I know people like to say “Sabo abandons his duty as a Revolutionary to help Luffy.”- and I’m totally not saying he doesn’t/wouldn’t- but I also feel there’s something people miss. And that’s the amount of ‘faith’ Sabo has in Luffy. Because let’s face it. Once Fujitora stopped fighting him- he very easily could’ve headed over to help Luffy take down Doffy. But he doesn’t. Instead he starts helping citizens and prisoners- he’s still acting as a Revolutionary. Sabo absolutely believes in

sableu:

(cont.) Luffy and his abilities. It isn’t until Koala calls him and straight out says “Luffy’s in trouble. Get up here now.” that he goes into ‘Overprotective Big Brother Mode’. Even after he saves Luffy from Burgess, despite noting that Luffy’s really not looking his best- he takes Luffy at his word that he’ll take down Doffy. I think that says a lot about the two of them and their relationship. Sorry this is random- I was just punched in the face by my daily dose of ASL brother feels.

yo man yes i completely understand what you’re saying!!!  and you’re right, i think this is something about sabo’s relationship with luffy that a lot of people are missing.  sabo is very protective of luffy, for sure- but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have respect for or belief in luffy’s own ability.

i mean, first of all sabo 100% believes that luffy is capable of becoming pirate king.  he states it like there ain’t a doubt in his mind.  he knows luffy is a tough mofo.

also, i feel like it’s worth mentioning that this is his declaration of protection of luffy:

not “if luffy is ever in danger” not “if luffy is ever hurt” but “if luffy ever asks for my help.”  he knows luffy can handle himself.  it’s not his plan to just barge in whenever luffy gets into a fight.  he believes it’s his responsibility to be there when luffy wants him, needs him, but he knows luffy doesn’t always, bc he knows he’s strong and has been through a lot by himself already.

the ASL brothers don’t just love each other, they have faith in each other.  we see that in sabo’s letter to ace and luffy-

we see that in luffy’s hesitance to go to ace’s aid in impel down-

we see that in sabo agreeing to let luffy take care of doffy- 

we also see it in sabo’s rather casual, joking reaction to luffy’s injuries

as much as i think it’s cute to picture, no, sabo’s not going to be very alarmed by luffy being injured unless he’s in serious fatal danger.  luffy’s a pirate.  he gets injured all the time, but he survives.  sabo knows that.  he can smile even when luffy’s injured, not because he doesn’t care about him, but because he has faith that luffy will survive this too.  and honestly, i think anything else would bother luffy.  luffy doesn’t want sabo to baby him, he wants sabo to trust his word. 

sabo’s goal is not to protect luffy from any harm, or not let him fight or take risks or live his life.  he knows luffy can take care of himself and so does luffy know sabo can take care of himself.  and they both know they’re not doing each other any services by constantly worrying about the other.  that trust and respect is so important to their brotherhood, i think! //A