Summary:

birthday stuff pt 1


Chapter 10: Yuno

Today he was seventeen years old. Yuno's birthday had fallen on a Friday this year, which meant that his friends could stay over longer than normal, since it wasn't a school night. Dorothy and William had gone all out as usual, even though he told them to keep things toned down. The sparkly streamers and big banner were a bit overkill, but it wasn't his turn this week to vacuum.

"Happy birthday, Yuno!" William, Dorothy, Leo, Mimosa, Klaus and Noelle were sitting at the dining room table, when Yuno entered the kitchen. Every birthday he stayed in his room until he was called down.

"Thanks," said Yuno. He never liked the attention on him, but they were his family and friends, so he'd make the exception for them.

"Sit down and eat," said Dorothy, patting the seat at the head of the table. The Birthday Boy always sat at the head of the table.

Yuno took his seat. Everyone was staring at him. "What?"

"Do you wanna do presents first," asked William, gently.

Yuno frowned. "I said no presents."

"Too bad," said Mimosa, giggling. "We didn't listen to you every year before, so what makes you think this year is gonna be different?"

"Well said, Mimosa," said Dorothy, chipper.

"After we eat," said Yuno. Like promised, Dorothy and William cooked a big meal—a whole roasted chicken, mashed garlic and herb tatoes, artisanal bread from the bakery, seared cauliflower, South Pacific shrimp dish (William's specialty), salad, and vegetable dumplings (Dorothy's specialty). And Yuno knew that there would be chocolate chip cookies and a chocolate and pecan cake waiting for dessert. There was no doubt that William also bought ice cream.

"Well, don't be shy, everyone, dig in," said Dorothy. "We really out-did ourselves this year, William!"

"I think so," said William, amused.

Yuno almost broke out into a smile, but instead began filling his plate. Leo already started on the dumplings. Mimosa and Noelle were going for the bread and salad. Klaus went for the chicken and mashed tatoes. William and Dorothy looked so happy that everyone enjoyed their food.

This was part of happiness, mused Yuno as he dug into the food as well. Nothing was ever left after this dinner.

Dinner took well over an hour.

"Man, I'm stuffed," Leo proclaimed, patting his stomach in contentment.

"Best food ever," said Noelle.

"Thanks for having us over to celebrate," said Klaus, the only one that ever remembered his manners.

"I don't even know if I can have cake," said Mimosa, sighing.

"Dramatic much," said Yuno, in response to his friends.

William and Dorothy traded fond looks. Dorothy clapped her hands and said, "Presents!" She got up, took the empty plate in front of Yuno, and disappeared into the kitchen. She returned and two packages were placed in front of Yuno.

Yuno sighed. He opened the first one, which was wrapped in silver sparkle paper, which meant it was from his parents. It was a new phone with a phone case. "You didn't have to…"

"Nonsense, Yuno! You've not replaced your phone in three years," said Dorothy.

"And it's good to get updated stuff once in a while," interjected William.

Yuno squirmed in his seat and said, "Thank you."

"Our turn," said Leo.

The other present was from his friends, who always went in on a gift every year against his wishes. Yuno reluctantly opened it. "A pocket watch?" They bought him a fancy pocket watch, a gold one with his name "Yuno Unsworth-Vangeance" on the front. "Why?"

Klaus answered, while pushing up his glasses, "So one day you may pass on to your children as a family heirloom."

Yuno suddenly felt the need to cry. He had been an orphan until Willian and Dorothy. He had nothing before. And now, he was given something that was expensive and sentimental to be a family heirloom. (And he 100% did not think about Asta and him getting married and adopting children, thank you very much). "Thanks," he said quietly, trying not to cry.

"You're welcome, Yuno," said Leo, grinning.

"We're glad you were born," said Mimosa, gently.

"And we're glad to be your friend," said Noelle.

Yuno scrunched his face to stop from crying like a big sap inside that he was. He had a reputation as a stoic, after all.

"Aww, I think he's emoting," said Mimosa, teasingly.

"A menace," said Yuno, snapping back to his normal behavior.

Mimosa smiled sweetly, while everyone else laughed.


"Your friends are always so lovely," said Dorothy, after seeing his friends off. They left with the leftovers and cookies.

"Yeah, I guess," replied Yuno. "I'm going to bed. Night."

It was nearing nine at night and Yuno was exhausted. He wanted to go to his room, text Asta happy birthday again and then go to sleep. He hoped Asta had a good birthday too. Yuno was about to head upstairs, when William asked, "Yuno, wait a minute, won't you?"

Yuno stopped and turned around to face his parents. "Yeah?"

"Are you sure there's not anything else you want for your birthday," asked William.

Shaking his head, Yuno said, "I'm good."

"You were a bit distracted today," said Dorothy. "Is everything alright?"

Yuno didn't say anything. How was it that they always knew something was up with him? Was it some sort of parent superpower he didn't know about? "I'm fine."

"Sit," said William.

The family of three sat in the living room. Yuno said, "I'm fine, really. I'm just tired."

"Hmm, yeah, sure," said Dorothy.

Knowing that he was not getting out of it, Yuno admitted, "Asta has the same birthday as me." He, then, explained to his parents that Asta was also left at the same fire station as him on the same day by the same people. Once he was finished explaining, William and Dorothy looked at each other.

Ah, they knew, Yuno thought to himself.

William left the room and went to the closest in the hallway going to the downstairs bathroom. He returned with a box in his hands. Yuno was given the box, which he opened hesitantly, as William spoke, "When you came to us, we had decided that we'd investigate to find your birth parents. While we never found anything, this is the investigation summary done by the Private Investigator we hired. And the necklace that was with you when you were left. Your social worker gave it to us. It's some sort of artifact from the Dawn Kingdom. My friend Patri said that it had been taken from them by some Spade Kingdom people many, many years ago."

Yuno pulled out the necklace that had a blue-green stone hanging from it. "Oh."

"We knew about Asta being left at the same spot," said William. "But it was obvious that you both were left by different people. We never mentioned it because you never brought up your origins."

It was true. Yuno never thought about his birth parents. He assumed that either they had been very young and unable to care for him or they just didn't want a kid. William and Dorothy were too kind to have taken the time and money in case Yuno brought up his origins. He'd have never brought it up if he hadn't learned that Asta had the same birthday as him for the same exact reason.

Yuno picked up the necklace and said, "We should send this back to the Dawn Kingdom. If it's their artifact, it belongs there."

"Aww, we're gonna turn you into a historian yet," said Dorothy, getting watery eyes and hugging him. "We'll mail it out to Patri tomorrow."

"Can I read these," asked Yuno.

"Sure, they're yours. And if you want to talk about it, let us know," said William. After a minute, "And we did try to get Asta when we found out but they lost him in the system for some time and by the time they found him again, Vanessa took him in."

"They lost him," Yuno asked incredulously. He was horrified that someone had been so callous as to lose a whole child.

"Paperwork screw-up, apparently," said Dorothy, patting Yuno on the head. "Bullshit is what I call it. Thank goodness for Vanessa."

"Language, dear," said William. "But yes, that seems to be the case."

Yuno opened his arms to properly give Dorothy a hug, which William joined. "Thanks."

"You're always thanking us," said Dorothy. "But we're a family and that's what we do. Support each other."

"Well, normal families," said Yuno, quipping a joke. And then he said, solemnly, "I've never thought about my birth parents, because they left me. You're my parents, no matter what."

This caused Dorothy to cry "You're my son." William got misty-eyed. They gave him a big, tight group hug.

And if Yuno got teary-eyed too, he'd never mention it.

~to be continued