Chapter Nineteen : Change
"Do you think Sabo's alright?" Luffy finally asked after minutes of silence. He was next to the window, staring outside. He finally looked onto Ace hoping for any affirmation.
Ace sighed softly. He was sitting on the floor doing nothing but brood. "Sabo will not like it if we worry about him. He can handle himself, Luffy."
"Do you think your Dad's alright?"
"Don't worry about him. It's hard to kill a bad thing." Ace sarcastically said, still not used to the idea of dubbing him as his father.
Luffy nodded, expression finally relaxing. The boy readjusted the straw hat on his head. He continued his staring outside. Ace thought that he was probably hoping that Sabo will come back soon but they both knew that that's not gonna happen anytime soon.
Both boys were lost in their thoughts. They do not want to talk about it especially since it was still fresh. Their mind was still getting used to the idea that Sabo had sacrificed himself for them. Ace and Luffy did not like it but it was over now. They could not change the past and they need to live with the consequences of it. Ace was no good at talking about feelings. He was worried that he'll say a wrong word that will make Luffy's anxiety even worse. Being silent was the best choice for now.
In the end, the treehouse remained unrepaired. Sabo was the one who knew what needs to be repaired. Sabo was the one who was always in charge of planning. But their brother was not there. It was just the two of them. Not having Sabo around left a gap in their hearts. The atmosphere in the treehouse confirmed that something or moreover someone was missing from the scene.
"Look, Ace! Roger's back!" Luffy beamed excitedly, pointing a finger outside as soon as he spotted the man.
It made Ace startled as his thoughts dispersed. But he didn't move from his spot. He didn't have the energy today, unlike Luffy.
Roger climbed up and was immediately greeted by Luffy who kept on babbling. Ace stared at him. Gone was the anger on his face. But still, something was unsettling about his father. The aura he was emitting was still the same dangerous one he had felt from him earlier.
"Let's go get Sabo," Roger announced with a smile, ruffling Luffy's black hair.
Luffy's eyes widened before yelling in happiness. "Really!? Then let's g—!"
"No," Ace stated firmly before Luffy could finish his sentence. He turned to faced his brother with a serious face.
"Why? I want Sabo back! I'm sure you do, too!" Luffy argued, gritting his teeth. His eyes twitched as he glared at him.
Roger remained silent and waited for his explanation.
"I'm not sure if Sabo wants that. Let's wait for him. If he's not happy there, he will come back to us." Ace murmured as he closed his eyes. "Don't you trust Sabo?"
"Of course, I do..." Luffy growled, offended by his words.
Ace smiled a little. "Then don't worry about him. Sabo's strong. He's our brother remember?"
Luffy was silent but after a while, he nodded firmly. The thought of not having his older brother around was not something he will get used to.
There was pain inside of Ace. Not only he was trying to convince Luffy, but also himself with those words.
Trust was all they needed. That was the basis of their brotherhood after all. At that moment, Ace chose to believe in Sabo. Ace knew Sabo for half of his life. They teamed up because of a common goal. They were put into life-threatening situations all the time. He can't remember when did he fully trusted Sabo. It just happened to the point he felt comfortable with him telling his biggest secret.
He believed that Sabo will come back if he was not happy. That would be his resolve for the meantime.
"It's past lunchtime. Let's go find food, shall we?" Roger suggested trying to lessen their heavy mood.
"Okay." Luffy agreed as he ran down.
Once Luffy was out of their sight and earshot, Ace turned his attention to his father who was about to go down also.
"What happened to Bluejam and his men?" Ace inquired, crossing his arms.
"You don't have to worry about them bothering you ever again."
"You killed them..." Ace concluded, tone was flat.
Somehow, he was not surprised by that. In the end, the stories about his father being a ruthless man turned out to be true but within reasons. He still remembered vividly all the stories about the Pirate King's killing spree. They were not stories children were supposed to hear. It can be brutal and Ace's hatred over his father grew only more.
But Ace perfectly understood it by now. Pirates are no saints. Even his father who have a cheery attitude, can be triggered with one wrong move. Ace didn't like to admit it vocally but he knew Roger cared for them. He loved for them in a way no one has ever done to them before.
"You still have blood on your left hand. Don't let Luffy see it." Ace pointed out.
"Oh—! I'm sorry I thought that I have washed it in the river earli—"
"Okay, okay. You don't have to explain." Ace sighed.
His father was still an idiot through and through.
Roger watched silently as Ace and Luffy tried their best to sparring with each other.
Their moves were sloppy. As if both boys were not serious infighting. Their body was there but not their mind and concentration were not. Every punches and kick they threw was disorganized.
Roger perfectly understood why. Not having their other brother around was the reason. The three brothers were used to the idea of always having each other's backs. Even Roger who knew Sabo for less than two months was affected by it. Roger was not agreed with Ace's decision not to get Sabo back. But Ace and Luffy knew Sabo more than him. And so, Roger just chose to believe in the boy too.
They did not train with Haki today. Roger just let them spar. If they can't be focused on sparring, what more if it comes to training their senses for Observation Haki?
It was in their fifty-eight fight that Roger knew that enough is enough. He cannot allow Ace to hurt Luffy more. Ace has been harsh. It seemed like that was his way into releasing his frustrations. Luffy was the unfortunate one who became a punching bag.
"Stop, you two," Roger said with a heavy sigh.
By that point, Ace had pinned Luffy down on the ground. They simultaneously turned to face Roger. Both showed the look of annoyance because of the sudden interruption.
"Why?" Luffy asked, a deep frown forming on his face.
"I can't let you hurt yourselves more than that."
Ace snarled. "Don't interrupt us."
"We need to be strong!" Luffy scowled, pushing himself away from Ace's grasp.
"Beating yourselves is not the answer," Roger said intently. "Retire for the meantime. We will continue tomorrow."
Ace and Luffy were silent for a moment but they realized that Roger was serious. Ace offered his hand in which Luffy gladly accepted, helping him stand up. Both boys wiped down the dirt in their clothes.
"Ace, I don't want to go back to the treehouse..." Luffy muttered, bowing down.
"Deal with it, Luffy." Ace's jaw tightened, not knowing how to handle Luffy in that situation.
"You two don't have to. Seriously, don't beat yourselves." Roger said before smiling. "Why don't you stay with Dadan tonight?"
"She'll just kick us out." Ace countered.
"Can we Ace? It's been a month since we last went there!" Luffy pleaded, eyes wide open and twinkling.
Seeing that there was no way of turning Luffy down, Ace sighed and agreed. "Fine..."
Their way to Dadan's hut was mostly filled with silence. Roger did try to entertain them but the boys were beyond lost. It seemed that they lost all the energy because of today's happenings. Roger leave them be. Tomorrow is another day and hopefully, they will be better.
Once they arrived, the sun was starting to set. Nothing much had changed since Roger was last here. He tried opening the door but it was locked from the inside. Sighing, he knocked loudly and waited for someone to come to open it.
"Don't you know the meaning of wait!?" Dadan boomed as she opened the door angrily.
"Hello, Dadan!" Roger greeted with his signature grin. "Mind if these two will stay here?"
"R-Roger?" Dadan gulped before turning to face Ace and Luffy. She pointed her fingers towards the two and started counting. "One... Two... One... Two..."
Ace crossed his arms impatiently. "Sabo's not here."
"Where's the other brat, then?"
"I don't wanna talk about it." Ace replied, dryly.
Roger noticed that Luffy visibly flinched. For affirmation, Luffy held Ace's hand finding comfort in it.
"Tch," Dadan scoffed. She was outnumbered in the end and just cannot turn them down. "Just don't go destroying my house!"
"Thanks, Dadan!" Luffy bid and then turned to Roger. "Will you stay with us for a while?"
"If your brother wants to," Roger replied.
"Luffy wants to so yeah." Ace simply agreed, not meeting his father's gaze.
Roger smiled with those words.
Being back to his so-called home was suffocating Sabo.
That was his thoughts as he silently stared at the window of his room. High Town was still the same beautiful place full of hypocritical nobles. Some things will never really changed. He had lost hope for this town long ago. They thought that Gray Terminal was full of dirty people but it was the nobles. At least, the people in Gray Terminal were true to themselves, unlike the nobles who were always double-faced.
This was Sabo's life five years ago and maybe his life forever. Being locked in a cage and letting his parents dictate his life and what was the so-called best for him.
Back then, he had no problems sneaking out whenever he liked. The only difference now was Ace and Luffy. Because only now, Sabo has finally found people he trusts. He found people he wanted to protect at all costs.
He reminisced his times with Ace and Luffy. It seemed like yesterday when they first shared the sakazuki cups and became brothers. In reality, it has been months now. The past months were full of changes in their lives. But if he had to be honest, he considered them as the best days of his life. Ace and Luffy had changed him for the better and he will forever be grateful for it.
"Blood doesn't make you family. Love does."
This was not home and those people living here were not his family. He remembered Roger's quote. It perfectly described his situation now.
Even Roger had been a better father figure than his blood father. Outlook never showed him any kind of affection, not even once in his ten years of life. He made Sabo's life more miserable than ever.
Because Sabo was always yearning for one thing.
Love.
And that was what he felt with Ace, Luffy, Roger, and Dadan. They were not blood-related but they did make a better family than his real one. Ace and Luffy will always be his brothers. Not the new kid his parents had introduced earlier. Dadan will always be his mother. Not his biological one who was controlling and manipulative. And Roger will always be his father. Not his biological one who was abusive and violent.
"Hey, brother. I heard you're pretty stupid." Sterry, his new adoptive brother, said. He knocked on the door making Sabo break his thoughts.
Sabo was annoyed by his laugh and the way he smiles. It was ridiculing him. He just tried ignoring him but he kept talking.
"But you got the devil's luck. If you had stayed on Gray Terminal..." Sterry continued as he sat on the bed. "You would have died."
Sabo's heart skipped a beat.
"Well, it would be beneficial to me if their son hadn't come back."
Sabo grabbed his collar abruptly. His face turned into a deep frown as he demanded answers.
"Wh-What are you doing? I'm gonna tell Father!" Sterry threatened as he tried pushing Sabo away.
"What are you talking about? Tell me everything!"
"There's gonna be fire at Gray Terminal tomorrow."
"A fire!?" Sabo repeated.
"You don't know about it since you weren't here. There would be people from the World Government that will visit the Goa Kingdom two days from now. It's the Celestial Dragons!" Sterry explained.
"People are living there!" Sabo argued, not believing the words coming from Sterry's mouth.
"Let me go!" Sterry demanded and Sabo obliged. "Didn't I tell you? They're gonna burn the shame of this kingdom."
"You mean the people, too!?"
"Everything."
Without any second thoughts, Sabo ran away again.
A/N: Thank you for the follows, favorites and reviews! See you next week.