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Usually, Vanessa hated it when it rained on her birthday. It seemed so unfitting, too glooming for a day that was supposed to be full of partying.
To be fair, she didn’t hated rain itself. It was soothing, refreshing and in some cases even romantic. But it seemed gloom in relation with birthdays. Even when the party was inside. Some years ago, when she was a few months out of the cage, Vanessa even came to the conclusion that it should never ever rain on birthdays, that only sunshine should be allowed as weather.
But this was just not possible. There were so many people in the world and each day of the year was a birthday for someone. By her past just-out-of-the-cage logic, there should be sunshine the whole year through. Which wouldn’t be good for mother earth for many reasons. So, today Vanessa didn’t mind as much. Just a bit.
And who knows, maybe there were people out there who preferred rain over sunshine for their birthdays.
Was Nozel one of those people? Or did he just not care at all? It was difficult to say, since he never really celebrated his birthdays since his mother death. Until last year, for their first birthday celebrated during their relationship.
Vanessa glanced at Nozel, whose hands and fingers seemed to dance on the piano, playing a calm yet happy melody. He didn’t even need to watch what his hands were doing, as he had closed his eyes, enjoying his own music. He seemed so at peace, still a rare sight coming from him.
Her big birthday party would be this evening, wild and so Black Bull. Her squad would be present, obviously. But for the first time, there would also non-Bulls present. Mimosa would be there and the other Vermillions too, except for Mereoleona who was currently going wild in Hino. Captain Charlotte would be present as well, hopefully she and captain Yami would finally get a grip on themselves with their unresolved feelings. Even Nebra and Solid will be there, which meant probably that they were more accepting on their brothers relationship with a witch than they pretended. Somehow, it reminded Vanessa on Noelle… was this a family trait?
Nozel also mentioned that Solid will bring his fiancée. Vanessa had no idea how Solid of all people found someone, but according to Nozel and Noelle, this lady Rosette was a surprisingly kind person, so she was rather curious.
Vanessas closest witch friends captain Dorothy and Dominante promised to come, with Fanzell and Mariella and Fana, even Mars. Finesse would be there, it was to be expected since she was now considered now an honorary Black Bull since her wedding to Finral. Yuno would be there of course and even Langris kinda promised to come. Vanessa bonded a bit with him when Finral rekindled his relationship with his brother and even more when Langris cut ties with his parents. Vanessa had been quite surprised to discover behind that arrogant, overconfident jerk a person who suffered just as Finral under Ledior and Lillian Vaude, just for complete opposite reasons.
Even though not entirely, it had reminded Vanessa in some ways of Nozel. But she should have known with Zora and Gauche already, sometimes jerks hid a softer side within.
Until the party, Vanessa has decided to spent the day with Nozel, just the two of them. Which is probably why she didn’t mind the rain outside. Rain for some reason was always there during important steps of their relationship and often, they would actually waltz together at the sound of the raindrops falling against the glass of windows.
Right now, the soothing sound of the rain married so well with the melody Nozel was playing. It was certainly a good idea to push him to play. Not only because he was good, but also because it was something he shared with his mother and Vanessa had made herself the mission to help her boyfriend to get proper closure about his long grief. A good old trick of puppy dog eyes and pouting that it was her birthday were enough.
Despite his guilt and grief, it was clear that Nozel still loved to play the piano, knowing many melodies by heart and even enjoying teaching Vanessa a bit when she asked him for some lessons. He was happy.
Slowly, the melody came to finish, the last tone somehow softly echoing in the music room. Nozel opened his eyes and glanced at her, a shy smile on his lips.
“Did you like it?”
“Come on, honey. You KNOW how much I love hearing your pianist gifts.” She kissed his cheek. “You know, I never thought I would say this, but enjoying some quite time with my handsome boyfriend before the wild birthday party is a treat.”
Nozels sigh made her giggle. Oh, he already knew what was coming. He came to Noelles Bull Birthday Party last year and despite getting the first prize for the best birthday gift with Gordon (that competition had been Vanessas idea), much to Magnas, Astas and Gauches disappointment, he had been very taken aback by how chaotic, loud and wild the Black Bulls parties were. One thing he and Zora came to bond upon.
But he would still came, for her. And this gesture meant a lot for Vanessa. She already planned how to reward him later for his patience, back in his bedroom…
“Well… I have something for you.”
“That’s cheating, honey. You know that we agreed that I will get all the gifts at the same time, since there is another competition for my birthday.”
“I have a gift for you for this evening. But… since it’s your birthday, I wanted also to give you the opportunity to do something you always wanted to try with me.”
Given his blush, it clearly took him to make that decision. For her birthday. He was really putting efforts in this relationship, just as much as she did and just for that, Vanessa loved him even more.
But what could it be? Going to swim naked in a lake? Not with this weather. Drinking from the same glass of milkshake? Milkshake, along with hot chocolate, became their typical drinks, since Nozel couldn’t hold his liquor and Vanessa somehow got affected with the Silva Sweettooth. But there was no milkshake here. Calling the king multiple time as a prank to piss him off?
Someone knocked on the door and one of the servants, holding a silver tablet with a single glass on it.
“The lavender milkshake, as you wished, lord Nozel.”
“Thank you, Baxter, you’re dismissed.”
The servant nodded, putting the glass on a table near the windows, before leaving.
A lavender milkshake? Vanessa never heard on something like that before. But she wasn’t really surprised, given that the Silvas had some lavender desserts traditions.
It was only then that Vanessa realized it was only one glass… with two straws…
“Nozel?”
“You… well, you always asked me to drink a milkshake from the same glass. And… I don’t see the necessity of it, but there is nothing wrong with such an innocent task.”
“Don’t by shy, sugar. Just admit that you wanted to try it out too.”
Vanessa kissed him before Nozel could protest. It would take some time still before he would admit that he actually wanted to try innocent actions. Not so long ago, he would have called them ridiculous, but now…
Vanessa led him to the table, excited to finally share a milkshake with her boyfriend. It would be the first time she would do something like that. It was innocent and simple, but Vanessa was fond on such tasks. The smallest fun could bring lots of joy. Not to mention that she never tried lavender milkshake before. Maybe she could ask Nozel to give the recipe to Charmy.
They sat down and took the straws into their mouths. Vanessa closed her eyes, as it was so good. Sweet of course, but too sweet either. Of course it tasted like lavender, but also like vanilla, which she loved. It was refreshing and it reminded her of Nozel…
Vanessa opened her eyes and saw that Nozel looked expectantly at her while drinking from his own straw. He really hoped that she would like it, from the uncertain glance in his eyes and it was so sweet.
She put a hand on his and his shoulders slumped in relief. He was so cute when he tried so much to be a good boyfriend. And in Vanessas books, Nozel was one. It made him happy to make her happy.
So, they sat and drank their lavender milkshake slowly, enjoying this drink. Music, soothing rain, shared milkshake, later the party and afterwards the meeting in Nozels bedroom…
Sounded like a perfect birthday for Vanessa.