FNV: dumbass disordwrz

Those Dear Hearts and Gentle People

For my baby and for her oc Vlad!! It's his birthday and I wanted to make sure I celebrate it. He deserves it!! He's such a good character and one I can relate to and find comfort in. Happy birthday Vlad Smith!

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Most people are excited for their birthdays. The yearly celebration marks progression, growth, survival, bravery, and accomplishment.

Then again. Most people don't associate their birthdays with horrible memories from around that time of being a legionnaire's broken little play thing.

Vlad shifted in his bed, looking at the broken little watch next to his bed on the nightstand. It said 12:02, so he knew that meant it was officially the 7th of February.

He dreaded the day. His birthday just.. brought back the worst kinds of memories. And reminded him that he never got to celebrate it properly in his entire life.

For Darla's birthday, Terra and Angelo had decorated the whole foyer of the Lucky 38. It hadn't been a huge party, only the group and their companions had joined. Glenn and Boone had babysat their children, James and Rosa slapping at each other in their fathers' arms while the grown men discussed the difficulty in being fathers. Watching awkwardly and red faced as their partners both came up and made fun of them, Arcade and Penny both kissing their husband's cheeks. Terra had been very nice to Darla ("ONLY cuz it was her birthday" was exactly what she said) and offered her a gift of 2,000 caps. She knew that Darla and Adam had been discussing getting out of the city and living in New Canaan for a while, so she explained that the money would help them get a start. Darla had ALMOST not wanted to punch the woman for the first time ever. Almost. The others gave small gifts of new ammo types, armor enforcers, and sweet little trinkets that Darla secretly adored. She was a sucker for snow globes and teddybears especially. And then Adam had given her a pre-war makeup set and sung to her for her birthday and Jett had called Darla "ma" for the first time and-

Vlad shook his head, removing himself from the memory of Darla's birthday. No use being envious and daydreaming like a baby.

Nobody had mentioned anything about a party to him. So he had assumed everyone had forgotten. Even his lover.

He looks down quietly at the sleeping mass next to him, his eyes softening.

Ricky was curled into his lover's chest, his arms wrapped tightly around Vlad's skinny waist. Vlad felt the coolness of his breath, the fuzzy scratch of the man's leg hair, the warmth of his skin on Vlad's. They always slept without much on. Skin to skin was what comforted them.

For once though, Vlad only felt sad.

He knew today he wouldn't be able to force that cheery smile as long as he normally could. He knew today he wouldn't be able to force himself to pretend nothing was wrong.

Why couldn't people just care? Why couldn't people just make this all better for him? Why did he have to suffer and always deal with this and... and....

Vlad let out a snorted sob, quickly covering his mouth as the tears started to roll down his face.

No. He couldn't blame everyone else for his shitty past and inability to be healthy. Darla and Ricky and Arcade and Adam had tried so much just to help him. It wasn't their fault he was a broken little thing that couldn't even enjoy his birthday.

He was so trapped in his own mind that he hadn't realized Ricky was stirring, having woken up as he realized Vlad was crying and shaking.

Ricky didn't panic. He knew what to do in his situation.

First, he took his hands off of Vlad. Worriedly whispering "I'm up, I'm up" and "can I touch?... nod if I can, ok?" (He had learned the nodding trick from Darla. Saw her do it countless of times with Adam and Vlad. It seemed to work so he always tried to use it for his lover too.)

Vlad focused in on him now, gasping as he sat up and looked around. Everything felt like it was closing in on him. He tried so just zero in on Ricky but he couldn't, covering his ears.

Still. He managed to nod. Shivering as he felt Ricky's thin arms around him, the lanky taller man cradling Vlad in his lap.

"Ey... it's awright, baby...can ya look at me?"

Vlad couldn't say no. So he tried his best to look up, feeling Ricky lovingly cup his face in his thin fingers.

"Ya safe. I'm 'ere, ok? And look!" He gently pulls the watch off the nightstand and dangles it playfully in front of their faces.

"It's ya birthday! Mm- I wasn' supposed ta say nothin' but- Darla and I worked real hard on plannin' today so- so!" Awkwardly but lovingly he presses his lips to Vlad's cheek.
"We'll make sure today is a good day!"

The reassurance Vlad felt from just a few words was immense, sending him to melt into Ricky's chest. Laughing quietly between tears.

They didn't forget. They didn't treat it like nothing. They were gonna make today good and that's all he could of asked for.

"T-than-k- you-" Vlad managed to get out, huffing softly as he let Ricky pull away a bit.

Ricky worriedly gave him a sweet smile, before motioning for him to stay put.

"Hang- hang on... I got somethin' that might cheer ya up even more!" With that, he gently took Vlad's hand as he kneeled down to the bottom of their bed. Rummaging underneath it until he reached a clothes box. It was dented, faded, and stained with god knows what. But in shaky large pen writing on the top, it said "For Baybie"

Ricky couldn't really read or write properly. But he tried. And that made Vlad's heart melt.

He sniffled and let Ricky put the box into his arms. Looking at him with awe as the red spread across his cheek and ears.

"Open 't, babyboy!" Ricky's voice was encouraging and nervous. Even though he knew Vlad would love the gift.

Vlad didn't hesitate to throw the top off of the box. He was like a child when it came to presents. All his sadness would sweep away and he'd just focus on the joy of receiving a gift.

"RICKY!"

He let out a soft cry as he lifted the lingerie from the box. It was worn and a little faded, but otherwise in great condition. It was a pretty silky blue, with little white roses on the long bottoms. There was.. fur? (He couldn't exactly tell) on the silk sleeves and bottom of the gown.

It was - besides the dress Ricky have him for Christmas - the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

And just like on Christmas, he started crying. Ugly crying, snot and tears managing to find themselves all over his face as he violently rubbed at it. Trying to stop crying.

Ricky didn't mind. He was delighted, pulling Vlad in for more cuddles. He now knew when Vlad cried after receiving a gift, it was a good thing.

"Awh- babe..." he mumbled as he kissed at his cheek, laughing as Vlad babbled incoherently about how perfect it was.

The two of them curled up in the bed, holding each other with such pure and adoring love.

Maybe this birthday wouldn't be so bad after all.