[Three Months Later]

The morning dawned softly and quietly, sunlight slipping through the small, reinforced windows of the lair. Shego was already awake, her hair tied messily into a bun as she stirred a bowl of rich, dark chocolate batter. It was early, so early that even the lair's humming machines seemed half-asleep.

Today wasn't just any day. It was Orochimaru's birthday.

When she'd first realized it was coming up thanks to a stray line in one of his old scrolls, Shego had known immediately that he wouldn't do anything to mark it himself. He never did. He would have let the day pass like a shadow slipping down a hallway unseen, unspoken, uncelebrated.

But not this time. Not if she could help it.

She slid the finished cake into the oven, a decadent melting chocolate cake, warm and rich with layers of dark fudge. It was the best she could do with the lair's limited pantry.

Just as she set the timer and turned to wipe down the counter, footsteps echoed down the corridor. She checked the clock at 5:45 a.m. Too early for Orochimaru. He'd be tangled in his blankets for at least another hour or two, especially if he'd had one of his nightmares.

Shego smirked to herself. Must be Dr. D. Sure enough, Drakken stepped into the kitchen, yawning and rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"Morning, Shego," he mumbled, peering suspiciously at the mixing bowls and dusting of flour on the counter. "What's with the early start? Plotting against Kim without me?"

Shego rolled her eyes and flicked a crumb of cake batter at him. "I'm baking a cake, genius. It's Orochimaru's birthday."

Drakken's brows shot up. "Oh! Really? The snake guy has a birthday? And you're celebrating it?"

Shego shrugged, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, well... he deserves it. He's been stuck with us for months now, about time he got something nice."

Drakken chuckled, genuinely surprised at how warm Shego sounded. "You've gotten pretty attached, huh?"

Shego shot him a half-playful, half-threatening glare. "Don't start."

He held up his hands in surrender. "Relax! I think it's sweet. Need any help?"

Shego hesitated, then handed him a roll of streamers and a packet of birthday banners she'd hidden behind the fridge. "Make yourself useful, Dr. D. We've got about an hour before Sleeping Beauty wakes up."

They worked in comfortable silence, Drakken balancing precariously on a stool as he pinned up colorful banners that clashed hilariously with the lair's cold metal walls. Shego busied herself cutting bright posters with "Happy Birthday Orochimaru!" scribbled in her jagged, neon-green handwriting. She even drew a little cartoon snake on one, its tongue flicking out mischievously.

By the time she finished taping the last poster to the corridor wall, the scent of rich chocolate drifted through the kitchen. She checked the cake perfectly gooey in the center, and let it cool while she cracked eggs and whipped up plates of pancakes, hash browns, and crisp bacon.

Drakken dusted off his hands, stepping back to admire his handiwork. "Not bad for an evil genius, huh?"

"You put the banner up crooked," Shego smirked, pointing at one side that drooped slightly.

Drakken squinted. "It's artistic!"

She laughed—an honest, warm laugh that felt oddly out of place in the steel walls of their lair. "Sure, genius. Go wash up. You've got batter in your hair."

Drakken grumbled good-naturedly and shuffled off, leaving Shego alone to wipe stray bits of chocolate from her wrists. She paused, glancing at the clock again. Almost seven. He'd be awake soon.

Drakken grumbled good-naturedly and shuffled off, leaving Shego alone to wipe stray bits of chocolate from her wrists. She paused, glancing at the clock again. Almost seven. He'd be awake soon.

~~~

Meanwhile, Orochimaru stirred from uneasy dreams as his alarm buzzed softly by his bedside. He cracked open one golden eye, staring blearily at the ceiling. Mornings weren't his favorite thing, especially not lately, when the weight of old memories pressed in so easily while he drifted in half-sleep.

He sat up, stretching slowly. His joints popped in protest. He slipped on a loose blue shirt with a simple image of Manda coiled across the front. He tugged on his soft purple sweatpants and his sandals before raking fingers through his hair.

As he stepped into the corridor, something caught his eye. A poster with bright green marker on it in adorable handwriting, and a doodle of Manda hissing cheerfully beneath bold letters: Happy Birthday, Orochimaru!

He froze, one hand resting against the cold wall. It was childish. Silly. And it made his chest tighten in a way he didn't quite know how to brace against.

'Who did this?  Who would care enough to put in all this effort? I haven't celebrated my birthday for a long time.' Orochimaru thought.

He followed the trail of posters to the kitchen, the delicious smell of breakfast growing stronger with each step. When he stepped inside, he nearly stumbled at the sight of more decorations.

"Happy birthday!" shego shouted from behind him, smiling.

"You did this for me, why?" Orochimaru questioned.

Shego shrugged, trying to sound casual. "Yeah. You said once you never did birthdays. Figured that was dumb. Dr. D helped, too."

For a moment, Orochimaru said nothing. Then he cleared his throat, voice rough. "Why?"

"Because," Shego said, nudging him toward the table, "Everyone deserves cake and pancakes at least once a year. Now sit down before the eggs get cold."

He did as he was told, mostly because his knees suddenly felt unsteady. Shego fixed him a plate: fluffy pancakes stacked high, crispy bacon, golden hash browns, scrambled eggs just the way he liked them. She even shoved a bottle of ketchup next to his plate, because she'd once seen him drown eggs in it.

"This looks delicious," Orochimaru said as he started eating the breakfast that Shego had prepared for him on his birthday.

~~~

After the breakfast plates were cleared, Shego cut the warm, molten chocolate cake. She handed him the biggest slice, paired with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream.

When he took his first bite, the sweetness nearly made his eyes water. He looked up at her, unsure how to say what sat heavy in his throat.

"It's good," he said finally, voice quiet.

"Good," Shego replied, smirking. "Now open your gift."

She handed him a small box wrapped in purple paper. He peeled it open slowly. Inside lay a silver necklace, delicate yet strong, a coiled snake carved so precisely it almost looked alive.

"It's beautiful," he breathed. He looked up, and before he could stop himself, he leaned forward and hugged her.

Shego froze just for a second, then squeezed him back, careful not to crush the box still clutched in his hand.

You're welcome, snake," She murmured. "Happy birthday."

Here is the rewritten version of chapter 6 of A Snake's Heart! In this chapter, Shego and Drakken surprise Orochimaru with a simple, heartfelt birthday celebration. For a man so haunted by old ghosts and broken bonds, a cake and a cheap banner become something priceless—a small candle flickering against the dark.

Question of the Chapter: Do you think this small birthday surprise will help Orochimaru open up more to Shego and the others, or will he keep his heart guarded? Let me know your thoughts below!

Word Count: 1,185