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8:05 am
Stan groaned as he felt his aching consciousness start to wake him. His sense of self started to return to him, very much against his will. The sun hadn’t even started its daily assault on his eyes yet. His mind was just doing it to himself.
“Nghh,” Stan grumbled as he reached for the other side of the bed. He lazily threw his hand over the still-warm side of the bed. The whole time, not daring to open his eyes as if to cling to sleep. A quick second or two of cuddling would probably do the trick. “Xe,” Stan still ran his hand over the mattress.
When his hands came up empty Stan finally lamented and peek open an eye. Notably, the bed lacked one former mad scientist.
Stan’s hands pulsed for a second before his brain processed what he saw. The comforter had been pushed to one side, and a small ceramic elephant had been pushed forward on Xeno’s nightstand. A bit of an outdated way they would tell the other they were out, which just became tradition after a while.
Stan pushed himself up from the mattress’s call. “This early?” The filter between his mouth and words apparently absent. “Damn Xeno, meeting this early?” Stan slid his legs over the mattress onto the carpet floors, unknowingly pushing his elephant as well.
If Xeno was already up, he might as well start his day too.
Stan brushed away the last bit of the warm comforter that still clung to his legs. Small goosebumps quickly followed as he stood up and left the bedroom.
One thing about getting older was that every small, barely inconvenient, ritual you’d do after waking up became 10 times more prevalent. A gentle roll of his neck sounded like twisting bubble wrap. His eyes gunk felt like mini barnacles. And the ringing in his ears sounded like a sizzle-... Wait, that wasn’t what came next.
“So you really are just up this early?” Stan cracked his fingers.
“Yes, of course,” Xeno replied back like it was obvious she would be. Like there wasn’t a half cup of coffee on the counter next to Xeno.
Stan lazily wrapped his arms around Xeno’s waist and plopped his head on her shoulder. Xeno didn’t seem to mind. Even as she reached for the spatula to split and mix the egg whites and yolks in the frying pan, her back was unusually still as her arms did the work.
“ I am surprised you’re up, however,” Xeno added.
“Ehhh, you weren’t there so had no reason to sleep in,” Stan struggled, reaching for the packet of bacon next to him.
Xeno’s free hand snapped to grab his. “I got it, Stan,” Her concentration was still fixed on the eggs.
“What? Don’t want my help?” Stan joked.
Xeno gave a half-assumed smile. “Stan, you do know you’re allowed to lounge around a bit right? Relaxing for at least today won’t kill you,”
"Yea yea, I know,” Stan half heartedly replied. “Some other day,”
Stan tried to relax more into the crock of Xeno’s neck when what felt like a sudden jolt ran through Xeno. Standing more upright than before, She turned to look at Stan. Her void-like eyes were looking for something in his face.
“Pfttt what?” Stan chuckled, more surprised by the sudden eye contact than anything. Xeno didn’t even look at the rest of his face. No, she was looking right at his eyes like they would tell her something. “Do I have egg on my face or something?” By this point, Stan didn’t know if he meant it as an idiom or seriously, with how Xeno was looking at him.
Xeno gave a low hum before turning back to the eggs. “Nothing, now please sit. I’m almost done,”
Stan, still unsure, let go of her wife’s waist and obediently took a seat at the table. Sure, he had plenty more questions, but they all kinda just silenced each other as Xeno continued to cook. Stan watched closely for any sign she might be annoyed or disgruntled by his statement but Xeno seemed to flow just the same.
Even when she put his plate of food in front of him, she seemed her usual, even self. “Thanks, Xe,”
Stan looked down at the plate. Usual scrambled eggs with hot sauce and crispy bacon. All looked good, but the growing knot in his stomach made him hesitant.
“Stan,” Xeno’s voice cut through.
“Hm?” Stan popped his head up.
“Do you really not remember what today is?” Xeno asked before taking a sip of her coffee.
The line almost felt straight out of a bad sitcom with a horribly forgetful husband. Except Stan could tell you exactly how many days there were until Xeno’s birthday, their anniversary, even when they first broke out of the stone. “No…?”
This time, Xeno’s face seemed just as even. Maybe even a small glimpse of satisfaction. “Well, it’s your day off,” She answered.
The knot in Stan’s stomach unraveled, but still his questions continued. “My day off?”
“Yes,” Xeno, on the other hand, didn’t share any of Stan’s confusion. “We asked for one off a few weeks back,” She continued to drink,
“Oh,” Stan sounded, mouth half full of eggs. Stan was assigned as Xeno’s security so if Xeno ever had a day off it basically meant he had one too. Maybe it really had just slipped his mind. “So are we staying in all day?”
“Can’t,” Xeno quickly replied. “I have a few errands to run today, so I’ve asked Ryusui to pick you up later,”
“Like a play date?” Stan raised his brows with a grin.
Xeno’s lips slightly pulled back. “Just making sure you get out of the house,”
“Yeah,” Stan got the last few cracks out of his neck. “Got me there,”
“Glad you can admit it,” Xeno took the last sip from her cup before standing up. “It shouldn’t take him too long,”
“Ya heading out already?” Stan glanced back at the clock to make sure an hour or two hadn’t passed.
“Like I said, errands,” Xeno took a step closer. “I’ll be done when you’re back,” She lightly kissed only slightly under Stan’s brow.
“Hmmm kay,” San gladly leaned into the affection. “He say anything about a time?”
“He said he may be a tad late. Something about needing to be prepared,” Xeno went to rinse out her mug. “I can’t see it being too long,”
Stan, who was a bit too propped up on affection to disagree, just gave a small noise of acknowledgment. “If ya say so. See you when I get back,”
10:58 am
Stan gave himself a small pat on the back for knowing his friend too well.
Though that did mean he had been lazing around on the couch for a while. Not quite sure if it was okay to go back to bed for a quick nap or if Ryusui was just outside his door. Stan looked up at the ceiling as he pushed air from his fluttering lips.
Is the ceiling a different color there or is it just the shade?
The silence was loud but at least it gave Stan a second to think about what Xeno had meant earlier,
Knock knock
“Finally!” Stan completely forgot his previous question as he pushed off the couch like it repelled him. Stan swung the door to be greeted by the other blonde.
“Hey Stanley,” Ryusui beamed.
“Hey, took ya long enough,” Stan joked.
“Sorry about that. Had a few things to finalize first,” Ryusui replied, his beaming smile not any less bright.
“Whatever ya say-,” Stan’s gaze wandered only slightly off Ryusui. The first thing he thought when he saw the car Ryusui had ridden in on was “Oh, cool, a hearse”. The second-
Holy shit that’s a limo.
Francois, standing next to the extended car, smiled and waved like it was normal.
Stan’s confusion must’ve shown on his face because Ryusui followed his eyeline back to the car as well. “You like it?”
“Uhh,” Stan stumbled. “Ya,” A small, breathy laugh escaped. “You rich people just drive around in a limo sometimes?”
“Yup,” Ryusui’s smile was still just as bright.
“Well shit,” Good enough for him.
.
.
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3:57 pm
Turns out the long car was for the countless items they had collected. A few bags of clothes there, Makeup off somewhere else, and a bunch of arcade prize stuffed animals on the seat adjacent to them.
Stan looked over the crowd of stuffed animals he had won. Shooting games were a breeze. So much so, the owner had to tell him to go do something else. But not before his and Ryusui’s arms got full. “Which ya think Xe would want?” Stan thought out loud.
“Didn’t think Xeno liked stuffed animals,” Ryusui commented, staring just as intently.
“She doesn’t. Just thought it be nice to bring her one,” Stan shrugged.
“Gottchaaaa,” Ryusui sang. “Oh, what about the bunny? Kinda reminds me of Xeno,” Ryusui pointed to a black bunny plushie hiding in the back. The stitching on its mouth giving it a natural pout, the sleepy-looking eyes, the heart lazily stitched on, and the gray at the ends of its arms. (Kinda like someone’s claws…)
Stan reached into the pile to pull it out. “Oh she’ll love this,” It’s big old ears flopped as Stan moved it.
Stan felt the limo slowly start to roll to a stop. He hadn’t even bothered to question where they were going next after the mall. He just jumped in, ready to unload the bags. Stan looked up from the black tinted windows still expecting the city but from the small window he just made out a long patch of grass.
“Speaking of Xeno, we’re here!” Ryusui almost jumped from his seat out the door.
“What about Xeno? Oi Ryusui!” Stan followed behind. The sudden sunlight blinded him for a second. He must’ve been in that car longer than he thought. Putting a hand parallel to his brow Stan looked out in front of him. Trees pushed back far out to make way for the stretch of clearing he was surrounded by. “Where the hell…?”
Only as Stan took in his surroundings more did he understand where he was. The white stripes painted on a long black track that almost left his view of the horizon. His eyes followed the lines and there it was. A recreation of the Cessna 172. The white paint on the body was already a little yellowed from how much it had been used for training.
Stan hadn’t seen one of these actually touching the ground before however. Normally they were strung up in a museum somewhere. So high up not even kid Xeno dared to find a way to free it.
“Sorry, All I could get so last minute,” Ryusui looked over at the aircraft too.
“Hmh,” Stan grinned. “It’s cool. I’ve never actually been in one of these,” Stan stepped closer. True to form it only had 4 seats.
“I call shotgun,” Ryusui declared.
“I shall sit in the back seat then,” Francois added. “As the photographer of course,”
“Sure, though you still haven’t told me why,” Stan had asked the servant the same question at every new place they had been to. (mostly cause they kept pulling it out each place they went to)
And to give credit, the servant did have an answer. “The desire to preserve memories with friends is quite noble,” Still clear anything up though.
“Ya I got that but-,” Stan is cut off by a pair of headphones swiftly hitting his chest. “C’mon, questions later,” Ryusui opened the door of the plane. “Xeno put us on a schedule,”
There Ryusui goes again. Bring up Xeno. Francois doesn’t mention it either as they board as well.
Well… if it’s Xeno’s plan.
Fuck it. “Hey Ryusui, you know how high up this thing goes?” Stan jumped in right behind them.
“Well… this was the plan,” Xeno looked at the decorated, yet impressively dull, room.
Apparently different shades of gray against a beige wall wasn’t doing her any favors. Xeno was normally happy with the decore’s neutral color palette but adding battleship gray to the mix somehow made it feel like there was a warm black and white filter over the whole thing. The only thing keeping her grounded was the occasional glimpses of color like in the TV remote or coasters.
All and all, nothing that screamed “Happy birthday my husband”.
At least getting gray party supplies was much easier than any other more popular color, but still.
Xeno tapped a finger against her temple as she pondered what to change. Decoration was far from her forte. Often they didn't even spend their birthdays together.
Between the military deployments, attempted dictatorship, and a five-year absence, Xeno was able to count the adult birthdays they decorated for on one hand. 3 out of the 5 being Stan finding some way too. It was never anything fancy, but still felt leagues better than what she had.
Stan’s insistence to dote on Xeno was appreciated of course but it also meant Xeno’s want to dote on Stan grew tenfold.
One last tap of the metallic claw, and suddenly, as if a current of electricity ran through her, she got the idea. She may not be good with colorful arrangements but she knew someone who was.
Btzz btzzz Click.
“Oh hey Xeno,” Came Kohaku’s voice from over the speaker. “What happened?” The blonde didn’t even give her a second to greet back.
“Hello Kohaku, and nothing is wrong,” Xeno replied.
“You sure? I thought you’d be out with Stanley celebrating today,” Kohaku continued to question.
“He’s out with Ryusui till the evening,”
“Ohhhhhh out with the work husband,” Koahku teased.
A joke that would always follow her it seemed. “Yes, he’s out with Ryusui , as I plan his surprise party,” Xeno explained, keeping her eyes away from the dull grays. “
Kohaku paused. “On his actual birthday? Wouldn’t that be a bit obvious?” She chuckled a tad.
“It wasn’t my original plan but this morning, when I asked him if today was special, he couldn’t think of anything.”
“Ohhhhh, I thought I heard him say something about it still being August yesterday,” Kohaku thought out loud. “Still doesn’t answer why you’re calling though,”
“Was getting to that,” Xeno found herself more irritated than she’d like. “I need help with the decorations. I tried and it all looks rather dull. I wanted to ask if you and Amaryllis could help me,”
“Sure, I’m down. Let me ask Amaryllis,” Xeno heard the phone speaker ruffle against what she assumed to be a couch. “Hey hun! You feel up to helping Xeno decorate for Stan’s…,” The voice got farther away but Xeno could assume the rest.
It was quiet for a second before sudden, hasty footsteps were picked up through the phone. Like the pair was rushing to get something. Another pair followed behind. A bit more cloth rustling before- “We’ll be there in 20 minutes,” Kohaku answered.
.
.
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4:58 pm
Granted, Xeno wasn’t checking her phone as she waited but she was pretty sure it was less than 20 minutes when she heard the doorbell go off. She could barely make out Kohaku’s ponytail from behind all the supplies she was carrying.
Amaryllis, wasting no time, gutting all the gray and dreary for bright orange and yellows. Even the pulled gray curtain was adorned with streamers. She had even come with orange and yellow flower balloons that truly tested Xeno’s lungs. Helium wasn’t out of the question, so a few tricks with tape made the balloons look like they were floating against the walls.
“Alright, when you’re ready, just pull this cord,” Amaryllis said, handing over a strand of string.
“You’re sure this’ll work?” Xeno looked at the ribbon-like string she was holding.
“Totally,” Amaryllis nodded with a tight-lipped smile.
“And the camera?”
“Already tested it,”
Her dedication was quite elegant. “Thank you, Amaryllis,”
“Oh oh!! He’s here!” Kohaku called from the room over.
Just in time. She expected nothing less from Francois. Xeno quickly flicked off the lights, effectively casting the house into darkness. It was a little hard to find her way back behind the kitchen counters.
The door handle shook a bit before being clicked open. “I’m going I’m going,” Xeno heard Stan mutter.”Hey Xe! I’m back from my date,” Stan called, waiting for an answer in the fourier. “Xe?” He stepped closer to the living room. “Heyyyyyy?? Why is it so dark in here? You experimenting or something?” Stan stepped right into place.
Xeno pulled the small ribbon with a quick tug. A quick flash of a camera’s flash illuminated the spiral confetti raining down. “Huh??” Stan spun around till his gaze finally meet Xeno’s.
“Happy Birthday Stan,”
Another flash of lights went off as the lights in the house were switched on. Out popped Kohaku and Amaryllis from the couch and Ryusui from behind Stan. “Ya, Happy birthday!” They shouted.
“It’s September?” Stan breathlessly scoffed.
“Has been for about 17 hours, yes,” Xeno replied.
“Ohhh that’s why you wanted me out,” Stan crackled. “Fell for it too,”
“Forgive me,” Xeno took Stan’s hand, at shoulder level. “It wasn’t my original plan, but when you told me you forgot what day it was, I had to,”
Stan’s grip lopped to one side. “You win,” He tightened his finger’s grip.
“Of course,” She gladly returned the affection.