do to really show you’re sorry?” Idia asked with a grumble.
Silver thought for a moment. “Lean down so I can tell you in secret?” He took a deep breath as Idia hesitated before obliging. “Ortho might have planned this partly to give me this opportunity. My present to you and an apology for teasing you earlier. Happy birthday, Idia.” Silver’s heart raced as he reached to Idia’s face with one hand to cup his face, turned his head slightly, and kissed Idia’s cheek.