Work Text:
bit of context
(Sabo loses Ace at Marineford and after some years Luffy dies in a war where Sabo reaches too late to aid his brother. And even the universe pities him, he thinks as to why he was given a second chance.
After a decade he meets up with Ace. Sabo informs Ace about the stuff from the timeline he came from.
They have a brief meeting with teach where Sabo is attacked by his darkness's power )
(Just some brotherly fluff, sweet hugs, and a bit of angst)
Sabo leans his head onto Ace's shoulder, a soft smile adorning his flushed and exhausted face.
Ace on the other hand looks at sabo dumbfounded.
It seems like the fever is getting to his brother in all too unlikely ways. He gives out a small amused sigh at his brother's sappiness. He sloppily wraps his arms around Sabo pulling him closer to his chest, fingers gently cradling his blonde locks.
"What's wrong Sabo?" Ace asks
Sabo doesn't answer, too busy basking in his brother's warm embrace. Dread dissipating off of him. These recent days have been extremely stressful, then again he can't remember the last time he was anything close to feeling content or happy.
He thinks about it, about getting his memories back only to be cruelly greeted with the news of a dead brother and a missing brother. He remembers regretting, pain all too unbearable. The only thing keeping him from breaking was hope. Hope that his brother would be alive.
He remembers all too clearly visiting Ace's grave and making a promise. And breaking the promise.
It's all too fresh in his mind to forget, red blood seeping through his baby brother's pale and lifeless body dripping onto him.
His palm smeared with cold blood, all because he didn't arrive at his brother's aid when he needed him the most, when Ace needed him the most. He was never there with them.
Sabo gives out a shuddering sigh, blinking back dry tears.
He can't keep on lamenting, not when he has been given another chance.
He will throw away everything he has in him to save his brothers this time. He won't let anything repeat itself, he will happily give his life for his brother's sakes.
When Ace doesn't get any reply he tries prodding his brother's shoulder blades insistently. Sabo just squirms and leans further into Ace's arms. His brows furrow worry creeping into his freckled features.
Ace gives out a worried sigh, "Oi Sabo you okay? you sure you don't need to see a doctor, you have been gravely injured with teach's darkness at that, I don't know shit about medical stuff, but I am pretty sure some antiseptic and ragged bandaids are not enough. "
Again Ace doesn't get any reply. He sighs yet again and unwraps his arms from around sabo to hold Sabo's shoulders and gently pushes him to look him in the eye.
And to Ace's surprise Sabo doesn't resist, Ace looks at his sick features, worried at his twin brother's peculiar behavior.
Sabo grins at Ace and Ace scowls at him.
"The hell Sabo stop ignoring or M gonna puch that grinning face of yours"
Sabo sighs dramatically."What, can't I hug my big brother without getting interrogated"
Ace's eyebrow twitches indignantly, "seriously Sabo, I am trying to be serious right now, and don't give me that big brother. I can't believe I am trying to be the sensible one."
Ace huffs but his face softens regardless, eyes full of love, and again Sabo regrets not being with his brothers, not growing up alongside them, not being able to save them. The two precious people he treasures more than anything. All because he didn't remember, because he didn't want to remember... Everything Ace and Luffy went through because of-
He is cut off from his thoughts when he feels a finger flicking the middle of his forehead. He scowls and meets his brother's grey eyes staring right through him.
Ace leans forward, arms wrapping around Sabo as he shoves Sabo against the crook of his neck. Sabo gives out a surprised yelp.
"Ace?"
"You thought, you could hide anything from your big brother."
Sabo scowls at him. "Don't use my mouth against me"
Ace smirks"yeah right... little brother"
Sabo sighs at being called a little brother and knowing Ace, he won't be stopping it anytime soon.
"Sabo" Ace calls out worried ."Sabo listen to me carefully"
Ace rubs his arms along Sabo's shoulders which instantly relaxes his stiff posture.
Ace smiles and continues in a serious no nonsense tone.
"It's not your fault, Sabo. You forgot your memories because of the celestial bastard, you didn't go back cuz of those pig nobles and not because you didn't want to see us"You weren't able to save me because of your memories not being with you and I am sure, more than anything that you tried saving Luffy but luck was against you. Nothing's your fault. And you better get it inside that thick skull of yours or I'll have to punch-"
"Ace I-I don't wanna talk about this"
his voice was devoid of any emotions, perhaps to mask the feelings stirring inside him burning more than any fire could.
Ace couldn't help but worry. He knows what self-hate can cause. He knows the pain. He knows he needed his brothers and he knows Sabo needs him. It needs to be tended before it evolves into something more hateful.
"Yeah I know you don't, but you can't keep on running away and If I let you, your thoughts will completely swallow you"He tries to explain, voice just above a whisper.
"I don't wanna lose the cheeky mischievous Sabo" He adds in a futile attempt to sound nonchalant.
"I am fine Ace and I can control myself as to what I might change into, you don't have to worry" Sabo mutters too tired to raise his voice anymore.
"Say that after you are capable of at least controlling your fever little brother " he mocks much to Sabo's dismay.
Sabo just huffs having nothing to counter.
Ace merrily chuckles.
Ace unwraps his arms and cups Sabo's flushed cheeks, lifting his face to look into the blue eyes slowly losing their shine.
Sabo doesn't resist, his body finally giving up on him. But he can't let himself give in to his emotions. He can't worry Ace more than he already has.
He looks at grey eyes, love filled to the brim, and all of a sudden he wants to let Ace know how much he loves him, how much he missed him, how much he hates himself for losing him while he himself stood breathing uselessly.
"Luffy nor I No one blames you for anything and never will and we love you, we love you more than you will ever know. Yes you weren't there when I died, but you saved me when I was alone and had no one.
And If you never had told about luffy being kidnapped by porchemy, he would've d-died even before, You saved us so many times, Sabo"
His voice, ever so gentle and filled with love and, and for Sabo, it was getting harder to keep it all in. Tucked away, buried in the far corner of his heart and when his brother is telling him how much they love him and how much he means to them, he wants to cry, cry and apologize in his brother's arms, but he again tucks it all in the corner of his heart. After all, he is in no place to do such a thing. He failed them, didn't he.
"Sabo, listen to me. We both are together this time and I am not letting anything happen to me or you or Luffy. Just try not to think about the painful past, kay. You have your memories and I have you back, there's no way I am dying with you and Luffy being here." Ace smiles softly." We will show the world that we are a force to be reckoned with when we three are together, everything is going to be alright, so try staying in the present. Please. You can do that right?"
Sabo feels the back of his eyes sting, tears threatening to slide out. He bites the insides of his cheek but Sabo can't hold it in, not any longer and all his emotions come gushing out like a broken dam. fuck they won't stop and the tears keep trailing down off his face one after another, and he doesn't know why but they don't stop and never slow down.
Ace looks at his brother, sniffling and choking on his own breath trying to wipe the tears away with the back of his hands but failing miserably.
"Sabo, it's okay, cry all you want. let it all out. I won't tease you. Promise.
he gives a cheeky grin and gets a wet chuckle out of Sabo.
"It's okay. Its okay. Everything will be okay. And once your fever and wounds get better we will both meet up with Luffy, so it's all going to be fine."
He feels Ace brush his cheeks to wipe off his tears but they keep on flowing. Ace reassures him but he doesn't hear it clearly. Everything muffled by his own sobs and for the love of god, he can't stop them. His body trembles with every sob he lets out. Ace pulls him into a hug. Ace's one arm rubbing Circles on his back while fingers cradling his gold locks. His brothers hold keeping him steady so he doesn't break anymore.
And Sabo thinks about how much he missed his brother's protective embrace and his voice, which soothes him and reassures him, and for the first time in a very long time, he finally feels at home.
He missed Ace, he missed Luffy, Oh, how much he missed everything. His tears keep on multiplying, whole body shaking every time he futilely tries to keep the sobs at bay.
"Ac-hic Ace I missed you-hic- I love-hic-you and luffy -hic-don-don't leave me-hic alone pl-hic please."
"yeah Sabo, we won't. Promise."
( I'll make sure no one breaks us brothers apart this time. )