Chapter Text
The satellite had moved around the sun once more, meaning today was Artemis’ birthday. She was an average height, slightly muscular, with russet skin and a kind disposition. She lived in a cozy apartment, not too small, but not one she could get lost in. Many of her decorations, from her beaded curtains to her quilted blankets, were handmade by her, along with some of her clothes or the decorations adorning them.
Ordinary house for an ordinary girl. Just the way she liked it.
Artemis was never one for massive spectacle, preferring to take extra time to appreciate the smaller pleasures around her. She was feeding her plants on her balcony, trying to keep them from catching the beads in her hair, when she jumped at an unexpected knock on the door.
“Open up, birthday girl! Cake’s not gonna cut itself!”
She recognized the voice and beamed, running to the door to greet her best (and maybe only) friend. The camera shutter in Vincent’s left eye socket whirred and clicked, matching how their other eye closed when they smiled. The two of them hugged each other tight, Artemis smiling at the feeling of their metal arm on her back.
“Is it really a surprise if you do this every year?” she teased, picking up the cake box that Vince had set on the floor to bring it inside. They chuckled, closing the door behind them. “Probably not. But, hey, still gotta make my number-one happy.” As Artemis took the lid off of the cake box, Vince pulled a few candles out of their bag and placed them on top of the cake. It used slices of candied orange to form a sun pattern, with the candles being placed between its rays. Artemis held her hand over the candles, unwrapping the gauze on her hand and letting purple flame flow from her palm.
“Glad to see those things are holding up,” remarked Vincent at the way her palm rippled as if viewing them through smoke. “When’d I give you those? Two years ago?”
“Three.” She re-wrapped her hand and closed her eyes. What to wish for? Love? Peace? Stability?
“You gonna blow those out?” asked Vincent as Artemis stood in silence.
I wish to… live to see me become my best self.
She blew out her candles and Vincent clapped, reaching into their bag once more as she cut a slice of cake off for them. Orange cake with chocolate frosting in between- she wouldn’t have it any other way. As she handed Vincent their slice, they handed her an envelope. She slid her finger under the fold and opened it up, Vincent eagerly awaiting her reaction.
Artemis pulled out a single ticket on silver paper, shining in a rainbow of colors and embossed with her name. She threw a hand to her mouth as she read the rest of the ticket-
NEW MOON STAR BRAWL
18:00
NEW MOON ARENA
CENTRAL PERILUNE CITY
“Y-You-”
Vincent couldn’t contain their smile at Artemis’s shock, brushing their hair behind their ear.
“Happy birthday, Arty. You get to get your shit kicked in by the hottest woman in the city.”
Artemis clutched the brawl pass tight in her fist and leapt onto her friend, tackle-hugging them to the floor. The two of them couldn’t contain their joy as they wrestled like dogs, rolling around till they lied on the floor, exhausted.
“You think I’m ready for this, Vince? Isn’t she super tough…?”
“This pass cost me an arm and eye, Arty. Look at me,” they joked. “But, for real. Your face might not be on any posters or billboards, but you’re the toughest girl I know. Go get ‘em, Sunspot.”
They playfully punched her in the shoulder and the two of them remained on the floor in contemplative silence.
The glowing star stickers on the ceiling seemed to smile back at Artemis.
It was almost as if the cosmos were cheering her on.