#and Sabo turns back to the yawning expanse of the tunnel

[exactly-another-one-piece-blog]

“The Revolutionary Army? You mean the one my dad leads?” Luffy asked as they made their way down the colosseum corridor, their footsteps echoing against the stony, dark interior.

“Mhmm.” Sabo nodded “He took me in when I couldn’t remember anything and I’ve been with him ever since. He’s— well, nevermind. You’ll see when you meet him. You do want to meet him, right?” He added, only a tiny bit skeptical

“Uh huh. Especially now!” Luffy confirmed with a cheery grin and Sabo felt a little heat rise in his cheeks, not needing to ask what he meant by that. “Oh hey, does that mean you know Iva-Chan too? What’s he up to?”

“Yes, he’s returned to ruling the Kama Kingdom and leading the Revolutionary Army. I outrank him now and he’s furious about it, which is always funny.” Sabo explained.

“I see. It’s good to hear he’s doing well. I didn’t get the chance to talk to him after Marineford.” Luffy said casually but the mention of the battle he’d missed two years ago felt to Sabo like an icy hand clutching at his back. His feet felt stuck to the floor and he couldn’t take another step.

“E-Even if you take Luffy-Senpai’s disguise what will you do about his scar? It’s way too noticeable. There’s no way it could just disappear!” That Cresent-Head weirdo had pointed out before they’d parted ways. And though of course Sabo wasn’t a stranger to faking scars or other distinguishing marks, the words of this stranger rang true in an entirely different way.

“Luffy… about Marineford… I-“ he stopped suddenly when he felt Luffy’s warm hand grab his.

He looked up in surprise at his younger brother. For a second his face was full of something hard to identify. It was stern but far from unkind and ever to subtly desperate. It was an expression he’d seen on Dragon once or twice and it was the first time Sabo had seen any physical resemblance between father and son. But seeing it on Luffy again made him realize he’d seen this look first not on Dragon but on Luffy. When Ace would have an especially bad day and start talking foolishly about his life.

It only lasted a second, maybe less, before it melted away into a bright and warm grin. But it had been there.

“Come on.” His brother prompted “We need to keep moving. We’re so close now.”

Sabo stared past him. The tunnel kept going through the deep, dark underground. Sabo couldn’t see the end of it yet. But Luffy was right. He kept walking but Luffy didn’t let go of his hand.