Work Text:
“Here's the report you have been asking Da— uhhh, Dragon-san.”
Dragon looked up, eying the young man in front of him. Sabo had maintained his dignity, with proper posture and keeping a steady eye contact, unwavering. His lips were curled slightly, offering a soft smile like he didn't just slip up. He had always been a great pretender and could easily persuade people with that smile of his.
The twitching of his eyelid betrayed him in the end, losing the battle instantly.
“What did you say?” Dragon questioned, taking the folder and putting it aside, together with the neverending pile that was on his right. There was a more pressing matter of getting on the bottom of things.
Sabo raised an eyebrow, appearing stumped. “I said here’s the report.”
“Not that one.” Dragon began tapping his finger on the desk.
“I don't know what you're talking about.” Sabo tilted his head slightly, uttering his words with careful precision.
Dragon stared.
And Sabo stared back.
A game of cat and mouse where the mouse had already been caught but still desperately clinging to the hope that it could still find a way out of it. Sabo had always been cunning, refusing to give up even when the odds were not in his favor. He lied easily, as if second nature in him, having a way with his words. But Dragon knew him better than that for he was practically there to see him grow as a young man he is right now.
“Alright I called you Dad,” Sabo said, dropping his shoulders in an exasperated manner, shaking his head. His earlier act of being collected and levelheaded was gone, replaced by the hidden annoyance he was trying to hide.
“And as your commanding officer,” Dragon uttered, leaning back with a heavy breath. “I must ask you to refrain from calling me that ever again. Dismiss.”
Dragon paid him no heed, grasping a pen again, focusing his attention to the documents regarding their budget cuts for the month. He scribbled nonchalantly, wanting to focus on work. But his subordinate, whom he supposedly sent away, did not budge one bit, towering over him, shadow falling through.
He glanced up yet again, observing him intently. There's a frown forming on Sabo's face, deepening as the seconds passed by. He remained silent, deep in thought as he articulated a speech that he could throw as a defense for his actions. Had he been too harsh on his words for Sabo to react as such?
“Is the idea of being a father really that horrible to you?” Sabo exacted, sounding accusatory. He bit down his tongue after realizing what came out from his mouth.
“I am not your father, Sabo,” Dragon asserted, interrupting him in the process.
“I know that,” Sabo huffed. “He’s probably living his best life in Goa, already forgetting about his son who died just to escape him,” he sarcastically mouthed with a tinge of resentment betraying his voice.
Dragon shook his head, not wanting to further escalate this topic as a way to protect them both from vulnerability. He repeated, emphasizing his words in hopes it could get through his thick skull. “I am just requesting you not to call me that again.”
“But I do consider you as a father figure…” Sabo revealed in a murmur, smiling dejectedly. He inquired, more adamant this time, as stubborn as he could be. “I ask you again, is it really that bad?”
Dragon remained still, not knowing a proper reply that could satisfy his question.
Dragon knew all about it, his distressing years of growing up as the scion of an esteemed noble family. Sabo had been very vocal about his past after regaining his memories two years ago. But ever since then, the inner turmoil never went away. The stress of his job caused his emotional instability to worsen. Sabo had always been like that, keeping it all to himself, hoping his problems would go away on its own but it never did. The wounds were there and it's slowly erupting to be something of a bigger problem. A bomb that could explode anytime now if not handled with care.
The cracks were starting to show, and all Dragon was doing was to reject his attempt of wanting comfort.
But it was Dragon's own way of protection, by shutting everyone else away, to be confined in a box of his own making. It was how he learned to survive through everything, strategic and necessary. By following his dreams of wanting a world free from tyranny, he became a target. Every person he interacted with could be used as a leverage if he was not careful enough. To form meaningful connections was out of the question if that meant putting them in danger. He had to make sacrifices, to sacrifice even the child that was the reason behind all this.
But Sabo was once a child, too. A child that Dragon rescued that night where their surroundings were lit up by a burning trash heap that was caused by the bloodline he was born into. Rejected and neglected, he yearned to escape, choosing to sail on the high seas all alone than to stay on the place that caused him nothing but pain.
The moment Dragon dragged him from the ocean, battered and bruised, he became his responsibility.
The child— no longer a child, but a young man who would one day succeed him if something terrible were to happen, stood before him, all grown up and Dragon personally made sure of it. Sabo was hurting, evident in the way he carried himself that moment. He used his hands to wipe away his face, hoping it would take the fatigue, too. His head was dropped forward, hiding his features of dejection.
Sabo took a deep breath, gaining control of his emotions. “I'm sorry, Dragon-san. I'm way out of line.”
Dragon stood up, placing a hand on Sabo's shoulders keeping him in place. Sabo remained still, saved only by his breathings. Sabo crossed the distance, arms wide open as he made his approach. He wrapped his arms around him, feeling the hearth from within. It was all so sudden and Dragon stood, unsure on what to do. He leaned in, placing a hand on Sabo's back, rubbing him gently as a way of consolation.
“A father would never send his child to a war without a clear path of victory,” Dragon said, whispering close to Sabo’s ears as if it was an apology itself. “Had I truly considered you as my son, you would never be here in my arms right now.”
Dragon couldn't see Sabo's face, but could imagine him biting his lower lip almost to the point of bleeding, something he always did when overwhelmed. Sabo remained silent, tightening his hold as he cradled his head on his shoulders, not having a care left for this world.
He revealed his weakness, no point in hiding it anymore.
He thought of the son he had forsaken when he was barely a week old, premature yet a fighter. Just like everything in his life at that point, he left him, too, in hopes that he could find his place in the world and be free to do whatever his heart craved for. And it was not futile as Luffy was out there living his own dream of being the freest man in the seas. Dragon had been selfish, but that selfishness was never in vain.
And then there's Sabo. His adoptive son in all but paper. He was ten years old then, recovering from the trauma induced by the celestial dragon who wanted him dead. Wrapped in bandages from head to toes, a hurt child who impressed everyone with his strong desire of continuing living.
Let me fight for you.
Dragon still remembered the burning passion behind those hazel eyes of his, staring earnestly. The boy had forgotten everything from his past but it seemed that the conviction of wanting to fight for what is right remained, not to be erased easily as it was etched deep on his heart. It was not revenge per say, but yearning for change that he believed he could bring upon if given the chance.
Dragon could have dismissed him, discouraged him for being so young that he could not fight the world in his state. He could have given him to his allies willing to take on charity cases, like what they did to several others whom they rescued from war or slavery. But instead, he gave Sabo a torch that still burns brightly till this very day.
If you are ready to throw your life away for your dream, then so be it.
Admitting that he considered Sabo as his son, is admitting that he is his weakness, too.
“You're right, you're not my father,” Sabo whinged, chuckling humorlessly. “My father would deprive me of food whenever I misbehaved or didn't do well in my studies. He'd shred the drawings I made while making me lose confidence in myself by mincing me with his words. He’d rather hold me captive all my life than to give me the freedom of choosing what I want. He was a cruel man, and I reject the blood that flows in my veins.”
Dragon listened, like how he did years ago, when he first met Sabo, desperately clinging to be understood.
“But you, on the other hand…” Sabo let go of his hold at that point. He flashed a hopeful smile, not afraid anymore. “You were there every night while I was recovering from my burns, making sure I was never alone once I woke up from my nightmares. Even when you're drowning in paperworks, you still have time to train me so I’ll have a better chance of fending for myself. You gave me a home, a place for me to belong. And most importantly, you believed in my ambitions and gave me the strength to fight. For that, I'll forever be thankful.”
“You're getting quite sappy,” Dragon chided, shaking his head.
It earned a laugh from Sabo, easing the tension on his shoulders. “Your fault. I mean, in all accounts, Luffy adopted me as his older brother. Then I met the old geezer one time and he gave me a Fist of Love.”
“He gave you a beating? That's the equivalent of signing the adoption papers already.”
Sabo rewarded him with a grin, as if proud for what it entailed. Dragon could not imagine him looking more innocent than he did that moment, remembering the young boy who smiled whenever the wind would blow against his face and with the sea wide in front of him.
“So, is this about Luffy?” Sabo probed, closer to home than Dragon would like to admit. But since they were at that point of vulnerability, he was not afraid to dig more.
The Luffy on his mind was a mosaic, created by the information he purposely gathered from the people who had met him. Tidbits were one must know a part before understanding the whole. Luffy had left pieces of himself for every person he interacted with and Dragon picked up the fragments. From Sabo who never stopped gushing about how great of a man he had become. Robin who talked about her beacon of hope, who rescued her from dying despite all odds, declaring war on their enemies on her behalf. Even from Koala and Hack who had the pleasantries of exchanging a few words with him, a lot more than Dragon ever did in his whole life.
Because he abandoned Luffy, and no amount of apologizing could ever atone for it.
He never saw his son, gave him to his father in hopes he could be protected well. He missed everything— first steps, first words, first smiles. All the moments he could never reclaim as guilt lingered on his mind. The photographs he never took, the pride he never felt, and the laughter he never heard. He had chosen a path, one he would never regret, but there were times where his shortcomings were evident.
“I don't know what you're talking about,” Dragon replied, parroting his words earlier, making Sabo roll his eyes.
“I'm not trying to replace him, you know.” Sabo huffed indignantly, crossing his arms over his chest.
“And you're never a replacement. You're the traumatized child I fostered who would bite anyone's hand when they try to grab his plate.”
“Fostered, huh?” Sabo smirked, as if seizing the victory. “So you just admitted you adopted me, too? Like how Luffy and Garp adopted me.”
Dragon was robbed of seeing Luffy growing up. He would never have that chance again, but he did see glimpses on what it would be like with Sabo.
Sabo who unlocked his observation haki for the first time, overwhelmed by how loud emotions could be.
How he returned from his first mission, shaken to the core, but knowing there would be a home to return to and arms willing to embrace him.
Teaching him to shave his nonexistent facial hair simply because Koala had teased him for it.
His eating habits that rivaled even his own.
His smiles of reassurement that no matter what life threw at him, he would always bounce back.
And his laughter that proved he’s still living, despite everything.
He raised Sabo, it was apparent in the way he carried himself, with confidence and integrity. Because Sabo would never be a weakness of his. He was trained rigorously, passing his knowledge on him, in hopes that he could one day be his successor. It was fruitful as Sabo already proved himself dozens of times that he deserved to be in that position. He would never be an anchor that could weigh him down, because he taught Sabo to be strong.
“Fine, you win,” Dragon grumbled, which earned a boost on the young man’s ego.
“Lucky me, I guess,” Sabo shrugged playfully.
They were interrupted by Sabo's growling stomach, a reminder that even if he was their Chief of Staff, he was still a boy who always needed to be reminded of.
“Have you eaten?” Dragon asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Not really. You're asking for the reports so I had to finish it first.”
“Nonsense. From now on, you must eat before you submit it.”
“You should practice what you preach.” Sabo scoffed.
“And that's why we're getting dinner now.” Dragon took a few steps, glancing back at him as an invitation.
“At midnight? The cooks are gonna throw a fit,” Sabo said, but didn't turn down the idea.
The two of them headed out after that, side by side as they roamed the hallways of their base. There were occasional officers still up who greeted them a good evening. Arriving at the mess hall that was desolate, the lone chef greeted them happily and served them a feast of sea king meat, which was specifically left just for them who both missed dinner.
As they eat their fillings, they exchange stories with Sabo repeating stories about his childhood that Dragon had heard a hundred times before, never getting tired of it. To learn how his sons grew up together, always warmed his heart. He may have left Luffy but he was never truly alone because he knew how to pick them.
Later on, either Koala and Ivankov will find them, giving them a scolding for not taking better care of themselves and replenishing the nutrients they need on proper hours. And they would also get chewed over for staying way past midnight. Then Sabo and him would apologize sheepishly, saying that it won’t happen again, which meant that they will definitely do it again.
But that's okay, because they will do it together.
After all, as the saying goes by,
Like father, like son.