"Will you cut it out! Quit following me you weirdo!" Those were the words that Azar shouted at Leroy over a decade ago. When they were younger. Despite how often they got along…There was always an underlying tension between them for years. That even when they were older…Never was resolved…
An assumption that everything was fine regardless of the lack of an apology.
Young leroy Sniffled. Tears welling in his eyes. He wore a shirt that was too big. Arms too thin. As if he hadn't grown into his own body yet. "Bu-But were brothers Azzy!! Who else am I supposed to play with!"
"I don know! Just go bother someone else!" It had only been a few months after Sara's death…And perhaps that was what was causing this friction between them…Even after Leroy had confided in him and been reassured that Azar was going to be fine…
In their child minds, there was more going on than they could fathom at the time
"B-but…I don't have anyone else!" Leroys breath hitched. "What if you die! What if you get hurt! And theres no one there to help you!" He sobbed out. His tiny chest struggling to take in enough air between each choking cry
"It doesn't matter!" Azar spun around. Tears streaming down his own face "You won't be able to do anything anyway!"
"We aren't brothers!" The words struck Leroy like a truck. Causing him to collapse to his knees in a heap of tears.
Azar…Resented Leroy.
He resented him for being so free. So excitable. So full of energy. He hated it…He hated that he didn't have it. That his personality was so much more mundane in comparison. Why couldn't he be the one like that? Why did Leroy have to be like that and cling to him?
Always following him. Always looking up to him. Talking to him. Playing with him…Shouldn't someone like Azar be following Leroy? Just a thought like that made the child unreasonably mad…
This continued for years until they got older. And perhaps…It started on this day that Azar truly realized why Leroy cared so much for him. People in the town always looked at him weird. Even before he got the gum gum fruit. They'd call him names that were loosely veiled assumptions
Squirly Brained. A bit off. Special. Unique.
Azar fell to his knees. Wrapping his arms around his brother. "Don't worry Lee…I ain't gonna die. Promise…" He pulled back from the hug and put his hand on his shoulders. Giving his brother a soft smile
In that moment…He wanted to apologize. But he couldn't bring himself to do it…
As the two sat there together. Crying. Tears and snot dripping from their faces. The heat of the summer continued to beat down on them. The chirping and chattering of bugs sung in the background. Buzzing growing louder and louder
No matter the struggles these brothers faced. They still loved each other. No matter what either of them thinks…
There was no longer the sounds of cicadas and crickets calling. Now those sounds were replaced by the orchestra
Of War.
98 Meters…
Azars eyes moved to look at Leroy. A smile on his face. Even after all the troubles. All the hurt. All the pain. There connection. That Joy and Laughter of a brotherly bond…Prevailed…
But it didn't last forever. As the moment his foot crossed the 97 Meter mark. Azar felt something. It was the same feeling he had when speaking to Redbeard only minutes prior. His senses perfectly in sync with those he loved near him
But now. The sense was that
Of Impending Doom
On the Other Side of the World. As Mamtha leaned forward. Hands clasped together. Eyes full of tears as she watched the war unfold.
Leroy's Vivre Card. Began to catch fire. Azars was next to his. And Jack next to it. All hidden away in jars in a drawer. Only her and Jack knew of their existence
Azars eyes widened. Snapping to the corner of his eye. Horror washing over him as he saw Kuroryu move through the air. Everything seemed to move slowly. Slower than he could move.
The words echoing in his mind. 'I thought you would ruin everything. But you were getting in the way…' It was what he had thought when he left the island when he was 19.
'But its because of you…That I think I was able to live my life to the fullest…'
In that moment. He thought back to when they were kid. How they would take baths together, filling tub with toys as Mamtha or Jack tried to get them clean. Their smiles wide with bubbles filling water as did the air…
Azar began to move. Spinning on the ball of his feet. And moving quickly. As if a second wind enveloped his very being. Moving faster than he ever had before.
The Speed of Pure Instincts and Love of a Brother.
Those same feelings Leroy had for him. He know felt swell inside of him for Leroy. His feet continuing to move, a quick strafe to the side. His hand extending out to push Leroy forward. The force causing him to begin to spin, eyes blinking. Opening wide in confusion as he locked onto Azar…
The Brother extended a hand forward, his other extending behind him. Back facing Kuroryu. A flame appearing in a instinctual defense
'And we'll do our bests!' Sara, Leroy, and Azar had declared. Pressing their dumbs together. Sharing blood between one another in a testament to their bond.
The World began to move again. Kuroryu finishing the distance. Fist flying forward, plasma stinging and singing the air. Unearthly bright in its glow. Eradicating all in its path
As if like a hand through water.
Kuroryu's fist pierced through Azar. Burning and destroying his chest and stomach. Arm disintegrated that had held out in a futile attempt to cease the Admirals, whom was now standing above him, plasma dripping, melting the concrete as waves of smoke filled the air. Energy crackling and glowing.
Fist illuminating Leroy in front of him. Eyes wide. Body sprawled against the ground…
"Auh-" Was the only sound from Azars mouth. Blood pooling, boiling and pouring from his mouth and body from the grievous wound.
The Entire World.
Stopped.
From Desamare, to rural far off islands. From Kiki in Arabasta, to Even Rango Scotch on an island in the new world. All across the planet. Stared at their screens, and paused their listening. Silence that was so loud that echoed every. Across time, space and history…
"A-Azar?" Leroy could barely get the words out. His mind spinning. Heat from the fist against his face. Lip beginning to quiver.
"Azar!!" The Redbeard fleet suddenly screamed! Shock finally breaking off of them! Redbeards face screwed into utter fury! The Spark Pirates all looking at the scene with terror and horror!
Jacks eyes shot up. He couldn't see what was happening! But he felt it. Like a disturbance to the very balance of his mind. And the moment he felt it. So too did his wife, Mamtha, back on Cobalt. Both of them sharing the same look of horror of the sound and sight!
Even Hornigold reacted. Teeth gritting.
"Eudora…!" Diva said. A now awake Mar-Syl draped over her as they stood a top a Building. Watching the violence unfold.
Zeke stared out the radio in horror. A singular tear falling down his cheek. Eyes unable to look away as his mind raced…
Even Ducase, far in the east blue. Was watching it all…
It all passed in only a few moments. Not even 3 seconds had passed.
"Hagh…" Kuroryu let out a groan as he pulled his fist back. Taking a small step in reverse. Azars body. Was destroyed.
Flesh around his body was scorched black. Wrinkled and shrunk. Some flash heated to glass. From half way down his bicep. His arm was gone. Scorched to the bone. The whole side of his body was damaged and destroyed. Like a limp building being held up by a single beam…
Everything from bellow his ribs to his pelvis…Was gone…
A Dull thud Echoed. Azar collapsing against Leroy…The brothers hands rushing to catch him. Feeling the heat. Smelling the searing flesh. The stickiness of the blood against his hands on the wound…His breath could barely choke the words out
"A-Azzy?" Tears began to stream as he looked to his red soaked hand.
"Grah!" A sound shot out behind Leroy. Polo and Morozzo shooting forward as if like light itself! Speeding across the island and slamming against The Admiral! Their faces screwed in a look of utter rage! Morozzo slashing slashing through the Admiral, but the admiral formed his body around the strikes! Not a single injury forming from their onslaught! The Admiral was pushed back a dozen meters!
But in a second. With dozens of feet. The air filled with the heat of a trillion degrees! Kuroryu slamming his fist into the Commanders! The two were not in sync at all. Not coordinating their attack. But even still they worked in tandem as they were trying
To kill the Admiral!
"Az...az-" Leroy tried to speak. Head to filled with memories. Trying to convince itself that it wasn't it here. This wasn't happening. It wasn't real. It was all a dream! Quick! Quick! Shift memories! Change! Change!
The Memory of Sara's Funreal…How so few people showed up. How they cried for days and day. Their wail filling the air as they couldn't face the truth of their poor sisters death…!
Azar thought about the time that Him and Sara pranked Leroy. Hiding away his sash and causing him to run around to look for it. All of them laughed in the end…But was scolded by Jack…
He then remembered when neither were with him. Wandering the woods. Pretend fighting…Only to miss his brothers presence. Despite the fact that he had yelled at him and told him that he was trying to steal from him and copy his every move…
Azar focused. As best he could. Using stitch to stop the bleeding so he speak. Just for a moment. "L-Leroy…"
His words barely a whisper.
"Azzy?" He gripped his brother. Azars mind was racing. Thinking back across it all. Everything that had happened…Crying in the arms of Redbeard. Learning to navigate by polo. Morozzo showing off his blades…
"I'm…Sorry…" He whispered. Words confusing his brother "Wh-why? Azzy…Why? Why? What'd you do? Why'd you?" He whimpered. Unable to breath.
"Heheh…I'm sorry that I always…Pushed you away…" His breath hitched. A flash of Redbeard teaching him Haki in his mind. "You never…Deserved it…"
"You…Y-" He tried to mumble out. Leroy try to hear as his clothes soaked with his brothers blood. "Wh-Wha-Wa"
"You…Its because of you…I always did my best…Always knew…If I didn't. You'd shoot ahead of us…Heheh…" He missed his brother so much…He constantly thought back to watching his back as he ran off in arabasta…
But this fear was in him…That laugh echoing in his mind…'Zehaha!' Constantly on loop. Hearing and seeing the death and destruction from Vane around him…
'It's all my fault…' Was all he could think. His mind blaming himself. For everything. Even to what was happening now…
He felt pressure around his neck as Leroy pulled him in for a hug. Wanting to hold onto him so tight to not even risk a second that he may slip away!
"Its…Not your fault…" Azar said…His voice cracking and wheezing. Wet with the thick blood in his lungs. He was telling that to both leroy, and himself…Trying to reassure him in those moments…
"Azy…az…azzz…Azzy…Azzy!!!" Leroy sobbed. Again and again. Tears soaking his brothers shoulder as the words began to barely register. "Listen.."
"Listen…To me…" Azar mind raced. Shook. And dimmed. He used all the power he could to keep going. To push the words out so that his brother could hear. Decades of memories in his mind. All the failures. All the laughing. He needed to get it out…!
"Hah, Hah…" He breathed shallowly. Not much time left… "I'm sorry…I'm sorry that I ever resented you, All those times I was mean to you- But you never stopped…You never stopped loving me…" Tears streamed down Azars cheeks. Arms limp around his brother.
"I'm- I'm Grateful now…For you!"
"Never stopped…Looking up- To- Me! So…" He choked.
"So don't stop chasing…Don't stop! Ever! Keep on living… Azars face morphed into a wrinkle of sorrow
"Live…Live with love. And everything that makes you…You. 'Cuz you never stopped that for me…" He tried to swallow.
"Embrace that paid. The Fragility of it all…every moment that are to much to bare…Just keep going. Again. Again…Forever." Azar pulled back, bracing his remaining arm against Leroy. A small smile coming across his bloody mouth.
The two were alone in that moment. It was if nothing else existed in the world. But the two brothers. Eye to eye. Heart to Heart. Letting it all out for each to hear.
"Its up to you…In your hands…now…" He struggled speak.
"Because…I love you. I love you, Leroy…Thank you, For loving me too…." His hand brushed against his cheek. Smearing blood across the skin. Falling limply against the ground with a dull thud.
Gently, as Leroys sash came loose. Fluttering limply. A small piece of paper floated to the ground. The Vivre Card burned as it fell. Flame eating at the paper until the moment it impact…Nothing but ash remained.
A single breath left his mouth…
And Eudora D. Azar. Was no more…
Leroys hands laid limp on the ground. Eyes clouding as they looked at the body in front of him. His breath hitching. A sob choking in his throat "A-Ah…Ahhh…Ahhh! AhH!!!"
"Wahh!!! AhhH!!!!!! WAHHHHHHH!!!" A sob exploded! All his mind could do was cry. Breath only used to scream in agonizing wails fists tightening to where bled. He wanted to stand! He want to kill! He wanted kill Kuroryu! Beat his skull in! Hit him! Stab him! His face contorted into rage…Only fall into utter anguish
"Ahhhh! Wahhh!! Haa! Haa!"
It seemed as if. The only thing that could heard across the entire battlefield. Was that energy from before. Followed by the wails of a broken heart. A broken soul…
A broken mind…Everything. Was shattered.
Leroy…Was Broken…
3 Hours Have Passed. Since The War Started. 1 has passed since the execution was supposed to happen. And only 1 minute and 30 seconds have passed. Since Kuroryu murdered Eudora D. Azar….