Time to Heal

Well guys, we've come to the last chapter of the story.

Thank you guys for the support you've given me since the beginning, I never really expected for this fic to get so many reviews and favorites. You guys are awesome!

Thanks again and enjoy the last chapter!

Chapter 10: Luffy

He was kneeling in a sea of fire.

No matter where he looked there was nothing but deadly flames licking the ground, scorching it black. There was no one else but him, but despite being the only person the area was filled with the screams of dying men-Marines and Pirates alike. Weither it was a death by fire or stray bullet or even a lucky blade he didn't know.

His instincts begged him to move, it isn't safe and you'll be next if you don't move. He tried, but to his horror he couldn't will himself to move his legs, it was as if they had been fused into the hard ground. His heart rate began to jump erratically as he continued to try to leave behind the terror that was around him.

An involuntary whimper (Pain? Fear?) stumbled from his mouth as the flames threatened to touch him, when had they gotten so close? Suddenly a loud squelch like sound erupted and seconds later there were drops of warm…something hit his face. A pained gasp made him stiffly look up and his heart stopped.

"Ace?" He croaked out desperately, instincts telling him that the burning fist through his brother's chest was fatal and that it was his nii-chan's blood on his face. But he ignored it as Ace fell towards him-

And the nightmare blurred.

All he knew was that there were whispered last words next to his ear amongst desperate pleads and cries and that blood was pooling under them and it was on his hand when he tried to stop the flow. He could hardly breathe and he let out a strangled whimper as he saw the devil itself turn its murderous eyes on them, fist rising in preparation to hit them.

He didn't care anymore though. He hoped it did because then he would get to go with Ace and he wouldn't be alone and no one would be able to hurt them-

"..Thank you for loving me!"

Nonononononono! Ace couldn't leave because he promised not to die and leave him behind and how was he supposed to live without his big brother!? Hepromisedhepromisedhepromised ran through his head, trying to clutch his brother's body closer to him as it falls from his weakening grip and he stared in horror as he stared at the lifeless body, blood still gushing from the whole where his heart was supposed to be-

And he screamed.

He sprang up with a strangled cry, eyes wide and once he realized that he wasn't anywhere near that hellish place he slowly calmed his erratic heartbeat. Once he calmed down and whipped away the sweat and tears Luffy knew from the moment he woke up that it was going to be another one of those days.

He could already feel the deep body wariness steep into his bones and it was only the fear of nightmares that kept him from lying back down. He was already dreading the concerned looks and confrontations from his crew.

For the first time since he's known them, he's afraid. Not for them, but of them. The only thing running in his mind was they know and now that they'd seen how weak and broken he was and they wouldn't be his friends anymore. They were going to leave him-

"You could have told us sooner." Nami said softly, her voice gentle and soothing instead of sharp and scolding. "We're your friends ya know." Franky added, for once, without any of his usual flair, this was too serious for jokes.

He didn't raise his eyes from the wall, refusing to see the hate in their eyes. Next to him, Robin and Usopp had placed their hands on his back, ignoring how he had winced at the touch. "Luffy-san, when you're in pain the best thing to do is share it with friends. That way they can help carry the burden." Brook said from somewhere behind Luffy.

He didn't want them to shoulder anything. It was his problem. His pain.

"I-I'm your doctor, you should have told me! And Brook is right; talking about the trauma can make you feel better about it." Chopper stated, his tiny heart constricting painfully as he registered the closed off look in Luffy's eyes.

"Shitty Captain…" He heard Sanji mummer, his foot tapping the floor in reflex instead of lighting a cigarette because Chopper didn't approve of violence or smoking in the infirmary. Zoro stared hard, his hand unconsciously griping Wado's hilt, it was the only thing calming his shot nerves when Luffy had collapsed out of nowhere during a fight with a rival pirate crew. He knew that Luffy was having one of his…off days and he still allowed him to fight.

Even though all it took was one glance at the raven-haired boy to tell that he wasn't alright and his negligence to say anything had led to his captain passing out surrounded by enemies. "Luffy," Zoro called out, voice somehow hard and soft, and he tried not to flinch.

"We're still here." And he looked up at his (unofficial) First Mate in the eye. Understanding and assurance and guilt and a whole mess of other emotions that he couldn't place swirled in Zoro's steel-colored eye and it made him want to cry.

He looked at each of his nakama (his treasures) and instead of seeing disgust and rejection saw love and understanding and it's okay, we're here for you, please don't shut us out- and how could he have ever thought them capable of abandoning him? Soon his mouth flowed with low words of Impel Down and the hell hole that was Marineford and how Ace had saved the life of his pathetic (they scolded him for calling himself that) little brother.

By the end of it there were tears everywhere but for once, Luffy couldn't bring himself to care that they were watching him come undone. He hadn't even known how much he needed the group hug until he was in the midst of it and the warmth and love that radiated from his family only served to make him cry harder. But strangely, he felt…lighter, the crushing weight that had settled deep in his chest seemed to lessen and suddenly he felt like he could breathe after two years of pushed feelings.

Maybe things were already getting better. All he needed was his family and time. And perhaps, one day, he could think of his brother without feeling guilty or breaking down in tears or remembering blood and final words.

Instead he would remember all the good times he had with his brother; he would remember the love and warmth and hugs and remember that he still had people that treasured him just as much as he did them.

Like it? Hate it?

Thanks so much for the support guys, leave your thoughts in a final review!