Work Text:
- FOR ÓSCAR -
- SANTA DOESN’T KNOW YOU LIKE I DO -
❅ PRESENT DAY ❅
The softest snow was lazily falling from the skies, painting a picturesque winter wonderland scene of the Christmas market Ace and Sabo were strolling through, weaving through the throngs of shoppers as strings of lights twinkled above them.
They’d ventured there on a mission. Last minute gifts, getting slightly tipsy on mulled wine and – hopefully - some cookies.
Luffy had demanded they keep up the tradition of leaving cookies out for Santa.
Never mind that they were all well into adulthood. Luffy, at 19, was very resolutely refusing to outgrow his childhood holiday habits. Which was cute, if questionable.
“Can’t believe he still insists on putting cookies out.”, Ace said, tugging his beanie further down over his ears.
His fingers tightened around Sabo’s gloved hand as they passed a stall selling hand-made ornaments.
“Yeah.”, the blonde agreed with a long-suffering sigh. “If his baking skills are anything like last year’s, I guess we’re only one sugar fire away from making the fire department’s holiday newsletter.”
“Wasn’t that the time he burned the batter?”, Ace chuckled. “I still wonder how he managed that.”
“No idea.”, Sabo shook his head, the corner of his mouth quirking up. “But I actually ate one of them disgusting burnt blobs to make him feel better.”
“You too? I thought I took one for the team.”
They exchanged a solemn, knowing look of pity.
“Alright, fuck it. Let’s find some goddamn cookies here then.”, the freckled man decided, his breath becoming visible in puffs of white.
Around them, kids hurried past holding sticks of candied apples, their parents trailing close behind.
They stopped occasionally to browse the stalls, pretending to inspect the wares when they were really just stealing glances at each other.
When Ace noticed Sabo breathing into his gloves for warmth – his nose adorably red from the cold – he pulled them towards a wine stand.
“Let’s warm you up, hm?”, he suggested, earning a little grateful smile from his boyfriend.
They each ordered a steaming mug, the spiced smell already wafting towards them. And when they stood around one of the small pop-up tables, taking their first sips, Sabo quickly flagged down a passerby and handed over his phone.
“Would you mind taking a picture of us?”, he asked, then looked towards the freckled man slyly, nodding him closer. “Come on. For the album.”
Ace stepped around the table, looping an arm around Sabo’s waist and pulling him closer for the shot. The woman’s face lit up as she held up the phone and snapped a picture of the two men holding their mugs.
“You two look perfect together.”, she smiled warmly when returning the phone. “Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas!”, they both echoed cheerfully, watching her disappear back into the crowd.
Not a minute after she was gone, Sabo had already zoomed into the photo, scrutinizing his hair with a frown. “Why does my hair always look like a rat’s nest?”
But Ace ignored him skillfully, resting his chin in his hand as he gazed at his boyfriend like a love-struck idiot.
Snowflakes clung to his eyelashes and golden hair; his face was lit with the glow of the string lights above them …
“What?”, Sabo asked, glancing up over his mug. His cheeks flushed some, though the freckled man couldn’t yet tell if it was the wine, the cold or his reaction to Ace’s unhinged staring.
“Nothing.”, he said, grinning widely. “Just admiring how pretty you look today.”
“Ah – pfft.”, Sabo’s grip on his mug tightened, his ears joining the red glow of his cheeks now.
After a beat though, he reached out over the table and took Ace’s hand in his, squeezing it gently. “Did the holiday cheer finally get to your head?”
The freckled man leaned closer, tilting his head. “What? Do I need a reason to tell you how unfairly good you look?”
“Hmm.”, the blonde hummed, taking a step closer and resting his head on Ace’s shoulder. “No. But you do get extra cheeseball-y during Christmas time.”
Ace wrapped his free hand around Sabo’s waist again.
“Do I? Maybe it’s because …”, he pursed his lips, letting the dramatic pause take effect. “We fell in love exactly nine years ago-“
“No.”, Sabo interrupted, raising an unimpressed eyebrow. “No, we didn’t.”
Ace blinked, leaning back to meet the blonde’s don’t-try-me gaze, which promptly turned into his don’t-try-me-because-I-know-better smile as he sipped.
“We confessed nine years ago.”, he corrected, smacking his lips.
“I’ve been in love with you … long before that, Ace.”
❅ NINE YEARS AGO (AGE: 16) ❅
For Ace’s sixteenth birthday, Dadan kicked them out of the house.
It wasn’t framed that way, of course. No - Dadan had declared it an opportunity to grow the eff up, but Ace was convinced she must have seized the opening now that he was of a sort of appropriate enough age to live alone.
One could discuss whether sixteen was the right age to take care of a 10-year-old brat all by himself, but to hell with it. He wouldn’t be one to complain. Not like Ace hadn’t raised Luffy’s dumb ass practically single-handedly since Garp had unceremoniously dumped him on their doorstep.
Dadan’s contributions had been yelling, sporadic meals and occasionally reminding them not to demolish the forest or anything she might have to pay for.
Still, the woman insisted she was doing them a favor. She handed over the keys early December with a gruff “so you three menaces can spend Christmas amongst yourselves his year and leave some food for the rest of us!”.
So that was that.
Thus, Ace, Sabo, and Luffy found themselves in a scarcely furnished apartment just a week before Christmas.
The place had the bare essentials: a raggedy couch, a mismatched table and chairs, some beds and a kitchen that didn’t seem entirely confident in its ability to function.
But it was theirs and Ace was determined to make it work.
Their first order of business? A Christmas tree.
Dragging one home from the forest seemed like a genius idea until they had to haul it up three flights of stairs. By the time they reached their floor, the staircase was littered with pine needles, and the tree had developed a noticeable bald patch on one side.
The facility manager caught them just as they shoved the tree through the door, already hollering at them for the mess.
“Sorry!”, Ace called back, though he didn’t sound particularly sincere.
Luffy, meanwhile, was too busy rolling on the floor laughing at how bald their tree looked, and Sabo muttered something about taking up fake trees next year.
The tree, once installed, leaning precariously to one side, propped up with a stack of books that the blonde brought from home and Ace had claimed were “too boring to read anyways”.
The string of lights they’d found in a bargain bin flickered furiously and Sabo had spent an hour trying to tape a star to the top of the tree with duct tape.
“You can’t use duct tape for everything, Sab.”, Ace said with a grimace, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
“Shut up, unless you have a better idea.”, he grumbled, glaring at the tree as if it had personally insulted him. “This star is going on, or it’s going out the window.”
“You could just let me climb up and-”, Luffy raised his hand.
“No.”, both the freckled man and the blonde said in canon.
The rest of the apartment wasn’t faring much better.
The tiny kitchen looked like a powdered sugar explosion had taken place, courtesy of Luffy’s attempt at baking Christmas cookies earlier that day. Flour was everywhere - on the counters, on the floor, on Luffy’s face - and somehow even on the ceiling.
Despite the chaos - or maybe because of it - the three of them eventually found themselves sprawled on the living room floor, eating the one batch of cookies that hadn’t been burnt into coal or turned into a science experiment.
The tree still leaned dangerously, the decorations looked like something out of a fever dream and the apartment smelled faintly of singed sugar.
But there was laughter. So much laughter.
Ace leaned back against the couch, watching Luffy scarf down cookies while the blonde was leaning back on his hands, head tilted as he looked up at the crooked tree.
The light of the flickering bulbs made his hair glow, his eyes sparkle.
And Ace’s chest ached in a way he didn’t entirely understand.
“You’re staring again.”, Sabo said without looking at him.
The freckled boy immediately looked away, his face flushing. “No? I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.”
“No, I-”
“It’s fine.”, the blonde interrupted gently.
He leaned a little closer, bumping Ace’s shoulder. “I’m not telling you to stop.”
Startled, the freckled boy blinked, but the Sabo had already shifted his attention back to Luffy, who was now constructing a cookie tower.
He took another sip of his cocoa with pink cheeks.
And Ace … Ace kept staring.
❅ ❅ ❅
“Ace!”, Luffy’s voice rang out, interrupting the careful construction of what Ace and Sabo hoped would be the ultimate blanket fort.
The duo had been hard at work for an hour, determined to recreate the magic of their old treehouse days - only now they had access to more than just scratchy quilts and mismatched cushions.
They’d raided the stash of blankets from their own beds, the treehouse, plus some expensive ones Sabo had ‘borrowed’ from his parents’ house.
“No, you can’t sleep with us in the fort.”, Ace said flatly, not even bothering to look up from his corner where he was tying a blanket to the back of a chair.
“Ughhh, that’s so mean! But I already knew that!”, Luffy grumbled, crawling around on the floor next to him, still trying to worm his way into the conversation. “That’s not why I came over here anyway. I had a question.”
Ace sighed but finally turned to give him his attention. “What is it now?”
“Do you think Dadan told Santa our new address?”
Sabo, who was propping up one side of the fort with a broomstick, snorted loudly.
The freckled boy, on the other hand, paused mid-knot and furrowed his brow.
“I dunno.”, he said after a moment of thought. “I guess she must have? I mean, how else would he know? It’s not like we put up a sign or anything.”
Luffy turned expectantly to Sabo, and Ace followed suit, both of them now staring at the blonde as if he were the definitive authority on all things Santa-related.
The blonde blinked at them, momentarily stunned by the sheer absurdity.
“What?”, he finally asked. “You seriously expect me to explain how Santa gets updated on your forwarding address?”
Ace threw a pillow at him. “Obviously! You’re the know-it-all, so spit it out.”
“Yeah!”, Luffy chimed in, crossing his arms. “Bet he just wants to keep all the presents for himself.”
Sabo deflected the pillow and stared at the freckled boy, his expression shifting rapidly from incredulity to something resembling existential dread.
“Are you kidding me right now?”
“Kidding about what?”, Ace asked - entirely serious.
The blonde dropped the pillow he was holding, one hand running over his hair like he was questioning all his life choices up to this point.
“Ace.”, he said carefully, leveling his best friend with a look. “You … you do know about Santa, right?”
He even made air quotes for emphasis.
Ace’s irritation surged. Grabbing another pillow, he gave Sabo a solid whack to the face.
“Stop being annoying! I literally just said I don’t know how it works! What, is there a form we have to fill out or something? Does Santa have a freaking townhouse where you update your details? If you’re just pretending to know, go ask your snobby parents or something!”
“Wait, wait!”, Luffy interjected, now fully invested in the argument. “Santa has a townhouse?! What’s that? Is it a small north pole? Does he live in a tiny house?”
“No … like, Ace.”, the blonde insisted, waving the small one aside. “Are you actually serious?”
Ace shook his head, growing further pissed-off. “Why are you making such a big deal out of this? Maybe you’re actually planning to keep the presents for yourself.”
The longer the exchange went on, the deeper Sabo’s existential dread seemed to dig.
The realization hit him then and there:
At the ripe, old age of sixteen, Ace - his otherwise capable and occasionally clever best friend - might actually still believe in Santa fucking Claus.
Either that, or he was pulling off the performance of a lifetime.
Both options were equally horrifying.
“Fine.”, he groaned, throwing his hands in the air. “Santa updates your address automatically. He’s magic. Happy?”
“See?”, Ace said smugly, nudging Luffy. “I told you he’d know. Guy’s practically a genius.”
“Yeah!”, Luffy chirped enthusiastically. „Thanks, Sabo! You’re so smart!”
But Sabo realized once more that not being intellectually challenged was his problem.
He propped himself up and jabbed a finger toward the blanket fort.
“Blanket fort. Now.”
“Sugoiiiii!”, Luffy cheered, wide-eyed with excitement.
“Not you.”, the two eldest muttered together, their voices perfectly synchronized as they climbed into their self-proclaimed discussion palace, leaving the 10-year-old pouting on the floor.
❅ ❅ ❅
Their blanket fort had been their safe space ever since that first night in their treehouse.
Back then, they’d built it thinking it would shield them from the cold - or the heat, depending on the season.
But over time, it became more than that.
The fort turned into their sanctuary, the place where everything important was sorted out. From petty arguments - like when Sabo was furious with Ace for a week after he made a peanut butter sandwich for himself only - to heavier stuff, like the freckled boy’s depressive spells and tangled thoughts about his family.
The fort was where truth was allowed. Where feelings were aired; sort of. Even if none of them openly admitted to it.
Now, Ace sprawled out on his back inside their epic creation, hands folded behind his head like he didn’t have a care in the world.
Sabo sat nearby, kneeling on a pile of cushions, already opened his mouth to start the discussion.
But the freckled boy took humiliation into his own hands.
“I don’t believe in magic or any of that crap.”, he began casually. “So I guess Dadan must’ve updated Santa after all, huh?”
Oh, how delicious. How deliciously ludicrous.
He wasn’t putting on an act. That admission was Ace’s version of sincerity. He was acting the exact same way he always did when he tried to look cool and unbothered.
That was how Sabo knew.
And then he cracked.
The laugh that burst out of him started as a snicker, but quickly escalated into full-blown wheezing, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.
“What the fuck is your problem?”, Ace barked, sitting up and shoving him hard enough to make him wobble on his knees.
But Sabo couldn’t stop. He laughed for an entire minute, shoulders shaking, clutching his stomach, until he was practically gasping for air.
Finally, he managed to catch his breath, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
“Nothing, nothing.”, he let out a final squeak. “Sure. Dadan told him.”
She’s got a hotline to the north pole, he added in his head.
Ace raised a skeptical eyebrow. “She didn’t? What’s so funny?”
“No, no, she did. She totally did.”, the blonde said, still grinning.
He let out a sigh, his laughter tapering off as he looked at his best friend again.
There was a slightly puzzled, almost innocent look on Ace’s face.
It wasn’t the first time Sabo thought he looked kind of … cute.
“Whatever. What’s on your wish list this year?”, the freckled boy deflected, rolling onto his stomach and propping his head up in his hands.
His legs swung idly behind him, like a kid daydreaming. “Think you can write some of my stuff onto yours? I get the feeling Santa prefers the rich folks.”
Sabo leaned back, suppressing another laugh as he thought about how to navigate the situation.
The knowledge he now held, after all, was precious. Both endearing and baffling.
He decided to play along. For now.
“Sure.”, he said easily. “Let’s write your list together, and then I’ll put it in the same envelope as mine and my parents will hand it to the elfs.”
“Luffy!”, Ace’s yell was muffled by the fort’s walls.
“Yesss?”, came Luffy’s enthusiastic reply from directly outside the blanket wall.
Judging by the way the fabric shifted, he’d been sitting there the whole time, waiting for his moment.
“Can you bring us some pen and paper?”
“On it!”, the small one shouted, his footsteps immediately echoing as he scampered off. They could hear him rummaging through drawers in the distance.
The blonde turned to Ace. “You really think this’ll work?”, he asked teasingly.
“Of course it’ll work.”, the freckled boy said confidently. “Santa’s not dumb. He knows rich kids get better loot. And you’ve got, like, rich-person handwriting. It’ll be fine.”
Sabo smirked, shaking his head as he leaned back against the wall of their fort.
“If you say so, Ace. If you say so.”
When Luffy returned - bursting into the fort with a pile of mismatched pens and half-used notebooks - the three of them huddled together to draft what they were convinced would be the most tactical Christmas list of all time.
❅ ❅ ❅
❅ ❅ ❅
The only lingering question was this:
Who the hell would take care of their presents if not Dadan?
After all the planning, strategizing and scribbled lists, Sabo concluded – begrudgingly - that the task fell to him.
He had toyed with the idea of skipping the whole charade and simply telling them the truth. Or at least, telling Ace.
It was absurd anyway - him at sixteen, still believing in Santa.
But maybe that was precisely why Sabo couldn’t bring himself to do it.
For all their detailed plotting, Ace hadn’t even asked for much. A matching pipe so he and Sabo could both have one. A microwave so they wouldn’t have to keep reheating food over a stove in their bare-bones apartment. And of course, there was Luffy’s chaotic contribution - a lengthy list of every bug he could think of for his so-called bug farm.
Sabo had tucked the list away without much thought.
It wasn’t until he was back in his parents’ house, sitting on the edge of his bed, that he remembered Ace had folded it carefully and told him - very seriously - that it needed to go in the envelope exactly like that, or else.
Curiosity, however, got the better of him.
Unfolding the paper and smoothing out the creases, he skimmed over their scrawled-out wishes until he reached the bottom, where Ace’s horrendous handwriting jumped out at him.
It wasn’t much. Just a single line scribbled in messy, uneven letters that somehow hit harder than if it had been neat.
Someone who loves me
And Sabo froze.
His heart did a somersault, then a full-on gymnastics routine.
He stared at the words - his chest tightening. Maybe it was a tiny heart attack.
Or maybe it was just Ace, once again.
Sabo knew his freckled friend had always been weird about affection. He avoided it, danced around it, buried it in jokes, pretended he didn’t need it.
But the truth was: Ace was human and needed connection like anyone else. Maybe more.
He just wouldn’t say it.
Now, the words were there. Plain as day. Betraying him.
The thing was … Ace was loved. Deeply. Even if he didn’t see it.
Dadan loved him, no matter how loudly she yelled or how often she called him a menace. Luffy idolized him, looking up to him as both big brother and hero. Makino loved him, always ready with a warm smile and words of encouragement. Even Deuce, his newest friend, had become quietly devoted.
And then there was Sabo.
Sabo, who loved him just like that – and then a little differently.
With butterflies and all that crap.
He pressed the list against his chest, clutching it tightly as if to keep the weight and innocence of those words from slipping away.
Sometimes, he thought Ace might love him the same way.
In the quiet moments, when his best friend would shuffle closer to him in their blanket fort, tracing absent circles over his chest. When he stood by Sabo’s side, fiercely defending him against his parents’ cruelty or the world at large. When he fussed around him without hesitation when he was sick; making tea, forcing him to swallow disgusting medicine, even gently scrubbing his back when they bathed together.
And then there were the words.
“You’re my favorite person, Sab.”
They were only said once – softly and shyly – when Ace thought the blonde couldn’t hear.
He didn’t just want to be loved. He already was. And even if he didn’t believe it, he was capable of it, too.
That was why his simple wish hit so hard.
Ace was terrified of it - of being seen, of being vulnerable.
Sabo wanted to change that.
This was his chance, wasn’t it? By stepping into the role of Santa, self-proclaimed giver of wishes, he could finally show Ace the truth. He could find a way to convey what he felt. What everyone felt. Not through grand declarations, but through the quiet, certain actions that the freckled boy might actually trust and believe.
If anyone could grant Ace the wish at the bottom of that list …
… it had to be Sabo.
And all of this snow is falling
I can make you fall too
So, tell me what's on your wishlist
I wanna make it come true
❅ PRESENT DAY ❅
After finishing their mulled wine, Ace and Sabo continued strolling through the Christmas market. They stopped at a cookie stand, drawn in by the aroma of freshly baked treats.
They picked out a box to bring home - insurance, in case their assumptions about Luffy’s baking skills turned out correct and he’d produced something decidedly un-Santa-worthy.
As they neared the exit, Sabo’s caught a colorful sign outside the community center:
“Visit Santa!”
He stopped abruptly, tugging Ace’s hand and elbowing him with a mischievous smirk.
“Look.”, he said, nodding toward the sign. “Your moment has arrived. You can finally meet Santa.”
“Ha, ha.”, Ace deadpanned. “Funny. Don’t quit your day job, babe.”
“Aw, come on!”, the blonde pressed, his grin widening. “Don’t you want to sit on his lap and tell him what’s on your wish list? Think of the memories. The photo album.”
“That damned photo album.”, the freckled man muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose. But the smile tugging at his lips gave him away.
Sabo leaned in close. “You scared of the man with the bag?”
The freckled man let out a dramatic sigh, leaning over to press a quick kiss to Sabo’s cheek, then another along his jaw.
He turned to peek inside the building, where kids lined up to meet Santa.
“Alright, then. Let’s do it. But you’re taking responsibility when Luffy sees the picture and wants his own Santa lap moment.”
❅ ❅ ❅
Inside the building, the line of children waiting to meet Santa moved steadily. It gave the couple some time to watch them excitedly babble out their wishes.
“Santa looks kind of young.”, Ace observed, eyeing the red-suited man perched on his throne.
“Probably some college kid on a holiday gig.”, Sabo shrugged, smirking to himself.
When it was finally Ace’s turn, the blonde raised his phone, already stifling a laugh as his freckled boyfriend approached.
But his amusement froze when he saw what happened next.
Santa - who looked far too fit to be the jolly old man, now that he paid attention - gave Ace a once-over, his grin turning shrewd.
“Well, well. This is a surprise …”, he drawled, gesturing for Ace to come closer. “Didn’t expect someone this good-looking to be on my lap today. Ho, ho, ho!”
Sabo’s grip on his phone tightened. His jaw clenched as Santa winked at Ace, who - of course - laughed, the charming idiot.
“Oh, you flatter me.”, the freckled man replied, planting himself on Santa’s lap without a single moment of hesitation.
Ho-ho-hoe.
The guy tugged him closer, and Sabo could feel the heat rising into his face.
He was debating what to throw - the cookies or his phone?
“Alright, handsome.”, Santa said with exaggerated smoothness. “What’s your Christmas wish?”
Sabo’s glare could’ve melted the sugar off the children’s candied apples, but Ace - ever the showman - dangled his feet playfully and grinned.
“A Porsche.”, he said, kicking his legs.
Then, with a sideways glance at Sabo’s near-fuming expression, he added:
“And maybe not to get murdered when I get home …”
He slid off Santa’s lap quickly, tossing a cheery “Thanks!” over his shoulder as another child eagerly climbed into place.
He barely made it two steps before Sabo was storming straight toward the exit.
“Hey. Hey, hey!”, Ace called after him, jogging to catch up and grabbing his arm gently. “What’s wrong? Why does it feel like I’m not making it to New Years?”
“Because you won’t. That obnoxious Santa was flirting with you.”, the blonde snapped, crossing his arms.
The freckled man opened his mouth to argue, but Sabo cut him off.
“And you flirted back.”
“What?!”, Ace burst out into disbelieving laughter. “I did not! You’re the one who told me to sit on his lap in the first place!”
“That was before I knew Santa was a gym-bro model in disguise!”
Ace tried to hold it in - unsuccessfully. He stepped closer, his grin softening as he draped an arm over Sabo’s shoulders.
“Sab.”, he said affectionately. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous of Santa again.”
“I’m not jealous of Santa.”, Sabo retorted quickly, though his cheeks turned pink. “And what do you mean by again?”
The freckled man smirked wickedly. “Oh, come on. Don’t think I forgot.”
“Forgot wha—”, the blonde started, but Ace cut him off by pulling him into a kiss.
Stupid kiss, catching Sabo off guard and making his frustration crumble.
Ace pulled back with an insufferably wide grin.
“Relax, babe. You’re still my favorite Santa.”
❅ NINE YEARS AGO (AGE: 16) ❅
In the week before Christmas, Sabo was in full-blown panic mode.
Sure, he could’ve just handed Ace a microwave, a pipe, and a casual by the way, I’ve been in love with you for years and called it a day. But the blonde had standards.
If he was going to confess, it had to be meaningful.
The plan was to be subtle, but not too subtle - Ace wasn’t exactly Sherlock Holmes.
It should lead to the freckled boy having an aha moment while Sabo gauged his reaction from a safe distance in case things went south.
Step one: The cowboy hat.
For years, Ace had been yammering on about wanting a signature look. It couldn’t just be any hat though. No. It had to be bold, loud, and a little impractical - something that screamed main character energy. Ace’s words, not his.
Sabo – self-designated enabler of his best friend’s dubious ideas - spent hours trekking through every hat store in the city until he finally found the one.
It was an orangey leather hat with Ace-vibes.
When he picked it up, he’d imagined how it would look with his sun-kissed freckles, against his dark hair, his big, ridiculous grin.
It was perfect. But … it needed a personal touch.
Enter Dadan’s place.
Sabo, a man of limited wrapping expertise, had swung by to seek advice. Because who knew how to wrap a cowboy hat? Possibly no one. And that’s when inspiration struck. His gaze landed on Dadan’s red beaded necklace.
“This.”, Sabo said, pointing at her throat decisively. “This would look perfect on the hat.”
Dadan squinted at him like he’d just asked her to hand over her kidney.
“You want this? My necklace?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know how long I’ve had this necklace?”, she puffed. “Longer than I’ve had you three menaces combined!”
“Exactly.”, Sabo said with a grin. “Sentimental value.”
The woman sighed like the weight of the world rested on her shoulders, but after a round of muttered curses about Christmas spirit and the like, she handed it over. When the beads were finally attached to the hat, she even looked a little pleased. Maybe even a little emotional. Or at least resigned to her fate.
Step two: The matchbox.
Ace was a firecracker. Unpredictable and the light in Sabo’s life. He needed something symbolic. Something small but meaningful.
He dug out an old matchbox he’d stolen from his father’s jacket years ago and painstakingly painted their childhood pirate logo on it - the one they’d dreamed up and stamped on every ill-fated get-rich-quick scheme they’d ever attempted.
If was a metaphor.
If you light a fire - I’ll burn for you.
Of course, there was a decent chance Ace wouldn’t pick up on the metaphor and would just think it was a cool matchbox. And there was no way Sabo was going to explain it out loud. But at least it looked good.
Step three: The adventure book.
Originally, it was supposed to be a photo album. But Sabo realized they didn’t have a single photo together. Not one. So he improvised.
He spent hours putting together a scrapbook, filling it with everything he could think of:
How they met in Gray Terminal, their treehouse days, Luffy’s arrival, blanket fort battles and every Christmas they’d survived together.
It was a mishmash of terrible drawings, random leaves, receipts and scraps of paper Sabo had lovingly hoarded in a carton under his bed. It was a mess, but a mess that worked into overflowing pages and a ridiculously heavy thing that he hoped Ace would appreciate.
At one point, Sabo was tempted to add little notes about how Ace had looked particularly bright on certain days, or how his freckles caught the sunlight in a way that made his chest ache. But he thought better of it.
Because there was a real chance Ace would think the blonde’s feelings were something to run from – that he’d use his matchbox to set it on fire and chase his ass with the pipe wearing his cowboy hat.
If he didn’t pester the scrapbook with his obvious feelings, at least he’d probably keep it.
When all was said and done, Sabo wrapped everything in orange gift paper – Ace’s favorite color. An obvious clue, because past Santa (Dadan) hadn’t even bothered.
The results were … rough. The bows were lopsided, the tape peeling in places and it generally looked like it was assembled by a sleep-deprived toddler.
But it wasn’t about presentation, was it? It was about the frantic, borderline-desperate thought behind it.
As he surveyed his handiwork, he felt both proud and mildly terrified.
Would Ace love the gifts? Hate them? Freak out about the underlying feelings woven into every single one? Probably.
But there was no turning back now. The gifts were ready. He was ready.
And if Ace didn’t love them, well … Sabo could always pin the blame on Santa.
❅ ❅ ❅
❅ ❅ ❅
At least Ace and Luffy understood that Christmas eve wasn’t going to organize itself.
With scraps of what was left of Sabo’s pocket money and the meager allowance Dadan handed over to the freckled boy, they’d managed to scrape together a holiday plan that somehow worked.
Ace had gone a little overboard with candles and arranged them in clusters all over the apartment that made it look like a budget séance was about to start. Sabo put some music on – Christmas classics mixed in which some of their favorite songs - and before long, the three of them were dancing around like lunatics.
Luffy twirled with a dish towel like it was a partner, Ace was stomping around playing air-guitar with their broom and Sabo was trying to keep it together but couldn’t, doubling over laughing.
The chaos hit its peak when Ace tried to dip his brother dramatically and ended up crashing into the couch, taking both of them down in a heap.
Eventually, they crowded around their beaten-up table, laughing and swapping stories. And between bites of their cobbled-together dinner, they took calls from friends. Ace and Sabo snuck off to their secret stash and retrieved a small bottle of sake they’d been saving for months.
They poured themselves shots, clinking glasses with a grin.
“Merry Christmas!”, the blonde toasted.
“Merry Christmas!”, Ace smirked before they both downed their drinks.
The sake was awful. They gagged at the same time, their faces contorting.
“That’s … vile.”, Sabo choked out, wiping his mouth.
“Absolutely.”, the freckled boy agreed, coughing violently. “Another?”
They poured another round, but when Luffy bounded over excitedly demanding to join in, they handed him a shot glass filled with water instead.
Which he didn’t notice, downing it with gusto.
“Not bad. But kind of weak.”
Ace nearly fell out of his chair.
❅ ❅ ❅
By the time the candles had burned low and the playlist had looped back to the same three carols for the fifth time, they were all lingering in the living room.
Luffy was dozing lightly on the couch, mumbling, the corners of his mouth twitching.
On the floor, Ace and Sabo sat shoulder to shoulder, leaning against the couch. Their arms brushed lightly with each rise and fall of their breaths, a quiet point of contact that neither of them acknowledged.
The freckled boy stared at the tree, his eyes tracing the flickering lights.
“Thanks, Sab.”, he finally spoke. “For sticking around. I know this is … shitty compared to what you’re used to at home.”
Sabo turned his head slightly, just enough to look at Ace. His freckled face was illuminated by the tree.
“You don’t have to thank me every year.”, Sabo said after a pause. “This is my Christmas. Right here. With you two.”
The freckled boy tilted his head, revealing the emotion in his warm eyes. For a beat, they just looked at each other, with nothing but the quiet space between them.
The world felt smaller. Ace’s face was so close, every detail vivid – the way his hair fell slightly into his vision, the way his gaze darted down.
And Sabo found it hard to breathe.
His hand twitched where it rested against the floor. The urge to close the gap between them was unbearable.
When Ace’s eyes clearly flicked to Sabo’s lips, he thought – this might be it.
But then the freckled boy shifted, leaning back and clearing his throat. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, a flush creeping up to his ears, the moment breaking like a bubble bursting.
The blonde exhaled softly, his own heart hammering as he forced himself to look away.
To not make it weird, he broke the silence first.
“Excited for what Santa will bring?”
“Well.”, Ace relaxed, leaning further against the couch. “I’m mostly excited for the microwave. So we can heat up those mashed potatoes.”
Sabo chuckled. “Simple mind.”
“Simple priorities.”, the freckled boy corrected with a grin.
Smiling, the blonde swallowed, trying to ignore that uncomfortable feeling of doubt in the back of his head.
“It’d be nice if Santa would make all your wishes come true, hm?”
❅ ❅ ❅
The night had settled into a deep, peaceful quiet, punctuated by the snoring of Luffy on the couch and Ace dozing on the floor.
Sabo got himself up, his heart thumping as he silently made his way out the door and to the shared basement of the building.
He’d stashed the gifts there earlier, tucked behind a pile of old boxes that no one had touched in years. He carefully lifted the awkwardly wrapped packages and balanced them in his arms.
The trip back upstairs felt longer than usual, every creak of the floorboards making him freeze in place like he was some clumsy thief.
He let out a breath of relief when he finally reached the door and peeked inside.
They hadn’t stirred. Perfect.
Sabo tiptoed in. He carefully arranged the gifts into their blanket fort. The second-hand microwave - its wrapping paper struggling to cling to its edges - was placed front and center. Beside it went the oddly shaped bundle that was the cowboy hat and the pipe. The scrapbook, bursting with pages, sat neatly on top and the matchbox nestled beside it.
Luffy’s gift - a plastic bug farm - had been a compromise. A real bug farm, the blonde had decided, was not something anyone should attempt to find in December. But he was sure the little one would love this all the same.
Finally, the blonde piled up a stash of sweets he’d originally intended to keep for himself but now couldn’t wait to share. It was their Christmas after all, and the thought of Luffy diving headfirst into the pile made him smile.
His work done, he straightened up and surveyed the little scene he’d created.
It looked … heartfelt, a little chaotic.
For a fleeting moment, he felt like he was channeling the fat gift-giving man himself. Maybe he should’ve put a Santa hat on while doing this.
He cautiously walked to close the door and noticed the cookies Luffy had left. With a quiet chuckle, he bent down, stuffing one into his mouth and nearly choking on its dryness. Then another for good measure. Santa would approve.
Satisfied, Sabo crawled back onto the floor. He stole a pillow from the couch and placed it down, trying not to disturb still-sleeping Ace.
But the moment he positioned himself, the freckled boy instinctively shifted in his sleep, wrapping an arm around him like it was the most natural and effortless thing.
The blonde let out a breath, trying to relax into the embrace.
Would he ever experience this again after tomorrow?
You're gonna leave me all alone? On Christmas?
Baby, what'd I ever do to deserve all that?
Can't we just, like snuggle
Underneath the tree? By the fireplace?
❅ ❅ ❅
They were woken by a loud, insistent beeping.
Ace cracked an eye open, groaning.
It was far too early for this. Whatever it may be.
Sabo, blinking himself awake, stared groggily and disoriented at the big piece of torn wrapping paper lying in the middle of the floor. Then at the couch, which was conspicuously missing one snoring Luffy.
And then it hit him.
“Oh no.”, he muttered, bolting upright.
“What-?”, Ace grumbled, but Sabo was already scrambling to his feet, moving faster than the freckled boy’s sleep-fogged brain could process.
The sight that greeted the blonde was somehow both expected and stupifying.
The was Luffy, standing on a chair, proudly pulling a bowl of mashed potatoes out of the fleshly unwrapped microwave.
Ace stumbled in a second later, still rubbing his eyes. “What the hell is going on?!”
Then his eyes landed on Luffy - the chair, the microwave, the triumphant pose.
“Luffy?! Are you- … did you plug that thing in yourself?!”
Sabo rushed forward, his concern overriding his annoyance. “We told you to stay away from electricity!”, he snapped, inspecting both Luffy and the cable like they were a bomb about to go off.
“I was hungry!”, the small one shot back, as if that explained everything. “And I could see through the edges of the wrapping paper that it was a microwave!”
“Wait.”, the freckled boy interrupted, staring at him in disbelief. “How did you even carry it in here?”
Luffy, still standing on the chair, puffed out his chest and flexed his arms, which looked about as intimidating as overcooked noodles.
“I’m strong, you know!”, he declared with a toothy grin.
The eldest groaned in unison, the adrenaline of their panic ebbing.
“You’re a dumbass, is what you are.”, Sabo uttered, stepping back and running a hand over his face.
Ace crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. “What were you even doing microwaving mashed potatoes at …”, he glanced at the clock on the wall. “Six AM?”
Luffy blinked, genuinely baffled by the question. “You microwave mashed potatoes when you’re hungry. Isn’t that why Santa brought it?”
The freckled boy opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again, unsure how to respond to logic that was both wildly flawed and weirdly sound.
Sabo sighed, massaging his temples. “Alright, alright. Just … get down from the chair before you break your neck.”
He reached out to steady Luffy as the boy hopped off, still holding his bowl like it was the crown jewels. He shoved a spoonful of mash into his mouth.
“There’s m’re pr’snts!”, he mumbled through a mouthful, already heading back toward the fort.
The eldest followed Luffy leading the way.
Ace crouched to peek inside blanket fort and froze.
“Whoa.”
His eyes widened as he took in the neat stack of presents, all wrapped in orange paper.
A grin broke across his face. “Santa knows my favorite color? Nice.”
Sabo hung back, trying not to look suspicious.
Santa doesn’t, but I do, he thought, swallowing hard.
The freckled boy tilted his head, studying the pile. “Looks like there’s enough for all of us.”
“Nope.”, Sabo said quickly. Too quickly. “Mine are at my parents’ place. These must be for you and Luffy.”
Ace’s grin widened, and he crawled into the fort without another word, motioning for the others to join him.
They all sat in a loose circle, the presents between them.
The first thing Ace unwrapped was a sleek pipe.
“Called it! Knew it would be this.”, he turned to Sabo, smirking. “Now we both have one.”
Luffy, meanwhile, zeroed in on the plastic bug farm, ripping the paper apart with unmatched enthusiasm. “A bug farm! Look at this beetle! And this spider! Whoa, a scorpion!”
His excitement bubbled over as he rattled off facts about every plastic insect.
Ace moved on, pulling the next package closer. His hands slowed as he unwrapped the cowboy hat. He held it up, turning it over carefully. His fingers brushed over the string of red beads.
“These …”, he paused. “These are Dadan’s.”
Sabo nodded, his throat tight. “Looks like it.”
Ace smiled, wide and genuine, as he placed the hat on his head. “How do I look?”
“Like a dork.”, Sabo said with a grin that didn’t quite mask the warmth in his voice.
“You look like a real cowboy!”, Luffy cheered.
Next came the adventure book. Ace blinked in surprise as he flipped it open, his expression softening with every page he turned. Stick figures, pressed leaves, crumpled receipts, and tiny, scribbled notes spilled out.
“This …”, his voice broke while his thumb brushing over a sketch of their treehouse. “This is really something.”
Sabo pressed his lips together, glancing over the freckled boy’s shoulder. “A scrapbook?”
But Ace didn’t respond, too absorbed to even look up.
“Let me see while you open the last one.”, the blonde said, taking the book from his hands, trying to keep up the act for a moment longer.
Finally, Ace reached for the smallest package. The matchbox. He stared at it for a long moment, running his thumb over the logo. Their logo.
His face softened, and for a second, Sabo thought he might cry.
“These …”, Ace cleared his throat. “These are really meaningful.”
Sabo’s heart raced.
He forced himself to respond.
“Yeah. The person who gave them to you … must know you pretty well. You must mean a lot to them. Almost like …”
He bit the corner of his lip.
“Like … they might love you.”
Ace looked at him, something flickering in his eyes.
He must have understood it now. Had the aha moment.
The blonde held his breath. Waiting, hoping-
“Santa takes this stuff seriously, huh?”, Ace chuckled, shaking his head.
Excuse me?
Sabo stared at him, his mind screeching to a halt.
Santa.
Santa? Is he for real???
He huffed loudly, crossing his arms over his chest, then uncrossing them, like the absurdity of the situation needed an outlet.
“How … how can you be so dense?!”, he burst out.
Ace blinked, startled by the explosion. “Huh?”
“Really?”, Sabo snapped, his voice rising. “Do you actually think Santa would’ve gifted you all this stuff?”
Ace flinched, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to process.
“Well, no… technically he gifted them to you, since he’s-”
“That’s not what I mean, you stupid … URGH!”
The blonde threw his hands up, exasperation radiating off him as he crawled out of the blanket fort, pacing the room like a storm in motion.
Ace scrambled to follow him immediately, frowning in concern.
“Okay, something is clearly going on here.”, he said cautiously. “Let’s get back in the fort and sort it out, yeah?”
“No!”, Sabo shot back, spinning on his heel. “Your stupidity isn’t something that can be sorted out in the goddamn fort, Ace!”
Ace blinked, his expression softening into that infuriatingly puzzled, puppy-like look that made Sabo’s resolve melt.
The blonde sighed heavily, dragging a hand through his hair.
“FINE.”
❅ ❅ ❅
Once they were back inside, with Luffy shooed away - though he hardly noticed, too preoccupied in naming every single bug in his new farm - the tension was heavy.
Sabo sat with his arms crossed, staring resolutely at the floor, his brows knit in a deep frown.
Ace sat across from him, looking bewildered but oddly patient.
“So …”, he finally ventured, sounding like he was walking on eggshells. “What’s up?”
Sabo’s eyes snapped up, his frustration flaring again.
“What isn’t up, Ace?!”, he spat. “Didn’t it occur to you how personal the gifts are? How much thought went into them?”
“Well, yeah,” Ace blinked. “They’re really personal. I just … I mean I don’t know where Santa got all that info, but-”
“ACE!”, Sabo shouted.
“They’re not from Santa! God!”
Ace blinked again. “Wait, what?”
“Do you seriously think some random fat guy living on the north pole knows you like that?!”, Sabo asked, throwing his hands up. “He doesn’t!”
Santa
Doesn't know you like I do
I've been there through the good and bad
Know how to make you laugh
Kiss all your tears away, babe
Ooh, only I can do that
“But Santa-”, the freckled boy began, only to be cut off again.
“SANTA DOESN’T KNOW YOU LIKE I DO, ACE!”
Ace’s mouth snapped shut.
His eyes widened as something finally began to click.
Santa
Doesn't know you like I do
I know all of your favorite songs
Pick up each time you call
So why can't I be the one
To give you everything you want?
“S-Sab…” he tried hesitantly, but Sabo wasn’t done.
“He doesn’t know your favorite color, or your obsession with pipes, or your dumb wish to look cooler - which, by the way, you don’t, because that cowboy hat looks STUPID. But it … it suits you.”, Sabo added, his voice softening briefly before it flared again.
“And he DEFINITELY doesn’t know about your wish. Your wish for someone to LOVE- ... YOU.”
Sabo’s voice cracked again as he let out a shaky breath.
“Because he doesn’t exist, Ace! Don’t you get it? It’s me! I did all of this. Because …”
He faltered.
“Because I love you, Ace.”, he said quietly. “And … and I wanted you to know.”
Silence.
Long, choking silence.
I just want you to tell me that you feel the same
I don't think I'm gonna make it through the winter, babe
Well, don't you wanna wrap me up and mistle touch under the tree?
He won't bring you somebody that loves you more than me
Ace blinked, his eyes glassy as they slowly filled with tears.
“Y-you … you love me?”
Sabo laughed – more half a laugh, half a sob.
“Of course I love you, you fucking idiot!”
The freckled boy sniffled, a tear slipping down his cheek.
“I … I love you too, Sab. You’re my best friend-”
“No, Ace.”, Sabo interrupted, inhaling shakily. “I’m … I’m in love with you. Okay?”
Ace froze, his breath catching in his throat. His tears spilled faster, and he let out a trembling exhale.
“Really?”
“Yes.”, Sabo said simply. Resolutely. “Yes. Really.”
When Ace didn’t respond immediately, Sabo’s heart sank.
He took a deep breath, bracing himself.
“… sorry.”
“No.”, the freckled man said weakly. “No, please … don’t apologize.”
He leaned forward, cupping Sabo’s face in his hands. His thumbs brushed over the blonde’s cheeks, wiping away tears that had started to gather there too.
“Don’t. I …”
He took a deep, trembling breath.
“Thank you, Sab.”
Ace tried to keep it together, but he started sobbing bitterly.
Sabo’s face gentled momentarily, moving into a strange sadness.
“What … for?”, he asked, carefully reaching out to put a hand on his best friend’s thigh.
“I … I feel the same way.”, the freckled boy whispered, unable to look up. “All this time. I was just … scared. I was a coward. And if you hadn’t said anything, who knows if I ever …”
He trailed off, his thumbs brushing over Sabo’s cheeks absently.
The blonde’s fingers traveled to Ace’s chin, forcing them to lock eyes.
“Ace …”
His name hung there. Thumbs halted their movement. Hearts threatened to burst.
Until Ace’s lips twitched into a watery smile.
“I’m … so sorry I didn’t figure it out sooner.”
And Sabo shifted closer, softly shaking his nose against Ace’s.
“’m sorry I yelled at you.”
“Don’t be. I deserved it.”, Ace breathed out a soft chuckle. “Though it’s kinda funny you got jealous of Santa there for a moment.”
The blonde clicked his tongue, tilted his head, his arms slipping around Ace’s neck.
His eyes flicked between his tear-streaked face and his slightly chapped lips.
“But if anyone should be jealous …”, the freckled boy leaned in. “It’s him.”
Before Sabo could say more, Ace closed the distance, pressing his lips firmly against the blonde’s.
The kiss was clumsy, their noses bumping awkwardly, but they quickly found something that could be called a rhythm. Ace’s hands slipped into Sabo’s hair, pulling him closer, while the blonde clung to him like he would rather die than let go.
He couldn’t believe he had doubted this, even for a little. Them. This, which was inevitably bound to happen, because how could it not?
It was them. Ace and Sabo. Sabo and Ace.
One strike. One match. One fire. The same flame that existed only because the other one would not dare to put it out.
When they pulled apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads still touching.
“Sab … that was …”, Ace whispered, a small smile breaking through the lingering tears.
“About time.”, the blonde finished.
❅ PRESENT DAY ❅
“About time we got home.”, Sabo muttered as he stepped into their apartment, shaking off the cold and toeing off his shoes. “Luffy probably demolished-“
He stopped mid-sentence, his gaze snapping up from the floor to the living room.
His breath caught in his throat.
In the middle of the room stood a blanket fort. Haphazardly constructed and wonderfully imperfect, instantly familiar from their old days. Pillows peeked out from beneath the blankets and there were string lights against the sloping walls.
“You still mad at me about gym-Santa?”, Ace asked with a chuckle, closing the door behind them. “Let’s settle it like adults. In the fort.”
Sabo snorted, shaking his head, but his focus lingered on the room.
Candles on the table, a bottle of wine sat uncorked and soft music played in the background. It was cozy and romantic and disgusting in a way that felt deeply personal.
The freckled man grinned as he leaned down to press a kiss to blonde hair.
“Happy anniversary, babe.”
Sabo was stunned, but not stunned enough to not grab Ace by the collar and yank him into a proper, passionate kiss, stealing the air out of his boyfriend’s lungs.
Their arms tangled instinctively; laughter muffled between them as they stumbled together.
“Mmm …”, Ace hummed into the kiss, smiling when they finally parted. “Wow. Damn, Sab. You taste like forgiveness.”
Sabo grinned sheepishly before peppering kisses all over his freckled face.
“You liar! We said we wouldn’t celebrate this year!”
And Ace shrugged shyly, his hands settling on his boyfriend’s waist.
“Technically … we’re not celebrating our anniversary.”
“Oh, sure.”, Sabo said, rolling his eyes. “We’re celebrating Christmas, right? For which you conveniently hired Luffy as your little decorator.”
He gestured around the room dramatically.
Ace laughed nervously, softly dragging a hand along the blonde’s back as he walked to the table. He picked up the bottle of wine, his hands trembling as he poured two glasses.
“Not … exactly.”, his voice betrayed the nerves he couldn’t quite handle. “Hopefully not, at least.”
The slight tremor of this boyfriend caught Sabo’s attention.
He tilted his head. “Ace?”
The freckled man took a steadying breath, handing Sabo a glass and nodding toward the fort.
“Take a look inside.”
Sabo’s face twitched. He could suddenly hear his heartbeat pound in his ears. Slowly, he set his glass down and walked toward the fort.
He crouched down, carefully pulling back the blanket.
And inside, nestled on a dark-blue pillow, was a small matchbox.
The matchbox.
But it quite obviously couldn’t be just that.
The blonde’s hand flew to his mouth as he gasped.
“No.”, he breathed.
He turned wide eyes to Ace, who stood sheepishly behind him. “No way.”
Scratching the back of his hair, the freckled man smiled nervously. “That your answer?”
“No! I mean- … no! I-”, the blonde’s words tumbled out as he looked between his boyfriend and the box. “Ace? What … What is that?”
Ace walked over, resting a hand gently on Sabo’s waist.
“A matchbox. Isn’t it obvious? How are you this dense?”
The words hit Sabo like a freight train - memories of the exact same phrase leaving his lips years ago flashing in his mind.
He let out a soft huff, his gaze shifting between Ace and the fort, before lastly crawling inside.
The box was shaking in his hands when he cupped it.
“Open it.”, the words came tenderly from the freckled man who following him in and sat beside him.
The blonde carefully slid the box open with his index finger.
Inside was a sleek, golden ring.
Very simple, but very clear.
“Ace …”, Sabo whispered.
Ace's eyes were glassy as he crouched onto his knee, bumping his head on the fort’s low blanket-ceiling like an idiot.
He didn’t let it deter him, though, as he reached out to take the ring from the box.
“Sab …”, he exhaled, barely steady enough to speak. “Since the day I met you … there’s been no one more important in my life. From this scrappy kid with blonde hair and a chipped tooth to … well, to you now … sexy-ass man with a snarky attitude …”
Sabo let out a watery laugh, covering his face with one hand.
Ace chuckled, his own tears slipping free. “Guess you get the gist. I always knew you’d change my life. Been changing it every day ever since. You’ve been my best friend, my partner, and … honesty? The best part of every day.”
He paused, weakening as he took a shaky breath.
“I- … I don’t know how I got so goddamn lucky. Out of everyone you could’ve chosen, you chose me. Like, what the actual fuck. Me?! That’s crazy. Something clearly ain’t right in that big head of yours … but I love it. I love you. Your insanity, your-“
“Oh my god, Ace!”, Sabo choked out. “Shut up. You're talking nonsense.”
The freckled man laughed as well. “You shut up! I’m trying to be romantic here!”
“Fine! Shut up and continue.”, the blonde smiled widely, quickly wiping his boyfriend’s tears away with his sleeve.
Ace chuckled, reaching out to hold Sabo’s hand, unable to bear the distance. “How the hell am I supposed to do both? You don’t make any sense. You never do … where was I anyways? Oh, yeah. That you’re insane.”
“Insanely lucky to have me.”, the blonde teased, a wobbly grin tugging at his lips.
“True. But also … insanely beautiful.”, the freckled man smirked, tilting his head cheekily.
He looked upwards, trying to remember what he had so often practiced in front of his mirror. “I literally forgot everything I wanted to say thanks to your dumb ass.”
“I am hardly at fault.”, Sabo rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “It’s your brain. It’s so tiny, it’s actually adorable. And concerning … how about you just ask the question?”
“Right … the question.”, Ace inhaled a sharp breath. “Only that … it isn’t a question, is it? We belong together. We’re … a match, Sab.”
He nodded down to the matchbox.
Cheesy.
Their eyes met again – still teary, but full of love.
Ace reached for Sabo’s hand, his fingers brushing against the blonde’s quivering ones as he carefully slipped the ring onto his finger. He halted, his thumb tracing over the blonde’s knuckles like he couldn’t quite believe it, like he was at odds with his own words, his own feelings – maybe or maybe not questioning whether he deserved all that was awaiting him.
But then, the certainty returned. He lifted the hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss against it.
Well, maybe this Christmastime
You'll finally realize
That I could be the one
To give you everything you want
“If you let me … I’ll be the flame in your life, Sab.”
The blonde looked down onto the ring on his finger, his tightened throat making it hard to breathe or think.
One thing, however, he succeeded in saying.
“And I’ll burn for you.”
❅ PRESENT DAY – THE 31st ❅
News Year’s Eve was spent on one of those fancy rooftop terraces in the middle of the city that was decidedly overcrowded, packed with their friends and strangers alike.
The city skyline stretched in the distance, glittering against the night sky, and the first fireworks were already going off, lit either by morons who couldn’t wait for the real deal or someone celebrating the beginning of another year on the other side of the world.
There was laughter, there was music.
There were Ace and Sabo, barely catching anything that was going on around them because they were annoyingly and shamelessly glued to each other.
The freckled man couldn’t seem to stop touching Sabo - his hand on the small of his back, his arm slung over his shoulders, his fingers brushing through blonde hair whenever he thought no one was looking. Scrap that – when he knew everyone was looking.
And the blonde was no better, pressing kisses to Ace’s temple, tugging him in by his shirt for quick stolen kisses, or resting his head on his shoulder whenever they managed to sit down for five seconds and not fidget around from being all giddy and happy.
Every few minutes, one of them would grab the other by the waist or the hand, pulling them in for a kiss that lasted way too long, right in the middle of someone trying to pass by.
“Guys, seriously?”, Deuce grumbled after his third failed attempt to navigate around them. “You’re blocking the way!”
Ace didn’t even bother looking up, too busy brushing against Sabo’s lips.
“Go around.”, he said dazily.
Sabo finally pulled back, laughing softly, his fingers touching the freckled man’s jaw before turning to Deuce.
“Sorry.”
God, he’d never been less sorry in his life. And he’d openly admit it.
This man – the one trying to unsuspiciously get a grab of his butt right now – was his match.
His spark. His light. His flame.
“Ace, stop.”, though he made no effort to actually move as the freckled man took his hand for what felt like the tenth time that evening.
Ace ignored him, holding the blonde’s hand up to the light and staring at the golden band on his finger. His thumb brushed over it as his face split into a grin.
“What?”, he said innocently. “You know I love seeing it.”
Sabo shook his head, a soft flush creeping up his neck, but his gaze flicked down to his fiancé’s matching ring. He didn’t try to hide the way his face lit up as he ran his thumb over the smooth metal.
“You’re just as bad as me.”, the freckled man teased, leaning in to press a kiss to Sabo’s collarbone.
They smooched again - and this time they heard someone groan audibly behind them.
“Oh my god, we get it!”, Koala called out, her voice dripping with exasperated affection. “You’re engaged, you’re in love. It’s adorable. Get a room!”
Ace pulled back, but only far enough to smirk over his shoulder.
“What’s the point of being in love if you can’t rub it in everyone’s faces?”
Sabo tipped his head forward to stifle his grin against his shoulder.
When the countdown began, and the noise around them swelled, friends jostled closer, sparklers were passed around, and someone spilled their drink in the rush to grab a good view of the fireworks.
The two of them stayed exactly where they were, clinging to each other.
“Three! Two! One!”
Cheers. Wishes. Fireworks lighting up the sky – but their fireworks took place elsewhere.
Their eyes locked on each other with an intensity that would make old married couples envious.
“Happy new year, Sab.”, Ace mumbled softly, his eyes dropping, searching and finding the ring on the blonde’s finger again. Just for a second. Just to make sure it’s still there.
“Happy birthday, Ace.”, Sabo replied, leaning in.
And there it was, the unhurried explosion of feelings when their lips met.
People shoved past, laughing and shouting, but what did they care?
Their arms wrapped tighter around each other, and the blonde smiled against Ace’s lips when he felt the freckled man’s hand slip back to his, thumb brushing the ring again.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads pressed together. Ace caught Sabo sneaking another glance downward.
“If you stare at it any harder, it’s gonna start blushing.”, he said playfully.
Sabo snorted, smiling fondly. “I knew it’d happen someday but … it’s just a little surreal.”
Ace squeezed his hand in response. An impish smirk. “Just wait 'til I get you pregnant."
"What?"
"What?"