This story got a lot more readers lately, thank you for reading!
Royal Love
"Sabo... Sabo say something!" Luffy yells as his body shakes uncontrollably.
He nudges the blond in an attempt to wake him up and catch his attention, but to his dismay he's met with continuous silence. He feels a warm and sticky liquid coating his fingers and when he turns them he falls back to the ground, his breathing becomes ragged as he stares at his blood covered hands.
"Z-Zoro... What d-do we... what should I do... Sabo... He is..."
Luffy feels like someone is suffocating him and he fell into another nightmare. His chest feels tight as he tries to breathe but his shock is preventing from any air steadily entering his lungs and his chest hurts... His heart hurts so bad.
Zoro stabs his sword right through Buggy's hand as the man screams and cries out as bloods seeps from the deep wound.
The green haired guard turns to the frantic and terrified Luffy who switches his gaze from his own hands to Sabo who lies face to the ground.
"Luffy!" Zoro catches his attention as the teen turns and stares at him with wide and lost eyes, hands trembling as he sits next to Sabo.
Uneasiness settles in his stomach. Sabo won't go that easily down. Not by a bullet, right? But why does the damn blond remain lying on the ground?
He clears his thoughts. If Luffy notices even for a second that Zoro is worried the teen will lose it. He must keep his composure and his concern hidden for the boy's sake.
"I'll get a medic, you stay with Sabo and keep an eye on him alright?" He looks over to Buggy who tries to get the sword lifted from the ground but so far unsuccessful. When he glances back to Luffy he sees the boy's eyes unfocused and dazed. He snaps his fingers before the teen's face and it's like he is awake, back to reality and the here and now.
"Think you can do that Luffy?"
He nods. "Y-yeah... Please hurry, Zoro."
Vaguely Luffy's mind registers the sound of footsteps, the sound disappearing as he focuses back on the blond.
Luffy calls his name softly, like a whisper, gently, hesitantly.
Why doesn't Sabo reply?
He holds the man's shoulders as he turns Sabo's limp body around. Luffy crawls next to him, watching his peaceful face and closed eyes, his lips slightly parted. The boy leans down and presses his ear flat against the guard's chest and closes his eyes, biting his trembling lip. Seconds pass as he struggles to focus but he then feels the heart beating against its rib cage, just like the many times when Luffy would lie against him, Sabo holding him tight- but when he lifts the blonde's arm it falls back to the ground like a lifeless puppet.
Luffy wipes the blond curls from his face and pokes his cheek.
"Sabo... say something." He blinks as tears fall down and wipes them with the back of his hands.
His attention is drawn to Buggy when he hears the man curse and looks to the left where he sees the sword standing tall in the ground that pins him down and holds him in place, unmovable.
Forcefully Luffy gets to his feet and grips Sabo's coat tighter to his body, inhaling the man's scent that he loves so much.
He looks down to the blue haired man as he walks to him, his dark eyes shifting to Luffy's frame.
"Princess..." Buggy says reluctant, a drop of sweat trailing down his face. The teen looks him dead in the eye, no stupid smile plastered on his face for once, the princess looks... intimidating, cold, scary... Wait what? He, the amazing Buggy shall not be afraid of a little princess! Though he shivers under the heavy gaze as the boy doesn't respond.
Luffy's hand reaches towards Buggy who flinches and tries to move backwards, forgetting for a moment that he is in fact prisoner by Zoro's sword. He grabs the gun that lies next to the man, with shaky hands he wraps his fingers around it, holding it, feeling the weight as he lifts it and points it to the painted face.
"W-wait a m-moment princess-"
"If Sabo will..." He swallows the words he so desperately doesn't want to think of, let alone say. He takes a deep breath and looks Buggy straight into his fearful eyes.
"... I'll kill you."
The teen sees the man swallow hard as his widened eyes shift behind him.
Luffy's heart clenches, grip tightens and for a second his mind goes blank, all he feels is the pain in his heart and worry, he feels sick and crimson drops trailing down his neck and oozing out of his hands and along side the gun to the ground.
"-fy... Luffy... Lu!"
All of a sudden he realizes someone calls his name, he turns around as his eyes meet the worried and rage filled ones.
"Ace." Luffy whispers and its like the teen is wondering if he's actually there.
His brother slowly walks towards him and briefly glances to the gun in his hands. "Put that down Luffy." Ace says gently, watching his little brother who looks so lost and small and... dangerous.
Immediately and without hesitation the teen throws the gun away as he turns and looks at Sabo who's being lifted by people in white coats and he quickly looks back to Ace who has a small smile on his face.
"Sabo is fine... Nothing life threatening, just some blood loss. He'll be fine Luffy, don't worry." He assures as the teen watches his guard being lifted by the doctors.
He nods, casting his eyes down as he turns and looks at Buggy who nervously glances around him, avoiding Luffy's gaze. The teen walks to the man and hears Ace call his name but he ignores it, instead he kneels next to the man and swings his fist across his face, his knuckles hitting the man's cheek and the bones underneath as they audible crack under the force.
Sabo...
He'll be alright.
His shoulders feel lighter at the thought and every time his fist hits Buggy he feels relief and anger and uneasiness and then pain as his hands starts to bleed more but he doesn't care. He needs to give the man the beating he deserves.
However Ace's hand on his shoulder stops him from continuing.
"That's enough for now Lu. Come on, we need to check your injuries, you're bleeding."
Luffy's hand falls to his side as he unnoticeable nods.
When Luffy doesn't responds Ace kneels down and lifts the younger in his arms, his little brother snuggling against his chest and before he turns, Ace shoots the blue haired man a death glare.
"Zoro." The prince says as said man nods in understanding, walking over to the criminal who has been silenced by Luffy's continuous punches.
"What do you feel?" Ace asks, walking with the boy in his arms who grips the material of his shirt so tight, but remains silent.
Ace frowns and holds Luffy closer. His baby brother is hurt, bleeding, has been crying and is scared and all he wants to do right now is turn back to Buggy and take care of the man until there's nothing left of him- but Luffy is more important right now.
He places a kiss on the teen's forehead as he inhales deeply, gathering himself.
"Talk to me, Luffy." He says as the teen finally shows some kind of acknowledgement, looking upwards to Ace.
"Take me to Sabo?" He asks softly.
He wants to be there, by his side like the blond undoubtedly would do for him. He had avoided Sabo, but he meant well, though even as he kept his distance Luffy's actions caused him to get shot...
Can't he do anything right?
His older brother looks at him hesitant and opens his mouth but Luffy's cuts him off by a soft plead.
"Please, Ace?"
The prince doesn't even know the guard's condition, if he needs surgery or stitches or the reason why he wasn't conscious.
Though Luffy asks, he knows the teen isn't asking for permission, he's asking Ace to take him there, and with that kind of look in his eyes he can't bring himself to decline.
"We'll check your wounds first and I want you to take shower and change clothes, then I'll bring you to him, alright?" Ace asks gently but Luffy knows well that this is what they will be doing, not a question.
The teen nods against his chest and Ace feels his shirt soaking up Luffy's silent tears as the boy wraps his arms around Ace's shoulders and buries his face in the crook of his neck.
The man rubs the teen's back soothingly as they walk inside and Ace navigates his way to the medical rooms.
Luffy has his eyes closed, listening to the steady beat of Ace's heart that somehow calms him down and takes his mind off what happened outside. The boy feels fine though, or rather he convinces himself that he is. The younger just wants to see Sabo right now but he knows in his current condition Ace won't let him, so he'll just have to hurry.
He didn't notice they entered a room and if it wasn't for Ace stroking his cheek he wouldn't even realize he's sitting as two people stand before him, he sees their mouths moving but all he hears is a mess of unfinished words and sentences as he looks to the side at Ace. His brother crouches next to him as he reassuringly holds Luffy's hand.
The doctors are shining bright light in his eyes as they squeeze the tip of his finger and place theirs across his wrist and he doesn't know what they're doing but since his brother is by his side he'll let them do as they please.
"Luffy, think you can tell me what happened?" Ace asks carefully, seeing that the teen is in obvious distress and shock from what happened earlier.
Said boy nods slowly. "I was with Buggy outside-" The teen flinches as the doctors are disinfecting his hand.
"And then?" Ace encourages for him to go on.
Luffy seems in deep thought as he mutters. "Then Sabo found us and he told me to get away from Buggy and I didn't immediately do as he said and then Buggy had a knife against my throat-"
"Hey." The prince strokes his cheek. "Take the time you need."
Luffy nods as he swallows and clears his throat before he goes on, it's like he's reliving it and he doesn't want to but he does want Ace to know what happened so he forces himself to speak as the images flash across his mind and hopefully they will remain nothing more than a flash, a remembrance of a bad nightmare that hopefully will come to an end soon.
"Buggy said he wanted me to go with him, I was terrified and Sabo looked so too..." His eyes shift to Ace who has a hard expression and is bawling his fists tightly. "Then Sabo took him down and Zoro came, we wanted to go to Shanks and Benn but then I heard a shot.. and... and..."
"Shhh it's ok." Ace pats Luffy's head as the doctors finish bandaging his hands and neck. "I know enough for now."
Luffy had never been the best in explaining but after hearing his side of the story Ace is only more confused and more questions arise but he won't press on it too much.
Ace will have to pay Buggy a much needed visit, he chose the wrong man to shoot.
"I'll be right back." He says to Luffy as he closes the door behind his back, standing on the quiet hallway.
He talks with the doctors, Luffy is fine besides his emotional distress right now, but he'll come around and knowing his brother, the boy will recover soon. He's young but strong both physically and mentally.
"Any news on Sabo?"
"He has a flesh wound. The bullet pierced his arm however didn't injured his bones. His arm will heal with rest and care, right now he needs to recover from the blood loss. He will be a bit dizzy but back to normal in no time." The doctor informs.
Ace nods, taking up the information as relief washes over him and he didn't realize he was holding onto his breath as he awaited that answer. "Why was he unconscious? And where is Sabo now?"
"He had a small head injury. Losing consciousness presumably happened because he fell to the ground but he's back and resting in his own room."
Ace thanks them and steps back into the room where Luffy patiently waits. He will take the younger to his room and make sure he showers and changes clothes before he'll bring Luffy to Sabo.
"Think you can walk?"
Luffy answers by standing, walking over to Ace. "How is Sabo?" He asks the only question that's on his mind right now.
They walk side by side along the quiet hallways as Ace looks down to Luffy.
"He regained consciousness, he's alright." Ace answers and he can see the boy's tense posture visibly relax as the teen lets out a shuddering breath he probably held in for too long.
Luffy clutches Ace's arm as they walk and he doesn't care if his brother will think if he's acting like a child or call him a crybaby, right now he needs someone to hold onto.
Luffy didn't expect for his brother to ruffle his hair and meet him with a warm smile as he wraps his arms around the teen's shoulder, pulling him in close.
"Thank you, Ace." Luffy mumbles, guessing his brother probably can't hear his soft words of gratitude.
Luffy showered as fast as he could and put on clean pyjamas and right now as he stands before Sabo's room he's suddenly hesitant about going inside.
Now he knows that Sabo will recover, but a new question struck him.
Will his guard blame him?
Luffy was wrong and even though Sabo saw right through Buggy from the beginning the teen remained sceptical and didn't want to believe him and the blond ended up getting shot by his recklessness and...
He's tiring himself out from thinking.
"What are waiting for?" Ace asks as he stands beside Luffy, seeing the younger staring at the door.
"Sabo... Will he..." He looks up to his brother who knows the blond as good as he does himself. "Will he blame me?" Luffy asks softly, not wanting to hear the answer to that because he is almost sure Sabo will...
He has all the reason to.
Luffy's eyes widen as Ace opens the door and shoves him inside.
"Wait, Ace!" He frowns as he suddenly stands in Sabo's room.
The dark haired man has a smirk across his face. "Why don't you ask him yourself?" He glances over to Sabo who is sleeping before his eyes shift to the suddenly nervous and frowning Luffy, but before said teen can react he closes the door in his face.
Ace knows for a fact, be it Luffy that's at fault or not- Sabo won't ever blame the younger. He wonders though, how Luffy can't see that.
Luffy stands before the closed door as he glares at it. Why is Ace always like that!
He sighs as he then hears soft snores behind him. Slowly Luffy turns and peeks over his shoulder to the peacefully sleeping Sabo.
With the coat in his hands he turns around and walks to the sleeping blond, stopping before his bed and laying the jacket down on the nightstand.
He smiles seeing that Sabo is fine, though his right arm is bandaged, absorbing the little blood that flows from his stitched wound.
Carefully Luffy strokes his forehead as his hand slides down to Sabo's cheek, his thumb rubbing over the skin.
He wishes for an answer to the question that bugs him; will Sabo blame Luffy? He knows the blond will forgive him because that's the kind of person Sabo is, but he's afraid his guard will secretly hold a grudge against him.
Why didn't he listen to Sabo in the first place?
He sighs and lifts the covers as he scoots down next to him, making sure not to wake the sleeping man as he lies against his uninjured arm and hesitantly lays his hand across Sabo's stomach like he always does.
He glances up to the older's face and stares at Sabo's sleeping face, he looks so peaceful and so vulnerable and still Luffy feels safe just being by his side.
He sits up and holds Sabo's hand as he intertwines their fingers.
Though Luffy told himself to keep his distance for the other's sake, right now he can't bring himself to and it's not like someone is watching them.
Luffy leans down slowly, making sure Sabo is still asleep as he softly presses their lips together and the moment they touch he feels that familiar heart warming and electrifying feeling and why is he doing this when Sabo isn't awake?
What would Sabo think of Luffy kissing him while he's unconscious? It's just that Luffy hasn't touched him like this for a while and he missed him so much.
He missed Sabo so much.
His touch and smile, talking to him and playing with him, to have Sabo by his side everyday, though Luffy himself is the cause of their distance at the moment.
"Luffy?"
The boys eyes widen as he sits up straight and leans backwards but he loses his balance and falls to the ground, immediately averting his eyes away from Sabo as his cheeks burn.
"What are you doing?" He hears Sabo ask sleepily, his voice hoarse and the sheets moving as he stares at the wooden floor. "How are your injuries? Do they hurt?"
"I... I was... I felt like ki..." The younger can't bring himself to say it. "My wounds don't hurt that bad." He stutters and what got into him to do something like that?
"You alright though?" Sabo asks worried as he sits straight up but when he does he feels his head spinning and limbs go weak as he leans on them.
The teen sits on the ground and looks downwards. Sabo vaguely remembers what happened. He's just happy that Luffy is alright and to his pleasant surprise by his side.
"Y-yeah..." Luffy mutters. "Sabo, can I ask you something?"
"Come back to bed first?" He asks, the words rolling of his tongue so easily like he said it to Luffy a thousand times and he smiles. He could get used to saying that. He could get used to waking up in the middle of the night with Luffy by his side.
And the teen crawls back into bed but he notices the boy hesitating. Sabo wraps his arms around Luffy's waist and pulls him closer, seeing that the teen is hiding his face against his chest. He almost dozed off again in his groggy state of mind until Luffy speaks up.
"About what happened..." Luffy starts reluctant, his face pressed against Sabo to hide his reaction if he hears the answer he dreads to hear. "Do you-"
"Luffy."
The teen stops speaking and reluctant looks up to the blond who's tiredly smiling at him.
"Can we talk about it tomorrow?" Sabo asks and he sees the disappointed look on the princesses face. "I'm still drugged from the medication. I'll be able to think clearly again tomorrow alright?"
Luffy forces himself to nod and turns around as he feels Sabo's arms around him and the older's body pressed against his.
He likes this position, Sabo softly breathing down his neck as his body heat envelopes Luffy's, arms securely holding him in the dark of the room and night where he can't see a thing but feels the other so close behind him.
"I'm glad you're ok, Luffy."
The teen faintly smiles to himself as he grabs Sabo's hand with both of his and squeezes it once, bringing it to his face as he places a kiss against it.
"Good night Sabo." He whispers, doubting himself the older can actually hear it despite the silence of the room, but when the guard kisses his neck he's sure Sabo did.
Contently they both fall asleep, wrapped in each other's embrace.
"P-p-princess?!"
Sabo's head is throbbing, slowly he opens his lids, seeing Luffy as the teen sits on the edge of the bed, holding onto Sabo's hand behind his back.
He smiles, immediately soothing his headache but when he hears that loud voice again he frowns. Why aren't they alone?
"Why are you here your highness?"
"I slept with Sabo." Luffy explains, not realising in how many wrong ways the doctor could interpret that and Sabo sits up straight, the doctor looking at the blond wide eyed.
"Luffy mean-" Before he can say another word the doctor is gone, running out onto the hallway. Sabo tries to get out of bed but his head hurts bad and his arm stings, pain spreading through his body that keeps him in place.
"What was wrong with him?" Luffy turns to Sabo and shrugs, smiling to the blond. The boy lifts his hands against Sabo's forehead, feeling that it's slightly hot but the blonde's frown does eases away at his soft touch.
"The doctor said you have a small head injury because you fell. Should I go get a doctor right now? Does your arm hurt? You must be hungry, I'll go get you some food!" Luffy abruptly stands up but Sabo grabs his hand.
Luffy stares at their intertwines fingers before he looks at Sabo's face, feeling his getting hotter. Sabo's hands feel so warm.
"I'm alright. Just stay here a bit longer?"
"Ok." Luffy faintly smiles and sits back on the edge of the bed.
"How are your hands?"
Luffy glances down to his bandaged wounds and smiles. "It doesn't hurt that much!"
"And your neck?"
Sabo's hand caresses his skin and rubs his thumb against the bandaged neck, making sure not to cross the wound.
"It's fine." He says softly, surely blushing a thousand shades of red and the hue only increases when Sabo catches him off guard and has his soft lips pressed against his neck and kisses him and for a brief moment Luffy closes his eyes because he likes Sabo doing that so much but he opens his eyes again and pushes the older away.
"Sorry, you don't want me to do that?"
"N-no I like it... very much... But before that, could you answer a question?" Luffy inhales deeply and he feels his heart racing again because well, Sabo kissed him and also because he's about to ask that question.
"Do you..." Luffy's focuses on the scenery outside the window as he fidgets his fingers. "Do you bl-"
"There! The princess said the blonde slept with him!" Sabo was so concentrated on what Luffy was about to say when they're interrupted.
The doctor points his finger at Sabo who raises his brow before said man shifts his eyes to Ace.
The prince draws his sword as the doctor slowly steps back.
"You can come back in fifteen, I'll take care of this." He says to the medic who nods and quickly shuffles away as Ace steps inside and closes the door behind him.
"Ace, what the hell?" Sabo asks as he simply face palms and Luffy turns to look at the blond before he looks at his brother and he's so confused and nervous because he was about to ask something really important and why can't he just do it!
"You saw the look on his face?" The prince laughs and slides the sword back in its holder as he lets himself falls into a chair, making himself comfortable.
"The whole castle will think I slept with Luffy and you cut me up because of it. Damn you..."
"Actually you did sleep with him, I just didn't slice you in half." Ace says all the while the amused smirk is across his features and Sabo hates it.
"You know what I mean..."
"I don't understand." Luffy speaks, glancing between the two as he himself is still nervous because he needs to ask Sabo that question!
"People think I had sex with Sabo?"
The room is suddenly dead quiet as both men stare at Luffy who frowns, almost looking angry.
If people think he and Sabo... that means he'll have to...
"It's a joke, Lu." Ace breaks the silence but his brother doesn't respond to that. He sighs, focusing on Sabo instead. "How are you, Sabo?"
Said man tears his eyes away from Luffy as he looks up to Ace. The teen is acting weird...
"Good. Just a light headache and my arm stings..."
"Well you were fucking shot, was to be expected." Ace says dryly and looks back at Luffy who remains silent. "You alright Luffy?"
"Hm?" The teen looks up. "Yeah I'm good, I think I'll head to my room."
"You should wait for Zoro, Luffy." Sabo says, right now feeling more cautious than ever and he feels his protective side kick in. He doesn't want to risk something like that happening ever again.
"I won't go with someone, it's only a five minute walk. I'll be fine."
The teen gaps as Sabo turns and hugs him, whispering into his ear. "I don't want you to get hurt, Luffy, and right now I'm not able to protect you like I want to, so please wait for Zoro."
The teen closes his eyes as he nods. His stubbornness already caused Sabo to get shot, he'll listen to him, but still this closeness... He likes it but he can't, not with Ace's eyes burning holes in his back. He pulls away from the blond and whispers an ok back before he stands up and leans against the desk, the furthest place away from Sabo in the suddenly seemingly small room.
Ace shakes his head, this all confuses him so he'll just let them be acting weird together, no need for him to get involved in their awkwardness.
When he hears a knock on the door Ace yells "come in and a second later Zoro opens the door, followed by the doctor from earlier.
Sabo can't help but shoot him an angry glare but he sighs, the man is there to treat his wounds after all. He answers the man's question to whether his arm hurts and if he feels dizzy and he almost didn't see Luffy leaving the room.
"I'll see you later?"
The teen turns and everybody's attention is suddenly on him. He nods shyly, avoiding the blonde's gaze.
"Take care of him Zoro." Sabo says and the green haired man snorts.
"You should worry more about yourself." And then they're both gone, leaving him, Ace and the doctor in the room.
The man finished his tests and left before he told Sabo that he'll have to rest for the next few days, not risking that the wound might reopen or get infected.
'See you later' is what Sabo asked him and Luffy nodded but as two more days have passed he feels guilty for not stopping by. That, and he misses Sabo. He wants to be by his guard's side but the teen is nervous and won't be able to rest until he gets the answer to his question.
Luffy also noticed the people in the castle started whispering whenever he came near and he overheard Sabo's name in their gossips a few times.
The teen can't see Sabo, or rather no one can know Luffy is currently on his way to his room.
This time he won't hesitate, he'll ask him and Luffy prepared himself for the answer he's afraid to hear, but the teen knows he'll have to face truth one time or another and not knowing is eating him up from the inside.
He stands before Sabo's door and looks left and right- when he sees no one he knocks his door.
"Sabo?"