sailedfirst | Appointments

No one can say you did any wrong. And if they do, we'll just punch 'em in the face.

[Right about now, he would really like Whitebeard to walk through the door and declare Sabo his son. But that's been wishful thinking ever since he can remember.] We didn't choose you to be our brother. We all agreed on it. After meeting him just once, Pops asked me to be his son. Pops is different. Anyone who asks to be his son can be. He'd love to have you, Sabo.

[Laughs.] I like this plan!

[But here, he looks down. To his own parents, he was nothing but a disappointment, a failure of a son, to the very end. Who's to say Whitebeard won't think the same of him?] ...E-even so, Ace. If I'm to be his son, I want to prove first that I'm worthy of it. Not just because you and Marco call me brother.

[A-Aw, Sabo, break his heart more why don't you? He throws an arm around Sabo's shoulders, tugging him a little closer.] Oi, what's this about proving yourself worthy? I tried to kill the guy over a hundred times, and he let me join without so much as a slap on the wrist. He thinks of everyone equally, no one's better or worse than anyone else. Here, maybe I should tell you something.

One of Pops' sons once stabbed him, right in the middle of a war. The enemy tricked him into thinking Pops would abandon them, and using a past fear against him. Everyone was pissed as fuck at him, and they wanted to beat him senseless. But you know what Pops did? He hugged him. He hugged him and said he still loved him. Pops cares about everyone equally.

[...A war? That's the first he heard of a war in their world. And if it involves the Whitebeard Pirates... Whoa. An event that big happened in the future? Filing that info away to be asked later; for now, he listens quietly.

He already knows Whitebeard is a great man, but his respect for him increases tenfold after Ace is done with the story.] ...He really is a good father, isn't he. He could forgive even something like that. No wonder he won over even a stubborn bastard like you, in the end.

[And Ace was right in the middle of it, but that can all wait for another day.

Or never. Never sounds good.] I'm really glad he's my father. And you know how I feel about fathers, so that's saying something. He doesn't care where you come from or what your bloodline is. He'll love you for who you are.

[Let's hope he won't find out in some other way then.

Sabo's quiet, considering Ace's words carefully. But after a while, he looks up with a frown.] ...Is this about my dad, Ace?

[Busted. He doesn't say anything for a while, and eventually nods.] Don't try to tell me you weren't thinking about him. I know you don't like your dad, much less your family. But Pops... he's like everything you'd want in a dad, and I just want you to know that happiness, too.

[Sabo looks away. He can't deny that he doesn't like his family now, but there's something he can't deny, either.] ...Dad used to be a real father to me too, y'know. It's all faint and stuff, but I remember him playing and laughing with me. He's actually the one who taught me how to read, not my tutors. But then I learned to think for myself and started questioning stuff. [Shrugs, like this doesn't matter.] Guess that's when things changed.

[He pauses, fists clenching at his sides, but it doesn't last long. The words just kept coming.] Sometimes I wonder why he tried so hard to find me, to bring me home before the fire in the Terminal started. He didn't have to, y'know. He's already got a new heir. But I guess, in a way, he still cared. Like, he really believes keeping me in High Town's the best thing for me.

I... I can't say I appreciate it, but I think--maybe, he did love me in the only way he knows how.

[Ace just stays completely silent for a while. He wants to yell that Pops can give him that for as long as Sabo wants, but... Ace doesn't know what it's like to be with your birth father. He never grew up with anything like that, so why is he telling Sabo that doesn't matter?

He almost wonders if Roger would've been a good father. Would he have been happy like Sabo was? Sure, he had Garp, but Garp wasn't really a father. He cared, definitely, but... it felt different from Pops.] ... sorry. I guess I should let you decide this, not push it on you.

[That's the thing. Sabo remembered being happy, that's why it hurt a lot worse when he was losing that love. No matter how different Whitebeard might be as a father, Sabo will always carry that fear of somehow disappointing him and being called useless all over again.]

...M-maybe someday, Ace. And who knows, I might get to meet your Pops, and I can ask to be a Whitebeard son too! [Trying to smile cheerfully.] But until then, I'm just Sabo; that homeless orphan kid from Gray Terminal with dumbass brothers. That's good enough for me, for now!

[If only Ace knew that, he'd try to tell him Whitebeard is nothing like that. But he still feels like he doesn't have room to talk, Sabo knows things Ace doesn't.] He'd gladly take you in, too. I bet he'd be proud to have a son like you.

[At the dumbass comment, he just shoves him lightly.] Oi, oi. You're a dumbass along with us. [He can't help feeling there's something off, but it's hard to pinpoint it. What's Sabo worried about?]

I sure hope so! But, aaah, how would that work? I'd still want to be a captain of my own crew, y'know... [It's almost just a fantasy now, but there's no way he'll give up that dream.

And just laughing, in the hopes to lighten the mood more. He's already dumped a lot of stuff on Ace today; he doesn't need to worry him more.] Yep! We already said that last night, right?

You could be an ally! He treats his allies like family, too. [He doesn't expect Sabo to give it up if he doesn't want to. Ace was the same way.

Um, bro, you can dump all you want, he can help... sob.] Ah, that's right, we did. Then so's Marco!

Really?! That's great! I can definitely work with that. [Someday, this'll happen. Someday.

Shh, it's fine. He's been doing this for years... sob.] 'Course he is! Or, if he weren't before, he'd be one now for willingly dealing with us.

There you go, then! [They will make it happen.

B-Bro, that is not a good thing.] And don't ever let him deny it.

Yeah! That's something to look forward to. [When there's absolutely nothing left, there's always hope.

He will learn that, m-maybe.] Well, I don't think he'd want to. Some dumbassery's what makes life fun, y'know!

The whole crew will. We're always happy to get more nakama. [One thing they always have.

You better.] Hahaha, he knows that just from watching us.

Heh, you and Marco told me so much about them, I feel like I know them already. But I'd love to meet 'em for real one day.

[Snickers.] Yeah, I bet!

Ahhh, you'd love 'em. They're a ton of fun to be around. It's like 1600 of you and Luffy!

[Laughing his loudest laugh so far. Because the mental image is just horrifyingly ridiculous.] So that's why you're right at home with them, huh?!

[Oh, he can imagine how hilarious it must be.] You bet I am! Never a moment without fun with those guys.

[Catching his breath back, and giving the widest grin.] Man, I'm really happy you and Luffy got to have such great nakama.

[He grins back happily.] I'm really glad, too. How many of Luffy's nakama have you met?

Ah, let's see... There's Chopper, Zoro, and Robin, and Sanji and Nami. Vivi too, I think. But she's a princess, not a pirate, so I'm not sure how that works.

Sounds like you've met all of his nakama. That are here, anyway. And as for Vivi, Luffy helped her country, Alabasta, so I think they're nakama.

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