Chapter Text
The Fool signifies new beginnings; The mere start of a journey which will shape your personality. You remain optimistic towards the unknown waiting for you, setting out with the belief that there’s nothing left to do but take that final step and carpe diem - seize the day.
***
There was nothing left for him on Dawn; Nothing that Sabo could keep safe from his parents’ grasp.
He could escape again, of course. It wasn’t like that part was particularly difficult, he’s managed to do just that back when he was five. But coming back to Ace and Luffy meant bringing his parents’ attention — their revenge — upon his brothers’ heads, and Sabo… Sabo couldn’t do that.
They loved him. They chose to love him, binding their bond with a sake ceremony. To Sabo, that meant more than blood. He’d sacrifice anything if it meant his brothers made it out safe and sound.
Running away from home had already endangered them once. If his parents were willing to hire a pirate crew to deal with a handful of children, how much lower could they sink?
Leaving was the only option.
And not just slipping away in the dark of the night, no; He had to catch their attention, ensure that Outlook and Didit knew where he’d gone. If he just disappeared without a trace, they would simply assume he went back to the jungle, which would render the whole ordeal moot.
Sabo had to ensure that all eyes were focused on his departure… And what better way to do that than to utilise the visiting Celestial Dragon? At least, this particular one would prove useful for once in his entitled life.
***
The Fool Reversed takes on a more literal meaning; The consequences of your actions lay in wait. A leap of faith is not always the best course of action, and doing so blinded to the risks the future holds makes you nothing more than stultissime - a complete fool.
***
Gathering up the supplies and stealing a ship was laughably simple. Sabo hardly even cared about being stealthy; It’s not as if his parents had treated the servants any better than they had treated him. With the punishment waiting whether they caught him or not, it wasn’t worth the effort for them to pick a fight with him.
Once again, Outlook and Didit’s shittiness had worked to Sabo’s advantage.
He left the harbour slowly; Partially, to ensure that the news would reach his parents before he disappeared over the horizon, partially to avoid hitting any of the other boats, and in part because he had never actually sailed before.
Books weren’t exactly the ideal way of learning shipfaring.
It can’t be too difficult, Sabo figured. Not if idiots like Bluejam could do it.
The Celestial Dragon’s ship — the single largest ship Sabo had ever seen in his life — was approaching the entrance to the harbour from the open ocean, but he figured they could pass each other easily. His was just a tiny nutshell of a boat, after all, and the harbour’s mouth was wide enough.
Yelling at the shore pulled his attention back towards Dawn. His parents seemed to be making a scene in the harbour, screaming things Sabo couldn’t quite make out. He could guess what they were saying, though.
Embarrassment to the family, blah blah blah. As if Sabo wanted to have anything to do with them in the first place.
He gleefully extended his middle finger towards them, hoping he was still close enough for it to be visible.
Dropping his arm, Sabo shifted his gaze towards Mount Corvo.
If there had been a way to warn his brothers… But, no, they would have insisted on coming with him, if not confronting his parents head-on.
The letter he had left for Ace would have to suffice.
They would meet again someday, of that Sabo was certain. Setting sail early wouldn’t be enough to break their bond.
He’d just have a little bit of a head start, that’s all. Maybe he’d explore the East Blue first, gather information to prepare for the Grand Line; God knows neither of his brothers would think of that. Leaving without thinking ahead was just the thing they’d do… Not that Sabo was doing anything different, just now.
His brothers would forgive him, when they met again. Perhaps he would get a hug from both of them, too. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, after all.
The idea of that filled him with warmth he could almost feel on his skin—