I'm Still Here to Protect You
Ace new it was late but he could not allow himself to sleep tonight. Today had marked the first day that Sabo had been ripped out of there lives. It had been hard on everyone but Ace new who got hurt the most. A small whimper escaped from the tiny, shivering body lying on his lap. Ace gently stroked the boy's black hair soothing the child. Earlier when Luffy had told him he wanted to become stronger so that he could protect everyone; Ace realized that Luffy was blaming himself. During the day Ace had cuffed him across the head and told him to shape up. As the day went on though he started to notice how tired Luffy was, reason being that he had spent the previous night crying. Ace had taken the small child home to their tree house and within minutes he was asleep.
"Finally; some peace and quiet." He grumbled to himself. That however was only wishful thinking as suddenly Luffy began to bellow in his sleep.
"Luffy!" Ace cried and was at his side in an instant.
"Luffy what's wrong? Come on, talk to me Luffy!" Ace said desperately shaking him, trying to wake him up, but the boy just continued to blubber in his sleep.
"No… Sabo! Ace... don't leave… please!" Luffy sobbed in his sleep. As hard as Ace tried to wake Luffy, he soon began to realize it was hopeless. Ace couldn't bear to see his little brother, the one he was supposed to protect, in this much pain. In a last ditch effort he pulled the screaming child into his lap and began to whisper soothingly in his ear.
"Its ok Luffy I'm still here. I am your older brother. I promise I will never leave you and no matter what happens I will always be around to protect you. So please calm down!"
With a final shuddering breath, Luffy lay still sleeping on his brother's lap. Whenever the nightmares began to strike and he would start to whimper, Ace would remind him.
"I am still here. I will always protect you."
Luffy never remembered having these nightmares even though they struck every night. Each time though Ace pulled him into his lap and calmed him.
"I will always protect you Luffy."