Day 19: Candles

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Universe: QuickSilver
Rating: G / TW: None
 

     Liam was mortified - not only because of the roar of surprise he had made when he suddenly discovered eight people in his apartment, but because they were celebrating a birthday, his birthday, which wasn't for another full month and he was feeling really damn awkward about correcting them when they had gone through all this trouble and most of these folk he'd only known for a handful of months anyway but goddammit there was a cake in the middle of the kitchen table, filled with more candles than he was really comfortable with, and now they were singing-!!

     He glanced around the smiling faces, looking for Shade. Shade who had been his friend for years (not a small feat) and who obviously knew better (and should have acted on it) but Cole was pulling Liam forward by the arm now, urging him to blow out the candles and he knew doing that would be a confirmation of Why yes today is my birthday but how do you correct a room of eight overly happy people without looking like an ungrateful asshole? Fuck, were those wrapped boxes in the corner presents why would they get him presents Liam knew how to deal with Vampyres and other creatures that went bump in the night but the Huntsmin found himself far under-equiped against the voices urging him to make a wish and he drew in a breath and blew out the flames and now they were all clapping and cheering and--!

     "Happy birthday, old man," a red solo cup filled with amber liquid was placed into his hand by Shade, who wore a smirk that told Liam he knew exactly what was up.

     Liam leaned in towards Shade's ear, his whisper a frustrated grumble. "Why didn't you stop this?"

     "The wheels were already too far in motion by the time I heard about it," Shade quietly replied, following it with a shrug and a swig from his own cup. "Plus, when's the last time you had a party?"

     "That doesn't matter--"

     "It's a harmless mistake we can correct later." Shade clinked the plastic of his cup against the one in Liam's hand.

     Another hand clapped firm against Liam's shoulder. William's excitement was palpable. "Come along, we've got gifts to give and plenty of alcohol to imbibe with you this fine night!"

     Liam looked to Shade, who still wore that shit eating grin as he motioned towards the colorful boxes being brought forward. "Congratulations, Liam. You have friends."

     Liam, who had faced off with monsters who wanted to rip off his face at best, who had survived countless encounters with foe and fiend alike, was utterly powerless against that statement.

Author's Note: A friend's comments on Day 13: Surprise! led me to expanding on the idea.