Birthday

"I really hope that there's an explanation for all of this."

Allen jumped at the sound of Ash's voice, startled, as he whirled on his heel as his heart thumped away quicker than usual in his chest. She was busy staring at a wrapped parcel sitting on a makeshift table she had recently crafted out of driftwood, lips quirked curiously.

"Because the last time I checked," she continued as she lifted her gaze to meet his, "I don't remember the delivery companies ever making it out this far to deliver mail. I'm not even sure the postal office has my new address."

Even when she was trying to crack wise, he could hear the slightly higher note her voice took on, the tension and suspicion that lined her words. She was still watching him sharply, tapping into that kind of unblinking gaze she rarely used these days that reminded him too much of the raptors. He's learned over the years to not flinch under the relentless intensity, but that didn't mean he didn't feel a slight shiver roll down his spine at the reminder that she can still do it and still look intimidating all the while.

It was, after all, one of the first things he noticed about her when they first met.

It wasn't her looks. It wasn't her clothes. It wasn't her ears or her tail or her back paws, or even the thin scar that traced across the bridge of her nose and across her right cheek.

It was her eyes and the way she stared.

Even years later, when warmth had finally given way and melted the icy demeanor she once hid behind, there was still something unnerving about her eyes. However, he'd never admit it aloud to her, not now, not ever, that she still sometimes intimidated him somewhat when she looked at him like that.

"Allen?" She pressed, bringing him back to the present. Shaking away his thoughts, he sauntered over to the table and to her side, scooping up one of the parcels and holding it to her, grinning.

"Open it."

"What? I-I don't…what is it?"

"Open it, and find out."

"No, that's not what I meant—I meant, what is all of this?" She pressed more firmly, motioning to everything with a wave of her hand. His smile fell away, slowly but surely, as he read the distressed expression on her face and the desperate, searching look in her mismatched eyes. His shoulders sagged under the weight of her gaze.

Allen picked his words with meticulous care, not wanting to be misunderstood.

"I was planning on a small sort of celebration, for you."

Ash furrowed her brow, her lips tugging into a thin, firm line. She opened her mouth to speak, but he held up a hand, and she fell silent.

"You have done plenty for me over the years, and I felt that I should return the favour. Not because I felt absolutely obligated—not entirely. It's because I wanted to. I know that you don't remember, exactly, when your birthday was, so I thought perhaps today we could start it."

She gawked at him openly, clearly astounded by the declaration. He took advantage of her silence and gently pushed the parcel in his hands at her. She took it without a fight. In fact, she took it without even realizing she had.

"You…you can't just—I don't—you—I…what? What?"

"I'm not taking no for an answer, Ash."

"You can't just—decide that!"

"I can and I have." He pointed out, smirking a little at her. She continued to gape at him helplessly.

Allen would admit, he did like having a bit of an advantage over Ash for once. It was nice to know that, every once in a while, he could surprise her so utterly and completely that she practically had no words.

"Why?"

When he answered her, it came more easily than he initially believed.

"You've done so much for me over the last several years, I don't think I could ever hope to repay that kindness. You've gone out of your way to celebrate Christmas and my birthday, and never wanted a thing in return. You don't ask for anything and I feel as though that's unbalanced things a little. I don't need a reason or an excuse to give you anything for any special occasion, but I'd like to start, and it's because I want to." His smile relaxed as he tapped the parcel still in her hands. "Please just open it. I think you'll like it."

"Allen…I don't…" Ash stopped herself and took a deep breath, most likely stalling to gather her words. Clearly the shock was beginning to wear off. "I don't…think I can do this. I don't even know how old I am."

"I know. We can just pretend you're turning twenty or so," he replied as he grinned at her and was pleased to see her lips twitch, ever so slightly, in response. "C'mon. What's it going to hurt? It's not like I'm being forced to do this."

Her discomfort didn't look completely alleviated, but neither was she as stiff as she was earlier. Gradually, she began picking at the parcel in her hands, tugging at the string keeping the leather wrapping in place. She slipped it all off and placed it on the table to reveal the small stone box beneath it all.

"That's just part of it," he said, when she glanced up at him. "You can store your smaller valuables in there, so they aren't rattling around in some larger container. Open it. There's more inside."

She only nodded, lips pursing, as she flipped the clamshell lid open. Her hand froze as she stared inside. She dipped her hand inside after a few belated moments, her fingers curling around a strip of red clothe.

"My sash. I thought I…"

She didn't finish, and lifted her gaze back up to meet his questioningly.

"The night I found you, after the Carnie had attacked and you were blinded by Dilo poison, I found that in one of the ruins. Or pieces of it. You had the rest tied around your head and over your eyes, but it was in tatters. I don't know why, but…I hadn't thought to return it until recently. I had to fix it first, but, ah…" He pointed at the sash, his smile turning sheepish.

Ash dropped her eyes down again, blinking. Her lips twitched and quirked into a faint smile as she pulled the length of it out fully. It dangled from her hand, and she turned to put the box down so she could hold the sash out fully. Her eyes roved over it, seeing the repaired sections before she stopped at a few parts, where the crimson had ended and the black began.

"I didn't have all the pieces, sadly. I did the best that I could to fix the damages so it could be long enough," he said, pausing briefly. "I know it won't be the same, but…I hope that you like it."

She returned her gaze fully on him, mismatched eyes wide and unyielding in what her thoughts were for the longest time. It very nearly bordered on uncomfortable and awkward for a few lingering split seconds before she yanked him into a crushing embrace. It nearly knocked the wind out of him, but he was quick to return the hug.

"You're such a cheesy walking cliché, you know that?" She muttered into his shoulder as she clutched him a little tighter. He laughed in spite of the slight discomfort she was causing. She seemed to belatedly realize this and wordlessly eased her grip on him.

"Do you like it? I know it's not perfect but I—"

"You idiot, of course I do!" She pulled away to hold him at arm's length, her brow furrowed, a watery smile painted on her face. "You didn't have to do this."

"I wanted to," he reminded her. The corner of her lips tugged upwards as she looked at the length of sash and its mismatched repaired pattern in her hand.

"I don't know why…but this was important to me. I know I've had it for a long time, I just…" She stopped, her words petering out. "Thank you. You did a great job fixing this."

Ash flashed him another wane smile, then pulled away from him, reluctantly written plainly on her face before she wove the sash around her waist and hips. She tied it off and let the rest of the length hang off the side with a wistful smile on her face.

"I think it looks better like this." She paused, her smile falling as she looked at him again with curiousity. "What did you use to fix it with? This material's a bit thicker than my sash. It feels…tougher."

"Does it matter?" He countered, and she stared at him in surprise when he winked at her. "You have a few other presents. Go on. Open them."

She hesitated, her earlier jubilance fading fairly quickly. "You didn't just choose today at random."

"No," he agreed, picking up another parcel and offering it to her. "I suppose I'm just following an old family tradition."

"We met six years ago today."

His smile softened.

"Happy Birthday, Ash."

OoOoOoOoOoO

Note: Allen strikes me as the type to do sappy stuff from time to time, although it's not an absolute constant. Ash is still getting used to that, although he still surprises her. I don't think she quite gets it yet.