Work Text:
Every 5th of May, the Revolutionary Army celebrates Marx's birthday. It's not a celebration in itself: they don't party or drink or anything like that. Usually, they prepare special conferences explaining anything and everything surrounding Marx, starting with his life and philosophy, and ending with his critique of political economy. Sabo enjoys these days a lot. Even if he prefers taking direct action, he loves studying economics, and he sees and understands the need for theory if they want a revolution of any kind. It's also a great way to spend time with Koala. He doesn't see her as much as he used to, not anymore. Now, they usually work in different places all around the world, so he has learned to cherish the time he can spend with her. Koala is quick-witted, intelligent and smart. She can win anyone in an argument, even Dragon himself sometimes, and Sabo adores attending these seminars with her, learning side by side, hand in hand.
However, the 5th of may also brings something to Sabo's chest, something that has nothing to do with politics or Marxist theory. Every year, he wakes up with an ache in his heart, missing something, missing someone, maybe. He doesn't recall. Sometimes, during the long lectures that take place throughout the day, Sabo finds himself dreaming about big smiles and bright laughs, about sunny days under the shade of some trees. And he tries to remember, oh, he does, but he never succeeds. So he shakes his head and concentrates on the theory and praxis and revolution, because what else can he do? The past is the past and in his case, a blank sheet.
Then, Ace dies. And Sabo remembers. He remembers his brothers, he remembers Luffy, and the meaning that the 5th of may had before the Revolutionary Army. It's quite funny in its tragedy, isn't it? Not Ace's death, of course, but Luffy's birth. The same day as Marx. Of course. Of fucking course Luffy was born the same day as the most important revolutionary in history.
And he talks to Dragon, and Dragon just grunts.
So now, Sabo celebrates Marx, by all means, but he also celebrates Luffy and that warms his heart. Sabo studies and discusses and learns during the day, and by night, he lies with Koala under the sheets, and he tells her everything about his little brother. She listens, sweet, kind, and Sabo wants her to meet Luffy and he wants to meet Luffy again himself. He wants to hug him, and hear him cry, and hear him just be. He wants to see him blow his candles, surrounded by that ridiculous crew of his. Sabo wants to celebrate with Luffy all the birthdays he can't celebrate with Ace.
Sabo dreams with Luffy's laughter, and he knows after everything, after Levely, he will meet Luffy again, and he hopes they will have time to catch up, not like in Dressrosa. And then, after setelling all of that, Sabo will excuse himself and on the 5th of May he will reunite with Luffy, forgetting (at least for a day) about Marx and the theory and the revolution. The 5th of May will be the day he'll use to celebrate his brother.
"He'll be the next great revolutionary" Koala tells him every 5th of May.
"I don't care. He's just my brother" Sabo tells her "and today it's his birthday".