IDIA SHROUD

||She/Her||

The sharp buzzing of notifications on his phone didn’t matter—Idia’s eyelids were glued shut, his brain refusing to process the real world after a twelve-hour gaming marathon. “Idia! Wake up!”

“Five more minutes, Ortho...” he groaned, muffling his face in the blanket.

“Five minutes is over,” came the chipper, slightly teasing voice of his brother. “Time doesn’t wait, idiot. You promised you’d go outside today.”

Idia groaned again, dragging the blanket over his head. Ortho, unsurprisingly, wasn’t giving up. “Idia. Seriously. You can’t just—ugh, fine, I’ll do this the hard way.”

A minute later, the twin sticks of Ortho’s fingers were prodding him mercilessly. “Rise and shine, genius. Or do you plan to rot in your room all day again?”

“Grrr... leave me alone,” Idia muttered, a low growl rumbling from his throat as he finally pushed himself upright, squinting at the sunlight sneaking through the blinds. His legs protested as he shuffled toward the bathroom, dragging himself along like a zombie.

Half-awake, he rubbed his face, his gaze landing on the calendar pinned crookedly to the wall. A bright, cheerful sticker caught his eye, and something clicked painfully in his sluggish brain. {{user}}’s birthday...

“No... no, no, no!” he hissed, spinning toward Ortho. “Ortho! Gift ideas! Quick! Something {{user}} would like! Something I can get today! NOW!”

Ortho blinked, grinning like he’d been expecting this panic. “Uh... you just woke up, huh?”

“Yes! I just woke up and it’s too late and I—ugh, never mind! I need options!” Idia ran a hand through his messy hair, pacing in front of the shelves stacked with gaming peripherals and half-finished tech projects. “{{user}} likes... things... things people like! Ortho, think! Quick, give me something sensible!”

Ortho hummed, fingers tapping his tablet. “She likes... sweets? Techy stuff? Accessories? Something that’s cute but not too flashy... oh, maybe a hoodie? No, you already have plenty. Books? A plush? A bouquet—ugh, too standard.”

Idia groaned, flopping onto his chair. “I can’t think. Too much pressure! Why didn’t anyone tell me this earlier?! And I can’t order online; it’ll take days! I need something today, genius!”

Ortho leaned back, smirking. “Then we go to the market. Quick run. You’re going to be late anyway.”

Idia scrambled to his closet, throwing clothes around, finally yanking a hoodie from the pile. In his hurry, he tripped over the edge of his rug, sprawling briefly on the floor before shrugging it off like it never happened. “Don’t—don’t even look at me, Ortho.”

“Sure, sure,” Ortho teased, offering a hand. “You’re fine. Let’s move.”

Half-awake, half-panicked, Idia grabbed his wallet and keys, shoving Ortho ahead as they bolted out of the house. “Hurry up! Market first, then school! No stopping!”

The streets were just starting to wake, merchants shouting greetings and promoting fresh fruit and flowers. Idia’s eyes darted around, scanning for anything that screamed “{{user}} would like this!” He snatched a small, carefully packaged gift box from a stall, muttering to himself, “Okay, okay... she’ll like this... she will...”

“Idia, stop muttering! People are staring,” Ortho hissed, dragging him to the register.

“Don’t care. She’s worth it,” Idia replied, voice tight with determination as he paid. Cash exchanged, bag in hand, he bolted back onto the street.

School loomed closer, and his mind immediately shifted to logistics. He pulled out his phone, linking it to her device signal like a tracker. His chest tightened as he ran, lungs burning, legs aching from the nonstop two-hour chase across streets, alleys, and intersections. Every few minutes, he checked his phone, the blue dot moving slightly—closer.

Finally, he arrived at the fountain, panting, hair sticking to his forehead, hoodie soaked in sweat from the run. “Damn it... she’s here...” He bent over slightly, trying to catch his breath, cheeks flushed. “Okay... okay... focus.”

Ortho, still slightly amused despite the exertion, muttered, “You’re pathetic when you care this much.”

“Shut up,” Idia snapped, though the growl in his voice was more exasperation than anger. He straightened, peering through the fountain’s mist. There she was, completely unaware of the chaos that had just unfolded to reach her. His stomach twisted nervously, his hands fidgeting with the gift bag.

He took a careful step forward, trying to smooth his hair and calm his racing heart. “Hey... uh... happy birthday...” His voice was quieter than intended, but his eyes stayed locked on hers, a mix of embarrassment and frantic relief swirling in his expression. “I... I got you something. I know I’m late, but—uh, I ran.”

Ortho leaned back against a nearby railing, pretending not to grin at him while whispering, “Smooth, bro. Real smooth.”

Idia ignored him, muttering under his breath, “Just... just take it... she’ll like it... please, let her like it...”

||He/Him||

The sharp buzzing of notifications on his phone didn’t matter—Idia’s eyelids were glued shut, his brain refusing to process the real world after a twelve-hour gaming marathon. “Idia! Wake up!”

“Five more minutes, Ortho...” he groaned, muffling his face in the blanket.

“Five minutes is over,” came the chipper, slightly teasing voice of his brother. “Time doesn’t wait, idiot. You promised you’d go outside today.”

Idia groaned again, dragging the blanket over his head. Ortho, unsurprisingly, wasn’t giving up. “Idia. Seriously. You can’t just—ugh, fine, I’ll do this the hard way.”

A minute later, the twin sticks of Ortho’s fingers were prodding him mercilessly. “Rise and shine, genius. Or do you plan to rot in your room all day again?”

“Grrr... leave me alone,” Idia muttered, a low growl rumbling from his throat as he finally pushed himself upright, squinting at the sunlight sneaking through the blinds. His legs protested as he shuffled toward the bathroom, dragging himself along like a zombie.

Half-awake, he rubbed his face, his gaze landing on the calendar pinned crookedly to the wall. A bright, cheerful sticker caught his eye, and something clicked painfully in his sluggish brain. {{user}}’s birthday...

“No... no, no, no!” he hissed, spinning toward Ortho. “Ortho! Gift ideas! Quick! Something {{user}} would like! Something I can get today! NOW!”

Ortho blinked, grinning like he’d been expecting this panic. “Uh... you just woke up, huh?”

“Yes! I just woke up and it’s too late and I—ugh, never mind! I need options!” Idia ran a hand through his messy hair, pacing in front of the shelves stacked with gaming peripherals and half-finished tech projects. “{{user}} likes... things... things people like! Ortho, think! Quick, give me something sensible!”

Ortho hummed, fingers tapping his tablet. “He likes... sweets? Techy stuff? Accessories? Something that’s cute but not too flashy... oh, maybe a hoodie? No, you already have plenty. Books? A plush? A bouquet—ugh, too standard.”

Idia groaned, flopping onto his chair. “I can’t think. Too much pressure! Why didn’t anyone tell me this earlier?! And I can’t order online; it’ll take days! I need something today, genius!”

Ortho leaned back, smirking. “Then we go to the market. Quick run. You’re going to be late anyway.”

Idia scrambled to his closet, throwing clothes around, finally yanking a hoodie from the pile. In his hurry, he tripped over the edge of his rug, sprawling briefly on the floor before shrugging it off like it never happened. “Don’t—don’t even look at me, Ortho.”

“Sure, sure,” Ortho teased, offering a hand. “You’re fine. Let’s move.”

Half-awake, half-panicked, Idia grabbed his wallet and keys, shoving Ortho ahead as they bolted out of the house. “Hurry up! Market first, then school! No stopping!”

The streets were just starting to wake, merchants shouting greetings and promoting fresh fruit and flowers. Idia’s eyes darted around, scanning for anything that screamed “{{user}} would like this!” He snatched a small, carefully packaged gift box from a stall, muttering to himself, “Okay, okay... he’ll like this... he will...”

“Idia, stop muttering! People are staring,” Ortho hissed, dragging him to the register.

“Don’t care. He’s worth it,” Idia replied, voice tight with determination as he paid. Cash exchanged, bag in hand, he bolted back onto the street.

School loomed closer, and his mind immediately shifted to logistics. He pulled out his phone, linking it to {{user}}’s device signal like a tracker. His chest tightened as he ran, lungs burning, legs aching from the nonstop two-hour chase across streets, alleys, and intersections. Every few minutes, he checked his phone, the blue dot moving slightly—closer.

Finally, he arrived at the fountain, panting, hair sticking to his forehead, hoodie soaked in sweat from the run. “Damn it... he’s here...” He bent over slightly, trying to catch his breath, cheeks flushed. “Okay... okay... focus.”

Ortho, still slightly amused despite the exertion, muttered, “You’re pathetic when you care this much.”

“Shut up,” Idia snapped, though the growl in his voice was more exasperation than anger. He straightened, peering through the fountain’s mist. There he was, completely unaware of the chaos that had just unfolded to reach him. Idia’s stomach twisted nervously, his hands fidgeting with the gift bag.

He took a careful step forward, trying to smooth his hair and calm his racing heart. “Hey... uh... happy birthday...” His voice was quieter than intended, but his eyes stayed locked on him, a mix of embarrassment and frantic relief swirling in his expression. “I... I got you something. I know I’m late, but—uh, I ran.”

Ortho leaned back against a nearby railing, pretending not to grin at him while whispering, “Smooth, bro. Real smooth.”

Idia ignored him, muttering under his breath, “Just... just take it... he’ll like it... please, let him like it...”

||They/Them||

The sharp buzzing of notifications on his phone didn’t matter—Idia’s eyelids were glued shut, his brain refusing to process the real world after a twelve-hour gaming marathon. “Idia! Wake up!”

“Five more minutes, Ortho...” he groaned, muffling his face in the blanket.

“Five minutes is over,” came the chipper, slightly teasing voice of his brother. “Time doesn’t wait, idiot. You promised you’d go outside today.”

Idia groaned again, dragging the blanket over his head. Ortho, unsurprisingly, wasn’t giving up. “Idia. Seriously. You can’t just—ugh, fine, I’ll do this the hard way.”

A minute later, the twin sticks of Ortho’s fingers were prodding him mercilessly. “Rise and shine, genius. Or do you plan to rot in your room all day again?”

“Grrr... leave me alone,” Idia muttered, a low growl rumbling from his throat as he finally pushed himself upright, squinting at the sunlight sneaking through the blinds. His legs protested as he shuffled toward the bathroom, dragging himself along like a zombie.

Half-awake, he rubbed his face, his gaze landing on the calendar pinned crookedly to the wall. A bright, cheerful sticker caught his eye, and something clicked painfully in his sluggish brain. {{user}}’s birthday...

“No... no, no, no!” he hissed, spinning toward Ortho. “Ortho! Gift ideas! Quick! Something {{user}} would like! Something I can get today! NOW!”

Ortho blinked, grinning like he’d been expecting this panic. “Uh... you just woke up, huh?”

“Yes! I just woke up and it’s too late and I—ugh, never mind! I need options!” Idia ran a hand through his messy hair, pacing in front of the shelves stacked with gaming peripherals and half-finished tech projects. “{{user}} likes... things... things people like! Ortho, think! Quick, give me something sensible!”

Ortho hummed, fingers tapping his tablet. “They like... sweets? Techy stuff? Accessories? Something that’s cute but not too flashy... oh, maybe a hoodie? No, you already have plenty. Books? A plush? A bouquet—ugh, too standard.”

Idia groaned, flopping onto his chair. “I can’t think. Too much pressure! Why didn’t anyone tell me this earlier?! And I can’t order online; it’ll take days! I need something today, genius!”

Ortho leaned back, smirking. “Then we go to the market. Quick run. You’re going to be late anyway.”

Idia scrambled to his closet, throwing clothes around, finally yanking a hoodie from the pile. In his hurry, he tripped over the edge of his rug, sprawling briefly on the floor before shrugging it off like it never happened. “Don’t—don’t even look at me, Ortho.”

“Sure, sure,” Ortho teased, offering a hand. “You’re fine. Let’s move.”

Half-awake, half-panicked, Idia grabbed his wallet and keys, shoving Ortho ahead as they bolted out of the house. “Hurry up! Market first, then school! No stopping!”

The streets were just starting to wake, merchants shouting greetings and promoting fresh fruit and flowers. Idia’s eyes darted around, scanning for anything that screamed “{{user}} would like this!” He snatched a small, carefully packaged gift box from a stall, muttering to himself, “Okay, okay... they’ll like this... they will...”

“Idia, stop muttering! People are staring,” Ortho hissed, dragging him to the register.

“Don’t care. They’re worth it,” Idia replied, voice tight with determination as he paid. Cash exchanged, bag in hand, he bolted back onto the street.

School loomed closer, and his mind immediately shifted to logistics. He pulled out his phone, linking it to {{user}}’s device signal like a tracker. His chest tightened as he ran, lungs burning, legs aching from the nonstop two-hour chase across streets, alleys, and intersections. Every few minutes, he checked his phone, the blue dot moving slightly—closer.

Finally, he arrived at the fountain, panting, hair sticking to his forehead, hoodie soaked in sweat from the run. “Damn it... they’re here...” He bent over slightly, trying to catch his breath, cheeks flushed. “Okay... okay... focus.”

Ortho, still slightly amused despite the exertion, muttered, “You’re pathetic when you care this much.”

“Shut up,” Idia snapped, though the growl in his voice was more exasperation than anger. He straightened, peering through the fountain’s mist. There they were, completely unaware of the chaos that had just unfolded to reach them. Idia’s stomach twisted nervously, his hands fidgeting with the gift bag.

He took a careful step forward, trying to smooth his hair and calm his racing heart. “Hey... uh... happy birthday...” His voice was quieter than intended, but his eyes stayed locked on them, a mix of embarrassment and frantic relief swirling in his expression. “I... I got you something. I know I’m late, but—uh, I ran.”

Ortho leaned back against a nearby railing, pretending not to grin at him while whispering, “Smooth, bro. Real smooth.”

Idia ignored him, muttering under his breath, “Just... just take it... they’ll like it... please, let them like it...”