Space Man

Papa K's B'day?

Xisuma pov

I had been thinking about Keralis a lot lately, especially with how much he'd done for me in recent weeks. I wanted to make sure his birthday was special, but there was just one issue-he never gave anyone a straight answer about when it actually was. Anytime someone asked, he'd either shrug, change the subject, or respond with something cryptic like, "It's whenever I feel like it, shishwammy."

It was maddening, honestly. No one seemed to know for sure, and even the hermits who'd known him the longest couldn't give me a clear answer. I started wondering if he even celebrated his birthday or if it was some kind of running joke to keep it a mystery.

But I wasn't about to give up that easily. If he wouldn't tell me when his birthday was, then I'd just have to improvise. I started keeping track of little things he liked-his favorite foods, the colors he gravitated toward, even the types of jokes that made him laugh the hardest. If I couldn't pinpoint his exact birthday, I'd create a celebration so personal it wouldn't matter when it was.

Of course, pulling this off without him noticing was a whole other challenge. Keralis had a way of showing up unexpectedly, his perceptive eyes catching onto the smallest of details. If I wanted this to be a surprise, I'd have to tread carefully.

So, I enlisted a bit of help. A few of the hermits-mainly XB, Beef, and Etho-agreed to distract him when needed, giving me time to put everything together. Even then, I couldn't shake the feeling he'd see through it all.

But maybe that was part of the fun. Keralis thrived on surprises and chaos, and if anyone deserved a day full of joy and celebration, it was him. Even if I didn't know the exact date, I was determined to make it special.

Right now, Beef, Etho, and I were tracking Keralis from a distance as he wandered around with XB. It wasn't anything malicious-just a bit of covert observation to figure out where he'd be spending most of his time today.

Etho was the first to point out, in his usual laid-back tone, "You know, if he catches us, we're never going to hear the end of it."

I gave a slight shrug, keeping my eyes on Keralis in the distance. He and XB were chatting about something animatedly, but I couldn't make out the words. "He's impossible to pin down, Etho. If this is the only way to figure out what he's up to, then so be it. Besides, we've been sneaky so far."

Beef, walking just a step behind us, chimed in. "You're not wrong, but it's only a matter of time before he does one of his ninja moves and catches us red-handed. You know how he is."

I sighed, acknowledging their concerns but staying focused. This was my chance to gather some intel for the surprise. If Keralis didn't want to tell me when his birthday was, then I'd just have to find my own clues.

We kept our distance, careful to stay out of sight as XB led Keralis toward what looked like a small clearing near the river. Etho crouched down next to me and whispered, "Think they're going to stay there for a while? It'd be a good spot to listen in if we get closer."

Beef shook his head, glancing over his shoulder as if checking for backup plans. "I don't think Keralis is that predictable. He's always one step ahead, isn't he?"

I didn't answer right away, my mind focused on the scene in front of me. Keralis laughed at something XB said, his expression bright and carefree. That sight alone made the effort worth it, even if we got caught. "Let's wait a little longer. If he moves, we follow. If he stays, we find a better spot to listen."

Etho chuckled softly. "This better be the best surprise he's ever had, or we're going to owe him an apology."

I couldn't help but smirk at that. "Oh, it will be."

As we crouched behind a patch of bushes, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible, I heard Keralis's voice drift over the breeze. "Shishwammy would love this," he said with a soft laugh, holding up a bundle of freshly picked flowers to show XB.

I froze in place, my heart skipping a beat. My face felt like it was on fire, and I was beyond grateful for my helmet. There was no way I could hide the blush that was undoubtedly spreading across my cheeks.

Etho, crouched next to me, immediately picked up on my reaction. "Oh, he called you 'Shishwammy,' didn't he?" he teased in a hushed tone, his voice filled with amusement.

Beef snickered quietly from behind us. "I think our fearless admin has a fan."

I turned my head slightly, glaring at them through my visor. "Would you two keep it down? He'll hear us!" My voice came out more defensive than I intended, which only made them laugh harder.

Meanwhile, Keralis was still chatting with XB, oblivious to our spying. He held the flowers up to his nose, inhaling their scent before tucking them into a small satchel he had slung over his shoulder. "I think I'll surprise him with these later. He's been working so hard lately, poor thing."

My chest tightened at his words. How could someone so thoughtful exist? And how did I get so lucky to have someone like Keralis even think about me like that?

Etho leaned in closer, whispering so only I could hear. "You going to do something about that, or are you just going to keep blushing under your helmet all day?"

"Shut up, Etho," I muttered, trying to refocus on the task at hand-though, admittedly, it was getting harder to concentrate with Keralis being... well, Keralis.

As I watched Keralis and XB continue their casual stroll through the market, my resolve to stay faltered. XB handed Keralis a small pouch filled with what looked like sweet treats, and the sight of Keralis's delighted smile sent another wave of heat rushing to my face.

Etho nudged me lightly. "You sure you don't want to stick around, Shishwam? He might pick out something else 'just for you.'"

Beef chuckled softly, his voice laced with mock innocence. "Yeah, maybe he'll carve your name into a tree next."

That was my breaking point. "I'm out of here," I hissed under my breath, standing up from my crouched position.

Etho reached out to stop me, his tone a mix of amusement and mild concern. "Aw, don't go. We were just having fun."

"You call this fun? I call it emotional sabotage," I grumbled, starting to walk away.

Behind me, I could hear Beef mutter something like, "He's so in denial," followed by Etho's muffled laugh. I didn't even bother looking back.

Keralis's voice drifted to my ears one last time before I rounded the corner. "What about this one, XB? You think Shishwammy likes caramel?"

I groaned quietly and quickened my pace, hoping the sound of my helmeted footsteps would drown out the way my heart was thudding in my chest. If I stayed any longer, I'd never hear the end of it from those two.

It was better to leave before my friends' teases got even worse-or before I did something reckless, like run up to Keralis and tell him how much I adored him.