By the time the leaves began to change in the last bit and fall, pretty much everyone had forgotten to pay attention to the kid with the new haircut, the one that never seemed to wear his uniform long enough to notice outside of school. Leggings were allowed, which made him feel a bit more human, and most of their long coats hid the skirt to the point where it helped him pass easily once again.

His birthday snuck up on him. In fact, he barely noted the day incoming until they slipped into their favored cafe and remarked on the hiring sign still being out. With a bright smile Ren charged the front counter, beaming at the barista while he politely requested an application form, then doubled the order with a glance at Ethan.

“You got a hair up your ass to start a career as a bean boiler?” Malcolm growled out after grabbing his order, dropping down into a booth towards the back and away from the chatter of college students in the front.

“Sort of. They pay pretty good here, from what I know, and once I turn sixteen next week, I can apply. Ethan mentioned wanting to join in too, I think. Something about a compromise?” He wasn’t sure, peering up from his cocoa pointedly in the direction of their often quiet companion. “You said a while back but I forgot what it was about.”

“Dad wanted me to intern for winter. I said I would be too busy because I wanted to get a job before that.” Ethan muttered, jabbing at some unknown foe on his phone screen. One thing that did manage to keep him awake once he sat down, was phone games. He managed to stay up enough to beat high scored constantly in his guild battles, something he angled for whenever they had a quiet moment. Especially right now, considering the event going on for one of them.

“It seemed like an even trade, and I may have mentioned to my own father that we would hardly have time to talk if we took an internship together, we’d almost certainly be in very different areas. I believe that might have thwarted the issue rather well and left him in the clear.” Elliott seemed to already be the master of handling things on a business scale, Ren was impressed.

“Wait, your birthday’s next week?” Trust Malcolm to get that out of the entire conversation. Ren had the sense to look mildly apologetic, stirring the rest of his melty whip cream into his drink while he cleared his throat.

“Yeah, you know, no big deal. I’m not really that big into celebrations, my mom usually drops a present a day or two early, and I carry on with my life. I’m kinda hoping I get it earlier than usual, my good pens are running dry and if it is what I think it is, I don’t wanna waste money to grab new ones just to get a bunch next week, you know?”

“But it’s your birthday!” Malcolm pressed. “When is it? Mid week? Weekend? Weekday towards the end? Either way, we’re gonna have to do something. It’s basically your first birthday, right?” Dog with a bone, this guy. The man had a point. Shifting gears genderly speaking didn’t mean you killed off the person you were all the way to that point you make it official. In his opinion, you just moved onto another door in your life, with the ability to backtrack and remember things fondly. Ergo, first birthday.

There were some things he would never forget. His first art award, first time swimming, even the first altercation with Ethan. None of that was something he would want to just throw into a box never to be looked at again. “It’s Wednesday. So no late night boozing parties.” Ren joked, tugging a small laugh from Mal, and smiles from the other two.

“How about just dinner and cake? Doesn’t have to be anything amazing or with more people.” Mal pressed, giving Elliott one of those looks they seemed to be very good at sending each other.

“I would be more than happy to offer up my home as the location, and I’m sure we could find a movie everyone could agree on? We can all just carpool and ferry everyone home after, sor there’s no need to fret about a late hour walk.” Elliott paused, cocking his head with knitted brows towards the other blond. “Will this be bumping into any plans with your parents? You mentioned a present, but no parties.”

“Oh yea. No parties with them. I think they’re at a lecture right now, they do a pretty long circuit in the fall once all the new classes have gotten settled in for the year.” There was only a small ache this time at the mention of being without his family for his birthday. “It’s fine, like I said, they make the effort to be around as much as possible. I wouldn’t be going to school with you guys if it weren’t for them so.”

“Not exactly best parent award material, but at least there’s that.” Ethan chimed in, his phone set down for the moment. “We can walk to your place El, so you have time do things? Or whatever.” Even half assed plans meant Ethan was trying in his own anti-social way to make an effort.

“Any allergies? I think I already asked, but it doesn’t hurt to check again. Wait, ever mind, I’m gonna bug Ethan later about what you like, I’m sure he knows.” Perhaps having a little sister meant birthdays were a big occasion.

Raising his hands in mock surrender, Ren smiled. “Okay. I know when I’m defeated. I’ll just make sure I’m around, I guess? You guys really don’t have to do anything. The idea is enough. Thought that counts and all.”

“Stop being so nice. Mal makes killer chocolate cake, don’t screw this up for me.” Ethan griped, narrowing his eyes on the blond. The stubbly teen reached over to cuff him lightly at the nape, earning a yelp of complaint and causing Ren to laugh even harder than he had at the complaint from his classmate.

“Now now children, you want a job here, don’t you? Try to not be ragamuffins in front of the management, he just walked out of his office.” Elliott pointed out over the rim of his macchiato. Sure enough, the older gentleman had ghosted out to make his rounds, not so obviously pointed out by the barista, and apparently checking over the two with applications currently in their hands. Almost in sync, the two smiled towards him, though Ethan’s was a bit forced due to the kick under the table from Ren. The gesture seemed to satisfy his curiosity, for he simply smiled back with a nod and made an exit back to his office.

In less than an hour, Ren found himself trudging back towards his house, hands deep in his pockets to ward off the oncoming chill. They weren’t much for snow in this area of the country, but it was enough for a few decent snow days, quickly melting off a few days later. Lucky for him that was still a month off yet. Didn’t mean he wasn’t bundled all the way up with gloves to boot.

His key rattled in the lock while he fumbled to force chilly fingers to grip and turn, sighing at last when warmth hit him in a loving blast. The door closed behind him and he waded forward, dropping his gloves and stepping out of his boots at the entryway. Dinner thoughts were settling in his mind, but nothing too tedious or complicated. He’d grabbed a few easy microwaveable things, mostly just snacks but there was no argument to be had that said they couldn’t be dinner.

“Welcome home, honey.”

Ren startled, looking through the hallway to the light he hadn’t noticed in the living room. Leaving his gloves and beanie on the kitchen counter, the teen slowly made his way on out, eyeing his dad with a somewhat polite indifference. He was seeing less and less of his dad at home, so the bit of gray in his blond hair was new. “Uh. Hi dad.”