Dear Sabo
Summary: Ace and Luffy write letters to Sabo describing their adventures. Little do they know he will one they read them all.
Written after a prompt! ASL Brotherhood
Prompt: "I got this idea in my head about Luffy and Ace writing down their adventures for the sake of Sabo. Leaning more towards Ace, finding those logs after his death... But I also think Luffy putting in that effort for the sake of his dead brother is super sweet." (By anonymous, for the OP Ficathon)
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece
Prologue
To say Sabo is surprised would be understatement of the year.
When Marco the Phoenix hands him over an old box filled with letters he can't help but raise a blonde eyebrow, incredulous.
"I found them in Ace's cabin" the pirate explains, an unreadable expression painted over his face, "I didn't go through them, but they were addressed to you, so I brought them."
Sabo is speechless for a minute or so but then he mumbles a "Thank you" and a "That's very considerate of you", briefly recalling the lessons of politeness Makino used to give to Ace and sometimes him.
He wants to ask Marco a thousand things such, what was his brother like when he grew up? Was he a good drinker? Did he tell them stories about their childhood together?
"He told me a lot about you, you know?" the former first division commander muses, as if he has read his mind. The words echog through the small ship cabin and then dissipate in the warm summer air with the faint odour of sea water.
Sabo opens his mouth to say something but no words come out and in the end the Phoenix just leaves with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes and Sabo realizes how difficult this must be for him.
Suddenly the only question he wants to ask Marco is – how do you hold up?
The minutes stretch into what feels like eternity while he just stares at the old box, heart racing in his chest at the thought of what he might find.
His curiosity gets the better of him in the end and with trembling hands he opens the old box, carefully examining its contents.
There is a voluminous stash of papers inside, tied together with thick red thread.
The paper is old and cheap, yellowed with time. Most of the letters have been drenched in seawater; some have tiny droplets of blood in the corners while others bear the smell of alcohol.
The pile is substantial and he can see some of the letters are dated only days after his presumed death at their home island while others stretch well into Ace's days on the Moby Dick. He unwraps the red threat with great care, doesn't cut it, almost as if it holds some meaning.
He takes the first letter gently in his hand and with a racing heart he reads its beginning,
Dear Sabo,
I am so pissed off you died.
A warm smile creeps up his lips while some runaway tears dance on the edge of his eyes. It's a strange feeling, a mixture of happiness and sadness, an odd sense of closure yet at the same time a promise for a new beginning.
"Feeling's mutual, Ace." he remarks with a nostalgic grin and it feels as if they are five again and the end of the world is the Gray Terminal.
He reads on.
Author's Note: Here is the first chapter, hope you enjoyed! The next ones will follow Ace and Luffy's letters to Sabo and recount their adventures.
Excuse any grammar mistakes and misplaced words, English isn't my native language.
If you have any suggestions – don't hesitate to comment!
If you enjoy the story and want it to be continued, please let me know!
Have a lovely day!