Our Forever Home

Restless night

(1,400 words other than this! Enjoy or don't)

The heavy rain was pouring down outside gently tapping the window and creating a soft rhythm lulling those who heard it into a deep slumber and yet the young blonde couldn't be less awake if he tried, he was up and ready at moments notice. Despite having already trying everything to get his big rounded blue eyes to remain closed. Each time he did the memories of his past would come in as dark as the clouds in the sky and hit him, Forcing him to remain upright watching the rain drippies slip down the misted glass while the rhythm nearly drove him mad as he got lost in his thoughts "damnit..." He mumbled to himself burying his face into his gloved hands

On the other side of the room Ace laid curled-up in the big bed he and his little brothers shared with a soft white blanket thrown over his head, his dark black eyes closed. Awake yet he doesn't move an inch of his small exhausted body breathing calmly as he peeks his tired eyes open- he was holding a stuffed animal specifically a lion in his arms close to his chest as he himself lets his dark thoughts take over, something he knew he'd regret when the dreaded morning of tomorrow comes around...he's hugging himself and the soft lion plushie tightly with the fluffy stuffed toy being the only thing that was helping him cope with his mental issues and making sure he doesn't go completely insane for at least this night...with a low growl at the back of his throat he sits upright in the large bed he couldn't do this anymore- at least not right now..

Slowly but surely Ace stands from the warmth of the covers lion in hand and with two weaken and tired legs he walks over to his blonde brother who remained set at the windowsill and set down next to him "Can't sleep either can you 'bo?" Ace questioned despite knowing the answer. He couldn't help but refer to Sabo as the cute little nickname he gave him all those years ago- before they got completely fucked over by life as they knew it- Sabo had jumped ever so slightly when he heard Ace's voice snapping him out of his head, the nickname causing Sabo to soften-up as he looks over at the older boy seeing the plushie and being tempted to steal it from Ace and throw it so he could cuddle against his older brother instead just as they did before they met Luffy- on those cold rainy nights in their treehouse in the forest with only themselves as warmth- the amount of times they almost froze was laughable at best...

"N-No not really.." Sabo muttered. Hating how his voice cracked as he spoke, turning his head to watch the rain running down the sky- as if the gods were crying- to hide his embarrassment, the sounds of the waterdrops being almost to loud to bare in the silence of the quiet house leaving Ace himself to turn off to the side for a moment while losing himself once more in his twisted mind. As he watched the clouds in the dark moonless sky before he once again turned to the curly-haired blonde and slowly he reached forward hesitating for a second before he finally took the boy into a warm embrace as he gently picked him up

He was sitting across from where Sabo originally was, he carefully placed the slightly shorter child into his lap and handed the lion plush to him before once more turning to watch the rain all the while he slowly caressed Sabo's head tangling the curly golden locks between his tiny fingers in an attempt to comfort Sabo despite his own problems- he would rather his younger companion get love and attention the three of them all desperately needed to an almost worrying level(it was definitely already worrying) Sabo was stunned into silence when Ace hugged him. Completely caught off guard by his normally mean stern and pissy older brothers sudden warm embrace- something he had been longing for and wanting for far to long,

He let out a little giggle at the thought of teasing Ace for going soft but instead he snatched the plushie and love up. Leaning his head onto Ace's chest closing his bright blue eyes that nearly glowed in the dark and let out a small peaceful sigh and for the first time for as far back as he could remember he felt- happy..at peace as the memories lingered at the back of his mind but all Sabo cared about right now was Ace's warm body pressed against his own as he held the plushie tightly like it would disappear if he didn't causing the softest and sweetest little smile to make itself at home upon the freckles dusting over Ace's face, which Ace wasn't known for..in fact it's been what? At least five months since he last smiled genuinely but here with his adorable baby brother(which Sabo protested against suck names) he couldn't help but feel content and safe for the first time in his entire short life.

One of Ace's hands found themselves placed on one of Sabo's thighs(nothing weird you SICKO) for support to keep them from slipping off the windowsill, Ace's rough hands were oh so gentle as to not hurt or tense Sabo as he petted Sabo's fluffed and messy hair- 'Gosh you really need to learn how to take care of your curls Sabo' Ace thought making a mental note to ask Izou for advice- Izou didn't have curly hair but he was very into beauty and genuinely loved to care for his little brothers and Izou simply wouldn't stand for Sabo to be ruining such beautiful hair! Anyways Ace's goal as of now? Get him comfortable and calm = Sabo falling asleep now..Ace didn't look away from the rainy misty clouded window the light coming from it giving a cool and calming slight blueish and white glow to the room as thunder rolled in the distance.

Sabo let out a soft cute little groan of relaxation and turned over so he was completely engulfed in his big brothers embrace. The gentle and calming strokes of Ace's hand atop his hair helping him be lulled into slumber, Sabo's bright blue eyes slowly closed as he snuggled against Ace holding the lion between their chests as he moves his head to lay on Ace's shoulder- a much more comfortable position than before as he finally drifts into an actual sleep for the first time since he was taken from his brothers by his parents and than rescued by Marco and the others- he had this...fear that if he shut his eyes for to long he would open them to find Ace and Luffy missing once more- but Ace was doing a great job at keeping his worries away at least for now, as Sabo snored softly melting into Ace like butter on toast.

Ace grins softly as he hears the cute sounds of Sabo's snores. Leaning back a little as his eyes fluttered from exhaustion and now that he's got Sabo asleep and Luffy was surprisingly being actually quiet for once- was he thinking of what happened as well? He had been somewhat more..tired after it but- luckily he didn't lose that sparkle in his big black eyes or that big smile that seemed to never stop stretching and for the first time since he met the youngest boy of their brotherhood...he felt happy about Luffy being a silly crybaby. Because without that Ace might have just lost his mind, Ace looked over towards Luffy who was in his own little corner, watching as he played with his toys and other random stuff he found just laying around- he was seemingly trying to read which made Ace chuckle lowly knowing damn well Luffy couldn't read- something he would have to bring up with Marco sometime in the future about possible schooling for them three like he would with Izou about Sabo's curly messed up hair and getting him new shampoo- Ace turned back to Sabo smiling as he placed a gentle kiss to the top of his head and than looked outside at the rain once again,