I couldn't leave it on a cliffhanger like that

(Warning still graphic violence)- Still pretty dark

"Stop it!" Sabo screamed, his voice hoarse from overuse. He clutched his bleeding leg, barley paying attention to the pain.

Black Beard seemed deaf to his cried however. The only sign that he had heard was the constant grin on his face. He was enjoying hearing Sabo beg.

Sabo tried to crawl closer, only for Teach to stave him off with the gun. "I will shoot him, don't think I won't." He yelled warningly.

He raised his foot once again to Luffy's unprotected side, kicking in the already broken ribs. Unlike before there was no harsh cracking sound, just a sickening thud as his foot injured the organs.

"Why are you doing this?" Sabo asked him desperately.

For the first time the man paused turning to Sabo. "You want to know why?"

Sabo nodded, desperate to keep the man's attention away from Luffy.

"I thought it is obvious," He sneered, "I am doing this so he dies."

"Why do you want to kill him? He has nothing to do with you anymore? You can leave, just walk away and let all this be someone else's problem."

"And what? You guys live happy ever after?" He laughed, a sickening sound, "I don't think so, what kind of example would that set about me? No! I'm going to prove a point."

He looked up at Sabo, sneering, "You should have heard him all those years, so sure things would be okay in the end. He had so much faith you two would save him. Just when he finally started to lose hope you had to show up."

Sabo felt sick as the man continued. He really was serious, he was going to kill Luffy just to prove him wrong, to show him that his trust had been misplaced.

He watched helplessly as the man bent down, his knees on each side of his brothers still form. "What? No response? Nothing to say to that?"

"Please don't," Sabo whispered to him.

He smiled, as if drinking up the desperation. "Awe, there it is, hopelessness feels good don't it? I've been waiting for you to finally give up. Just so you can watch me do this!"

One hand still holding the gun he bought the other one down to Luffy's neck. The kid didn't as much as flinch as he began to choke him. The only sound was Sabo's desperate screams.

"I think that's enough, don't you?"

Sabo looked up in shock as a new voice rang out across the deserted streets.

A red haired man, with three scars across his eye had a gun trained on the man. "Let the kid go Teach."

Black Beard's face twisted into a cruel smile. "Long time no see Shanks."

Sabo's eyes widened as he looked up at the man. This was Shanks? Luffy had said he was dead. He looked at the cap in his hands before turning his gaze back to the man. Sensing his gaze the man gave him a calming smile, as if trying to say 'everything would be okay?'

"Leave the kid alone."

Blackbeard's hand tightened on Luffy's throat, threatening to crush it. "Yea, right, one more step and I shoot."

"You shouldn't say things if you don't mean it."

What?" Teach asked, confusion over his face.

Without any hesitation or warning Shanks fired.

For a moment nothing happened, Black Beard looked confused. Then a small trickle of blood poured from a hole in his forehead down his face. With a final groan he slumped over, on top of Luffy. His own gun fired uselessly at the concrete. Not so much as grazing the child he had sought out to kill.

Not waiting any longer Sabo pulled himself up onto his good leg and practically hopped towards his brother. He crashed to his knees in front of the two, pushing the dead body off his Luffy with all his strength. Teach rolled unceremoniously away, blood forming a small puddle on the sidewalk where he lay.

Sabo didn't so much as glance at him as his trembling fingers felt for a pulse. He didn't even notice that he still clutched his brother's hat in his other hand. It was there! Weak but there. But with horror he realized he wasn't breathing. He could only survive for so long without air. His heart would stop very soon.

Shanks came to kneel by him, concern in those dark eyes as he watched Sabo lay him out on the street, tilting his head back.

Refusing to put the hat down, he covered his brother's nose with one hand and opened his mouth with the other. Ignoring the blood smeared across Luffy's face he leaned down covering bloody lips with his own. He tasted sickening copper as he breathed two breaths into his mouth before abandoning that for chest compressions. With trembling hands he pounded on his brother's already broken chest.

Internal bleeding, that was a given. Blood in mouth, ribs smashed to hell, strangulation. They could deal with that when Luffy started breathing again. Had that been 20 or 30 compressions? He couldn't think strait. He felt tears fill his eyes as he rechecked his vitals. Still no breathing or a pulse. Damn it!

Teach's words echoed in his ears. Even after death that stupid man might still get his way. Luffy believed in him this whole time. He had trusted him to save him. He couldn't let it all be for nothing.

Had Luffy felt like this all these years ago when he had refused to leave Sabo? They had said it was his desperate efforts to stop the bleeding that saved Sabo's life.

He wouldn't give up! He refused to. He would keep at it forever if he needed too. It would be fine. Luffy was strong and indestructible. He wouldn't allow something as stupid as no pulse stop him.

He heard sirens in the distance, approaching quickly. Shanks must have called the paramedics at some point.

"Kid," The man said, gently catching his arm.

Sabo shook it off, trying to start compressions once again. His arm was grabbed once again, firmer this time.

"It's okay, you can stop now." Sabo was about to snap at him that he wasn't giving up when he continued, "He' breathing again."

He froze, staring at Luffy. It's true, he was breathing. Hauntingly strangled breaths no less. Each one sounded pained and harsh. There was something wrong with his lungs but he was alive.

As gently as he could Sabo picked him up, holding him to his chest as he looked at Shanks.

"Thank you." He said, only now, after he was sure Luffy was breathing did he let go of the hat, handing it to the man.

Shanks stared at it mutely before looking back at Sabo with a confident grin, "Sorry kid, not the deal."

Sabo frowned, "What?"

"Luffy promised to give it back to me, he's not one to break his promises either."

"Yea?"

"So," Shanks rose, putting the hat on the sleeping child, "tell him he's not off the hook yet." He gave the two of them a half wave, before disappearing down an ally. Just as an ambulance swerved into view.

Honestly? That man may be the coolest person he's ever met. No wonder Luffy liked him so much. That was petty smooth, and no doubt a sign he was wanted by the police. Then again most of the most interesting people were.

He hugged his brother tighter to his chest, gently brushing aside Luffy's bangs. Even as the paramedics flooded the street he refused to let go. He wasn't sure he would ever be ready to again.

.

Okay so before you kill me this was sort of symbolic. The last war they were in both Ace and Sabo were mortally wounded. Sabo's was so bad he went into a coma for years. Luffy managed to escape unscathed thanks to the protection of his brothers. This is kind of what happened here. Thanks to Luffy his family and friends were all spared due to his sacrifice. Plus it kind of mirrors when Luffy saved Sabo's life when they were kids. Don't worry! There shall be a happy ending yet. Only three chapters left