Title: Saving the Strong
Disclaimer: One Piece and all characters do not belong to me but Eiichiro Oda.
Warning: Spoilers for the latest arc (I guess?)
A/N: A short drabble...Another fanfic born out of my procrastination. Please R&R.
"Go back, Luffy." Ace barely has the strength to speak; the small whisper ghosting passed his chapped lips. He strained against the chains, pulling his aching muscles taut with his fading efforts. He was losing it. He tried to keep his head up, tried to look at his little brother. The man was standing just a few feet away from him and locked in the most intense battle ever. Terrible wounds and ugly lacerations bled from almost every inch of Luffy's body and yet he kept fighting – all for the sake of saving him. Damnit. He should be the one protecting Luffy, not the other way round. Ace fought the wave of desperation and helplessness welling up inside, his head drooping to his chest. "Go back, Luffy, go back." He muttered once again under his breath, as if those same words were a sacred chant that could send the other boy home to safety. He could not watch any longer, the abuse his little brother was going through to save him. Still that did not mean he could block out the painful grunts and clashes of battle sounds going on in the background. At this rate, Ace felt like he would go crazy even before Death finds him. He squeezed his eyes shut and was hit by a random memory.
Luffy coughed and sputtered out seawater, his frail little body stirring to life."What the hell are you thinking jumping into the sea like that?!" Ace gasped as he lay on his back, sprawled out on the hard ground with exhaustion. "I want to get stronger! So I can protect everyone!" a weak whine came from beside him. Ace whacked the stupid boy on the head and glared. "And how is drowning going to make you stronger?"
"I am not drowning. I am trying to swim." Luffy pouted.
"You know you ate the devil's fruit. You can never swim anymore, Luffy." Ace sighed in exasperation.
"But…but!" the boy puffed up his cheeks and looked at his older brother, lost for words.
"Don't worry. I will protect everyone." Ace said finally with a small smile "And you."
"Okay." There was a pause as the two got up from the ground and tried to squeeze water out from the wet clothes. Then a realization hit Luffy. "But…Who protects Ace?"
Ace was caught off guard by the innocent question and before he could reply properly, Luffy spoke up again. "I still think I should get stronger. Then I will protect Ace!"
"I need no protection from a brat like you!" Ace scoffed and began walking towards town, leaving the other boy to tag behind.
"You do!"
"I do not!"
So Ace spent the rest of journey arguing the same point with his stubborn little brother.
"I do not need your protection, Luffy." Ace quietly repeated the point as the childhood flashback ended. There was a loud thump as a body crumpled to the ground, followed by footsteps approaching his cell. Ace slowly opened his eyes and peered out from under his fringe, trying to understand the meaning of those sandaled feet that came to stand before him.
"You do." The familiar boyish voice replied him.
"Haa." Ace snorted at the simple answer, amused. He could hear the grin even before he saw Luffy's face, and just as contagious as it goes, he caught the smile too.
The End