Everyone ate their share and left, and to be honest that was the most anti-climatic ending to such a tense event. But you weren't about to complain.
Oddly enough a month went by and there was hardly any problems, almost as if all the problems happened at one moment and now we were getting a breather. Or maybe they are just waiting for Doflamingo to actually do his job.
But even he stayed quiet, obviously preoccupied by matters he finds more interesting. Which is a great thing because if he were to ever get bored, your sons would be a time killer.
You adopted the boys back in February, but now it was March. The tenth to be more precise, and now you were coming across a new challenge, aside from the one that just happened in school a few days back.
But your first and most recent issue was...Sabo's birthday was in ten days and you forgot. That was until last night on the ninth.
Luffy walked into your room a few hours after their bed time, you were about to scold him when he gives you a super huge grin.
“Neh neh (Name)?” He says while crawling onto your bed and sitting in front of you. You put your laptop to the side and give him a small smile.
“What is it Luffy it's time for bed...?” You ask him and he just comes closer and whispers.
“What are we doing for Sabo's birthday?” He asks. You freeze and stare at him...when was his birthday...?
“E-eh...?” You mutter while trying your best to remember. You really should have memorized this what kind of parent are you!?
“It's on the 20th remember?” He says tilting his head to the side a bit, did you forget?
“Oh...” You hummed. You barely remembered glancing at their birth certificates. You really should go make the time to remember...
“Hmm...” You frown a bit, you have only about ten days to come up with a plan...
Luffy gives you a big grin and leans closer to you.
“We've never been to the amusement park..!” He hints and you look down at him. All three of them would certainly enjoy that...
“Amusement park huh...?” You hummed again with a small smile forming on your lips. Luffy looks up at you super excited and you blink at him surprised and then you start to look worried.
“But maybe not...” You lied, he looks disappointed and it makes you feel bad. But you want it to be a surprise if you do decide to do this, and this child did not know how to keep his mouth shut.
“Aww...” He whines and you give him a small smile.
“Don't worry about it Luffy! I'll come up with something awesome I promise!” You said and he looks up quickly and grins widely.
“Okay..!” He says excitedly before running out of the room and out into the hall. You hear faint whispering and you realized they sent Luffy to hint where they wanted to go. You giggled softly before reaching over and turning out your light, signaling to them they should go to bed. You hear three sets of footsteps softly walk away from your door.
But aside from the birthday problem, Ace has been having issues at school. Belemere had warned you to watch Ace's temper problem. But you never really thought it would be this large of an issue.
A few weeks after Ace got well enough to go to school he made friends with a boy a grade higher than him, some kid called Marco. Well him and this boy became close friends, and fast. You even seen him around the house a few times, he just seems to come and go whenever.
Well him and Ace had been getting into arguments with boy's at school, which would end with Ace beating the crap out of those boys. You were called down to the school a few times in regards to Ace's fighting, and you begged him to not get into anymore fights. But he would just look away from you and glare at the floor or a wall behind you.
And today, the tenth, was no exception.
You got called down to the school, and in the office you see Ace sitting there with a bandage on his cheek and a few bruises on his arms. Today, instead of sitting there and listening to the principles speech on problem children you pulled Ace out of class and took him home. On the walk home he was silent, and you were a bit worried.
“Ace...” You called him softly and he glances up at you.
“What did they say to you...?” You ask him and he looks at you mildly surprised, you never really asked what they did to him before. He looks away from you and glares at the ground.
“Do you know who my parents are..?” He asks and you think for a moment, just like the birthdays you disregarded who their parents were, you wouldn't even have known who Sabo's were if they hadn't been such assholes when you first gotten the boys.
“Nope...” You said honestly, you see him tense a bit before falling silent. You sighed after a few minutes and looked over at him.
“I'm guessing it has something to do with them?” You ask and he nods slowly, but otherwise says nothing.
“Who are they?” You ask and he just scowls at the ground. He comes to a complete stop and glares at his feet. He was silent for about ten minutes before you walked in front of him and crouched down to his height. You grabbed his shoulders and made him look at you. When his eyes meet yours you gave him a small smile.
“If you don't want to talk about it, it's fine.” You said. He relaxed a bit and studied your expression. After another minute he sighs. He mutters something and he looks at you, slightly expecting you to react.
“I...didn't quite catch that...” You said and he glares at you.
“Gol D. Roger.” He says a bit louder and you freeze.
Well shit.
You didn't respond for a minute, which made him look up at you sadly, before it turned into a cold glare.
“So?” You deadpanned. His eyes widen a bit and his jaw drops.
“Y-you...” He starts, looking around him like that would give him an idea of what to say.
“You don't care?” He asks softly.
“No not really...” You shrugged and reach out and pick him up. He grunts and tries to push you away and glares at you as you start to walk home with him in your arms.
“Everyone else hates me!?” He says, you freeze and look at him surprised.
“Ehh...? I was under the impression you had two brothers and a friend named Marco...” You hummed thoughtfully. He glares at you and pushes himself away until he drops to the ground.
“Why are you acting like this doesn't faze you!?” He screams, you look down at him surprised.
“Ace...?” You whispered as he starts to shake.
“They all hate me..!” He screams while starting to shake violently.
“The teachers all glare at me, like I'm some monster! The kids avoid me or scream at me and tell me I shouldn't exist!” He starts to cry, you were rendered speechless. This is why he was getting so angry...?
“The teachers would tell me I shouldn't have been born! I would get angry and I would melt something..! And I would beat up the kids who would insult me or my father..!” He cried, squeezing his eyes shut while facing the ground.
“All the other families abandoned me when they found out who I was..!” He sobbed.
“They all just tell me I shouldn't have been born..!” He cries, you fall to your knees and wrap your arms around him. He tries to push you away.
“Don't lie to me and say you don't hate me..!” He screams at you, but you just pull him closer.
“Ace..” You said softly. He pushes against your shoulder harder, punching them as hard as he could, and believe me when I say this kid was very strong for his size.
“Everyone who finds out hates me!” He yells and you start to cry, but he doesn't see this. He hits you again and his fist catches fire, burning your shoulder.
“Ace..!” You said a bit louder but he just hits you again, burning your shoulder more. People driving by and walking by stop and scream, but you ignore them.
“Ace!” You said loudly and he freezes and looks at your face. He gapes at the tears running down your cheeks and he starts to cry more, collapsing into your hug.
“I don't care I promise...” You said, sobbing slightly. You felt angry, not at the boy but at that school.
“I don't care who your parents were..” You started, your voice shaking at first but becoming steady and strong as you continue.
“Right now, at this moment. Your my son, and that's all that matters right now.” You said, the boy just cries harder and you pick him up again, ignoring the pain in your shoulders. You turn around and head back towards the school. Ace sniffles and looks up at you confused, but you were just glaring straight ahead.
“We're going to pay your teachers a visit.” You said calmly, but your face said you were anything but calm. You were pissed, and the whole school is about to know it.
