It was April 17, and Lando's eyes fluttered open. The soft sunlight streaming through the window caught his attention, but there was something else—something more exciting. Today was his birthday. As soon as the realization hit him, he shot out of bed like a bolt of lightning, his heart racing with joy.
He scrambled over to the door, pushed it open, and immediately saw it: a large banner hanging in the hallway that read, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY LANDO!" Lando couldn't help the wide grin that spread across his face. His eyes sparkled, the excitement making him feel lighter than air.
"Mom!" he shouted, rushing into the kitchen.
Ophelia looked over at her son, a warm smile lighting up her face. She was busy at the stove, flipping something that smelled delicious. When she saw him, though, that smile grew even wider.
"Morning, you little munchkin," Ophelia greeted, her voice full of affection.
Lando ran over and threw his arms around her waist in a tight hug. "Mom, today's my day!" he said, his voice full of excitement.
Before Ophelia could respond, she heard a familiar voice from the kitchen table.
"Auntie Joyce?" Lando asked, blinking in surprise.
"The one and only," Joyce replied with a grin, lifting her mug of tea in greeting.
"Hey, Ophelia, when's breakfast gonna be ready?" Joyce asked, clearly enjoying herself.
"I don't know, maybe if you helped me, it would be quicker, you lazy bum," Ophelia retorted, her tone light but teasing.
"But if I did that, I wouldn't be able to do this!" Joyce declared, grinning mischievously before scooping Lando up and flipping him upside down. Lando's laughter filled the room as Joyce began to tickle him mercilessly.
"If you drop him, there will be hell to pay," Ophelia said, eyeing Joyce with mock seriousness.
"Aye, captain," Joyce replied with a playful salute, her grin never fading. She turned back to Lando. "You know, your mom called in a few favors for today, so you better be thanking her."
"Favors? What did she do?" Lando asked, his curiosity piqued.
Ophelia raised an eyebrow but answered. "Well, there was a smuggler that got shot and managed to make it to my doctor's office. I patched him up, saved his life. In return, he owed me a favor."
Lando nodded slowly, not fully understanding but listening intently. "So what did she do with this favor?" he asked.
Ophelia chuckled. "She called him up and had him smuggle me some pancake mix and birthday cake mix. I also know how to make my own frosting, so we're all set there."
Lando's eyes widened in awe. "What's a birthday cake?" he asked, his voice full of wonder.
"It's a sweet, like a treat, something that's rare around here. I never could get one before, but now, thanks to the smuggler, we can have one," Ophelia said, her smile warm as she patted his head.
"Awesome!" Lando exclaimed, his eyes sparkling as he imagined how amazing the cake must be.
The next ten minutes flew by as they all sat down to a breakfast that was nothing short of delicious. Lando was practically bouncing in his seat, savoring every bite. The food was better than anything he'd ever had, and the anticipation of the cake made it all the more exciting.
After they ate, Lando, Ophelia, and Joyce walked through the streets before arriving at Ophelia's doctor's office. Lando liked being there—sometimes, people would even stop by and give him candy. The first time he had candy, he felt like he was floating. It was one of those rare, blissful moments that made the Underground seem a little less harsh.
"Lando, come here!" Ophelia called from the back.
Lando quickly ran over to where she stood. As he approached, he saw a man sitting on the table, his finger grotesquely swollen and a deep shade of green. Lando recoiled slightly.
"Uh... what happened to him?" Lando asked, his face scrunching in confusion.
"This is where you come in, Lando. His finger's infected and needs to be amputated," Ophelia explained, her voice calm. "I need you to help me with this."
The man looked at her skeptically. "Uh, don't think I like a four-year-old operating on me."
"He'll be fine, don't worry about it," Ophelia reassured him. She handed Lando a strange-looking stick. "Here, hold this in his mouth so he doesn't bite his tongue off."
Lando took the stick and handed it to the man, who immediately clamped down on it with a firm grip. The man's face contorted in pain.
"Ready?" Ophelia asked.
The man nodded. "No time like the present."
"Okay, 3... 2... 1," Ophelia counted down before she expertly sliced off the infected finger.
The man yelped, the sound muffled by the stick in his mouth. Lando winced, trying not to let the sound bother him as he held the stick tightly, feeling the man's grip on it as if he might snap it in half.
Ophelia quickly bandaged the wound. "Alright, go wait in the waiting room, Lando," she said, her tone soft as she took over the procedure.
Lando walked back to the waiting room, sitting in the quiet space while his mother finished up with the man. He didn't mind, though. He liked being around her at work, even if it wasn't always pleasant.
A little while later, Ophelia came out and smiled. "Alright, Lando, time to go home."
Lando jumped to his feet, ready for the next part of his day. "Okay, Mom!" he said as they left the office together.
When they returned home, Ophelia kissed Lando's head and told him she was going to take a shower and then make his birthday cake. "If Auntie Joyce comes over before I'm done, just let her know I'm in the shower, okay?"
"Got it, Mom," Lando said, his voice eager, before heading to the couch, grabbing a book, and settling in.
Ophelia smiled to herself as she took a quick shower. When she came back out, Lando had fallen asleep with the book open on his chest, a contented smile on his face. She sat beside him, caressing his soft black hair for a few moments, her heart swelling with love for him.
How did I get so lucky to have a child like that? Ophelia thought, leaning down to kiss the top of his head before walking toward the kitchen to start the cake.
The fire crackled in the fireplace as she began baking the cake in the heat, carefully following the steps she knew so well. Just as she set the cake over the fire, the door slammed open.
"I GOT PRESENTS!" Joyce bellowed from the doorway, making Lando yelp in surprise. He fell off the couch, landing on the hardwood floor with a loud thud.
"Oww," Lando groaned, rubbing his head. Ophelia and Joyce burst out laughing at the sight, unable to contain their amusement.
After the laughter died down, Ophelia finished decorating the cake. She placed five candles on top and lit them. They sang "Happy Birthday" to Lando, and when he finally took his first bite of the cake, his eyes widened in awe.
"Mom," he whispered, his voice full of wonder.
"Yes, dear?" Ophelia asked, half worried, half excited.
"This might be the greatest thing that was ever invented," Lando said with a grin, his eyes sparkling with joy.
Ophelia and Joyce both burst out laughing, and they continued eating the cake together, enjoying the moment.
The present exchange came next. Joyce went first, giving Lando a bag with a new pair of shoes. Lando immediately put them on and started running around the house, his laughter filling the room. He dashed over to Joyce, throwing his arms around her for a tight hug.
"THANK YOU, AUNTIE JOYCE!" he exclaimed.
"You're welcome, you little munchkin," Joyce replied, laughing as she hugged him back.
Ophelia handed Lando a small box, and when he opened it, his eyes fell on a small dagger and a picture of a man with raven-black hair and a blank expression. Lando stared at the image for a moment before asking, his voice soft, "Who is this?"
Ophelia took a deep breath before answering, her voice quieter. "That's your father, Lando."
Lando blinked in confusion. "My father? But... how?"
Ophelia smiled gently. "Your father was a soldier in the Survey Corps, the strongest soldier humanity has ever known. His name is Levi. He didn't have a last name, and neither do I. That's why you don't have one either."
"Can I meet him?" Lando asked, his voice almost a whisper.
Ophelia paused, her mind replaying memories of the past. She had never told Levi about Lando; she had been angry when she heard the rumors. But now, the more she thought about it, she realized he couldn't have known.
"One day, Lando," Ophelia said softly. "But for now, it's time for you to go to bed. It's late."
Lando groaned, but he nodded. "Okay, Mom..." he mumbled, heading to his room.
As he climbed into bed, Lando placed the dagger and picture on his nightstand. His thoughts drifted to his father. What would it be like if he were here? Lando wondered, closing his eyes as he drifted into sleep.