Work Text:
Daisuke was sitting on a bed in his room.
Damn, why did he always leave everything on the last moment? Now he has only today and tomorrow to come up with a gift.
Okay. What does she like?
She likes playing board games with him, drawing, running, taking photos, reading...
Reading.
Daisuke remembered one day when they were in Anya's office, talking about stuff.
She walked out for a moment. He looked at the books on her shelf. Some of them had very weird names. But there was also "The Shining".
Anya then walked in.
"Caught you snooping?" — she said with a smile.
Daisuke looked into his backpack and took "Green Mile" and "Doctor Sleep" out. New, untouched yet.
Daisuke thought he would be bored out of his mind here, so he brought them.
He never was much of a reader, though. Well, sometimes, but not always.
So... why not?
Daisuke smiled.
He went to the utility room. Swansea was wrapping up.
"Um, Swansea, do you have scissors?"
"Why do you need them?" — he asked gruffly.
"Anya's having a birthday soon. Wanted to make her a gift."
Swansea raised his brows.
"Hm. I forgot." — he took the scissors out of the table — "Make her something good. And don't cut off your fingers."
"I won't, sir, thank you!"
He went back and looked at his clothes. Which shirt did he like the least but could still work as a wrapper?
He looked at the blue one. Bought it for ten credits, never liked it much.
Daisuke cut out a wrapper and a ribbon. Turned out a bit crooked, so he trimmed it a bit.
He wrapped the books and tied a knot.
"Hope she'll like it." — he thought.
* * *
Daisuke went to Anya's office, holding wrapped books behind his back. He looked inside.
"Anya, are you busy?"
She raised her head. She was trying to study.
"Um... No, no, you wanted something?"
"I... hm, brought something for you." — he took the books out. — "Today is your birthday, right?"
Her lips stretched into a smile.
"Man, uh... whatever good comes to your mind, I wish it to you!" — Daisuke smiled. — "Happy birthday!"
Anya exhaled and smiled, showing her teeth.
How does he know? She didn't tell him when her birthday is... Did she?
"I wish I had a better speech." — Daisuke laughed nervously.
Daisuke gave books to Anya. She reached her hands out and took them. She looked at him, caught off-guard. Daisuke nodded.
Anya unwrapped the gift. She closed her eyes with a smile on her face.
She looked at Daisuke.
"Come here." — she got up and hugged him. — "Thank you so much..."
Anya held him for a moment before they both sat down.
"I'm getting old, it seems." — she flipped through the pages. — "Can you believe it? Gonna be in my thirties next year."
"Oh, come on." — Daisuke waved her off.
They chatted a bit about the books before Curly looked in.
"Anya? Can you give me a moment?"
He looked like he's about to give a speech.
"Daisuke." — Curly shook his hand and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Anya, I've got a little present here for you."
After that, he indeed gave her a speech with compliments and wishes. He seemingly rehearsed it many times.
"Damn, he's doing much better than I do." — Daisuke thought.
"Guys, thank you so much..." — Anya smiled with her cheeks blushing.
She unpacked Curly's gift — it was a new sweater. Striped, with different shades of blue.
"What about a game night today? I guess... We gotta celebrate for real, right?" — Daisuke asked.
Anya and Curly exchanged glances.
"Of course!" — Curly said.
"Guys, I want to try this out, if you don't mind." — Anya said. — "I'll show off to you."
"Sure." — Daisuke nodded. He and Curly walked out. They went to the lounge.
Anya looked at her gifts again. She touched a wrapper and sweater.
"My favorite color..." — Anya thought with a smile before closing the door.
"Daisuke?" — Curly said.
"Yes, Captain?"
"They allow us only one celebration per trip." — He said quietly. — "So, this thing is unofficial, yeah? When we come back home, keep quiet about it."
"Um, okay, sure."
"Very good." — Curly nodded.
"Which one we'll celebrate officially?" — Daisuke asked.
"Hmph. Yours. You're the new one here." — Curly said with a smile.
Daisuke chuckled at that.
* * *
Anya went out of her office. Swansea was standing by a bar. Jimmy was nowhere to be seen.
"Cheers, missy." — Swansea said and raised his cup. — "You look good in it."
"Thanks, Swansea!" — Anya smiled.
Swansea smirked and nodded in response.
Anya went to the couch. Curly and Daisuke were already there.
"Ta-da!" — Anya did a quick twirl.
"Oh, wow!" — Daisuke let out. Anya giggled.
* * *
"Damn, how do you just do it?!"
Daisuke lost the game for the third time. Curly and Swansea chuckled.
"Well, you can't always win, right?" — Anya shrugged.