Chapter 6
"Here Ace." Koala smiled at him, setting down a few plates of precious food. "Sabo is just about done with his meeting."
Ace bowed his head. "Thank you very much Koala."
Koala rolled her eyes. "There's no need to be so polite with me. I'm pretty much your sister-in-law remember?"
Koala waved the pretty gold ring on her finger in front of his face, making him instantly beam.
"You two picked a date for the wedding yet?"
Koala huffed. "Dragon-san has been keeping Sabo rather busy recently so not just yet. At this rate I'm going to kidnap my fiancé and elope somewhere."
"You have to make sure to invite me! I already have best man speeches prepared!"
"How much are you going to mock him?" She asked knowingly.
"Oh big time." Ace grinned, wincing when he received a smack to the back of his head, Sabo shaking his head.
"Don't even think about it." Sabo smirked as he sat down. "Been a busy shift Koala?"
"I'm stuck here because Bartolomew decided to take the day off to stalk Luffy again, either that or he's at the tattoo shop working." Koala grumbled. "The staff here suck, Sabo hurry up and give me your family fortune or something."
Sabo chuckled. "And this is why she's marrying me. Family wealth."
"Exactly." Koala winked, leaning over to kiss his cheek, making Ace grin at the fondness the pair shared with one another. "Anyway, you two take your time and talk. You should have some privacy here in the back of the bar."
They both thanked her as she left them, heading further into the front half of the bar where a few rowdy men were starting to brawl, only for Koala to kick both their asses out of the bar. Ace chuckled at the sight while Sabo sighed.
"You would think that people would learn by now." Sabo shook his head before sighing and eyeing him. "I heard what happened with Thatch and how you got overwhelmed by some Lords a few days ago."
"Sabo-" Ace tried to speak up, not too sure what to say but he needed to make sure his little brother wasn't worried about him.
Sabo cut him off. "I haven't found out anything about Thatch's murder."
Ace frowned. "You've been investigating? Sabo you have more important things to do-"
The blonde instantly glared at him. "I'm making sure you stay safe Ace. You're my big brother and I'm not going to let someone hurt you. This could have easily been an attack on you because of your bloodline-"
"D-Do you really think someone killed Thatch b-because of me?" Ace asked hesitantly, worried that it had been his fault.
They could have been trying to find him and when they couldn't took out their anger on Thatch. This could all be his fault, all because he was letting Pops hide him-
"D-Did I get him killed?"
He jumped when Sabo slammed his fist on the table, scowling at him. "No. Even if they were after you this isn't your fault. So stop it. I won't let you keep doing this to yourself."
Ace flinched. He had promised years ago that he would try to stop but so many things always went wrong and they always seemed to lead back to him.
He only sighed. "I'm sorry."
Sabo glared at him even more firmly before he finally let up, instead drinking the soup that was still on the table. "Anyway, I did find out who our 'Human Lord' is."
"Already?" Ace snorted, digging into a plate of pasta. "That was fast."
"You already know him." Sabo's face curled. "That jerk who causes a lot of trouble. Eustass Kid."
Ace huffed. "You've never liked him- Wait he's the Human Lord?!"
"Yes." Sabo nodded. "You need to be careful. He lives right across the hallway from you. I'm going to have a lot of blood on my hands if he tries to go after you."
Ace frowned. "Y'know you really don't have to kill people to protect me. I'm fine, I can protect myself-"
"I don't care. I'll kill anyone who goes after you or Luffy."
"Possessive as ever." Koala chortled as she laid down another set of dishes, glowering at Sabo. "You're paying for this by the way darling."
Sabo instantly choked on his food at that.
"Ace." Koala called to him. "Don't even think about paying anything. Sabo will get it all."
Ace shifted, uncomfortable at the thought. "But-"
He tensed when Koala pinched his ear. "Sabo will pay for it. Got it?"
He nearly laughed at the sight of a panicked Sabo nodding his head rapidly but Ace grimaced as his ear was twisted.
"Yup! Sabo's paying! Got it!" Ace yelped, covering his ear once it was released from Koala's claws.
"Good boy." Koala smirked as she walked off again.
Ace wearily watched her leave as Sabo grumbled out something as he munched on the food again. Ace was about to join in when he remembered that recent conversation he had with Teach, and the uncomfortable feeling that had been lingering within him had returned.
"Sabo there's something I needed to talk to you about now that I think about it." Ace said, gaining his little brother's attention.
"What's up?" Sabo tilted his head as he gulped down the noodles of his next dish.
It smelled kinda spicy.
"Teach and I had a strange conversation the day after Thatch was put into hospital." He couldn't even say 'dead'. Dammit. "He wants to go off on his own and form a clan but he's not a Lord and he invited me along, wanting to find One Piece with me as apart of his clan. He also admitted to me that he knows about me."
Sabo's eyes immediately darkened at that. "Excuse me?"
"He knows what I am." Ace insisted, clutching his fork tighter in fear. "He told me that Pops and Marco told him but it didn't feel right. He said they told him to give me extra protection but wouldn't they have told me?"
"Ace have you asked them yet? To confirm that they really did tell him?"
Ace shifted nervously. "They've been busy with the funeral preparations and trying to find out what happened-"
"Ace. Call them. Now." Sabo ordered, his eyes darkening even further, looking borderline killer which nearly made Ace flinch.
He brought out his mobile instead but Sabo shook his head, smacking the phone away. "Jeez Ace, what's up with that old thing? Screw it, we're using mine. Better security anyway."
Sabo looked beyond pissed as his mobile rang until Marco picked up, voice suspicious. "Hello? Who is this yoi?"
"This is Sabo, Ace's brother." Sabo told them immediately. "I've got Ace with me and he just told me something interesting. Is Whitebeard there? I need you both to hear this and tell us what the hell is going on."
"Hey Marco." Ace greeted softly, a bit weary at Sabo's tone.
"Ace? You okay little brother?"
"I'm okay. Really. Is Pops there?"
"Give me a second and I'll get him." Marco said, they could hear him walking for a minute before knocking on a door, calling out to Whitebeard who answered back before they quietly spoke to one another.
Finally a beeping was heard, Pops greeting them warmly.
"Are you okay son? Marco told me that you and your brother needed to confirm something with us?" Pops asked, his voice soothing his nerves instantly.
He loved that about his father. Pops was always so relaxed and calm and it always helped Ace settle whenever he was wound up.
"Did you tell Marshall D. Teach about Ace's heritage?" Sabo demanded, no explanation whatsoever, his voice filled with cold fury.
"What? No! Of course not!" Marco's alarmed denial came through, making Ace's dread hit him full force. "Well at least I didn't..."
"I didn't either. Did Teach say something strange during your chat Ace?"
Ace paled, nearly wavering in his seat, all he could hear was his grandfather telling him nobody could ever know and oh God Teach knew and nobody he trusted had told him. "H-He told me that he knew about me. That you two told him to have him keep me safe?"
"Marco. Find Teach now and bring him to me." Pops ordered, his voice cold as Marco agreed, footsteps rushing out the room they were in. "Son, what did you two talk about?"
His voice was back to warm instantly.
"He was acting strange? He told me he wanted to go his own way and form his own 'clan' but he's not a Lord." Ace said, baffled. "He wanted me to join his clan and then admitted to me that he knew about my heritage. Teach also said he wanted to find One Piece and destroy it, to end the games forever."
Sabo stiffened in his seat as Pops spoke up again, sounding tense. "He wanted you to go with him?"
"I thought he was just acting rash because Thatch had just..." Ace flinched. "Had just died... I told him that too and he just seemed to laugh it off a bit and agreed?"
"Pops. Nobody has seen Teach since this morning." Marco's voice was back and Sabo instantly tensed at his side, glowering at his mobile as if it just insulted him.
"Have Izo check surveillance."
"I already did. Pops... I-It's blank again... Just like on the night Thatch was attacked..." Marco's voice shook with anger and Ace tensed, gripping the table.
"Send out word now. Have everyone look out for Teach." Pops ordered immediately. "Ace, son. I need you to stay with your brother for now. Vista is going to head out and pick up up and bring you home."
Ace flinched. "Pops-"
"Don't argue son. You are not to go out looking for Teach. Stay with your brother."
"Don't worry. I'll keep him with me." Sabo reassured, his eyes still dark.
"Thank you Sabo. Ace I'll see you soon."
"...Right..." Ace said reluctantly, earning a hush from his father.
"Don't be upset. We'll find him and get some answers. We still don't know exactly what is going on after all." Pops tried to sooth him. "Thank you for coming to me with this Ace."
Sabo smiled at him at that, though his eyes still remained dark.
"Thanks for listening Pops. I know you're busy."
"I'm never too busy for any of my sons." Pops reassured. "Now, I'll see you when you get home. Vista will come and get you."
"Yeah, I'll be home soon Pops." Ace murmured, feeling frustrated at the situation.
"Goodbye." Sabo ended the call, beckoning Koala over. "Koala, I need people looking out for Marshall D. Teach."
"Sabo it's fine-"
"He's a danger to you. It's not fine. I also want Monkey D. Garp informed of the development. I'll be meeting up with Luffy, he should still be in his hideout with the others." Sabo said firmly, reaching over to grip Ace's shoulder who groaned, the sudden urge to bang his head on the table flicking to life.
"I'm not helpless y'know right?"
"Ace we're not letting you do anything reckless. You're going to stay at Whitebeard's tonight and the rest of us are going to get some information. If I have to I will find and interrogate Teach myself."
Koala tensed. "That could get ugly. Whitebeard will surely want him back."
"I can give him back piece by piece if he wants." Sabo growled. "He knows about Ace-"
"I know Ace has a big secret but is it really that bad that he knows?" Koala asked, looking concerned. "Is this secret going to get you hurt or killed Ace?"
"It might if the wrong people find out." Sabo insisted.
"You are too overprotective." Ace grumbled.
"You may not remember but Luffy and I refuse to lose you again." Sabo sighed, earning an even more confused noise from Koala. "Koala, go please? I need those orders given out immediately."
"Right." Koala nodded, turning away and rushing off into the back of the bar.
"I... You guys said something about a Marineford right?"
Sabo shook his head, eyes softening. "We're not talking about it Ace. You died in front of a lot of your friends and family, okay most of them don't remember but Marco, Whitebeard they all do because of how close they were-"
"And Luffy..." Ace murmured, rubbing his arm nervously. "H-He has nightmares sometimes-"
"Ace stop. Hush now. Just let us look after you okay?"
"I... I just wish I could remember all of you..."
"I know." Sabo sighed. "I'm sorry Ace but we both know you'll never get to keep your memories."
Vault Keepers were oddities within the world. They weren't pawns or Lords so they didn't get to keep their memories as their souls moved on. They were treated as normal 'non-players' in that regard, yet they had such a heavy burden within the game. They were the only ones able to unlock 'One Piece'. Loved ones who were apart of the game and were very close to Vault Keepers always seemed to remember them for some reason.
Luffy, Sabo, Marco, Thatch and Whitebeard. They were the only ones who remembered him from before this 'round' of the game. They were apparently his 'most important people' to him and they must have felt the same way about him.
Only those who truly loved him and those he truly loved back would remember him. Garp had been the one to explain that to him, because he liked to coax information out of Ace's fellow Vault Keepers. He even apologised for not remembering him but Garp wasn't even apart of the 'game'. There was no way he would ever remember.
Sabo glanced at his phone when it beeped, making him nod. "Vista's arrived. Come on, let's get you out of here."
"If you hear anything let me know?" Ace asked as he followed his little brother out.
Sabo nodded as they approached Vista's car who waved at them. "Stay safe Ace."
Ace snorted. "How can I not? You guys won't let me do anything."
"Just until we hear more about the situation. It's dangerous-"
"I know. I know." Ace grumbled, he was sick and tired of hearing how 'dangerous' it was.
He bloody knew how dangerous it was. His mother was tortured to death because the wrong people had found out that she was a Vault Keeper. He knew but he hated feeling so helpless.
He hadn't wanted to burden Sabo with anything else yet now his little brother was taking a full on investigation. It was frustrating.
It made him feel ashamed as the oldest. Wasn't he meant to be protecting them?
"You know none of this counts as a healthy diet right?" Law pointed out, he was eating out of a chinese box, probably some sort of stir fry while Kid munched on his chips as they all sat down at the park.
Bonney and the brat Shachi had instantly claimed the swings, Bonney with about twenty boxes of empty food surrounding her while Shachi sniggered. "Yeah but at least there's plenty of it to feed Bonney."
"And I'm still hungry!" Bonney cursed, mouthful of pizza, making Law grimace as bit's of food came flying out. "Jeez, I could have eaten more at work. The tattoo shop's been dead. I've got Bartolomew to cover the day so we could help the moron over there figure things out."
"What was that you witch?" Kid sneered.
"What you going deaf two?" Bonney smirked.
"Enough. We're here to talk. Not bicker." Jean-Bart interrupted coldly, startling them.
"Agreed. First things first we should talk about our clan's main enemy out of all of the Lords." Killer spoke up, his voice as calm and settled as ever, nearly making Kid glower.
"Doflamingo right? The Dragon bastard."
Law nodded. "Him and Cora-san are both Dragon Lords but somehow Doflamingo has made Uncle Cora obedient to him, even though Uncle Cora in the one who rescued me from my father."
"So what exactly happened Law? Why isn't this Cora guy here with us?" Kid asked, because that did seem odd.
Why was he with Doflamingo now if he took Law away from the bastard in the first place?
"Uncle Cora and I lived together peacefully for a time but one day Doflamingo found us. I managed to escape, barely but Uncle Cora stayed behind to distract them, even when I begged him not to. Vergo chased me that night and I nearly got hit by a bloody car when running from him-"
Shachi laughed nervously. "By 'bloody car' he means mine."
"This one had stolen his dad's car for a test drive." Penguin grumbled. "And took me with him and nearly ran Law over."
"And then we saw how Law was trying to run away from this scary looking dude and took him with us!" Shachi cheered.
"And then Shachi crashed the car and abandoned it." Law sighed.
"And ever since then we've been running from Shachi's dad." Penguin sniggered.
"Wait, if you're Cerberus, whose your dad?" Kid found himself asking.
"Well my Dad is one of the deadly seven sins." Shachi explained. "He gets pissed off easily-"
"Wrath?" Bonney smirked.
"Yeah and he was really pissed the day he found out I crashed his car and kidnapped someone."
"So you've been kidnapped twice now Law?" Kid smirked.
"To be fair, I was happy for Shachi and Penguin to kidnap me and then we found out that we all knew each other because of Cora-san."
"Shachi, Bepo, Jean-Bart and I used to be his pawns once upon a time but for some reason we joined you instead." Penguin smirked. "I blame Law."
"You didn't have to follow me."
"We'll follow you anywhere you go Captain." Shachi chirped, Bepo grinning while Jean-Bart nodded.
"I like how none of you arseholes are here for me." Kid grunted, shaking his head. "Anyway, you were telling me about the Doflamingo clan? They are our biggest enemy?"
"We've had a rivalry with them ever since Law and the rest of his group joined our clan." Killer said. "It got even worse once they had somehow found out that you two were in a relationship."
Kid groaned. "God the Dragon bastard is just a jealous old man ain't he?"
"That about sums it up." Law agreed.
"Okay, you're gonna gimme the details right? Because you guys hate it when I try dive in." Kid mocked, smirking at the stern looks he got in return.
"He has many pawns and allies. We need to be careful." Killer advised. "Firstly, he has four executives, not including his younger brother Corazon. They are the most powerful men in his clan."
"Alright, whose arses are we gonna kick then?"
"His top men are Pica-ya, who is a Golem like Jean-Bart." Law nodding towards the big guy whose skin instantly smoothed over into that rock texture before reverting back to his normal, human skin. "Trebol-ya, who is a Demon and apparantly was the first to meet and corrupt Doflamingo-"
"Wait, corrupt?"
"Apparently my father was a bit more sane when he was a child but something tragic happened. Uncle Cora never really explained what happened to me. He said it hurt too much and that Trebol took advantage of it." Law acknowledged. "Anyway, Diamante is a Vampire and Vergo-ya is a Cultist."
"A Cultist? What the heck is that?"
"A Cultist is kinda like a Warlock I guess? They use spores which look quite like glowing orbs, if you ever encounter him, that can do a long range of things like cause illusions, attack people, cast damaging effects, all sorts of things on enemies." Penguin explained with a grimace. "He's gonna be hard to beat."
"They all spilt into divisions. Pica's 'army' are a special ops unit consisting of Baby-5, who is a Siren, Gladius, who is Hydra and Buffalo who is a Boggart like Luffy-ya." Law began to explain but Kid choked when he heard 'Hyrda'.
"Hydra?! That snake thing?!"
Shachi even let out a growl at the mention, looking pissed. "He's a prick."
Penguin sighed. "Hydra and Cerberus had a falling out centuries ago. They still haven't gotten over it."
"Like I said, he's a prick. That's why." Shachi insisted.
Killer interrupted with a cough. "Anyway, Pica, the Golem, leads the battle brigade forces. It has Lao-G, a Troll and Dellinger, a Fighting Fish hybrid."
"That's a small group." Kid noted.
"There's usually Machvise and Senor Pink." Law said. "I found out through a mutual friend that Senor Pink has thankfully managed to stay out of the way and is living with his wife and son but Machvise is still nowhere to be found. Sometimes not all your pawns are available and you need to search for them but usually we're drawn in either way."
"Yet this Machvise guy hasn't appeared yet and Senor Pink has ran off?"
"Machvise could easily have died before he could reunite with Doflamingo. Pawns don't always live to meet their Lords or are in a far off country and are unable to get there." Law explained.
"Alright, so two pawns done."
"And another army to go. The last but not least, Trebol the Demon's army, consisting of those with Special Abilities." Law sighed. "My sister, Lami, is apart of them, who obviously, like me, is a Spirit Healer. There is also Violet who is an elf and Jora, who is an Ogre."
"Then there's the most annoying one. A girl named Sugar who we believe is a Succubus." Killer tensed. "You've seen all those walking and talking toys right Kid?"
"Yeah, they are the newest toy range by..." Kid sighed, rubbing his forehead as he remembered the very people who created them. "The Donquixote Family."
"The worst bit is, that all those toys, were actually people." Law explained, making Kid pale.
"You're shitting me? How has nobody noticed?!"
"Because whenever Sugar turns one of them into a toy they are forgotten about. My contacts within the Revolutionary army told me it was because of the Devil Fruit she has, but they don't understand the full capabilities of it yet." Law sighed. "If she manages to turn us into toys we'll be instantly forgotten about."
Kid snorted. "I bet the Dragon bastard would love to do that to me."
"Probably." Law agreed. "Anyway, the top four are the ones we have to worry about-"
"So that Vergo guy not control a group or something?" Kid asked.
Law shook his head. "He's too busy co-hooting with the police."
"Shit. Forgot that creep was on the police force."
"We told you, Doflamingo has a lot of allies. If he somehow gets us into the bad books with the police things could turn dire instantly." Killer warned them, his voice tense.
This was going to be an interesting fight, wasn't it?
"Oi brat. Get in my office." Smoker tensed when he heard Garp call out to him, eyes narrowed.
"Yes sir." Smoker restrained a sigh as he sat his paperwork down and made his way over.
He had enough of the crazy Monkey family. First that little shit who kept mucking everything up, then his father who let him get away with it everytime Smoker tried to apprehend the brat and then the grandfather who let both his younger family members get away with it all!
He was so thankful that Ace wasn't blood related to them.
The door closed behind him, Garp making his way over to the desk. "So, you told Ace you're apart of the government yet?"
"All he knows is that I'm in the police force." Smoker grunted, sitting down on the spare chair.
Garp snorted. "He knows I am. You should tell him you are too before he finds out how high up you are in the rankings."
"I'd rather that my boyfriend didn't know considering how much I wish to quit the government and stay here as an officer." Smoker growled lowly.
"And abandon your men?"
"They are the only reason I've stayed for so long." Smoker admitted easily. "Besides, the information is also a good perk, it means I can keep an eye out on what they think of Ace-"
"I already have that covered." Garp stepped in immediately. "He's my grandson after all and one day I'll coax the little brat into living a nice, normal, cosy life where he stops endangering himself before his mother's ghost kills me or something."
Smoker raised an eyebrow at that. "I didn't think you'd be scared of a ghost Garp."
"A vengeful mother is always terrifying." Garp grunted. "Especially one who would, and could, kick Roger's butt if angered enough."
"So wait, is she actually a ghost?" Smoker frowned, he had heard about souls lingering sometimes but it was meant to be seriously rare.
Garp grimaced. "Ace doesn't know and he can't ever find out considering ghosts always take on the appearance of when they died-"
"And his mother was tortured..." Smoker froze.
"He doesn't need to see her like that. I prefer he just looked at her pictures and kept his vague memories of being a toddler when he still had her." Garp admitted with a sigh. "Ace was always such a happy baby but after his mother died I had to make sure he knew that he couldn't trust people. That there were people out there that would hurt him because of who he was. You really must be a good guy to earn his trust and love."
"I love him too." Smoker stated clearly, though it nearly made him flush with embarrassment at having saying this out loud to his boss.
"You better. Break his heart and I'll kill you if his brothers don't get a hold of you first." Garp warned. "Now, I called you in here because you need to know what happens when someone kills a Whitebeard gang member, especially one of the division Commanders-"
"Whitebeard murders them." Smoker pointed out easily.
"Yes but sometimes he sends out his division Commanders because he's getting older and his doctors do try to keep him in line." Garp snorted. "Bloody difficult thing to do too mind you. However, this person might be Ace so I need you to be a good brat and keep an eye on my grandson-"
Garp paused when his phone rang, the one he fished out of a draw and clicked on. "Oi, other brat, I'm working right now-"
Smoker froze at the sight of Garp tensing up, letting out a curse as he typed on the computer. "What do you mean Marshall D. Teach knows about Ace?!"
Ace? Who knows what about Ace?
No. Garp looked pissed but there was terror in his eyes. It was serious, something very serious to do with Ace and a guy named 'Teach' knew his secret.
Vault Keeper. This guy probably found out that Ace was a Vault Keeper, which instantly sent a strike of terror through him. Smoker stood up, slamming his hands on the desk to get Garp's attention.
"Who knows about Ace?" He hissed, trying to keep his voice low.
He knew the office was sound proof but he didn't care. This was too important to lose control over his temper. He needed to be calm. He needed to help his lover.
"Marshall D. Teach, a member of Whitebeard's family, told Ace that he knows about the brat's heritage." Garp explained tensely. "Sabo, where's Ace right now?"
Garp sighed, looking grumpy but relieved at the reply. "Alright, good. Whitebeard can keep an eye on him. I'll try find out where Teach is, you do whatever you're doing other brat. I'll speak to you later."
Garp then hung up, shaking his head, making Smoker frown. "Ace is with Whitebeard?"
"Don't worry. Whitebeard will keep Ace safe if he thinks Ace's well-being is in danger. For now I'll be focusing on finding out more about Marshall D. Teach, supposedly the bastard's gone missing."
"I'll head out and search-"
"Nope. I have another job for you to do. It's important so it needs to be done carefully." Garp insisted, handing Smoker a folder who frowned, taking it reluctantly.
When he opened it up he immediately grimaced and met his boss' eyes. "Aren't you meant to do your own paperwork? Or better yet if you really can't be arsed then have Bogard do it?"
He glanced over at the forever quiet man who was at his own desk in the office, typing away silently.
"Bwahahaha! As Ace's grandpa it's my job to give you a hard time because you're the brat's boyfriend!" The old bastard easily laughed.
He paused when he saw a list and held it up with a raised eyebrow. "And the shopping list?"
"Yep, I need that done for tomorrow. I'm running out of milk." Garp chortled.
"Why did me dating Ace suddenly make me your carer old man?"
"Ace is one of my cute grandchildren and as a grandfather it's my job to torture their choice in partners, especially if they are on the wrong side of the law." Garp smirked.
Bogard surprisingly spoke up, not even looking up from his notes. "You aren't getting it bad. Sabo's girlfriend on the other hand..."
"Bwahahaha! She's a feisty one! I'm never going to let her do my shopping again!"
Smoker restrained a groan at that, knowing it would just urge Garp on. Instead he shook his head and walked out, ignoring the call for whole milk and not semi-skinned.
Bloody Monkey D. Family!
.:End of Chapter:.
Okay so we're going for a time-skip of about a month so be prepared for that! And also, couldn't resist having Garp wanting to torture his precious grandson's choices in lovers, it made me giggle having Smoker do his shopping for him xD
