Soo... It was supposed to get published long time ago but... Endgame happened.
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Betaread by ReadingAtTheSpeedOfLight o/
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Edward Newgate was old.
That was a fact.
And in all the years of his long life, he wanted only one thing. Family.
Even before setting out onto the Seas, as a little boy, living on the Sphynx Island, he often watched the full families with envy… Sometimes incomprehension… (Why didn't he have one? He wanted one!)
He promised himself that one day he'll have it.
A Family to call his own.
It took years of sailing. Years of getting experience and recognition as a pirate. Years of being laughed at. Being lectured about how as a pirate he was supposed to yearn for treasure. Years of learning how to use his Devil Fruit…
But he started it. His Family.
With that little, unhealthily thin boy, he found on one of many devoid of human lives islands on Grand Line.
Landing there, there were only those humandrils attacking him right out of the bat. Or so he thought till his Haki pinged at the Presence of the little boy watching in wordless awe. Little boy, who ran away the moment Edward suggested sharing the humandril's food.
The boy came back to watch him take down humandrils next day as well.
And the next after that.
And another…
Every time hidden in different places.
Every time running away when Edward tried to share the food with him.
Until one day he stayed.
Marco as the boy was called was the first one to join his family, but was far from the last one to do so.
Soon the others followed. Young, old, humans or not, pirates or those who were civilians… Those who went willingly or those that needed some persuasion… They were all children of the Sea. His children.
But still, Marco was the first one. Maybe not favourite child, since a father couldn't have favourites, but… The one Edward was willing to lean on a bit. The one he could always count on. The oldest brother to the rest of the brats running around on his ship.
So of course Edward noticed when Marco stopped aging soon after reaching his mid-twenties. He noticed when Marco started to go with his looks more towards 'rugged' to fool the world and more importantly himself that he's still aging. That his Devil Fruit has not altered him on such deep level. He also remembered the break down his eldest had when confronted about it by some of his… less tactful children.
Watching Marco breaking, broke his own heart.
So when one day his brats showed him bounty poster of 'Immortal Skull' with the girl pulling off sword from her stomach, he was intrigued. Yes, the fact that little rookie and her crew raided G-8 marine base was a pretty little bonus, but the adjective 'Immortal' and the poster were the things that actually grabbed his attention. And from the way Thatch, Izou and few other busybodies on board tried to pester Marco about the girl later, it wasn't only his attention she managed to get.
Maybe that'd be someone who'd stay with Marco?
Even when the rest of them will go to the Davy Jones' Locker.
As the time went he was learning more and more about the girl and her captain. Even from those little scraps of information Marine approved newspapers (and those few that were available only on Black Market) would have, he was able to see a picture, he's seen countless times. With every brat joining his family.
Fire Fist as Marines called him was, according to all the information and posters, sad boy in need of family. Brave to the point of being suicidal. Free with his emotions, if the rumours about his tempers were true. True with his feelings and loyal to a fault. Ambitious to the point of stupidity, as him challenging Edward himself proven, but… Above all of that, he wanted to be free. And Edward would be more than happy to help him have that freedom. Under his flag of course.
The girl was important as well, but somewhere along the little rookies journey down the Grand Line, Edward stopped looking at the Spade Pirates as 'that girl that could match Marco and her current crew' and more like 'his future children'.
…
When people look at Edward they almost never see what the title of The Strongest Man in the World hides. They see his strength, his Devil Fruit, his Conqueror's Haki… Not many people knew this but Edward's true strength has always laid in Observation, for all that he made sure to not use the skill on his children. Yes, his punch was enough break skulls even before he ate his Devil Fruit, but his Observation skill was only a tiny bit worse than Roger's. And his old rival was able to hear from rocks!
So when they moored Moby Dick near the Eden Island to meet the Rookies who had the guts to declare going after his head, he knew that Jinbe met and fought with them even before setting a foot on the island.
He knew that the Rookie that was going to be his newest son was too tired to be even a shade of a challenge, but still too stubborn to simply let him do as he pleased. Good. True Child of the Sea, that one.
He also knew that the girl, it all started from, knew that he knew and was positively incensed at him. His Observation didn't found her to be a danger though. Her Haki while with some serious potential was still untrained, she had no visible weapons on herself and there was an echo of being just done in her Soul. And yet he knew that the girl would be loyal, possessive and protective of what's hers.
The fact that she tried to steer the things enough for her to take her captain's place was by no means surprise.
When her fire using captain let her to take his place, Edward considered disagreeing on the principle, but first mate against first mate was seemingly fair enough for them to not try to wriggle out of the situation and still obvious in the result. Marco grew up from that snot nosed brat he found among humandrils. He became one of Terrors of The Seas, one of 15 strongest people in existence. Throwing him against a rookie should end situation quickly.
Even if the rookie had one fascinating power, allowing her to shield the other rookies from his Conqueror.
In no situation should rookie not only be able to draw the fight for few days, nevermind win that fight. Even if it took shameful amount of time for Edward to reconcile what his Observation was telling him and what his eyes were seeing.
That was another thing. Clamping down on their Haki was incredibly hard to learn and from the way the girl was using her Haki it was not something she had the finesse to do.
How was she able to fluctuate it so much, then?
…
Nevertheless the girl won. He had to let them go.
Even if Marco's smitten expression was another reason to adopt the Spades.
They wanted to run? He could chase them down, it wasn't the first time, he had to prove himself to convince one of his brats to accept him as parent.
And so chase they gave.
To the rather obvious glee of Haruta and Thatch, a bit less obvious giddiness of his eldest and clear trepidation of Izou. They gave chase after the rookies and found out few things.
One, the rumours were true and those brats did have obedient Kraken. Honestly, of all the rumours circulating about Spade Pirates, that one was what Edward considered 'false for sure'. After all the Krakens live in North Blue and the brat crew was from the East Blue.
Two, little brats had to have excellent navigator to be able to be so creative with their course. More than few times they evaded his children by ignoring where the log pose should point them in and disappearing off the grid between the islands. Few times he managed to sense them with his Observation, only for his children to not be able to find them on the island. Squardo even swore that he's seen Piece of Spadille being carried by tentacles in the air above the reefs that stopped his own ship.
Three, his eldest has been truly smitten if the way he started working himself and his division, after a throwaway comment from a nurse, was any indication. Edward would probably make a mistake of thinking spite was his motivator if he didn't see the expression Marco had after yielding to the girl. Ah… Young love…
Four, for all the bravado Spades' first mate was the stronger one between her and her captain. But that might be just his impression with how tricky the girl's strength was to estimate. Nevertheless the boy captain was caught in a state the girl couldn't call 'unfit', tried to fight him and lost terribly. And then she exploded. Edward was able to finally subdue her, but… It has been a while since he last needed medical attention after a skirmish.
Five, said captain was stubborn and really deserved a father. When Edward made his proposition to the boy there was a myriad of emotions. Shock, hope, anger… He didn't know what kind of homelife the brat had, but no one should react like that. And the multiple attempts on his head were just a proof of how badly the boy needed parental authority. No matter how much that crew of brats tried.
Six, the girl's protectiveness was second only to her loyalty. For all that she chaffed and raged against staying on Moby Dick, she was determined to endure until that brat of her captain got bored of trying to take Edward's head. One way or another… So for all that many of his children were landing in water more often than usual and that Moby Dick had the be fixed incredibly often, even for New World standards, he was content enough to let her be. The brats will need those lessons once the Spades stopped being stubborn and took his flag anyway.
Seven, there had to be something inhuman in that girl. Her emotions to his senses were… clouded, so to speak. Oh, her anger was displayed clearly and proudly, the same with all the fluff when drifting aboard that ship of theirs. But others? There had to be a key of sorts, since the Spade brats seemed to have her moods in hand, but for the rest of his children?
Well, the knives were pretty clear sign to stay away.
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It took three months, over 100 assassination attempts by the fire brat, and tripled budget for fixing Moby before the boy finally broke and came to talk. Granted, the fact that they managed to ease the Spades into the fold probably helped. Slowly, they were eased into learning from his children, doing chores on board of his ship and even sometimes taking meals with them in the mess. The fact that for all the violent rebuffals Marco has finally started to win Skull over seemed to be the last straw on boy's determination to hate them all.
When the boy asked his question, with shame written across his too-young-to-deal-with-that-hate face… That was the first time Edward has ever felt such anger towards his old rival. Bringing child into this world and then leaving them vulnerable to the world's hate, for all their identity at least seemed to be protected, was the height of irresponsibility. And Edward said it from the place of a person able to punch all the problems away… That wasn't something to be resolved by simple strength. So he gave the boy the biggest gift he could at that moment and said the words that he should have heard a lot sooner. The words he probably heard many times if he didn't completely misjudged that little crew of his.
"It doesn't matter who you were before, we're all Children of the Sea"
...
For all that Edward believed the snot nosed brat he brought onto his ship ignored everything he said to him, especially the bit about becoming his son and carrying his name, he was proved wrong. The next morning after their conversation, all of the brats joined the family in the mess hall. With their boy-captain leading them with his sign tattooed on his back.
At that he could only laugh in joy.
"Gurarara! Welcome to the family Son." Then for the other important question, he turned to the duo flanking his newest child "And you, brats?"
The masked brat hesitated before inclining his head to the girl standing on Ace's other side.
The girl, who had her head cocked and was watching him judgmentally.
"I still don't like you." She announced and at that… Edward had to smirk. Because there was a but in there. He knew it even before she opened her mouth again. "But Spades are mine." The slip of a girl announced with a growl, before dipping her head the tiniest bit and admitting "With time Whitebeards might become mine as well"
Something told him that was the best he'd get at the moment but… He was Whitebeard! He was not scared of a bratling, new to his ship!
"Yours, bratling?"
"Mine!" She bared her teeth, something vaguely threatening hung in the air… Ace reacted before anything could happen though and touched her elbow, bringing attention to himself. Something had to be passed between them through eye contact, since she relaxed into his touch and that strange something subsided.
This time it was his eldest that tensed…
"Want us to deal with the situation?" Ace asked quietly enough only for Edward and few of his closest children to hear. The girl didn't answer right away, thinking it over and then grimacing.
"Mhmm… To the Yon… Captain Whitebeard and his Commanders."
"We'll warn the rest of them" Masked brat… Deuce, wasn't it? Suggested, getting grateful smile in response.
"Thank you dear"
The girl, his new daughter, even if quite spiky, stalked her way out of the mess and as she was leaving, the Spades straightened under the combined gaze of the Whitebeards in the room. Like she was their security blanket.
She probably was.
"Soo…" Ace started sheepishly, one hand behind his head. "It's probably something we'd better discuss in smaller circle. Though I'll warn general audience that because of her power, Skull is really not a people person." And well, that was not the stranger way one's Fruit could change a person. Atmos became a lot more stubborn after eating his own. So becoming 'not a people person'? Not even really strange. Though there were things they needed to know.
And not wanting to talk about that in front of the entire crew? Fair enough.
They will learn to trust their new family soon.
They will discuss what was needed, first though…
"Welcome our new family members!" He boomed, raising the cup, prompting all of his children to join him.
"Cheers!"
He waited for the welcoming toast to end and only then he moved to wave the rest of his children away, leaving only Division Commanders, fire brat and the masked brat in the hall.
It was time to get some questions answered, wasn't it?
"You said 'her power' makes her 'not a people person'..." Luckily it seemed like the hours Izou wasted with Devil Fruit Encyclopedia in hand saved him from showing that kind of nosiness… After all outright asking about one's Fruit was incredibly rude. "What kind of Fruit is that?"
"It's… not really a Fruit?" Ace hedged, looking hesitant to even bring it up. "The same… mutation she has, caused people to be hunted and broken across the ages so she's trying to keep the exact information under wraps." There was a wordless threat in there, but… Edward didn't care about the boy being Roger's son, why would he care about some kind of mutation?
Even if he was fairly sure his newest children were not telling full truth… but that was alright, there was time for the girl to learn to trust in him and tell that truth herself.
He had time.
"I see." Izou, possibly his nosiest son answered flatly, visibly displeased. Even if he did know better than to try and dig around for someone's secrets. They all remembered the absolute mess him sticking his nose into Shakky's business led to. She and Rayleigh, were still refusing to do any business with his family and Shakky herself was more than simply happy to spread all kind of rumours about him and his.
It didn't matter what she was implying, he knew all those rumours were her fault!
"Not a people person, yoi?" Marco saved them from the effects of Izou's prodding and the no doubt creative if not outright violent retaliation from the brats. From the way Edwards already muffled Observation was still able to pick up on his curiosity, he wouldn't be surprised if his eldest brat would try and pump his newest siblings for information. From the faces of the rest of his brats he wouldn't be the only one. Especially for the information on how to coexist with her peacefully.
"She's perfectly social with those classified as hers" Ace stopped hedging and declared defensively, squaring his shoulders and raising chin defiantly. Was he taking their questioning as 'possible clue' of them not being able to accept his own parentage? Silly brat.
"I still wouldn't try to manhandle her like Cap… Like Ace is doing though" Masked Deuce cut in with a sharp, sharp smirk, making the leader of his new children wince.
"She promised to try so she won't probably even break bones anymore but don't crowd her. Really"
"Crowd?" That… Was rather specific term to use. How much is a crowd for Spades then? Or was it just that girl? With the crew indulging her terminology?
"She can be perfectly sociable with 3… maybe 4 people at once" Ace shrugged, smirking like insolent brat he was. Brat knew, his children were interested in that girl, probably even knew why, and was determined to not make it easy. Very well. They can take hard way.
"If they're capable fighters, don't try to get into her personal space and don't chatter her ears off" Masked-brat rattled off, with an air of amusement so palpable, Edward didn't need to deploy his Observation to notice it. And neither did his children, if the boys' bristling was any clue.
So many years and they still didn't learn how to tune out insolence…
"How the hell did you live on the same ship then?" Or how to mask their feelings as Curiel just proved. Brats… All of them.
His brats.
His newest brats looked at one of the best gunners on Grand Line as if he was an idiot. (Look often leveled on him by Marco… It's so nice to see they have so much in common already)
"We're Crew." Ace explained… the 'duh' at the end not said, but heard loud and clear… He even folded his arms together. "We're hers. And when it gets too much for her, there are spaces prepared where she can have peace while still keeping an eye on everything"
"Keeping an eye, yoi?" Marco raised his eyebrow with the expression, Edward has seen all of his children folding when confronted with. And the new brats weren't much different.
"She's protective" Deuce smirked looking pointedly at those of his Commanders that landed themselves in the water by Skull-service. His brats started muttering some rather unflattering things about overprotectiveness, which brought out sharp smiles from the ex-Spade brats.
"Gurarara" It was always so nice knowing that the brats could go along so nicely "What kind of warnings did you have in mind brats?" It seemed like this time it was their turn to bend for comfort of one of theirs, rather than to get them to bend to the family.
"The Rules of Spade Pirates are the simple things we worked out together as to make sure there would not be a lot of involuntary swims and keep us all comfortable" Ace send them all fanged grin. And then the two Spades in the room started rattling out their Rules.
"Don't crowd!"
"Protect Pack!"
"Respect Territory!"
"Protect Territory"
Those were some… broad terms if the 'crowding' was to be of any indication…
"Territory?" Was that literal?
"Our private cabins. Piece of Spadille. Crew" Ace's grin become wider with every example of what a 'territory' meant for the youngster crew. "You do remember her reaction to you trying to hurt our ship, right?"
…
Yes. Yes he did.
"I see." There really wasn't a reason to gloat at that… miscalculation on his children part…
Masked-brat suddenly narrowed his eyes at them and after getting prompted by his raised eyebrow, warned them gravely.
"Do not presume you have the right to her time or skills. You want her to do something? Ask. And ask nicely"
"Everyone does chores, yoi" Marco immediately opposed. With the same finality he has used for all those years to cow the newer members of family. There was always someone who tried to get out of doing their part on the ship.
"She will do her part of them." Ace rolled his eyes and turned straight towards his new eldest brother… Insolent little bratling. "She's not going to be happy if you just assign her something without consulting it with her though. Or at least confirming she can deal with those assigned to the same chore. Not in a crew she has been looking like at the opponents even yesterday"
"Really not a people person, huh?" Izou mused aloud before Marco managed to say something that would end up annoying ex-Spade brats. And in turn annoy the one he was trying to woo… More or less successfully.
His oldest child has long forgotten how to talk with others without instinctively taking on position of First Mate of Whitebeard Pirates. From what the brats said… Or rather haven't say about the girl… He'll need to relearn it.
Quickly.
"No, she's really not." Ace deadpanned again… Huh, he should fit with second division. Zych would delight in getting someone with similar sense of humour. Something to think about. "Speaking about… For fucks sake Phoenix stop making eyes to her and prove that you're strong enough to be worth her time"
Uh-oh…
"What is that supposed to mean, yoi?" And of course Marco stepped up to the challenge… Brat.
"Exactly what I said." Fiery bratling snorted. "Watching you try the same approach and fail spectacularly once again is pretty painful"
Well… He's not wrong.
"And what should I try then, yoi?"
"Stop backing down for her." Little logia rolled his eyes. Gutsy "Think of her as of a large predator. A tiger maybe… Or a panther. Anyway, she's not impressed because you're pretty, really."
Impressed?
That was the girl being impressed?
…
Women…
"Is she impressed?" Trust Thatch to ask important questions… Especially when women are concerned.
Poor Thatch doesn't have a lot of luck with prettier part of the world.
"She did start paying any kind of attention to the bird-brain after he killed that Sea King, didn't she?" Ace snarked again.
Fair. That was pretty impressive kill.
Pretty heroic too. The Sea King was almost Neptunian in size. And Marco has killed it alone. Few times barely escaping being dragged under the surface.
He was so proud of his boy then.
"Well… If you call that 'paying attention'…" Thatch could be sceptical all he wanted. But she has paid more attention to his eldest since then.
Not like she was ignoring him after that spar of theirs but… The edge of dismissiveness slowly disappeared after that kill. From what he's noticed while on board she was… not attentive per se, but at least aware of Marco's movements. Just as she was always aware of Edward's own position.
Just less twitchy.
Much less twitchy.
"I see, yoi."
Now his eldest became determined… Seas save us all.
"And the kraken?" He rumbled curious. Izou was muttering and squeaking (very manly squeaks of course) about the kraken obeying the Spades for long enough… He had to know about it, even if he wouldn't be able to sense the Creature keeping close to the Spade's ship.
"Oodako is Skull's familiar." Deuce shrugged disinterested. "He's is generally as obedient as she is. If you want him to do something. Go to Skull."
She trained them good.
"I see…" He narrowed his eyes a bit before deciding to leave it for later. Getting the girl to at least cooperate if not obey will be task for years anyway. Probably as long and tedious as getting Namur to trust his family, what with the way most humans treat fishmen, or Thatch to believe he will not get kicked out for 'misbehaving'... "Come to the Commanders meeting in the afternoon, we'll need to distribute you between divisions"
"Oh! Speaking about. Keep us close to her for a while? Skull is highly territorial. But we'll also be able to smooth along any problems she might have."
That is something to take into consideration that's for sure.
"We'll see."