neither_a_nor_b | I felt you in my life before I ever thought to

When she’d woken up on the morning of the 22nd and found herself still in one place, Bay had breathed a sigh of relief. The last couple birthdays had been kind of a crapshoot for her and Daphne, ending up in a new dimension every other year so it was nice to actually make it a year in one place.

Sure, it was almost Halloween and sure something was probably doomed to go to hell before the end of the month, but not today. Today Daphne had made a cake and some mexican rice and was planning a shrimp taco spread. Bay was cooking up some ground beef with spices while the contents of the alcohol cabinet waited for her to do some mixing later. They’d sent out invitations to their friends via text, and both were looking forward to a chill, low-key birthday party for their 19th.

Daphne had made sure not to book any catering jobs for today, but she still had her daily orders for some of the local coffee shops and service stations in the city. She’d gotten those taken care of, then come home and baked and frosted the cake and helped Bay clean and decorate. If she wanted to last more than 20 minutes at her own party, though, she’d decided a nap was a good idea.

She woke feeling much more refreshed and coherent and wandered out to find Bay cooking up ground beef for the red meat eaters that would be attending. “Hey,” she greeted her sister, peering over Bay’s shoulder into the pan before stepping back. “I’m going to get changed while you finish that up, then I’ll get the shrimp cooking while you get ready. Sound good?”

“Yeah, sounds good. I just got a slew of ‘on my way’ texts but the taco filling is ready.” Proving her point, she took the beef off the stove and tipped all of it into a serving bowl. “I’m gonna stick it in the microwave, so we can nuke it if we need.”

“Actually, I’ve got a better idea.” Daphne grinned and ducked into her room, coming back out with a large box. “I bought myself a birthday present, sort of,” she explained, opening one end of the box and starting to pull out the pieces to the new electronic warmer she’d picked up yesterday. “Just give the dishes a quick wash and we should be good to go. This should keep the food warm through the whole party. Beef in one, shrimp in one, and rice in the third?” She shoved the packing materials back into the box, ready to tuck into her closet just in case something went wrong and she needed to return it.

“That is so fancy,” Bay said, genuinely impressed as she scraped the beef into the first dish. “Okay, you change, I’ll clean.”

“Okay.” Daphne went back into her room, stashed the box and quickly changed, then stopped in the bathroom to pull her hair back and put a little makeup on before taking over in the kitchen so Bay could get ready, getting her shrimp cooking as she made sure all of the food and mixers were ready for people’s arrival.

It didn’t take much time for her to get ready. Bay took a quick shower to get the smell of food out of her hair and off her skin. By the time she was finished blow-drying, Bay heard the first knock on the door. The party had started.

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The package Grey holds is wrapped in bright paper and has a bow. It seems strange to wrap something only to unwrap it in his mind. He's a little more tense too, despite knowing both Bay and Daphne at least a little; a new place, new people, new sensation. It makes him tired sometimes. He shifts on his feet, looking around at his surroundings.

He and Grey arrive at the same time, sharing a gift since it's a casual affair. That and he doesn't know hem well enough that he thinks it merits anything extravagant.

Their apartment is different from his, decorated, personalized. Lived-in. They've been here a while. It's weird to think about, that people are content to settle here.

"Happy birthday," he says, taking the sight of it in.

"Hey, you made it," Bay came over, waving at him before switching to sign. Here in the apartment, it was just habit. "Thanks for coming."

Grey's here, yes. He nods, not understanding why he needs to be thanked. His eyes move between Bay's hands and her face.

"Help yourself to whatever you want," Bay said, motioning to the table. "We're not doing anything fancy. Just wanted to celebrate with friends."

Jeez, she sounded like her mom.

Celebrating the day of one's birth was a tradition that Rat had explained to him. Grey looked to the table, but he looked back to her, too, offering a small smile; his way of saying Happy Birthday.

She smiled back, uncertain of the exact words Grey was trying to convey, but thinking there was a good vibe.

"You're doing good? With the injuries I mean?"

In another week, he'd have the cast off, so he was doing well; he nodded.

How - he points to the word on his arm. How old was she?

"How what?" Bay asked, moving behind the drinks table to mix up a cocktail. "Want anything? We have soda too, if you don't do booze.'

Chewing on his lower lip for a minute, Grey shakes his head. He most definitely doesn't do booze. He doesn't particularly like soda, either. He's fine.

The words he needs aren't on his skin. He points to her. How - her. How old is she?

"How am I?" she frowned, wondering if that was what he meant. She lifted her hands and signed it as well.

O-L-D - he spelled the word in the air. How old is she? He's already feeling tired.

"Oh, how old! Shit, sorry," Bay said, knowing that if she was confused then Grey was probably at least twice as perfect. "Nineteen. We both are."

He's still no closer to understanding how old he is, but Grey nods anyway. He had left the present on a table; he points to it. Then he points to Rat, who helped him get it. His eyes soften when he looks at the other boy.

That, at least, needs no translation. Bay smiles and points at him, "This is how you say his name in sign." She creates the letter R wit her fingers, drawing it across her nose twice.

"My boyfriend, Scott, is coming later."

Already, Rat had explained the concept of "boyfriend," so he cocks his head at her. She looks happy too. Who - again. What is her boyfriend like?

"Scott? He lives in High Gate Terrace. We met on my first day here which is...exactly a year ago today," she said, smiling. Now that she thought about it, it was kind of like Scott had been there since day One.

It seems, then that he makes her happy. The look on her face is something he wished he could see on more faces. It makes his chest feel warm. He very nearly smiles again.

She smiled back, laughing a little at the sight of Rat propping up a wall. He didn't seem like the most social though it was good of him to have come.

"You seem pretty crazy for him."

Crazy? Is that good? Grey seeks out Rat's company more often than not, thinks about the kisses when they are apart. Rat is patient, explaining things and when he touches Grey, Grey shivers. He'd lay down his life for Rat.

Bay would have said she thought so. Hell, she honestly was nuts for Scott.

"You seem happy."

Happy? It's a foreign concept. It was just never brought up on the train.

But his chest is warm with Rat. So if that's happiness, now, then yes, he is.

He looks to Bay nods, just a little.

"Good. That's good," Bay said, meaning it. "C'mon. Ever had tacos before?"

Tacos? No. Grey shakes his head, following Bay over to look at the food. It all smells good - his mouth is watering.

Bay grinned and went over to the buffet, still super impressed by Daphne's electric warmer. "We set it up so you can make it however you like," Bay explained, filling up a hard shell with beef and veggies, sprinkling the top with cheese.

"But you probably want to eat it over a plate. They crumble everywhere."

To her, that was part of the fun.

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I felt you in my life before I ever thought to

(arriving with Rat; Grey's first b'day party!)

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