Hey everyone, thanks for those who reviewed.
Not really big on notes so here it goes :)
Enjoy xx
"What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal."
'We're going to be together, forever, right Ace?' he looked over to his little brother and smiled.
'Idiot, of course we are. I will be Captain and Sabo will be my first-mate.' He grinned looking over at Sabo who threw out his fishing line and rolled his eyes. He wasn't going to get in the middle of this discussion again.
'But I want to be Captain…' Luffy whined kicking at a small pebble at his feet.
'No, you rubber brains, can be our entertainment.' Ace and Sabo laughed seeing their youngest brother's expression.
'You're so mean Ace!' Luffy launched himself towards him and he quickly prepared for the mini battle his brother would pitch against him.
'Ace why can't I be captain…'
'Ace…'
Ace…
"Ace," a voice broke through his memories and he groaned feeling everything. Slowly as he remembered what had really happened to him in that sick place, all of the pain finally registered through his body. He hissed trying to sit up.
"Ace!" His brothers called out to him once he was finally resting against the metal wall.
Scratching the back of his head he could already feel a large lump forming, the last thing he remembered was, mister tall-sticky-tattoo-face guy, lifting his metal glove towards him. He must have passed out sometime during their interrogations against him.
The only thing he was grateful for was that bastards didn't focus too much on his face, something apparently about damaging the merchandise. Blinking his eyes a few times his vision finally cleared and he could see his distraught younger brother clutching at their combined wall with tears flooding down his face.
"I'm fine Lu," he winced at the sound of his own voice. It sounded terrible.
He was pretty sure that he looked exactly how he felt right now. Lifting his arm, he threaded his hand through cage and into his brother's awaiting grasp. He bit back his wince as Luffy's hands clung to his bruises and cuts.
"I'm sorry," Luffy whimpered and hugged his arm to his chest. Ace tried hard not to wince at the pressure but right now his brother needed all the comfort he could possible give him.
"It's not your fault Lu," he whispered trying to calm his brother; "It's their fault. Remember that, it will always be their fault."
"What happened?" he turned to Sabo who looked like he had aged so much in the how ever many hours he was gone for.
"Nothing I can't handle. Hell that old Geezer hits harder than these bastards." He laughed to cover up the cough that surged in his chest. Luffy laughed but Sabo knew the truth.
"Fist of Love," Luffy mimicked their grandfather completely forgetting about what he was feeling moments ago. Ace smiled to him and nodded glad that he wasn't worrying too much anymore.
Ace looked over to Sabo and both their eyes met. With a small nod they were both in agreement. Luffy would not be entering that room. His brother was not stupid, he knew exactly what would happen if their younger devil fruit brother was ever dragged off into that room. Hell the old geezer had made it perfectly clear when they were younger that no one was to ever find out about Luffy's powers.
They were going to keep their brother away from that room no matter what.
But neither of them knew how to do that exactly.
"Hey Flick," Ace looked over to the other cage hoping that she was awake. He saw a small bob of her head and her body shifted slightly, giving him enough indication that she was in fact awake and listening to him.
"What you did back there, when we get out of here. I will repay you somehow, someday. Thank you." He bowed his head slightly, even knowing that the girl could not see him do so, it was out of respect. He respected her on a whole different level now.
She did something that neither him, nor Sabo could do right now.
She protected Luffy.
The next few days or weeks, nobody was really sure how time passed here, pushed on the same for the four of them. They all seemed to lose track on how many hours or day or even weeks had passed. The monster's that kept them were smart, they kept the retrieval of their next victim scattered and spontaneous. No one knew if it was time for the next victim or if they were getting food or water. And it kept the four of them anxious every minute, of every day.
Octavia kept her head down and kept her movements to a minimum, to try and retain her strength for when the guards came. Every time they came they would swap around who they were taking for the day, some days it was Ace, and other days it was Sabo. But every time they walked through the main door to select a victim they would start with Luffy.
A cough broke through her lips as she released her hold on Luffy and herself for the second time that morning.
"Stop it please," Luffy whispered in defeat from his cell. But she shook her head; "I can take it. I'm strong. Stop hurting yourself for me."
"I'm so sorry," Sabo pleaded from their joined wall; "I want to tell you to stop, that you're hurting yourself, but you're also saving my brother from that place. I'm so sorry." She could hear the regret in his voice but she shook her head. She had her own reasons for doing what she was doing; there was only a small part in her that was doing it for the brothers.
"We will get out of here, we just need a plan." She wasn't sure if the boy was talking to her or if he was merely trying to convince himself that there was hope for them.
She could feel her body getting worse as the hours went on, her strength was all but zero and there was still meant to be another victim today, another chance for them to get Luffy. She wondered if they were now doing it purposely now, to break her down. For when they came to take her away, now there wasn't much of a fight for them. She had used all her energy in protecting the boy at all costs.
As the main door reopened she could hear Ace's low groans as his body was being dragged back into their room. Throwing her shield out, she wrapped it around Luffy, but this time not bothering to wrap it around her. She had to conserve her strength for now. And for the first time in a very long time she felt relieved as the guard locked the cage and disappeared; without so much of a bang against her own cage.
"Fucken hell." Ace groaned.
He sat up against the wall and thread his hand through the cage to his Luffy, just like they had done every time he was taken away. Luffy took no time in sitting next to his brother and taking his hand.
Octavia blocked out the conversation the boys were having and leant against the joined wall. She had taken into sleeping against the side wall, next to Sabo. He turned out to be an excellent guard for her and he would always wake her if she had missed the door opening.
She grew to enjoy hearing the soft, gentle voice of the boy beside her. She would often hear him whisper the tails and adventures they had been on together. And what they would do when they got out of here. She wondered if it was to try and keep the faith that they would escape alive or if it was just to keep busy.
In the beginning she tried to block out those visions of climbing mountains and sailing from island to island, it was too much for her to vision as a possibility. But now she clung onto it, hoping that it might be something she would experience.
"Where's Sabo's archipello?" a small voice broke her from her daze and she froze.
"Sabaody Archipelago…" Sabo whispered the correction from beside her. She could feel the boy sitting with his back up against their joined cage. Slowly she pushed herself to mimic his position, in a way it was her way of telling the others that she was now awake and she was listening.
"It's where they're taking us." Sabo whispered defeat lacing his voice; "To be slaves."
"Not all of us." Ace spoke softly and she could almost feel his gaze upon her. She knew he knew now.
"What do you mean?" Sabo asked hesitantly, not sure if he really wanted to know the answer to that or not.
"They're taking Flick to Impel Down." Ace whispered so softly she barely heard him.
She let her head fall against her chest and her arms wrapped tightly around her body, as if she was trying to keep herself from falling apart. That was the last place she ever wanted to end up. But it would only be a matter of days before they reached her final destination and then it was all over for her.
Her days were numbered.
Any moment now she would be the one taken from the ship and never returned.
When she first arrived here, she thought it was a sick joke they were playing on her. She didn't truly believe that the world government would want a little girl in impel down, she was no pirate. But as the days, weeks, months went on she began to realise that it wasn't a joke, that they were really taking her to that place to spend the rest of her life there.
"No. Why there! She hasn't done anything wrong! She's just a kid." Sabo stood up from his spot and looked at his brother. They all knew what happened at that place, what they did to the prisoners there. Pirates would rather kill themselves right there and then, than to be ever taken to that hell.
"What about us?" Luffy whispered looking to his older brother for an answer; "What's going to happen to us?"
"It's not going to happen." Ace growled which caused the girls head to rise; "None of us are going anywhere we don't want to."
Sabo looked at his brother with new found hope. The last few days had begun to destroy them; he could see it on their faces. Their chances of a rescue, or any form of an escape, were vanishing as every hour drifted away. Soon Flick wouldn't be able to hold up even one shield, and then Luffy would be taken away from them.
He noticed that the hours between food and water were slowly getting longer and longer apart. He wondered if this was part of their plan, to break them down to absolutely nothing and then they would be free to do whatever they wanted to them with little resistance.
At the start he had hoped that maybe Garp would come for them, or at least Ace and Luffy but it was almost two weeks now or maybe more, they had lost count quick enough.
"I got this." Ace whispered looking around the room, before pulling something from his pants. It was a long metal wire.
Sabo's smile widened and a bubble of hope rose in his chest. The three of them had been through a lot together, from bandits, to World Nobles, to Celestial Dragons, but now, with that small slither of metal they could make a plan.
"Hey Flick," Ace called trying to get her attention; "Can you by any chance move that shield of yours once it has something inside?" Ace asked hoping that his makeshift plan would work. He had a lot of theories about the girl, and what she could do, and in the end his escape plan would come down to what he had assumed of her.
She sat still for a moment before nodding her head slowly. She hadn't down it before but it seemed easy enough.
"Can't you just throw it over here?" Sabo asked not wanting her to be forced to use her powers any more than she already had been. Every time her shield came out he noticed a trickle of blood drip from her nose. She was using it too often and her body was now starting to reject it.
"No, the grates below, if it falls through all hope is lost." Ace answered already gone through all the possible ways of getting the wire to Sabo.
"Any chance you've got enough energy at the moment?" Ace asked praying that this would work tonight. And by the morning they would be free. She nodded and he tried hard to contain the smile on his face.
"Okay grab this and give it to Sabo?" Ace asked and held out his hand through the cage with the small piece of wire in his palm. He looked at the girl who had now moved to the front of her cage and waited.
"You're an idiot." Sabo laughed shaking his head at his brother.
"What the hell Sabo, I'm trying here." Ace defended.
"She's blind." Sabo raised his eyebrow to his brother and saw his look of realisation hit him.
"Fuck," Ace readjusted his spot and poked his arm through his cage and just in front of Luffy's.
"Flick, I've got my hand about a foot in front of Luffy. Can you find it?" He asked. With a small nod she pushed her hand through her cage and they all watched as a small burst of air pushed past her cage.
Ace almost dropped the wire when he felt the air wrap around his hand.
"Do I drop it?" he asked not sure what to do now. She nodded and held up three fingers. "On the count of three?" he questioned and she nodded again.
"Okay, one, two – three." He bit his lip as he dropped the wire and released his hand. He smiled when the air around the piece of metal hardened and the familiar bubble was floating in the air. Slowly they all watched in fascination as the small pocket of air was pulled away from Ace and Luffy and towards the front of Sabo's cage.
"Okay got it." She released the shield at the sound of Sabo's voice and dropped her hand back in her cage; "Now what?" Sabo looked at Ace wondering what the next steps in his brilliant escape plan were.
"Pick Flick's blindfold." Ace grinned and saw the girls shocked face.
'Pick Flick's blindfold…'
'Pick Flick's blindfold…'
'Pick Flick's blindfold…'
Her mind ran wild with the thoughts of seeing again. Being able to see where she was going, she what was coming towards her. She wouldn't need to rely only on the sounds around her, she would be able to defend herself better now.
'Pick Flick's blindfold…'
"And then what, we can't pick these cage doors with this small wire?" Sabo asked a little angrily, he had gotten his hopes up to quickly. He should have heard his brother's entire plan before passing judgement.
"I heard a little rumour from the guards a couple days back. As to why Flick has the blindfold." Sabo looked at Ace and then to the girl who seemed to suddenly radiate happiness. Out of however many days or weeks they had been there, he had never seen the girl so much as smile, but now she was practically jumping on her spot with a smile he had never seen before plastered on her face.
Octavia couldn't believe what she was hearing. They were going to help her escape as well, she was included in their escape plan. She pushed down the small bit of doubt that told her they were using her powers to escape. But right now she didn't care; she was going to escape from this place. Or at least she was going to get the blindfold off even for a few minutes.
"Turn around," Sabo whispered to her and she quickly placed her back against their joining wall and pushed her head back so the lock was as close as possible. Her hands gathered her hair and pulled it over her shoulder trying to give Sabo all the room he needed. It didn't take long for the small click of her lock to open. Her hands moved to her face as she waited for Sabo to take off the padlock.
Her heart pounded in her chest with excitement. She hadn't felt like this in so long, well she couldn't remember the last time she felt like there was some form of hope for her.
"Okay," he gave her the signal and quickly she ripped off the metal blindfold and threw it as far away from her as possible. She didn't care how many people she would have to fight, she was never getting that thing placed back on her, and she was never going to be blinded again.
She couldn't remember the last time she had seen something with her own eyes. Gently opening her eyes by a fraction, she saw the blurred colours of her hands. Blinking a few times she tried to wash away the water that pooled in the corners of her eyes.
Looking up she suddenly gasped and squeezed her eyes back shut and bowed her head into her hands. Blocking out all the lights that pierced her eyes.
Groaning her hands moved to her temples and tried to sooth the pan that flooded her mind.
"Flick!" She could feel the tears pool in her hands as the pain throbbed in the back of her eyes and down her whole body.
"One second girlie," a voice she hadn't imagined speaking brought her mind back to the present. She heard a shattering sound and she could almost feel the light disappear from behind her eyes; "Try now, but slowly." Taking in Trai's advice she moved her hands from her face and slowly blinked keeping her eyes down on the metal beneath her.
At first sight there was a twinge of pain but nothing like before. Feeling more confident she opened them wider until they were completely open. She stared down at her hands and blinked over and over as the blurred images slowly cleared.
Twisting her hands back and forth a small laugh burst through her lips in fascination, it had seemed like forever since she had seen herself, or at least a part of herself. Her hands looked better than what she had imagined, her nails were cracked and crusty with her bloody but they weren't as torn up as they felt. She thought she had even lost a few a while ago through the interrogations, but she had all ten nails,
Lifting her head she saw for the first time the man who was caged at the other end of her line. He gave her a wide broken smile and that's when she saw the now broken lightbulb in his hands with his palm dripping with small droplets of blood.
"Gorgeous aren't I?" Trai mocked and let out a rough laugh.
"Flick?" she turned her body around and looked at the boy behind her. A small smile came to her lips as she saw Sabo for the first time. She actually didn't picture him to be a curly head blonde, but the smile was something she had envisioned. He was sweet and caring with his words and his appearance mimicked his personality perfectly, right down to the missing tooth.
"Hi," he blushed slightly and waved towards her awkwardly.
Taking the time she looked over the blonde boy in front of her and guessed that he was maybe a few years older than she was, he was taller than her by a good foot, and he looked well kept apart from the clothes and bruises he supported now. But he used to be healthy and strong once upon a time.
"Can we do this later? We have to work out the rest of the plan." Ace caught her attention and she looked over at the dark haired boy.
Now he was definitely how she envisioned him, all except the dimples and freckles that was a surprise. His body was strong and sturdy, or at least used to be. She could tell that he had suffered the worst of the abuse out of the brothers. And that's when she looked at Luffy who was jumping up and down at the front of his cage.
"Hi, I'm Monkey D. Luffy." The young boy's wide grin was infectious. She waved to him and earned a giggle from the boy.
"Okay, now what boy genius?" Sabo interrupted and mimicked her position at the front of his cage.
"Now it's on Flick, you can teleport right?" Ace asked and she blinked in shock. How had he figured that out?
"Teleport?" Sabo asked just as shocked as the rest of the people locked in the room.
"Heard from the guards that she had this power to disappear and reappear in the blink of an eye." Ace grinned; "So I thought that's why they put the blindfold on her, she needs to see where to go. Am I right?" Ace asked.
Slowly she nodded. Ace's plan was slowly coming together and even now she could see it. If she could get out of the cage and get the keys, they all had a chance to escape.
"That's why I call her Flick. She flickers from sight." She looked through her caged wall and for the first time she laid eyes on the man who had given her the nickname. He was as old as she has assumed, like a grandfather almost. His long grey hair seemed to thin out into nothing by his shoulders and his beard was just as long.
"Hey there Flick, nice to finally meet you." Tatsumi smiled towards her and she felt her smile return for him. She grinned finally being able to put a face to not only the name but to the voice.
"Alright kid, good plan. But how do we get the keys?" Trai spoke up moving to his door and hunched over. Ace looked a little shocked but there was a better chance in escaping if he including both the others in the escape.
"We wait till the next guard comes in; Flick flickers out, distracts the man, grabs the keys, and we're free." Ace crossed his arms over his chest in satisfaction. But the rest of the prisoner's did not have that same confidence. There were flaws in his plan, everywhere.
"That's it, that's your genius escape plan?" Sabo slapped his hand over his face and wondered how he or his brothers were still alive with him being in charge.
"Here's what we do," they all turned and looked towards Tatsumi as he spoke.
Octavia sat in the corner of her cage, trying to keep her body from trembling from the fear that ran through her entire body, she gripped onto the metal blindfold keeping it hidden from any unwanted eyes. If she had her way, it wouldn't even be touching her let alone in her hands, but it couldn't be seen by anyone especially the guards. And in her other hand held something else she didn't want to be touching, glass. She held a chunk of the light bulb in her hand wrapped in a scrap of Trai's shirt so she wouldn't cut herself.
"You okay?" She heard Sabo whisper from the side of their cage and she nodded. The entire plan revolved around how well she succeeding in her part. Without her, there was not going to be any escape, she was the only chance they had and if she blew it, then there would never be a second chance.
This was it.
"We'll be fine. We'll get out of here together and then when were safe we can have all those adventures we talked about." Turning her head slowly she peeked her eyes from over her elbow and saw a smiling Sabo leaning against the back of his cage. His hand was poking through the wall and towards her; "We'll be safe. All of us."
Slowly she shuffled closer to the corner of the cage and placed her hand on top of his. He gave her a gentle squeeze and she felt a little bit more confidence rise up inside her.
He was about to open his mouth to say something but the sound of the main door opening forced her hand back and her head down.
It was time.
She sat still and waited.
Waited for the signal to move.
"There's one." She heard Sabo's confirmation and nodded. They had three plans in place; Plan A, if there was one guard; Plan B, if there were two; and Plan C, was to abort if there were more than two guards.
She heard the door close and she felt herself flinch at the way that it seemed to echo all around her. Usually she would hear every sound that resonated around the room, the footsteps, the heavy breathing, the light flickering, the movement of others, but right now it was absolutely dead quiet. She could practically hear the sound of her own heart pounding in her chest.
"Hey asshole!" Tatsumi called from the front of the room.
"What did you call me old man?" The guard stopped right in front of Tatsumi's cage.
"He's turning." Sabo whispered detailing everything that was happening before them. Timing was crucial to the plan.
"You heard me. You're a fucken piece of shit you know that. Bet you get off on beating up little kids don't you. Can't get it up with a lady huh?" Tatsumi taunted.
Gripping the glass tightly in her hands she prepared herself.
"You piece of scum." The guard mumbled and she could hear the sounds of the keys in his hands.
"Now." Sabo whispered and her head lifted instantly.
She captured everything in that moment.
Tatsumi was now on his feet and had his fists through the cage gripping the guard's shirt tightly. She could see the guard going for the metal rod at his belt but she was quicker.
Disappearing from her cage, she reappeared directly behind the guard. With a small jump she landed on the man's back, and wrapped her legs around his waist and clamped her left hand over his mouth.
Do it.
Do it and you'll be free.
Now.
One quick movement and her right armed hand slashed across the weakest part of his throat.
Eight seconds…
That's how long it took for her to take someone's life.
Eight seconds and he was gone from this world.
He would never move again, never breathe again.
Never hurt anyone ever again.
"Flick…"
"Come on sweetheart, look at me." Her eyes slowly lifted from the dark red blood covering her legs and hands and onto a set of blue eyes in front of her. Tatsumi knelt at the front of his cage with his hands gripping the metal bars.
"It's alright Flick. You're going to be alright." He smiled gently to her and she felt her heart slow to a semi normal rate.
"Grab the keys Flick, and we will be out of here soon." He spoke softly and she followed his orders. Trying to ignore the sight of his blood soaking in her clothes, she fished the keys that were attached to the man's belt and stood in front of the door.
Placing the key in the door she pulled it open and suddenly a set of arms were around her and she flinched.
"Go to the others," he patted her softly on the top of the head and turns her shoulders towards Trai first.
"You did good twerp," Trai smiled down at her as she fumbled with the door to his cage. As soon as he was free she saw him dart off to the side and help Tatsumi with the body. She didn't dare glance back at the front of the room; she didn't want to see the body again.
"You okay?" she reached Sabo's cage and she nodded. She wasn't really sure if she truly was or not, but right now was not the time to have a breakdown from her first kill. As soon as his cage was unlocked she moved to the opposite side and undid Luffy's. Sabo was there to help the boy down from the height while she moved to free Ace.
This was the first time she had seen the boy up close. His skin and body seemed to reflect hers, cuts and bruises everywhere, which told her that he had received the same level of treatment that she had.
"When we get out of here, ask for anything and I will grant it for you. Anything alright." Ace smiled and jumped out of his cage.
"You guys ready?" Tatsumi walked towards them and whispered.
"We don't have long; someone will be suspicious when he doesn't return with one of us." Ace spoke and they all knew that they had a very small window of opportunity. Feeling all her energy drained she leant against the cage door and watched as Sabo undid the sea stone cuff around Luffy's ankle.
"Do you want yours off?" he asked looking at her. She looked down at her own restraint and nodded. He moved towards her and undid the cold metal cuff. As soon as it fell off she felt a small burst of energy being restored. A sigh escaped her lips and Sabo looked up at her with a smile on his face. The sea stone might not have affected her as much as the other fruit users, but it still drained her.
"Alright twerps you're after Tatsumi." She looked back to Trai who had now removed the grate below them. Trai had come up with the idea of going down instead of up; they would expect that anyone trying to escape off a ship, would try to head to the deck to jump overboard, or to steal a boat. So you do what they don't expect you to do and head down.
"Sewage lines," all heads snapped to the man in shock.
"You can't be serious?" Ace grumbled not liking the sound of trekking through someone else's sewerage.
'Well sunshine it ain't going to be pretty, but it heads to the ocean and to our freedom.'
They watched as Tatsumi jumped down first, armed with the guard's old metal prod in his hands. Ace jumped in next and followed by Luffy who simply held onto Sabo's hands and stretched his body down to Ace. Sabo looked at her as he let go of Luffy's hands and held one out to her.
"You go next, I'll be right behind you." He whispered and she hesitated for a second. She had learnt not to let people stray behind you; it was only easier for them to stab you in the back. But Sabo was different, for some small and idiotic reason she trusted him.
Sitting down on the edge of the grate, she slid herself off the edge, and fell through the dark hole. She landed at the bottom with a jolt and a pair of hands steadied her on her feet. Looking up she saw Ace there giving her a sly smirk.
"Got her." He called out and not a second later Sabo landed beside her followed by Trai.
"Alright Kiddo, up you get, pull that grate over us." Trai picked up Sabo onto his shoulders and with not much trouble Sabo slid the metal grate over the hole and they were officially out of the brig.
"Let's go." Tatsumi led the pack through the small tunnel until they were to a point they deemed safe.
The further they walked the hotter they got, Trai explained that they it would be the safest to follow the pipe until they reached the boiler room. With the noise of the boiler they would be able to enter the pipe and escape quietly.
"Okay, here it goes." Tatsumi took a deep breath before slamming the metal rod down on the joining of the pipe. They all froze and waited to see if there was any reaction from anywhere.
"I think we're good." Trai spoke and Tatsumi took that as a go and continued to bang the metal against the pipe. Slowly they could see the screws start to loosen off a small panel. It was tiny, barely big enough to fit herself through, let alone Trai. But Tatsumi kept at it.
Once the first panel was off, things drastically took a turn for the worse.
Alarms went off and shouts began to echo all around them.
"Fuck!" Tatsumi cursed and threw the rod to the ground. He called Trai for help and together they pulled on the second panel. It quickly came lose but it still wasn't big enough for them.
"Brats you go." Trai yelled and had his hands already on Ace's hips.
"No, what about you!" Sabo shouted over the alarms.
"We will be fine, just go." He threw Ace through the gap and quickly moved onto Luffy.
"Look after her do you hear me!" Tatsumi spoke to Sabo as he lifted him up and into the pipe; "Don't let anyone take her."
"We promise. Just make sure you guys get out okay." Sabo shook Tatsumi's hand before he was pushed into the pipe. Both men turned towards her and she shook her head. She didn't want to leave them behind.
"Come on girlie, we'll be right behind you." Trai placed his hands on her hips and she struggled against him. They were meant to leave together.
"We will meet again Flick. I promise you." She felt Tatsumi press a kiss onto her temple; "Remember never to give up fighting." And suddenly she was thrown into the pipe. She wanted to scream, she wanted to yell at them for letting her go, she wanted to tell them to come with them; they were meant to escape together.
"Flick, come on," Sabo pulled her to her feet and dragged her through the murky water below. The further they went the more her heart raced. She could hear the footsteps above them and the shouts of the men. She just hoped that Tatsumi and Trai had escaped somehow.
"We're here," Ace's voice snapped her back to reality and that's when she noticed the sounds of water. The ocean was a mere grate away. She looked at the three boys who surrounded the small grate below them, leading straight into the ocean. They quickly grabbed at it and with the three of them they managed to tear the grill off without trouble.
"Lu," Ace called and he nodded in complete understanding. Luffy jumped onto his brother's back and wrapped his arms and legs around him; "Deep breathe. Do not let go."
"Flick," she turned to Sabo who had his hand out to her. She shook her head. She couldn't swim. As soon as she stepped out there she was dead.
"I won't let go, I promise." Sabo said taking a step closer towards her.
"Come on, we don't have time." Ace yelled as he sat on the edge of great letting his feet dangle into the water below.
"Trust me Flick, please." Sabo pleaded to her. Hearing the yells and fighting above she gulped.
"Flick it's us or them. Pick!" Ace yelled and her mind was made up.
Her hand moved to Sabo's and as soon as they connect he had pulled her onto his back. Her arms wrapped around his neck and he wrapped his arms under her knees.
"We'll be okay," he whispered as Ace slipped into the water with Luffy on his back. She nodded against his shoulder as he sat down where Ace once was, and let his legs dip into the water.
"Take a deep breath," he ordered her and she did as she was told. As soon as she did Sabo slipped them into the water. Her entire body tensed at the feeling of being submerged. Her chest tightened and threatened to let go of the air trapped in her lungs. She could feel them moving as Sabo headed towards the surface.
Her lungs protested and her eyes flashed open. The salt burned and her vision faltered but she could clearly see the surface of the water coming closer. The air escaped her mouth and she clamped her mouth shut and buried her face into Sabo's neck forcing her not to breath in the water.
As their heads broke the surface, her lungs screamed in protest and gulped down the oxygen it craved.
"You guys okay?" Ace asked when they were closer together.
"Yeah we're f-"
"Look out!" Luffy screamed.
Octavia's eyes turned in just the right second and her arm detached from Sabo's neck and she threw her shield towards the incoming cannonball. They each screamed as the force of the blast hit the shield and sent them flying backwards.
Her hands scrambled through the air desperately trying to latch back onto Sabo as they were torn apart. Her eyes darted in all directions as she saw the furious water below coming closer. Squeezing her eyes shut she braced herself for the impact of the water's surface. Her body weakened almost instantly as she was submerged in the sea water. Clamping her hand over her mouth she threw her eyes open and searched for the others.
Luffy was the closest to her, sinking just as quickly as she was. With all the strength she could muster up at the moment, she sent her shield racing towards the sinking boy. As soon as it was around him she could see him gasp at the air that pocketed around him.
"Flick!" Luffy screamed and pounded against the surface of his protection. Sinking deeper into the darkness of the ocean she finally saw Ace reach Luffy. It was only then did she release the shield and let Ace carry him back to the surface.
Her eyes closed, as she felt a tiny slither of happiness flood through her, she was going out on her own terms. And she saved a young boy in the process. Her lungs screamed at the lack of air and she was about to give in and open her mouth when she felt something tug on her wrist.
Then she felt an arm wrap around her stomach and she was being pulled from the darkness. She opened her eyes and she saw a blurry Sabo. His arm wrapped around her stomach whilst his other desperately pulled through the water, dragging them both closer and closer to the surface. When their heads broke the surface she coughed up the water in her lungs whilst trying to gulp down the precious air.
"You okay?" Sabo panted while clutching onto her a little tighter.
"You came back," she whispered.
They both froze at the sound of her voice.
She had spoken.
She had spoken without realising it.
"Of course I did," he smiled at her and brushed her dark red hair from her eyes as she clung to him.
"Sabo swim!" Ace called from a distance and Octavia turned her head to see a group of cannonballs heading towards them. They managed to dodge them all with some help from her shield and from Luffy's arm punching them away, but they were still stranded in the middle of the ocean with no land in sight.
"Look." Luffy pointed off into the distance. And there at the edge of the horizon was a ship. From this distance there was no telling if it was a Pirate ship or a marines, but they would take whatever they could get.
"Let's go," Ace ordered and Sabo nodded. They swam as fast as they could, but even if they were fully healed, and healthy, they would still struggle against the waves and the incoming attacks.
"Stop," she whispered and Ace turned to her in complete shock.
"You talked!" Luffy pointed towards her like he had seen a ghost.
Sabo was the only one who didn't react so badly. Slowly she placed her hand on the surface of the water beside her and gasps filled the open air. A solid form was now sitting on top of the water's surface. Without hesitation she climbed off Sabo's back, with his help and onto her new surface.
"You're shield?" Ace mumbled, clinging onto the side of the familiar thick air.
She held out a hand to Sabo and pulled him up next to her. Ace quickly got the idea and threw Luffy on top with a thud and pulled himself next to them. The surface wasn't very big but enough for them to stand shoulder to shoulder.
Taking a deep breath she spread her powers forwards and watched as the surface expanded. Taking a hesitant step forwards, and then another and another until she was running on top of the surface. She looked next to her and found the others keeping her pace.
As they stepped off a surface she collapsed it and created another one in front.
"You are so awesome," Luffy laughed as they ran along the top of the water.
"Incoming," Ace called out hearing the sounds of cannon fire. They each turned their heads as the next waves of canons were upon them. Octavia took a small lead in front and used that to direct the others out of harms reach.
"Lu, you defend." Ace pulled Luffy onto his back and Luffy was quick to rotate around and let his arms defend them from as many attacks as possible.
Octavia was amazed at how well they adapted together and the fact that the rubber boy name fully lived up to Luffy's powers. It was as though they had done this a million times before, but thinking back to Sabo's stories they probably had.
Octavia sighed in relief as the silence of the canons brought them a little extra time of safety, but then a new sound emerged.
"Get down!" she felt a push against her back and she dropped to her knees. A high pitched whistle flew past them.
"Snipers! Are you fucken serious?" Ace cursed glancing back at the ship.
Octavia looked around frantically and could see they were all safe on her float.
"Sabo?" she whispered. That's when she saw him clutching his shoulder.
"It's just a graze," he whimpered lifting his head. That's when she saw the blood seeping through his fingers. It looked like it was more than just a graze; "Come on we don't have time." Sabo was first to his feet still clutching his shoulder; "We need to run."
Octavia stood up and nodded. Slowly they took off in a run and she made sure to keep their movements staggered. They weren't running in a straight line, they were zig zagging in different patterns. Another set of whistles flew by and she felt a sharp pain to her leg. Falling to her knees she let out a scream as her leg felt like it was on fire. Looking down she could see blood pooling from her calf.
"Flick," Ace dropped Luffy and quickly grabbed her arm.
"Just keep making the path," Ace spoke and lifted her up taking all of the pressure off her leg. She whimpered but pushed through the pain.
"Ace…" Luffy's fearful voice got them all to turn their heads back.
"No," Ace gasped and turned towards the attack.
"We can't-there's no way we-" Sabo stuttered.
Octavia turned and could almost feel her heart stop. Time seemed to stop as the horde of dark metal flew towards them. There were too many to count, a dozen at least maybe two. Her hands lifted and she could feel her powers protest against her.
She saw her shield appear and disappear from in front of them just as her vision blurred.
"Flick," Ace whispered.
Again, she tried again and again but it wouldn't stay.
"Flick!" Sabo called out in fear.
Again and again.
Black spots appeared in front of her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry," she whimpered, throwing her shield out again and again.
"Flick!" the three cried out and with an unknown strength her shield finally stayed.
The first few cannonballs hit and the impact forced them to slide backwards on their platform.
The next wave hit and her shield dispersed,
"Dammit," she cursed falling to her knees.
"No," she whimpered as the shield took a hit and threw them all backwards. They each landed on the surface but as she looked up, she wasn't quick enough to react to the next wave.
The impact threw her into the air.
Her body shuttered and her scream was stuck in her throat as the pain radiated down to her core. She knew she was falling but she couldn't scream, couldn't turn her head, and couldn't search for the others to see where they were; to see if they were alive.
Her eyes began to close and she wondered where the impact was. She was still falling, still floating in the air above. Slowly opening her eyes she felt a smile appear on her lips.
It seemed that everyone was right in one thing, death was peaceful.
She could see the bright yellow and blue flames surround her as she fell into the darkness of the afterlife.
"Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them?"
So there you have it :)
Let me know what you think, I love all critiques or suggestions.
Thanks guys,
Octavia
xx