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He couldn’t bring himself to believe what he was seeing. This had to be a nightmare, right? There’s no way Fire First Ace, infamous pirate, his big brother , could fall. Especially not like this.
The blood soaking his front and hands didn’t feel real. The shuddering breathing of the man hunched over his shoulder was just the whizzing wind of battle happening around them. Their trembling forms were just a result of over exertion.
The ringing in his ears came to a swift halt as Ace coughed up more blood.
“And you, Luffy. Thank you,” a shuddering breath “for loving me!” Luffy could feel his brother’s tears drip onto his shoulder before he went limp in his arms.
“a-ace…”
A full body, gut wrenching sob clawed it’s way out of his throat and filled the battle field with unsheathed agony. Luffy couldn’t move. He couldn’t think. He was frozen, staring up at the sky with unparalleled anguish.
He registered the unnatural red on his hands and something picking his body up before the world went black.
ace….
Ace…
“ACE!”
Luffy woke up screaming. His whole body felt like it was on fire, tubes and wires holding him down. He tore them off, not caring about the sting that accompanied tearing needles from his flesh.
He barged through the submergible’s door, his glare alone being enough to deter the crew around him from so much as stepping in his directions. He flew out of the ship, landing on his stomach with a painful smack.
“ace…” He mumbled.
“WHERE’S MY BROTHER!?!?”
Just like back in Marineford, his screams tore through his body. Before anyone could stop him, he struggled to his feet and took off running, not even bothering to look where he was running.
He only came to a stop when his body gave out from under him, the forest and surrounding landscape being evidence of his current emotional state. It was then that he caught sight of his hands.
His hands, red from his broken knuckles staining the bandages wrapped tightly around his body. His breath hitched.
He was trembling from head to toe. ‘His’ blood. It was covering the shaking hands before him. He wanted it gone.
Before he even knew what was happening, he held a rock above his head, prepared to bring it down on his hand with as much force as his broken body would allow.
He didn’t make it two inches before a larger hand grabbed his wrist, holding it with a firm grip. Slowly, he turned his head to peer over his shoulder with a broken gaze.
“I leave you alone for ten minutes and you run off and try to smash your hands. What am I gonna do with you, huh Luffy?”
The rock tumbled out of his hand. The tears which had never quite stopped began anew with force.
“Ace!” was all he garbled out before his head toppled into his leg as his hands desperately clawed into the fabric of his shorts. He felt a hand being placed on his head as he cried, the soft huff of breath being all he heard in response.
Soon, it would become apparently obvious to both men that they couldn't stay here much longer, the older of the two especially struggling to stay on his feet. Besides, someone was bound to come looking for them eventually, with both being mortally wounded.
Together, they hobbled back over to the make shift camp on the beach of Amazon Lily. Luffy, despite his exhaustion due to a sudden drop of adrenaline, clung onto Ace the entire way not daring to let go for even a second. Ace used to teese his little brother for his clingyness when they were kids, but he would let it go this time. God knows they both needed it.
After a thorough scolding from Law, the two were put back on bed rest before they passed out. Luffy, however, refused to sleep until he was laying within arms reach of Ace.
Hours later, Ace awoke due to an uncomfortable sleeping position. He couldn't lay on his back or stomach for obvious reasons. He let a small, amused smile cross his face at the sight of his kid brother spread out on the bed that had been pushed against his own, arms unconsciousnessly reaching for him in his sleep.
“Just like when we were kids,” he chuckled.
It had been a beautiful day on the little island Garp had dumped his grandkids on, and as per usual, the trio of trouble makers were doing what they do best; fighting that night's dinner.
It was a new beast Sabo had seen while in the tree house, both Ace and Luffy being excited as to what it might tast like.
It may have had the upper hand. Before anyone could yell out I warning, it got behind Ace and charged, knocking him out cold after clawing up his side with a well aimed swip.
“Ace!” Sabo and Luffy yelled in unison, quickly finishing off the beast before rushing Ace back to Dadan.
Luckily, it was only a small graze and he only passed out due to being knocked down by the giant animal. That didn't mean Luffy was any less worried. Sabo had been level-headed enough to know that Dadan wasn't worried then he shouldn't be either and had calmed down.
He couldn’t say the same for their youngest brother. Luffy was still sniffing next to where Ace was resting, small hand wrapped tightly onto Ace's slightly larger one. That's how he would find him when he woke up.
If their relationship was still the same as it had been when Luffy first arrived, he would have pushed him away and told him to quit being a baby. However, now he sighed and pulled his little brother into his lap.
“What's wrong, Luffy?” he asked gently.
“I was scared,” he wailed, balling up tight fistful of Ace's shirt.
“It’s okay. I can't leave you and Sabo all alone, can I? I gotta stay to look after you,” he gave him an affectionate hair ruffle.
He would end up holding him until he fell asleep before he laid him down between him and Sabo to go to sleep himself. Luffy, ever the graceful sleeper, had his limbs thrown over both him and Sabo, seeking contact with both of his brothers.
Ace only smiled.
He was pulled out of his memory at the restless tossing and turning of his brother. At first glance he thought it was just Luffy being Luffy. However, upon further inspection, there were sharp gasps and pants coming from him.
Ace found and reached a hand out to gently shake him awake, hovering his hand over him for a minute after words.
Luffy sat up and rubbed at his face then quickly looked back over to make sure Ace was still there. He relaxed a bit, but his brother could still see the slight trembling of his arms and hands.
He did his best to sit up. “Luffy, it was just a dream,” he said as his little brother wrapped himself around him in a tight embrace, carefully not to touch his back or chest.
He couldn't touch the wound. He didn’t want to be the one to stop the bleeding. His hands were covered in enough blood already-
“Luffy,” Ace said in a firm voice, effectively pulling him from his spiraling thoughts. He placed a gentle yet firm hand on each shoulder and pulled him away to look at him.
“It was just a dream, Luffy. I'm still here and I don't plan on going anywhere any time soon. I still gotta watch out for my kid brother, don't I?”
Luffy gave a wet laugh.
“Yeah. Yeah you do.”
Law would find them holding onto each other in the morning, sound asleep.