an: Hey everyone! This is my first One Piece fanfic. I am fairly new to the fandom so sorry if I get anything wrong.
This is the first of a series of AU stories that I might be doing. I have not decided but If I do them then it will be Ace, Sabo, and Luffy growing up together.
"You shouldn't have said those things you know."
The ten-year-old boy refused to acknowledge what his brother had said and kept walking through the forest, led pipe held tightly in his hand. He was still too annoyed and angry at his little brother to care what anyone said.
He heard the blond let out a frustrated sigh. "He eats our food all the time. Why are you so angry at him this time?"
"I told him not to touch it," Ace responded.
"You always say that and he does it anyway. You never get this upset. So, what's going on," Sabo demanded glaring at the other boy. "Why have you been so moody lately? I mean you always are, but this is ridiculous. You over reacted and I think you really hurt his feelings."
Ace stopped walking and turned towards his brother grip tightening on his pipe slightly. He knew that he had been grumpy lately, more so than usual, and he knew he was taking it out on Luffy. He was stressed from everything that had happened in the past few months. Sabo being dragged away back to his "family", dealing with Bluejam, the fire, thinking Sabo was dead and then boy coming back miraculously thanks to a strange man wearing a cloak and a weird tattoo on his face. It was just so much and he was having a hard time dealing with everything and Luffy was there the entire time just being annoying. It was easy to get angry at the younger boy.
"Luffy's too stupid to have his feelings hurt," Ace finally said looking away. He didn't see the pipe flying towards his head until it was too late. "What was that for?!" he demanded rubbing the bump on his head.
"Don't be mean to Luffy anymore. I'm not going to put up with it anymore. Now why did you tell Luffy we didn't need him and that he should just go and live by himself in the forest?"
"I didn't know he was going to take me seriously," Ace defended himself.
Sabo gave him a look that clearly said he was not amused.
"Fine, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I thought it would be like always when I say something mean and he just laughs. I didn't think he was actually going to run into the forest by himself."
"Well he did. I don't know why you're surprised either. He's been more sensitive than usual lately. Every little thing sets him off now."
"Yeah, and it's annoying."
"It's understandable. You're more moody and he's more of a cry baby. It's been that way since I came back."
Ace bit his lip no really knowing how to respond.
"I know you were upset about thinking I was dead for a while-"
"A week. We thought you were dead for a week," Ace cut in.
"R-right. You thought I was dead for a week. So did Luffy. He also thought that Bluejam killed you."
"So?"
"How would you feel if after I left you thought Luffy had died? Even for a few hours? And then you thought I died and then we both came back? How would you feel?"
Ace starred at the blond. He didn't really think about it that way. If he thought that Luffy had died he would be devastated and in less than twenty-four hours Luffy had thought they were both dead. No wonder he was so clingy and whiny lately. And Ace was not helping yelling at him all the time.
"Yeah, whatever." He shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Let's just find him so we can get back before it gets dark."
Sabo nodded and the two continued their search for their lost and overly emotional little brother.
"Help! Help me!"
Ace felt his heart stop. He knew that scream. He had heard that scream before. He hated that scream.
He turned to look at Sabo just for a split second. The blonde's eyes were wide with the panic that Ace shared. With an unsaid agreement they took off towards the sound of the screams.
"Help! Hel-"
Okay, he took it back. Ace like the screams more than the sudden silence.
If possible he pushed himself to go faster, Sabo keeping pace with him. It seemed to take hours to find their targets but in all reality it took only seconds.
They both burst into a clearing and the first thing he saw was a familiar straw hat lying in the grass. Ace starred incomprehensibly at the hat. It couldn't possibly be Luffy's. His brother never let the thing out of his site. If the hat was here then where was-
"Luffy!"
Ace's attention was drawn from the hat towards the blond that was now lying of a horrifyingly familiar figure. He quickly looked away into the forest and just made out a large bear about to disappear completely into the trees. It wasn't hard to put together what had happened just moments ago. Ace tightened his grip on his pipe getting ready to attack the creature.
"Ace!" his head snapped back towards his brothers. Sabo was leaning over Luffy, his sleeves were soaked with their little brother's blood.
Giving the bear one last look he scooped up the discarded hat before running to help Sabo. Making sure not to put the hat in the growing pool of blood he put it on the ground next to his little brother's head. "W-what do we do?" he asked looking down and Luffy. He instantly wished he hadn't. The blood was bad enough. He swallowed to keep the bile from rising in his throat.
Blood was everywhere, flesh was torn from Luffy's chest and stomach, and Ace wasn't positive but he was pretty sure that he could see Luffy's insides.
"I-I don't know." Sabo had never sounded so unsure about anything in all the time that Ace had known him. "I-I think we stop the bleeding?"
"How are we supposed to do that?" Ace couldn't even look at his brother let alone touch him in this condition.
"I don't know! Why don't you figure it out!?" Sabo yelled tears forming in his eyes. It was at that point that Ace realized that the other boy was scared and was starting to panic. It wasn't normal for Sabo to panic.
Ace took a deep breath and bit his lip thinking as fast as he could. "Dadan's place isn't too far from here. We could probably get him back in less time that it would take to stop the bleeding."
"We can't just take him like he is!"
"Then what do you suggest? If we don't do something he's going to d-" Ace couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence. Luffy was the little brother. He was the one that made them smile. He was the one they were supposed to protect. Luffy couldn't- No Ace refused to let anything happen to him.
Sabo looked as if Ace had just punched him the stomach.
"Come on we need to get him some help. Just put him on my back and we'll figure it out later. He's going to be fine but we need to do something."
"You're right."
It only took seconds for Sabo to get the younger boy situated. He did his best not to cause Luffy anymore pain or damage but neither were sure if his efforts worked or not. With the seven year old on his back, Ace didn't waste any time and took off running as fast has his legs would go.
Sabo watched for just a second as Ace ran into the trees, their little brother on his back. The blond shook his head before quickly picking up the straw hat and Ace's pipe and followed his brother, quickly catching up and surpassing his brothers. He beat down anything that tried to get in the way. They made it back to the bandits in record time.
Not even pausing Sabo threw himself at the door. He cursed loudly when he couldn't open the door. The damn bandits and locked the freaking door. He pounded on the door with all his strength. "HELP! YOU HAVE TO HELP US! PLEASE!"
Ace by this point was by his side kicking the door. "OPEN THE DOOR!" he demanded.
There was a click and Magra opened the door. "Oh my. What happened?"
"Bear," was all Sabo was able to say.
"Help him please," Ace panted out.
Magra nodded before scooping the boy into his arms and hurrying inside.
About thirty seconds after Luffy was out of their sight Sabo couldn't hold it in anymore. He ran to the side of the house and finally threw up. He was surprised to notice that only seconds later Ace had joined him.
Once they had both finished the made their way inside and settled in front of the door to the room where Magra was working on Luffy.
They sat in silence waiting for Magra to finish and tell him how Luffy was. Ace sat across the hall rhythmically hitting his head against the wall he was leaning against. Sabo wanted to yell at him to stop but couldn't bring himself to say anything. He just clutched the straw hat he still held tightly. Both were secretly frightened that the bandit would walk out of the room only to tell them that they were too late.
Sabo wasn't sure how long they sat in front of the door but it was late into the night when the door finally opened. Both boys scrambled to their feet anxious and terrified to hear the news about their only little brother.
"A-ace Sabo. I thought you'd both be in bed by now," the man said scratching his head.
"Why would go to bed," Sabo asked incredulously. Why would they be anywhere than where other than waiting for Luffy?
"Cut the crap," Ace demanded. "Tell us about Luffy."
Magra looked towards the ground letting out a sad sigh.
Sabo felt the world slowly crashing around him. No. It couldn't be. Not Luffy. Not his sweet, innocent, stupid as a rock, little brother.
"He-he's d-d-dead?" Ace asked quietly. Sabo looked towards his brother and knew that Ace felt the same way he did.
Magra's head shot up looking horrified. "No! No, no, not at all. Well, not yet. No- that's not what I meant. Luffy is alive but his condition is critical. His injuries are quite bad. I was able to get him bandaged up but if the wounds were even the slightest bit deeper or if he hadn't gotten here in time then he would have died."
"Then why do you look so sad!?" the two demanded together.
The man looked down at the two of them looking slightly heart broken. It scarred Sabo to see him look at them that way.
"If he survives the next twenty four hours he should make a full recovery, but it is still very likely that he will die within that time."
Not knowing what to say Sabo nodded his head as he tried to take in what he was being told.
"So Luffy still might d-d-" Ace asked not able to finish the word and Sabo couldn't blame him.
"You both should probably go be with him," Magra said instead of answering the question.
That was all they needed to hear.
Luffy was laying on a futon in the middle of the room bandages were clearly visible. He was asleep but it didn't look peaceful.
Sabo, not taking his eyes off of the younger boy sat down on his right and was vaguely aware of Ace doing the same on the other side of the futon. The blond gently placed the beloved hat next to its owners head. He hopped that it would make him happy if- when Luffy woke up.
Sabo didn't know how long the he sat there starring at Luffy as he struggled to breath grateful for every rise and fall of his small chest.
"Luffy." Sabo's attention was drawn towards Ace. The other ten-year-old was on his knees head on the ground sobbing. "P-please don't die. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it when I said we didn't need you! Please just be okay," he begged.
Sabo couldn't help but stare at his best friend, his brother. In all the years he had known Ace he had never seen the boy cry and now he was sitting here sobbing, loudly. He stood and slowly walked around the futon so that he was now standing next to his brother.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I know I'm no good. I know it. I know Sabo's a better brother than I am. I'm sorry. This is all my fault."
Sabo couldn't stand it anymore. "Shut up. That's my brother you're talking about." He dropped to the ground and did something he had never done before. He wrapped his arms around his brother and held him. "You didn't mean for this to happen. I know you wouldn't ever hurt Luffy on purpose. You made a mistake, said some things you did not really mean, hurt his feelings, and Luffy got hurt. It wasn't your fault though."
"B-but-"
"Shut up. You don't get to say anything bad about my brother. Either of them." The blond took a deep breath preparing himself for what he was about to say. They normally don't talk about what they mean to each other but Ace needed this he tightened his grip. "You and Luffy are everything I have. You guys, us being brothers; it's my treasure. You are what is most important to me. It took me leaving and thinking that I lost you in that fire for me to realize that I would do anything to keep you and Luffy. He's going to be fine because we're not going to let him die."
"We can't do anything to help."
"I'm sure we'll find something to do."
The two sat in silence, Ace still wrapped in Sabo's arms both staring at the little brother that they both dearly loved.
"What if he doesn't make it?" Ace asked quietly breaking the silence.
"Please, it's Luffy. He's too annoying to die."
"I hope you're right."
Sabo hopped he was too.
At noon Magra came into the room to offer Ace and Sabo something to eat and to check on Luffy. When he left the room the food remained untouched.
It just seemed wrong for them to eat not knowing if Luffy was going to live or not.
Ace spent the time thinking about what Sabo had said. Being brothers is what Sabo treasured above all else in the world. That's what he had said. Knowing this made it easier for Ace to admit "You and Luffy are my treasure too."
Sabo looked startled at Ace's sudden declaration. "I know," the blond responded with a small smile.
Ace was pleased with himself when Sabo seemed just a bit happier than he had moments ago. Despite the fact that they did not like to talk it was important that they know what they mean to each other. It was obvious how Luffy felt. He would smile and follow them anywhere and everywhere. He would do anything they asked of him. It was obvious that he looked up to them.
"I think we should let Luffy know when he wakes up. That way even when I do yell at him he knows I don't really mean it."
The blond looked up at him. "Do you really think he'll listen long enough to understand what we are trying to say," Sabo asked.
"He might. You never know with Luffy."
"True, but Luffy is more about actions than words but it wouldn't hurt to tell him."
"Tell me what?" a small raspy voice asked.
Ace felt his head snap towards the little boy.
"Luffy you're awake!" Sabo exclaimed happily.
"Tell me what," Luffy asked again.
"How are you feeling," Ace asked.
Luffy looked thoughtful before trying to sit up. He let out a cry.
"Don't sit up idiot," the older brothers commanded gently pushing him back down.
"What happened? Why does everything hurt," Luffy whined.
"You were attacked by a bear," Ace explains.
"Oh."
"Oh, he says," Sabo grated out, standing up and walking towards the door.
"Oi, where you going," Ace demanded.
"I'm going to get Magra so he can check Luffy out and make sure everything is okay."
The raven nodded before turning back to the younger boy.
He had a thoughtful look on his face.
"Don't think too hard. You're already hurt enough," Ace joked.
"Ace?"
Luffy was already looking exhausted and the older boy could tell he was having a hard time keeping his eyes open.
"'M sorry."
"W-what are you sorry for?"
"I made Ace mad."
The big brother felt as if he had been punched in the chest. Luffy didn't remember getting attacked by a bear but he remember Ace being mad at him. He could have died thinking that Ace hated him. It was right then that he promised himself that Luffy would always know how much he was treasured.
"It's alright Luffy. I was just being a jerk."
"You're not mad?"
"No Luffy I'm not mad. And I'm sorry that I said that me and Sabo were better off without you. I didn't mean it."
Luffy blinked up at him sleepily. "It's alright," he said with a tired version of his usual smile.
The door opened revealing Magra and Sabo.
The bandit thoroughly checked over the boy ignoring the whining and hissing of his patient. It was slightly harder to ignore the glares he was getting from the two older boys.
He felt a chill go down his spine when he moved the bandages to get a better look at the wound and Luffy cried in pain. He made a point to not look at the two behind him, scarred stiff that they would actually kill him for causing the straw hat boy anymore pain, no matter how necessary it was.
After he had changed the bandages he was pushed away from a teary eyed Luffy and the two other boys helped him lay down and get settled and soon the youngest brother was sleeping, his rest much more peaceful than it was the night before.
"He's doing well," Magra stated. "As long as there are no complications and he doesn't try to run around too quickly he should be fine."
"Of course he's fine," Sabo stated confidently.
"He's our little brother," Ace smiled.
an: Let me know what you think. :)