“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
Kuta and Litvir both knew that they were about to be surprised, but they did their best to pretend to not expect a large cake to be handed to them both.
“Well… close enough…” Litvir shrugged as he made the cake Arkay had just given him levitate and float in mid air. “I am surprised you all remembered, because time is nowhere near as linear as I thought it was.”
“Also, we hatched on the 29th…” Kuta added. “Still, this is… uh…”
“A surprise?” both Retviks asked in unison, only to glance at each other and tut. Arkay glanced at them both and tutted as well.
“Eh, whatever. Close enough. Honestly, I don’t know if it’s actually your birthday or not because Ret’s wristband still somewhat gets affected by Elksia’s existence, and I kinda lost track of time while that corrupted cunt vivisected me!” Arkay went back to smiling. “Either way, it’s close enough to the 29th so we can celebrate your birthdays!”
“Hatchdays.”
“Birthday, hatchday, same old piss!” Arkay shrugged. “Anyway, first birthday rule, you both have the day off. Second birthday rule that I just made up, you ought to spend said day off with your same-named boyfriends.”
Litvir eyed Arkay. “You are my boyfriend too.”
“Yeah but Saahro is helping some of the Decaylings resit a test while Elkay is doing basic combat training with the others. And the big guys went out to do some errands and shopping, so I offered to do guard duty in the meantime… I kinda didn’t sleep well last night so I’m grumpy and irritable and don’t want to get in the way.”
“You know I do not mind, dear!” Litvir smiled.
“I know, I know, but… I just need sad solo quiet time for a few hours, and guard duty is a good way to get that…” Arkay frowned, but quickly smiled. “But yeah, I’m gonna get to work, I’ll probably rejoin you later. Happy birthday, twinsies!”
Arkay hugged Litvir, gave Retvik a quick kiss on the cheek then disappeared in a puff of black sparkles. It took a while for anyone to react or say anything.
“Is… Is Arkay alright?” Ret eventually asked.
Litvir shrugged. “Same way you and Kuta needed some time to adjust to being out here in the void, Arkay also occasionally needs time to readjust, since he has been through a lot. That and he is a mental train wreck sometimes, but Arkay is improving himself.”
Retvik nodded in agreement. “Sometimes we all need a bit of space. So, uh… what do you want to do to celebrate, Litvir?”
“I… I have no idea.”
“Do you know what you want to do, Kuta?” Ret also asked. “Because I am happy to do whatever you want…” Ret paused briefly, as Kuta telepathically made a handful of suggestions. “Well, uh… we can do that any time… I was…”
Kuta smirked but said nothing. Litvir tried desperately not to pry.
“Alright, alright!” Ret quickly gave in. “But I want to get some fabric for the hand cuffs though, so my wrists do not hurt.”
“Wonderful!” Kuta beamed. “Now, my deary, carry me away!”
Ret went back to smiling as well, then picked Kuta up and threw them over his shoulder. They then both marched off, heading to the canteen area.
Retvik and Litvir didn’t say anything at first, but Litvir did snicker a few times.
“What were they-”
“Kuta and I may not look that similar, despite being twins, but we do have similar tastes.”
“You mean… Kuta is ALSO into…”
“Bondage. You can say the word bondage, dear. It is not even that weird a kink!” Litvir exclaimed. “And it is not like we have not tried that sort of thing before. You chained me to a bed once.”
Retvik grunted. “You did not enjoy that, and I was not a fan either. But Kuta seems far more adventurous, and Ret seems… uh…”
“Ret is a bottom.”
“I was going to say “somewhat submissive”, but that also works. The more I talk to him, the more I realise we are completely different people. We are only similar in name and colouring.”
“Ret is you, had you not been born with a golden spoon in your mouth, had you been kicked out of society your entire life. You have always been the boss, Ret has always only really done as he is told.”
“Are you suggesting that Ret is better than me?”
“No, no, not at all. Ret just walked a very different path compared to you. You became a General as fast as possible, a lot of your strength has always come from your leadership and your quest for justice for all. Ret’s strength comes from his desire to protect others, even if it hurts him, because he was hurt and does not want others to feel the way he did…” Litvir thought for a moment. “And you both have completely different parents.”
Retvik tutted. “Tenuk and Tanos have the same lineage.”
“Yes but Spasts are not as blatantly god-touched the way the Kronospasts were…” Litvir was tired of this conversation, so he changed the subject. “Anyway, Arkay is correct, it IS technically my hatchday today. I should make the most of it.”
“Is there anything you have in mind?” Retvik asked.
“Hm…” Litvir went back to thinking. “I think I want to be a pretty princess today, with you as my pretty little servant.”
“What… what do you mean by that?”
“Breakfast on the beach. You handing me a glass of champagne whenever I want it. Lots of chocolate ready for me to eat. Maybe Arkay could make you a maid costume for you to wear.”
Retvik grunted. “I am not wearing a maid costume.”
“You would look great in it.”
“I would set it on fire, intentionally.”
Litvir shrugged. “Maybe we can skip the costume then. But I want you to do whatever I ask you to do, just for today. And if you are a good little servant, maybe I will treat you to some more vigorous fun.”
“Alright, fine. But do not get used to this…” Retvik frowned. “You start eating that cake, I will sort out some… princess stuff on the beach for you…”