Work Text:
Chuuya pulls open the office door after adjusting his gloves. He had been called down for a new assignment.
Instead of seeing the usual space, the room was decorated with... bright streamers and balloons?
"Surprise! Happy birthday, Chuuya!"
The other executives (minus Verlaine), Mori, Elise, the command unit, and the Black Lizard were all inside the spacious area, spread out around the room, along with a couple of his subordinates. The table had been pushed to the middle, and on it rested a cake with white frosting.
Chuuya slowly walked in, taking in the sight. The boss had several party hats stacked on his head, the chin straps crossing each other messily on his face, no doubt Elise's doing. Gin and Tachihara were exchanging glances at each other near the back of the room, but their intent was hard to sense from so far away. An enthusiastic Higuchi was chatting with Akutagawa, though he seemed to not be listening and only offering the occasional nod or cough. Koyo had taken a seat in one of the chairs, holding a wrapped box. Other boxes of various sizes sat under the table or on chairs.
Something warm tugged at his heart. The port mafia really was family.
Elise was tugging at his sleeve, offering a party hat then bringing him over to the table. The cake looked delicious, the frosting was dotted with the specks of vanilla seeds, piped decorations forming meticulous flowers and the words "Happy Birthday" in various pastel colors. Pieces of chocolate and wafer cones topped the small swirls forming a border around the top. Elise presses a tiny box into the palm of his hand, closing his fingers around it.
Chuuya bends down, giving Elise a big hug and ignoring the huff that came from her.
"Thank you."