Broken Faith

Lesson 14: A World Noble's word is law

"Hey Angel..."

You didn't even glance up from where your pen tapped on your notebook, "Yes Sabo?" You were so close. So damn close! All you needed was a little bit more research, and maybe a quick chat or two to Dadan, and you'd be set.

"Don't you think you're taking this a little too far?"

"Taking what a little too far?"

"...Avoiding Luffy."

Sighing, you snapped the book shut. Luffy... That face he made when you walked away still haunted your dreams. But he had to grow somehow, and words just didn't seem to get through to him.

"As I keep telling you," you leant forwards, making sure not to topple off the branch you were sitting on, "I am not avoiding him. He is just...unable to find me."

Sabo crossed his arms, "Don't even try that one with me. You're avoiding him, no question about it."

Well...maybe you were. But you just didn't want to face him right now. Facing him meant allowing his naive perspective of the world to be corrupted, and you weren't prepared to do that. In the face of someone as bright and as vibrant as Luffy, you in turn felt more tarnished.

"That's right. You're dirty! Dirty and ugly and broken! Just look at you! You're a freak, brat! A freak!"

Your fist clenched. The metal one.

"Look, we get it, we really do! That stupid idealism makes me pissed as well. But it isn't his fault!" Sabo grimaced, wrinkling his nose, "Yeah he hasn't exactly gone through what we have, but you can't blame him for that. It's not a crime to be happy!"

Precisely. Luffy deserved to be happy. And if he hung around someone as tainted as you, there was a high chance he wouldn't. It wasn't right for him to be harmed because of your own mistakes or by even your own past.

He couldn't end up like you. You wouldn't allow it.

"I understand where you're coming from. However, I feel this situation is for the best," you mumbled, face hardening. No emotion. Never emotion. Not even as the words gouged out your heart. "Now," you got to your feet, "if you would excuse me, I have work to do."

"Just go and see him," he flung his arms out, imploring for you to listen. "He's hurt, Angel! Really hurt! His world turned on its head in a single afternoon; as well as accidentally eating a Devil Fruit -a DEVIL FRUIT, Angel- he discarded his role model and lost everyone he called friends, without even understanding why! If you leave him like this, he's going to do something stupid! And Shanks isn't even here to stop him!"

Your lip wobbled. Don't waver. You couldn't waver. This was for Luffy. It was all for him. "Why...why don't you talk to him."

Sabo faltered, scuffing his foot along the ground, "He doesn't listen to me or Ace. He...he's closest to you. Always has been."

A beaming smile flashed before your eyes.

"I know you needed space, we all did, but enough is enough. If he wants to reach out to you, you should let him." He grimaced, "Especially since Makino and Peta aren't letting him go outside."

Your heart stopped dead. Without a second thought, you grappled down to the ground to be face to face with Sabo. "They...what?"

Why? Why would they do that to him?

"You didn't know?" He blinked.

"No!" This was the first you'd heard of it.

Sabo bit his lip, "Well, he ate a Devil Fruit. What would you expect? He's made of rubber now, and doesn't know how to control it. They're afraid that he'll only get himself hurt if he comes up here. Why else hasn't he barrelled into the forest after us?"