Sabo couldn't believe his eyes. Right before him, an angel had fallen out of the sky.
Wait, that was not the right timing to make that pickup line.
Luffy was sitting on top of Marco, who was lying on the floor, not making a single move since the collision. Was the guy still alive?
"Ah… Marco…" Although he was surprised to see Luffy, he was also quite concerned with his friend. Luffy looked down at Marco and quickly stood up, grinning sheepishly.
"Oops, sorry pineapple guy!" Luffy gave a nervous laugh. Sabo crouched down to check Marco's breathing. Thank god, he was still alive. It was quite comedic now that he thought back on it. Marco would certainly be furious when he hears about this. Better not tell him.
"Your friend?" Luffy blinked at Sabo. Sabo nodded, turning Marco over so he could breathe better. Maybe he should carry him to somewhere for him to sleep it off. The hard floor couldn't really be considered a good bed.
"I'll carry him to somewhere comfortable. Talk to you later?" Sabo smiled at Luffy hopefully. He was quite happy to see Luffy, and even more curious as to why Luffy fell from the sky. Luffy nodded as Sabo hung Marco's arm over his shoulders to support his weight. Then he heard some shouting directed their way. It sounded like Luffy's name. So his friends came too, huh.
"Luffy! You stupid reckless idiot! You scared us there!" A young male with a long nose yelled, tears were evidently streaming from his face.
"Seriously! Would it hurt not to get into near death experiences all the time!" This time a female with short orange hair. She seemed angry and relieved at the same time.
"Luffy! I thought- I thought you were going to- I thought you- I thought-" The youngest boy in the group cried, not even bothering to hide his watery eyes and snot coming from his nose.
There were two more males, one with green hair and the other was a blond with intriguing eyebrows. They were both silent when they approached Luffy, but the instant they got close enough, they sent a fist flying to Luffy's head.
"DON'T MAKE US WORRY SO MUCH, IDIOT!" They said in sync.
Sabo wanted to drop Marco and jump to Luffy, but even after being hit hard on the head, Luffy grinned at his friends. "Sorry!"
"You're really reckless, aren't you?" The female with shoulder length black hair chuckled. She seemed amused that Luffy was still alive after falling from the sky. Seriously, Sabo wondered what happened.
Right, before he asked, he'd better put Marco somewhere. He wondered if Marco would scowl if he left him on the third floor, where all the couples were. It would be weird to wake up to that kind of atmosphere. But Sabo had to admit, it was more comfortable there. Oh heck, it wasn't like Marco was going to wake up any moment.
Sabo heaved Marco onto the third level and laid him on one of the cushion seats. Some couples turned and pointed at them. Ugh, it felt so weird being here with his friend! It was like there was a lovey dovey atmosphere in the air. If he had to come here, he would have preferred if the other person was Luffy.
Just as the thought hit his mind, Luffy poked his head into the third level.
"Sabo!" Luffy grinned as his eyes met Sabo's.
A little blush appeared on Sabo's cheeks. Oh god, was this actually happening?
Sabo beckoned Luffy over and Luffy happily trotted over, oblivious to the stares on him. Sabo smiled and whispered, still mindful of the sleeping Marco, "Hey, Luffy."
Luffy was quick to take a seat on the chair next to Sabo. Maybe he could ask about what happened earlier. "Luffy?"
"Hm?"
"What was that just now?"
"Uh…" Luffy shifted his eyes and scratched his cheek. "Hm… what can I say? I'm an angel?"
That was definitely what Sabo had thought, but he wanted to know what really happened. He was actually quite concerned to what happened to Luffy. "Tell me what happened."
Luffy fidgeted under his serious tone. Sabo had never spoken like that to Luffy before. He always talked in a gentle tone, careful not to hurt Luffy. He guessed his sudden change in tone surprised him a little.
"My friends and I had a little competition," Luffy began slowly. He hesitated to continue.
"And?" Sabo prompted.
"…you're going to laugh at me," Luffy said quietly, eyes on the floor with his thumbs twiddling.
Sabo raised an eyebrow. "Why would I laugh at you? This concerns your safety and it's not funny." Definitely. He absolutely hated to see Luffy get hurt.
"…I mistook the end goal for the roof and also slipped from there," Luffy said, even more quietly, Sabo had to strain his ears to hear what he said. "I know! It's so stupid!" Luffy chewed his lower lip, still looking away.
"It's not. Anyway, what matters is that you're alright," Sabo sighed, extending out a hand to ruffle Luffy's hair. "But please, don't ever do that again?"
Sabo thought if Luffy did something life-risking again he might actually have a heart attack. He relaxed a little when Luffy nodded. He wondered exactly how often Luffy got into trouble like this. He had learnt that the smaller boy was reckless by nature, and he didn't know how long he'd last worrying for him like that.
There was also something that bothered him for some time.
"You get into trouble often?" Sabo questioned, carrying a lighter mood than before.
"Yea, it drives my brother crazy," Luffy smiled affectionately.
"So what trouble got you this scar?" Sabo stared intently at Luffy, his hand unconsciously going over the scar under Luffy's eye. He realised that Luffy's cheeks were a little red before realising that his own was heating up as well. He swiftly took back his hand.
"This wasn't really a battle scar," Luffy laughed softly. It looked like he was remembering about the past. "I actually did this to myself."
Sabo was shocked to hear that. What? Did he hear him correctly?
"Excuse me?"
"I stabbed myself with a knife," Luffy said with a bit of nostalgia.
"B-but why?" Sabo was really confused. Why would anyone do that?
"My brother and I used to look up to our father. He was really strong! I don't think I've ever seen anyone stronger than him before!" Luffy cheered, swelling with pride, and yet somehow seemed sad.
"I wanted to be as strong as father, but my brother said that I was a wimp and could never be strong," Luffy shook his head in reminiscence. "And to prove to him that I was strong, I stabbed myself, because strong people could endure all sorts of pain."
Sabo winced. He couldn't name anyone else who would do something like that. But then again, this was Luffy they were talking about.
"I think you're plenty strong," Sabo breathed.
Luffy grinned at him appreciatively. "Not enough at that time… but I've became stronger! I can protect the people I love now," Luffy said with such determination. This side of Luffy had made Sabo fall in love with Luffy all over again.
"So what happened to you?" Luffy gestured to the scar on Sabo's face. It was a burn scar that never really healed, and it taunted Sabo every time he looked in a mirror. It was like a reminder that he could never really escape from his dark past. He was trapped in a birdcage, shackled away from freedom. Well, he had been better these few years, hadn't he? Things will get better, and maybe one day he can be freed of the burdens that weighed his chest down. Sabo scoffed. The chances were very slim… but he could dream. After all, didn't one of his dreams already come true?
His dream blinked at him, waiting for an answer expectantly.
Sabo wasn't sure if he was ready to tell Luffy about it. He shifted his gaze to the ceiling and thought of a way to get around his question. "Hm… I wonder?"
Luffy seemed to take the hint and stopped staring at him. He didn't seem upset that Sabo refused to answer his question, though, which was a huge relief to Sabo's part.
"Well, it doesn't matter! Coz I'm going to protect you now! Shishishi!"
Sabo stared at Luffy. Did he just-
He saw Luffy's face come closer and it came so close their lips touched. It was as soft and warm as Sabo had remembered.
He realised he forgot to close his eyes when Luffy pulled away from the chaste kiss. His face became bright red as Luffy grinned widely at him.
"Last time you did it to me, so now I'm doing it to you! It's revenge!" Luffy laughed.
This boy was driving him insane.
And Sabo loved him.