koala (one piece)

The Revolutionary Army's flagship docked under the amber light of sunset. Cheers erupted as soldiers spotted Sabo on deck, back after months of silence. He smiled faintly, nodding to Hack, but his eyes searched for one person.

There—Koala, standing apart from the crowd, arms crossed, expression cold.

Sabo walked straight to her.

“Hey,” he said, voice quiet. “I’m back.”

She didn’t smile. “You said two weeks. It’s been five months.”

“I know. The mission changed. Cipher Pol was onto us. I couldn’t contact anyone—it was too risky.”

Koala’s voice rose, trembling. “You couldn’t send one message? Do you know what it was like? Wondering if you were dead? I had to act like everything was fine.”

Sabo looked down, guilt heavy in his chest. “I never stopped thinking about you. You’re what got me through it.”

She turned away, wiping at her eyes. “You idiot…”

“I’m sorry. Truly. I’ll never disappear like that again.”

Koala slowly turned back to him. “Next time you run off to risk your life, you tell me. Or I’m dragging you back myself.”

Sabo smiled. “Deal.”

Koala stepped into his arms and hugged him tight. Sabo held her, breathing in the peace he’d been chasing for months.

“Welcome home,” she whispered.