Chapter Text
The rain was drenching his coat.
Oh, he was so fucking miserable. It was raining cats and dogs, and it was cold. So, so cold. His body ached like hell, he'd been on his feet at work all day. Concrete floors were not forgiving, not in the fucking slightest.
This day kept getting shittier and shittier. First he misses his alarm and wakes up late, and doesn't even get to kiss Ace goodbye (who was sleeping) before he's combing his dry-ass hair out the door and into his car; no breakfast, just a job that he's barely hanging onto before he's eventually fired. He's a good worker, a hard worker, promise! He just, really, really doesn't work well in corporate. But, Ace was unemployed right now (for reasons beyond his control, which was that he's also a major ass in corporate) So paying this month's rent on time is the most important thing.
But right now, the most important thing is getting home. His car broke down. The shitty thing is on its last legs, and it managed to go silent about three blocks from their apartment. He couldn't even be bothered to care, to call a taxi, or a mechanic, or anything that couldn't be taken care of at home.
So now he's walking in the rain, in the near-darkness, his coat and hair drenched, and he's shaking like a leaf. He almost wants to cry, but he was nothing if not a Portgas now. He'd just keep on trucking. Something not even his own vehicle could do.
He skipped lunch today, he was so busy. Couldn't even write or call Ace, to tell him a sorry or an I love you, before getting hauled around like a pack animal. Oh, how he hates this job. Just a few more months, just a few for them to get back on their feet...
The rain was getting heavier, thick puddles forming on the sidewalk. He had an umbrella, but he was foolish and left it in the car. The rain hadn't started until ten minutes ago. This wasn't like him, to not prepare for the weather. Or any disaster. Of course it would be the one day he'd been beaten to a pulp, for the world to haul his ass out in the freezing-cold autumn rain.
The wind was picking up, strong enough to blow him side to side. Trees were groaning, and he could hear thunder in the distance. Oh yeah, and his phone was dead. Died as soon as he stepped out. No charger in the car, either. It was several minutes after he was supposed to be home, Ace was gonna worry. He grimaced, tugging his long black coat tighter around himself, even if all it did was make the rain squelch against his back and shoulders.
His stomach rumbled along with the thunder. He might've laughed had he the strength to do more than trudge along. One and a half more blocks, almost there...
A loud crack of thunder sounded over him, making him jump. Followed by lightning, the darkening streets lit like midday. It wasn't safe to be walking out here, but what can you do. It wasn't like he was stupid, he and Ace grew up in weather like this all their lives...
The light of another strike illuminated the gold band around his ring finger, the hand clutching his coat shut. Now that, that made him smile. He loved the way it caught the light, any light. Sunlight, moonlight, the light from the damn "cool tone" office lamps he hated so much. The ring was always there, always beautiful. Shining, golden, perfect. Smooth against his finger, the perfect fit. the engraving of their initials on the inside, pressed to his skin. How could a tiny piece of metal keep him warm in this weather...
He kept moving, but his legs and feet were killing him. His hair plastered to his face, cold drops traveled down the tip of his nose. He was starting to shake a little. Sabo hoped he didn't catch pneumonia. He had to go to work.
One more block...
He watched a grumpy couple pull into their driveway in a brand-spanking-new black ford. A woman and a man got out, lugging some groceries and yelling profanities at each other, arguing about something very serious.
Sabo grit his teeth awkwardly, hoping they didn't notice him passing. They probably didn't care, who cared about a stranger in weather like this...
Sabo felt a stupid sense of giddy superiority, getting to go home to his husband who never ever did anything wrong. Okay, scratch that. anything seriously wrong.
Maybe they argued, and yelled, and sometimes they roughhoused like when they were kids, but it was never truly malicious. No cheating, no lying, no leaving dirty dishes in the sink. They both left them in equally. And lying and cheating were only for card games.
He walked faster even if it hurt. He didn't get to say a single word to his husband today, and barely yesterday evening. When he got home from work, he had shoveled his dinner down, and told Ace he was gonna take a nap before conking out for the rest of the night.
He hated his boss. The guy chewed him out for being late, in that insufferable corporate manner. His 12 year old self probably would've said; "Why does your boss act like such a gay pussy about everything?" Ace taught him many creative words. Well, how ironic how that turned out.
Half a block, half a block!
He started a light jog, wanting nothing more than to wrap up in a nice, dry blanket and cuddle his husband. Unfortunately, he was shaking from the cold so bad that he lost balance and tripped, eating pavement. Sabo groaned in pain, feeling his knee get scuffed. He was too tired to even register it, just got back up on his wet knees and wet gloves and wet shoes and crawled back up to a standing position, forced to go slower because he felt a tender twist in his ankle.
God, if this day happened to him two years ago, he might've gotten home and pulled up a chair. And a nice, thick piece of rope.
Things were better now.
Almost home. He was on their own block now, but the rain was crashing somehow heavier than before. He felt the scrape on his knee. Looking down, there was a stain. Seemed like the fall drew blood.
Almost there...
He could see their apartment complex. A sigh of halfway relief pushed through his freezing lungs, and he clamored through the parking lot up to the building. Fishing for his keys, which was a job in and of itself, he managed to get it open. Third floor, third floor...
He got in the elevator. It wouldn't take him up. Goddamn this stupid place, this shitty, run-down, over-used apartment complex. He started the climb up the steps which couldn't possibly be up to code, they were so fucking steep. They needed to find a new place to live, in a nicer town. Every muscle in his body ached and spasmed, and he was well and truly out of breath by the time he got finally, fucking finally, to their door.
Fiddling for his keys again, he managed to drop them on the floor three times before nearly crashing out.
Key in lock, turn doorknob, open door-
He swung it wide, feeling like a man escaped from the insane asylum. Thunder crashed, lightning struck. All he needed was a organ riff.
Their apartment was small, opening with a shoe area. Further inside was the kitchen on the right, living room on the left, with the hallway to their bedroom and bathroom. They were lucky enough to have a tiny balcony, along the living room wall.
Ace was at the stove, frying something. Looking like an angel, like usual.
"Hi Bo, I'm making your favorite; since you didn't get much-"
Ace turned to him, mouth agape.
Sabo just stood in the doorway, rocking back and forth on his feet, feeling exhaustion start to take him. He smiled like an idiot. "Hey."
Ace ran straight to him, pulling him further inside and closing the door. "Sabo? Sab... Why are you soaked?" He started fussing over his wet clothes.
"I...uh..." He started, hoarsely. "Car broke down. Like, three blocks away. Phone's dead, I walked here." He muttered, wanting so badly to sit down.
"The storm is really bad, hun..." Ace felt his cold forehead. He leaned into Ace's touch, his eyes falling shut.
"It is..."
"Come on, get on the couch." He had no arguments.
He flopped down onto the soft cushions, deflating. Ace stood over him, grumbling.
"Bo..."
Sabo smiled up at Ace, his savior. "I'm so glad I'm home..."
Ace got to work taking off all his wet clothes. Coat, shirt, tie, shoes, socks, gloves, and his pants. And underwear. Literally, everything was soaked. Ace left it in a pile on the floor. "I'm gonna get you a towel, sweetheart." He sprinted off to the bedroom, and brought back their comforter and the biggest towel they owned.
Sabo just lied there, let Ace swaddle him like a baby, dry his hair.
"How'd you scuff up your knee, hun..." Ace murmured.
"Fell down. I twisted my ankle, too..." He grunted, feeling the jab of pain.
Ace smiled fondly. "Klutz." Elevating Sabo's feet.
"I missed you so much." Sabo whispered quietly, reaching for Ace.
"I missed you too." Ace wrapped him in his arms, gave him kisses all over his face. "Didn't feel right, not waking up next to you..."
Sabo melted. Melted right into Ace, pulled him in as close as he could. "Hold me."
Ace did. Ace was wonderfully warm and soft, nothing better than this. Pressed kisses on his forehead, and his nose, and his cheeks, and his favorite right now was the lips. Too much apartness makes him sick, he swears it. They had to be in a pile as kids, and Sabo always suffered from insomnia when he had to leave as a teenager. Now they could be together almost all the time, but it still felt like being weened too early.
So right now, he breathed Ace in like he was the only oxygen, the only warmth, the only love in all the world. He really was, to Sabo. He gripped him closer, so much closer, drawing him to lay on top.
"I need you to suffocate me...." He whined, wrapping every limb desperately around Ace.
He chuckled lightly into Sabo's mouth, sending warm tingles through his body. "I can do that, for a little while..."
"No. All night long. Don't move."
Ace gave him a look. "I was cooking you some fancy ramen, but if you don't want it..."
"I want it."
"So, me? Or the ramen..."
"Both."
"You cant have both at the same time..."
"Both." He said, like a petulant child.
Ace laughed again, spreading kisses over his cold hands, and his chest and neck. "My poor, poor, wet cat of a brother..."
Sabo murmured nonsense, palming his hands in Ace's long, beautiful black hair that he loved so much. So shiny, so sleek.
"Your hair smells so good..." Sabo leaned into his temple, breathing in as deep as he could.
"Wood shavings?" Ace mumbled, kissing Sabo's chin while he sniffed.
"Everything." Sabo replied, soft and tired. "Smells like you, the most wonderful thing that ever was..."
Ace smiled, smooching him nice and deep on the lips. "Tell you what. You worked so, so hard to get home, and-"
"I worked hard at work, too." Sabo added on.
"Right, right... So I'm gonna spoil you, all. Night. Long..." Another sweet kiss to his lips. "You get anything you want."
"Jus' want you."
"You want food too, right?"
"Only if you make it for me." Sabo leaned up, searching for more touch.
"On it, Sab..." Ace nosed against him, rubbing into the skin with a magic touch. "You must ache all over. Want me to massage you?"
Sabo nodded, breathy yeses fluttering out his mouth.
"Mhm. My baby..." Another kiss. "My angel..."
Sabo keened. He wanted Ace to absorb him.
"Right after I get the food done, 'kay?"
He frowned. "I guess..."
Ace smiled warmly. "I won't even be out of sight, you goof."
Ace went back to the kitchen, Sabo watching from on the couch. Weakly, he reached for the TV remote, wanting for some kind of background noise. He settled on some soft music.
Ace moved around, chopping veggies and meat. It had been barely 2 years ago that Ace couldn't have cooked his way out of a paper bag, and now he prepared dinner for them almost every night.
Maybe Sabo's parents forcing him to take culinary classes wasn't the worst thing that could've happened. In fact, much worse had. Sabo's breathing steadied out, his head rested in the pool of blankets and couch.
The rain still beat down, muffled and distant. He had stopped shaking, that was a relief.
Ace wiped at his brow, let out a little "Whew!" He pulled his shirt off.
Sabo stared at his back, always amazed that that skinny kid turned into such a mountain of muscle. Every day, he wished he could've spent that time with him.
Managing to sit up, he crossed his arms on the back of the couch, just watching. Watched him move, so strong, healthy. He smiled into his arms, chewing on his lip. How'd he ever get so lucky...
Ace grabbed two bowls and some chopsticks, bringing them over to the coffee table.
"I made you cocoa, too." He went back, bringing it back in Sabo's favorite mug, the blue one.
He smiled, heart warm. "Thank you..."
"Yessir." Ace leaned down, gave him a smooch on the forehead.
Sabo reached gingerly for his bowl, but Ace lightly slapped his hand away. "I'll do it for you."
Sabo raised an eyebrow. "I'm not on the brink of death, Ace."
"Ah, doesn't matter." He sat beside him on the couch, holding the bowl in front of Sabo, who propped himself against the arm. "I said I'd spoil you." He dug into the ramen, pulling out steaming noodles and a chunk of beef. Ace blew on the hot food for him.
"Aw, babe you don't have to-"
"I want to." He brought the slightly cooled noodles to Sabo's lips, gently pushing them in. "You deserve it."
With a scoff, Sabo let himself be fed. Ace was slow and methodical, careful not to drop any on him, never fed him too fast. As if he could eat too fast. But it was the thought that counts.
It was good, so good. Chewy, salty, the perfect amount of toppings. Perfectly hot but not to burn, and how Ace did it, Sabo never knew. He gave him a sip of the warm cocoa, then shoveled more noodles into his mouth. Sabo found himself gazing up at his husband, at the way his brows creased in concentration, giving him such care.
"I want a kiss." Sabo quietly demanded.
Ace heeded him immediately. A tender kiss, one where he licked the salt off Sabo's lips. The meal was healing, filling that terribly empty hole in his stomach right up, and Ace's kiss was the cherry on top. When he finished, he may or may not've accidentally burped in his husband's face.
But, apparently Sabo was cute enough that Ace let it slide, this time. He just laughed.
Ace slid down to the end of the couch, pulling Sabo's feet into his lap. "Ready?"
Sabo leaned his head back, nodding blissfully. His legs still ached from the cold and the standing, they ached so bad.
Ace nodded back, taking one foot into his lap. He started by massaging the heel, rubbing deep circles. Sabo sighed in relief, feeling the stress already beginning to melt away. Ace had wonderful hands, hands that could do just about anything. It never ceased to amaze him...
He palmed his calves, rolling through the muscle. Taking his time, rotating the foot. He worked into the ankle, holding between thumb and forefinger, cradled in his other hand.
Sabo eyes squeezed shut, feeling Ace dig into the twisted part.
"Does that hurt?"
He nodded. "A little."
"I'll be gentle."
Words that probably would never have come out of Ace's mouth, when they were kids. Sabo breathed out a laugh.
"Sum' funny?"
"...Yeah."
Ace massaged each toe, which Sabo hadn't realized were dead cold. His hands felt like heating pads, they were so warm Sabo's feet began tingling. He stretched them back and forth, restarting his circulation.
"Man, you're freezing..." Ace muttered, focusing on the other foot. "Are you sure you feel alright?"
"I don't feel cold... Just my feet..." Sabo yawned, nestling deeper into the blanket.
"I'll keep it up."
Sabo focused on Ace as he massaged him, he liked watching the muscles in his arms work. It didn't matter if he was chopping wood, or writing, or sleeping, or stretching, he just admired it. Ace pressed a thumb into the center of each foot, he felt tendons give under his touch. When was the last time he had just a moment with his husband...
"Ace?"
"Mm." Ace grunted a reply.
"I wont be able to go to work tomorrow, because of the car."
His husband smiled. "Good, then you get to spend all day with me." He planted a kiss on the arch of Sabo's foot.
"I'll need to get a mechanic, though."
"Leave it up to me, you're gonna be exhausted."
Sabo's heart warmed. "Thank you..."
Sabo's eyes drifted over their little apartment. He felt they had really carved out a little nook for themselves, but often he wished for more. More, being something they couldn't afford right now. Something next to the sea, was what he dreamed of...
They had a leak in the corner next to the balcony, (If one could even call it that) that was barely big enough for two chairs, and unused because someone didn't build it right and water gathered at the sliding door, making the floor rot out. A piece of plywood was currently nailed on top, keeping the worst at bay.
The rest Sabo could be grateful for; no other leaks, no bugs or rodents. Every piece of furniture had been picked out together, a mishmash of Sabo and Ace's preferences. A big soft couch, an armchair, a thick rug. Sabo's mini (but growing) library on the wall by the tv, a few knickknacks decorating the shelf, plus Sabo's potted Antirrhinum taken in from the rain.
A single framed photo from their wedding day hung on the wall, all the rest were tucked away in an envelope in their bedroom dresser drawer. It was a silly photo, Ace pretending to throw Sabo into the ocean while in his suit. It was a little blurry, which sold it really well.
They had never been all that formal while together, and that's the way Sabo liked it. Ace didn't even have his tie done properly, most of the ceremony. Not that Sabo cared, it was nearly impossible to wrangle him into formal dress, anyway.
There was a very short, fake fireplace beneath the tv, emitting its pleasant heat. This late September was a cold one, for sure...
"You're far away..." Ace commented, sliding his palms up and over Sabo's knees, and back down.
"Hm. I suppose." Sabo glanced back at him. "Just, thinkin'. Thinking about this place."
"What kind of things?"
He licked his lips, reached for his cocoa on the coffee table. "Good things. I wasn't earlier, though. The elevator is broken again."
Ace rolled his eyes, but he smiled. "Poor baby."
"I was! The stairs in this place are hell. We need to find someplace better."
"But..." Ace pointed to the brown spot in the corner. "Won't you miss the leak?"
"Fuck no. I want a bathtub."
Ace chuckled, crawling up between Sabo's legs to lie on his chest. He crossed his arms, looked at Sabo with those dark eyes. "I agree. This place is so cramped."
They'd been living in this apartment close to a year, the second place they've lived after marriage. The first barely lasted a month, after throwing a far too rowdy two-month anniversary party.
"I want to quit my job. I wanna live somewhere nicer, too." Sabo mumbled, bringing his hands up in Ace's hair again.
"I know..." Ace kissed the bridge of his nose. "Me too..."
He sighed, resting his head on Sabo.
"Want me to help you wash off?"
"Hm, I'd like that."
The bathroom down the hall was a tiny thing, barely big enough to fit two people. But, with a little maneuvering, they managed to both fit inside the shower.
Sabo relaxed against Ace's chest, enjoying the warm water as it poured over them. Ace soaped down Sabo's back, simultaneously rubbing his shoulders, his mouth tucked close to Sabo's ear.
"You got a little mud in your hair." Ace muttered, scrubbing gently in his scalp.
"I'm not surprised..." Sabo laughed, breathily.
"Oh look, a twig."
Breathing in deeply, Sabo enjoyed the smell of pumpkin body wash. It made him sleepier, content.
"I should buy some pumpkin-spice scented candles, too…" He mused.
Ace giggled, kissed him on the shoulder. "White trash."
"Shh… you like it too, you dolt."
"We'll go get some, tomorrow."
Ace helped him brush his hair. Sabo stopped straightening it when they got back together, and he couldn't brush it dry anymore. Or, not without supreme effort.
"It's so tangled…" Ace muttered, running his fingers gently through.
"I got halfway through it before driving to work."
"Uh-huh..." Ace squeezed conditioner out onto his palm.
"Did you eat lunch?"
"No…"
Ace sighed, lathering it through Sabo's hair.
"They're working you to the bone."
Sabo nodded, eyes drooping closed, head rocking back and forth from Ace's touch.
"I'll make you lunches from now on."
His heart squeezed up, enamored. "Y-you don't have to do that, babe."
"Stop that, dummy. You need me. I'm not doing anything important while you're gone, anyway. Besides missing you…" He kissed Sabo's nape.
"That's awful, get a hobby."
Ace snorted. "I put that plywood down, didn't I?"
"That's not a hobby."
"Sure it is… I did something fun for half an hour, it's a hobby."
Sabo leaned his head back, chucking. "Key word: half. A hobby means doing something more than once."
"Well, what would you suggest? If you're so smart, sweetheart…"
He mused, again. Ace turned him around by the shoulder, so he could reach the front of Sabo's hair. The conditioner smelled nice; he just bought it, another fall-scented impulse buy. It was some sort of pumpkin-bakery-cookie-smelling nonsense.
"Well, there's… construction…" He said. "You like working with your hands, get into woodworking, or something.
Ace scrunched up his nose, but in curiosity. "I like that idea. Never thought of it before."
Sabo smiled. "Really?"
"Yeah."
"Should I tell you what to do, more often?"
"Now, don't get ahead of yourself, Sab…" He tapped a sudsy finger to the tip of his nose.
"Hm."
"Are there even listings for a job like that around here? There's like, nothing but office buildings…"
"Might need to commute more, then."
Ace sighed, dejectedly. "I don't want to spend more time away from you."
Sabo looked at him softly, taking one hand to kiss. "Maybe we can work something out. We want to move, anyway…?"
"True..."
"Why don't we look for new jobs further out, and if we find something good we'll look for an apartment?"
Ace smiled. "Smartypants."
"That is a very basic usage of logic, Ace." Sabo teased.
"Shut up."
He went back to carefully detangling his husband's curls.
Their bed was his favorite piece of furniture they owned. Not because it was fancy (it wasn't), or comfortable (thankfully), but because of the blushing bastard Ace was when they picked it out. No one in recorded history, had ever been so embarrassed inside an Ikea.
Sabo even loved the hot-sauce stain they got on the mattress immediately after setting it up. The chocolate stain, too.
They ate SO much fast food, that night in their first apartment. Which also, had been a shitty apartment. Worse than this one, if you can imagine it. Who knew two eighteen year-olds could be so bad at renting.
Ace lied his head on his stomach, showing Sabo a stupid video on his phone. They both laughed hysterically.
Sabo pretended not to look, when Ace exited the page and his background was one of their wedding photos. He practically threw the phone away.
They were so good at being married.
Ace turned on the little orange fairy lights, and cradled Sabo in his lap.
"What do you want to do tomorrow?" Ace whispered, leaving soft kisses in his damp hair.
"Hmm… a little grocery shopping. Maybe some…extracurricular activities." Sabo leaned back to kiss him, beaming.
"Oh yeah? Like what?" Kiss, kiss.
"Let's… Hmm… Let's go to a pumpkin patch."
"Sounds good." Kiss, kiss.
Sabo felt so, so sleepy. So peaceful… Wrapped in warm blankets; full, dry, and happy.
"Wait, did you call the mechanic? Did they tow the car?"
"I did, m'sorry… forgot to say."
Ace nuzzled his cheek. "You smell so nice."
He sighed, burrowing deeper into Ace's embrace. His vision blurred, eyes drooping. "M'gonna fall asleep…"
Ace stroked his arm, slowly, tenderly. "Go ahead, babe. Good night…" Another kiss to the top of his head.
"Hmmh…" Sabo yawned, head lolling to the side on Ace's chest. "G'night, love you… Thank you…"
Ace chuckled, the noise rocking him lightly.
"Love you too, sweetheart."