Chapter Text
Yamato woke up first.
Carefully, he climbed out of bed and tip-toed to the kitchen. Sabo was already there, making coffee.
“Do you want some?” The blond held up the coffee pot that he had made for himself. From what Ace said, he was a caffeine addict like most med students.
“Yes, please.”
A steaming cup in hand, Yamato sat down at the table. The burn marks on the wood told stories of little arson, the colourful stains of spilled food and little paint chips of the long-abandoned hope to make the table look presentable. Three brothers by choice, so similar and yet so different.
Yamato wished he would have known them sooner, wished for siblings of his own, wished for his childhood to be different.
“Can I fix you some breakfast? The Ace I know will probably be out cold for at least another hour.”
Ace was living the dream. With no knowledge of blood relatives, he had founded himself not one but two families who he loved and who loved him back.
“If you have food to spare in this household.”
Sabo smiled brightly, ear to ear, proud. Just like Ace had smiled when he had introduced Yamato to Pops. Just as Pops had smiled at Yamato’s smile. Just like Yamato would smile when in Ace’s proximity.
“Let me tell you, grocery shopping is a horror. I’m glad Luffy found a friend like Sanji.”
There was so much love and admiration when he talked about his brothers, even when he wasn’t saying the nicest things, even when he scolded them.
Maybe he just had too much love and no one to give it to? No, that’s not it. But it reminded Yamato of something.
“Ace mentioned that you met someone. How is that going?”
He blushed, he actually blushed. Like a flustered golden retriever. It was so funny to see his calm and collected shell break, Yamato had to giggle a little.
“It’s funny that you mention it, because two months ago Ace dragged me to a horrible frat party and for the longest time I couldn’t find him. So I went outside for some fresh air. That’s where I met the most wonderful person, just sitting in the middle of a rose garden of all places. It was such a stark contrast to the obnoxious people inside the house and the tranquillity in that garden. We talked a bit and were then interrupted by someone. I panicked and went looking for Ace. For weeks I regretted not sharing contacts. Two weeks ago, that person just showed up out of the blue in the Student Council and swept me off my feet again. We got some coffee and went for walks and I dare say it’s developing nicely.”
The blond settled down with bowls, spoons, milk, cereals and his coffee. His smile had gotten even brighter. How nice. Yamato wasn’t worried about Sabo’s over-abundant love anymore, it looked like he had found someone.
“That sounds nice. I hope everything goes well for you two.”
And Yamato meant it.
“There’s something I wanted to tell you last time you were here after we played Mario Kart.”
Sabo hesitated.
“Sure, shoot.”
“Thank you.”
Yamato looked up from his cereal bowl.
“Huh? Whatever for?”
“For years Ace had horrible nightmares about his Pops and him dying in a big pirate against marines battle.”
Sabo didn’t have to say that those were also part of the play. From the furrowed eyebrows of the person opposite, they both knew.
“One night when he was really drunk he told me the second part. The part that would always disturb him most.”
It was a dramatic pause, one that Yamato had thought would only happen on TV and not in real life.
“And that was that in his dream he died without fulfilling the promise he had made you. To not have helped you escape your nightmare.”
“Oh.” Yamato was torn between finding that sweet or concerning.
“You should have seen him. He was shattered to find you were gone. And when he first saw you mentioned as a baseball newcomer, he was a completely different person. Ace was so happy that you were doing fine and just wanted you to be happy.”
How could Yamato be happy without Ace? It was a question he had asked himself for years. Even now. It was not like he needed Ace, he was a complete person with or without him, but he wanted Ace. Spend time with him, talk with him, laugh and cry with him and share everything. The thought made him smile, despite the seriousness of their conversation.
Sabo continued. “I cut out a picture of you from a newspaper article and he kept it in his phone cover ever since. And, I know it’s tangential, but he hasn’t lost his phone since. He doesn’t like talking about his feelings. ‘Men don’t cry’ and stupid stuff like that. That’s why I wanted you to know just how much of an impact you had on his life.”
Yamato was perplexed. What should he make of all this information?
“That sounds horrible, why would you thank me for that?”
He was close to tears now, his heart shattered. He had looked for Ace in so many places all over the world, had almost given up and then had found him in New World.
“He doesn’t have nightmares anymore. For a long time now.”
In that moment the door to Luffy’s bedroom burst open.
“Zombies!”, he shouted, still half asleep.
“You already had zombies at Thriller Bark, Luffy.”
“Oh, right.” The dark-haired man grabbed the cereal box from the table, munched on its content and disappeared into his bedroom again.
Sabo and Yamato laughed. Luffy was the perfect comic relief, always cheering everyone up when the mood got too gloomy.
“I apologize. That got a little too heavy for the early morning.”
“I believe it needed to be said and I needed to hear it. Thank you for taking the burden. And for being such a great brother. You guys interacting with each other, just your perfect chemistry, sometimes makes me jealous.”
The blond smiled softly.
“What are you talking about? You’re part of the family.”
Yamato lit up. So little words could hold so much meaning.
Yamato climbed back into bed, settling as the big spoon. Ace shifted a little as he was squeezed tightly.
“Is it morning already? Are you hungry?”
The other chuckled. The first need to be addressed in this household was always hunger. He didn’t dwell too long on why that was, as those three had grown up in the woods on a mountain with bandits. That must have been tough.
“Everything’s alright. You can go sleep a little longer. I’m sorry I didn’t keep my side of the promise.”
“Huh? Where is that coming from?”
A kiss made him forget. Yamato snuggled his head back into the nape of Ace’s neck. He smelt like sweat, caramel and barbeque.
He mused a little on the thought of caramel. Like a caramel bonbon. In another language ‘bon’ meant good.
And Ace is at least twice as good as good. He’s a bonbon, Yamato thought.