Hey~ I'm back. Quite a few were asking about Luffy, and well, I guess, here he is. Maybe. A little. XD Anyway, I hope you enjoy~ Also, there's some explicit scenes in this chapter, not very, but still you can skip if you want.
Chapter 4: The Little Brother
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
The sound of running feet distracted Marco from his conversation with Jinbe and Emporio Ivankov.
"So I think-" Jinbe cut himself off mid-sentence, and turned his attention to stare out of his cell towards the dark corridor.
Marco blinked, for the rush of footsteps sounded familiar, and logic told him that the only ones who were crazy enough to enter Level 6 were the two Rear Admirals. So why were they running? Was there some trouble? Should he be on guard?
That was when Ace and Sabo skidded around the corner, a look of utter fear upon their countenance, as they teetered two trays each. They both raced for their cells and haphazardly, with panicked hands and rushed voices, pushed the tray to them.
"Here, Ina-chan, Iva-chan! And Jinbe-san! Oh my god, take this tray, let me hide behind you, and pretend you don't know me!" Sabo's gloved hands gripped the bars of Jinbe's cell and rattled it, sheer horror and fear twisted his expression.
Meanwhile, Ace shoved the tray into Crocodile's hands with no decorum and stood outside Marco's cell as he held out the tray to Marco. "Marco! Please please please! Let me enter your cell, and hide in a corner! Also, could you see to it to pretend that I didn't exist, just for a while?!" A crazed glint entered Ace's eyes as they darted about in paranoia, eyeing the corridor corner, and practically begging Marco to say yes.
Marco's brows arched high, for Ace had never taken such a formality with him before, as he took the proffered tray of food that was his lunch. "Sure yoi, but I expect an explanation later." Marco watched as his shoulders sagged with relief.
"Please!" Sabo was getting desperate. As soon as Jinbe nodded, Sabo rushed out an "Oh, thank you thank you!" and he morphed and shrunk, transforming into a little, serpentine dragon the size of an arm, and was small enough to slip through the bars of the cell. He crawled up and onto Jinbe's shoulder, disappearing behind his back.
Ace on the other hand, had more flare. Flames erupted from his feet and spread upwards, turning into intangible flames that flickered and illuminated the dark hallways. It was because of the light that Ace gave off in that form that allowed Marco to notice the approaching shadows right around the corner. Without wasting a second, Ace darted through the bars of the cell and towards the darkest corner of the cell, hiding behind the bed. As the fires snuffed out, so did the haki.
The haki that Marco had gotten used to feeling just emanating from Ace and Sabo in waves simply winked out, as if it were never there in the first place. So, Marco mused, they could hide their haki… Marco was impressed, the more he knew and thought about it, the more he was sure that these two were Paradise, heck, even New World material. Pops would have loved to have them in the family. Too bad they were Marines.
"ACEEEEEEEE! SAAABBOOOOOO~~! GRAMPA JUST WANNA TALK TO YOU~~!" A shiver ran down Marco's spine at the sound of that guttural voice. He knew that voice anywhere, and he now understood why the boys were so scared. They had every right to be, Monkey D. Garp was nutters. Completely, totally, bat-shit loco insane. Marco was starting to feel wary himself. Although he had never heard the old man speak in such a sickly-sweet tune. Guess he spoke with his Grandsons differently.
The man himself turned around the corner, a menacing grin upon his face, and his hands curled into those signature fists. Marco sat up a little straighter, but focused upon his meal. He only deigned to glance up at the Vice-Admiral when The Fist stopped in front of his cell, and Marco calmly regarded the man with his bored, half-lidded gaze.
"Ah, the First Division Commander of that Old Beard." The Fist crossed his arms with a grin. "You are hardly one to talk, considering that you are practically the same age-yoi." Marco pointed out coolly. The Vice-Admiral scoffed, "Bah! He's practically ancient! Hardly spry enough to be out on the seas, Phoenix."
Marco ignored the jab at his Pops, and focused on his meal, while the old bat glanced around along the corridors. "So, have you seen the brat, and the other brat?"
"Who-yoi?" Marco really had to commend himself on his acting skills, and his composure, because he certainly wasn't that calm, especially not in the face of someone who could go toe-to-toe with his Pops and Roger both; and especially not when he was on the hunt for his wayward grandsons.
Garp's grin widened and he exclaimed, "Oh surely you have met my cute and wonderful grandsons! They are in charge of the last two levels of Impel Down!" There was a note of pride in his voice, and Marco fought the urge to smile. "Rear Admirals Portgas D. Ace and Noah D. Sabo!" He gestured to the meal in Marco's lap, "That lunch there didn't appear by itself, now did it?"
Marco shrugged nonchalantly, "Well, it seems like it did. I certainly have never met your grandsons and I don't think I want to. They gotta be as crazy as you-yoi."
Garp threw his head back with a laugh, "Bwahahaha! That's why they are my grandsons you brat!" A pinkie was then shoved up his nose and Marco barely refrained from cringing. "Well, if you see two Rear Admirals, then call for me, those are my grandsons! They think they can escape from my fist of love, eh?! Bwahahaha!" With that, the Vice Admiral swept off around the corner, and Marco released a sigh of relief. That was nerve-wracking, it was. He was now grateful for the bars that separated him from crazy.
He set his meal aside, "You can come out now, yoi."
Flames burst to life in the corner of his cell, and flickered out of his cell, whereupon it reformed into the shape of Ace. A small dragon of shimmering blue meandered its way out from between the seastone bars of Jinbe's cell, and grew back into Sabo.
The two let out similar sighs of relief, glad to have escaped the clutches of their grandfather for now. It occurred to Marco that the visitor from Headquarters was no doubt Monkey D. Garp.
Marco shuffled over to the bars, "Are you that scared of your grandfather?"
Ace and Sabo shot him a look that annoyed him. It was an are-you-stupid look. Marco was rarely given such a look, and he did not take kindly to people giving him that look. He let it slide however, when Ace launched into a tirade.
"Are you kidding?! That old man is nuts! Completely, utterly off his rocker!" Ace flailed angrily while Sabo nodded. "It was all his fault, that we are even in the marines!"
Marco blinked, "That's right-yoi. You said you didn't want to become Marines. So, what made you change your minds?"
Ace growled, "As if we had a choice! We had to! That crazy old geezer!" Sabo sighed in resignation, "We joined, for our little brother."
Marco quirked a brow, "I think you have to explain it in clearer terms-yoi."
Ace and Sabo huffed, before plopping down onto the floor that they seemed to favour, and crossed their arms. Well, Ace did. He pouted too. Sabo simply brushed his bangs from his eyes, and gave a rueful smile. "We joined for the sake of our little brother. So that he had a chance to fulfil his dreams."
When they had set off from Dawn Island, it had been on Sabo's 17th birthday in March.
Ace didn't mind setting off at a later date, especially when Sabo had agreed to accompany him on his journey and be his navigator.
When all the provisions and whatever they needed for their journey to the next island had been stocked onto their boat, they turned towards their little brother, who was trying very hard to hold in his tears.
Ace whacked him on the head with a, "Stop being such a crybaby!"
"I'm not!" Luffy short of wailed.
Sabo rolled his eyes and pushed Ace aside, ignoring his indignant cry of "Hey!"
Sabo gathered Luffy into his arms and soothed, "Hey, let's turn that frown upside down, yeah? You don't wanna send us off crying, do you?"
Luffy quickly shook his head, even as he soaked Sabo's cravat with a mix of salty tears and snot.
Sabo withheld a shiver of disgust at the state of his cravat. He would have to change it later.
He patted Luffy's head like a good big brother, sending a message to Ace with his eyes to deal with Luffy.
Ace glared, even as he came over. Sabo released Luffy into Ace's hold, all but ripping his cravat from his neck.
Luffy may like Sabo as being the kinder, nicer brother, but he had always held Ace on a pedestal. That boy admired Ace unlike any other. Ace and Sabo both, actually; Sabo was close behind Ace. It was both endearing, and annoying.
They cast off at noon, waving towards the shore, all the people in Foosha village there to send them off on this great journey.
"BYE ACE! BYE SABO! SEE YOU IN THREE YEARS!"
"BYE LUFFY! They chorused, waving until the people were but a speck of dot.
Ace turned to Sabo, "This is gonna be great!" Sabo nodded with a grin, "Mmhmm!"
Soon, it was close to evening, and they had all but cleaned their food provisions. Ace was leaning heavily on Sabo, bemoaning about his hunger, and had been for the past 10 minutes.
Sabo grunted, "Really, Ace! I'm just as hungry as you! I told you we should have packed more food!"
Ace turned around and hugged Sabo's torso, "But then we wouldn't have space for other things! I'm hungry, Sabo!" Ace whined.
Sabo sighed, "So am I, Ace, so am I." He patted Ace's head indulgently and looked outwards towards the horizon as their little boat drifted.
He tried to ignore the way that Ace was digging his face in his stomach, as if trying to bury his hunger into Sabo. Sabo needed a distraction, and fast, before Ace rubbed a hole into his stomach, or worse, thought of him as food.
"Hey, I think I see an island!" Ace jumped up, looking around frantically, "Where?! Where?!"
Sabo grasped Ace's chin and pointed into the distance a little to the left. "There, see? I think that's an island." Sabo pulled out his map of the east blue and mused, "Judging from where we left Dawn Island, and how long we have travelled, I'd say that that's Navie Island."
"Then let's go!" With renewed energy, Ace grabbed the oars and started to paddle. "Help me, Sabo!"
Sabo shook his head fondly and just grabbed the other oar, and together, they paddled towards the Island.
The Inn they chose to stay at for the night was not too shabby. It had the basic provisions and utilities, Sabo was satisfied with it, and is Sabo was satisfied, it was practically heaven to Ace.
Ace dumped his bag onto the floor the moment they entered their room and jumped to sprawl face down on the bed, letting out a weary sigh. "I'm stuffed…" He muttered into the bedsheets. Ace had only slept on a bed once before he left Dawn Island, and that was when the trio of brothers had spent a night in Makino's lodgings above the bar in Foosha village.
"And here I thought that was an impossibility," Sabo teased, placing his pack gently by the door. "Shaddup" Ace mumbled.
Sabo chuckled, "Okay, but seriously, at least shower, you know? You don't wanna climb into bed all dirty and sticky, do you?"
Ace smirked as he turned his head to face Sabo, "Depends on what kind of sticky and dirty you are talking about."
Sabo smacked at his arm, "You jackass," a hint of blush on his face, "You know exactly what I'm talking about!"
"Mmmm…" Ace hummed, grinning, "Does it involve you writhing under me?"
Sabo gaped, "The one complex word that you finally dish out, and you use it like that?" He shook his head, "I'm disappointed Ace, truly, truly disappointed." He wagged a finger in Ace's face, a deep sigh escaping past his lips.
Ace scowled and pushed Sabo's finger away. "Can't you take a joke, Sabo?" He pouted, sitting up on the bed and watched as Sabo went about removing his triple layers of clothing. "Not when it's at my expense." Sabo objected, pulling off his gloves.
Ace could never understand why Sabo wore so many layers, although, that wasn't to say that he didn't enjoy or appreciate the view. Sabo looked good in everything; he could even wear a sack and work it. Also, it made for a glorious strip tease, not that Sabo ever did that, but hey, a man can dream, right?
Not to mention that Ace was enjoying the impromptu show that Sabo was putting on while removing his clothes; oh look, the blondie's speaking.
"Must you stare so, Ace?" There was a hint of exasperation and fondness that came from being at the receiving end of Ace's many stares.
A grin threatened to split Ace's face in half, "Oh come on, Sabo, it's not like it's nothing I haven't seen before." That's right, their first time together was when they were sixteen, a month after Sabo's birthday wherein Ace had confessed, and Sabo had too, and them getting together was the best present ever in Sabo's eyes. It had been a challenge to get away from Luffy's prying eyes for that. Anyway, he digressed. Ace really really enjoyed seeing that blush that brightened Sabo's pale cheeks.
"Perv…" Sabo huffed. "Your perv~!" Ace countered in a sing-song voice. Sabo harrumphed and turned around, now only clad in pants, heading for the connected private bathroom. "All in due time, Ace." And Sabo left it at that, the bathroom door shutting him out.
Ace pouted, glancing around the room contemplatively. After ten minutes of just sitting there and staring into space, lost in his mindscape, Ace got up with a sigh, deciding on that bath.
He took off his hat, and his open yellow shirt, discarding them onto the floor beside the bed. If Ace had his way, he wouldn't need them anymore tonight; and Ace always got his way, one way or another.
Smirking at the prospects of the night to come, Ace stretched, bare-chested, his muscles rippling along his shoulders and back. He and Sabo had worked hard for their current lean and strong bodies, and he'd be damned if he wasn't proud of it.
He then undid his belt and let his shorts fall to the ground. He stepped out of his shorts and padded over to the bathroom door, slowly pushing it open and feeling the warm steam of hot water washing over his face. Sabo was there, in the tub, eyes closed, a relaxed countenance, and looked like he was about to fall asleep; well, not on his watch, he isn't.
Ace pushed open the door wider and slipped in, making his way over to stand over Sabo. Still, his brother didn't open his eyes.
With a huff, Ace stepped into the tub, disturbing the water and catching Sabo's attention. Sabo's eyes snapped open and he sighed, "When you stood over me, I thought you had wanted to say something, not join me."
Ace grinned sheepishly, "You noticed?" Sabo rolled his eyes, "Please, Ace. You are about as quiet as a bull in a china shop."
Here, Ace had settled down into the tub, his knees bent, and feet brushing against Sabo's, who had pulled up his legs to give Ace space. "Well, like I said, it isn't anything I haven't seen before. We've bathed together since we were ten."
Sabo sighed, "You are never going to change, are you?"
Ace smirk turned into a grin, "You wouldn't want me to."
Sabo's lips quirked into a fond smile, "No, I guess not."
Sabo then turned around, and scooted up against Ace, back to chest, and just laid there, his head tucked under Ace's chest.
Sabo sighed as all the tension drained from his shoulders, as he closed his eyes.
"This is nice…" Sabo murmured. Ace just looked down at Sabo in amusement. "What, you mean using me as a living cushion?"
A smile tugged on the corners of Sabo's lips. "You make a good cushion."
Ace didn't answer, he simply wrapped his arms around Sabo's chest, pressing his nose into his hair. Sabo's hair smelled of strawberries, and the sea; like salty strawberries, if that was even a thing.
Sabo was right, this is nice.
"Ace…"
"Hm?"
"You are poking me in the back!"
Ace looked down. Well, hello…
"Oops?"
"Ace!"
~~~~Explicit scene here~~~~
They writhed about together in a messy tangle of sheets and limbs. Their bodies melded into each other as they explored the other's body. Their hot breaths fogged the windows as they panted into each other's embraces.
"A-Ace…" Sabo panted as he lay on the sheets, his hair splayed about his head on the pillow like a golden halo, a light sheen of sweat clung to his skin as his chest heaved. Ace hovered over Sabo as he focused on pressing more kisses to his neck and chest, while he had paused in a short reprieve from thrusting into Sabo, still pressed into him.
"Nghh…" Ace grunted as Sabo's hands raked down his back, surely leaving red trails. His back burned pleasantly, and Ace was thanking his lucky stars Sabo was restraining himself from really digging his nails in. God only knows that Sabo had some crazy strong fingers.
Ace forgoes his mission to cover Sabo in love bites and reached upwards to press a soft, chaste tongue-twisting kiss to Sabo's lips. As their tongues danced with each other, Ace moved his hips, once more resuming his thrusts, pushing into Sabo with renewed strength.
"Mmm!" Sabo moaned into Ace's mouth, his grip on Ace's arms tightening in pleasure.
Ace did so love when Sabo made such sounds; Sabo was very warm as well, and tight.
Ace pulled out a little and then pushed in again, the bed shaking with the force of the thrusts.
As Sabo moaned, his toes curled from the overwhelming sensations bombarding his mind. Ace didn't relent and only shifted a little before thrusting with vigour, focusing on pounding into Sabo as many times as possible.
Sabo cried out when Ace hit his sweet spot, which left him seeing stars. Sabo could never get tired of this, this moment that he had with Ace.
As Ace panted after he had released into Sabo, he could tell that it was the same for Ace too. The both of the cherished the bond that they had with each other, and it was moments like this, when they bathed in the afterglow, that Sabo and Ace really felt their hearts, bodies and souls connect, a love to last for a lifetime and beyond.
~~~Explicit scene ends~~~
A barrage of noise and shouts from below roused Sabo from his slumber. He propped himself up on his arm and sleepily rubbed at his eyes. He blinked blearily and stared at Ace, peacefully sleeping, an arm draped over Sabo's waist. Sabo smiled, his eyes fond as he gazed at his lover, sleeping without a care in the world.
A loud thud from the stairs leading to the lobby of the inn startled Sabo out of his daze and he turned towards the door, wondering what all the shouting was about. He was about to shrug and go back to sleep when a loud bang vibrated against their room door. Sabo jumped as Ace jerked upright with a gasp.
"What'sa goin' on?" Ace voice slurred sleepily, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and stretching.
He was startled out of mid-stretch by another, louder bang upon the door.
He turned to Sabo, eyes alert. "Are we under attack? What's with all the noise?"
Sabo shook his head, "I don't know, but I have a bad feel-"
CRASH!
The door burst down and there in the doorway, stood their worst nightmare.
"So, you brats thought you could go and be pirates, eh?"
Ace and Sabo stared in horror as their grandfather stood in the destroyed entrance, knuckles cracking and a feral grin on his lips.
The grin widened, "FIST OF LOVE!"
BANG! BANG! CRASH!
Taking advantage of their moment of distraction from fear and horror, Garp the Fist descended on them, delivering his famous fist onto them that sent them crashing back into the bed frame, nursing a bump on their heads.
"What the hell, you shitty geezer?!" Ace hissed, while Sabo had enough sense to reach for the jostled bed covers and pull the sheets to cover their waists.
"I leave for six months and I come back on the other brat's birthday only to find you two gone! I wasn't able to find Luffy, that little brat, but I was able to find you! You think you can just waltz off to become pirates eh?!"
Ace jumped up, "You crazy gramps! You can't stop us! We are gonna be pirates, so there!"
"Ace!" Sabo hissed, dragging Ace back down to the bed again and covering him with the sheets, so he won't expose himself again to the people peering curiously into the room, and the marines standing guard at the door.
A tick mark appeared on Garp's temple. "It appears as if you haven't learned. FIST OF LOVE!"
"OUCH!"
"DAMMIT!"
As Sabo and Ace nursed their new steaming bumps, Garp went on a rant. "When I first got to the bandits and found out that you two had the gall to go off to be pirates, I immediately went after you! I tracked you two down here and what do I see?! You two playing hooky and sleeping here without a care in the world! Naked too! You two slept together no doubt! This room reeks of sex!"
Ace and Sabo's cheeks burned, as they tried to pull the sheets up more to cover themselves.
"Garp-san! Please!" Sabo gasped, mortified, a frown upon his features.
"Didn't I tell you to call me grandpa, other brat?! And what's with this ridiculousness?! You two are coming with me to become good Marines! My brat too! When I find him, I'm gonna drag him kicking and screaming into the marines!"
"NO!" Ace and Sabo screamed. He couldn't do that. Luffy couldn't join the marines, his dreams would be crushed and so would his spirit. Ace and Sabo couldn't do that to him; couldn't let Garp do that to their cute little brother.
Ace and Sabo shared a look, wordlessly coming to an agreement.
"Gar-Um, Grandpa…How about a compromise?" Sabo ventured.
"Hmm?" Garp quirked a brow.
Sabo took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. "We will go with you. We will go with you to the marines without protest. No arguments, no fights. We will become Marines just as you asked. In exchange…" Here, Sabo paused, biting his lips. Ace hurriedly took over. "In exchange for our co-operation and letting you train us," here, he grimaced before continuing. "You have to promise to leave Luffy alone. Don't visit him in the next three years, don't interfere in his dreams. Let him be a pirate. Let him live his life the way he wants."
"…."
Seeing no response, Sabo tried, "We have agreed to fulfil the dream that you have for us, instead of our own; now, can't you at least let one of us fulfil the dream that we want?"
Silence reigned for the a few more seconds, before Garp threw his head back and let out a heart laugh. "Bwahahaha! Good offer, brats! Very well, you have my word. Two is better than none!"
The two seventeen-year-olds heaved a sigh of relief, and offered Garp a tentative, shaky smile. Garp is nothing if not honorary. They knew he would keep his promise. "Thanks, Gramps…"
"Bwahahaha! Now get dressed and come along! We have to head to Marine Headquarters! I will have to introduce you to old Senny!"
As Garp swept out the door to let them change, and to repair the damage caused, Ace and Sabo spared each other a glance.
Sabo could see a hint of despair swirling in those murky grey orbs, and so he reached out and enveloped Ace in a crushing –to anyone who wasn't them- hug, he felt Ace take a shuddering breath as arms wrapped around his shoulders.
Blinking quickly to wash away the tears threatening to escape, Sabo whispered into Ace's ear. "For Luffy."
Ace's voice croaked back, "For Luffy."
"Ahhhh~~! You two sweet things! You gave up your life; you sacrificed your dreams for your little brother! How heartrending! How positively heartbreaking!" Ivankov nearly bawled, he was touched to tears.
Marco had to admit, he had felt his heart go out to the two Admirals. They went into the marines, into something they hated, all for the sake of their little brother. So that he would have a chance, to be a pirate and fulfil his dreams.
Ace and Sabo gave Emporio Ivankov and Inazuma a sad smile. "Of course," Ace started. "Just because we went into the Marines, and we hated it, doesn't mean that we will just stand by and let people stomp all over us. We decided to work hard and rise up the ranks. Strong enough, and powerful enough, but not too high up. We didn't want to become a Vice-Admiral, as that's our Grandfather's position, and Vice-admirals have to answer directly to the Admirals. We hate the Admirals. Especially Akainu." Ace spat, "What's more, Vice-Admirals have to engage in a Buster Call if called upon. Like hell we are going to endanger any innocent lives like that."
Sabo nodded, "We are waiting for the right time, the most opportune time, and then," here, he smirked a sinister smile. "We will defect. We will leave the Marines and follow our dreams!"
Ace puffed his chest out, "Just you watch! It will be just as, no, even MORE epic than the stunt that X-Drake pulled when he defected!"
Everyone, even Jinbe, gave Sabo and Ace a small, albeit sad smile. Wanting to lighten up the mood a little, Marco piped up, "Well, all I got from that little story was that you are a real dirty little perv, Ace."
Ace whipped around, a blush on his cheeks, "Wha-?! Hey!"
That earned a few round of chuckling. Ace turned to his brother. "Saaabbboooo~" He whined. "Marco's being mean to meeee!"
"Even though it's true," Sabo said between his chuckles. Ace huffed and crossed his arms, "Yeah, well, it's only with you though. I'm not a perv to every person I meet."
Sabo ruffled Ace's hair, "Well of course not, because then I will have to smash your skull in, and gouge your eyes out, before I tear those people limb from limb."
The fact that all of that was said so casually, and even with a little smile, was enough to make a shiver run down Marco's spine, and for cold sweat to run down his forehead. It was truly terrifying, and Marco mentally noted, 'That's one dangerous kid. He will be a formidable opponent.'
Ace, for his part, simply snickered, "Just as I would have roasted those whom you looked at alive, or for even looking at you wrongly."
Sabo grinned and just hugged Ace while they burst out laughing.
Marco amended, 'Scratch that, they are both dangerous as hell, remind me to never get on their bad side. Wouldn't want them as the enemies.'
Having surely seen Marco's expression, Inazuma giggled, "There is a reason, that they are called the D. Brothers. Most people in Impel Down and even the Navy Headquarters are convinced the D. in their name stood for Demon. No one here, in the last one and a half years, has not not heard of the Demon Brothers."
Here, Crocodile spoke up suddenly, having been quiet for quite a while, "Those who have heard of them, get the misconception that they are demonic and would beg to be placed in anywhere but levels 5 and 6. Truth be told, they are only like that to those who…deserved it." Was there a shudder in that stoic voice?
Ivankov scoffed, "You would know, wouldn't you, Croco-boy? You had first-hand experience, after all. These two tore you a new one for all that you did to their younger brother. I have never seen you so afraid in your life."
Crocodile grumbled, refusing to comment any further.
Jinbe looked at the two brothers, "If you don't mind me asking, what were your and your brother's dreams?"
At this, Ace and Sabo's eyes lit up.
"Well," Sabo smiled wistfully. "Initially, when I had first started out, I had wanted to travel the seas as a pirate and document all my adventures. But now, getting to meet Iva-chan and Ina-chan, I realised what I had truly wanted to do. I wanted to change the world, ever since I was small. This reminded me of the time I had met a man in Goa Kingdom, whom I spoke briefly to; about the stink and heartlessness of nobles, and how I wanted to change it. He had saved me again, when my boat was shot down by the Celestial Dragon coming to Goa, and he had treated me for my wounds. He told me he was a revolutionary. So now, I want to become a revolutionary too."
Ivankov choked on his drink, "W-wait a minute! Are you saying, that you, you are the little blonde boy that Dragon saved from the ship explosion at Dawn Island?!"
Sabo smirked, "I was wondering when you would realise, Iva-chan!"
Ivankov could just splutter in surprise and shock.
Ace grinned, "My dream was, is, to become a great pirate, one who was known by everyone and anyone for who I am, and not who I'm the son of. I want everyone to know my name, know me for my strength and abilities, and not as his son! I will step out of his shadow, and be my own person, not as the devil spawn of that man!"
Marco was taken aback. Devil Spawn? Him? That man? What was Ace talking about?
In an attempt to divert the attention, Marco asked, "And what was your little brother's dream?"
Instantly, their grins widened. "Oh, that's an easy one…" they said together. Their synchrony was starting to creep Marco out a little.
"Luffy's dream is to become the Pirate King!"
Marco's eyes widened and he choked on his spit. "P-Pirate King?! What?!"
Ace and Sabo nodded, their eyes glittering with pride. Marco knew that was as far as he could go in expressing his shock and disbelief. Any further and he would probably on the receiving end of hell fire and adamantine claws cleaving through his body.
"Right now, he's making fantastic progress!" Sabo enthused. "He became one of the Supernovas, the Worst Generation, right?"
"The Worst Generation-yoi?!"
Ace nodded, "Yeah! You may have heard of him, he's Monkey D. Luffy!"
"WHAT?!" Marco was truly shocked.
The rest of the evening consisted of Ace and Sabo regaling Marco and Jinbe with feats that their little brother had done, both as a pirate, and when he had been little. The level of sheer stupidity and danger made it all seem like a tall-tale; if Marco didn't know Ds, and their tendency to get into every nigh type of trouble imaginable, he would have been inclined to think that it was all made up.
It got to the point where Marco felt as if he personally knew Luffy, from having heard about all the crazy shenanigans he could get involved in.
At one point, he had asked, "Does Luffy know that you two are in the marines?"
The backlash he got was nothing short of startling. "What?! NO! Of course not!" Ace had stated.
"If Lu had known we were in the Marines, he would have busted his way into Marine Headquarters to demand answers and to kidnap us out of there!" Sabo had cried.
Marco had no doubt the crazy little brother would be entirely capable of that.
The story telling of the precious little brother, lasted well into the evening and the night. Their dinner had been pretty entertaining, Marco almost choked on his food twice because of the sheer hilarity and ridiculousness of the stories told.
When it was time to settle in for the night, Marco's heart felt a little lightened from all the activities of the day. For a moment, he forgot about the execution looming above his head, and tomorrow would be the third day of his stay in Impel Down, upon which he sincerely hoped his family would be on time. He trusted Sabo to relay the message, and he could on hold on the hope that they were fast enough. For now, he could sleep in peace.
A sound in the middle of the night jarred him awake. Marco blearily looked up to see that the cell to Jinbe's right was being occupied.
Marco couldn't really make out the person blocked by the view of the Impel Down Wardens, but he caught a glimpse of red. His sleep addled mind didn't do much help.
Marco listened for a few more minutes as the lower guards taunted and jeered at the new comer. Marco thought little of it, and settled back down to sleep. As the Wardens turned to leave, they passed his cell and for no reason other than to torment the prisoners, they hit the seastone bars of the cell, causing the resounding clang to vibrate and echo throughout the silent hall.
Although he had jolted, and his sleep had been disturbed, Marco barely spared them a glance. He would not let them get under his skin, and he knew that if Ace and Sabo were here, there would be hell to pay for their treatment.
Marco drifted back to sleep, and was awoken by the sound of footsteps, made by well-worn boots, approaching his set of cells. Accompanying the footsteps were voices. Marco sat up on his cot and peered out of the bars, just as Ace and Sabo came into view, a steaming mug of coffee or tea grasped in their hands.
Sabo and Ace grinned at him. "Good morning, Marco-san. Hope you slept well, we were just doing an early morning round. Your breakfast will be brought to you in a couple hours."
"Thank you, Sabo-yoi."
Sabo nodded and turned with Ace to address Jinbe, when a gasp of shock flew from their mouths.
Marco watched as the mugs slipped from their slackened fingers to crash onto the ground, warm liquid spilling onto the floor. However, Ace and Sabo paid it no mind. They were frozen, their eyes trained onto the individual occupying the cell to Jinbe's right. Their eyes grew impossibly wider.
Jinbe was watching them with trepidation and was about to open his mouth to ask them if something was wrong, when a choked cry forced its way past their lips.
"LUFFY?!"
And done~~ I hope this is to your liking, and I know I ended on a cliffhanger, but...Muahahahaha! XP
