Chapter Text
Chapter 3":Are you a dream or are you real? If your a dream, please don't wake me up. If you are real, please don't leave me"
It somewhat did.
It somewhat didn't.
What somewhat did was how it all went back to normal, everything went back to how it was.
No one was crying anymore. No was hugging him anymore. No one was just sitting and eating in silence. When it comes to food it has always been a war.
What somewhat didn't was how they all pretended what happened never happened.
Ace was not an idiot. He could tell just from a look.
How Dadan changed. How she would try to be affectionate. How she keep a close eye on them, on him. How she would run a hand on his hair. How the rest of the bandit seem to stare at him when they think he doesn't notice.
How Sabo changed. How he would stare at him like he was afraid if he ever blinked Ace would disappear. How he would try to be close with Ace. How he would want to do many things with Ace.
How Luffy changed. How his stretched out arm would hold his shirt all the time. How he would run after Ace and cries when Ace is gone. How many times he would wake crying and calm down when he sees Ace.
Why?
Ace was not an idiot. Whatever it was that happened he was involved deeply yet he didn't know what it was. Even if he try asking no one would give him an honest answer.
Maybe all this was his imagination. If it was then he will take it.
So then why, why are they looking at him like like? He could their intense stare on either his chest or back. This was not his imagination.
Ace need to find out just what happened.
Makino was cleaning the bar. It was quite rare for her bar to so empty and quiet.
Just as she was about to relax, the door open, almost breaking.
'I spoke too soon.'
"Welcome-oh Ace!"
Ace rush inside like he was running away like something was after him.
"Makino, hide me!"
'Is someone chasing him?' She hurried him to hide behind the counter.
She looked at the entrance again to see Luffy and Sabo.
....What?
She gazed back at Ace who looked at her shaking his head.
Why is Ace running away from them?
"Makino, did Ace came him?"
She smiled, "No he haven't. What are you boys doing here?"
"We were just...uh we were just running around and lost Ace, so we are looking for him." nervously Sabo explained whereas Luffy was fidgeting.
Strange. Sabo has never lied and Luffy haven't asked for food yet.
Ace was hiding from his brothers for whatever reason.
With a smile, she replied,"Oh, then maybe you should look at the places where he rarely go to."
At that, Sabo's shoulders tense and he was anxious while Luffy seemed to be thinking where Ace could be.
They thanked her and ran out.
She locked the door and approached Ace.
Getting on knees, she gently asks,"Are you ok?"
Ace looked at her and woundered if she would believe him yet he tells her.
"They changed. They suddenly changed one morning. One morning I woke up and suddenly they all changed. They cried when they saw me, Dadan called me her son, Sabo is being weird, he keeps looking at me like if he blink I would disappear and Luffy keeps waking in middle of the night crying but as soon as he sees me he would calm down and sleep. They all changed. They pretend nothing is changed but everything did."
Makino listened calming. Ace wounded if the women believes him.
"I believe you."
"You do?" Ace was not convinced.
"Luffy and Sabo were acting differently. Sabo lied and Luffy didn't asked for food. When I told them to look for you in other places where you could be, Sabo tensed up and looked somewhat horrified. So, yes, I believe you."
Makino eyed Ace, "the fact your here hiding from your brothers is also why I believe you."
Finally. Someone believed him. "I don't know what to do."
"You know, Ace, there is a way...a way to tell if people are being genuine or fake." Confessed Ace looked at her, "You have to observe closely and learn about them though their acts and tells to know what they mean. This is called body language."
"Body language? Is that how you know Sabo and Luffy were acting different?"
"Yes. Every person is different, every person's language is different. Their tone, the look in their eyes, the way their body reaction, their fingers, their footsteps and more."
Makino isn't the type to share secrets but at this moment she felt like an older sister who was telling her brother how the world works.
"So if I learn their body language, observe closely I can understand them?"
"However you must never let them know. You have to be secretive about this."
"Why?"
"They intend to hide away."
"Oh I get it. I think this way I can understand them bett-"
Before he could finish speaking, Ace fall asleep so suddenly. Makino catched him before he could fall.
Slowly, she held him. She didn't know why but it felt as though it has been a long time.
Makino was suddenly restless. She didn't know why.
She picked him up and took his to the guest room and put him on the bed.
Instantly, he got comfortable and lay on his stomach. She smiled and went back.
I know this place.
It's in shambles, with smoke and debris all over.
There are people screaming.
It's cold. It's too cold. It's freezing.
Where is the fire?
There is the smell of gunpowder and blood.
My brother is on the ground covered in blood. A hole in his chest.
There is blood on my hands.
My brother's blood.
I couldn't save you.
I'm sorry.
You are smiling as your fire fades away.
You are not warm anymore.
It's cold. It's too cold. It's freezing.
Are you dying?
You promised you won't die.
Why are breaking your promise?
Come back.
It's dark.
I'm scared.
I'm crying.
You hate crybabies.
I can't help it.
Where are you?
Please come back.
I still need you.
Blank.
That's how Makino found Luffy.
After putting Ace in the guest room, Luffy arrived about half an hour or so.
"Luffy, where is Sabo?"
"We spild up to look for Ace."
"Well Ace is in the guest room fast asleep"
Luffy looked as though every bad thing is now gone. He rushed to be by Ace.
After a minute or so, Makino was restless again. She hurried to where the kids to find luffy sitting on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Luffy!" she screamed his name, shaking him. He looked lifeless. As if his entire world was torn apart.
"Ace! Ace wake up!" Slowly Ace woke up.
"Makino, what-" "Look at Luffy!"
And he did. Why did Luffy looked like that?
"Luffy! Luffy!"
***
"... ffy.... Lu...y"
Is someone calling him?
"Lu...ffy....lu"
Why does it sounds like Ace?
Why is he hearing his voice?
He is seeing his brother.
Why is he younger?
He is older then him.
So why is he younger?
Or is it Ace from his brain again?
All of a sudden, Luffy felt pain on his jewline. The pain was real. Luffy looked around and finally his eyes landed on Makino. Makino is here. Why does she look like that?
And there was Ace. No, how can it be? Ace is dead.
Slowly, Luffy raise his hand and gently placed it on Ace's shoulder, sliding down to where his heartbeat is supposed to be.
'I can touch him.
He is real.
His heart was beating.
It wasn't still.
He feels warm.
Not cold.
Ace is here.
His brother is here.
That's right.
They are little again.
And Ace is alive.
His brother is alive.'
"LUFFY."
Ace is calling him. Luffy slowly, wordlessly warp his arms and legs around him.
"Luffy what happened?"
He didn't answer. He didn't want to talk. He wanted nothing but his brother. He held Ace tighter.
Ace went quite and slowly looked Makino. Makino was distraught.
She signal Ace to be quite and let Luffy calm down. After some time Luffy was asleep, still refused to let go.
"This is what I mean when I said they changed." Ace said.
"I believe you." Makino look over at Luffy, he still had that look,"but why?"
"I don't know, I don't know what to do."
"How about you go home for today? It's been a long day for you. I will come and meet you tomorrow."
Ace was unsure but nodded. Luffy still won't let go so he had no choice but to carry him and he did.
Just in time for Sabo to be there too. Sabo said nothing, so didn't Ace. Sabo just held onto his shirt.
"You brats, you are late." Dadan scolded him. "Come in, take a bath and only then eat."
Sabo and Ace woke Luffy up.
It went as well as it could. Luffy went back to his usual self. Ace could tell he wasn't fully back.
Nightfall, Ace was the first to fall asleep.
"Luffy, what happened?" Luffy looked tired. So tired.
"I thought I saw Ace die all over again. Suddenly I was back there, Ace was lifeless on the ground. I felt it happened all over again. I only woke up after he hit me."
Sabo just silently stare, "You had a flashback."
"I don't want it."
"it just happens. It happens to me too but it's different from you."
"Sabo, you and I won't be older then Ace, right?"
"No, this time we won't be. Ace is the oldest out of three of us."
"i hope so."
They went to sleep.
With warmth between them.