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☀︎
Like every other island ruled by the World Government, Egghead is a place where pirates and revolutionaries alike avoid like the plague. That’s why it makes complete sense why Sabo’s little brother happens to pick this place to create chaos.
When he lands at the edge of the island, the future island is already in shambles. Smoke and dust are billowing in the air while sounds of battle are booming in the near distance. Unconscious bodies in marine uniforms scatter across the weird ground of this island, Sabo can only assume that those are trails that Luffy’s crew left behind, like a storm through a small village.
When he sees a familiar shadowy figure, Sabo cringes in recognition. He is very much not interested in dealing with the five elders for a second round. But there’s a… strangeness in the air. There’s a heavy weight to it that leaves Sabo breathless. It is accompanied by an echoing sound. Getting louder and louder, it’s a steady pattern that goes bump ba-da bump , bump ba-da bump . Drums. It rings in his ears and pounds in his chest. The air contracts and expands, pulsing with energy, drawing Sabo in closer.
Boom!
The large spider beast that is Saturn is blasted back, leaving a dent in the ground and leaving dust scatter in the air.
A loud familiar laughter echoes across the field.
It’s a version of his brother he’s never seen before, the one from the new wanted poster. With hair glowing white and the sun at his back, Luffy shines high up in the air. Tumbling in midair, he slaps his thighs as he lets out a loud crackle, like he just heard a funny joke.
All the stress and wariness leaves Sabo’s body in an instant. It’s like he’s in the presence of the sun, like a warm, hot drink in the freezing cold winter. He can’t help but glance back even as he fights off more marine soldiers lunging at his way. He fights his way towards him and thinks of that little boy that used to run after him and ace, always creating trouble wherever he goes, always laughing in a way that makes them feel warm and just a little bit more loved.
Knocking one more marine officer down, he follows them when Luffy lands at the edge of the island along with Kuma’s daughter. The glow in his hair fading back into its usual inky black. The bounce in the ground returns to solid. The rest of the Strawhats and the Giant Warrior Pirates, if Sabo’s not mistaken, are waiting there for them. Well, the giants being allies is news to Sabo, he has to get that story out of his brother later. He spots one of them carrying an unconscious Kuma back to their ship.
“Those guys are so gross. What the fuck.”
“I think I’m having a relaspe of I-need-to-escape-this-Island-right-now disease…”
“Alright guys! Let’s get off this island!” Luffy shouts with his arms in the air and the surrounding pirates roar back in answer.
Robin is the first to notice him when he finally steps out the shadows. She lights up in recognition and the Strawhats turn their heads towards him, gearing for another fight. But as quickly the weapons are lifted up, they are put back down again.
“Huh? What? What’s going on?” Luffy crosses his arms, even as his crews giggles.
“Hey, Strawhat Luffy, you got room for one more?” Sabo couldn’t help the fond smile that spreads across his face and thinks the speed that Luffy snaps his head towards him had to hurt.
A few minutes ago, he was sun reincarnated but Sabo thinks the way Luffy beams at him is somehow brighter.
“Sabo!’
❁
Itʼs well after midnight when Luffyʼs long-lost brother finishes his story. All thatʼs left is the quiet of the cozy cottage, the weariness draining out of their bodies and the tiredness steeping beneath their bones. They welcome the ache and bruises as old, familiar friends.
Franky fixes himself as quietly as possible, careful not to wake their sleeping captain, even if a traitorous sniffle escapes him every now and then. Robin readily hands him napkins, for his nose and the oil. He glares at her half-heartedly for her efforts, eyes watery, and she smiles back.
It isnʼt the first time and it wouldnʼt be the last, but Franky is reminded of how strong their captain is. Losing Tom almost destroyed him, both figuratively and literally. Metal bits long since made home deep in his body, some healed; some didnʼt. Franky knows grief, knows it too well, and he doesnʼt think he can stand losing family again.
Luffy tosses over and lets out a loud snore, mouth wide with drool leaking out. With a yank of his blanket, Usopp slides down to the floor head first with a soundly ‘thudʼ, still dead to the world as he continues to sleep on.
Robin lets out a small giggle while Sabo sighs, fond and exasperated in equal measures. He leans over to gently wipe Luffyʼs face with his sleeve and brushes sweaty hair off his forehead. Thereʼs a distant look in his eyes, ancient and too tired for someone so young.
Leaning into his touch, Luffy mumbles, “Sabʼ...ˮ
Sabo stills, strands of black hair poking out between his fingers, looking like his breath is caught in his throat. Thereʼs ashes and dried blood on the revolutionaryʼs face, his clothes singed at the edges; and his face glows with pure wonder.
Franky sobs, gladly accepting Robinʼs tissue and her comforting pat on the shoulder. The love between brothers!
Luffy stirs, and wakes up.
“Sabo...?ˮ Luffy blinks, sleep still clouding his gaze, and then jerks wide awake. “Sabo?!ˮ
He chuckles softly, hand still running through his hair. “Hello, Luffy.ˮ
The bed-ridden teen stares in unadulterated awe, not even hesitating before his eyes water up and tears stream down his cheeks at impressive rate.
“Sabooooo,ˮ he whines. The bandage-covered teen tries to sit up but canʼt. Choking on tears, he lets out a string of gibberish. Franky thinks he caught a “I miss you so muchˮ and “thought it was a dreamˮ somewhere in there. He can hear the audible sound of everyoneʼs hearts breaking.
“Oh, Luffy, youʼre still such a big crybaby.ˮ Sabo climbs onto the bed and gathers his little brother in his arms, not caring if tears or snot ruining his fancy napkin thing. Franky doesnʼt think heʼs seen his captain cry before today and judging by Zoroʼs raised eyebrows and Robinʼs tilting head, it’s not a common accusation towards their captain.
The two brothers settle on the small bed. Saboʼs arms wrap tightly around his little brother.
“Are you free?ˮ Luffy asks. Franky doesnʼt quite understand but Sabo seems to.
Sabo breathes in, turning that question over in his head. Luffyʼs eyes were large and expecting when he answers, “Yes, Iʼm free.ˮ
He gets a radiating smile in return. “Good.ˮ
They talk in quiet tones, about tigers and forests, about junk yards and nobles, about mountain bandits and hard-hitting grampas. Luffy, who is so adamant about looking to the future and tucking the past neatly where it belongs, laughs brightly when Sabo brings up the tree house they once built. He offers his own memory of when their caretaker at the time had fallen into one of the many traps around it. Knowing now that Luffy is raised by mountain bandits and Garp the Fist just... explains so much. Eventually, Luffy drifts back into sleep, tear tracks on his cheeks not yet dried, and snuggles into Saboʼs chest.
“Looks like youʼll have to stay for the night,ˮ Robin says, smiling and unapologetic.
Sabo looks at the sleeping boy in his arms and laughs. “Looks like Iʼll have to.ˮ
❁
Apparently, Dressrosa was a solemn outlier and the Strawhat Pirates always end their adventures with a roaring banquet.
Well, it was a roaring banquet after Luffy comes out of his slump when the Vegapunk clone explains that Dr. Vegapunk isn’t technically dead. Something about more cloning technology and other futuristic shit that makes Sabo’s head hurt a bit. He has to marvel at the loud and unabashedly joyful way they are after they just face off against the strongest forces of the government. Well, maybe that’s just how pirates operate.
“And this is Brook, our musician!” Luffy fits himself snuggly at Sabo’s side as he introduces him to the rest of his crew one by one. His hands occasionally stretch over the giant table to grab more food. “He has the best sea shanties! Oh, and he’s a skeleton.”
“Formerly the Rumbar Pirates, yes?” Sabo asks, like he didn’t keep close tabs and background checks on all the strawhats for the past two years.
“Yohohoho, the very same. Well, it’s Strawhat Pirate now and I plan to remain so until the very end.”
“Nonetheless, thank you for taking care of my brother.” He tries his best to bow to everyone while sitting. “It’s comforting to know my brother’s surrounded by such skilled nakama.”
In perfect synchronisation, one of the strongest crew on the seas let out embarrassed but delighted laughs, ducking their heads and waving their hands as if to banish the thought.
“Skilled? Ahahah, if you say so!”
“Compliments won’t make me happy, you bastard!”
Sabo laughs. The greatest weakness of the emperor's crew: praise and recognition. It seems somehow, Luffy managed to recruit the crewmates on his exact wavelength.
Eventually, the banquet quiets down and the food on the table finished off. The adrenaline of what happened in Egghead finally wears off.
Luffy, still tucked by his side, dozed off immediately after finishing half the table's food. Sabo tries not to laugh at his dumb snoring face that still has crumbs all over it.
Hands bloom near them and a blanket is carefully draped over Luffy. Sabo nods his thanks to Robin.
“My, Luffy is particularly sticky today.”
“Well, we didn’t have a lot of time to catch up last time in Dressrosa.”
“Although, I have to ask, Sabo-kun, what’s the chief of the Revolutionary army doing here.”
“Ah, you mean what really happened in Reverie?”
Robin smiles in answer.
He starts talking. The five Elders, Imu, Nefetari D. Lili, and the late Alabasta king. Sabo still has trouble completely wrapping his head around.
“Then, Cobra is truly…”
“Vivi…”
“Ahhh, we should’ve kicked their asses harder!”
“When I heard news of Kuma's disappearance, along with Jewelry Bonney and Strawhat Pirates wreaking havoc on Egghead Island, it’s not hard to connect the dots. I was close enough to reach the place, so I thought I’ll give Kuma some back up.” Luffy lets out another snore before sprawling over Sabo’s lap. He adjusts his hold accordingly. “Vegapunk is also a close associate of Dragon’s There were rumors about the government’s dissatisfaction with him. I was just planning to check things out, didn’t think I was gonna run into a buster call of all things...”
“Man, the government is just dishing out buster calls like free drinks now, huh.” Usopp says absentmindedly, sorting out his inventory of… bullets?
“Hm, couldn’t help but sink one or two marine ships on my way here when I heard.”
“Couldn’t help…?”
With her head resting on her hand, Nami looks at him like she’s studying a weird species. “You brothers are weirdly similar at times.”
“Ahahah, thank you.”
“Yeah, that wasn’t a compliment.”
Wisps of smoke and the smell of cigarettes rose into the air. “Ah, my head hurts. All this about devil fruits and sea levels. And Kuma’s a part of the revolutionary army and also Bonney-chan’s dad?”
“The SUPER relationship charts of you worst generations are not to be joked about!”
At that statement, the strawhats pause before hesitantly glancing at Zoro, who’s been snoring at the sides.
Nami pokes him in the ribs hard enough that the swordsman jerks awake. “Hey, you’re not hiding anything, right?”
“Hah?!”
“We don’t need another Sanji incident. Zoro-kun, we won’t judge no matter who your family is!” Usopp says in an encouraging tone, earning him a slap on the back of his head and an irritated “Oi!”.
Lilith pipes up. “I wasn’t created yet, but I’m pretty sure the government was using that girl to blackmail him into becoming a warlord. She had some sort of supposedly incurable and rare disease.”
The Strawhat Pirates are a sensitive bunch, Sabo decides, as a few of them immediately tear up.
“Bonney!!”
“It’s been quite a while since they first appointed Kuma as warlord…”
"She must've been looking for him!"
"She's seems to be all better now, though!"
“It’s good that they found each other again!” The rest of them give sympathetic sounds before the conversation dwindles down to a comfortable silence.
Jinbe hums, a fond look at his captain. “I have to say, I’m glad you found each other again as well.”
Sabo blinks.
Right.
This is Jinbe, the former warlord. Title revoked and imprisoned for refusing to join the war. Imprisoned right next to Ace. Saved Luffy.
Even before joining the Strawhats, he’s done more for Luffy than Sabo could.
Guilt tastes less bitter on his tongue nowadays. He chokes down the familiar nauseousness and gratefulness threatening to burst out.
Sabo looks at the idiot’s smiling in his sleep. When he grins, it doesn’t feel fake on his face. “Yes, I’m glad as well.”
❁
There is comfort in sea salt in the air and the gentle rocking of waves. Kuma, battered and bloody, sits against the massive wall of the giants’ ship. Basking in the sunlight, he looks more happy and himself than what Sabo remembers in a long time. Jewellery Bonney, age twelve, sits in his laps, looking very much like a child her age, giggles and kicks her feet.
It gathers the rest of their attention when her face suddenly wobbles. She scrunches up her face, trying but not succeeding to not cry. “Dad, I found you. And I found him, he found us. Nika, Nika is really here!”
Kuma pulls in his daughter tighter. “Hm, that’s what he does.”
“Are you talking about Luffy-bro’s new devil fruit form?” The cyborg asks.
“What's up with that anyways? Vegapunk mentioned a god.”
“Something something Nika and the White Warrior.”
They all turned to Luffy, who shrugged. “I don’t know who that is. I’m just having the most fun in that form, nishishshi.”
The stares at Luffy linger for a second before turning doubtful and incredulous.
“Which poor soul has Luffy of all people as a god?” The cook says, with a cigarette in between his lips. His tone however, was more fond than exasperated.
“Yohohoho, if this is one of those new religions, I don’t mind subscribing to.”
“The warrior of liberation, the sun god." Kuma muses and looks at Luffy with consideration and what Sabo thinks is awe. "Nika is a legend passed down generations, freeing slaves and bringing hope to those in despair wherever he goes. He is... the freest man out there.”
( “Are you free?” Sabo’s little brother had asked. )
Luffy blinks at him before breaking into a laugh. “I’m gonna be the King of the Pirates! I’m gonna be the freest man on the seas anyways!”
☀︎