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“Wooooh.” A certain red headed Sankta declared while racing through the richly decorated streets of Lungmen. What was there to be so excited about? Except a holiday of an age ong gone past. Coming home to one of their many safe houses and hanging out with her colleagues? No, she had done that many times and most likely she would do that tonight as well. Today was Exusiai’s birthday and she was looking forward to the festivities that night. As far as she knew it was the Penguin Logistics Crew that would be there for her. She had invited the Doctor but they had to decline. Sadly they couldn’t make it as Rhodes Island had to respond to a current crisis in Iberia.
Exusiai felt a little sad. So many times she had suggested throwing one of her signature apple pie and hip hop parties but sadly no request had ever been accepted. It would have been the perfect way to help the Doctor and Amiya relax but sadly they had to decline.
“In Iberia huh.” Exusiai had grown close to one of the Abyssal Hunters from there. She’d been very happy about meeting someone from Latareno and showed off her ‘gun’. Exusiai had to admit it was a most impressive sight. The way she had modified her crossbow to look like an actual sniper rifle showed the extent of her craftsmanship. The cherry on top was the fact they could talk to each other about the music they enjoyed. Exusiai hoped that wherever Andreana was, she’d be safe at least. While her thoughts raced she arrived at the door of her safehouse. When she opened the door she loudly declared, “I’m home. Let’s get this party started!”
“What’s up?” Texas laid out stretched on a sofa, a half empty package of her signature pocky sticks on the table where she was resting her legs on. Judging by the silence in the room Croissant and Sora were nowhere to be found. “The other guys got delayed.” The aloof wolf girl explained.
“Any idea when they will arrive?” It was hard to throw a party with only two people in the room. So it was time to make some merry time with just Texas.
“Oi Texas, wanna play a game?” She gestured over to the video game console that Emperor had brought with him ages ago.
“To kill some time? Not like we have much better to do than wait around.”
“So do you want to win or get destroyed?” Over at the video game cabinet two games caught Exu’s eyes, a racing game or a first person shooter. In the former Texas would have the edge but in the latter there was no way Exusiai would ever lose.
“Don’t cry when I beat you badly.” she answered with a smirk as she put the disc of the fps game into the console.
“PLAYER 2 LOSES.”
“Aw man it doesn’t seem my skills translated over well.” Exusiai said with a sigh, the smirk this time was instead on Texas’s face after a few rounds of playing.
“Maybe if you stopped throwing grenades constantly I’d have more trouble killing you. They never hit and gave your position away.” Texas wasn’t amused by Exusiai’s antics, it made her many victories in the past hour feel rather empty.
“But where’s the fun in that? Explosions are the best way to play.”
Texas sighed at her friend's answer. “Bzzt Bzzt.” One of them had received a text.
“Ayo the baws got delayed even more, oughta be better for y'all to come over.” Texas read aloud, trying her best to emulate Croissant’s accent.
“Come on, we'll take the spare car.” She said with a nod.
“Where are we going?”
“Oh you’ll see, they sent me the coordinates as well.” Texas said while opening the navigation app on her phone. The destination made her smile mischievously.
“Aw come on. Why are you being so mysterious?”
“Once again you’ll see. Where’s the fun in spoiling a surprise?” Texas gave the least satisfying answer Exusiai could have gotten but there wasn’t much she could do about it. All she had to do was wait while they drove the car, waiting and hoping the Lungmen traffic wasn’t as terrible as it usually was.
“The airport!?” Exusiai shouted in surprise, miraculously there hadn’t been a traffic jam on the highway so they had arrived there quickly.
“Yeah, we have to pick up our most important cargo yet, a special guest for your birthday. Her flight got delayed so we had to stall you for a bit.” In the distance a dark haired woman emerged from the terminal, on her back was a huge shape that looked like a gun and Exusiai knew.
“Is this the right car?” Andreana walked up to the car window and looked inside. The door opened almost hitting her on the face and a certain extremely stoked looking Lateran jumped out to hug her. “Yes it is.” She answered herself in a deadpan way while she got squeezed hard by her friend's arms.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” Exusiai was bawling her eyes out from happiness.
“I’m glad to be here as well.” Andreana answered, moved by Exusiai’s display of bliss.
“Toot toot.” Texas rang the car horn. She was amused but they didn’t have all night.
The snipers got the hint and quickly sat down in the backseats.
“Wasn’t there a crisis in Iberia? Why are you here?” Exusiai asked frantically, Weren’t there more pressing matters for her to attend to?
“This was planned since we became friends. Texas here took notice and invited me months ago.” Andreana said to which Texas nodded. “And I don’t think the Abyssal Hunters really miss me.” She said in a defeated tone.”No it’s not that bad, Skadi gave me permission to leave. I still feel bad about leaving them but I’ll manage.”
“You won’t miss them after you partied with us! When we arrive, that is.” She became a little down as this time they do get stuck in Lungmen’s many traffic jams.
“We’ll be there in half an hour.” Texas said, “The other guys are still preparing the safehouse.”
When the car stopped in front of the safehouse the smell of freshly baked apple pie was all around it. It wouldn’t be a party for Exusiai without it after all. Emperor put on his best LP’s and even freestyled as a present for his employee. Many songs were sung enthusiastically. Andreana was a little awkward as her personality wasn’t as large as the other partygoers around the table.
“Are you feeling okay?” Exusiai scooted over to her friend who had been talking to Sora but now had gone outside to get some fresh air.
“I am most definitely. Your friends are great Exusiai.”
“Of course they are, otherwise I wouldn’t hang out with them.” She laughed loudly. To which Andrena smiled as well.
“There’s no need to worry about the hunters, Skadi has everything covered.”
“Sounds like our Texas. She’s so dependable.”
“I’m glad we have those we can depend on close to us.”
“Damn right!” Exusiai looked down with a content look on her face. “You being here was a great present.” Exusiai smiled and then leaned in to give her fellow sniper a smooch on her cheek. The Iberian turned as red as Exu’s hair.
“Happy birthday Exusiai.” Andreana whispered before they got inside again and rejoined the festivities, holding each other’s hands.
Those would continue through the night, much to Emperor’s dismay the day after had to be taken off due to the fact everyone who attended had a hangover.