Work Text:
After a few hours of working to set up all the decorations, he had completely transformed the extra storage room to the party hall fit for a king! There was a punch bowl filled to the brim with the mocktail he had. He had made most of it himself. Sparkling water mixed with grenadine, lemonade, limeade, and cranberry juice, with cucumber slices. Sure it sounded a little weird, but it tasted great!
He had also made cookies for the guests to take back, some of his famous blast-your-balls-off chocolate chip. It was mostly a normal cookie recipe, but he added extra flour, and mixed in popping candies right before the cookies were done, so they’d settle in just enough. This time, he even added red food coloring, for something a little different. There were streamers decorating the entrance, and a big banner with “happy birthday” sprawled out on it. The spelling was atrocious and the hand writing was barely legible, but it was good enough for scout! He had set out party hats at each seat, each one hand decorated by scout. There were balloons in every corner, each painstakingly inflated by the birthday boy himself. He also set out the pizza he’d ordered, along with paper plates and some napkins. He left the cake in the fridge till it was time.
Finally, it was party time! He sat expectantly across from the doorway, waiting for guests to start pouring in, and he prayed that someone would show up this time.
So, he waited.
And he waited.
And he waited…
About 30 minutes had pasted and no one had shown up yet. Weird, everyone must just be running late. Maybe they’d read the wrong time on the invite, or couldn’t find the room the party was in! He quickly grabbed a piece of paper and a red marker and scribbled a large arrow. He stuck the piece of paper right on the wall outside the room. He grabbed himself a few slices of pizza as he waited for the guests to arrive.
Another 30 minutes pasted. Maybe he’d written the wrong date on the invite? He tried to look for a spare invite to check, but sure enough, he’d put down the correct date. So, he got himself some punch. He had been getting thirsty anyway, and it was damn good too.
Scout sat in his chair, alone, sipping his drink from a red solo cup. His eyes remained glued on the door. Where was everyone? What had gone wrong? Was there a freak accident no one had told him about? Scouts eyes started to tear up as he finished off his cup.
Suddenly, scouts eyes lit up. There were footsteps, heading in his direction! After a second or 2, Pauling and Sniper appear in the doorway, chatting to each other, making small talk. Scout ran up and without thinking, hugged them both extremely tight. “Yo wassup you 2! All the foods up for the eatin, and you should totally try the punch n’ there’s a little corner where ya can set gifts down!” He spat out excitedly. He stepped back from his 2 guests. As they awkwardly walked in, he noticed that the only gift in the gift corner was the one he’d gotten himself. He tried not to think about it.
Sniper quietly ate a slice of pizza and got a cup of punch, whereas Pauling just got some punch and sat down. He looked at both of them expectantly, waiting for one of them to say something. Eventually, Pauling spoke up.
“Hey, scout. Happy birthday. Sorry I couldn’t snag you a gift, didn’t have the time to. Was really busy and it was the last time on my mind.”
Scout felt his heart sink. He was the last thing on her mind…? Was work more important than their friendship? Scout could feel himself tear up again, but he quickly wiped it away before anyone saw. “It’s fine! Least ya came.”
Sniper spoke up as well. “It’s not a big enough gift to go in the gift corner, but I made you this.” Sniper opened his palms to reveal a wood carving of a jackolope. Scout took the gift and admired it, before jumping up and hugging sniper. He didn’t say thank you out loud, but it was clear he meant it.
After a little bit of chit chat, scout had left briefly to go get cake. This was the big moment! He had gotten this really awesome cake from a bakery, and they even wrote his real name on top! As he walked back towards the room, he overheard sniper and Paulings conversation.
“I’m not sure if the guys doin alright. I mean, the party was supposed to start at 2. It’s bout 10 past 3 and it’s just you and me.”
“I mean, I get where you’re coming from, but it’s hard to feel bad for him at the same time. He’s loud and often times gets in the way of important work being done. I mean, no one should had this depressing a birthday party, but still, he’s no saint.”
“But he’s tryin. I know he’s been workin on this whole party for a while now, and he’s been talkin less. Maybe we’re too harsh on ‘im?”
“I suppose, but he’s also gotten everyone into extreme danger multiple times.”
“He gets himself into danger, and we have to save him. Eva think why that is? I don’t even bloody know, I’m just worried for the guy.”
Scout almost dropped the cake. Was… was that really what they thought of him? He took a deep breath, and once more refrained from breaking down in tears. He entered the room and pretended he didn’t hear anything, despite how hard it was. All of their words hung heavy in his mind.
“I’m back wit cake!” He exclaimed, doing his best to put on his usual persona. He set it down and grabbed a lighter, to light the candles. Sniper turned the lights off as they started to sing. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear-“
It was at that point that each person in that room said something different. Pauling sang “scout,” scout said “me,” and sniper said “Jeremy.” As he blew out the candles, he felt a tear stream down his face. Shit, how did it get this bad? He turned around and quickly used a napkin to wipe his eyes.
He cut into the cake, with one slice for each guest. There was a lot of leftover cake, due to the unexpectedly low turn out rate. As Pauling and sniper got up to leave, sniper walked up to scout and did his best to give scout a hug. Scout clung onto sniper for a while, before letting sniper go.
As soon as the door had shut, scout fell to the floor crying. Why was it always him! First birthday party no one attends, and the second, he’s hit in the face with his own comrades words. He was angry. Not angry at the turnout, not angry at his friends, not even angry that they got along better than they got along with him.
He was angry at himself. Stupid, stupid, stupid scout! Always fucking things up. Always running headfirst into danger. Always having trouble shutting his mouth. Always trying to hit on girls who weren’t interested. When you’re an asshole, he thought, you don’t get to enjoy the simple things in life, like a birthday party. That explains it!
The sound of his disheveled sobs echoed in the room. As scout started to get off the ground, the door suddenly opened. It was sniper.
“Sorry mate, but I left my hat-“ he froze the instant he saw scout getting off the ground, crying.
“…ave’ you been cryin?” Sniper asked sincerely. Scout took a step back, wide eyed. SHIT SHIT SHIT! He didn’t want anyone to see him like this, especially not sniper. His hands were shaking, and his face was dripping with sweat.
Sniper took a step closer, and sat down in one of the chairs. He gestured for scout to sit on the seat next to him. Scout reluctantly did as he was told. Sniper placed his hat on scouts head and said “ya know, you come ta’ me if you eva’ are feelin that way, scout.”
Scout leaned his head on snipers shoulder and started crying again. Why was sniper being so kind to a fuckup like himself!? He squeezed snipers body tightly as his tears stained othe others shirt. Sniper simply patted scouts back and soothed him.
Scout managed to force out a few words from his throat, which was rapidly closing up. “W-why are you so nice ta me?!” He asked.
Sniper took a moment to answer. His answer wasn’t very long, nor was it very complicated. All he said was
“I care about you.”