[It's officially one minute to midnight, and before waiting for a response, Sougo hurriedly finishes up the last of his preparations - lighting the candles on the cake he carefully picks up - and moves to stand in front of Tamaki's door. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
And right as midnight hits, he knocks modestly and speaks up in a voice that's just a hint more nervous than he anticipated.]
Tamaki-kun? It's me. Would you mind... [Too formal. This is Tamaki, after all.] Could you open the door?
[ texting while at home isn't all that weird for them, but, really, sougo could've just shown up by his door. unless he wasn't comfortable enough to. well, he has been busy, lately. they both have, but in tamaki's eyes, all of that accumulated into a small mountain of fear that their relationship now slowly reverted into something more business-oriented, rather than...
this sucks. he's overthinking. ]
Yeah, come over.
[ in the midst of things, tamaki had tried to bury the thought of his birthday on the back of his mind. he was used to being away from home by now, enough familiar faces, amongst new ones, hung around him and filled the small hole in his heart that had hollowed out by being away- still, that didn't make it any less lonely this time around. if only he could remember how to deal with that sense of solitude again, he might have not reduced himself to planning on laying in bed and passively making the hours pass. sougo would definitely have been too busy for him, anyway.
the knock on his door removes him from that negative spiral, and slowly, with the blanket still draped over his head he lifts himself off his bed and drags his feet to it, mumbling. ]
You're too nervous, I cleaned it the other day, you know...
[ or two weeks ago. details, details.
either way, he opens the door-- and after a few moments or registering the sight in front of him, his eyes light up in wonder as he remains speechless. ]
[Admittedly, working to prepare all of this behind Tamaki's back had been more than a mild challenge, especially when both of them had been home for these last few hours.
Sougo had been sure to bake the cake when he knew Tamaki was away, texting him to check that he wouldn't be home anytime soon. And really, thank goodness that he still has several of Mitsuki's recipes on his phone from home... and that he didn't try to draw anything more than words on the cake, which actually turned out quite beautiful for being homemade by someone who isn't partial to sweets. The decorations may not be extravagant, but in true Sougo fashion, they're all set up perfectly - he'd at least managed to spangle the living room with light blue streamers and balloons while he was sure Tamaki was busy playing games. The song, however...
No, that can wait. Tamaki's bewildered expression is exactly what he was hoping for, and with a modest laugh, Sougo can't help but smile fondly as he holds up the cake.]
Happy birthday, Tamaki-kun. I... wanted to be the first one to tell you.
[ in sougo's favor, one of tamaki's perfectly developed skills is the ability to be a couch potato for hours on end. of course, this was fueled by his lack of expectations amongst his other doubts, so the surprise truly had thrown him for a loop-- the outcome was nothing short of a complete success.
the cake looked perfect. it painted an image of something so familiar and yet still too new, simple but appealing, just like fiction had always made him believe was the symbol of warmth and being cared for. treating it like the rarest of treasures, he reaches out and gingerly takes the cake into his own hands, staring down at every little detail. while his face might still not show it, though, something beneath the blankets draped over him wagged incessantly. ]
You're the first. Sou-chan, did you do all this by yourself?
I would hope so. It's only a few seconds after midnight, after all.
[If someone else had managed to beat him to the punch, he'd be awfully surprised. And really... For all of their communication troubles, Sougo feels that he's finally gotten a clear enough read on Tamaki to pick up on his excitement through his eyes alone.]
Does it look alright? I thought it would mean more if it was homemade. [He's certainly no Mitsuki, but cooking is one of the few things he has a bit of confidence in!] I tried my best to make it look as perfect as I could. I wasn't sure how to incorporate pudding, but if shortcake is okay...
It looks fine! [ his reassurance comes a little too quick, paired with a booming, dissonant voice in their intimate setting. ] It's good. Shortcake's good. And-- this is... thanks.
[ maybe he really was overthinking, after all. the sweet, and admittedly very endearing expression on sougo's face wash away most of his worries. and finally revealing a small, weirdly meek smile of his own, he nods towards the candles. ]
Do I make a wish, now? Are you gonna eat it with me?
[Candle wax melting all over the cake he worked so hard on is decidedly unappealing, but rushing Tamaki to think of a wish isn't ideal either... They can go to the kitchen afterwards, so it's probably best to blow the candles out right here. Which means...
Hold on, give him just a moment to take a deep breath and sing with a little less modesty then he's been displaying up until now. Tamaki deserves it.]
[ knowing how meticulous sougo is, he fully expected to have to take the cake over to their dining area, neatly set it down, think of a wish, then blow the candles... there definitely wasn't any time available for all of that, so tamaki himself was ready to rush himself to it-- however, his mind halts to a blank the very moment sougo begins to sing.
ah.
it's had been exciting and emotional to celebrate his birthday for a couple of years now-- but for the first time, for some reason, tamaki's eyes well up at the sound of his partner's voice singing only for him, and as a few tears threaten to fall down his cheeks, his arm quickly reach up to wipe them away. ]
[Oh no... Oh no. All of the signs may have pointed to this happening, but it still manages to catch Sougo surprisingly off guard - though it's only clear from his suddenly panicked expression as he reaches out to hurriedly take the cake, singing smoothly up until the last note.
As much as he'd like to reach up and brush those sudden tears away, there's nowhere to set the cake down, so he simply holds it up to allow Tamaki to blow the candles out.]
[ it'd be too rude to just stand there being a baby after all the effort that was put into this. Making a great effort to recompose himself, he rubs his face roughly one more time and looks down towards the cake, taking a deep breath and finally making his wish. ]
I want a lifetime supply of pudding at my door.
[ ready to blow at the candles, he leans in-- but stops in his tracks right before doing so, pointedly avoiding sougo's gaze. ]
...and I want Sou-chan to forgive me. For being a jerk.
[How very like Tamaki to wish for pudding... Sougo is hard-pressed to mention that saying his wish out loud means that it won't come true (not to mention that receiving a lifetime supply at once would present an endless list of problems. But then Tamaki continues on, blindingly sincere as always, and Sougo's expression softens considerably.]
Well, I can only grant one of those wishes... But it's easy to do. I forgive you.
[Spelling it out clearly is the best way to ensure that his words aren't misconstrued!]
It's your birthday, so isn't it fine to wish for something a little more selfish? But hurry - blow out the candles before they burn out on their own.
[ overcome with relief, the tension in tamaki's shoulders releases as he lets out a sigh. ] That's good. I'm glad. [ they can touch on whatever had gone between them later. for now, it was time for celebration! clarifying that there's nothing else that he could wish for right now would prolong the wait longer as well, so he follows the suggestion of blowing out the candles, standing up straight and pulling the blanket out of his head once the flames are out.
Time to eat-- wait. ]
Hey, Sou-chan. This doesn't have any spice in it, does it?
[Just as always, the first of the month brings Sanguis along with it, so the fluffy ears poking out from Tamaki's hair don't come as a surprise. Sougo's awfully tempted to reach up and brush his hair down - it's sticking up everywhere, but since he's holding the cake, he couldn't even if he wanted to.
Now that the candles are out, he turns to lead them to the kitchen, setting the cake down on the kitchen table alongside the plates, silverware, and glasses that he'd placed there earlier.]
Of course not. I wouldn't put spice in a cake for you.
[But the fact that he's cutting and serving two slices makes it clear that he's going to eat some too... even if Tamaki's slice is much larger.]
I tasted it along the way, but be honest and tell me what you think. I followed the recipe to the letter, but I haven't made a cake like this before.
[ don't blame him if tamaki doubts that statement juuuust the slightest bit. he's glad that he'd be so considerate not to do it, but it's better safe than sorry when it comes to how unpredictable sougo could be. that small doubt doesn't stop him from following along though, marveling at the decorations as he sits at the table. ]
You really worked hard on all this.
[ it's not a jab at his tendency to take things way too passionately. well, maybe a little, but he's grateful nonetheless, and doesn't even bother to wait for a second after the slice is served before scooping up a big bite and shoving it into his mouth to give it a "taste." ]
I did what I could. I was worried that you'd come out of your room and spoil the surprise.
[Sougo may not thrive on praise the same way that Tamaki does, but hearing Tamaki's opinion truly is vital to him. It's hard to not take compliments to heart when the person giving them doesn't know how to be anything but completely and utterly genuine.
Also, he's going to let Tamaki off the hook with his manners... At least for today.]
Fufu. I'm glad to hear it. The strawberries are delicious, aren't they? I made it pretty sweet, so I may not be able to finish my entire slice, but you can have as much as you want.
That's okay, I can finish your slice too. [ and the rest of the cake in one sitting, for that matter. ]
I really didn't notice.I even thought you weren't home since--
[ well, time to stuff another giant chunk into his mouth to avoid talking. he's had enough proof that his insecurities are nothing but just that, there's nothing to worry about! he'll repeat that to himself as a little mantra while he enjoys the gift sougo worked so hard on making for him. right now, the fact that they're together is all that matters.
and so, to thank him, he extends his hand over to sougo's head, giving it a single pat, then resting it there while leaning some of his weight on it. ]
I tried to keep to myself so you wouldn't suspect anything...
[Maybe, just maybe, he's been a little more busy this month working on a certain present for a certain someone. It's probably best not to get into it, though... Anything that could create tension is better off avoided when they're supposed to be celebrating.
But just as he glances down to take a forkful of cake, Tamaki's hand settles on his head, and a fond smile rises to Sougo's lips.]
You're welcome. It may not be that exciting to celebrate with just the two of us, but today should be about you from start to finish.
[ leaning forward to get a glimpse of sougo's face brings a wave of delight to tamaki's chest. it's almost inevitable to mirror that expression while pulling back to cut himself another slice of cake, making sure he doesn't mess up the decorations too much. ]
I don't get why you'd say that. Celebrating with Sou-chan makes me happy. It's not like I don't miss everyone else, but, you know... just the two of us is perfect already. I'm happy you're here with me.
["Just the two of us is perfect already"... How honest. How genuine. How... embarrassingly wonderful to hear.
Sougo's pale skin doesn't do him any favours when it comes to the faint flush that colours his cheeks, but it's simply not worth it to hide his gratitude.]
When you say things like that, I feel like I'm the one being celebrated. [Shouldn't he be the one saying things to make Tamaki smile?] I'm happy you're here with me too. I don't know what I'd do without you.
[Grinning, he takes one of the strawberries from his slice of cake and offers the fork out to Tamaki, gesturing toward his plate.]
Here. The strawberries are perfect, so it would be a waste not to eat them all.
That's because you're worthy of being celebrated too, but...I guess that just means I have to beat you and make a better surprise next month.
[ to sougo's gratitude, he can only grin in return, his attention immediately raptured by the strawberry held out towards him. now, he could be mature about it, he's an adult now, no funny business-- and yet... mentions of it being his day, and deserving to be celebrated morph that expression into something mischievous, and instead of offering his plate, he scoots closer. ]
[Coming up with a better surprise than this alone wouldn't be terribly difficult, but Sougo isn't about to reveal that this isn't the end of what he has planned. Instead, he only smiles and hums thoughtfully at the statement...
But than Tamaki just has to take things one step further than Sougo expected (which, really, he should have seen coming from a mile away), and he only falters briefly before leaning in just a little and trying to shove down any signs of embarrassment.]
Even without any cameras rolling?
[After all, it's not like they haven't done this before - feeding one another for fanservice is a staple in the idol industry, and even though they're far from Re:vale's level, MEZZO" has had their fair share of "say ahhhh~n" moments to make their fans melt into the floor.
Tamaki may enjoy being spoiled, but it's immediately clear that he's hoping to fluster Sougo, and birthday or not, he'd rather not appear that vulnerable when he's already feeling awfully nervous about what's to come. So it's time to take some inspiration from a certain pair of senior idols... and scoot in a little closer with a slightly coy smile.]
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3/31, 11:58 PM
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It's still early
I won't oversleep tomorrow.
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Are you in the middle of something? I was hoping to talk to you, but I don't want to interrupt you if you're busy.
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I'm not busy. I'm just in my room.
Are you home?
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[It's officially one minute to midnight, and before waiting for a response, Sougo hurriedly finishes up the last of his preparations - lighting the candles on the cake he carefully picks up - and moves to stand in front of Tamaki's door. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
And right as midnight hits, he knocks modestly and speaks up in a voice that's just a hint more nervous than he anticipated.]
Tamaki-kun? It's me. Would you mind... [Too formal. This is Tamaki, after all.] Could you open the door?
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unless he wasn't comfortable enough to. well, he has been busy, lately. they both have, but in tamaki's eyes, all of that accumulated into a small mountain of fear that their relationship now slowly reverted into something more business-oriented, rather than...
this sucks. he's overthinking. ]
Yeah, come over.
[ in the midst of things, tamaki had tried to bury the thought of his birthday on the back of his mind. he was used to being away from home by now, enough familiar faces, amongst new ones, hung around him and filled the small hole in his heart that had hollowed out by being away- still, that didn't make it any less lonely this time around. if only he could remember how to deal with that sense of solitude again, he might have not reduced himself to planning on laying in bed and passively making the hours pass. sougo would definitely have been too busy for him, anyway.
the knock on his door removes him from that negative spiral, and slowly, with the blanket still draped over his head he lifts himself off his bed and drags his feet to it, mumbling. ]
You're too nervous, I cleaned it the other day, you know...
[ or two weeks ago. details, details.
either way, he opens the door-- and after a few moments or registering the sight in front of him, his eyes light up in wonder as he remains speechless. ]
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Sougo had been sure to bake the cake when he knew Tamaki was away, texting him to check that he wouldn't be home anytime soon. And really, thank goodness that he still has several of Mitsuki's recipes on his phone from home... and that he didn't try to draw anything more than words on the cake, which actually turned out quite beautiful for being homemade by someone who isn't partial to sweets. The decorations may not be extravagant, but in true Sougo fashion, they're all set up perfectly - he'd at least managed to spangle the living room with light blue streamers and balloons while he was sure Tamaki was busy playing games. The song, however...
No, that can wait. Tamaki's bewildered expression is exactly what he was hoping for, and with a modest laugh, Sougo can't help but smile fondly as he holds up the cake.]
Happy birthday, Tamaki-kun. I... wanted to be the first one to tell you.
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the cake looked perfect. it painted an image of something so familiar and yet still too new, simple but appealing, just like fiction had always made him believe was the symbol of warmth and being cared for. treating it like the rarest of treasures, he reaches out and gingerly takes the cake into his own hands, staring down at every little detail. while his face might still not show it, though, something beneath the blankets draped over him wagged incessantly. ]
You're the first. Sou-chan, did you do all this by yourself?
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[If someone else had managed to beat him to the punch, he'd be awfully surprised. And really... For all of their communication troubles, Sougo feels that he's finally gotten a clear enough read on Tamaki to pick up on his excitement through his eyes alone.]
Does it look alright? I thought it would mean more if it was homemade. [He's certainly no Mitsuki, but cooking is one of the few things he has a bit of confidence in!] I tried my best to make it look as perfect as I could. I wasn't sure how to incorporate pudding, but if shortcake is okay...
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[ maybe he really was overthinking, after all. the sweet, and admittedly very endearing expression on sougo's face wash away most of his worries. and finally revealing a small, weirdly meek smile of his own, he nods towards the candles. ]
Do I make a wish, now? Are you gonna eat it with me?
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[Candle wax melting all over the cake he worked so hard on is decidedly unappealing, but rushing Tamaki to think of a wish isn't ideal either... They can go to the kitchen afterwards, so it's probably best to blow the candles out right here. Which means...
Hold on, give him just a moment to take a deep breath and sing with a little less modesty then he's been displaying up until now. Tamaki deserves it.]
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you~ ♪
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ah.
it's had been exciting and emotional to celebrate his birthday for a couple of years now-- but for the first time, for some reason, tamaki's eyes well up at the sound of his partner's voice singing only for him, and as a few tears threaten to fall down his cheeks, his arm quickly reach up to wipe them away. ]
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As much as he'd like to reach up and brush those sudden tears away, there's nowhere to set the cake down, so he simply holds it up to allow Tamaki to blow the candles out.]
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I want a lifetime supply of pudding at my door.
[ ready to blow at the candles, he leans in-- but stops in his tracks right before doing so, pointedly avoiding sougo's gaze. ]
...and I want Sou-chan to forgive me. For being a jerk.
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Well, I can only grant one of those wishes... But it's easy to do. I forgive you.
[Spelling it out clearly is the best way to ensure that his words aren't misconstrued!]
It's your birthday, so isn't it fine to wish for something a little more selfish? But hurry - blow out the candles before they burn out on their own.
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Time to eat-- wait. ]
Hey, Sou-chan. This doesn't have any spice in it, does it?
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Now that the candles are out, he turns to lead them to the kitchen, setting the cake down on the kitchen table alongside the plates, silverware, and glasses that he'd placed there earlier.]
Of course not. I wouldn't put spice in a cake for you.
[But the fact that he's cutting and serving two slices makes it clear that he's going to eat some too... even if Tamaki's slice is much larger.]
I tasted it along the way, but be honest and tell me what you think. I followed the recipe to the letter, but I haven't made a cake like this before.
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You really worked hard on all this.
[ it's not a jab at his tendency to take things way too passionately. well, maybe a little, but he's grateful nonetheless, and doesn't even bother to wait for a second after the slice is served before scooping up a big bite and shoving it into his mouth to give it a "taste." ]
...Mggh! Fhou-chawn, dif if weawwy good!
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[Sougo may not thrive on praise the same way that Tamaki does, but hearing Tamaki's opinion truly is vital to him. It's hard to not take compliments to heart when the person giving them doesn't know how to be anything but completely and utterly genuine.
Also, he's going to let Tamaki off the hook with his manners... At least for today.]
Fufu. I'm glad to hear it. The strawberries are delicious, aren't they? I made it pretty sweet, so I may not be able to finish my entire slice, but you can have as much as you want.
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I really didn't notice.I even thought you weren't home since--
[ well, time to stuff another giant chunk into his mouth to avoid talking. he's had enough proof that his insecurities are nothing but just that, there's nothing to worry about! he'll repeat that to himself as a little mantra while he enjoys the gift sougo worked so hard on making for him. right now, the fact that they're together is all that matters.
and so, to thank him, he extends his hand over to sougo's head, giving it a single pat, then resting it there while leaning some of his weight on it. ]
It's the best. Thanks.
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[Maybe, just maybe, he's been a little more busy this month working on a certain present for a certain someone. It's probably best not to get into it, though... Anything that could create tension is better off avoided when they're supposed to be celebrating.
But just as he glances down to take a forkful of cake, Tamaki's hand settles on his head, and a fond smile rises to Sougo's lips.]
You're welcome. It may not be that exciting to celebrate with just the two of us, but today should be about you from start to finish.
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[ leaning forward to get a glimpse of sougo's face brings a wave of delight to tamaki's chest. it's almost inevitable to mirror that expression while pulling back to cut himself another slice of cake, making sure he doesn't mess up the decorations too much. ]
I don't get why you'd say that. Celebrating with Sou-chan makes me happy. It's not like I don't miss everyone else, but, you know... just the two of us is perfect already. I'm happy you're here with me.
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Sougo's pale skin doesn't do him any favours when it comes to the faint flush that colours his cheeks, but it's simply not worth it to hide his gratitude.]
When you say things like that, I feel like I'm the one being celebrated. [Shouldn't he be the one saying things to make Tamaki smile?] I'm happy you're here with me too. I don't know what I'd do without you.
[Grinning, he takes one of the strawberries from his slice of cake and offers the fork out to Tamaki, gesturing toward his plate.]
Here. The strawberries are perfect, so it would be a waste not to eat them all.
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[ to sougo's gratitude, he can only grin in return, his attention immediately raptured by the strawberry held out towards him. now, he could be mature about it, he's an adult now, no funny business-- and yet... mentions of it being his day, and deserving to be celebrated morph that expression into something mischievous, and instead of offering his plate, he scoots closer. ]
My day, right? Feed me, then.
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But than Tamaki just has to take things one step further than Sougo expected (which, really, he should have seen coming from a mile away), and he only falters briefly before leaning in just a little and trying to shove down any signs of embarrassment.]
Even without any cameras rolling?
[After all, it's not like they haven't done this before - feeding one another for fanservice is a staple in the idol industry, and even though they're far from Re:vale's level, MEZZO" has had their fair share of "say ahhhh~n" moments to make their fans melt into the floor.
Tamaki may enjoy being spoiled, but it's immediately clear that he's hoping to fluster Sougo, and birthday or not, he'd rather not appear that vulnerable when he's already feeling awfully nervous about what's to come. So it's time to take some inspiration from a certain pair of senior idols... and scoot in a little closer with a slightly coy smile.]
Tamaki-kun... "Ahhh~n."
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