Depressed
Chapter Seven:
Summary: Ace awakes from a nightmare...
XXDXX
I confess I'm always afraid, always ashamed of what's inside me. I confess I'm always afraid, always ashamed of what's inside my head. Wasting away, it's part of my instinct. I'll run away, every thing I hate. Help me escape, take this away. I confess.
-Red (I Confess)
XXDXX
"Before...before I die then...Ace. Ace, I...just wanna...say that no matter what...even if you...do kill...me...I will...always love you..." The fire lance that was once in Ace's hand disappeared and the hand around Luffy's thin neck was now shaking. Ace's teary eyes were full of confusion and sadness as he stared up at his brother. "...Luffy?"
Ace continued to stare up at Luffy, tears overflowing from his eyes. Luffy just hung there, looking into his brothers clear blue eyes. "Ace?" The word seemed to bring Ace to his senses, and he slowly put Luffy back on the ground. As a reflex, Luffy quickly ran up to his brother, embracing him tightly. He ignored the burning pain in his lungs, ribs and throat. Ace just stood there, staring at nothing.
"Luffy..." Tears still were rolling down Ace's cheeks, his voice cracked. "Luffy, I..." Luffy pulled away to look up at his brother, his protector. As soon as he did, Ace fell to his knees, one hand grabbing his head. "...L-Luffy. Luffy I, I'm so sorry." He seemed be panicking. "What have I done?"
"Ace, it's okay. I'm fine. You didn't hurt me. Ace, look at me." Luffy put his and on Ace's cheek. "Ace, I'm fine." But on closure inspection, Ace saw a burn wound on Luffy's right side.
"You're lying. I did hurt you." Ace seemed to stop breathing for a second. "Luffy I sent you through a wall!" Ace yelled, surprising himself. "I sent you through a wall, I smashed your face in the deck. I, I almost sent a lance through your heart, Luffy!" Hysteria was starting to rise in Ace and Luffy needed to do something quickly to calm him down.
"Ace!" Luffy hugged his brother tightly, stopping Ace from speaking any further. "I don't care if you did all that. I'm just glad you're back to normal. I missed you so much." Luffy started sobbing a little. "I'm sorry. Whenever you cry, I seem to cry too..." Luffy smiled. Ace rubbed Luffy's back, almost as if he was holding a baby.
"You're sorry for crying, when I'm the one who should be sorry for almost killing you?" Ace chuckled weakly. "You're so weird Luffy."
"Thanks." The two brothers stood up and looked at the partially burnt mast. "You're in trouble Ace."
"Ah, I didn't mean to burn the mast...I'll fix it." But before he could start working on it, two figures jumped onto the ship, rushing towards Ace.
"Get away from our captain!" Zoro yelled, his three swords already unsheathed.
"You hurt him once, we won't forgive you if you hurt him again!" Sanji yelled after Zoro, his one leg already on fire. Luffy suddenly jumped in front of Ace.
"Luffy, get out of the way!"
"No, Ace is fine now! He's back--"
"Luffy, move!" Ace wrapped an arm around Luffy's waist and jumped out of the way of the attacks. The two brothers watched as the two crew members hit the mast by accident, breaking half way through it. Ace looked at Luffy. "At least I'm not the one who has to fix the mast now." The mast slowly started falling, but a rope of fire wrapped around it, partially holding it in place. Zoro and Sanji looked at the logia user in shock. "Luffy, a little help here? If this rope stays around the mast for to long, it'll burn it."
"Gomu Gomu no...Rope!" Luffy's two arms flew around the mast just like the fire of rope. The two brothers stayed in their positions and looked at Zoro and Sanji.
"Yo." They both said.
"Luffy, Ace is back to normal?" Zoro sheathed his swords and Sanji put his leg out.
"Yep. Sanji!!" Luffy suddenly yelled out urgently, causing Sanji to quickly turn around.
"What's wrong?"
"...I'm hungry." Sanji smiled.
"Finally. You haven't eaten in seven days--"
"You haven't eaten in seven day?!" Ace asked Luffy, letting go of the fire rope.
"Yeah...Sorry."
"Luffy, why the hell...?"
"Um...you kinda snapped at me. It sorta put me in a state of depression...But I'm fine now." Luffy quickly added, reassuring his brother. He gave a yawn. "And I haven't slept either..."
"Luffy, you're always doing such reckless things..." Ace grinned, but his legs suddenly buckled beneath him.
"Ace? Are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah." He put his hand on his stomach. "Akainu's attack hasn't healed completely yet... That fight really had an impact on it..." Ace half-heartedly gave another grin, causing Luffy to just shake his head.
"And you say I'm the careless one..." Ace was about to argue back when four more crew members jumped onto deck.
"Nani?! What happened to the mast?!"
"It was those two." Ace and Luffy pointed to Sanji and Zoro.
"You two will fix this mast immediately!" Nami ordered.
"Hai, Nami-swan!" Sanji swooned.
"Idiot..."
"What was that, Marimo?"
"I forgot..." Robin walked up to Ace, who was still sitting on the ground.
"It's nice to have you back." She smiled gently.
"Thanks." Ace tried to stand up, but Chopper stopped him.
"Don't push yourself, Ace. You're still hurt pretty badly inside." Chopper turned to heavy point and picked up Ace. "I'll be treating him in the sick bay. You wanna come, Luffy?"
"Yeah, I need to talk to Ace after you're done. Oi, Zoro, Sanji. Do you two have the mast steady?" The two gave a nod, both wrapping a rope around the mast. Luffy slowly released the mast and nodded to the two. "I'll be in the sick bay if anyone needs me." The three of them headed down below deck.
"Nice to see Luffy's better."
"Ace too."
"Well, looks like we won't have to kill Ace after all..." Zoro stated.
"True..."
"Oi! Back to work!"
XXDXX
"Is he okay, Chopper?"
"Luffy, he's fine. Now stop moving so I can bandage your burn..." Luffy sat as still as he could, his eyes leaving Ace. After a few minutes, Chopper nodded approvingly. "That aught to hold. I'll leave you two now. And no fighting!"
"Hai!" Chopper gathered his things and left the room, closing the door behind him. Luffy bounced to Ace's side, who currently laid in bed. "How you feeling?"
"Horrible."
"Oh...Would it help to put ice on your stomach?"
"Luffy, that's not why I feel horrible. Well, it's one reason, but ice won't help. Luffy, I feel horrible about what I did to you."
"Oh... Ace, it's okay. I mean, you lost it for a week--"
"Luffy, I lost it completely. That was the worst its been in years..." Ace sighed deeply. "Luffy, there's something I should tell you..."
"If it's about your childhood, Garp already told me." Luffy interrupted.
"But how much did he tell you?"
"That...you used beat adults half to death... That you never smiled. And he told me how you asked that question... But I know you weren't born dark like that... So why'd you act like that?"
"You know Luffy, I would be cheery just like you if all adults didn't want me to die. They always made cruel jokes when I was around."
'Oh, I've got a good one! How about sticking one needle in his body for every person in the world with a grudge against Roger!'
'No, he should be burned at the stake! That way the whole world could watch and laugh as he went to his death!! They'd all be saying the same thing ya know? They'd be saying Serves Ya Right! Gyahahaha!'
'I know what his last words should be as well! "I'm sorry for being born, piece of trash that I am!"'
'Ah, well, not like he really exists...'
"If it wasn't for you, Lu, I wouldn't even wanna be alive. So, I want to thank you, Lu. If it weren't for you, I'd never be here right now." There was a small silence between the two brothers, before a small sniffle could be heard.
"Baka..." Luffy sobbed, surprising Ace. "You don't go telling people such sad stuff when it's a happy moment..." Ace smiled.
"Sorry."
"Apology accepted."
"Oi..."
"Nah, but Ace, I do have one question. How did it happen? The whole darkness thing..."
"Well, it's sorta like an evil voice in your head... You know what I mean?"
"Yeah."
"But... mine's different. It's like when I don't do what it tells me too, it attacks me." Luffy shook his head, not understanding. "It's like your mind being consumed in darkness. And since I always have a small darkness inside my heart, all it needs is a spark to start it up... Understand?"
"Yeah, I do." Luffy smiled. "I love you, nii-chan."
"I love you too, outou-san." Luffy hugged Ace, but pulled away before the older sibling could return the hug. "Luffy? Something wrong?"
"Ace, you're hot." Ace blinked, then slightly blushed.
"Um... Thank you?"
"No, I mean, you're hot. Do you have a fever or something?"
"No, I've been this hot since I woke up... It's really weird." Luffy frowned slightly, but shrugged it off.
"Hey, wanna go raid the fridge?" Ace cracked a grin.
"You bet I do. But I'm a little tired, so maybe later."
"Then...nap time?" Ace's eyes softened as he gave a weak smile.
"Of coarse. Hop in." Luffy hopped in bed with and snuggled up to his brother, the warmth of the logia user quickly sent him into a deep sleep. Ace chuckled and yawned. "Goodnight, Lu..."
"Goodnight, Ace..."
*Ghost Me* Yep! There ya go. The suckiest chapter yet! I thought I'd put just a lil brother love at the end. Next chapter is coming soon hopefully!
Quick Question:
Should I do another song fic? The details:
Character: Ace
Song: Someone That Cares.
So should I, or should I not?
Well, Thanks for reading! Please click the review button again, and maybe you'll get a virtual cake!
-To SilverStream101- Thanks for the reviews and hugs! Now I shall glomp you! *glomps* Muahaha! The glompster strikes again...
-To Kitsune1337- Q.Q Thank you sooo much for the reviews! They make me wanna die of happiness! :D Oh wait...I already died...dammit! that's ok...I'll just faint from happiness...yeah, that works right? right....now I'm talking to myself... muahaha! I love arguing with myself... i always seem to lose... and i love playing hide and seek with myself... i always win :)
Arigato everyone!! ^_~
