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Koala should have noticed that something was amiss when Sabo wasn’t in bed when she woke up. Given her habit of waking up at dawn, that meant that either Sabo had been up for at least an hour, or he got us out of bed as soon as she was asleep and never truly slept.
Sighing, she pushed the covers back before setting her feet on the cold floor of the base they were using right now. It wasn’t Baltigo, and a part of her would always think fondly of the base where so many things had happened. But it was an easily defended building, one smack in the territory of the newly crowned Pirate King.
Shaking her head, Sabo and Dragon had been quite persistent that they move their base of operations into either Luffy’s territory or Marco and Ace’s, making use of the added protection of being related to the people manning it.
Looking at the calendar, she shook her head, March 20th - Sabo’s birthday, of course he wasn’t here for that. Knowing that he had missed so many birthdays with his brothers this had been the year (they agreed) they would spend it all together. No doubt, Ace or Luffy had come by to pick him up.
Sighing in relief, she made her way to the bathroom to get ready. There were a couple of new recruits that needed to be taught that just because she was a woman didn’t mean that she was an easy target. They would soon learn not to judge on appearance, if they were permitted to stay that was. She wasn’t totally sure of this last batch, all of them seemed too eager to fight in her opinion.
Once on the training ground, and stretching, looking on at the newbies that were not even covering them checking her out, she already knew this day was going to be chaotic to the core. Something in the air felt like each and every time the three brothers were together, so today wouldn’t be any different.
Running her pupils through basic exercises, she noticed when they started to stare at the door leading inside, talking quite excitingly or slightly nervously. Looking back, her eyes widened just a bit before a soft smile took over to see Ace and Marco standing there.
A frown took over when she realized; Ace was standing there , taking a few steps towards the two of them and she asked, “Isn’t Sabo with you?”
Ace blinked, “No? We agreed to meet at noon as he had some work he needed to finish.”
“He wasn’t in bed this morning, so I figured you or Luffy had come by to get him already.”
Shaking his head, Ace’s gaze slides over her towards the people behind her, “No we didn’t, Luffy is docking as we speak, so you’ll see him bouncing around soon enough.”
The eldest of the brothers smiles softly, “As much as we want to spend the day together, we do realize that none of us are quite content leaving our partner behind. Given where the base is located, we just figured we’d spend Sabo’s birthday here.”
Giggling at that, and feeling flattered that all three brothers would want that after so long apart. To know that she too was included in their relationship like this, just for dating Sabo, it felt like a family should feel. Not that she ever felt excluded by Ace or Luffy, nor did she get that feeling from Marco or Law, in a way it made her feel like home.
“I guess the base better prepare for all of you then?”
Ace just smiled brightly, humming before he was grinning that much wider, “I guess so.”
Turning back to her pupils, she could see their eyes widening at the New Whitebeard Captains just casually keeping an eye out. Sabo no doubt had told his brother about how people liked to act out on these things. Especially newbies that believed they could take her just because she’s a woman.
On the other side of the island, Luffy and his crew docked, letting him and Law off of the Sunny to make their way to the new Revolutionary Base. Ever since the Revolution took place, they were more in the open, they had to be after everything that had happened and the way their strongest men were given bounty.
Luffy, as expected, didn’t care about that. All he cared about now was spending the day with his brothers for one of their birthdays. Having missed so many of Sabo’s, and believing Ace to be dead until they met again in Wano, this seemed to be the best option for now. To spend time together, with or without their partners, to catch up from the time they hadn’t been able to spend together over the years.
“We’ll follow you inside once the Sunny is fully docked, captain, go and spend the day with your brothers.”
Waving at Nami as she said this, Luffy clasped Law’s hand in his own hand before pulling his boyfriend with him towards the entrance of the new RA base. Grinning as he pushed the door open, much to the horror of the one on guard.
Before any alarm could be raised, which would be unnecessary as this was still Luffy’s territory and he was related to both Dragon and Sabo. Not that everyone on base knew about that. Dragon stepped into the hallway, nodding at the people guarding the entrance not knowing what to do with the arrival of a Yonko and the Pirate King.
“Luffy.”
Said Pirate King grinned brightly, “Hi Dad.”
Several people seemed to mouth the word ‘dad’ several times, before concentrating on the exchange in front of them.
“I take it you’re here for Sabo’s birthday?”
Luffy nodded, bouncing on the tips of his toes, a bright smile on his face.
Law sighed, “I hope he told you about it, Dragon-san.”
Turning to his son-in-law, Dragon nodded, “He did, several weeks ago. I know Ace and Marco entered about an hour ago. Made some of my men freak out at seeing such powerhouses around. Of course that might also be because Ace called me uncle Dragon.”
Those same people who had mouthed ‘dad’ were now mouthing ‘uncle’, seemingly not knowing what to make of this family.
Luffy just nodded, “Well, you’re not his dad, but we were all raised together so uncle seems to fit. Do you know where they are?”
Dragon nodded, “Ace should be on the training field, while Sabo is stuck in his office forgetting that it’s even his birthday to begin with.”
The gasp coming out of Luffy’s mouth was enough to let them know he was going to get his brother out of his office right that second. Waving at his father before pulling Law along with him, mumbling about stupid older brothers while he was at it.
Sabo yawned again, stretching and looking at the window to see that it was very much daytime now. Groaning, he realized that he had pulled an all-nighter again. His reports were finished though, so at least that much was done.
Running a hand through his hair, he tried to think about anything that was important to get done today. Was there anything he needed to be awake for, or could he permit himself to go and take a nap.
Getting out of his chair, he was almost at his door when it opened on his own, showing Luffy to be standing there with gleaming eyes, accompanied by Law who looks about as tired as he is.
“Lu?”
His baby brother looks at him, grin slightly dimmed as he takes in the tiredness in Sabo’s eyes.
“Don’t tell me you forgot, nii-chan.”
Frowning as he tried to remember what he had promised, what today was that Luffy and Law of all people were here. Looking around to see if Ace, Marco and Koala were around too, he tried to remember what was going on.
“I think I did…”
Luffy pouts, but takes a step closer to catch him in a hug that has Sabo leaning onto the other man. He can feel exhaustion lurking in every corner of his body, mentally berating himself for not remembering what was going on. For not remembering what was so important today that his brother, both his brothers, were here.
Feeling Luffy take a hold of his hand, before he was saying something to Law, Sabo let himself be let away into the direction of what might be his bedroom. Only stopping once, hearing Luffy yell, “Ace, we’re taking a nap!”
He feels Ace joining them, a silent support at his side now that he is slowly fading into unconsciousness. Feeling himself be helped into bed before two bodies box him in from either side, Luffy’s rubbery feel one one side, with Ace’s hotter than normal body on the other. It was all he needed really, enjoying this with his brothers as he succumbed to slumber.
Koala blinked once as Ace raced up the walls to get to Luffy and Sabo once he heard they were all taking a nap. Sighing as she looked at Marco, and Law once he joined them on the training ground.
“What are the odds Sabo forgot it was his own birthday?”
Law chuckled, “100%, I’m afraid, he looked dead on his feet. Let them take a nap, it gives us more time to prepare.”
Marco nods at that, kind of relieved they could prepare Sabo’s party without any of the brothers getting in the way. They might love them all, but arranging anything while the three of them were around was impossible.
When all three of them appeared, sporting a bed head and a content smile, Koala wondered if this wasn’t what Sabo would want most for his birthday. She knew all three of them only had each other to depend on for so long. Had cherished those little moments they were finally allowed to have again, finally able to have again. Sabo’s content smile made it appear so. The full-on grin that appeared at seeing the higher tier RA members, as well as several Strawhats and a handful of Whitebeard Pirates was enough to let her know he would enjoy this too.
Pressing close to his side, she pressed a kiss to his lips, “Happy Birthday, Sabo.”
The wish soon echoed by everyone in the room, prompting the arrival of the cake and the unveiling of the hidden presents on a table in the back. A great start for a no doubt great party that was about to follow.