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The second that he had seen the flour dusted all over Shanks and Buggy, he should have known something was up. His two small apprentices had been trying to act secretive the entire morning. Even going so far as to tell him that he wasn’t allowed in the kitchens. Even getting back up from their cook to do so.
Roger frowned as he settled in his chair next to Rayleigh, his chin settled into his palms as he stared at the door towards the cabins. His sweet apprentices still had yet to come out. This was supposed to be his day and his boys were wanting to spend it away from him. It wasn’t fair.
“You’re going to sigh yourself to death.” Rayleigh stated, flipping the page of the newspaper as he took a drink of his coffee.
Roger got a bigger frown on his face, side eyeing his best friend. “It’s my birthday and my boys don’t want to see me.”
Rayleigh chuckled, setting his coffee down on the table. The blonde leaned against the table, a smirk settled on his lips as he said, “And you think that, why?”
“I’m not allowed in my own kitchen, Ray!” Roger exclaimed. “They don’t want to see me.”
Rayleigh laughed again, clapping him on the back. “It’ll be okay, buddy.”
Shanks and Buggy were gone for a long time. Roger was on the deck the entire time, being shooed away any time he tried to enter the cabins. He would not admit that he was sulking the entire time. Sighing heavily as he leaned his back on the bottom of a chair, feet kicked up onto the rail as he tossed his hat in the air to catch it again and repeat the motion.
He could hear his nakama snickering as they walked by.
He huffed, rolling over and getting back to his feet. He was the birthday boy; he was going to get what he wanted. What he wanted was to spend it with his nakama and boys. Eyes turned to him as he started for the cabins. He didn’t make it far before Rayleigh had his left arm, Gaban on his right and he would guess three others trying to hold him back by his waist.
“Let me go.” Roger stated.
“No can do, Roger.” Rayleigh stated. “You can’t go in.”
“Why not!?” Roger exclaimed. “If they won’t come to me, I’ll just have to bring them out by force!”
“Captain, just leave them be!” Gaban exclaimed.
He could hear them straining as he marched forward, huffing as they were dropping their body weight to try and add extra to keep him from moving forward. Before he knew it, he was covered completely in his nakama. Almost a large dog pile right in front of the cabin door.
“I’m bringing my boys out here!” Roger exclaimed. He wasn’t even sure if they could even hear him now since he was underneath all of them. Pinned on his stomach. He could shuffle but that was about it. He wouldn’t make it far unless he wanted to hurt them by putting haki throughout his body to throw them off.
“Not until we say!” Gaban exclaimed.
“I am literally the Captain!” Roger shouted. “This is my ship! What I say goes! Give me my boys!”
The shouts of “No.” Came next as their grips got tighter. Roger tried to force his way out. He didn’t want to hurt his nakama. They knew he could get them off of him if he really wanted to but at that moment, he was actually thinking about letting it happen. Just throwing them off so he could go get his boys.
“Let me go!” Roger stated, pushing at the closest person as he managed to flip himself onto his back.
“Captain! Just be patient!”
“NO!”
Through the scuffling, he didn’t even hear the cabin door open before he heard a shocked, “Captain?!” Come from both Buggy and Shanks.
A grin came to his face as he let his head hit the wood below. The two boys were standing above him now, both looking down at him in shock. Shanks was covered head to toe – minus his hat that seemed to be safe – in flour. His hair almost appearing pink instead of the vibrant red. Buggy wasn’t fairing much better. He had a mixture of eggs and flour on him. Even some of the shells left behind on his clothes. The children blinked down at him before they were sharing looks.
“Boys!” Roger shouted as his nakama crawled off of him, finally letting him go. “Finally decided to grace me with your presence!”
Roger got back to his feet, dusting himself off before placing his hands on his hips. Shanks and Buggy were grinning just as widely now, bouncing on their feet as they rushed over. Almost looking up at him with a light in their eyes that showed their innocence. Even living on a pirate ship and seeing harsh realities of the world, they never lost that glint.
“We have something to show you!” Shanks exclaimed.
“We worked hard on it!” Buggy added.
They moved out of the way as the door was opened again by Rayleigh, revealing their cook standing there with a very unique cake. The cake was two tiers and lopsided. Like it was only being held together by the messy frosting on the top. Happy Birthday, Captain Roger was written on it in two different handwritings in just as messy frosting. A candle on the top of it that wasn’t lit yet.
Roger felt his brain short circuit for a moment as he looked back down at the two grinning boys. So, this is what they were doing. He kneeled down, a large grin on his face as Shanks said, “Happy Birthday, Captain!”
“Do you like it?” Buggy questioned, the excitement in his voice.
“I love it.” Roger stated, pulling the two boys into him despite the flour and eggs transferring to his own clothes. He stood back up, turning to face his men as he yelled out, “Time to eat some cake!”
“Hold on!” Shanks shouted before he was running back into the cabins with Buggy.
Roger took the moment to face Rayleigh and said, “Why didn’t you just tell me that this is what they were doing?”
Rayleigh shrugged. “They wanted it to be a surprise.”
Roger smiled, hearing the quick footsteps coming back. The two boys standing before him again with every roughly wrapped presents. “It’s not a birthday without presents!” Buggy shouted.
Shanks and Buggy grabbed one of his hands each before they were pulling him towards the nearby table, ushering him to sit down. Roger complied, taking a seat as Buggy handed his gift over. Roger poked his nose, seeing the crinkle that followed as Buggy grumbled about leaving his nose alone.
He ripped into the paper, revealing a small treasure chest that had an R engraved into the wood. “To keep your treasure in!” Buggy exclaimed.
“I love it!” Roger said with just as much enthusiasm.
The next one was Shanks, handing the small one over to him. Roger took the moment to place his hand on the top of Shanks’ head, casting him a grin before he was ripping the paper from Shanks’ present. Revealing the golden beaded necklace that resided within the confines.
“Oh, that’s nice!” Roger said, slipping the necklace over his head and letting it settle down on his collarbones. “Thanks boys.” He stated, reaching out and pulling them up onto his lap. “Now, time for this cake.”
Shanks and Buggy grinned again as the cake was set down, this time the candle was lit. “You have to make a wish, Captain!” Shanks stated.
Roger hummed, a wish?
He didn’t need one, but they didn’t need to know that. He had everything he needed right where he was.