#i had to stop what i was doing immediately and write this

It’s not a pleasant feeling. This is his first birthday that Tendou has ever spent on his own, in the City of Dreams. 

Paris; it was mostly referred to as the “City of Lights”, but he calls it his City of Dreams because it is the place were his dream of becoming a chef and running his own chocolaterie came true. He’s been here for half a decade now and accomplished so much.

Not without his own hard work and sacrifices, though. And he must say, the biggest sacrifice he’s had to make so far is having to part with you. 

Usually, videochats and lovey text messages are enough to fill the distance between you both, but it’s on lonely nights like these, where he is hauling himself towards the elevator of his apartment complex — wearing his stained chef whites with a heavy rucksack slung over his shoulders — that he realises how truly arduous it is to be alone. To be without you. 

All of his movements were frigid; nothing felt right today. He scanned his key then pressed the button for his apartment.

5. The penthouse. He used to live on the second floor of this same apartment complex but once he gained the funds for it, he managed to ascend all the way up to the highest floor. 

For him, usually his residence is a symbol of how far he has come and all that he has achieved through his perseverance, but today it only reminded him of you and how you had yet to come see his new house (that he has had for over a year now). He has given you a virtual tour of it but that’s not the same as having you lie down next to him in his twin bed, cuddled up to his chest while he has his arms wrapped lovingly around you, whispering sweet nothings into your ear. 

Oh, and he remembers when he first mentioned that he had bought a twin bed, you were rightfully confused. When he is rich enough to buy a penthouse, how can he not afford a double bed? 

Well, his explanation is quite simple, really. The less space in the bed, the more cuddling that will occur. And maybe other things too, who’s to say? 

Plus, they don’t make race-car beds in king size! (Jokes, he doesn’t have a race-car bed; they don’t make them in any size above small single, and cuddling with you in a single bed would simply be claustrophobic. He does care a lot about your comfort.) 

As the lift slowly began to ascend upwards, he was left to ponder what he had done wrong. Every year, you make it a point to come visit him for his birthday, while he visits you on your birthday and most other holidays. Including pancake day. (Because, let’s face it, it’s a lot cheaper to leave Paris than it is to get in.) However, this year you said you couldn’t make it due to work commitments. 

And at first he was irritated because he wasn’t really used to you putting your work in front of your relationships. Plus, he’s gone to hell and back rescheduling appointments, just so he could see you on your special day. Why couldn’t he get the same thing in return?

But then it dawned on him that the whole reason you are both apart in the first place is because of his own work commitments. So he didn’t really have the authority to be upset with you, only with himself. 

A faint ring echoed through the elevator and Tendou couldn’t help but heave a sigh. This was sure to be his worst birthday yet. There is always next year, though. 

The elevator door parted before his heavy eyes. He’d been running on caffeine, so he wasn’t able to tell if he was hallucinating when he saw his living room floor scattered with confetti balloons and multi-coloured streamers hanging from the wall, decorating the tables and lining his couch. It appeared as though a rainbow had come crashing down on his previously Rustic, minimalist living room. 

Though he wasn’t opposed, the bright splashes of colour really did cheer him up. Perhaps the thing that was bringing him down was living in such a dull and lifelessly decorated house. Up until now, he’d accepted how the house came pre-furnished and never really interfered with the décor, but now that his eyes have been opened to how lively and optimistic his environment can make him feel, his first instinct was to rush to his computer and start searching for an interior designer. 

Of course, he will do that after he finds the person responsible for livening up his house, because it certainly was not him. It’s likely to be the doings of his landlord or a.. very friendly burglar. Because he did notice that his antique chocolate cuckoo clock was missing. 

“Hello?” His voice echoed through the living room. His jaw immediately snapped shut when he heard movement coming from the kitchen; what sounded like shuffling and humming. Though whatever it was, didn’t acknowledge him at all.

Instead of engaging with the demon that could possibly be present in his home right now, he reached out to grab the tablet that rested on the wall right next to the elevator. It was the device that was connected to all the security cameras he had set up in his house. 

Scrolling through all the footage, he finally landed on the camera view that was currently recording the kitchen and his heart skipped a beat. 

It wasn’t a burglar or his landlord. And quite frankly, he would have figured it was some sort of demonic entity before he would’ve guessed that the person in the kitchen of his Parisian Penthouse would beyou. The person who said they couldn’t have made it to celebrate his birthday even if they begged their boss for a day off. Even through a low-quality cheap camera, he was able to recognise your grace. 

Tendou smiled and tossed the tablet onto the couch, racing to the kitchen at top speed so he could finally take a look at you after all this time. You already had him grinning from ear-to-ear at the mere sight of you through a screen, so imagine the tears he wept when he was finally standing in the same room as you.

“(y/n)..” he gasped, frozen in place at the entrance of the kitchen, gazing at your figure through glossy eyes. You had a glamourous outfit on, perfectly styled hair and in your hand was a piping bag as you worked away at the final details at what he presumed was his birthday cake. 

Upon hearing his voice, you visibly tensed. Not because he was home earlier than you expected, but because it had been so long since you had heard his real voice. His authentic voice that hadn’t been altered by the quality of his microphone or the static of your wifi. It was his kind voice that called out to you, which result in you spinning on your heels and immediately dashing towards him to engulf him in your arms. 

And he wasn’t taken aback or surprised in the slightest. Ever since the moment he left you last time, he’s been prepared to take you in his arms again. He adores nothing more than your chest pressed against his, and how your loving, soft lips capture his own. For a tender kiss he wishes could last a lifetime. 

Soon, you part and his hand gently caresses your arm until he can take your chin between his index finger and thumb, to share a longing gaze. “I missed you so much.” He whispered, a foolish grin still painting his features.

You laughed, knowing that he’s only being quiet because you’ve told him off in the past for cheering and being loud when you’ve come to visit. However, that was only because you guys were in the airport and people were staring. “Tendou,” You cupped his cheek with your palm, “We’re alone, you don’t need to whisper.” 

He laughed, shifting his hand from the small of your back and resting it upon yours, “Alright, if you insist.” He took a deep breath, then yelled, “What the fuck are you doing here?!” 

You almost winced at how loud he was but just laughed since you did ask for it, and were fully expecting it. “I’m here for you. I couldn’t let you be alone on your birthday!”

His expression softened and his heart melted. How could he have ever doubted your love? What an idiot. 

He pulled you back in for another feverish hug, “You’re the best, (y/n). I adore you.” He genuinely couldn’t find the words to express how overjoyed he was to see you, on his special day. Not only that, but you brought cake! “Is that vanilla?” His warm breath tickled your ear, as he motioned to the two-tier, brightly iced cake sitting on the counter. 

“Close. It’s vanilla confetti cake!” You finally let go of Tendou, only so you could grab his hand and urge him towards your masterpiece. “Come, look!”

Complying, he walked over to the cake, but paying most of his attention to how cute you were when you’re excited, and how surreal it was to feel your hand in his. 

“I made it myself because apparently no local bakers stock confetti cake. But anyway, I iced it as well!” 

“Why is elmo on it?”

“That was supposed to be you but then I messed up so I had to turn it into elmo.”

“Ah, I see.” It was mostly covered with pale buttercream icing but on the top, there was the picture of elmo, and on the side of the second tier, black text read, “Happy Birthday, Guess Monster!” And he couldn’t help but snicker, as you and Ushijima are the only ones who still sometimes call him by that old highschool nickname, just to tease him. 

“Thank you so much, darling. I can’t believe you’ve went to all this effort just for me.” He wrapped an arm around you and pulled you to his chest, and this time, as he tried to catch a whiff of the cake, he noticed that you smelt like burnt chocolate. Or perhaps that was him, he is the one that works in the chocolaterie, but he’s good enough that he doesn’t burn the chocolate anymore! 

“Am I hallucinating or do you smell like burnt chocolate?” 

“Uh, you’re sane.” You grimaced, and shot him an innocent look, “Please don’t be mad.”

“What happened?” 

“I had to take your cuckoo clock off the wall to put up the streamers and I had no idea it was chocolate so when I left it near the microwave, it kinda melted.” You confessed in one breath in hopes that would soften the blow, but he didn’t seem fazed at all.

“Even if it was wood, why would you leave it by the microwave? I’m pretty sure wood is flammable”

“Because I was in a hurry! It’s really difficult trying to sneak in here, decorate the place and make this cake under three hours!” You tried to cry and express irritation, but as soon as you heard Tendou snickering under his breath, you couldn’t help but burst out laughing, and so did he.

“It’s fine, doll, I’ll just make a new one at work. Or maybe I don’t need one. I was just thinking about refurnishing anyway.” He shrugged, ruffling your hair slightly. 

You nodded, biting your lip as you were hastily reminded of another piece of tragic news, and he could immediately tell in your shift in aura that something was wrong. Hence, he was already prompting you to let him know if something was bothering you, or if you were worried or feeling jetlagged. 

“No, I feel fine, Tendou. It’s just that..” You trailed off, finally finding the courage to meet his affectionate red eyes. “My boss was serious when she said she’d fire me if I took this week off to see you. So I’ll have to start looking for a job straight away.”

He hummed slightly, unsure of what to say at first as he simply caressed your arm for a few moments, in complete silence. “I’m so sorry, (y/n). But if you want, you can always come work with me.”

You giggled, scratching your neck awkwardly, “I appreciate the offer. But I don’t know the first thing about being a chocolatier.”

“I could teach you.” He squeezed your shoulders slightly and you could tell from his wide eyes that he was being completely serious. “And you could live here with me! I’ll even buy us a kingsize instead of having us sleep in the twin bed forever!”

Your throat dried and your palms were hot; it was a lot of pressure to contemplate such a big decision right now. Yet, something about this entire situation felt so right, that you couldn’t possibly say no outright. In fact, if being a chocolatier and making food was as fun as making that cake, then everything about the arrangement sounds perfect to you. You’d have a job, a home and you’d get to stay with Tendou. 

Hence, before you could even waste another second thinking about it, you blurted out, “That would be amazing, Tendou. Thank y—” Before you could even finish, he scooped you up in his arms and began twirling around the kitchen. 

“No, thank you, (y/n).” He stopped spinning but held you above him, so he could gaze up into your hypnotic eyes, “You’re so perfect. Thank you for making this the best birthday I’ve ever had.”