A week passed peacefully after the wine incident; the leaves were starting to change colours and there was less sunlight.
"Declan! Help me watch over the chocolate in the microwave." Faun quickly said to Declan who was lounging in the living room, rushing to the hallway.
Declan startled at this, sitting upright in horror. "Hey! Wait a minute, what do you mean… he's gone…" He sighed to himself, looking devastated.
There was no way around it, he had to at least check. He got to his feet and cautiously made his way to the kitchen, throwing sneaky glances around.
When he got to the microwave humming where it sat on the counter, he forced himself to take a deep breath.
It was just a microwave, he knew how to use it of course.
After a while of watching the glass bowl rotate in the lighted interior of the microwave, the chocolate in the bowl slowly melted, it dinged.
Declan hadn't been paying attention to the timer so he jumped when it dinged, ready to throw fists.
He calmed down after a short while and just stared at it. What was he supposed to do now?
Like he had summoned Faun, the other popped his head into the kitchen. "Is it done? Are you stirring it?" He asked, stepping into the kitchen.
Declan immediately jumped into action, he should be stirring it…
He opened the microwave and immediately reached in without a second thought but Faun was by his side in the next moment, slapping his hand away.
"What was I thinking about letting you in the kitchen?" He scolded, grabbing a pair of oven mitts to take out the hot bowl himself.
"How do you keep forgetting that things that just got heated are hot?" He scolded some more. "You could have dropped my bowl of precious chocolate."
Declan kept a blank expression. "I see that your priorities are in order." He muttered.
"Of course." Faun hmphed importantly. "Oh, by the way, your phone is ringing."
Declan went out at this, missing Faun sighing so heavily that he had to drop the bowl for fear of dropping it.
He had been truly terrified that Declan would sear his hand, thank goodness he got to him in time.
He would have to remember to never leave Declan in the kitchen all by himself; it was still a miracle how he managed to survive cooking for himself all these while.
He made his way to the living room, curious about the call. Only Isla or Lou ever called Declan, not that he could boast of more but he preferred it that way.
"What? Your birthday party?" Declan's brows were knitted.
The call was loud enough for Faun to hear the other person on the line.
"Don't tell me you forgot." Isla's disbelieving voice answered.
"Of course not." Declan said smoothly but Faun already knew the truth. He absolutely forgot.
"Good, so I should see you at my party on Friday, make sure to bring Faun and my birthday present." She added loftily. "Goodbye, this time I'll hang up on you before you…"
Declan hung up.
Faun hid his snicker behind his hand. "Are you going?" He asked.
If it was a party, it meant that other people would be there; Faun wasn't sure about how that made him feel.
"Do you want to go?" He turned the question to Faun.
Faun shrugged. "It's Isla's birthday after all."
"Sure." Declan muttered dryly. "Huh? When's your birthday?" He asked out of the blue, reaching out a hand to grab Faun's tail.
Faun was screeching at this. "I told you to stop tugging on my tail." He complained, trying to pry Declan's hand away.
Declan didn't budge, putting on a blank expression. "But I didn't pull." He argued reasonably.
Faun huffed out a breath, crossing his arms. "Fine." He agreed reluctantly, giving in a little too quickly.
Declan pulled on his tail, making him fall on the couch beside him.
"You didn't answer me, I asked when was your birthday?" He repeated before Faun could blow his steam.
He deflated, tucking his knees under his arms. "I don't know."
Declan watched him with an inscrutable expression. "Then choose one."
Faun glanced at him in surprise, he hadn't considered that. "Then how about today?" He suggested, without meaning it.
Declan nodded gravely. "September 12th it is then." He agreed, letting go of Faun's tail and getting to his feet.
"Wait, what?" Faun's soft green eyes went wide. "Where are you going?"
Declan was already at the door. "I won't be gone long." He reassured Faun, heading out.
Faun hurried over to the window to watch him leave, a myriad of emotions running through him.
He couldn't still understand or predict Declan, he kept surprising him every single day.
Also, it was odd for Declan to leave the cottage without him; ever since the first time they had gone into town together, Declan had taken him everywhere.
He didn't even get to ask when Declan's birthday was.
Declan didn't stay long as he promised, showing up less than an hour later with his hands full.
"Here." Declan gruffly offered to Faun everything that he had gotten. "Happy birthday."
Faun just stared up at him, blinking in surprise.
"Don't look at me like that, and you're supposed to say thank you."
Faun grinned, starting to laugh as he collected the packages from him. "Of course, thank you, Declan."
"It's fine…" Declan pushed a hand through his hair. "I didn't have the time to pick a proper present, next time I'll try to… wait, are you crying?" Declan cut himself off.
Faun wiped his eyes violently. "Of course not, why would I be crying?"
"I got you a birthday cake, want to eat it?" Declan offered in a soft voice.
Faun immediately perked up like Declan knew he would. "Wait right there." He directed jumping to his feet. "I'll grab the plates."
Declan watched Faun leave, noting that he kept the present that Declan had gotten for him the entire time. He reached for his phone; it was time to call in a few favours.