Archive of Our Own ^beta

Lloyd entered the living room at six in the morning, expecting the same silence that was always there that early.

Instead, he received confetti in his face, and three different voices cheering, completely shaking whatever sleep was still in his body out of him.

“Surprise!!!”

Lloyd blinked, and looked around the living room, which he now saw was decorated with green and gold balloons, streamers and banners. There was food on the coffee table and a small stack of gifts next to it.

“...What's all this?” He asked his cousin, who was smiling up at him, holding a now empty party popper. Estrella blinked and tilted her head to the side.

“Did you forget your own birthday, silly?” 

She grabbed his arms and dragged him over to the couch, forcing him to sit. On the coffee table was a round cake. It was chocolate with minty green icing, topped with chocolates, mint candies, frosting in the shapes of roses, and a two and zero candle on top. 

He didn't have time to take in the elaborate dessert that laid before him. He felt something land on his head. He looked up to see Arin smiling down at him, having placed a paper crown on his head. 

“Me and Arin made the cake. Sora helped! By watching us make it!” Estrella explained. 

Sora soon came out with a lighter, lighting the candles on the cake. The trio began to sing him happy birthday. 

Lloyd remembered how this day went every year.

At ten years old, he spent the day alone, crying in his dorm room and wallowing in his loneliness with no one to comfort him.

At eleven years old, the others were too busy training him for the battle with The Overlord that there wasn't much fanfare. Wu did get him a gift- a new comic book- but that was it. He was never particularly upset about it. They were busy, and most of them didn't even know it was his birthday in the first place.

At twelve years old, things had calmed down a bit, and he got a proper birthday party for the first time in his life. The others took him out to Buddy’s Pizza, and he had the time of his life eating and playing games.

At thirteen years old, after the battle with The Overlord, the public had started to take notice of him. The mailman had come to their home looking exhausted, carrying stacks and stacks of letters just for him. Each of them showed him gratitude for saving the city, most of them including a personal story of how he saved a loved one.

At fourteen years old, the fame had gotten to him. Luckily, the bounty was great for avoiding bothersome civilians. They held a party in the sky, some of their allies joining them for the event. They busted out all the classic birthday party games and the karaoke machine. That was the day he found out Kai could sing, much to his shock.

At fifteen years old, his family took him out to a nice restaurant, where he was teased for his height and changing voice. Even Mystake showed up to congratulate him, gifting him with black tea. He appreciated the gesture.

At sixteen years old, there wasn't any celebration. Everyone was too busy being miserable over missing Nya. It felt awful to attempt to smile, laugh and party without her. Besides, he was busy. He had lots of windows to wash after all.

At seventeen through nineteen years old, he was all alone again. The merge had torn his family apart and ripped them away from him. 

And now, at twenty years old, he's not alone anymore. And he's being celebrated by other people for the first time in years.

Tears spilt from his eyes.

“Oh no.” Estrella gasped. “You guys made him cry!” 

“Us?!” Sora and Arin retorted in unison.  

“It's not your fault.” He sniffed, wiping his eyes. “It's okay. I'm okay.” 

His family looked at each other for a moment, before smiling.

“Well, make a wish!” Arin said, grinning.

Lloyd nodded, and after thinking about what to wish for, he blew out the candles.

And it was special.

And he was special.