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“Yo bros, I’ve gathered us here today for something of extreme importance.”
On a table at the Weary Inn sit Ifa and the bros (Chasca, Varesa and Cacucu). They all look at him as he speaks, anticipation on Varesa’s legs going up and down, on the flapping of Cacucu’s wings. Chasca, as always, just looks very unimpressed.
She wouldn’t be Ifa’s first option to call for such a meeting, but the whole thing isn’t about him. It’s about…
“Ororon’s birthday is just around the corner, and I want to throw a surprise birthday party for him.”
“Awwww! That’s so romantic!” Varesa beams.
“October fourteenth” Chasca says, as Ifa wouldn’t know it. He’s known Ororon for eleven years already, excuse you.
Come on Ifa, you can do this.
He takes a deep breath and fights the urge to roll his eyes “Yeah. And since we’re all his closest friends. And me being also his best friend and boyfriend” he quickly adds when Chasca throws a cocky smirk on his way “I thought it would be nice if we organized it together, ya’know? Cute stuff. He’d like that.”
“Wouldn’t his granny also want to participate?” Varesa asks.
“Don’t worry about it” Ifa gestures with his hand, nonchalant. If Citlali does get upset about not being called to the committee, he knows exactly what to say to her.
“You’re the best, bro!” Cacucu chirps, his small, chonky body flying around in joy.
“What are the plans, then? I can take care of the food! I have a receipt for fontainean cake that Mrs. Escoffier gave to me on her last visit! You know, those fancy ones with the fancy frosting? I can ask for Kachina’s help, Mualani told me she’s great at baking.”
“Bro, that’s great. Okay, so, Varesa takes care of the food, Cacucu is going to hand the invitations to the others, Chasca… Erm… What do you want to do?”
“I’m not a party person. But” Chasca raises a finger before Ifa can open his mouth to say anything “I can be in charge of the decorations. Where are we going to do the party?”
“At his home, so he can be surrounded by everyone he loves. Including the vegetables and the babies.”
“The babies?” Varesa gasps, eyes going so wide they look fully white “You have babies now? And you didn’t tell anyone?”
“Huh?” Ifa’s eyes widen as well, his heart starting to race and his brain trying not to think of actual children running around Ororon’s home “Dude, no! No way!” he panics, waving his arms frantically “The babies as in his aphids. His aphids!! We don’t have kids yet!”
“Notice how he said yet” Chasca remarks, pretending not to know what she’s doing, concealing a smirk trying to grow on her lips as she and Varesa stare at each other.
Varesa gasps again, and Ifa swears he sees her eyes imitating spirals for a second before he blinks it away “You’re right! He said yet!!!! Ifa, I didn’t know you guys wanted to be fathers! Your children are going to be so beautiful!!!!”
“Wa-wait ̶ ”
“Your family is going to be so cute!!!”
Ifa tries, he really does, to control his brain; but he starts picturing him and Ororon having a family, with two or maybe even three kids to raise and take care of. Xilonen is pretty much a solo mother since she took Nepecha under her wings, and Kinich and Mualani have this domestic dynamic going on with Kachina, so family wasn’t something so far ahead of their friend’s group ages and reality…
“… and hold them…”
“… I don’t think you holding babies is a good idea” Chasca says.
“For real, now? Do you even hear yourself, bro?” Cacucu says rather aggressively, in a tone sharper than normal; which is odd, but brings Ifa back to the real, solid right-now, no children world “The heck are you on about?”
He blinks hard a couple times, takes a deep breath, and tells his brain one last time to stop projecting dark skinned kids with dark blue hair planting radishes.
“Okay. So” he starts, voice airy as if he just fought on the Pilgrimage “Where were we again?”
“The party is going to be at Ororon’s house” Chasca offers, voice calm like she wasn’t a living nightmare on Ifa’s life.
“Right, thanks. Right” he cleans his throat. He winces when it feels sore all the sudden “So… Since you’re going to oversee the important stuff, I can keep him away from home and come back with him when everything and everyone is ready.”
“Oh wow, no way! You’re the best, bro!”
“What, you’re happy again? What’s gotten into you back there, bro?”
“The heck are you on about?”
><
Throughout the week, the party’s arrangement goes smoothly on Varesa’s and Chasca’s side. Ifa’s, however, doesn’t have the same outcome. When he’s not busy treating a saurian or doing check-ups on his clinic, he feels too tired to find the motivation to do what he has to. He still has to write the invitations, talk with Citlali to ask her to make Ororon sleep at her house the day before his birthday and help the girls with whatever they need help with or his opinion, but it’s been hard.
Besides the fear that they won’t make it because he’s lacking, the worst part is that he’s falling behind Chasca of all people… Things are not looking good to him, man.
On their next meeting, Chasca and Varesa are already at the Weary Inn waiting for him on a table full of food, a glass of bear waiting for him and a plate with saurian crackers for Cacucu.
“What up, my dudes?” he greets them as he sits.
“That was the most depressing “dudes” I have ever heard in my entire life” Chasca says, looking him up and down “Actually, you as a whole look depressing.”
“Oh dear! Oh dear!”
“Thanks” he sniffles “That’s great to know, man.”
“Are you okay?” Varesa asks. Before he can react, she pats his shoulders. He knows it comes from a place of kindness, but what were supposed to be light pats are very heavy touches by her hand. He winces in pain, but tries to give her his best commercial smile.
“… I’m alright, just having a busy time at the clinic. I’ve been teaching some youngsters that want to be sauro-vets as well in the future” Ifa suddenly feels a heavy pang on his head that is stronger than the new ache on his shoulder, and he sighs deeply “Man, if it wasn’t for Ororon bringing lunch and dinner for me, I would’ve been dead by starvation by now.”
“I love you, Ororon!”
“Wh-what!?” Ifa’s eyes widen in surprise, head snapping to look at his companion “Since when have you learned to say… That!?”
“I love you, Ororon!”
“Wh-what the heck, man…” Ifa frowns and he scratches his neck, hearing the girls laughing softly at the scene in front of them.
Ifa feels his face burning and he thinks to himself he should be more embarrassed, but the way Cacucu says it with his cute, high voice is so. Ughhhhhhh. And he knows the Qucusaur understands what he’s saying, so he feels his heart melting hearing him say that. He pats Cacucu’s head, and the bird leans on his touch, clearly pleased.
“Awww, you guys are so cute!!! You’re the sweetest couple in all of Natlan!” Varesa pats his shoulders again.
Despite his pain, Ifa smiles as he sniffles a second time.
“I don’t know about being the sweetest, but he’s an angel in my life, that’s for sure.”
“He’s a darling and all” Chasca interrupts them “But you and I know we won’t be able to hold a party just the three of us in less than a week with you looking like you lost a five-days battle against Mavuika.”
“Damn, do I look that bad?”
“Bad is a nice way to say it.”
“Hahaha!”
“Bro, what the heck? You were supposed to be on my side.”
“Oh wow… No way, bro!”
“Anyway” she continues “I was thinking we could ask for Mualani’s help. She’s known for being good at making parties for a reason.”
“She’s right!” Varesa nods “Mualani is the best!”
That’s how Mualani becomes the new member on their party-planning team. True to her reputation, she’s quick to do everything on Ifa’s to-do list. She talks with Citlali, writes and hands the invitations, and makes a list with “Ororon-coded” topics that may help Chasca with the decorations and Varesa with the cake.
She’s great, but Ifa feels bad that she’s having to do all the work that was meant for him. When he asks her what he can do to help, she waves him off and tells him not to worry.
“It’s your boyfriend’s birthday! On the end of the day, just the fact that you planned the party is enough!”
He tries to keep that in mind as he joints down some medical reports, but it’s hard when even his body is starting to fail him, his throat and head hurting a bit more each passing day. It’s both annoying and frustrating. He would remain sulking like that for the rest of the day, if not for Ororon entering the clinic with a basket full of radishes and carrots on his hands.
“Hi” Ororon says, and the soft, meek timbre of his voice is already enough to ease Ifa’s headache and worries “I brought some vegetables for you.”
“Awesome” Ifa smiles as he stands to take the basket “They look great as always, bro.”
Blushing, Ororon looks anywhere but Ifa’s eyes “Thanks. They do grow up nice and strong, especially at this time of the year. Varesa and I are also sharing gardening tips with each other. I’m learning a lot.”
“I can’t wait to taste them, babe. Cacucu ate all the vegetables you brough last time. That chubby little thing.”
Ororon giggles, but his soft face quickly turns to a frown when he puts his palm on Ifa’s forehead “Ifa, are you alright? Your face is flushed and a bit hot.”
Ororon’s cold hands against his skin makes him sigh in contentment.
“That’s because you are hot.”
Ororon rolls his eyes, but Ifa can see an amused glint on his eyes “I’m serious. Your eyebags look worse too.”
“It’s nothing, babe. We just had an infected saurian come by today. Poor guy was weak and had a high fever, so I had to stay there with him for some time. But I’m fine, I promise.”
“Ifa” Ororon presses.
“Hm?”
“Humans can’t catch colds from saurians, right?”
“Huh?” Ifa asks, but he’s quick to understand where Ororon is trying to get at “No, of course not. And I already told you I’m fine.”
Ororon ignores him as his eyes drift to his lips, and he moves closer until their faces are a few inches away. He pauses for a second as he opens his mouth, which makes Ifa’s eyes stray to his lips as well, until Ororon is pouncing on him, hands finding their way to Ifa’s face on both sides of his jaw, moving to his shoulders, to his arms. Ifa’s hands go automatically to his waist, holding him firm and as close as he can while they kiss.
“I love you” Ifa murmurs when they pull apart.
“Ifa…” Ororon whines, and they’re kissing again, tongues clashing.
Once they finally pull apart for good because they’re out of air, Ifa is face to face with Ororon’s big eyes, to his thick and pretty lashes, looking closely to the way they flutter as he fights to keep his eyes, that have become a bit hazy, open for good. He’s so cute that Ifa can’t help but squeeze his cheeks with his index and middle fingers, and Ororon is fast to kiss him once again.
Ifa only pulls away because he feels a heavy weight on his head, knowing it is Cacucu getting cozy on his hat, snuggling on it. He groans when Ororon moves back as well, already missing his warmth.
“Bro, are you serious?” he shoos Cacucu away.
“Let him be” Ororon giggles “He deserves some rest. And so do you.”
“What if my way to rest is getting kissed by my super cute and helpful boyfriend?” he asks, mainly because he does want more kisses, but because he also wants to hear Ororon giggling again.
He smiles silly when he gets both things, pulled closer once again by his hat’s string. His hands are back on Ororon’s waist, and he moves them up and down to get a good feeling of him. Even if they have been doing couple stuff like this for some time now, being allowed to touch Ororon like he always dreamed to do still feels so new, so good.
“I have to go now” Ororon says, but he doesn’t let go of Ifa’s chest.
“Hmmm, no, stay for a bit longer” Ifa attacks his neck, giving the skin above his collarbone wet kisses.
“I c-can’t” Ororon whimpers, buring one of his hands on Ifa’s hair “Granny asked me to sleep by her home tomorrow, so I have to pack some things and make sure the aphids are going to be fine while I’m away.”
“You still remember our date, right?”
“Mmm. Of course, I do” Ororon whimpers again, using his other hand to stroke Ifa’s cheek.
They only let go of each other when Ifa starts to have a sudden sneezing fit, ruining the mood. He groans in frustration as he watches Ororon walking to somewhere further in the clinic, only to feel his heart squeezing in love when he comes back with some tissues for him.
“Thanks, bro.”
Ororon opens his mouth to say something, but he stops himself as he slightly shakes his head. He sighs, gives Ifa a kiss on his forehead, and heads towards the front door this time.
“Make sure to rest, okay? I already told granny we’re hanging out on my birthday, and I don’t want her to think I’m lying or something.”
“I’m on it, babe” Ifa winks, smiling to reassure both his boyfriend and himself.
His smile fades as soon as Ororon leaves and he sighs loudly, cursing his damn body for falling him now out of all moments.
“Ororon’s day has to be perfect… Please don’t ruin it.”
><
On the morning of October fourteenth, Ifa rises with his throat so sore it makes him feel like throwing up. He wipes his teary eyes with his pajama’s sleeves as he groggily heads to the kitchen, Cacucu already awake and following him.
He gathers milk, sugar, mint and cacahuatl and bakes himself a plate of fragrant cookies and a cup (that’s Cacucu themed, of course) of xocoatl. It makes good effect on his throat and most of his anxiety goes away.
“Awesome work, bro!”
“Let’s go bro, we have a whole day ahead of us.”
He grabs a bouquet of withering purpurbloom flowers he bought for Ororon and leaves his house, Cacucu right after him. As he walks his usual path on the Flower-Feather Clan, he sees Cusco, Chasca’s father, waiting for him with three boxes on his hands.
“Good morning, Ifa, Chasca asked me hand these for you. Please tell your boyfriend I sent him my wishes.”
“Thanks, bro. Sure will.”
The sun blazes high above Ororon’s yard, casting flickering gold over the trees and the sun-fed crops, and the aphid’s buzzing greet him and Cacucu as they land above Ororon’s house.
Once he uses his key to check every room of Ororon’s house to make sure he did spend the night at Citlali’s, he starts unpacking the decorations inside the boxes, moving with practiced ease around the place as he starts setting the tables and filling the black, navy blue and purple balloons with his anemo vision as Cacucu picks up the plates and cups inside Ororon’s home.
“Heeeeeeey Ifaaaaaaa!” he suddenly hears Mualani’s voice from afar. When he turns around, he sees her walking towards him alongside Kinich, Ajaw, Chasca and Xilonen.
“Yo, what up, my dudes?” he greets everyone, bemused “You guys are all early.”
“We came to help! We didn’t want you dealing with everything alone.”
“It seems like you’re almost done already, though” Xilonen says. It’s clear that she doesn't sound upset about that at all, and Ifa laughs lightheartedly, followed by a sneeze.
“Just to be clear, I didn’t want to come with you lowly servants at all!” Ajaw shouts.
“Nobody asked you to come” Kinich rolls his eyes.
“Ha, but I had to! No party is the same without The Almighty Dragonlord K’uhul Ajaw on it!”
“Hahaha! The heck are you on about?”
“You little…” Ajaw groans upon seeing Cacucu “Not YOU again!”
“Do you even hear yourself, bro?”
“Please, ignore him” Kinich rolls his eyes again “He still hasn’t realized he looks stupid arguing with a saurian way younger than him.”
“HOW DARE YOU, KINICH!?” Ajaw’s mouth hangs low before he turns orange and starts screaming. Cacucu, though, looks rather amused, as he starts to repeat all the catch phrases he can muster.
“No way, bro! Seriously, seriously! Oh wow… Do you even hear yourself, bro? No way, bro!”
“UGH! You are hopeless. The Almighty Dragonlord K’uhul Ajaw’s wisdom is wasted on you. Humph!”
“Oh wow… Anyway” Ifa says “Thanks for coming to help, bros. I appreciate it.”
They start walking towards the tables, where a few things still have to be done. Ifa pulls Chasca to the side as the others start finding things to help with, a little further away, next to Big Pinecone.
“Chasca, can I ask you something?” he asks her, and she gestures with her had for him to continue “Can you keep an eye out on everything while I’m out? Just to make sure nothing goes wrong.”
“Sure” she nods and scans her eyes around “It seems like everything went smoothly with my dad.”
“Yeah, he just handed me the boxes and sent his congratulations to Ororon. I’m surprised with the decorations; I admit you did a good job. They look beautiful, and very Ororon-like.”
“What do you mean, you’re “surprised”?” Chasca arches her eyebrow “I’m sure you wouldn’t do a better job.”
“I mean” Ifa shrugs “If they looked anything like your hat, they would probably be ugly.”
Chasca scoffs and crosses her arms “My hat looks better than yours.”
“Ha, in your dreams maybe.”
“I’m suddenly having the urge to stuff some feathers down your throat just to make sure you keep quiet.”
“Gonna be hard with that ugly hat blocking the way.”
“You’re lucky Ororon likes you and I like him, so I’m not looking for fights today.”
“Same, dude.”
They stand there in awkward silence for some time, watching Mualani jumping around with the last decorations on her hand as Kinich tries his best to keep up with her.
“… Your scarf looks kinda nice, though” Ifa says, rather petulantly still. It’s Ororon’s birthday after all, and Chasca is a good friend of his. Like she said, he isn’t looking for fights.
“Thanks.”
He waits for her to say something nice back, but when he notices she won’t say anything else, he faces her with a miffy look on his face.
“What?” Chasca smirks, all cocky and annoying “Once you wear something nice, I’ll complement you.”
“You…” Ifa huffs, watching Chasca laughing on her way towards Xilonen.
He shakes his head and let her be, walking around to check everything out one more time.
“Achoo!”
He feels that annoying pang on his head once again and how his eyes are starting to get heavy, and he groans in frustration. He busies himself with helping Kinich to arrange the chairs, hiding his face under his hat to not let anyone see the sour frown forming on his lips.
“C’mon Ifa, this is for Ororon. You can get this right, man” he tells himself.
“Relax!” Mualani yells, hoping to get close to him “Everything already looks great!”
Ifa smiles at her, but he can feel how awkward it feels on his face “Thanks, bro. Great is good and all, but I want it to be perfect, ya’know?”
“Hey everyone! Speaking of perfection, tcharam!”
Varesa and Kachina walk in with Ororon’s birthday cake, gathering everyone’s attention. It is a pretty, fancy-looking black cake shaped into a perfect circle, decorated with purple ribbons on the sides, and small purple bats made of fondant on the top.
“Check this out!” Varesa beams, and everyone, even Kinich and Ajaw, gasp in collective awe at how beautiful the cake turned out to be.
Ifa’s face light up “Bro, this is like, the best cake I’ve ever seen in my entire life. No cap!”
“You’re the best, bro! Awesome job, bro!”
“Yes, it’s so pretty!!!” Mualani says, grinning from ear to ear as she gives the girls a few claps “You both did an amazing job!”
“Can we eat it before the party starts? Bat guy is chill, he wouldn’t mind giving an early pass to his cake to The Almighty Dragonlord K’uhul Ajaw!” Ajaw says with those stupid sunglasses on. It takes one glare from Ifa for him to shut up, though. Thankfully.
“Aw, thank you so much, guys!” Varesa blushes and hides her face “Kachina and I made a great team! By the way, coach Iansan is also on the way with the rest of the food. We baked a lot of coxinhas, brigadeiros, grainfruit chips and puff pops! Oh, I also made corn juice! I know it’s not to everyone’s taste, but I like it, so. Heh.”
“That’s great to know. Thank you, Varesa. Thanks as well, Kachina” Ifa says. The young girl gives him a shy smile, but it’s easy to notice she’s happy with the compliments.
Varesa and Kachina beam at each other as they do a high five, and Ifa feels his shoulders starting to relax. Everyone is helping with something: Varesa and Kachina place the cake at the main table, Kinich and Ajaw help Xilonen to hang some decorations on the trees around them after they’re done with the chairs, and Mualani is picking up the last plates. Ifa’s eyes soften, and he walks to where Chasca is standing, looking funny and out of place with colorful balloons around her, gaze sharp as she eyes everything and everyone.
“Chasca, are you sure I can leave you in charge here?”
“Absolutely.”
Ifa takes a deep breath to fully calm his nerves. He can think whatever he wants about her, but he knows Chasca is trustworthy “Okay. Okay ̶ WOAH!?”
He has no time to react when she suddenly takes her bow and points it towards somewhere. When Ifa turns his head to follow to where she’s pointing at, he sees Ajaw frozen midair, almost close to taking a nasty bite of Ororon’s cake. The small dragon yelps in surprise, hiding behind Kinich, that shakes his head disapprovingly and snaps him to Archons-know-where.
“Nothing’s going to happen” Chasca asserts, totally poker-faced as she crosses her arms, like nothing happened “It’s time now, isn’t it? Go get him.”
“… Okay. Yeah, okay. Thanks, bro. We can do this. We can do it, bros!”
“We can do it!” Mualani and Kachina mirror him, and Kinich, that stands between them, nods. Ajaw is back to his side, but at least he has the decency to look somewhat embarrassed.
Xilonen yaws and pushes him towards the path in front of Ororon’s house, shoving the whitering purpurbloom bouquet on his hands “Hurry up, loverboy. You know we can’t keep Granny Itztli waiting forever.”
“You’re up, bro!” Cacucu cheers.
Ifa doesn’t say anything as he starts to walk towards Citlali’s house; he just fans his face to cool the warm feeling growing on it, a silly smile on his lips just for being called loverboy. Because him and Ororon are dating. They’re on a relationship. They’re boyfriends! They kiss and they hold hands and they go to dates and everyone in Natlan knows they’re a thing and Ifa is just so happy. Ororon is his, he is Ororon’s.
They’re boyfriends!!!!!
He feels so excited to see his boyfriend that it feels like it takes him no more than five minutes to get at Citlali’s house. He knocks on the door and takes a deep breath as it cracks open, biting his lips in excitement.
“Yo, babe ̶ ”
… Only for it to be Citlali in front of him.
“Who are you calling babe!?”
“Oh, granny!” he awkwardly scratches his neck “I’m sorry. I thought you were Ororon…”
“Are you stupid? Humph!” she gestures Ifa to get close, and whispers in a rushed tone “Is everything ready?”
“We’re almost done. They’re just giving some final touches here and there, and Iansan is on the way with the food. Mavuika has a meeting with Amina, so she’s going to be late.”
“Good” Citlali nods in approval, hands proudly placed on her hips “You’ve grown up a lot, huh? I remember when you were just a scrawny, loser kid trying to woo my naive, stupid grandson…”
Ifa’s brain ignores the “scrawny, loser kid” bit and he feels himself blushing; he scratches his heck again, and hides his face under his hat. Citlali always gets sentimental around Ororon’s birthday, that’s a tale as old as time, but she never once got sentimental because of Ifa before.
“Keep taking good care of Ororon, okay? You better! If my dear grandson ever comes home crying because of you, you’re going to be faced with my fury!”
Ifa places a hand on his heart and raises his hat so she gets a better look of his face, eyes sincere as they meet hers “You have my word.”
“Hello. What’s happening here?”
Both Ifa and Citlali startle in surprise, and Ifa coughs to act nonchalantly. Which doesn’t work, because it turns out to a real cough, and he keeps coughing until Ororon is patting his back, gaze worried and a worried pout on his lips.
“Sorry” he says once it goes away, voice raspy “I think I swallowed the wrong way…”
“Are you alright?” Ororon stops patting his back to rub circles on it instead. Ifa feels himself melting a little, despite the scene he just caused.
“Yeah, don’t worry bab ̶ ” he pauses at the look Citlali gives him, eyebrow arched and everything “Ahem. Bro. Don’t worry. Bro.”
Ororon narrows his eyes and looks at him as if he’s judging his soul itself. Which, since it’s Ororon we’re talking about, it’s probably what’s happening “Hm. Let’s go, then. I made something very special that I want to share with you.”
Ifa obediently nods, and that’s when he remembers the flowers he’s holding.
“Oh, th-these are for you” he pants, a little bit breathless “Happy birthday, Ororon.”
It’s ridiculous. They’ve known each other for eleven years now. Ifa has been in love with him for more than a decade; they are dating now, but he still feels nervous like it’s the first time he’s giving Ororon flowers, he still feels his heart racing like he’s trying to win his heart all over again.
He hears Citlali cooing behind them, but it becomes a background sound when he sees the way Ororon’s eyes shine when their gazes meet, and how he holds the flowers close to his chest, treating them as if they were the finest jewelry from Liyue.
“Thank you. They’re beautiful.”
“Give them to me, I’ll put them in a jar with water for you” Citlali says, taking the flowers carefully and shoving Ororon away from her door (not as carefully) “Go enjoy your date! Bye-bye!”
When Ifa holds out his ungloved arm, Ororon walks straight into it, wrapping his arms tightly around Ifa’s and leaning closer to give him a kiss on his cheek. Warmth radiates from the spot where Ororon’s lips touches his skin, swiftly spreading to his whole body.
Ifa chatters about trivial matters on their way, and Ororon quietly listens to what he has to say. They walk in harmony until they’re on the outskirts of The Stadium of The Sacred Flame, the chatters and music a faint, almost inaudible sound.
Ifa’s pretty proud of himself for this spot he chose. The Sun doesn’t feel too hot on them, but it shines just right to make the river glitter. Chrysanthemum flowers surround the area, and the trees look like pretty waterfalls, swinging softly together with a light, refreshing breeze. Some adult Yumkusaurus play with Yumkusaurus chicks some meters away. It’s nice.
Ororon starts looking for something on that magic bag of his as they sit on the grass, until he takes out a jar and two cups. Inside the jar there’s a drink so clear it reflects the sky above them.
“What’s this?” Ifa asks.
“Astral Mist” Ororon answers as he hands Ifa his cup “It’s an alcoholic snezhnayan drink I drank while I was working with The Captain. I finally made a perfect copy of it, and I wanted to share it with you.”
“Thanks, dude. Cheers.”
Ororon drinks it all in on gulp, smiling softly to himself as he does “It tastes just like the original.”
Ifa hums in answer, taking his own sips as well. It’s a strong drink, but the taste feels nice. If his throat wasn’t so scratchy, he would enjoy it better.
“Y’know, I was thinking” he says as he gulps down another sip “Maybe we could go to Ochkanatlan someday. Visit the guy and stuff.”
“Oh” Ororon blinks in surprise, ears perking and cheeks flushing “You’d go all the way there with me?”
“Of course, my dear bro. Whenever you’re ready.”
Ororon’s grin is radiant as he shifts his body to push both him and Ifa to lie on the ground, cuddling their bodies very close. The grass feels a bit itchy on his arm, but it’s worthy it when he has his boyfriend this close.
“Before everything happened, I always felt like the Master’s of the Night-Wind was a huge garden, and I was a seed that didn’t sprout. But after everything he did for me, I feel like I finally belong there.”
“Took them long enough and a Fatui Harbinger to treat you and granny Citlali better” Ifa grumbles.
“Hey, let’s not start arguing about that...”
“Sorry, sorry. But you know that’s what I think.”
“But it’s not only in that way. I’m also re-reading a lot of the old woven scrolls on my tribe’s library, and they resonate with me a lot. Thousands of years ago, when Xbalanque was still the Pyro Archon, our people believed that the earth was an extension of their souls, and that the nature and the divine were connected. The physical plane where they meet ̶ here ̶ was called Tekoha. Nowadays though, it’s passed along generations that the stars are the soul’s extension. Some elders still believe it’s both, but it’s not that common anymore. The earth is now seen as the holder of the memories, but it’s nice to see that our culture is something that feels close to me.”
Ifa nods at Ororon’s words, interwining their hands and bringing Ororon’s close to his lips, to give it a kiss. Ororon smiles at him, and Ifa thinks he’s going to caress his jaw or something with his free hand, but he goes straight to his nose and squeeze it. Hard. Like, very hard.
“Ow!!!!???? Dude, what was that for?”
“You are so cute sometimes that my affection for you wants to go beyond my body.”
Whatever Ifa was expecting Ororon to say, it definitely wasn’t something like that. His eyes widen in surprise, and he grins ear to ear. Ifa loves him so much. Even if his nose is hurting like a bitch now, on top of being stuffy.
“Aw babe, you are cute all the time” he says, placing a hand on Ororon’s tight, caressing it with his thumb. Ororon’s hand, in return, finds his shoulder, and he’s quick to grab it to give him a kiss. One kiss that becomes two, three, four, five tender pecks “So imagine how I feel every time I’m around you, huh?”
“Hey, this is my moment to praise you. Don’t steal it.”
Ifa laughs out loud at his words “Sure thing, bro” he then grabs Ororon’s other hands and gives it even more kisses, squeezing it lightly.
The way Ororon whines so sweetly and his ears twitch every time Ifa touches his skins is very tempting to him, and he starts to wonder if their friends would mind if they took a bit longer to come to the party. Unfortunately for him, though, his body doesn’t agree with his mind; his head suddenly starts to hurt and he feels that annoying lump on his throat once again. He makes a displease sound and sits in hopes to feel better, taking the opportunity to at least touch more of Ororon’s legs, mindlessly sneaking his fingers inside his pants’ holes.
“… Hey” Ororon says, and Ifa hums to show he’s listening “How about we go to my home, and I cook something for us? You look tired.”
“Babe, the heck are you on about?” Ifa tries really hard not to cringe at how hoarse his own voice sounds “It’s your birthday, I should be the one doing stuff for you.”
Ororon sits as well and he tilts his head, his big eyes making him look like a confused puppy.
“You already took me on a date, though?”
“Yeah, I know that, but ̶ ”
“And I’m really craving grainfruit meat soup right now.”
“I can cook it for you” Ifa sniffles.
“You don’t know how to cook soup. They always end up being too watery.”
“Ouch.”
“Don’t make that face, it’s true!”
Ifa lets him be for the time being, mainly because it doesn’t really matter; it’s a good excuse to bring Ororon home, after all. Besides, it’s good that they go to the party already. Ifa has been avoiding the truth from himself for a while now, but he’s not dumb. He knows he’s sick. And it won’t take too long for Ororon to realize it as well, so the party will save him some time.
“Fine, fine. Your wish is my command.”
It’s Ororon who does the talking this time as they walk towards his home, Ifa’s hand on his lower back. He talks excitedly about a fontainean chief that wants to buy vegetables from him, and Ifa thinks to himself that he wouldn’t mind to Fontaine as his companion now that they’re able to leave Natlan’s borders.
“Maybe we could go to Fontaine someday. To visit and stuff, just the two of us.”
“Just the two of us, not even Cacucu? Are you sure you want to go there just to visit?” Ororon teases.
“Hey, we can visit and fuck, one thing doesn’t prevent the other.”
“Woah, Ifa’s so bold” Ororon feigns innocence, and Ifa rolls his eyes as he grabs his waist “Who would’ve thought!”
Ifa coughs a few times before he speaks again “You’re one to talk, my dear. But I’m being serious about us travelling.”
“Mmm, I can’t wait for it, then.”
As they walk through Big Pinecone, Ifa tries his best not to smile too much. He keeps switching between looking at Ororon’s face and glancing ahead, as casually as he can. Like nothing’s up. Ororon squints his eyes at him, opening his mouth to say something, when their friends appear in front of them, welcoming them in and saying “Surprise!” in union.
“Happy birthday, Ororon! May you be blessed by the Pyro Archon and be always happy!”
“Happy birthday. I know it’s not as sweet as the honey you had Ifa bring to me, buuut I tried my best. I also made a bracelet for you to compensate for it.”
“Happppyyyyy birthday, Ororon!!! The present I bought with Kinich hasn’t arrived yet, but it’s on the way!”
“Happy birthday, Ororon.”
“Happy birthday! You’re welcome to join me on the gym for free at any time.”
“You’re a puny human like everyone else, but at least you know your place and give me good snacks. For that, your birthday is blessed by The Almighty Dragonlord K’uhul Ajaw!”
“Happy birthday, Ororon!” Varesa pulls him into a tight hug “I know we’ve met just a few months before, but our friendship is so dear to me already.”
“I can say the same to you. Our friendship is already as precious in my heart as phlogiston is to the aphids” Ororon smiles.
“Happy birthday” Chasca says “I hope my gift is to your liking. It’s a sharp tooth that fell from a saurian warrior.”
… Eh?
“Wow, thanks. I can use it to dig my garden’s soil instead of using my hands now” Ororon gasps in delight, and Chasca ruffles his hair affectionately.
… Eh!?
Ororon turns around to face everyone, and he plays with his glove, bouncing a little on his place.
“Thank you so much, everyone. I’m sorry if I don’t look that excited, but I want you to know that I’m very happy. I’m also sorry that I don’t know which words to use to express it…”
“Hey, don’t worry about it” Ifa drapes his arms over Ororon’s shoulders “Look, there’s still one thing left.”
Xilonen and Kinich move to the side to show an adult Iktomisaur, and Ororon’s eyes wide in recognition the moment they land on the saurian. He stands still as Little (Big?) Quenepa Berry leaps on his way, and it’s just when he’s face to face with the saurian that he moves again, squatting on the floor and reaching out his hand to touch him between his ears.
“Hello” he softly says, voice barely above a whisper “How are you? You’ve grown up so much.”
Little-Big Quenepa Berry cheeps as joyfully as an Iktomisaur can sound, and Ororon nods through everything, which makes Ifa wonder if he understands what the saurian is saying. Cacucu’s tiny wings flap excitedly as he flies around them, and Ifa pats his head as he smiles knowingly.
“Little bro here was the one who flied around Natlan for days looking for him. I’m sure this is his birthday present for you.”
“Sure thing, bro! I’ve got you, bro!”
Ororon’s gaze is a mix of surprise and softness as his eyes meet Cacucu’s.
“Cacucu, you went through so much trouble just for me?” he asks, astonished and with sparkles on his eyes “Thank you” catching both Cacucu and Ifa off guard, he pulls the saurian into a tight hug, rubbing the feathers on his head gently.
It’s the first time Ifa sees Cacucu at a loss for words. He coos at the sight of the two beings he loves the most being so cute, but it quickly turns into a wheeze. He frows at the growing discomfort on his throat, but gives his all to not let it ruin the good vibes of the moment.
“Thank you” Ororon repeats, giving Cacucu a soft kiss this time, and Ifa swears he sees a small blush on the saurian’s round face.
“Awesome job, bro! Awesome job, bro!” Cacucu happily flies around Ororon’s head, until he tires himself and finds his spot above Ifa’s hat.
Ifa scoffs at Cacucu’s chosen words (now the little bro is shy to say he loves Ororon, huh?) but grins watching them; it’s always nice to see how well Ororon and Cacucu get along with each other. He remembers when, not that long ago, Chuychu had said that Cacucu was just like him, because they both adored Ororon so much.
Heh, I wish you could be here with us right now, friend.
With everyone chatting amongst each other as they eat delicious food, it’s safe to say the party goes great. It feels even better because Ifa can see how much Ororon is enjoying himself; it’s easy to see it with how much his ears flicker around in excitement. He’s so, so, so cute.
As the hours go by and the sunset starts to paint the sky lilac and orange, they gather around the main table, the cake still untouched ̶ good job, Chasca ̶ on its center. Just a second before Citlali starts to sing, thought, a distant rumble breaks the moment, and a motorcycle engine growls closer until Mavuika stops just outside Ororon’s yard gate, hair on fire and an apologetic smile on her face.
“I’m sorry for being so late!” she runs closer to Ororon, hugging him and lifting him off his feet “Happy birthday, hero! May you keep growing and showing Natlan your devotion!”
“Mavuika, let him go and let’s get to the cake already!” Citlali taps her foot on the floor “It’s no one’s fault you’re late!”
“Sorry, sorry!”
It’s Mualani that leads the singing this time, and Ifa claps as he notices how Ororon stand still awkwardly before being the center of attention. He holds his hand and squeezes it reassuringly, and Ororon gives him a small, grateful smile as he squeezes back.
“Make a wish, Ororon!” Mavuika grins once the song ends.
Ororon parts the cake from the bottom to the top, eyes closed and nose scrunched cutely as he makes a wish, still holding Ifa’s hands. He only lets go when he puts the first slice on a plate and hands it to Citlali, that flushes in record time, speechlessly looking at the cake like it is the next Pyro Archon or something. Once she snaps out of it, she shoves it into Mavuika’s hands and hugs Ororon so tightly that Ifa worries she’s going to break some of his bones.
It's a common tradition in Natlan to give the first slice of your birthday cake to the person you love the most. Kids and teenagers usually are the ones that take it more seriously, but having in mind that Citlali and Ororon are an odd family, and that one time years ago was the first and only time Ororon had a birthday party before now, it makes sense for her to get so emotional over something so trivial.
“Ororon, my sweet child! Stop growing up so fast, would you? What is granny going to do without you?” she sniffs. The more she talks, the more her voice starts to tremble “My sweet boy… You were always such a good kid. And now you’re all grown up! With a lot of friends and a partner! B-buaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!”
“…Granny, are you drunk?”
“W-what do you mean, “are you drunk”!? You brat, granny doesn’t have to be drunk to say nice things!”
Ororon makes a funny face “Well…”
“Granny Itztli, you should eat the cake. It’s very tasty” Chasca suggests as she stands between them, subtly nodding her head towards Ororon when Citlali’s focus shifts to the cake and he gives her a grateful look.
Ifa looks around and sees Ororon talking with Little-Big Quenepa Berry while everyone else chat amongst each other while they eat the cake and takes the opportunity to have a coughing fit that was stuck in his throat, moving to grab a bottle of water and down it in one gulp when he sees Cacucu, Mualani, Varesa and Chasca approaching him.
“The party was a success!” Mualani cheers.
“We make a great team” Varesa agrees.
“Awesome job, bro!”
“We could have a name for our group! Like… Like… Erm… Like… Chasca! I’m sure you’re good with names.”
Chasca muses it over with a hand on her chin.
“Three girls and a homosexual.”
Ifa and Cacucu exchange a side eye, Varesa bites her lips as she suppresses the giggles wanting to come out, and Mualani blinks slowly on Chasca’s way, visibly flabbergast.
“Oh, that’s…”
“Do you even hear yourself, bro?”
Mualani snaps her fingers, quickly pulling herself back together “Right, right! We can’t let Cacucu out of the group’s name! He was of big help as well. Ugh… But nothing comes to mind.”
“I’m sure we’re gonna think of a name eventually, don’t worry bro” Ifa reassures her.
“Well, let’s leave it for next time, then. It’s getting late and I promised Kachina’s parents I was going to bring her home. Goodbye, guys!”
“Goodbye!”
One by one, people start going home, until there’s only Ifa, Ororon, Cacucu and Citlali left.
“Happy birthday once again, grandson” she says, tenderly caressing Ororon’s cheek “Take care and behave yourselves, you two!”
Ifa arches his brows playfully when she turns and starts to walk away, and Ororon laughs as he hugs him “Thank you for going through the work to organize a whole party for me.”
“Hey, don’t mention it, babe. There’s nothing that makes me happier than seeing you smiling.”
Ororon nuzzles his head on Ifa’s collarbone, and Ifa’s hand is quick to find it’s place between his ears as he gives him head pats. Each touch makes Ororon nuzzle even more closer to him, until their bodies feel like one. Ifa’s other hand wrap around Ororon’s waist, and the moment would feel perfect if not for the fatigue he’s feeling.
“Ifa.”
“Hmm?”
“Now that the day is almost over, will you finally tell me you’re sick?”
The question makes Ifa’s brain short-circuit for a while. He avoids Ororon’s gaze, feeling too exposed all of a sudden.
“… So, you knew all this time, huh?”
“Of course” Ororon answers in a flat tone that makes Ifa feel like the stupidest person alive “Remember last time you got sick, like, four years ago? You behaved the same way. And I also knew because of something else.”
“What?”
“Hmm who knows?” Ororon shrugs “But I knew that you wouldn’t admit it, at least not until my birthday ended. Ifa takes care of everyone but is too proud to be taken care of. Like a farmer that makes aphid honey but doesn’t know how to bake saurian crackers.”
Despite the pain it gives him, Ifa can’t help but laugh “That’s a different way to tell me you want more crackers” he sneezes one, two, three times “But yeah, you got me… I think I do have a cold.”
“You think? Tsk, you look like you’re going to pass out at any minute now. Come, stay here tonight. I’ll make that grainfruit meat soup for you.”
The moment they enter Ororon’s home and Ifa lays on his bed, finally allowing himself to rest, is when he feels how sore his body really feels, that painful ache not only on his head but everywhere else. He doesn’t fight against the sleepiness coming to him, not with how heavy his eyes feel. He dozes off quickly, and only wakes up because he hears the soft click of a plate being placed on the bedside table besides Ororon's bed.
Ororon’s face greets him as he slowly opens his eyes, and the rich smell of meat follows right after. It’s such a good way to wake up that he would feel in heaven if not for the painful soreness on his throat.
“I put Cacucu to sleep” Ororon says, handing a spoon to him “He’s all cozy on the sofa. I think he was tired as well.”
Ifa half listens to him, too focused on how tasty the soap is. Every very single spoonful includes soft meat, crunchy veggies and a titillating spiciness; it’s so good that he’s certain he’s already getting better.
“Babe, this is the best soup I’ve ever tasted in my entire life.”
“Sweet-talker” Ororon playfully rolls his eyes “You’re only saying this because you’re hungry and weak.”
“It’s not flattery, I swear it.”
Ororon rolls his eyes again, but he lets him be, seemly content to watch Ifa eat; Ifa promises to himself that he’s going to bake sweets to him as soon as he gets better.
He touches his forehead to check his temperature, and Ifa moans with how good his cold touch feels in contrast with his hot skin.
“You have a fever…” Ororon frows “It’s going to be a long night for you today.”
“I’m sorry for making you worry on your birthday. It would've been perfect if not for me falling ill.”
“My birthday is just another cabbage leaf on a chonky cabbage. Ifa’s health is more important to me. Besides, I’m happy and very lucky, because what I wished for already came true. With all my friends there for me and my wish becoming true, I can say it’s a perfect day today.”
“Hmm?” Ifa asks. His eyes feel heavy, but he gives Ororon all his attention, curiously looking at him through his droopy eyes “And what was it?”
Ororon wraps a blanket with Night-Wind’s patterns around Ifa’s shoulders and fixes some parts of his bangs that feel sweaty on his forehead. His voice is as sweet as his smile and as soft as his eyes as he says,
“That you would let me take care of you.”