The Tides Can Always Turn on You

Chapter 4: Lunch time! (Updated)

All the update versions are courtesy of my beta, RedHoodsWife.

Luffy smiled at Hammock. She always gave him delicious food and she helped him rescue his big brother.

"Hammock!" He gave her a hug and she seemed to melt.

"Does this mean we're married now?" she asked.

He couldn't help laughing she was just so much fun. Luffy grabbed her hand and dragged her to where his big brother was picking his jaw off the ground. Did Ace like Hammock too?

He heard Sanji say she was the prettiest woman and all guys were in love with her. He didn't think that was true he didn't think pretty was anything to fall in love with. He preferred people who would be able to go adventure and fight against like his brothers or Sanji and Zoro. Zoro said something about what that meant he was but wasn't paying attention since he was trying to steal food from Sanji.

Either way he'd introduce the two. He didn't particularly want to share with his brother, but if it made Ace happy it didn't matter.

"This is my big brother Ace. He's super awesome." Ace scowled at the introduction but Hammock just smiled at his brother. "Nice to officially meet you future brother-in-law." Ace lit up like a candle, maybe he was embarrassed?

His brother did tend to display anger instead of unmanly emotions. Luffy thought he was being stupid. "I am not your brother-in-law nor will I ever be!"

Was Ace, what did Sanji call it? Jelly?Luffy's stomach growled again maybe he should ask banana-stache if he could have some food. He left those two to talk it over and grabbed at giant Oss-san's knee. "Hey banana jii-chan can I have some food?"

He heard the laughter as well as felt it shaking the deck. That was kind of cool. He'd have to get banana-stache to teach him that trick.

"Marco why don't you show your new sibling the galley?" Who is Marco? Wait, sibling? Did he have more brothers now?

Mango man was angry about something. "Pops you can't just adopt people without asking! We talked about this last time yoi!"

"But Marco..."

"No pops!"

"But I'm the captain!"

"And I said no yoi."

Giant jii-san pouted and slumped in his chair. "Well he's Ace's brother and Ace is my son so technically Ace already agreed for him."

That made sense to Luffy. If this was Ace's family then it was his family too. Plus he got a banana giant for a dad and a mango-pineapple person for a brother. Wait did that mean the person with guns was his sister? He figured he'd ask her since Ace and Boa were still flirting (arguing) and Mango, sorry Marco, was telling dad(?) why that wasn't how it worked. He wasn't getting food till they stopped so might as well go talk to the other siblings he was going to have, though Ace is still his special sake brother.

The lady was wearing a kimono was talking with a guy with a slightly less awesome mustache. He needed to have a crew member with a mustache like that.

"Hey lady what's your name? Are you my sister?" He tugged lightly on their sleeve to make sure he got their attention and wasn't seen as too rude.

The lady seemed confused while mini mustache started laughing. It seemed the lady understood something after the other started laughing. "I'm a man. My name is Izou, 16th division commander."

Luffy just blinked, was that what was funny? "Well you are very pretty Izou, much prettier than Dadan." Luffy still swore Dadan was a man if not now then at least at one point in time. Izou wasn't gross like that he was pretty like Makino.

Luffy found himself being hugged by the pretty man and picked up slightly. "Marco we are keeping him. He is adorable." This received some cursing from Mang-Marco. He needed to get that straight.

"Don't encourage pops yoi!"

"Don't curse in front of MY brother!" There was Ace's selective hearing at work.

Izou just ignored him and gave Luffy his full attention. "Was mean Marco suppose to take you to get food? How about Vista and I take you to the galley?" Luffy couldn't believe his luck the first person he went to was going to give him food.

He nodded enthusiastically and was lead by Izou to the stairs that descended below deck and to the rest of the ship.

They passed several doors and saw some weird looking people. There was this one guy who joined them who was huge and missing an arm and there was also a shark guy with an eight on his neck. The fish guy wasn't as cool as Jinbei though, speaking of which he'd have to ask dad (?)... He was just gonna call him dad or banana-stache now, if he had seen Jinbei.

Before he knew it they were at a set of double doors that had been left open for people to go in and out of while doing repairs. He was brought back to the conversation going on around him as he heard his brother's name.

"Wonder if the kid eats as much as Ace."

"No way. Look at him, he's tiny."

"Want to bet? 200 belli says at least fifty plates."

"You're on!"

Luffy refrained from laughing as Izou led him to the table and told him he could eat his fill. That decided it, he really liked these people they encouraged him to eat as much as he wants. Sanji got mad that he had to cook so much. The first plate they brought him had soup and little sandwiches.

"Can I have some meat too?" Izou told him no since they don't know when he last ate and he had to start off light. Luffy pouted but ultimately ate the sandwiches all at once and drank the soup quickly.

"Can I have more now?" He heard laughter and saw the shark guy pale,

"Can I change my bet?" Mini mustache got him a plate piled with meat but before it touched the table the meat was gone.

Several members began to get nervous. Ace ate a lot but never this quickly. Izou smiled and patted Luffy's head, "You and Ace would make Thatch overjoyed. He always loves a challenge." Luffy blinked. There was sadness in the pretty mans voice. He didn't like it, not when he heard from his nakama or even from strangers.

"Ne Izou, who is Thatch?" Izou smiled and gestured for another plate to be brought this one with fruits and vegetables. Unlike the first two plates, Luffy ate this plate slowly while listening as Izou explained the source of the sadness.

"Thatch is the fourth division commander and head cook here. A while back we had a crew member betray us. Thatch was injured and we still don't know if he'll ever completely recover. He hasn't woken up so we don't know what will happen. That's why we were so upset Ace ran off. We understand why, but we almost lost two family members because of that traitor. I'd prefer if we just let it go for now. Ace fell into a trap pursuing him and we need to figure out how to deal with the Yami Yami no mi before he hurts anyone else."

Luffy let out a growl and pulled his hat on to his head hiding his eyes. He knew exactly who they were talking about. He stood up and faced the four around him. "I swear I will take down Blackbeard. Betraying nakama is the worse thing a pirate can do and he doesn't even deserve to call himself one."

The four before him began to shake with a mixture of affection and fear, this kid was too cute for words but at the same time they feared the Second Division Commander's wrath. They of course would never let a kid fight Blackbeard, especially not one that had been declared their brother and the youngest.

They didn't even want Ace to go but he took off before anyone could stop him. Now his little brother wanted to take the traitor on? There was no way that was happening. They'd be speaking with Marco and Whitebeard. If there was one thing you learned quickly on the ship it was that nothing escaped those two.

Author notes:

Again haven't fully decided the pairing but this is not a Boa/Ace. Luffy for all his bravery is very situationally unaware. Ace is not happy with anyone marrying his baby brother.

Part of me is cringing at the sentences' wording and structure but I feel it's along Luffy's train of thought.

Also Marco is being the king of sass.

Luffy is okay with calling Whitebeard dad so quickly because a. Whitebeard is cool, b. He doesn't have to join, c. Ace already calls him Oyaji, d. He hasn't met his dad so he has no real attachment and e. He gets a huge family and won't be lonely, cause being alone hurts more than pain. So there are reasons. Luffy is a simple but loving kid/young adult I highly doubt he would turn down a huge family and a reason to see his brother more.

Whitebeard's dream isn't one piece anyway and being the guy he is he would rather see a son of his achieve it. Whitebeard's dream is family so I see no real conflict.

We learned about Thatch, yay! I have plans for him also brownie points for those who noticed when I mentioned him earlier in the story and know who the other three with Luffy are. Also we find out why Hancock stopped by next chapter and get to see Marco be a mother hen.

Reviews:

Pokipo: Well you always have to get in good with the in-laws however Ace is not of the same mindset. No one will ever be good enough for his brother.

Jui-Imouto-Chan: All in due time. Trust me it's coming. Ace hasn't even begun to think of the stuff Garp told him.

Mandyne: Thank you so much for the compliment I'm glad you enjoy reading the story. I'm still getting Luffy acquainted with the Whitebeard family more rather than overload with introducing them all.

OnePieceDoesExist: Glad you enjoy it. Also is your username a reference to the treasure of Oliver Levasseur?

Otter: I don't know if you'll see this as easily but I did read your comments for all three chapters. I am so happy this story has made you laugh and has given you the 'feels' sorry this chapter doesn't have as much Ace and Marco but I felt Luffy had not been given his proper time in the spotlight. Law will be coming into the story in a few chapters(possibly sooner than you think) as I feel his alliance with the Strawhats kind of made them both into the lovable characters they are today. Also as for the wanted posters, part of it is on purpose(don't want pervs to see his cute brother) but also because as Marco said Ace needs to learn to share. I hope this new chapter makes you laugh a little but also get some feels.

Sorry it's late in the day but I'm a mess and ended up twisting my ankle so everything my family asks me to do has taken longer than normal.