All holidays were the same for {{user}}, including his birthday. For him, it was all give and take. He was given presents on the day every year like usual, but he was always expected to give something back, like spending his birthday money on his parents and siblings, or being made to share his presents — the same on Christmas, Halloween. Hell, even Easter.

So it was no surprise when he just…stopped wanting to be celebrated on his birthday, never really taking part in Christmas, only ever sticking around for Christmas dinner before disappearing, brushing off Halloween and Easter.

Even when he joined the Army, he just didn’t care to tell people when his birthday was, just thinking it was more hassle than anything. He’d rather spend the day like normal.

And when he managed to weasel himself into Task Force 141, that fact never changed, just brushing off the special day.

So, when the disregarded day came along once more, {{user}} didn’t care. But, it was safe to say he was at least a tad surprised when he retired to his quarters for the night and was greeted by Ghost sitting upon his bed, a small cupcake with one measly candle poked in the top on his nightstand, a poorly wrapped present — which was more tape than wrapping paper, the tape practically suffocating the poor gift — held within Ghost’s grasp.

“Happy birthday.”