Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Confusion and Apologies
Ace was confused.
Well, you can't really blame him.
He woke up due to something heavy crush on him. He opened his eyes only to find his brothers with teary-eyes, which surprised Ace.
"What are you two doing?!"
Luffy utter softly, "A-Ace, is this really you? T-this is not a dream, right?"
"What are you talking about Luffy? Why are you crying?" Ace asked his voice softening.
"Ace, I'm sorry I'm so sorry." Sabo sobbed.
Both Luffy and Sabo clinging to him like koalas, crying.
"What is wrong with you two? Why are you crying exactly?"
As Ace tried to get away, Luffy wrapped his arms around Ace and Sabo tightly.
"Luffy, Sabo, let me go."
"NO!"
Both just burying their face deeper into Ace’s shoulders.
"How about you let me go first so I can figure out why are you crying?"
"... Ace."
Ace looked over to see Dadan. She too was crying while coming closer to them.
This, this... What is this? Something about Dadan's eyes that Ace had never seen before.
Luffy and Sabo finally moved away but still hold onto Ace.
"Dadan, why are you crying?"
Dadan was on her keens and embrace him tightly.
"What are yo-"
"Son."
Ace paused for a moment
"What did you say?"
"You are my son."
"Why are you saying this?"
"You are my son."
"Why now?"
Dadan hugged him even more tightly.
"Why now? Why now? You said I'm not your son," Ace began to cry. "You never cared."
"I'm truly sorry."
"Let me go."
Dadan let him go, and Ace fled.
Luffy and Sabo pursued him, not wanting to lose their brother.
"Boss, T-this means Ace is still alive and well. He is still living."
"I'm not sure if this is a miracle or a second chance. Give me the den-den so I can call Garp."
"I'm on it, boss."
Dogra dashed away.
x-x-x-
Luffy and Sabo lost track of Ace.
"Sabo."
"Yes, Luffy?"
"Ace is still alive. We are little again. Ace's chest is..." Luffy was unable to continue.
He was making every effort not to cry again. Sabo clenched his hand and glanced at the ground.
"Yes. Ace is still alive. He's still alive."
"Do you know what happened, Sabo?"
"No, I don't. Let's find Ace first, Luffy."
"Alright, let's split up to look for him."
"Hm."
-x-x-x-x
A part of Sabo knew where Ace would be, but he hoped it wouldn't be the case. Sabo found Ace crying by the river. Sabo's breathing came to a halt.
"Ace... Are you ok?"
"She didn't care. She said I'm not hers. So why? How come now?"
"Ace.."
"Leave me alone, Sabo."
Sabo and Ace sat next to each other. "I won't leave you, you are my brother. I promised you." Never again.
Sabo finally spoke up after a few moments.
"You know, Ace... Dadan is the type of person who doesn't know how to express love, but she loves you. She was always loved you."
"You don't know that. You don't know her."
"She loves you."
"You don't know-"
"But I do. I know she loves you because she would do anything for you. She never know how to show love but when it comes to you or Luffy or even me, she would even punch Garp if she has to." Sabo quietly sob, "You have always been her son."
"What 's with all of you today?" Ace asked, "You all woke up and started acting like I came back from a long trip or something."
"You did. You'd been on a long, long trip. You're finally home."
"I didn't do anything. What are you saying?"
"Ace," Sabo said, "don't do anything stupid."
Ace went completely still.
Sabo took a deep breath and fixed his hat, "Shall we go? Luffy is looking for you and Dadan is properly worried."
Ace didn't move.
"Do you want to stay here a little longer?"
".."
"Ok wherever you are ready"
-x-x-x-x
It was almost night when they got back.
"ACE"
And there he was, Luffy clinging on Ace like a Koala on a tree, but the tree was screaming at him to let go. The tree seemed to have forgotten that another Koala was close behind him, joining in the hug. Both koalas were almost crying again. The tree was exhausted and had given up for the day. It seems like the tree doesn't like hugging. It may be troublesome in the future.
Something was seriously wrong.
Why? Because Luffy didn't try to steal food from Ace in fact he give it to Ace, so did Sabo.
If Ace wasn't freaking out then he is now. If that's not the worse case, everyone is quite, no one is fighting for food for the first time. It was uncomfortable.
Finally the day was over, Ace hoped whatever was up with today will be gone by tomorrow.
Luffy was already asleep while holding Ace's shirt.
"Hey, Ace?"
"Yeah?"
"You will be here when I wake up tomorrow, right?"
Ace glance at him.
"Did you had a dream where I was gone, Sabo?"
"... Yes." I'm a small voice Sabo answered.
Ace, for a split second, just a split second, felt relieved.
"Sabo, I'm right here" For now. "I will be here when you wake up, so go to sleep."
Sabo silently held Ace's hand.
"Sabo-"
"Night, Ace."
With that, Sabo fall asleep within a minute. Ace slowly tried to let go but Sabo held him tighter. He signed and turned to his back, staring at the ceiling.
"This is uncomfortable."
'Just what is going on today. Why did they suddenly...'
"... Ace"
"huh?! Oh... Luffy, you woke up?"
"Ace."
"What's wrong?"
"I have a question."
"What is it?"
"What if....what if you die and I'm still here?"
"You!? You think I going to die?!" Ace hit Luffy on the head.
"OW!!" Luffy slightly smiled, "It's just a question." 'it's just like back then.'
"I'm not going to die, you idiot!"
'Liar' "Just answer my question. What if you die and I'm still here?"
Luffy was serious. This made Ace quite for a bit.
"Then you will be all grown up, you will have your own crew, you will be stronger than you are now but not strong then me. And you won't need me anymore."
'Luffy having a crew he can rely on, somehow that puts me at ease.'
Luffy clenched his fists, "No."
"What?"
"I think I'll always need you."
Luffy mubble as he grab a hold of Ace's shirt tightly.
Ace silently rub his brother's hand.
"Luffy, go to sleep it's late."
Luffy listen to him and layed down beside him still holding onto him.
Ace was back looking at the ceiling again.
"A-Ace, is this really you? T-this is not a dream, right?"
"Ace I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Son."
"I'm sorry."
"You are my brother."
"she loves you. She always did."
"You have always been her son."
"You will be here when I wake up tomorrow, right?
"I think I'll always need you."
'Why did all of them suddenly...'
He can't stop thinking about everything.
'This is the first time Dadan had called me her son, also the first time I saw Dadan and everyone cry. Just why? I wonder what cause them to act like this.'
'I hope tomorrow everything changes back to how it was'