Very short one-shot. Enjoy~
Luffy was quiet, sitting at the head of the ship made to look like him as they left Dressrosa, gazing out at the distance with a blank look on. He had a blank look on often, but this one was blanketed in sadness and guilt. Even with it being blank, his feelings were plan as day on his face. Right now, he was as easy to read as a book.
His crew all noticed, and Robin was the one to approach. They agreed to have her do it, since she was the most delicate in situations like this. It had just never been a situation with Luffy before. The rest were discreetly watching from around the deck. Law looked once and then didn't look again, seeming to not really care.
Robin stood next to Luffy, who looked up briefly with a strained smile. "What's wrong, Luffy?" Robin asked, getting straight to the point. "I know you're feeling sad. Will you talk about it?" Luffy looked away, but sighed, seeming to agree. To speak up about it, since he'd been brooding alone for over an hour and didn't feel any better.
He shifted his position so his knees were up, though not tight against his chest. "I feel bad." Robin asked why. It was clear on his face he felt guilty, so the admission was nothing surprising. "I miss Ace."
"Because Sabo-kun reminded you of him?" she wondered, voice even. Luffy shrugged a shoulder, and said "kinda".
Then he elaborated, "I feel bad… because - I am happy Sabo's alive - but in the moment he explained where he's been all this time… I realized that I'd rather have Ace instead. And I feel bad for thinking that," he confessed. Robin looked at him sympathetically, and sat down beside him.
Robin said, "It only makes sense. Sabo-kun went missing when he was eleven and you were eight. You lived with Ace for seven years, not one. You and Ace both went through a lot together, good times and bad. I don't think it's wrong to feel that way. I would feel that way, too." Luffy nodded. He didn't seem surprised by her words, probably knowing that himself deep inside.
"I wish I had both of them… and that Ace got to see Sabo again before he died," Luffy said sadly, looking at his hands. "I just wish things could be different. And why did Sabo leave and not stay with us, anyways? We could have all been together, but he left." Robin didn't know the reasons or the full scope of the situation Luffy was referencing. And Sabo hadn't spoken about his childhood that he remembered after reading in the paper about Ace's death.
Robin explained, "Sabo-kun felt very guilty about leaving once his memories returned. That he might be a reason Ace was killed on the battlefield, that he wasn't there for both of you. He knows it's not logical, there was nothing he could do, but the feelings are there. It's fine to feel bad things sometimes, as long as your actions don't reflect them."
"I miss Ace a lot, now. Sabo just brought back a lot of hurt. I don't want to talk about it anymore," Luffy said with a sigh. Robin nodded and added one more thought.
"If you want to talk, I know any of us would be able to do so. Even Zoro. You don't need to hide everything all the time," she said with a smile. Luffy smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Because my nakama are the best." Robin smiled, and walked away, Luffy looking a bit happier, even if it wasn't by too much.