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“HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOSS!” The lair immediately erupted into a bombardment of shouting, clapping and party poppers as soon as the school King poked his head into the lair.
“Oh-” Ed staggered back in slight surprise. Glancing about the lair that had been decorated in record time in nothing but birthday related decor. “Thanks guys-” He said with an awkward smile as he went to place his bag down on the floor.
“NO PROBLEM BOSS!” Cody shouted with great enthusiasm as he gave Ed a huge thumbs up.
“Dude you don’t need to shout anymore, he’s right there.” James grumbled as he scoffed, slumping into the bean bag with a disgruntled look.
The mood in the room was slightly soured by the comment, but the others were determined not to let it spoil their dear friend’s birthday, as Justin immediately put on some generic birthday themed music through the lair’s speakers.
Ed couldn’t help but slightly smile at the gesture. “Well the lair looks good.” He complimented before his attention was drawn to the pile of presents put on one of the ‘borrowed’ cafeteria tables. “Woah.”
“We had a lot of people this morning wishing to give you a birthday present.” Louis said, slightly distracted by the party popper in his hand that refused to pop no matter how hard he tried. “Do not fret though, I have ensured that each gift is from an individual who you trust and has good intentions.”
Making Ed even more curious about who had left gifts, approaching the table as he went to read some of the names left behind. Of course having the usual suspects, the cronies themselves, Barry, Dez and her gang, his endless amount of school admirers, Drew…Isaac. An amused expression on his face as he looked at the gift from the last person on the list.
Since a rather cryptic message seemed to be on the gift tag.
‘Come and find me - Isaac’.
“AKA, Wolfe and his gang.” James had continued the conversation as he seemed to frown more by Ed not acknowledging them. “Your boyfriend can’t have written anything that interesting."
“I think he might’ve.” Ed said dismissively, tuning back into the conversation with a slight raise of his brows. “Wolfe wanted to give me a gift?”
“Yes, cupcakes to be exact.” Louis said. “But do not fret, I expelled them before they even reached the lair.”
Justin’s slight disappointment was shown by the mere mention of the forgotten, uneaten cupcakes just outside in the bin. “Even though they did look pretty tasty.” He mumbled.
“We cannot trust that Wolfe was honest when he said he definitely did not put poison in those cupcakes.”
James then let out a snort. “If we let Justin try one we definitely would've known.”
“Yes perhaps we should’ve let Carver try one, I’ll keep that in mind for next time.” Louis immediately attempted to quash the conversation before it could potentially get out of hand.
Ed nods in slight agreement. “Yeah.” He said as he put the note in his pocket. “So moving on from Wolfe, who I’m surprised is even in school on my birthday-”
“Well he shouldn’t be a bother to any of us today.” Louis assured with a smile. “I will guarantee it.”
“Cool. So…could I get an explanation as to why Isaac’s left me a rather cryptic sounding message.” Ed questions as he puts his hands in his pockets.
“Wellllllllllllllllllll-” Justin began as he immediately hopped up to his feet. “You’re going to have to find Dez and Niki first-” he said with a bright smile.
“What no he doesn’t-” James tried to interject only to get immediately shushed by Louis and Cody, who were starting to shoot glares towards him.
“...Okay, why?” Ed tried to ignore the interjection, guessing James was in a foul mood because this clearly had something to do with whatever Isaac had planned. And wasn’t about to let that spoil his first birthday having Isaac around (considering from how the others were acting, Isaac had definitely put some semblance of thought into this).
“For that information you owe me a birthday cupcake-” Justin eyed the table, as next to the presents lay an array of cupcakes…that he’d clearly bought from his Moms shop.
Ed couldn’t help but slightly chuckle. “Go for it dude.”
As Justin sprung up, “Okay! They’re at the cafeteria- Good luck boss, go have fun!!” Justin then playfully went to push Ed out of the lair in order to begin whatever surprise Isaac had waiting for him.
Which did indeed make Edward more intrigued…as well as relieved to have an excuse to get away from the negative comments directed towards Isaac from James. Hearing mumbles of dissatisfaction from James about the cronies' willingness to go along with the ‘nerds plans’.
Deciding it would indeed be better to go on ahead and locate Dez and Niki.
.
.
.
It didn't take the school king long to make his way to the cafeteria. Knowing the shortcuts there like the back of his hand, as well as, the freedom to use the tunnels as he pleased since there weren't a lot of people around.
Soon appearing there he spotted Dez and Niki at their usual table, clearly awaiting his arrival, since as soon as they spotted him they waved him over with a lot of enthusiasm.
“ED!” Dez shouted loudly across the room as she jumped out of her seat. “Get over here birthday boy!”
Ed narrowed his eyes slightly by the enthusiasm she had…knowing what the other was planning to do. “If this is about ‘birthday bumps’ forget it. Geno already did it.”
“What do you mean Geno already did it?” Dez immediately then asked, slowing her pace down slightly. Gasping in offence then. “That little- he said he wouldn’t do it-”
“Well he did.” Ed doubled down as he looked at her, the disappointment in her face was obvious (much to his relief, since he didn’t really fancy spending most of the day with a numb arm). “Why? What’d you trade him?”
“I spent the whole of last month buying him Spiderman stuff.” She groans a little, as Niki laughs nearby.
“It was a lot too.” She adds.
“Well he really got you there then, didn't he?” Ed laughs as well. “I did warn you he’s been getting craftier lately.”
“That's because you keep letting him hang around Isaac all the time.” Dez jokingly complained before reaching over to gently give one birthday bump to her cousin. “I’m only doing one, because I was outsmarted by an 8 year old.”
"Even though I warned you.”
“Even though you warned me.”
“Anyways,” Ed then smiled more, proud that his 8 year old brother had been able to save him from Dez’s version of birthday bumps. “Have you seen Isaac anywhere? I asked Justin, who then told me I needed to come to you guys to find out where he is.”
Immediately Dez and Niki exchanged a mischievous look.
“Nope, we haven't seen him.” Niki started off. “Though I think I remember Drew saying he was going to meet Isaac by the art rooms, something about finishing off an art project.”
“Oh I see.” Ed said with a nod then, guessing that was the next clue in his quest to find the artist. “Well guess I better head over there.”
“Yep, we’ll probably head to the lair then.” Niki adds as she heads over to Dez, who was now getting ready to leave the cafeteria. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks.”
.
.
.
Soon Edward Quinton was making his way towards the art rooms. His curiosity over what would be at the end of this scavenger hunt growing more and more by the second. Hardly even registering the world around him as he walked along the pre-planned route in his head.
“Ed?” He immediately turned his head around to who called out to him, a wave of embarrassment washing over him as he noticed he’d walked past his top informant and Isaac’s friend.
“Oh hey-” He greets the two then.
“Hey to you too.” Barry said with a laugh. “Can’t believe you just walked past the two of us.” Barry adds as he gestured to Drew, who was standing beside him. “I’ll let it slide though since, happy birthday and all.”
Ed’s eyes immediately widened and almost sparkled as he looked at the absolutely stunning cake that Barry had in his hands. “...Did you bake me a cake?”
“Obviously.” Barry responds as he glances down. “Well, me and Drew did after church.”
“Yeah! Happy birthday Ed!” Drew cheered as he let off a small party popper that Cody had gifted him earlier to use for this exact moment.
The confetti landing on Ed’s letterman jacket in a colourful array. “Thanks-” Ed smiles once more. “It looks pretty good-” He added, looking between the two.
“Well after a couple years of experience, and having a very enthusiastic helper, it should hopefully taste pretty good too.” Barry added with a smile.
“Yeah…” Ed soon snapped himself from purely only birthday cake related thoughts. “Are you guys heading to the lair?” He asks then, guessing that was now the main location of his party.
“Yep.”
“Okay cool, I’ll meet you guys there soon-” Ed said, turning on his heel to immediately start walking back to his main goal of the art rooms.
“Ed-” Barry calls out once more.
“Yeah?”
“You forgot to get your next clue from us.” Barry added as he then gestured for Drew to say the next clue.
Who immediately blurted out. “JC.”
“...JC?” Ed repeated, thinking he wasn’t really getting much from the ‘clue’. “...Is this a way of telling me to go back to Justin…Justin Carter?”
A look of realisation soon swept across Drew’s face as he shook his head. “Oh uh, no- JC is like meant to be the initials for an object or uh…place!” Drew corrects himself. “That’s around the art rooms-”
“Got it, thanks guys.” Ed waved a swift goodbye to them, turning on his heels and briskly walking to the art hallway. Getting the sense that he was getting closer and closer to his final destination.
.
.
.
JC…
JC.
Ed had been pacing around and amongst the art rooms for what felt like forever at this point. Now having no clues, or friends to point him towards the final destination he was pretty stumped by the rather vague last clue.
JC.
He repeats in his mind once more…before his gut feeling suddenly kicked into gear and he had a very confident, sneaking suspicion he knew exactly where to go.
The janitor’s closet. One of the first places he and Isaac had…somewhat first began to develop some semblance of a relationship. Of course Isaac Beamer would take the option to be slightly petty and revolve Ed’s birthday scavenger hunt around this location.
It was quite nostalgic really. Though, Ed did not wish to waste anymore time as he quickly gripped onto the doorhandle and headed inside.
Immediately he had expected to encounter the somewhat smug expression of the artist he had been searching for. Yet after his initial scan of the room he didn’t see him. But, what he did see was a rather obnoxious amount of purple flowers, neatly arrayed and planted in the centre of the room. The slight paper texture around the edge of the petals immediately giving away who the culprit behind the gift was.
Smiling quietly too himself Ed reached over to pick up the flowers, noticing a small tag wrapped around the stems in the same handwriting that had started all this.
‘To Ed,
Thought you needed an upgrade, Happy Birthday.
Isaac x’
An amused huff came from the school King as he turned to look over his shoulder, now finally greeted by the person who had orchestrated this brief and silly hunt.
“...Did I really need this many flowers?” He asks with a slightly playful tone of voice as he brightened up more after seeing Isaac.
“Well it’s an upgrade from the ones I gave you before.” Isaac counters with the smug expression Ed had been expecting to see. “Plus I thought you liked the flowers I made for you.”
“I do-” Ed counters as he bends down slightly.
“Good, because I made them all for you. All 17 of them.” Isaac said as he went up to Ed as well, the two briefly letting out a light laugh.
“Without your powers?” Ed asks with a playful tease as he looks at them all.
“Obviously with my powers, it wouldn’t be authentic if I didn’t use them.” Isaac shrugs his shoulders as he tilts his head towards Ed as well. “Afterall, that's why you came to talk to me in the first place.”
“Oh so this final spot is meant to be more of a trip down memory lane?”
“Yep. ‘Cause hey we’ll be heading to where it really all began in a minute.” Isaac said, gesturing to the secret passageway to the lair, small jazz hands accompanying him as he spoke.
“Aww how thoughtful. Thanks Iz.” Ed said as his expression further softened as he noticed Isaac’s smug expression faltering slightly by the newer nickname he’d given him. “Or should I say ink, for old time’s sake.”
“Yeah okay error, at least this time you’ve actually admitted your super gay feelings for me.” Isaac retorted, shying away for a brief moment as his general demeanour also softened. “So…ready for your party now?”
“Guess so.” Ed said as he took one of the flowers from the bunch and went to put it behind Isaac’s ear. “Long as you admit you have superpowers-”
“Hah.” Isaac sarcastically laughed as he folded his arms. “Well birthday boy first.” He gracefully stepped to the side.
Ed’s face slightly flushing by the gesture, taking a few steps forward before turning to Isaac then. “...Thanks.” He simply said, hoping the other would get the message that he was indeed grateful for the mini scavenger hunt he’d done for him.
“You're welcome.”
Ed soon then began to make his descent back down into the lair, properly now ready to have a party with his friends and enjoy some cake. When suddenly he was startled by Isaac’s panicked voice. “Wait- I forgot something-”
“What’d you-?” Ed barely had time to question before Isaac was at his side again.
The other who had very briefly gotten up on his tippy toes in order to quickly plant a kiss on the birthday boy’s cheek.
“Happy birthday.” Isaac cheekily grinned after the gesture. Especially after seeing how red in the face Ed had become immediately afterwards. A victorious grin on the artist’s face as he then predicted that his gifts to Edward…just might be some of the more memorable ones the King would receive today.