Quaint.
Rouge had told herself over and over, that she would reserve her judgment on wherever Garp took her, and she was. She was by no means describing the town they were disembarking at as a small, sleepy, isolated, under developed, windmill filled village... almost the complete opposite of her thriving home island of Baterilla.
No. It was simply quaint.
"Garp-san!" A short man greeted warmly, "What brings you back to these parts of the world? I thought the Marine's would be keeping you busy!"
Garp released a hearty chuckle at the Mayor's enthusiasm.
"Woop Slap, this is a friend of mine, Portgas D. Rouge, she and her son were looking for a country escape." Beckoning Rouge off the boat, Garp continued his introductions, "Rouge, this is Woop Slap, he's the Mayor of Fushia."
Rouge inclined her head slightly at the introduction, a tight smile tugging on her lips.
"Pleasure."
"All mine my dear, it's all mine."
Woop Slap stepped closer, peering at the bundle wrapped up in Rouge's arms, "And who is this little one?"
Rouge's smile softened as the attention of the small group switched to Ace.
"This is Ace."
Woop Slap offered one of his fingers to Ace's flailing hand. The small appendage locking on tightly as it found purchase.
"Ahh... Portgas D. Ace, a good, strong name for such a strong, little lad."
Rouge's mouth fell open to reply, only to close as she rethought her response. Her shoulders, slumped with the realisation that Gol D. Ace could never exist. It was too obvious, too soon, for another to bear the same name as Roger. It would give them away before they'd even tried, and she couldn't allow that to happen.
"Yes, I thought so too."
Garp briefly made eye contact with the new mother, nodding at the necessary name change before directing the conversation to more pressing matters.
"Woop Slap, I was thinking Rouge could move into my old home if it's still empty."
Two sets of surprised eyes turned to the marine. The Mayor recovered first, used to the shenanigans of the Monkey D. family. Retracting his finger from Ace's hold, Woop Slap stroked his beard.
"Your old place? No, no one's lived there since... It'll probably be a bit dusty, but it's definitely not being used."
Rouge's gobsmacked face swung from Garp, to the Mayor, back to Garp in rapid succession. Garp had not mentioned this as being part of the plan. The plan had been to relocate her to somewhere safe, somewhere the marines wouldn't think to look for her and Ace. The plan had definitely not been for her to move into his old house.
"Garp I can't–"
"Of course you can. It's empty, has been for years, and it's not like my brat of a son needs it. It'll do nicely."
As Ace began to stir in her arms, Rouge brushed her fingers along one of his chubby cheeks. Her resolve to fight Garp on the issue wavering as her son's dark eyes blinked up at her. Ace needed a home.
"I'm paying rent."
Garp threw his head back at the stubborn set of Rouge's posture.
"Bwahaha! Sure, we'll set it at the fee I'll pay you to look after the place."
Woop Slap shook his head at Garp's antics as the supposed adult resumed his laughter. Hovering his hand behind Rouge's forearm, the Mayor gently guided her up the path into town, leaving the marine behind.
"Why don't we go have a cup of tea whilst he calms himself down? We can sort out the details later."
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