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Tangle’s irises were slowly exposed to the sunlight peeking through the blinds, as she slowly but surely opened her eyes.
As she did, she also happened to see something even more beautiful than the sunrise.
Whisper the wolf. Her girlfriend, and by association, her absolute favourite person in the world.
The wolf was already awake, lying on her side, looking at her newly awakened partner with a smile on her face. She leaned over and booped the sleepy lemur on the nose, following up with a kiss to her forehead.
”Happy birthday.” Whisper said quietly, watching as her girlfriend progressively became more and more awake.
”Mmmrghh.” The lemur groaned, followed by a long, drawn out yawn. She then proceeded to purse her lips. ”The birthday girl wants a birthday kiss.” She mumbled, her eyes closed in anticipation.
A light shade of red decorated Whisper’s muzzle, her smile becoming even wider. ”Oh does she now?” The wolf asked, raising an eyebrow.
Tangle nodded in response, lips still pursed.
”Well, if the birthday girl says so…” Whisper sighed exaggeratedly, shrugging. She leaned over to her partner once again, this time kissing her on the lips. Right when she pulled away, however, Tangle’s tail burst to life and wrapped itself around the wolf, who gasped in shock. Tangle herself grabbed ahold of Whisper in a big hug, and began peppering the wolf’s face with kisses.
”I thought you were half-asleep! You traitor!” Whisper squealed, being hit with kiss after kiss. Despite the accusation of treachery, Whisper was smiling so widely she’d most likely get facial cramps.
”Alright, I’ll grant you mercy.” Tangle said smugly, letting Whisper go from tail containment. ”But really though, thanks.” Tangle said, scratching her neck bashfully.
”Of course.” Whisper said simply. Then, all of a sudden, she turned towards the door to the bedroom and raised her voice. ”Alright guys, you can come in now!”
Tangle’s confusion only lasted about a second, as her moms almost instantly burst through the door, equipped with colorful party hats. Tilda was armed with a party popper, while Twist had a party horn hanging haphazardly out of her mouth like a cigarette. The latter was also carrying a present under her arm.
”HAPPY SIXTEENTH, SLINKY!” Tilda hollered, firing off the party popper, startling everyone in the room. The confetti slowly trickled to the bed, and after a few seconds of silence, Twist’s party horn let out a pathetic honk.
”…Sorry, got a little excited.” Tilda snickered, brushing the confetti off of the bed.
”…Were you guys just waiting right outside the door…?” Tangle asked, rubbing her eyes in bewilderment.
Twist waved her hand dismissively. ”Meh, that’s unimportant.” The older lemur stated confidently. ”What IS important, however, is that we’re celebratin’ today baby! Happy birthday, ya little stinker!” Twist blew into the party horn more enthusiastically this time. The more time Whisper spent at Tangle’s house, she realized that Twist was definitely a case of ”don’t judge a book by its cover.” Despite looking perpetually tired, the taller of Tangle’s moms seemed to have an endless supply of energy.
Whisper supposed it made sense, considering she was Tangle’s parent, after all.
After blowing into the party horn for maybe a little too long, Twist gingerly placed the present on Tangle’s legs.
”I was gonna toss it at ya, but I think it might be fragile. Didn’t wanna break it.” She chuckled awkwardly.
Tangle looked over to Whisper, and the wolf nodded encouragingly. Tangle eagerly began peeling away the wrapping paper, and soon she was met with the sight of a sleek, black box. She opened the box, revealing a sheet of cardboard covering whatever the gift was. Tangle noticed that there was a small note lying on the cardboard. She picked it up and read it.
Welcome to the team ;)
-Whisper
Tangle’s eyes widened, and she instantly removed the sheet of cardboard, uncovering the gift, prompting the lemur to gasp.
Sitting in the box was a sleek headset, colored black and orange, which was the lemur’s favourite colors. The headset was one-eared, which would give her more awareness in battle, while still being able to receive instructions. The headset was adorned with a small, transparent orange visor. Tangle remembered seeing something similar in an anime she watched with Whisper once.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Tangle tackle-hugged Whisper, hugging her tightly.
”THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU SO MUCH! I LOVE IT!” The lemur shouted, kissing her girlfriend on the cheek.
Whisper sat back up, and picked up the visor. ”I found some old blueprints a few weeks ago of this headset, and I figured you might appreciate something a little less… well, claustrophobic.”
”Awww!” Tangle exclaimed. ”That’s so sweet!”
Whisper blushed a little in response. ”I realized that it would be a perfect birthday present, so I handed the blueprints to Tails. Sorry I didn’t tell you earlier…” The wolf said apologetically.
”Are you kiddin’ me?! You don’t gotta apologize, this is the best birthday present ever!” Tangle replied. She then turned to her parents. ”Uh… no offense.”
”None taken!” Tilda replied cheerfully. ”It is pretty incredible.”
Whisper smiled, and proceeded with explaining how the device worked to Tangle. ”It works about the same as my mask. The visor will display information, and the earpiece will allow you to understand the wisps’ language. But coolest of all…”
She tapped a button on the headset, and it suddenly transformed into a small earring, which landed in Whisper’s hand.
”This was my suggestion to Tails.” She said, a cheeky smile on her face.
”You’re the actual best, I can’t believe this.” Tangle said breathlessly. The lemur’s smile suddenly turned from one of genuine joy and happiness to one of mischief.
”I’m gonna play so many pranks on you with the wisps.”
Whisper glared at her partner with a deadpan stare, causing Tangle to instantly backpedal.
”I’m-I’m joking, I promise!”
Whisper continued to stare at her before her expression slowly morphed into a smile.
”You fell for it!” She said, giggling.
Tangle realized that she had, in fact, been the prankee. The tables had been turned.
”I’m not mad at you, I just wanted to prank you a little!” Whisper booped her girlfriend on the nose for the second time that morning.
”Okayokayokay!” Twist suddenly interrupted. ”You two can have a talk about pranks or whatever later, there is literally strawberry poundcake waiting in the next room!”
Both Whisper and Tangle had jumped out of bed and dashed into the kitchen before Twist had finished speaking.
Tilda and Twist stood in the doorway for a bit, before Tilda spoke up.
”…We’re never beating that gift, are we?”
The wives stared at each other for a few seconds, then suddenly both burst out into laughter. Intertwining their hands, the older couple went after Whisper and Tangle, hoping that the teenagers had saved some of the strawberry poundcake for them.
They had a long day of fun ahead of them, after all.