Birthday Girl (2P!Austria x Reader)

“FanFUCKINtasic,” ________________ just got off the bus to camp. It was bad enough she couldn’t have a normal summer, she was going to be with the LAST person she wanted to see. Roderick was driven to camp with Gilbert with many of the girls are trying to catch a glimpse of him. She glared. Because they were both played string instruments, she was going to see him more. She glared. He wasn’t going to muscle her out of learning to play the electric guitar even though that was his forte. After meeting Erick at her Prom…she’s wanted to play more and she was going come hell or high water even if Roderick was probably taking it.

“Hi Schatz,” she froze as an arm draped around her. She glares.

“What do you want?”

“I didn’t know you would here! Couldn’t get enough my hotness during the school year?”

“Oh yes because you really make me wet with excite at the idea of being smashed into the Iron Maiden,”

“Ooh, kinky I like that,”

Her glare turns into a grumpy looking frown, “Sarcasm is a foreign language to you, isn’t it?”

“On the contrary Schatzchen, I’m quite fluent in the art of sarcasm I can give you free lessons if you wish?” at that he slowly licks the edges of his teeth with the tip of his tongue.

__________ rolls her eyes and makes an agonized sounding growl as she peels his arm off her shoulders, “You are impossible!”

Roderick gave her a patronizing chuckle and continues to follow and pester her. She really was so easy to pick on but also incredibly cute when she was bothered.

“You don’t know the half of it Schatz,” he smirked and wrapped his arm around her shoulders again, “so which bunk is ours? Let’s settle in and christen the bed.”

That did it, enough was enough! Quickly moving herself away from him, __________ stands before him about ready to kill him when she decided to take the high road and use her words instead.

“Look we’re stuck here so we might as well have ground rules and by “we” I actually mean me,” and there he was with his hands in the pockets of his jeans smiling at her so arrogantly.

Ooh how she would love to wipe that smile off his face, the jerk off, “You will not harass me, you will not call my name, you will not approach me in fact you will not even think of me. You will not talk to me, you will not flirt with me and most importantly just act as if you don’t know me, I’m invisible in your eyes, are we clear?” little did she realize that she had backed herself into a wall. Quite literally there was a wall to one of the many bunks in the camp that she had pressed herself against.

“Oh I see,” he grinned and stepped in close to her personal space, one of his arms rested over and above her head so that he could lean in closer to her more than he already was, “Anything else?”

Her face had turned a shade of puce at his closeness because really, didn’t this guy ever hear of the term “personal space”? “Yeah, fuck off!” she glared and slides away from him so that she could check and see which bunk she was assigned to.

“Hey Schatz!” Roderick called from behind her, his hands cupped around his mouth to amplify his voice, “Rockin’ tits as usual!”

__________ slowly turned around to face him and the look that she was now giving him had told Roderick that maybe saying that to her in public wasn’t such a good idea. Later on Gilbert caught up to the other young man who was now sporting a deep rose colored bruise on the corner of his jaw. There was only one person, well girl, Gilbert knew of that could ever get that close to Roderick and live to tell the tale.

“Dummkopf,” Gilbert shakes his head disappointed at the other, “why do you keep doing this to yourself?”

“What can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment.” Roderick shrugged and smiled; at least to Gilbert the idiot looked happy.

“Thousands of hot women and you are still pining for that one!”

“Can you blame me! She so wants me,”

“More like want you dead,” said Andersen, “I hope she hires me out to do it,”

“You’re as cold as ice,”

“I have to be in order to keep you in line dumbass,”

***
The first few days of camp weren’t so bad. They had music theory in the morning, playing and learning new skills in the early afternoon but then they had free time to do whatever. She preferred to soak in some of the natural things around her. She never actually had been in the country much before. She loved the

"Excellent, __________________!" said the director, "Beautiful as usual!"

"Thanks,"

"You don't give yourself the credit you deserve! We were actually thinking about giving you your first solo recital in a few days!"

"Really?! Solo?"

"Solo! Congratulations!" everyone applauded at her. She blushed as she sat down, “So who are you going to invite? Oh! I know! How about your mother! She seems like she really wants to participate all the time!” ___________ froze.

“It’s okay! M-Mom’s busy. I don’t want to trouble her with such things. I’ll invite my godmother,”

“Your godmother isn’t you mother,” said Roderick grinning at her. She glared.

“She is, she’s my mom’s replacement for things like this. Just leave it as that,”

“Nonsense! I bet she’d like—,”

“I said NO!” Roderick recoiled. She looked gravely serious, “She’s busy, alright?” no one questioned her after that. Roderick however thought it would be the PERFECT thing to get ___________ to finally like him, inviting her mother. From what he gathered, her mother was always too busy to come and see them. But he HAS seen her before. Maybe she was just too embarrassed to let her mother see her play. He waited until everyone was sleeping before he decided to sneak into the records to get _____________ contact information. He found her last name. He then waited until the next evening to call her house. He wondered why her mother was listed last but he didn't give it much thought as he dialed the number. Soon a voice appeared.

"Hello?"

"Hello! I'm calling on the behalf of the Symphony Dreamers Camp about your daughter, _________________,"

"Oh? What about her?" he noticed the voice was gruffer now.

"Well because of her hard work and talent, she's starring in her first solo recital! Everyone here is VERY proud of her! We wanted to extend the invitation to the person who gave her love and support, all these years!"

"I don't see what this has to do with me but since I did give birth to her I guess I can see her,"  the phone clicked over. He cocked his head a bit. What was that about? He then smiled however, she was going to be so excited to see her. _______________ was in an awesome mood lately. She was smiling now, her music was peppier, and she even became very sociable, especially with a new camper. He didn't know her name but he thought she was kind of cute. __________________ was even nicer to him. She didn't ignore him, she didn't try to stay away from him, she actually asked him to help her tune her violin once. It was early in the morning when an expensive car pulled up into camp. Everyone was amazed and for a moment they thought it was some talent agent or something for Roderick. That was until a woman came out. She strode inside without a word to anyone. While at the cafeteria, ______________ was called into the director’s office. She went inside and was face to face with her mother. She stared and blurted the first words out of her mouth.

“W-What are you doing here?”

***
Roderick was pleased with himself the entire day. ____________ was showing her mother around the camp, showing her various places where they had lessons, learned how to manage themselves in the music world, and even how to play another instrument. He was in the backstage area where they all had duties and mathematics and things. Then he heard voices. One he definitely knew was ___________ and the other had to be her mother.  He quickly went into the supply cabinet when the door opened.

"You do this to every year. Can't I have a break this year?"

"Why? The more you do every year, the higher your chances are to succeed in life. And if you embarrass me like that again, I'll give you something to get embarrassed over," Roderick stared. An imposing woman stood over _____________. She was a burly woman who looked like was probably beautiful in her heyday but no longer. She towered over her daughter, who was visibly upset, "and you better be glad I'm even this music nonsense. Keep up those outbursts and I'll see to it that you're playing the piano at your aunt's,”

“Yes mother,”

“So why am I here? Your director said something about a recital?”

“Well…this is going to be my first solo recital ever,”

“And?”

“Are you going to come see my recital this year? I would like for you to come?” the woman teeters behind her hand.

“Darling you know how much I hate music and yours make my head split when I hear you play. Such a shame. I’m going to have a starving artist for a child. Just know once you’re eighteen and you don’t choose a reasonable major or profession, your father and I are cutting you off,”

“I know, but music is what relaxes me, especially after my breakdown,”

“Sweetie how many times must I tell you? Laziness is not an excuse. It wasn’t a nervous breakdown. You just couldn’t handle the simplest tasks but appease those doctors, that’s the main reason we’re still allowing this,” Roderick sat there and listened. No wonder she’s so hard to get next to all the time, “Now clean yourself face before you leave. I don’t anyone thinking you cry,”

“…Yes Mother,” the woman started walking away muttering, “A complete waste of my time,” _____________ stood in the darkness and heard her mother’s car pulling away and driving off. Roderick could see tears streaming down her face. He felt like shit. He slowly left his hiding place.

“Schatzchen?” she jumped and backed away.

“H-How long have you been there?!”

“Umm…long enough. I umm…wanted to see how you and Mutter was getting along,”

“…You were spying on me?!”

“K-Kind of! I mean when I invited her, I didn’t know that the woman who always came wasn’t your mom! I should have checked the form,”

“You…YOU were the one who called her?!”

“Schatzchen! I’m sorry! Please—,”

“I KNEW you had to have something to do with this! You can’t just leave things alone can you?!” Roderick stared. She looked very upset, almost embarrassed about what just happened. Then she became very…calm. Her face was still very red but she was very calm, “Roderick…I used to say to myself, maybe I’m just being about paranoid about you. That you had some sort of a conscience when it comes to someone’s mannerisms, especially when it came to me but now I know you’re the worst person I’ve ever had to deal with, I came to this camp thinking “you know, maybe this summer doesn’t have to suck, that didn’t have to be with my family, I can make friends, I can practice my music, take a break from all the SHIT I have to deal with” but no. You couldn’t let that happen can you? Now the entire camp is going to know that my mother hates me and my music and doesn’t give a DAMN enough to hear me play. And to make things worst you had to spy just to see how it’s going to play out. Roderick, I hate you. I honestly wish sometimes you were dead. Why?” he heard her voice crack, “Maybe I can just finally be happy in the ONLY safe place I have! You can’t just leave me alone and be happy because I’m the only girl who won’t fall at your feet. Well now I’m sad again! Does that make you fuckin’ HAPPY?!” she ran out the door and went to her bunk. Roderick stared. He ran after but she had already made her way into her bunk and closed the door. From inside, he could clearly hear that she was crying and sobbing.

“Schatz…I’m so sorry! Please! Just talk to me!” He took out there as long as he could before just leaving her wallow and cry in darkness.

***
For the next few days, ______________ wouldn’t talk to anyone. She was playing sad, darker, and almost suicidal inducing songs. Many students had to leave the room to cry or just felt a foreboding doom and had to leave. She refused to acknowledge Roderick at all.  In fact, she ignored him like he wasn't even there. That killed him. He was now determined to make her happy again, “I fucked up,” he said looked at Andersen.

“What did you do?” he explained what happened and the encounter he had with ___________ and her mother, “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

“I didn't know that it wasn't her mother that came to any if not all her performances... I wanted to do something nice for her because she deserves to have someone be there to appreciate the beauty of her music. But then I come to find that--that--- mecker liese was her real mother, I felt like shit,” Andersen glared at Roderick but then sighed.

“You really do like her.....but it just seems like you're always fucking it up. Okay, listen, I heard that she was thinking about leaving. She's so distraught that I think that's all she wants to do right now is leave and be alone. You're going to have to convince her to stay somehow. Half the camp saw how she was treated and it's that sympathy bullshit that's been getting to her,”

“But how can I talk to her when she won't even let me get anywhere near her?”

“Be someone else then, dumbass and if it helps, she has a birthday coming up,”

“Ja? When?”

“This weekend. The counselors were planning something and asked her mother if she would give the customary five dollars for cake and said no,”

“The fuck is with her?”  He started planning immediately. He didn't care who they were but everyone should feel special or have some kind of remembrance for their birthday. He knew a lot about _______________. He knew what her favorite colors were, what types of music she liked, but the coup the grace, what her favorite thing was, Anything that dealt with Alice in Wonderland and the Chrestomanci series. He noticed the how she would decorate her things with it the card suits and red and white and black and made friends with a large brown cat that she affectionately called Fiddle. He looked at the sadness in her eyes. He was determined to make this one the best yet for her. Enlisted the help of the ONE person he knew that could get him things.

"So you want a Queen of Hearts cake?" said Alfred taking down the notes, "Red, black, and white?"

"Yes and make it (favorite cake flavor) with (favorite filling),"

"Three layers?"

"Ja and a bunch smaller cakes for the guests and tea!"

"Okay, okay you know this is gonna cost ya,"

"Money isn't an object,"

"Whatever. And what's this about fuckin' cricket?"

"She likes cricket...or she wants to learn to play. They played it in The Lives of Christopher Chant,"

"You actually read the books?"

"They're pretty good! My Schatz has great tastes. Smart and beautiful and talented, she's a tripled threat,"

"Pffft you can't keep it in your pants long enough. You fucked that hot harpist a few days ago,"

"I was depressed!"  He grinned and was going to make this the best garden party ever. Alfred knew how to get shit and it happened that his father own a bakery. He then remembered something....she hated his guts. So this meant he was going to have to do everything as someone else...

"Why don't you go as Erick dumbass?" he jumped as Andersen looked at him.

"You can read mind now?!"

"Nope but you look like you're actually fuckin' thinking and when you think it's either to make ________________ miserable in order notice you or something nice without her thinking it's suspicious. All I had to do was look over your shoulder,"

"You have to help me! I don't even know what Erick looks like,"

"You met her as Erick at night,"

"And?"

"You were wearing a mask. She doesn't know what you look like and you faked an accent with her so you can look like anyone you want,"

"You're a fuckin' genius!"

"I know but if she find out about you, she will have her heart broken then fuckin' kill you,"

"I know, I know,"

Then she saw someone that she swore she had seen before but then again, hadn't. He was tall with reddish hair, blue eyes, He was a bit paler than she remembered, then again it was at night,
Erick winked at her.

"Hey there beautiful,"

"Do I know you?"

"Gee dance the night away with a cute girl and she immediately forgets you insisted. Even with a trip to the White Swan," she stopped and blushed furiously before hugging him tightly.

"ERICK! How are you?! What are you doing here?!"

"I'm at the other camp across the way. Like way deep in the woods, we're an all boys camp,"

"Oh..."

"Yeah but since my troupe is here, the counselors let me visit whenever. I didn't think I would see you here,"

"Yeah, well I kind of had to get my godmother to enroll me and such,"

"That's awesome of her,"

"I'm sorry but don't remember you from the Academy,"

"Oh, well we're a part of the morning shift. You see we're the students who practically live there. I always miss you,"

"OH! Well that explains everything," he grinned, "Not to mention I've seen you in the drama department,"

"That too, I love the theater," Roderick cringed. He did wear this disguise before. But at least she recognized him. He was happy. Then he smiled.

“I heard someone’s birthday was coming up? It was posted on the wall and I swore it was your name,”

“Yeah it was…but I’m having any special that day. I may just use my sleep in privilege or something,” he smiled at her.

“Listen…I know you’ve been having a crummy week so how about we do something?” she blushed.

“Really?!”

“Yeah! I get to hang out with my favorite person and you get to have fun! I promise you, it’ll be the best day of your life. If not, I’ll resign from my theatrical career,” she grinned and nodded.

“It’s a date!”

***
It took Roderick days but he finally had everything set up. When he told the other campers of his plan, as Erick of course. Many of them wanted her to feel better and they helped with the set and things. Alfred came with all the food and décor and everything fell nicely into place. It was an Alice Garden Party with hint of Chrestomanci. It was the most epic thing ever. Now it was time to get the birthday girl. He coaxed ______________ out of her bunk.

"Okay __________," Erick said while bringing her along with him, his hands over her eyes, while her hands were holding onto his wrists.  

"Erick!" she smiled and giggled a little, "What are you up to?"  The young man shushed her as he brings her to the party where everything had been set; their friends had been gathered and ready to shout when he removes his hands from her face, "SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY __________!"  Her reaction was instant.  Never had he seen the light illuminate her feature like it did that moment, she turned to look at him and hugs him tightly, Erick gently pats her back pleased that he could make her feel this good, "Go on," he encouraged, "mingle, talk to people, have fun."  

"Thank you Erick, thank you!" she was so happy that she kisses his cheek then trots off to greet and thank everyone.  He still couldn't believe she kissed him. She was just incredibly happy and he had decided that he had always wanted to make her that happy. He made himself a small plate of snacks that were being served and sat by himself until __________ came by and sat next to him.  

"Hey," she smiled, in her hand she has a clear plastic cup with her favorite drink.

"How's it going?"  

"Pretty well, enjoying yourself?"  

"Yeah! Really Erick, I appreciate that you did this, so thank you."  Erick snorts and felt his face heating up,

"Enough, you're very welcome I'm just glad to see you smiling again, everything is right in the world now."  __________'s smile faded a little and she looked into her cup.

“To be honest, this was the nicest thing anyone has done for me actually. I um, also wanted to apologize for how I acted earlier. I was just afraid of having another episode in camp,”

“Episode? What do you mean?” she looked at him and rubbed her arm.

“I've never really told anyone but I feel like I can tell you."  

"I'm honored," he smiled at her and took her hand, “Just let it out, okay?” he watched as she continued her story.

“I had a nervous breakdown when I was fifteen. I don’t look it but…I’m actually a year younger than everyone in my classes because I was knocked up a grade in school. Everything was okay I guess…but everyone expects me to be perfect. The best grades, top of everything, learning the SAT when I just mastered the ACT and the entrance exams. One day, in the middle of class, I felt everything spin, why? I got a D on a test, not a B not a C but a D and I had to study like crazy to get it back, then I stopped my music for awhile and everything started spinning. I remembered just passing out and waking up in the hospital, with no one here to see if I was okay. No balloons, not flowers, nothing. When my mother came, she paid off the doctors to take it off the record what happened, because she didn’t want to have a defective child…” Erick stared. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He could see the cold nonchalant look on her face but her eyes revealed all that pent up fear, pain, and sadness she’s held in, “Music keeps me going. My parents won’t support it so I every summer, I play talent shows to earn the prize money for my rental for the year. I had to convince them this year to even let me go to this camp. I’ve been so happy here and you’ve made it even better, Erick,” he stared. This explained a lot. Now he knew exactly why she was a constant steel wall. He said nothing but hugged her tightly. She went to kiss him. Roderick blushed and kissed her back. He then noticed how much she was kissing him and how heavy everything was getting, especially now that his hands were caressing her body. He bent her down and kissed her deeper. He moaned softly and looked at her. He couldn’t help but feel guilty. He KNEW where this was going. He KNEW where this would end and it was his greatest fantasy…then why couldn’t he go through with it?

“…____________, stop,”

“What?”

“Stop, I know…what you want to do. I don’t want you to think we should. You’re not ready. Trust me, I want it too but…I respect you too much to take advantage of your vulnerability,” she blushed and smiled.

“Thank you Erick,”

***
Roderick watched _____________ for the next few days. She was making tons of friends, she was smiling more, she was laughing more, even her music sounded a lot peppier though still keeping with her dark style. She even started to really bond with a quiet girl at camp that looked very similar to her only that she was nicer and tougher looking. Today she was introducing her to Batman comics and video games on her DS. Even during parent visits, the girl introduced _____________ to her family, a shady looking man and worrisome woman. And this time, her godmother came to see her instead of her mother. She was thrilled and hugged her tightly.

“Is that your friend’s father or uncle?”

“Uncle. I know he looks a little shady but he’s nice,”

“Shady isn’t the word but I remembered that man from somewhere and I can’t put my finger on it,” Roderick grinned and found his father. Einar was waiting under a tree.

“You look too happy, what did you do?”

“Vater?! I’m hurt! What makes you think I did something wrong?”

“You didn’t completely wash out your hair dye boy,” Roderick cringed and looked at him.

“Andersen?”

“Nope, Gilbert,”

“Traitor,”

“He told me what you did for that girl. You must really like her,”

“Ja…I mean what’s not to like? She’s perfect,” he said looking at _____________, “And she looks so happy now. I don’t think she’s ever smiled at like that before,”

“He told about your little make out session too,”

“The fuck!”

“Gentlemen aren’t supposed to tell arschloch. But to me, it looks like you’re finally fuckin’ growing up. About time too,”

“Hey! That’s mean Vati,”

“Get used to it. But I am proud of you. You were actually thinking with your head and heart instead of your dick,”

“Well…she’s important to me. I just want her to be happy,” he then noticed _____________ coming towards him. He stopped. She approached him and stopped in front of him. She smiled politely at Einar.

“Hi Mr. Endelstein,”

“Hello Liebling. I’ll be over there for a few moments,” he made himself scarce. Roderick looked at her for a few moments before trying to speak.

“Schatzchen, look I wanted to apologize,”

“Roderick let me talk,” he got quiet. She smiled, “Listen, let me first apologize for yelling at you. I knew your heart was in the right place and I really appreciate you for trying to do something nice for me,” he grinned.

“Well, everyone should have someone close to them play for them every now and then and appreciate it. Especially someone has stubborn and hardworking as you,”

“I’m not stubborn!”

“I’ve seen less stubborn mules,”

“Shut up!”

“You look so cute when you’re mad. Flustered Liebling? Then again I know you want me so badly you can’t stand it!”

“I take it all back!”

“You already said it!” she glared and left his presence. He grinned at her and watched her leave. Everything was right with the universe again.