dear_mun | on muse's bounty being released

[Ugh, heavy. And hey he's not tiny, you're just overly tall.] Ah... That'd be pretty horrible, alright. You'd have killed each other from the start.

[It means they're both dead and shouldn't be even able to talk. They can be as emotional as they want. B[

And oh btw, he's now eying that crossed out S in your tattoo with ALL the interest.]

[No, you're tiny.] Hahahaha! We would have, huh? Remeber when we actually tried to? But we were both too chicken?

[Well, muns are magical, so there. >:|

And Ace is wishing he covered that tattoo. He glances at it. Think, think!. Sabo's smart, he can see through lies...] A kind of memorial for a good friend of mine.

[Just you wait 'til he got his growth spurt. >[] Hey, at least I have a reason for wanting him dead that time. You, on the other hand, tried to get him killed in the forest just for being an annoying brat!

[And evil too, sadly. ;; Because damn, even if his initial reaction is to tease, Sabo's connecting the dots here. His symbol permanently inked in Ace's arm (because what else could that crossed-out S be?) + strange expression + the word 'memorial' + vague answers about his future = ???]

....Must be a real special one then, to be remembered like that. [Clearly, the only way to deal with this is to believe they're talking about another person.]

[The growth spurt you'll never get? ZING.] Oi, I didn't know any better! Back then, he was just some annoying kid.

[He took a good long, hard look at Sabo. He knew. He knew he knew. Ace bit his lower lip, and just wrapped up Sabo in a hug. Shit, why did he have to die!? He deserved his freedom! He deserved to live!!]

You are!!! You're our brother, you're one of the most important people in our lives! There's no way in hell we'd just forget about you! [Okay, he's probably crying, but he doesn't care.]

[...You are one cruel human being. Especially given what's happening here. ;;

Sabo doesn't want to believe it. He wants to believe that symbol's someone else's, someone who was free, who lived long, enjoying life, and was lucky enough to have met Ace. But no, Ace has to confirm it. The hug alone is enough, but the tears? Those words? It kills what little hope Sabo has that this was all a misunderstanding.

He's not quite crying yet, but the face he's making might be all the more heart-breaking for it. There's a question he's desperate to ask, so he couldn't break down. Not yet. So Sabo shakes Ace's shoulders, trying to get him to look up.]

H-hey, Ace? You said I got my freedom. After the fire, you said I--- is... is this what you meant?

[sob I know I am.

His heart is breaking all over again. It's like he just got the news, except Sabo came back himself to say it. He trembles just a little and looks up, tears streaming down his face. This is one of the hardest things for him to have ever done.]

... yeah. You got your freedom, and no one can tell you or me or Luffy or anyone otherwise. You sailed away with a pirate flag on that ship, you were a pirate. Not a noble, a pirate.

I-It's today. I... That's the last thing I remember. T-that, hey, you can't mean I died there, right?! I... I just got away! I can't have...... [He might be trembling now, but he's still gripping Ace's shoulder. Which tightens as the realization dawns.

He's dead. In Ace's time, he's dead. There's no bounty to tell, because he's dead. No adventures, no book, no dream. He's never able to keep his promise to Ace and Luffy and meet them in the sea... If they ever escape this limbo, he'd never see them ever again because he's dead.

Finally, the tears come. And he clings to Ace so very tightly like the frightened child that he is.] N-no... I don't wanna die! I--I can't die yet! W-why do I have to....

I-I'm sorry... I'm so, so so sorry.

[This is killing him. He can't take it, he never wanted Sabo to die, he never should've gotten that! He should have sailed away. Ace is filled with a mix of emotions. Sadness for his pain, extreme anger at the people who took his brother's freedom away, and helplessness for not being able to do a damn thing about it.

But when Sabo cries that he doesn't want to die, Ace just loses it. And really can't stop the tears, no matter what he does. He just hugs and clings back to Sabo to keep him close, almost trying to prevent anything else from hurting him.] It's not FAIR! Goddammit, it's not fair at all! We didn't want you to die, but those shithead tenryuubito... I'm sorry... I'm sorry...

[Sorry, Ace. Sabo can't hear you over his own grief and hopelessness. He just curls up against his brother's chest and cries hard.

He's going to die. He's sailing right to his death. It's not actually the dying that crushes Sabo's heart. No, dying's part of the danger of setting out to the sea, Sabo knows that. It's the fact that he was actually free. He's finally free, to live and die on his own terms, and then it's snatched from him. He isn't even that far from High Town! There's so much he wants to do, so many plans for the future. And now it's gone, just like that? Without even doing a single thing, without even a chance to fight?

...He'll never see his brothers again. They are his greatest treasure, the most important people in his life. That he won't see them again pains him the most out of everything this horrible future paints for him.

He's going to die.]

[Ace isn't sure he can take this. He's never seen Sabo, who has always been so strong and so determined, just crumble like this. It's like a punch right in the gut, and he feels like it's his fault. For a lot of things. Dying in front of Luffy and breaking his promise, leaving all of his brothers and Pops so selfishly, and now shattering the little sliver of hope one of his most treasured brothers ever had. Even if Sabo came to Luceti and got extra time, the ocean was too small to really give him the freedom he wanted. He would still be trapped in a cage, like when he was a noble. It wasn't fucking fair! It's like fate kept taking every chance Sabo had at getting what he deserved.

He held Sabo closer, trying to do anything he could to just comfort him, in whatever way he could.]

Dammit, Sabo... I'd give the world if I could! I'd make you an ocean to sail on! I'd beat the shit out of anyone who tried to stop you! [So why couldn't he before?] Pl-please don't quit. You're alive now, you can see me and Luffy now, you can still live! There's gotta be some place around here with an ocean! And if not, we'll make one! Or force someone to make a game that will! I swear, I'm not gonna stop looking! [Does he sound desperate? Because he is.]

[It's only when Ace pulls him closer that Sabo remembers where exactly he is and who he's with. Ace. Despite the odds, he's here with his brother. Seeing how much Ace had grown, hearing about Luffy's adventures, actually seeing them alive and happy... things now lost to him forever back in their world. Somehow, through all the grief and fear he's feeling (would never stop feeling, if he's honest), Sabo recognizes it for what it is: a small mercy. One that he swears now he won't waste, especially if it is really nothing but borrowed time.

And besides, he hates that anguish and desperation he sees in Ace. Like this is somehow his fault and his responsibility to fix. Sabo might be powerless against dying, but knocking common sense back into a stubborn brother's head is something he could do. The least he could, if Sabo really caused this much grief to his brothers.

It's far from a comforting thought, but it's enough to make Sabo take a shuddering breath and squeeze his eyes shut to quell the tears. It takes a number of tries (because you don't get over your inevitable death that easily) but when he finally looks up, Ace might now glimpse that familiar brother he grew up with.]

H-huh, who's quitting, idiot? I'm here... aren't I? Like hell I'm going to pass up this second chance. [If his bravado's sometimes broken by sobs he couldn't yet stop, ignore it. He needs to get this out, for his stupid idiot bro.] ...This isn't your fault, Ace. You don't have to take the responsibility for this.

[Ace tries to stop his own tears, with little success, though. But when Sabo looks up and confirms what Ace wanted to hear, he just can't help but smile through the tears. This is the brother he knows, loves, remembers from their childhood. He gives Sabo one last tight squeeze before setting him down and wiping away his tears.]

Damn right you are. I'm gonna make your mun put you in Luceti or the Thor. [His face dims a bit, though, when he brings up the point of fault.] I know... but shit, you deserved so much more!

[Is that a smile? Oh, it is. Looks like Ace's finally dropping that stupid expression Sabo never wants to see again. And because Sabo has always drawn strength from his brothers, Ace's smile bolsters his determination to make the most from this second chance.]

I'll go to both if I had my way. You have Luffy with you in those places, right? [Sabo blinks at that last line. Then knocks a fist to Ace's head.] That still doesn't make it your fault, stupid! ...Besides, just who the hell decides what we deserve in life? It's what we do while we're alive that's important, right?! And I'm a pirate before dying. I'm free, a-and I'm here... [He's shaking again, fists clenched tightly on his sides, fighting hard against the new wave of grief. He won't break down again, he won't!] I-It's one damn small comfort but it's enough. I can move past this!

[He nods, his face getting brighter.] Mn, and some of his nakama, too.

[The punch didn't hurt because hah, logia, but he does pout a little.] I'm not deciding you deserve more, I'm just saying I think you do!

[When he sees him shaking again, he shoves that hat over his eyes to let him save a little face.] Damn right you will. I'l be here with you every step of the way. I'm not gonna let you go it alone ever again. [Brothers stick together, and he is going to do this no matter what.]

Good! Then I'll meet them too. But for now I just... I want to be with you and Luffy. There's nothing else I want more--

[Almost as soon as the brim covers his eyes, the tears streak down his cheeks. He's far from being okay, and he's never going to be. But to hell with it! Sabo's got his brothers here.

Everything's going to be fine.] Heh, when and how did you become this mushy? Hahaha, well that's one other thing I'd regret not seeing.

We can give you that much, Sabo. I promise. [Because Ace has been stellar with promises lately. He can see those tears falling, and turns away to let him cry in peace. Pops was right. It's okay to show emotion, but sometimes it's better to hide it a little.

He smiles a little, and chuckles a bit.] Because I'm damn happy to see you, no shit. You can see a ton more when you get to Luceti. My mun told me your mun's bringing you there.

[Ok, wiping all that tears and snot from his face now. Sheesh, crying's always a messy business. He's fine, he's going to be. Finally with another deep breath and a push of his hat, that familiar gap-toothed grin is back on his face.]

I'm glad to see you too, you shitty bastard!

Don't try to mother me so much if I get there, alright? I know I'm so much weaker than you and even Luffy now, but dammit, I'm going to get stronger! More and more until I can bring our scores closer again!

[And then he just BURSTS into laughter. Because this is how Sabo is supposed to be. Cheerful, encouraging, upbeat, and such a rude asshole.]

Same to you, you little shithead!

Ooooooi, I haven't seen you in over ten years, I'm not mothering you. Just catching up. [SHIT EATING GRIN NOW.] Oh, damn right you are! Hurry and catch up, we're waiting!

[Laughing along because holy crap, that joy is infectious and just punches the sad in him in the face.]

That's good. You better not go easy on me just because I'm a kid, or I'll kick your damn ass, logia or not!

[... he can keep a straight face. Totally can, he's A-- NOPE, CAN'T DO IT, HE KEEPS LAUGHING.]

Damn, you sound just like Luffy! You guys sure want to kick my ass, huh? Too bad you can't!

[GASP oh you did not just say that! ]

WHAT?!! I DO NOT, YOU ASSHOLE!! [attempting that ass-kicking right now.]

[PFFFFFHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH OKAY. THIS. THIS IS GOOD. He'll let Sabo get a few kicks/punches in, he picks him up by the back of his coat.]

Suuuuuure you don't. [Sabo, kick him. KICK HIM.]

[YOU ARE HORRIBLE, ACE. HORRIBLE hdu use height advantage on him?!

Sabo's still flailing hard while hanging there, still trying to get a kick and punch in. But uguuu, short legs... ;;]

HEY! PUT ME DOWN YOU PIECE OF SHIT! THIS ISN'T FAIR!!!

[After a bit more laughing, he finally puts him down, but he can't seem to stop smiling or laughing.]

Hah... you sound so much like Luffy it's not even funny.

Tch! That doesn't mean you have to treat me like him! [Aiming a kick at Ace's shin one last time before huffing. But then there's a smile creeping on his face. The next moment, he's bursting out laughing too.]

Man, this is crazy! I can't believe I'm the youngest now!

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/sob, it's too early for this...

f-fffff /pats ;;

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