[EP] The Worst Birthday

[st_abby]

Of course, everybody had birthdays - even if they didn't know what day it was on the calendar, that didn't stop someone having them. Vax'ildan hadn't honestly thought much about it, until Joanna had got talking when to plant what one afternoon amongst the herbs in her garden. Seasons, months, weeks, days... They were different in this world from what Vax knew. Nevertheless, when he stopped to do a bit of his own math, he thought it must be very near his own birthday in Exandria.

Their birthday. His, by only a couple of minutes, and then Vex'ahlia's.

It seemed a stupid thing to get hung up about. But once it (she) had wormed its way into his brain, his heart, he couldn't get it (her) out, and it became a crushing reminder that Vex could be lost to him forever. He didn't have much in the way of distractions, and the more he tried to forget about it, the worse it had got until he sank into a drowning sulk. He avoided everyone and everything including his mirror-matched room, effectively vanishing for a few days on end, until gravely admitting that the only way out might very well be through.

Which is how he ended up sitting in the one corner of a booth in the cafe, armor exchanged for a simple sleeveless tunic and loose pants from Songrun, staring at the empty seat across from him with arms folded on the table in a bit of a hunch.

"Get us a drink," he told the passers-by mirthlessly, without so much as turning to look at them or stopping to count how many he'd had already. Did it matter? "It's our birthday."

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[st_oriedqueen]

Surprised and touched at the gesture, Regina unfolded her fingers to caress his cheek. If he permitted it, she would stroke his hair. Nothing sexual motivated the response. To the contrary, she was, as ever, cognizant that she was more than old enough to be his mother twice over.

"All you can do is live past the pain. It's possible. And on the days that it's not--" Regina found herself smiling, very nearly laughing at the completely ludicrous thing she was about to say. "I'll be here," she said and then snorted. "Somewhere, my stepdaughter just fell dead of laughter."

[st_abby]

Once he'd given her hold of his cheek, his hair, the - whatever stuff up there she was inclined to pet, yes, good - Vax closed his eyes and propped up his chin in his opposite hand. Everything was too weird and he missed them, all of them, so much. Obviously Vex, but also Keyleth, who was his light and joy and conscience. Scanlan, who knew men's faults, reveled in them, but had always chosen to live for something better. Grog's loyalty was his true strength, not his muscle, and he was more honest in his motivations than many would ever be. And Pike... The beautiful, ball-busting believer in all warmth that could heal broken hearts and minds. She would have been able to comfort him in this.

But Regina, his thought circled back around, though her words came through to him a bit muddied... Was being unexpectedly, blessedly kind.

"Regina," he said quite softly, not going to all the trouble of opening his eyes. "Thank you."