AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!1!
I'M SO SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG SCHOOL IS VERY STRESSFUL AND I WAS GOING? TO HAVE MORE? BUT NAH SON. NOT WITH SCHOOL. IT TOOK ME MONTHS TO TYPE UP THIS MUCH LMAO
hopefully I'll have more and sooner but that's not fucking likely wow i hate school whatever happened to liking school that used to be a thing
OH WAIT STRESS HAPPENED
*deep breath*
Yeah. So. *cough* That's. That's why I've been near dead. Please take this, Ace and Koala are tired and so am I.
Ace nudged the door open with his foot. Koala kicked it the rest of the way. The two of them, bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, staggered into the hotel room they were renting and flopped onto their respective beds with matching groans of exhaustion.
"I concede the point," Ace moaned into his pillow.
"What?" Koala asked groggily from the other bed. Ace rolled onto his back, not bothering to move his hat out the way.
"I said, I concede the point," he repeated.
"Hah," Koala said weakly, with only the barest hint of triumph in her voice.
The 'point' was that Sailors' Refuge was huge, and searching all night was not going to make them any more likely to find Sabo. Less likely, even, Koala had said, since he'd probably be asleep. She'd brought it up when it first got dark, when Ace still wanted to search for Sabo. He'd ignored it, and she hadn't tried to make him listen, so they'd gone on to search throughout the night (although it had turned into a running background argument to take their minds off of…darker thoughts).
'It was a very stupid decision,' Izo's voice said dryly. Ace was tired enough to agree with him. It. Whatever.
'It made sense at the time,' Haruta's voice muttered mutinously.
'It made sense because we were hyped up on worry,' Sabo's mental voice pointed out. 'We're too tired to properly worry-'
'Ergo, we can acknowledge it was a stupid decision,' Law's voice finished with a mental nod.
'And yet, you still won't shut up,' Ace thought at them, slightly annoyed but too tired to be properly irked. Observation and Logic really went hand-in-hand…
Aaaaand now he was imagining his brother and Surgeon Edgelord holding hands. Stupid brain. Ace threw an arm over his eyes and groaned.
"Seconded," Koala said in response to his moan, her voice slightly muffled. Maybe her face was buried in her pillow. "I need sleeeeep…"
"Me, too," Ace answered.
"Ace?" Koala said, her voice no longer muffled - she must've raised her head or rolled over or something.
"Yeah?" he responded, letting the arm over his eyes flop onto the bed.
"I didn't want an answer."
'Oooh, someone's grouchy,' Thatch's voice said teasingly in Ace's mind.
"Sor-ree," Ace grumbled out loud, rolling his eyes.
"Shut up and take one of your damn naps," Koala growled, only half-playfully, and hurled a pillow at him.
Ace shoved the pillow over his face and rolled back onto his stomach. Yeah. A nap would be good. He closed his eyes and was asleep almost at once.
A few hours later, his eyes snapped open and he bolted upright in bed.
"Koala," Ace all but yelled, scrambling over to the other bed and shaking his sister, "Koala, get up."
"Ngh - what?" Koala asked, cracking an eye open.
"My Luffy senses are tingling, we gotta move now!"
"Wha-? Ace, Luffy's with Law, healing-"
"I know that," Ace said, "but that doesn't mean my Luffy sense is turned off."
Actually, his Luffy senses weren't even related to Luffy - not entirely, at least - it was just the sudden, overwhelming urge that something impossibly lucky or far too coincidental was about to happen. Once you'd known Luffy long enough, it was very easy to associate Ace's little brother with that kind of phenomena.
Ace tried explaining this to Koala as they made their way outside, with Marco or Law or Izo's voices occasionally tossing out suggestions when Ace found himself at a loss for words. Koala, however, seemed to being either spacing out or still half asleep. Ace didn't think she was getting it.
Eventually he just muttered "You'll see," as they stepped out the hotel doors. The two of them stood there awkwardly for several long moments, unsure of what to do.
"I'll see, huh?" Koala said, raising an eyebrow. Ace scowled and shoved her lightly. She grinned and punched him in the arm - and froze up for a millisecond.
That meant he had unwittingly reminding her of Sabo. Again. Dammit. Ace hated it when he did that. It hurt when he did that - hurt her by making her forget that it wasn't Sabo she was with, hurt him by reminding him that he was in Sabo's body (and that he was getting used to it, accepting it, the sound of his own voice fading from his mind), and then just plain hurt. If they weren't careful-
Well, one time it had happened and Koala had frozen for almost thirty seconds, and Ace had tried to fix it and only ended up reminding her of Sabo even more, and they'd gotten trapped in a feedback loop of pain that ended with both of them in a full-out breakdown and only been broken off because Law had shown up at the right moment.
Except. This time, after Koala relaxed, she froze up again a moment later, and Ace had been careful not to do anything. That meant it was something else. And the moment dragged on, until Ace finally got a clue and thought to follow her gaze.
Fuckin' thanks Marco, you snarky chicken bastard. Maybe clue him in a little earlier next time.
'You're welcome.'
'Shut up.'
Ace found his gaze settling on a red-skinned Fishman with a familiar symbol on his chest - the same one Jinbe had - the mark of the Sun Pirates. Yeah, made sense Koala knew him. Ace had noticed she was pretty close with Jinbe (and Hack, too), and generally seemed to like Fishmen period.
(When they had been trading stories on the Sunny, Sabo had once jokingly referred to "Koala's twenty-seven uncles on Fishman Island," and she'd punched him, corrected the number, then completely diverted the topic. Some part of Ace's brain had picked it up and tucked it away.
('No, I don't want to hear which part, don't even.')
Ace pulled himself out of his mind and nudged Koala. "Found someone you knew?"
Her hand found his arm and gripped it, tight enough to make him wince. "That's Fisher Tiger," Koala said in a near-whisper that was almost reverent, "he saved me from Mariejois."
Ace's eyes widened. Koala had been a slave?
'Shit, her past is as dangerous as ours…' Thatch's voice was almost a whisper.
Had the four siblings never been pirates, never been Revolutionaries, they would still be wanted - Ace and Luffy for their heritage, Koala and Sabo for their histories; Gold Roger, Monkey D. Dragon, slave, escaped noble. It was another bit of information about Koala that reinforced Ace's subconscious feeling that she belonged with them.
Ace nudged Koala forwards. "Talk to him," he said gently, then quickly added, "if you want, I mean."
Koala, still gripping his arm, gave him a wide-eyed look and swallowed hard before trying to smile. "Come with?"
"Sure," Ace said, flashing a good-natured grin at his sister to try and put her at ease. Her wobbly smile firmed into something more genuine. Koala took a deep breath, let go of Ace's arm, and approached the Fishman, Ace two steps behind her.
Briefly, Ace wondered if he would have reacted like this at the opportunity to speak to his mother, the woman who had given her life for his own. That thought turned into an uncomfortable reminder that Sabo's actions at Marineford had paralleled those of Ace's mother.
'You know,' the Koala-voice in Ace's mind said in a faux-casual tone, 'we actually might run into Rouge.'
Shit. That was true.
(After spending more time with Koala, her mental voice had strayed from Snark and Fight Me until she had joined Izo's in Common Sense.)
Ace shivered minutely, a twist in his gut rippling out through the rest of his body (Sabo's, Sabo's body, don't forget that, Ace) before he shook off the thought.
Koala was hesitantly reaching out a hand. She flinched back before she touched the Fishman, then glanced back at Ace - 'for support, probably' (yeah, no shit, Izo?). He smiled at her and gave her a thumbs-up. She returned the smile, looked back, and tapped Fisher Tiger on the shoulder.
I've had these responses written for AGES so if you don't recall what i'm responding to don't fucking worry neither did I at first.
Dhea30: YOU GUYS NEED TO STOP DOING THIS TO YOURSELVES but omg thank you for the long review! The word you want is 'torn,' but other than that you got it! Please don't die that was never my intention and then I wouldn't get to read your wonderful reviews. (Law (and I) recommend 1 mg melatonin for sleep. That's what I use, at least.) tbh I bastardized that nickname from Anjelle. You could use either "turn out" or "end up" for that phrase, not both tho. And that is exactly what he's like. I dunno for sure if it's gonna be SaboLaw but I'm certainly leaning toward it! Glad you like the klabautermann! And uh, I'm not totally sure what's gonna happen when they meet Roger (you know it's gonna happen) but I am gonna try my damnedest for it to end with Roger adopting Luffy and Rouge being all "Roger no." (That is a good headcanon I like it.) The Afterworld will never be prepared for the friendship of Roger and Luffy. Ever. (I'mma try and sneak that in there) I still look forward to your PMs!
ynius: Ahh, the feels. I imagine them as kids. Not sure where he was jealous, exactly - but I'm glad you liked it!
Keenyeah: Thank you!
Guest - Saraku, did you log out on accident again?: Luffy is very good at giving the world a collective heart attack. And his siblings are very protective. I love this fucking family too. That is gonna be the BEST story. Law is Trapped. He really did. Thank you! I loved writing that scene! AMAZING. Trust me I'mma do my damnedest to get Ace to see those three. Also Thatch. 'What' is a very useful word. Sabo always ends up getting his ass kicked at family reunions, apparently. I'm glad you like it! Dammit Saraku that is you - I will attempt to remember the shitty joke, remind me about it when part 3 comes out. Oh, Roger was totally a badass. Rouge was just more of one. Rouge kicking everyone's ass and taking control of the ship is going in my headcanons. Here's a fic rec for ya; read 'Amphitrite,' it's a One Piece fic and where I got my 'Rouge can kick Roger's ass' headcanon. Enjoy your stay~ And yes. Heartshatterings (I'm using Law's POV when we find Cora AND WE'RE ALL GONNA CRY). And as always, you're welcome and I'm glad you enjoyed!
anaisonfire: Go on down to Sailors' Refuge, see if you can spot anyone you know. Glad I'm doing good! I KNOW, MY SCHOOL SUCKS. Pfft. What?
BedofRoses1989: Thank you! I'm glad you liked all of it, hope you enjoyed!
Blackthorn Ashe: Pity the death surgeon. Ohh yeah dammit that would have been a good description; but Bepo's species is Mink, it's explained in the Zou arc. Luffy never plans anything, stuff just sees to turn out that way. Good point, good point. Next Review: you seem to have liked this chapter. Good...and probably, yeah.
ClearWolf: Got'cha, about the review. Trust me, he thought he would be too. Aeriasky is too tired to think of ways to use this and yes, getting rid of Law was its own reward. Glad you liked the klabautermann! Hope you enjoyed!
UnderTakerxXxMadnesS: Thank you!
JarOfIdeas: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! And no, no switching, just an AU where Cora didn't die and Law ended up far too much like Luffy for anyone's comfort. They hit it off the second they meet and proceed to drive everyone around them insane with their combined never-ending cheer. Thanks for your well-wishes!
the wizards-mafia: Man, you're gonna exhaust the English language soon. The klabutermänner are currently the Single Best Idea I've had for this story and I'm glad everyone likes them! (Hope you enjoyed!)
The Utterly Fabulous Z: *bows* Thank you! Glad you liked it so much!
AzureLazuli: THANK YOU! You are completely yes on all accounts in your first paragraph which makes like no sense but just thank you I love you. As for questions - skipping the bit about Merry, that's 1) a spoiler but 2) no. Luffy has at least three "hello"s from dead loved ones to give the crew and tbh if you wanna write that when this is all over I will 100% love you for eternity. Full endorsement.
Bluejay Blaze: It's been a while, good to hear from you! Leave the feels, it's not like they're going anywhere.
AvaTheDarkLord: B) the feels are everywhere and you'll be waiting a bit longer, I'm afraid.
So that's that done. Well folks, hope you enjoyed, leave a review on the way out, next time on FLoaB the Whitebeard pirates show up. Dead ones. also, reunions.
Byeeeeeeee