Warning/Notes: Semi-AU in which Ace, Sabo, and Luffy set sail together. One-shot.
When the Waves Were High
i.
On the day of their departure, the cold morning wind nips at Sabo's skin.
The blond leans against the crow's nest, his hands behind his head and he watches.
He focuses on nothing in particular, just watches the sun come up behind the trees, the whole sky bathed in pinks and purples. The sea is visible too and it calls for him just like he calls for it.
Sabo looks over at his still sleeping brothers, who are curled up in one another, holding onto one another as if they were each other's lifeline. (Sabo supposed that, yeah, that was how the trio's relationship worked.) Arms were tangled and Luffy's nose was buried in Ace's collarbone.
Blue eyes flick to the three sake cups that are hanging up underneath a more-than-half broken clock that still manages to work after all these years.
He hums low in his throat, happy to finally be home where he belongs.
ii
Ace grins, wide and happy, because today is the day that he's been waiting for his whole life.
He hasn't been this happy in his entire life; not even when he became brothers with Sabo and Luffy, but that moment comes very, very close. It's the happiest day in his entire life because he can see their ship; she's not too big or too small, and he and his brothers are going to set out to sea, together.
It's nearly June now and the sun and salty breeze on his skin has never felt this great.
This is where his life begins.
He'll make a name for himself and he'll even do bigger and better things than his father did. It's a crazy dream, but it's one that Luffy shares and Ace doesn't doubt they can do it. Sabo wants something else, but their dreams are all something they can reach together.
Luffy grabs his hand, weaves their fingers together, and smiles up at Ace and Sabo as they walk to their ship and this is all Ace has ever wanted.
iii
The waves slap against the shore and their ship and Luffy cannot contain his excitement. Their ship hums under his finger tips and he knows she's just as excited as all three of them.
Makino hugs him tight and tells him that she'll miss him. He'll miss her too, but it's not goodbye. The bandits, but not Dadan; who they had already talked to earlier, were cheering and wishing them luck. Dogra even looked like he was crying, which was silly.
He looks at his brothers and smiles because this is the moment he's been waiting for; that they've been waiting for.
Luffy is so happy that he might explode. Well, not explode because then he can't keep his promise.
He puts a hand on his hat and beams because Shanks is waiting and he will fulfill his promise and give Shanks his hat back.
And he will become the Pirate King.
No ifs, ands, or buts.
iv
They raise the anchor and they begin to drift away from shore, Dawn Island and the Goa Kingdom eventually disappearing in the distance; the high waves rocking the three brothers to their destiny, their Jolly Roger flying in the wind.