#dead ace

His crew knew he was still hurting, even though it had been two years since Ace's death. They could see through the facade he put up, the brave front he wore day in and day out. They knew about the panic attacks that would grip him when memories of Ace flooded back. They knew, but they also knew they couldn't turn back time to help him heal.

One night, Zoro heard a noise coming from Luffy's room. Concerned, he went to check, only to find Luffy tossing and turning in the throes of a nightmare. Luffy was calling out for Ace, his voice filled with anguish, tears streaming down his face. Zoro couldn't bear to see his captain and lover in such pain, so he gently tried to wake him.

"Luffy, it's okay. You're safe," Zoro whispered, his voice filled with reassurance.

Luffy awoke with a start, his wide eyes darting around the room, desperately searching for Ace. When he realized it was Zoro who had roused him, he broke down into more tears, his grief overwhelming.

Zoro didn't know what to say to console Luffy, so he did the only thing he could think of. He held Luffy close, wrapping his strong arms around him, offering a silent, comforting presence. Luffy clung to him, seeking solace in the warmth of his lover.

As Luffy cried, Zoro held him until he gradually began to calm down. Then, Zoro gently guided Luffy to lie down on his bed. Without a word, he lay down beside him, pulling Luffy close so that the young captain rested his head on Zoro's chest.

Zoro kept a protective arm around Luffy, and as they lay there together, the rhythmic rise and fall of Zoro's chest provided a soothing lullaby. Eventually, the exhaustion of emotions took its toll on Luffy, and he fell asleep once more, this time in the comfort of Zoro's embrace.

Ann sat on the cliff, staring at the waste blue sea. Her home was on that sea, her heart and soul belonged there. Still, she couldn’t feel complete, no matter what. Not since that fateful day where her life and heart was ripped apart for the third time. The day she lost not only the man she came to see as a father, but her beloved twin brother. The day her family was spilt and she was now far away from them, unable to find her way back. She couldn’t d it. Going back and see the pain and sorrow in their eyes would just break her more

Still she had to keep living. Her precious little brother was fighting too. He was training to get stronger and soon he would return to the world. Stronger than before and hopefully his crew would also come back to him. She acutally didn’t doubt that they wouldn’t. Luffy had told her about them and she had a feeling that they would all come back to the crazy boyy that was her little brother.

Sighing, she let the tears roll down her cheeks. She had lost her way, had lost the sight of her family, friends and dreams. Never had she felt so alone and it was painful. More painful than anything she had ever felt. Now she understood why Luffy said that being alone was more painful than anything. She wished she didn’t know it.

With another sigh, she rose from the cliff and went back to the town, drying her tears. She should really leave this island soon and keep searching for Marco and the others. Though no one had heard from ever since they had fought Blackbeard. She gritted her teeth. She should have been there and fought that man with them. However, she hadn’t found back in time. She was still searching and no one seemed to know where the remains of her family was hiding.