Ghost. {Sabo x Reader}

Brotherly Love.

The pain is clear as day on Thatch's face as he reaches out and touches his brother's cheek, his eyebrows raising when his hand gently flattens against the blonde's skin, his thumb carefully running across the large scar taking up half of Sabo's features.

"You feel like you're really here but...you're still burnt...even now?"

"Yeah, the fire got to me a little before I died." Sabo softly informs but not letting his sweet smile fade for even a second. "It's okay, I don't recall feeling any pain." 

His words were meant to reassure his sibling but instead they only seem to harm him more, his lip quivering ever so lightly as several tears stream down the man's face in unison. "It did hurt though, I remember the screams." Pulling his touch away from his brother's skin, he buries his own face into his palms, seemingly trying to stifle his emotions. "You were terrified." 

"It...was a long time ago." You can tell even Sabo is struggling to hold it together now, the boy frowning softly as realization flashes in his eyes, his hand instinctively squeezing Thatch's shoulder as he speaks. "You were the only one waiting outside the house that night...when they carried my body away, there was a lot of strangers and flashing lights but I remember seeing your face among the rest--!"

"I told Marco to take Ace and Luffy away, they were too distraught to stay there. Especially Ace, he tried so hard to get you out..." The man needs no encouragement when it comes to telling the truth, he and Sabo have that in common it would seem. Your heart clenches when he looks back up at his little brother, the tears are now uncontrollably pouring from his eyes and his voice harbours a slight croak to it as he tries to speak through his pain. "I thought that...maybe you could've been saved, I--I'm so sorry, I--!"

"You did the best you could! So did Ace, I haven't forgotten that!" Sabo supportively blurts, essentially dragging his brother out of his seat and into a tight hug in an attempt to soothe the man. "That's why I couldn't let go, I needed you both to know that it's okay! I'm okay!"

"We're your older brothers, it's never going to be okay...it was our job to protect you!"

"And you did!"

"I let you burn to death!"

Considering the tensions being at an all-time high, you swiftly leave the room, letting the boys speak amongst themselves whilst making your way into the back. Your plan now is to make Thatch a warm drink - the guy surely needs it with everything he has been put through today. 

You're quick to search the room for a kettle, judging by all the woodwork scattered around the place, you'd assume this is where Kid and the others make the furniture; there's half-finished clocks, chairs, dressers and...what looks like some kind of BDSM device. 

Wow, they really make anything to please their customers here.

And toward the back of the room, you spot it. A small coffee machine. 

Excellent, just what he needs!

You dare not leave the backroom as you brew the coffee for the gentleman, Thatch is a lovely person and seeing him cry hurts you and you barely know him, you could only imagine how heart-breaking it is for Sabo to see his sibling, the man he has always idolised, in such a state.

I wish I could do more for them.

"You need me to get Ace to understand all of this?" Thatch's voice seeming much more calm now as you re-enter the main store, a freshly-brewed coffee in your hands as you approach the pair. 

"Ye--"

"How? You have no idea what it's been like, he was so crushed when you died, he felt like he failed you--! Oh, thank you, darlin'." It's honestly amazing that even at a time as dire as this, Thatch will still stop to politely thank you for the coffee. He immediately takes the plastic cup from your hands, lightly blowing the liquid to cool it down a little before he begins to guzzle it all down at once.

"I'm aware he feels this way, that's why I wanna--! It's still gonna be hot, you idiot!" Of course, Sabo's warnings do not phase the brunette, his body twitches a little at the scolding sensation but he doesn't let it stop him, only setting the cup back down when it's completely empty. 

"Ugh. Okay....okay, okay. I'll help." 

It would seem that tongue-scoldingly hot coffee gives Thatch confidence.   

"I appreciate it, Thatch!" Sabo smiles, though he's very quick to pout, pressing his index finger to the brunette's chest sternly - though the action is riddled with light-hearted playfulness above all else. "And quit flirting with my girlfriend, she's mine~!"

SABO?!

"I'm not flirt--wait, girlfrie--?! Oh, of course! I-I'm so sorry!" The poor man stampers out nervously, even bowing a little to you before taking your hand in his and offering you a warm smile, though he still looks somewhat rough considering his blotchy bloodshot eyes. "W-Welcome to the family!"

This poor guy has to adapt to so much lunacy right now, he deserves a medal.  

Naturally Sabo just smirks at your thoughts, tugging you gently away from his sibling and leaning his head against yours, subtly inhaling your scent before he whispers in your ear; "Thatch has always been easy-going, the fact that we've managed to break him is an achievement, in a way." 

It's in this moment that you realize the blonde raises a good point, Thatch does indeed seem very broken right now - the male staring into space whilst fiddling with the now-empty plastic cup, seemingly still trying to process all of the information he has been served today. 

Poor thing.

"Oi, Thatch." Sabo cheerfully hollers, earning himself a quiet hum in response as the man continues to daydream. "When did you get bits of grey in your hair~?"

And just like that, he snaps out of it. 

His dark orbs shooting toward Sabo as a deep pout etches into his features. 

"Oh, it must be so nice to be forever young."

And although the response makes you giggle, you still can't help but think...

I'm going to keep aging too, aren't I? What happens when I'm an old lady?