Chapter Two-Hundred Twenty-Four: Electrifying Birthday

Chapter 224

Electrifying Birthday

It was May 14th.

Jordi stepped out of his bedroom after he had gotten a shower. He wore a yellow button-down shirt with wide lapels and a black lightning bolt pattern, a black sports jacket, black pants, and black sheer socks. When he stepped into the kitchen, Lena stood before him with a big smile. She wore a floral pink dress that came to her knees with a sweetheart neckline and puffy long sleeves. She shot out a confetti popper that sprayed purple glitter and yellow streamers.

Lena: “Happy birthday, Jordi!”

She cheered and stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. Ashley sauntered into the room, beaming brightly at him. They were dressed in their red paisley dress suit with an ivory blouse. They stood up on their tiptoes to kiss his other cheek, opposite Lena.

Ashley: “Happy birthday, Jordi!”

They chirped. Jordi chuckled.

Jordi: “Well, thank you both!”

Lena: “Ashley and I have a surprise for you, which we will deliver at Tristan’s house!”

She pursed her lips. Ashley giggled with excitement. Jordi’s eyes sparkled.

Jordi: “Oh, I’m excited! Tristan wanted us all to meet at his house. I guess it’s something important.”

Lena: “It’s for your birthday!”

She beamed. Jordi rubbed the back of his neck and blushed.

Abraham came into the kitchen.

Abraham: “Where’s my breakfast?”

He demanded.

Lena: “Grandpa, it’s Jordi’s birthday!”

She knit her eyebrows. Abraham gaped at her.

Abraham: “Any other day? Where’s my breakfast?!”

He demanded. Jordi heaved a deep sigh. Ashley knit their eyebrows and placed their hand on Jordi’s arm. Did he not hear? They wondered.

Ashley: “It’s Jordi’s special day!”

They smiled at Jordi.

Abraham: “I can hear you! I’m not deaf! Are you?! I want my breakfast!”

He demanded.

Ashley: “Oh, uh, then if you heard us then… why don’t you care that it’s Jordi’s birthday?”

They knit their eyebrows, placing their hand on Jordi’s. Jordi grasped their hand.

Jordi: “It’s okay, Ashley. I don’t care. I don’t want to keep Tristan and my friends waiting.”

He smiled tightly. Ashley glanced up at him and pursed their lips with a nod.

Ashley: “Okay, let’s go!”

He went to the door, slid his feet into his boots, and zipped them up. Ashley slipped on their sandals, and Lena slid her feet into her butterfly heels, and they went out the door.

~

Tristan, Deimos, Jaxon, Fabien, and Celeste were in his backyard. Tristan wore a purple three-piece Italian-cut suit, a white pressed shirt, a black tie, and black wingtip Oxfords. Celeste wore a Vixen tank top, Daisy Dukes, fishnet leggings, cowgirl boots, a spiked collar, and a leather jacket. Jaxon wore a red snakeskin pattern sports jacket over a black button-down shirt, leather pants, and black Chelsea boots. Fabien wore a black t-shirt that read, “Fuck War” with a green plaid shirt over it, jeans, and flip-flops. Deimos wore a Celtic Frost tank top, torn jeans, and cowboy boots.

Professor Stewart Murphy sauntered it. He wore a brown sweater over a white pressed shirt, dark brown pants, and black loafers.

Prof. Murphy: “Hello, everyone, Etsuko whipped up something special for you all.”

He beamed and sat down.

Fabien: “Do I get one, too?”

He grinned. Jaxon glared daggers at him. Stewart blushed.

Prof. Murphy: “It’s mainly for the Quintet.”

Deimos: “Quintet, huh?”

Fabien: “Come on, I saved Jaxon from Jordi’s weirdo boss.”

He smirked.

Jaxon: “Only because DEIMOS couldn’t! Otherwise, you’d laugh at Blair!”

He hissed. Fabien glanced at him. Celeste stared at her lap.

Deimos: “To be fair, he pulled his weight.”

Tristan cleared his throat.

Tristan: “What do you have for us, Stewart?”

He asked genially.

Prof. Murphy: “So we don’t lose touch on anything important, here are the ‘Quintet Communicators,’ or you could call them ‘Team Verdant Hawk Communicators.’ ”

He chuckled. He handed one each to Tristan, Celeste, Jaxon, and Deimos.

Prof. Murphy: “Ensure the fifth is handed to Jordi.”

He nodded. The communicators resembled slim, square calculators with small screens and buttons.

Prof. Murphy: “These will be used for video calls between you guys and me!”

He smiled.

Fabien: “Why don’t I get one?”

He pouted.

Jaxon: “Because it’s for missions and not for trolling Blair!”

He snapped. Fabien glared at him. Celeste shifted awkwardly in her seat.

Prof. Murphy tightly pursed his lips.

Prof. Murphy: “I would love to stay for Jordi’s birthday, but I have errands to run. See to it that he gets his device and give him my birthday wishes.”

Tristan smiled.

Tristan: “I shall do that, Stewart. Thank you.”

Prof. Murphy: “Good day to you all.”

He nodded and stepped out.

Tristan turned to Jaxon.

Tristan: “What’s wrong, Jaxon?”

Jaxon: “Nothing, I’m tired of HIM sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

He huffed.

Fabien: “Yeah, except I do help you guys!”

Jaxon: “Trolling is not a job, idiot!”

He fired back.

Tristan: “So, Jaxon, will you be staying in your house tonight?”

Jaxon: “No, Celeste and Fabien can use it for their trolling hub, or she can destroy it again. I don’t care.”

He shrugged. Celeste looked away.

Celeste: “Well, where were you, Jaxon?”

She knit her eyebrows.

Jaxon: “What do you care? You got Wonder Troll.”

He huffed. Fabien glared at him.

Fabien: “Why didn’t you answer him? Where were you anyway?”

He asked sharply.

Deimos and Tristan exchanged glances. Tristan shook his head.

Tristan: “Fabien, I will ask Stewart to get a device for you, too.”

He nodded.

Fabien: “Thank you, Tristan!”

He beamed. Jaxon glared at him and Fabien.

Jaxon: “So I guess you want to troll Blair, too?”

Tristan rolled his eyes.

Tristan: “No, Jaxon, I don’t. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t troll Blair with this. Trolling Blair isn’t a challenge anyway.”

He said sternly.

Jaxon: “Yeah, no shit, but he makes it his life.”

He huffed.

Fabien: “What is up your ass?!”

He rasped. Deimos looked away and cupped his mouth.

Tristan was about to open his mouth, but Ashley, Jordi, and Lena arrived.

Tristan: “Hello, friends! Happy birthday, Jordi!”

He exclaimed.

Celeste: “Happy birthday, Jordi!”

She chirped.

Fabien: “Happy birthday, man.”

He smiled.

Jaxon: “Happy birthday. Sorry, these two had to come.”

He huffed. Celeste looked hurt. Fabien glared at him. Jordi smiled awkwardly.

Tristan: “Now, Deimos, what do you say to Jordi?”

He put his hand on his shoulder. Deimos reddened.

Deimos: “Happy birthday.”

He muttered. Fabien cupped his mouth to stifle a laugh. Jordi beamed.

Jordi: “Thank you all!”

Ashley stood beside Jordi and greeted the group with a wave.

Ashley: “Hello, friends!”

They chirped.

Tristan: “Shall we give you our gifts first?”

He asked Jordi. Jordi raised his eyebrows.

Lena: “I’ll give you mine later.”

She nodded.

Jordi: “That’s fine!”

Ashley shifted their eyes and reddened.

Ashley: “Me, too, heheh…”

They whispered and bit their lip. Jordi blushed and nodded.

Jordi: “Can’t wait!”

He whispered.

Tristan handed him a box wrapped in shiny purple wrapping paper. Jordi sat down and unwrapped the gift. Jordi lifted the box and smiled when he saw a bottle of Sexual Paris Pour Homme cologne and some books.

Jordi: “My favorite cologne and some books! Thank you, Tristan!”

He beamed.

Tristan: “You’re welcome, Jordi!”

Jaxon handed him a box with a raven flying over the two moons on the lid.

Jaxon: “Here.”

Jordi lifted the lid and saw Black Cat incense and a few packages of “Shunga Lovebath.” Ashley’s eyes widened with intrigue.

Jordi: “Oh, nice! I love incense, but what’s this?”

He held up the package. Celeste knit her eyebrows, recalling that she and Jaxon used that product in their first bath together.

Jaxon: “It’s Shunga Lovebath. It turns your bathwater into jellies that relax you and your girlfriend.”

He nodded. Ashley flushed red and fanned their face.

Ashley: “O-Oh my!”

They beamed at Jordi.

Jordi: “Oooohhh…”

He smiled at Ashley.

Jordi: “We’ll put this to good use.”

He winked at them. Ashley shivered and giggled.

Ashley: “Hehehe, oh Jordi!”

They winked back at him.

Fabien handed him an envelope. Jordi thanked him and opened it. It was a $50 voucher at Danny Donger’s.

Jordi: “Oh, nice! Thanks, Fabien! They do have excellent food!”

Fabien smiled a bit.

Celeste handed him a crudely wrapped gift that looked like it was a slab of wood. Jordi took it from her and unwrapped it. It was a wooden plaque of a drawing she did of Ashley with their feet up and a cake between them. Jordi beamed and showed it to Ashley and everyone. Tristan laughed a bit. Ashley beamed and blushed, giggling.

Jordi: “Look at this!”

Ashley: “Oh my stars! That’s so beautiful, Celeste! Thank you!”

They chirped, admiring her art.

Tristan: “Wow, that’s lovely!”

Lena: “That is very nice and thoughtful!”

She nodded.

Jaxon: “Did a toddler draw that?”

He sneered. Fabien glared at Jaxon. Jordi gaped at Jaxon. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Celeste: “No, I did, Jaxon.”

Tristan cleared his throat.

Ashley: “She worked really hard on it, and it’s awesome!”

They smiled at Celeste. Celeste smiled at them.

Fabien: “Blair drew fat fetish art of his girlfriend, and you were less scathing to his shit.”

He snapped. Ashley twisted their mouth, recalling that picture, and how Lazaros did nothing.

Jaxon: “Blair’s art is better!”

He countered. Fabien snorted. Celeste looked away and looked up at Tristan.

Fabien: “Hahaha, whatever, Jaxon.”

Ashley: “Blair’s art has no heart and soul, but Celeste’s art does!”

They smiled at Celeste. Celeste beamed.

Jordi: “Guys, I don’t want to give Blair any thought today. I don’t care about him or his childish art.”

He said firmly but gently.

Tristan: “I agree with this.”

Ashley nodded intently in agreement.

Deimos handed Jordi a small, crudely wrapped box. Jordi smiled and unwrapped it. It was a single box of soap. Jordi gaped at it. Tristan looked at the soap and at Deimos.

Tristan: “Deimos, what is this?”

Deimos: “It’s a box of soap!”

Tristan: “DEIMOS!”

He snapped and placed his hands on his hips. Deimos drew back.

Deimos: “You told me to get Jordi something for his birthday, and I thought of the dollar store! Yeah, I only have to spend a dollar, and I picked something!”

He explained. Fabien burst out laughing. Ashley awkwardly scratched their head. Lena pursed her lips and looked down at her feet.

Jordi: “Uhm…”

He rubbed the back of his head.

Deimos: “Come on, soap is good for a lot of things! I did this for you, Tristan!”

He whined. Tristan threw his hands up.

Tristan: “Why do I even bother?”

He rolled his eyes. Lena looked at him and knit her eyebrows.

Jaxon: “It beats Celeste’s gift! In Fabien’s words, he can hose down his fat girlfriend and wash her with soap!”

He snapped. Ashley knit their eyebrows, looking hurt and shifting uncomfortably.

Fabien: “That’s the message you got from it, then! Don’t put words in my mouth!”

He fired back.

Jaxon: “You gave him a voucher for food because you wanted to send a message that you think his girlfriend is fat and she eats a lot! Do you think he’s another Lazaros?!”

He rasped. Ashley embraced themself, staring down at their feet.

Fabien: “Hahahaha, okay, Jaxon, whatever. That’s not why I did it. I would have just called her fat.”

He rolled his eyes. Ashley nodded, knowing his patterns and realizing he hadn’t done that in a while now.

Jordi: “Guys, that’s enough. I didn’t take any hidden messages from any of my gifts.”

He said firmly.

Lena clasped her hands.

Lena: “So, how about Ashley and I present one of our gifts?”

She suggested. Ashley’s frown shifted into a smile.

Ashley: “Yes, let’s do our gifts now!”

They clasped their hands. And stop fighting and having this awkward conversation, they thought.

Jaxon: “Why aren’t you calling her fat anyway?”

Ashley awkwardly scratched their head. Why does he keep coming for me, and what is going on here? They wondered.

Fabien: “It’s his birthday, and I am being a good boy today.”

Jaxon: “You?! You’re NEVER a good boy! You’re just a fucking asshole!”

He rasped.

Celeste: “Jaxon, why are you being like this? It’s Jordi’s birthday.”

She said in a plaintive tone.

Ashley: “Come on, guys, today is about Jordi!”

They smiled up at him. Jordi smiled back at them.

Lena: “Come on, Ashley, let’s bring it out!”

She waved to them. Ashley smiled and eagerly nodded.

Ashley: “Yay! Lettuce do this!”

They giggled with excitement, scurrying over to her.

Lena entered the house with Ashley, and the two came out carrying a marbled purple, triple-layered lavender cheesecake with “Happy Birthday, Jordi” piped in gold icing on top and candles. Jordi’s eyes lit up at the cake.

Tristan: “Wow, you two made this?”

He smiled. Celeste rubbed her hands. Ashley and Lena both nodded.

Ashley: “Yep! We baked it together! And she also made the little butterflies!”

They chirped at the fondant butterflies on the side of the cake.

Lena: “I did.”

Tristan: “You two did a great job!”

Lena blushed.

Ashley: “Thank you!”

Jaxon: “It’s why I was named Jiro, huh? The second son, the second choice, the afterthought, and second to an idiot troll like you!”

He hissed at Fabien.

Fabien: “Man, Celeste and I never excluded you! You didn’t come home! You seem to be ghosting us! This is a you problem, not an us problem!”

He fired back.

Jaxon: “You fucking idiot! You stole HER from ME! I hated you from the day I met you!”

He barked at him. Fabien drew back, visibly hurt.

Jaxon: “Have some cake, bitch!”

He took the cake from Ashley’s and Lena’s hands and smashed it over Fabien’s head. Fabien gasped as the cake splattered over his head, hair, and clothes, with bits of cake falling to the floor. Tristan cupped his mouth. Jordi’s mouth dropped. Lena cupped her mouth, and tears filled her eyes. Lena stormed into the house crying. Tristan watched her and knit his eyebrows. A smile tugged at Deimos’ lips. Ashley gasped and cupped their mouth.

Ashley: “NOO! OUR CAKE!”

They cried through tears.

Ashley: “I’m so sorry, Jordi!”

They knit their eyebrows. Jordi gazed at them in disbelief. He ran inside the house to check on Lena.

Ashley: “Why did you do that?”

They cried at Jaxon.

Fabien: “You fucking ASSHOLE!”

He bellowed and rammed right into Jaxon, and the two flew into the pool and crashed. Tristan heaved a deep sigh. The two men gasped when they reached the surface.

Deimos: “Is now a good time to tell him and Celeste what you saw at Percy’s?”

He asked Tristan.

Tristan: “Why did you say that, Deimos?!”

He asked sharply.

Fabien’s fist flew into Jaxon’s face. He lunged at him and bit his shoulder. Fabien cried out in pain. He shoved Jaxon off him, and his wounds healed. A red glow surrounded Jaxon as he healed himself. Fabien lunged at Jaxon, and the two went underwater. Jaxon kicked him off him and climbed out of the pool. Fabien climbed out and grabbed his hair, slamming him to the ground.

Tristan: “Okay, guys, break it up!”

He said firmly.

Jaxon kicked at Fabien, trying to pry him off. Fabien punched his face and slammed it into the ground. Jaxon slammed his feet into his stomach and shoved him off violently. Fabien crashed into the grill, knocking it over; it hit the floor and cracked.

The silence in the patio was louder than the shouting had been. Jaxon stood before Fabien, the metallic taste of adrenaline coating his tongue. His chest heaved.

He didn’t think. He didn’t brace. He just let months of repressed friction coil into his shoulder and explode outward.

He swung with a jagged, technical mess of a punch that landed on Celeste, who immediately stepped in front of Fabien to protect him. There was no "thud"—it was a sickening, wet crack, like a bundle of dry kindling being snapped in a heavy rug.

For a split second, there was no pain, only a jarring vibration that traveled up his arm and rattled his teeth. Then, the nervous system caught up.

Jaxon’s knees buckled. He pulled his hand back, cradling it against his stomach, his breath hitching in shallow, jagged gasps.

His hand didn’t look like a hand anymore. The knuckles of his ring and pinky fingers had vanished, displaced backward into the meat of his palm—the classic "Boxer’s Fracture."

His wrist was already blooming into a dark, angry purple, beginning to swell into a “silver fork” deformity where the radius had buckled under the pressure. It wasn’t just a sting. It was a rhythmic, white-hot throbbing that felt like a heartbeat made of broken glass.

A red glow surrounded him as he healed himself. His healing powers mended his broken bones and the tissues in his hand. Fabien gazed at her with wide eyes.

Jaxon slumped against the pillar, the world spinning, as the cold reality of what had happened began to sink in. He turned to Celeste with tears in his eyes.

Jaxon: “You chose him over me!”

He cried.

Celeste: “NO! I want you to stop fighting us!”

She fired back.

Celeste: “I won’t let you hurt him anymore! He told me he loved me, but you struggled to say it!”

She blurted. Jaxon’s eyes widened.

Jaxon: “I did because I never felt love before! No one ever fucking loved me my entire life! Not you, not that fucking idiot behind you, not my family, and not Noriko! I thought you did, but the minute I am traumatized, you bail and go to HIM!”

He bawled.

Jaxon: “Now I found it in someone else! I regret wasting my time with you and definitely with HIM!”

He spat and stormed away. Celeste knit her eyebrows and pursed her lips.

Rain began to fall, then poured down. The rain dissolved the cake on the ground. Tristan bent down and picked up the butterfly ornament and sighed.

Jordi stepped out and drew a long breath.

Jordi: “I never thought I would see the day when Jaxon ruined my party.”

He muttered.

~

Tristan saw Jordi, Lena, and Ashley out. He hugged Lena and nodded to Jordi.

Tristan: “I am so sorry about how everything went down.”

He sighed.

Lena: “It’s okay, Tristan…”

She smiled a bit, feeling warm in his embrace. Deimos folded his arms and glared at her.

Jordi: “Intense feelings are lingering.”

Tristan: “I am well aware of that.”

He twisted his mouth.

Tristan: “Why else would he react with such hostility?”

Jordi drew a breath. Tristan handed Lena her butterfly. She smiled.

Lena: “You can keep it!”

Tristan raised his eyebrows.

Tristan: “Really?”

Lena: “Yeah!”

Tristan turned to Jordi and handed him a “Quintet Communicator.” Jordi took it and eyed it curiously.

Jordi: “What’s this?”

He asked. Tristan folded his hands behind his back and stood in a regal posture.

Tristan: “Professor Stewart Murphy sends his birthday wishes and wanted me to give that to you. You can use this to communicate with him or any of us. ‘Any of us’ refers to Deimos, Celeste, Jaxon, or me.”

He explained. Jordi smiled a bit.

Jordi: “Send him my thanks!”

Tristan: “I shall do so! Take care, Jordi. My apologies for what happened, and happy birthday!”

Jordi hugged him, and Tristan returned the hug. Deimos pouted.

~

After they left, Tristan turned to Deimos.

Tristan: “Would you mind explaining that gift?”

He asked sharply. Deimos sighed.

Deimos: “You told me to get something, and I forgot. Since there’s a ‘Common Cents’ store near, I went to that and grabbed the first thing I saw!”

He snapped. Tristan rolled his eyes.

Tristan: “Why on Reona did you even bother? Also, I shouldn’t have to remind you to wish him a happy birthday! You’re twenty-three, not three!”

He fired back, his tone just as firm. Deimos folded his arms.

Deimos: “I did it for you!”

Tristan rubbed his temples.

Tristan: “Deimos, you should do kind things because you want to do them, not to placate me.”

He drew a long breath.

Deimos: “Then I don’t really want to!”

He folded his arms and pouted. Tristan drew a short breath. Here we go, he thought.

Deimos: “I don’t like him or trust him! Besides, Jaxon was getting even with Fabien for ruining his birthday!’

He said firmly.

Tristan: “Except he ruined Jordi’s birthday, not Fabien’s. It’s not ‘tit for tat’, Deimos.”

He said with some exasperation.

Deimos: “Also, Ashley moved on awfully quickly from Lazaros. They were SO gung-ho about moving in despite yours, and my warnings not to, and Lazaros made it clear in his own fucktarded way that he didn’t want them to move in.”

He stated. Tristan’s eyes went into a full roll.

Tristan: “Yes, Deimos, I am well aware.”

He folded his arms over.

Tristan: “Do you think this doesn’t annoy me, too, or something? It does. Ashley decided to stop loving Lazaros because he didn’t want them to work at an ice cream store. Until then, they were fully on board with being with him and acting as his garbage disposal.”

He threw his arms up. Deimos snorted at his quip.

Deimos: “Wait until they find out Jordi is not Mr. Perfect.”

He huffed.

Tristan: “Jordi does a lot more to help himself and others than Lazaros.”

Deimos: “Yeah, I’ll give him that.”

He nodded.

Tristan: “And Jaxon is making the same mistake, hence what happened tonight. Ashley is not over Lazaros any more than Jaxon is over Celeste. As for Jordi, I don’t think he knows what he wants, and he doesn’t allow breathing room to explore that to find out what that is.”

He pursed his lips and gazed out at the torrential rain outside.

Deimos: “Do you think Jordi loves Ashley?”

Tristan shook his head.

Tristan: “No, I don’t. I think Jordi is seeking out what he’s lacking at home, hoping this will fill the void, but it never does. It was the same with Gina, Madelyn, Anthony, et al. As for Ashley, maybe things are different on whatever planet they come from, but I think settling on this planet was one of the biggest mistakes their people could have made.”

He locked his gaze on Deimos.

Deimos: “Yeah, Reona is still raw about the Earthling invasion… despite using Earth’s country names and holidays.”

He rubbed the back of his neck.

Tristan: “The phrase ‘A bird and a fish can fall in love, but where would they build their home?’ comes to mind. It’s a poignant metaphor for the practical realities that often collide with romantic or idealistic pursuits.”

He explained and sat with Deimos.

Tristan: “At its most literal, the bird belongs to the sky and the fish to the sea. While their hearts might be aligned, their fundamental natures and needs are irreconcilable. One cannot breathe underwater, and the other cannot survive in the clouds. This particular metaphor represents couples or partners who come from ‘different worlds’—in a literal sense, as such in Ashley’s and Jordi’s case.”

He continued.

Tristan: “You can have a deep connection with someone, but if your core values or lifestyles don’t overlap, the relationship faces an existential threat. The bittersweet realism is the quote is often used to describe right person, wrong time scenarios. It acknowledges that love itself is real and beautiful, but the logistics of reality are indifferent to that beauty. It’s a gentle way of saying that some unions, no matter how pure, are destined to be difficult or impossible because of the ‘gravity’ of the world we live in.”

He concluded. Deimos locked his gaze on him.

Deimos: “So what you’re saying is Ashley and Jordi are doomed to fail as they did with Lazaros?”

He asked. Tristan swallowed hard.

Tristan: “If anyone discovers that Ashley comes from another planet, they and their people will have to flee for their own safety. I’m certain you recall that Blair broke their arm with ease, and Blair is weak.”

He stated.

Deimos: “Yeah, but that mystical spirit water I took gave me flight abilities, so maybe if they found that out, they could do a trade-off?”

Tristan wagged his head.

Tristan: “Yes, in an idealistic world, that’s possible, but our planet doesn’t have many like us that would be so lenient. I think they would take it, but still want them off our planet, lest they face another invasion. I don’t believe Ashley’s people want to conquer Reona, but no one is going to see it from another view.”

He lifted his head.

Tristan: “Didn’t Ashley make another vial of that water for Lazaros?”

Deimos shrugged.

Deimos: “I guess so, but I never found it.”

Tristan heaved a deep sigh.

Tristan: “If you or Lazaros do, take it. One of us will have to take it to give another ability or strengthen our powers. I don’t want it to get into the wrong hands.”

Deimos nodded firmly and smiled.

Deimos: “What were you gonna discuss before Jordi’s entourage came?”

Tristan raised his eyebrows.

Tristan: “Oh! Percy informed me that Ivy’s father, Fen, is seeking out a compound of Ehtytrim known as ‘Aetheris-9.’ ”

Deimos raised an eyebrow.

Deimos: “You’re going to help Ivy’s dad?”

Tristan shook his head.

Tristan: “Neither Percy nor I intend to. He informed me about it and asked me if I knew anything.”

Deimos: “And you don’t?”

Tristan: “No more than you do.”

He inhaled sharply.

Deimos: “What about those notes about ‘Project Ghisyn’ from Narcisse’s house?”

He rubbed his hands. Tristan paused.

Tristan: “I didn’t go through those much, but I suppose it doesn’t hurt to look.”

He stroked his ponytail.

~

Jordi was in his bedroom, playing his synthesizer and singing a song he had written. He had taken off his sports jacket and placed it on his bed. He was playing an upbeat tune as he sang in his smooth voice. Ashley peeked their head in with a wide smile, holding a box in their hands.

Ashley: “Ooooh, that’s a pretty song, Jordi!”

They beamed. Jordi stopped playing and turned to them with a smile.

Jordi: “Thank you!”

Ashley: “I wanted to give you your birthday gift!”

They exclaimed, presenting him with the box. It was painted purple and decorated with lavender branches and purple geraniums. Jordi rose and smiled at them.

Jordi: “Thank you! This is so beautiful!”

He marveled at the love and care they put into the box. He lifted the lid and smiled at what he saw. Inside were half a dozen cupcakes with purple frosting and gold sprinkles. Ashley pressed their fingers together and blushed.

Jordi: “Oh, wow, these are lovely, Ashley! Thank you so, so much! I’ll put these in the fridge.”

He started to leave his bedroom. Ashley took his hand.

Ashley: “...Maybe you should pick up one now…”

They winked at him. A smile curled on Jordi’s lips.

Jordi: “Sure!”

He picked one up from the box and saw a photo of Ashley staring back at him. They were sitting in the garden, showing their tummy and bare feet to the viewer. A speech bubble was pasted on the photo that read: “Dig below for a surprise!” Jordi brightened when he saw the picture, and his cheeks flushed bright red.

Jordi: “Ooooh, this is already enticing…”

He purred and removed more cupcakes from the box. Ashley giggled and blushed at his reaction.

Ashley: “Hehe, thank you!”

He noticed a compartment inside and carefully lifted it. Ashley’s eyes grew large, and they blushed a brighter shade of red as he gazed upon the soft ostrich feathers, purple cat massager, and wartenberg wheel inside. Jordi bit his bottom lip as he examined the various tickling tools inside.

Jordi: “You want to use these on me?”

He purred and wiggled his eyebrows. Ashley giggled, covering their eyes with their hands, and nodded intently.

Ashley: “Hehehe, YES!”

They bit their bottom lip. Jordi beamed and reached out to cup their face. Ashley purred and beamed at his touch. He traced his thumb on their cheek and leaned in for a kiss. Ashley shivered all over and kissed him back.

Jordi: “Of course, you may…”

He whispered. Ashley quivered with arousal.

Ashley: “Hehe, YAY!”

They held up the box.

Ashley: “Which one would you like me to try first?”

They winked at him, presenting him with the various tools. Jordi examined them.

Jordi: “This.”

He held up the wartenberg wheel. He bent over to take off his socks. He tossed them into the laundry basket.

Jordi: “May I put these in the fridge before we start?”

He pointed to the cupcakes. Ashley nodded.

Ashley: “Okay, we can eat them later! You’ll be hungry after this, haha!”

They winked at him. Jordi smirked at them and kissed their cheek. He went out with the cupcakes.

He strolled into the kitchen and placed each cupcake into the fridge. His grandfather was watching a game show and heard him. When Jordi left, he turned around and grinned.

Jordi returned to his bedroom and closed the door behind him. He climbed into bed and put his size-12 caramel feet up, wiggling his toes. Ashley’s eyes grew large like a cat, ready to pounce. They jumped up onto the bed and rubbed their face up against his soft soles like a cat. Jordi let out a peal of giggles and fanned his toes.

Jordi: “You love my feet a lot, don’t you?”

He beamed and scrunched his toes on their face. Ashley giggled.

Ashley: “I love more than just your feet…”

They said softly, gazing up at his eyes between his feet. Jordi gazed at them when they said that, and he turned beet red.

Jordi: “Oh…, is that so?”

He blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. Ashley nodded intently and slowly glided the cold metal of the wartenberg wheel against the soft flesh of his soles. Jordi jolted and let out a peal of giggles.

Jordi: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!”

Ashley: “Yeah, I also love your smile…”

They continued.

Ashley: “And your laughter!”

They teased, scrubbing the wheel between his toes. Jordi burst out laughing.

Jordi: “AHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAHAHAHA!!!”

He threw his head back laughing.

Ashley: “And your tummy!”

They sighed softly, caressing the soft feather across his tummy. Jordi laughed softly and swallowed hard.

Jordi: “AhahahahahahahaAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

He laughed and unsnapped the buttons on his shirt. He pulled his shirt out of his pants and left it open, exposing his bare chest and tummy. Ashley’s heart hammered in their chest.

Ashley: “...And your heart.”

They beamed brightly, draping the feather across his heart and locking their gaze on him. He laughed softly, and his breathing hitched.

Ashley: “...And you…”

They leaned forward with a whisper. He gazed at them when they told him they loved him, and he smiled.

Jordi: “You love me…?”

He asked in a whisper. Ashley reddened and beamed.

Ashley: “Of course I do! I gave you my pure love!”

They said softly. Jordi locked his Byzantine eyes on them. He reached out and cupped their face, smiling tenderly at them. Ashley purred to his tender, loving touch.

Jordi: “I love you, too.”

He said softly. Ashley gasped and beamed as if a warm light filled them.

Ashley: “I love you, too!”

They chirped and kissed him. Jordi kissed them deeply and ran his fingers through their hair. Ashley sighed happily in his embrace and kissed him passionately. Jordi brushed his shirt past his shoulders and tossed it on the floor as he kissed them deeply. He started unbuckling his belt and unsnapping his jeans, sliding them past his hips and onto the floor. Ashley’s eyes grew large like a cat as they gazed upon him.

Ashley: “Oh wow…”

They hummed softly as they rubbed their fingertips down his chest. Jordi inhaled sharply and slid his underwear down and tossed them on the floor, revealing his naked body before them. Ashley flushed bright red, cupping their cheeks at his naked form.

Ashley: “Hehe, oh my! Look at you in your birthday suit… my fave suit of yours! I feel like it’s MY birthday today!”

They teased and beamed, winking at him. Jordi laughed and waved his hand at them.

Jordi: “Oh, you.”

He giggled.

Ashley bit their lip as they slid off their jacket and unbuttoned their shirt, revealing their soft figure to him. Jordi smiled and brushed their shirt from their shoulders. He dug his fingertips under their bralette and pulled it over their arms and head. Ashley shivered and giggled. He locked his gaze on their soft form and hardened. Ashley gazed intently at him and beamed at his hardness.

They traced their fingertips along their pants and unbuttoned them, pulling them down to their underwear. Jordi leaned closer and slid his hands under the band and slowly pulled down their underwear. Ashley blushed as they stood before him in their soft, naked form.

Jordi took their arms and kissed them deeply. He guided them to his bed, running his hands all over their body, and rested his hand between their legs, massaging them. Ashley purred and melted like a pile of kitty goo as his hands caressed their soft tummy, sending them into a quivering state of arousal. Jordi started massaging with one finger and then used two. A tiny gasp escaped their lips as they felt his fingers glide between their legs, pleasuring them with his touch.

Ashley: “O-Oh meow!”

They hummed with pleasure, closing their eyes and melting to his pleasure and gently kissing his lips. Jordi grasped their legs and smiled at them. He lowered his head between their legs and gave it a lick. Jordi rested his head between their legs and massaged them with his mouth, savoring the sweet taste. Ashley’s entire body quivered all over with arousal as they felt the warm wetness of his tongue gliding against their soft skin. They curled their toes up and massaged their feet against his hardened member. Jordi groaned when he felt their feet on his cock. He leaned back and clutched the sheets as they pleasured him. He bit his bottom lip and inhaled sharply. Ashley wrapped their arms around him as they caressed his hard member, between the soft soles of their feet. Jordi grunted. There was a film of precum on the tip of his member.

He reached into his nightstand drawer, withdrew a condom, and unwrapped it. He slid it over his erect cock with finesse and lay Ashley on the bed, hovering over them. Ashley’s heart hammered in their chest as he hovered over them, with his erect cock so close to them.

Jordi: “Are you ready…?”

He asked softly, tracing his thumb on their cheek. Ashley bit their lip and nodded intently.

Ashley: “Y-Yes…”

They said breathlessly. Jordi nodded, kissed them, and slowly, but gently, settled between their legs. Ashley invited him in with a warm embrace, kissing him softly. He held them close as he began with a slow rhythm, thrusting inside of them. His balls slapped against them, and his body grinded against theirs, knowing they could take it. Ashley thrusted up against him, holding him close to them, feeling his heart pounding against theirs as a moan escaped their lips.

Ashley: “O-Oh, Jordi!”

They moaned and mewed in his ear. Jordi giggled as their breath tickled his ear. He picked up the pace with his thrusts, holding them close and tracing his fingers over their tummy. Ashley gasped and moaned, shivering all over and feeling wet with arousal.

Ashley: “Mmm, O-Oh Jordi!”

They moaned louder, thrusting against him and kissing him all over. Jordi increased the pacing in his thrusts, slapping his body against theirs, feeling on edge. He dug his fingertips into their tummy as he moved in rhythm with them. Ashley threw their head back as they felt his toned body slapping against their soft body and felt themself over the edge as they felt his fingertips digging into their soft flesh.

Ashley: “O-Oh god! Oh, Jordi!”

Their breathing hitched as they reached euphoria, feeling a warm light inside them. Jordi shouted as he released his climax inside his condom.

He pulled out, peeled his condom off, tied it into a knot, and tossed it in the trash. He flopped on the bed panting. Ashley panted, catching their breath, and caressed Jorid’s chest. Jordi put his arm over them and kissed their head. Ashley beamed brightly and gazed up at his byzantium purple eyes.

Jordi: “I love you…”

He said softly and trailed his fingertips over their neck. Ashley giggled at his touch, and their heart hammered to those words.

Ashley: “I love you, too!”

They beamed happily and kissed him softly.

Jordi: “Thank you for everything, Ashley…”

He gazed at them tenderly.

Ashley: “Of course! Anytime! Thank you for everything, too, Jordi! You make me a happy kitty!”

They purred.

Jordi: “You’re most welcome. You make me a happy man.”

He kissed them. Ashley kissed him back.

Jordi: “Care to join me in the shower?”

He smiled. Ashley’s eyes lit up, and they nodded intently.

Ashley: “Yes, please!”

They chirped. Jordi rose from his bed and took their hand to guide them to his bathroom. Ashley squeezed his hand and followed him into the bathroom.