Red Velvet Cake

This world was such a scam.

Years would pass and you would never age a day.

All because some ‘gods’ decided to screw around with life and death.

Apparently, everyone was just a toy they could play with in their eyes.

Toys that would run around causing chaos. 

Little dolls that would live out little meaningless lives. 

But to a god that was entertaining.

What else were they supposed to do?

Actually, help them out?

A pen clicked against the wooden table. 

Today was January 29th. Valentine’s birthday. A day that through the years slowly became duller and duller. Messy black hair shifted over their left eye as they leaned back in their chair. Their head eventually found a place to rest on their hand. Uncomfortable… but they supposed it would do for now. Soft jazz music filled the air around them. It was not their thing. Well, nothing rarely was now days. If it was up to them, Valentine would be spending their birthday at home. Out of reapers prying eyes and under the warmth of their red and black checkered blanket. But despite it being their birthday they did not manage to get the day off of work. Before them sat an almost empty notebook and a half open laptop with their website pulled up. A photo sharing gallery. Valentine was a… ah model… of sorts. There was no nice way to put what they did. But it made a good coin. That’s all that mattered in the end. Being able to pay off their rent and other various bills every month. Valentine’s pen clicked again. Sometimes they wished they had someone to spend their birthday with. Ceres was quite the cold place on one’s own. Everyone making deals and screwing around in things they should stick out of. Valentine could care less. If it was up to them, things would be back to normal. They would have a nice little group of friends and they would be celebrating somewhere. 

A chocolate cake would be nice… maybe even red velvet. 

A half smile almost graced their lips. Oh, how they missed their friends cooking. Ren in particular. Miko couldn’t cook if there was a knife at his back. And Ryn set the kitchen on fire last time…. How they missed their friends… Ren was off playing god trying to keep death at bay. Ryn was travelling all the time with her new friends or whatever. And Miko was stuck in the hospital… Or at least he was supposed to be. Valentine glanced to his phone an old picture of the original three was sitting on his phone. Before the accident. Back when those smiles were actually genuine. That left Valentine all by their lonesome. Not that any of them were still friends anymore… When was the last time they even spoke? Months…? Years…? They were overthinking that. Ryn replied to their modelling page all the time. But Miko and Ren? They would hate to admit they missed anyone. But their high school group shaped them into the starving model they were today. People that willingly opened their doors to him when they were kicked out. They accepted and supported Val and now? Now, where were they? The bat fleuros scoffed clicking their pen several times before slowly setting it down. Well. At least. If anything. They still had himself and their dignity. Yeah… that was enough for them. Valentine opened his laptop fully again. They always sat in the same spot. A small corner of the cafe where the lights were half out. It really played on the vampire aesthetic that Valentine lived for. There was always red or black roses on the centrepiece of the table covering where Valentine had so kindly scratched in their name years ago. Years ago when they had dumb friends that did the same thing. They bet that if they turned the table around they could find Miko and Ren’s names scratched into the wood somewhere. A simple thought that almost got a small smile from them. They could almost imagine those two fighting across from them. Miko winning every fight not because he should but because Ren let him. Valentine sighed. Back then they were such a third wheel, weren’t they?  Or a fourth wheel depending on his Ren’s little sister tagged along on their adventures. 

Valentine clicked their pen again staring up at his website before them. A dark page for lonely people. That would make a good header. Red eyes stared into the computer screen as if the harder they looked the more likely an idea would come to them. But they were stuck on thinking about cake and how much they wanted some. Cake and company. The black and red pen twirled in their fingers as they leaned back in their chair, staring up at the flickering lights. The ceiling was dirty. This place could use a good clean. Maybe no one was tall enough to get that spider web in the corner. Or just didn’t have the heart to kill it. They slowly stood climbing onto the chair and attempting to sweep it away but it was slightly out of reach. They squinted at the spider that was barely evading their grasp before catching sight of a marking on the wall. 

‘Miko was hear’

Hear. He spelt it wrong. Miko was never the brightest, was he... The bat fleuros scoffed reaching down to get their pen again planning on scratching it out and correcting it. Miko was hear… Valentine paused before they marked it over and slowly sat down instead. They could faintly remember Miko writing that on the last birthday they spent together. Ren telling him it was spelt differently. Ryn getting upset because they shouldn’t be writing on the walls to begin with. Valentine leaned forward taking a sip from their what used to be iced latte but now was more of a lukewarm watered down coffee drink. They stared into the light brown liquid stirring the straw around and around as if that would improve the flavour.

Their 18th birthday, The last one they had in a really long time.

~~~~~~

“Val-En-Tine! Wake up!”

Valentine slowly turned over in bed, pulling a red blanket over their head as they did. Downstairs someone was calling for them. They shuffled around for a moment to find their phone and check the time. 10 AM. January 29th. Really? Still? Valentine rolled over staring at the ceiling. Glow in the dark stars were slowly peeling off the ceiling threatening to fall down.  Last night they showed up on Miko’s doorstep, half laughing, half crying. Just kicked out of his own home for being what he wanted to be. They cracked jokes about it all the time. But deep down never really expected it to happen. Valentine took a deep breath and slowly sat up. They were grateful that Miko’s family was so nice. His mom made them dinner and said Val could have Miko’s room for the night. While Miko was way more upset than Valentine over the whole ordeal. Saying how parents shouldn’t do that and whatnot. Miko was well off. Valentine leaned their head on their hands. Part of them wished that they were well off as well. Well off in like a mansion. With food being served on golden platters. Their stomach grumbled as they thought about all the things they wanted. Better go downstairs and see what Miko needed. Probably some birthday celebration. Not that Valentine really wanted to do that anymore. Their original plan was to simply sleep the day away. And then tomorrow they could try to work out a plan on what to do with themselves. They still had one more year of high school to work through. And then after that, they supposed they could consider college. At least they would be able to get some fun scholarships for this! Ha…. The bat stood from the bed checking themselves in Miko’s mirror before rummaging through his closet. Thankfully they were near the same size and somewhat the same style. They settled on a simple black tee and their own white and black trimmed jacket. Sucks that his parents didn’t even bother giving Valentine the time to pack a bag before getting kicked out. At least they had been somewhat prepped, always having some extra clothes in their bag. Now all they had to do was go back home and get said bag….

Valentine emerged from the second floor and slowly started downstairs ruffling their hair as they did. Miko was bouncing up and down on his heels as Valentine approached. 

“Happy birthday! We have so much planned for today but uh… I wasn’t sure how much you still wanted to do so I kinda tuned it down a bit. Mom is making you a cake! Do you like red velvet? I couldn’t remember but-”

Miko talked a lot. Almost nonstop. Valentine however gave him a simple smile and a small shrug, “I’m fine with whatever. Thank you and your mom for letting me spend the night-”

“Hey, dude no sweat! It’s what friends are for! Right? Plus I’m still pissed your family-” Miko paused rubbing the back of his neck, “You know… Anyways. Mi casa es tu casa. Or something like that. I flunked that course ahah.” The black haired fox stepped back to give Valentine their space again. His head tilted slightly and a familiar smile took back his expression, “So~ You ready to head out? I figured we could meet Ren at that cat cafe you wanted to go to!” Miko’s smile was soon covered by a butterfly face mask and a hand was offered out to the other.  A cat cafe. At least cats would give them some semblance of serotonin. Valentine took his hand allowing the other to drag him out. “So I was thinking today we could-”

Valentine slowly tuned out the other as they walked. Don’t get him wrong Miko was great and all. But he sure did love to talk about everything and everything. He acted as if this was his last time ever seeing them sometimes. Eighteen years old. Valentine looked up putting their free hand behind their head. At least the weather was nice outside. Not too cold, not snowing. All in all it should be a great day? Right? Val made a bit of a face. Well minus being kicked out and having to live with their friend he supposed it was a decent day. Valentine took a deep breath letting go of Miko’s hand for a moment to ruffle the shorter’s hair, “Yeah. Yeah. I think that all sounds great.”

”Were you even listening to me haha-” Miko hit off Valentine’s hand to fix his hair, “I was asking what your plans were for college… I don’t think I’m going. Too much pressure to go into politics and what not.” Miko waved his hand dramatically before fixing his mask again, “I wanna make music! So! Ren and I were talking about getting an apartment for like the three of us and we can just chill or whatever… since you know my parents will pay for me till the day I die. If you’re into that of course!” 

The bat fleuros flicked their wings thinking about that offer. Miko was so innocent and nice. Really wanted to see the best in the world. Even if people were jerks sometimes, They put both their hands behind their head looking back up to the slowly clouding sky. Birds flew ahead, flocks going home for spring. They clicked their tongue and shrugged. There was a nice pro to that. Living with friends, always having company, never having to worry about anything financial. But then the harsh downside of not being completely independent was enough to make Val question it. “I think. Being a lone wolf is good enough for me. At least for now. But I might take you up on that once I get an idea of what I want with my life.”

“I still think you would be a great model. Like despite being short-” 

A swift hand gently knocked the other on top of his head, “Short?? Really now. Have you seen yourself??”

Val was answered with a laugh as Miko ran ahead. A gremlin. That’s what he was. Not that Valentine was any better he supposed. “Hey! Get back here you twerp!”

~~~~~~

Val shifted in their seat. Did they fall asleep? Their laptop was dark as it fell into sleep mode and the cafe was bustling with way too many people. They pulled out their phone checking the time. About late afternoon. What an unproductive day that was. Valentine groaned quietly shaking their head and sitting their phone aside. Tired eyes roamed the noisy cafe. There was a group of high school students in a corner being annoying and loud. That was their group years ago. Valentine sighed shaking their mouse to wake his laptop back up only to find that it was dead. They groaned reaching down to get their charger. But as they rose up they couldn’t help but feel prying eyes staring at the back of their head. Valentine slowly shifted then cleared their throat before turning around. Standing half behind them was a messy light blond haired fleuros with a bright smile plastered on his face.

“Hi! My name is Mio and I’m an artist! I couldn’t help but notice how pretty your flowers were and I was wondering if I could maybe draw you?” 

Young. Naive. Way too outgoing. Kinda loud… Someone like this would never survive long in Ceres. Valentine stretched their wings staring up at the boy above them. Well he could always turn this into an opportunity for free food, “Hm… I can consider it if you get me one of those cake slices in return.” Free cake and free art? Sure sounded like a normal day to this Mio guy. The younger fleuros smiled nodding as he sat down his sketchbook and ran off back to the counter to deliver the order. Valentine smiled glancing at the sketchbook across with him. Seems like someone had already been drawing them before they woke up. A little creepy… but judging how this guy was just standing behind them maybe he didn’t know what social boundaries were… Val shook their head closing their laptop as they watched this stranger return with this slice of cake.

Red velvet. 

Huh.

“You didn’t say what type! So I got this one” Mio sat across from him and pushed the cake over, “So I told you my name, what’s yours? And whatcha doing here! I think I’ve seen you here like every day for the past week”

Valentine took the cake internally satisfied. They twirled the fork pointing it at the fleuros across the table, “Well. Work really. Can’t even catch a break on my own birthday. Sucks really since 21 is supposed to be special or something”  They laughed pushing their hair out of their face to avoid getting any in their food. The first bite was amazing. They missed this stuff. Delicate. Perfectly cooked. Expensive… They frowned glancing up to the artist. The cat eared fleuros seemed saddened by those words. “It’s fine. You can laugh you know?”

“What do you mean it’s fine! You should be enjoying yourself! I’m glad I bought you that then. Happy Birthday! Uh…” Mio took a moment staring at the cup that sat next to Valentine. “Valentine! And it’s lovely to meet you. Say! You can keep my drawing when I’m all done! I’m sure I’ll run into you again and it’s like a birthday gift”

Valentine perked slightly. A gift? “You don’t have to…You already got me cake-”

“I won’t take no for an answer! It’s my gift to you! You should enjoy your birthday with company and stuff right?” Mio continued looking down to his drawing pad. Valentine pushed a piece of icing off with their fork. They picked off a piece and raised it, looking over the red cake.

“I suppose. Happy Birthday to me then.”