Reminded of his past, Eddward managed to get his neighbor's birthday date from one of his football teammates. It was in two weeks. He made a plan and reservations and waited. On the appointed day, he told the redhead to meet him in the lobby of their dorm around 6 on the Saturday of Kevin's birthday. Kevin's birthday date was on Tuesday, and he had gone out with Nat, Rolf, Big Ed, Lance and Jonny as well as a few teammates. General shenanigans and revelry was had. The ones old enough to drink got wasted and everyone in general had a good time. And Kevin was home by midnight. Edd couldn't shake the idea of the redhead turning into a pumpkin if he hadn't come home by that hour and it amused him greatly. Kevin was just glad to hear a happy sound come out of the swimmer's room for once.

Kevin had plans with his parents for dinner on Sunday, so Saturday was the best time for he and Eddward to get together. But the redhead was late. Eddward shouldn't have been surprised, but he was frustrated. When Kevin did finally show up, Edd shot him his usual glare and scowl, but that scowl quickly turned into a sly grin as he took the object of his affections.

He was wearing his tight green polo and a pair of fitted, dark wash jeans, and his Air Force Ones. The whole outfit showed off everything that Edd had come to admire about him. But a point must be made.

"You're late."

"Or maybe you're too early."

A look.

That smirk.

"Ugh. Just...let's just go already and hope they haven't given our reservation away," Eddward huffed as he made his way out the door, Kevin walking behind him with his usual casual, slow strut.

"Ooooh, you made reservations?! How sweet!," Kevin mockingly teased.

Edd turned, grabbed his hand and shoved him out the door.

"Late."

"Behave!," the front desk student on duty called after them.

Kevin gave her a wave as Eddward dragged him away by the collar of his leather jacket.


Dinner was taken at the one place he knew he and Kevin would agree on. It was a nice, quiet bistro. They specialized in high end American fare. Steak and potatoes? Sure, but that steak is grass fed and the potatoes came in from Idaho this morning. The salmon is locally sourced and all of the fruits and vegetables come in from local farmers. Except the potatoes. The potatoes are always from Idaho.

So Kevin got his steak and potatoes and Edd had chicken marsala with a Caesar salad. And Kevin got ice cream with his birthday treat. The waitress didn't sing to him, but she did give him a kiss on the cheek. But the only reason he was blushing about it was because Eddward was looking at him with something akin to murder in his eyes. Who he was gonna murder was anyone's guess, but Kevin was glad when the girl walked away. And then he decided it was time for a bit of a peace offering.

Taking a scoop of ice cream, he said, "Thanks, Edd. This was really cool of you."

"It's your birthday. It's the least I can do."

Kevin shot him a confused look, but Eddward just shrugged. But it was then Eddward's turn to look confused when Kevin positioned the ice cream filled spoon in front of his mouth.

"C'mon! Just one bite!"

"Kevin, I'm not eating after you."

"It's not eating after me, when I haven't even taken a damn bite yet! C'mon! Please?"

Eddward sighed and went to take the bite and a split second later Kevin's lips were on his own. Distantly he heard the spoon clatter to the table? Floor? He heard Kevin drop the spoon. But the redhead couldn't help it. Eddward was a hell of a kisser.

When the kiss broke apart, sparkling blue met shimmering green.

"Thank you. I mean it."

"You're welcome. I mean it."


Eddward wanted to go dancing. They hadn't been since New Year's and the swimmer was itching to get close to Kevin again. They went to Frankie's found a quiet corner table and a piece of floor space for themselves. And it was nice.

At last call, Kevin went to the restroom. Frankie's had two single person bathrooms on either side of the bar. They gender neutral so the lines were minimal. And it would just be Kevin's birthday luck to see him when he opens the bathroom door.

Double D literally ran into Kevin as soon as he opened the door.

"Ow!," Edd said as he rubbed his head from running into the tall, hard body in front of him.

"Watch where you're going, Dweeb," a snickering voice said.

Edd's cheeks went red as he looked up at who he had just run into.

Kevin.

"H-Hello, Kevin."

"'Sup?"

"N-Not much. H-Happy birthday."

"Thanks. What are you doing here?"

Edd sighed and Kevin knew what the look in his eyes meant. Whenever Edd got down about how much his parents were missing out on his life, he got the same look in his eyes. He was missing something or someone and trying to forget about it.

Kevin groaned and yanked him into the bathroom, shut and locked the door. Edd grunted as his back hit the wall and when he took a breath, outside of the god awful smell of the room, he breathed in Kevin.

Axe bodywash.

Old Spice aftershave.

Hugo Boss cologne.

Gain laundry detergent.

And something that was just KEVIN.

Choking back a sob, he shook his head. Kevin wanted to mistake the tear in his eyes as him just being sensitive to the smell of the room, but deep down, he knew better.

"Spill."

Teary eyed blue met concerned green.

And suddenly Edd was in his arms. Edd buried his face in Kevin's shoulder and let out a shaky sob.

"Oh, God. Edd? Baby, what's wrong?"

He called him, 'Baby.'

Edd quickly pulled himself together, but he couldn't look Kevin in the eye.

"I-It's nothing."

"Liar."

Pensive blue met hard green.

Could Kevin really handle what was on Edd's mind? What had been tearing up his heart and soul since his own birthday? The only reason he was in Frankie's was to forget it was Kevin's birthday week and about how they celebrated the weekend after just like it seems Kevin is doing now. Kevin's parents were out of town and he had the bigger bed. Eddy and Ed were working. Rave had to rehearse for the spring show and Nat was helping him, Rolf was harvesting, Jimmy was out of town visiting his family here and Nazz had taken on a baby sitting gig every night for the entire weekend. They were left alone and thoroughly enjoyed every single second of it.

New Kevin was out of town for a robotic's conference and tournament. Sy and Ang thought he was missing him, but it was way more than just that. Kevin had been a great buffer the past few months and now he was gone. Edd's about to fucking lose it in the worst way.

Before he could stop himself, he opened his mouth and said, "I miss..."

"Your boyfriend? That's why you're so mopey? What happened?"

Relieved that he wasn't about to pour his heart on the filthy restroom floor, he smiled and said, "He's at a robotic's thing. In Philly."

Kevin made a face.

"Sorry, man. Cheer up, though, Dude! He'll be back soon," Kevin said as he booped Edd's nose. "Besides, it's mah birthday. And you know the rules!"

"Yeah, yeah," Edd said as he crossed his arms, rolled his eyes and took off his beanie.

The rules were simple. No moping. No hats.

Kevin fussed with his hair before putting the beanie back in place. Edd had to grin.

"Much better," Kevin said as he pinched his cheek.

Edd just batted his hand way and Kevin smirked as he booped his nose. Edd sighed and stood on tip toe and gave Kevin a kiss on the cheek.

"Happy birthday, ya big idiot."

"You like it!"

Edd's eyes went a bit wide and a flare of panic flashed through them. Kevin's grin grew sly and Edd started to falter. He meant to push Kevin away but he only brought him closer. Foreheads and eyes met and suddenly Edd's back is smashed against the wall as he climbs Kevin like a tree and kisses him like he's oxygen itself.

When the kiss broke apart because they needed oxygen, Kevin rubbed Edd's hip and said, "Edd, I swear to God, I'll take you here and now, just say the word."

Sad blue met yearning green.

Kevin gently set Edd down as he kissed his forehead.

"I understand," he said quietly. "But you sure know how to celebrate birthdays now."

"I learned from the best."


Minutes their with their friends and friend getting the third degree.

"There was a line," Edd said as he checked a text from his Kevin.

AIKev: Are you behaving? Do I need to send out a drone to spy on you?

Double D: Have a little faith in us, Dear. I'm in good hands.

Across the bar, Eddward was fuming.

"Did you get sucked into wormhole?!," Eddward scoffed. This was the second time Kevin had got to the bathroom and had been gone way longer than most girls he knew.

"Dude, there was a line."

"Uh huh."

"You're cute when you're mad, ya know," Kevin smirked.

"Ditch me for that long again and when you come back, I'll be fucking gorgeous."

"Can't wait, Beautiful," Kevin said as he kissed his nose.

And distantly, Eddward caught a whiff of blueberries and vanilla. But he just couldn't bring himself to care about it. He'd be leaving his own mark soon enough.