Chapter Text
Shadow woke up to a strange sight. In the middle of her room sat a pile of neatly folded clothes with a note sitting atop it. Shadow got up and made her way over to the clothes, picking up the card and reading the neatly printed words.
Dear Shadow,
Please put this on and head to the dining hall.
Love,
Doctor Willow
Shadow was confused but shrugged as she placed the card down and slipped on the dress. It was a black dress with a slit cut in the side a bow at the top with white tiers of ruffles layering beneath it. It was beautiful and adorable, just her style. She exited her room and skipped to the mess hall, the ruffles bouncing with her steps.
As she rounded the corner she was bombarded with confetti and the loud shout of a unison of voices.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHADOW!”
The was covered in streamers and balloons littered the floor and hung to the tables. The colors were in her sceam of black, red, and purple. Presents and party snakes lined the tables around a makeshift dance floor, a cake sat in the middle of the tables.
It took shadow a moment to recover from the shock before she could finally comprehend what was happening. She looked around in awe as she took in all the decorations. Her attention was brought back to the crowd when willow emerged holding a crown.
“What is all this.”
Shadow asked dumb struck, willow just smiled.
“It's your birthday, and we thought it appropriate to celebrate the greatest addition we’ve ever had.”
Shadow could stop the face splitting smile that stretched across her face. In seconds she rushed into the crowd, hugging everyone and jumping all over the place. Soon the party was underway and Shadow was digging into her gifts, there were many stuffed animals and board games, clothes and art supplies. She was halfway through when she felt a tug on her sleeve, she turned around and was face to face with her best friend Clark. She was shocked to see him outside his cell, he was not meant to leave.
“Clark! How are you out of your cell?”
He leaned in close so she could hear his soft voice.
“Wanted to celebrate too. Gave me permission to be out of a little.”
Shadow wanted to ask so many more questions but before she could say anything a guard came up behind him with chains in his hands. That's when she noticed he had cuffs around his arms, precautions for him being out. His presence must have ment Clark didn't have much time as he shoved something into her hands. Before Shadow could utter a world the guard yanked the chains and pulled Clark away, heading back to his cell.
Shadow was stunned from the brief interaction, trying to let everything processes. After a moment she looked down at what Clark had given her. It was a small-sized box, just the size of both her hands, wrapped in black paper. Carefully she ripped away the paper, revealing a small card just beneath it. She plucked the card out and read the scratchy writing.
“Happy birthday my dear friend, you make life here tolerable. With a lot of painful effort, I made this from your picture. Take care of it, I don't think I'll ever be able to do it again.”
Shadow set the card down and opened the box, gasping at what it held. Inside was what looked like a common black Beretta 92FS pistol but the barrel was replaced with an intricate purple open mouth dragon's head, with red glass eyes. It was not functional, only aesthetic, but Shadow loved it. She adored dragons and this was the coolest gift ever. She knew Clark must have pushed and manipulated his powers in the way he should never dear, but it was all for her. She placed the gun back in the box and went back to the rest of her presents.
Shadow was now sitting at one of the tables, a glass of water in hand. She had been dancing up a storm and now she needed to catch her breath. She she was sitting James came over to say hi, sitting down beside her.
“Hey Shadow, there’s something I wanna ask you.”
She turned to the scientist, taking a drink from her water.
“Fire away.”
James looked kinda distant as he spoke.
“Do you ever wish you could go back home?”
Shadow looked down before shaking her head.
“No, this is where I belong.”
Shadow had to admit, she would sometimes remember things about her old life. Her friends and family, aspirations and dreams. Sometimes she starts to feel cold and lonely, but then she looks around at all the smiling and warm faces that surround her and she feels at peace. Ya her life is strange at the foundation, but she wouldn't trade it for the world.