Chapter Text
Chase was staring outside the window on the bus. The towering buildings of the night city were flashing before his eyes, distant in their own, majestic way. Their windows were shining, full of life, full of joy.
But Chase was sitting on the bus on his way home. His window wouldn't be lit tonight.
He was squeezing his phone in his hands, constantly switching his attention between the city outside and the cracked screen of an old phone.
In the low light of the lamps the screen was shining, almost screaming the information at him. April 11, Friday, 9:01 PM, 19% of the battery left, no notifications.
His birthday.
Chase didn't tell any of his brothers about it. He was coming home late and just wanted some rest. Besides, it wasn't like they would care anyway...
Just like she didn't.
Chase checked his phone again. No messages, no missed calls, no notifications at all. He also knew none would arrive. And yet, he kept checking. Like a fool.
He hid the phone into his pocket.
She won't call. If she wanted to, she would have definitely done that by now.
Chase tried to focus on the lights outside again, but the device in his pocket was inviting him to look again.
At least the kids could call? Maybe...?
Did she even tell them it's their father's birthday?
Chase resisted the urge to put the phone out of his pocket.
No, she probably didn't.
He stood up. It was time to get off the bus and walk home.
The bus stopped and Chase stepped outside, into the familiar light from the old street lamps and the deep shadows in the among the large houses. He set off along the street, heading home.
Maybe he had some whiskey left. That would be his way of celebrating his birthday. At least he doesn't have to worry about a call from the alcohol... the bottle won't leave him and tell him to go fuck himself.
Before he could think any more about the way of spending his night, he arrived to the house. Chase unlocked the door and stepped inside.
"Hello?"
The house was dark and silent. Strange, considering Marvin didn't usually go to sleep before 1 AM.
Maybe he's tired tonight...
Chase put away his jacket and went into the kitchen. He put his hand onto the handle and was about to open the door when he heard a sound of something falling over in the room next door. The living room.
"Who's there?" He asked, still unsure. "Marv, is that you?"
No response.
Something else fell over.
"What the fuck?" Chase mumbled to himself and slowly moved to the closed door of the living room. No sounds this time.
Chase frowned. "Are you guys playing pranks on me? It's not funny, you know."
Another thing fell over.
Chase opened the living room door. "I'm not really in the mood for your little gam-"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!" Four voices yelled in unison.
"What the fuck?" Chase blinked.
The living room was decorated with colourful balloons and ribbons. Above the TV was hanging a giant HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHASE sign made out of cardboard. On the table was a ton of food, ranging from donuts with delicate pink topping to gold-brown pretzels.
And at the table, in the middle of all of this, were his brothers, all smiling at him, with party hats on.
"It's time, boys!" Jackie shouted and JJ grabbed his violin.
"One, two, three-"
They started playing Happy Birthday. Marvin, Jackie and Henrik, of which none could sing properly, were yelling the lyrics, while JJ, unable to talk, was playing his violin.
Singing and playing, with the party hats on, all of them looked extremely silly and if Chase didn't know them, he would bet all his money that they were drunk. However, there wasn't a single bottle of alcohol on the table.
Chase didn't know exactly what to do, so he smiled awkwardly and waited for them to finish. But on the inside, his heart was racing. Somehow, these bastards in front of him figured out that it was his birthday. They took their time to do this for him. As shitty as it may be. Chase felt tears making their way into his eyes and was trying his best to stop them.
His brothers finished their performance and stormed to him.
Jackie crushed him in his embrace as the first. "Happy birthday, bro!"
"Than-" Chase didn't have time to say anything.
Marvin has already jumped to him, hugging him tightly, but not as strong as Jackie. "A year older now, are we!"
Henrik, to Chase's surprise, also hugged him, although he usually said he didn't like it at all. "I wish you all the best, man."
Chase just quickly smiled before JJ embraced him. JJ only smiled at him, not signing anything, and Chase really regretted not having learned sign language yet.
"I- honestly, thank you so much!" Chase managed to say.
"Aw man, it's nothing," Marvin waved with his hand.
"No, this must have taken a lot of time, I really appr-"
JJ tugged Jackie's sleeve and pointed towards the door linking the kitchen and the living room. Jackie's eyes were practically shining as he nodded.
"Bring in the cake!" he announced and Marvin disappeared in the kitchen door.
"Cake?!"
"I hope you didn't think the best we could come up with were a few cardboard letters and some donuts," Henrik frowned.
"We have more than just donuts, Henrik," Jackie objected, "don't forget about the pretzels!!"
JJ was nodding enthusiastically.
"Fine," Henrik said at last, "Chase, take a seat! It's YOUR big day after all!"
They all sat down and JJ put a party hat saying BIRTHDAY BRO on Chase's head.
A moment later Marvin appeared, using his magic to make the cake levitate into the living room. It certainly wasn't the biggest or the most beautiful cake, rather a simple one, but Chase recognised it was home-made immediately.
"Aww, guys, who made this?"
"JJ and I," Henrik said and JJ smiled proudly.
"It looks amazing, my dudes, not gonna lie!" Marvin carefully placed the cake into the middle of the table.
It was covered in orange with yellow HAPPY B-DAY CHASE written in the middle. On the top were several little candles which by all means could not represent Chase's current age but he guessed it was the best the boys were able to find and was grateful anyway.
He completely forgot about the phone in his pocket.