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Bilgewater had it’s fair share of big celebrations, whichever holiday or festival it was.
And obviously, with New Year’s Eve being minutes away, people have been partying everywhere, all throughout the town.
And yet, despite both being party people, as well as getting an invitation from Fortune, Graves and Fate decided for the first time in forever to stay at their hideout for New Year’s.
It only made sense to the conmen, after all, this year has been eventful to them, as in them together, and whatever was going on in the captain's mansion, didn't really matter to the two partners.
The first day of the next year was just around the corner, the entirety of Bilgewater hidden away in the darkness of the night, with the stars serving as the only light. That is unless another firework doesn’t blast off again before midnight.
It’s impossible to expect pirates to use explosives properly.
Graves was standing at the balcony of their hideout, one hand holding onto it's railing, the other holding onto a glass with alcohol. He rested his head on Fate's shoulder, as the gambler was looking into his glass with a smile. Truth be told neither of them have ever waited until midnight itself to start drinking, but they both decided this year has been eventful enough to make that exception.
They could have never expected that they'd be, well, together-together when the year started. Tobias thought that would have been wishful thinking, while Malcolm didn't even realize he had feelings for his partner back then. He was simply just used to living by his side.
Everything changed after their meeting with Bombolini, and while it didn't happen immediately, Graves gave in and confessed during a heist, to the unspeakable joy of his partner. Things have been better and better ever since.
Perhaps to pretty much everyone around them, nothing changed (when Fortune found out she stated she thought they've been together for years), but to them?
It was a huge step.
Graves raised his head from his partner's shoulder, as to get a better view at the town. The balcony wasn't exactly high up (it was a hideout after all), but you could see the shore from there.
He looked at the sea, which reflected the sky, making it look like all the stars have come down to light up the water. Fate, following his partner's gaze, has also started looking at it.
Neither of them were good at conversations, but seeing his partner lost in thought, the gambler started talking.
"It's almost midnight huh." He said. "Hard to believe it's almost over. This year I mean."
“It was a wild ride." Graves replied. "Thankfully, for us it’s just the beginnin’."
Both the men smiled.
"Don't you think you're takin’ me before the altar anytime soon tho. I'm a free man." The gambler proclaimed.
"Mhm. Keep talking and maybe you'll convince yourself." The outlaw laughed.
Tobias laid his head on top of Malcolm's.
"Hey, Mal?"
"Hm?'
"I love you."
"Why the sudden declaration?"
"I don't know it's just..." the man flopped his free hand around. "Celebrations make me emotional I guess. Don't expect this to happen anytime soon again, but, hell, I feel like I'm the luckiest man alive." He sighed. "After the whole... you know, ten years, I thought I'd loose you forever. That you'd never forgive me. Yet, here you are, and love, I feel like I've never been happier." He smiled.
Graves took Fate's hand into his own, squeezing it tight. "Well, I love you too. I have for a long time, and I will even longer"
They stood in silence for a moment, both smiling, when the Bilgewater bells started ringing. It was midnight. The fireworks all throughout had been set off, and a thousand colors suddenly appeared on the sky, their sound surely scaring off all the bilgerats in the town.
The two conmen raised their glasses. Malcolm looked at his partner.
"Cheers, to us."
"Cheers to us, my love."