Chapter 26

Alabasta: The Older Brother

Hawke lay staring at the ceiling, tapping her fingers on the mattress. She'd woken a while ago but remained lying in bed, taking time to sort through the thoughts that had been so scattered for the past few days. Her eyes traced the grains in the boards above as she went through everything that had happened on Drum Island. Slowly, meticulously, she analyzed every detail and came to her conclusion.

Luffy was made of rubber and the crew fully accepted that and even relied on his abilities. Chopper was a freaking transforming reindeer! But it was his skills as a doctor that the crew appreciated. Why did I think I was so special? she lifted an eyebrow at the ceiling and rolled over, pushing off the blanket, Luffy wouldn't be gathering a crew of just anyone. And any friend of Luffy's is a person worth trusting. I've got to try!

She pushed her arms up and arched her back in a luxurious stretch before sitting up. Swinging her feet out onto the floor, she noticed a plate of small sandwiches and a glass of water on the table.

"I wonder how long I slept?" she muttered, rubbing her eyes.

Sitting on the edge of the mattress, Hawke ran her hand through her hair. She found her braid, messy and tangled from her sleep, and teased the strands apart. I need to focus on helping the crew, she frowned, thinking of her self-caused lack of inclusion in some of their previous adventures. But then her stomach let out a growl and she eagerly moved to the table. Her appetite had returned with a vengeance and she polished off the sandwiches and drained the glass of water in the blink of an eye.

Hawke leaned back in the chair and let out a satisfied sigh. Then her thoughts leapt back to Zoro's visit before she'd fallen asleep. What was wrong with me? she wondered as she collected the dishes and stepped towards the door, why did he bother me so much?

The moment she tugged on the handle, the door swung suddenly inwards and something fell heavily to the ground at her feet. Hawke let out a sharp gasp as Zoro's hard eyes frowned up at her from the floor. His arms were folded over his chest and his legs were crossed. Was he sitting out there? Hawke wondered as she took a hurried step back before bending down.

"Oh, good," Zoro yawned, "You're finally awake."

The girl smiled and held her hand out, "What are you doing on the floor?" she laughed.

The swordsman's face flushed. Hawke felt her heart flutter as he took her hand and she pulled him up. She couldn't help but notice how rough his fingers were as they fell from her grip.

"I was just waiting for you to get up," Zoro muttered, rubbing the back of his head, "You've been in there for two days."

Hawke's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?" she lifted an eyebrow, "How long ago did you le-eave?" her voice wobbled a bit as she finished her sentence, recalling how she acted during that time.

But Zoro didn't seem to notice her stumble. "That was yesterday," he grunted, "And it's already past lunch."

At that moment, soft footsteps came down the hall and Hawke turned to see Chopper hurrying toward them.

"Hawke! You're finally awake," the reindeer smiled as he trotted up, "I was beginning to worry that something else was wrong. Your body must have been pushed well beyond its limits."

"Oh my," Hawke gasped, "I'm sorry for making you worry. I guess I just needed time to process what happened." She shifted her gaze to Zoro and smiled, "I think I've got a handle on things now." Zoro met her eyes but said nothing, causing her to blush and quickly drop her gaze. "Well," she let out an awkward laugh, "I think I'll head up to the galley. I'm starving." She lifted the empty plate and glass.

Chopper nodded his head, "You need to replenish your energy before you do anything too active."

Hawke smiled and stepped forward, making for the stairs, only to be stopped when Zoro called after her.

"Oi," the swordsman lifted his hand, pointing at her abdomen, "You should change your clothes first."

The scout looked down as she realized she was still wearing her nightgown. The light blue dress hung loosely about her hips and fluttered around her ankles as she moved. "Oh," the blush rose in her cheeks as she saw the plunging neckline. She spun around and hurried back into the room, changing into a pair of white shorts and a black tank-top. Slinging her leather jacket around her shoulders, Hawke left the room and quickly made for the deck.

Chopper and Zoro hurried up after her and found the scout leaning out over the balcony rail, looking over the desert scenery with wide eyes. A port city sprawled over the shore, a bustling harbour and streets teaming with people greeted Hawke. She smiled and jogged down to the main deck to get a better view. Palm trees lined the roads within the city and large sand dunes enclosed it on three sides. The sun beat down and the heat could be seen rising from the earth in steamy waves.

Hawke wiped away the sweat that had already coated her brow and turned to greet Chopper as he joined her at the rail.

"Where are we?" she asked, quickly retying her braid and pulling the rest of her hair up in a high pony tail to keep it off her neck.

"Nanohana," the reindeer stuck out his tongue and rested his chin on the rail. His whole body seemed to melt onto the ship and his voice was low and muffled as he spoke over his protruding tongue. "Vivi wanted to stop here before heading for a place called Yuba. She's in a real hurry to get to the rebel camp."

"Vivi?" Hawke looked around, noticing for the first time that, except for the three of them, no on else was on deck, "Where is everybody?"

"Getting supplies," Zoro grunted as he came up alongside her, "Now that you're awake, we should go meet up with Luffy." He jumped over the railing and landed on shore.

Hawke opened her mouth, about to protest, but then Chopper suddenly changed form. His body sprung up beside her, his chest and shoulders broadening and his arms extending until he looked like a tall, very hairy, man. With a grunt, the reindeer leapt over the rail and landed heavily on the sand, then began hopping from foot to foot.

"Ah!" Chopper let out pained cries, "It's hot! Hot!"

Hawke sighed and shrugged, hopefully she could find something to eat on shore. Climbing over the rail, she joined the two Straw Hats and the group set off to get a first taste of the desert kingdom. They were swept along on the busy streets and Hawke amused herself by watching the citizens go about their daily business. She noted that most people were wearing loose fitting robes and shielding their heads from the sun under hoods or keffiyeh*.

"Those would be nice for beating the heat," she panted, pointing at a clothing stall selling such garments.

"I can't stand this," panted Chopper. Hawke sent him a sympathetic look and saw he had changed into his most reindeer-like form. "I was made for cold places," his tongue lolled out of his mouth and his steps were meandering and staggered.

"Why don't you go find a nice shady place back near the ship," the scout rested a hand on his back, "We'll catch up with you later."

"Okay," mumbled Chopper, sending her a grateful glance, "See you guys later."

Hawke watched the doctor disappear into the crowd. "Do you think he'll be okay?" she asked, turning to Zoro, only to find no trace of the swordsman, "Zoro?"Where did he go? she frowned through the crowd, looking for any green but finding none, Did he get lost already?

Hawke's stomach grumbled loudly, pushing thoughts of her directionally challenged crewmate temporarily from her mind. She picked her way through the street, perusing the many stalls for any food. An aroma caught her attention as she rounded a street corner and her eyes fell on a restaurant sign.

"Perfect," she wound her way through the crowd and pushed the door open. Exotic scents wafted over her and she made a bee line through the many round tables and towards the bar on the rear wall.

She hopped up onto one of the tall stools and lifted a hand to gain the cooks attention. "Could I have something to eat, please?" she asked when the large, bald-headed man caught her eye.

"Of course little lady," he smiled, "What would you like?"

Hawke glanced around, searching for a menu. Her gaze fell upon a man occupying the end of the bar on her left. Many empty and half full plates were scattered around his elbows. After looking them over, her eyes flicked up to the man himself. A large, orange, wide-brimmed, hat sat on his head but was slipping precariously back. Jet black hair, long and loose, fell down to the back of his neck and framed his face.

But her stomach was her master at the moment and her attention was drawn back to a plate of spiced rice covered in shrimps, mollusks and peppers. "That looks delicious," she pointed to the meal and smiled at the cook.

"Coming right up," he returned her smile and turned his back, setting to work preparing her meal.

While she waited, Hawke let her gaze drift back to the man at the end of the bar. She blinked and realized that she hadn't noticed that he was not wearing a shirt. The only clothing on his torso was a necklace of large red beads that dangled onto his chest. How could I miss that? she wondered as she took in his dark shorts and boots.

"Like what you see?" an appealing voice, low, yet confident, made her jump as she saw the man smirking at her.

Hawke's cheeks burned and she quickly averted her gaze, "I'm sorry," she mumbled, watching the cook's back as he began sautéing the shrimp.

A snigger drifted down the bar to her ears and her blush intensified.

"I didn't mean to embarrass you," the man tried to hide his laugh and Hawke chanced to flick her eyes over to him. His freckled cheeks were raised as he offered her a genuine smile and his dark eyes shone with a smart and alert light. "My name is Ace," he lowered his gaze to her clothes, "I take it you aren't from around here either."

Hawke got her breath back under her control and nodded. Something tickled the back of her mind; she felt like she was forgetting something.

"Nice to meet you," she said quietly, "And you're right. My crew and I just landed here this morning."

Ace's eyebrows shot up at her words, "Oh?" he turned in his seat to face her full on. Hawke caught a glimpse of a dark mark on his arm near his left shoulder. "You're a sailor? I wouldn't have thought that." His eyes squinted slightly, "Pirate?"

Hawke stiffened and remained silent, regarding Ace with a wary gaze. But a smirk lifted his lips as he began searching through the pockets of his shorts. Hawke noticed a large, green handled dagger sitting in a holster that was slung around his waist.

"Hehe," he chuckled as he pulled out a piece of paper, "You don't have to answer. But maybe you know this guy. I'm looking for him."

He held the paper up and Hawke blinked as she was greeted with Luffy's smiling wanted poster. Alarm bells began ringing in her head and she sent a glare over the top of the paper, earning a surprised look from Ace.

"Why are you looking for him?" she asked, realizing too late that this gave away her knowledge of Luffy. If this guy was a bounty hunter, she might be walking into trouble.

Ace shrugged and lowered the poster, but she could tell he'd caught on to her. He lifted a hand and brought his hat back onto the top of his head. Hawke saw there was a matching red beaded band around the hat, with two large embellishments of a happy face and an angry face placed in the center of the band.

"I was hoping to meet up with him while I was in the area," he sighed and picked up a forkful of a pasta dish.

Hawke continued to scrutinize the man as he ate. What should she reveal; if anything? She frowned as the cook appeared before her and placed a large platter of rice and shrimp on the bar.

"Here you go, miss," he smiled, "Enjoy!"

Hawke nodded and picked up her fork. But I'm sure I'm forgetting something, she paused, hovering over her dish. Just then, the buzz of conversation, which had been a constant since she'd entered the restaurant, fell abruptly silent. The girl shot a glance over her shoulder, nervous as to the cause of this stir.

A large figure stood in the doorway. Broad shoulders and short, grey hair distinguished the man from the crowd. His jacket, grey with fur trim at the collar and cuffs, hung open to reveal a large, muscular chest, and the handle of a large jutte could be seen sticking up from behind his shoulder. But it was the row of cigars strapped to the sleeve of the jacket and the large one clenched between his teeth that were the trigger in Hawke's memory.

"Captain Smoker?" she muttered, what is a marine from the East Blue doing here?

The man had halted in the doorway and his gaze was fixed on the bar.

"I guess you don't have a problem with eating in public, Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Second Division, Portgas D. Ace," Smoker took a few steps further into the restaurant.

Hawke's eyes widened and the other occupants of the restaurant let out gasps of fear.

"The W-Whitebeard Pirates?!" the cook's mouth hung open as he gaped at the man sitting at the bar.

Ace turned on his stool and sneered over at the marine. As he moved, Hawke caught a glimpse of his back and saw a large tattoo covering his skin. A purple cross with a smiling skull to match, and the telltale white, crescent mustache.

"What business does an infamous pirate like you have in this country?" Smoker snapped when Ace offered no reply.

Hawke frowned and shifted on her seat so she could see both men. Why is a Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates looking for Luffy? she kept moving her gaze between the marine and the pirate, and why would Luffy know Portags D. Ac-...

She almost fell off her stool as the name finally clicked into place.

"Ace!" her gasp escaped her and both he and Smoker sent curious glances her way.

Hawke's eyes were wide as saucers as they beheld the man sitting only a few feet from her as if for the first time. They ran over the shoes and shorts, up his bare chest to his freckled face and hair just as dark as Luffy's. She tried to remember if Luffy had told her anything about what his brother looked like, but all she could recall was that he was really strong. Typical Luffy, she frowned at Ace. Was this man really her elder brother?

Ace seemed slightly perturbed by her ogling, but he turned his attention back to Smoker. "I'm searching," he lifted his head and smirked at the marine, "For my little brother."

The words confirmed it. It was too much of a coincidence; it had to be true. Hawke moved her eyes over Portgas D. Ace once more, hungrily taking in every detail.

"So then, what should I do?" Ace asked, sarcasm dripping in every word.

"Sit there and let me arrest you," Smoker replied bluntly.

Hawke hopped down from her stool, trying to keep her hands steady as excitement and nervousness flowed through her.

"Rejected," laughed Ace, "I'd rather not." He rested his elbows on the table behind him and sneered out from under the brim of his hat.

"Well, that's what I expected," said Smoker.

Her movements had gone unnoticed as of yet, but both men once again turned their eyes on Hawke as she stepped between the marine and the pirate.

"I'm looking for another pirate," Smoker spoke to Ace over her head but watched her with a steely gaze, "I have no interest in taking your head."

"Then let him go," Hawke spoke firmly, she lifted her arms slightly and splayed her palms to the soldier.

"I can't do that," Smoker frowned.

"What are you doing?" Ace leaned forward and muttered in Hawke's ear.

"Who are you?" Smoker snapped, lifting his arm to grab the hilt of his jutte.

She sent Ace a smile over her shoulder. "My name is Hawke," she said, "I am the scout for the Straw Hat Pirates."

She watched the dark eyes widen and a smile light up his face. His mouth opened, but he was cut off as Smoker let out a growl.

"Well then I'll just have to arrest you both," the marine snapped.

Hawke turned forward and saw that his fist had suddenly begun emitting white smoke. She stepped forward, reaching into her leather jacket and wrapping her fingers around the hilt of a knife.

But as she withdrew her hand, ready to launch her attack, a crashing sound broke the tense silence and Hawke thought she saw the doors open behind Smoker. Then the man's eyes bulged and his mouth fell open, his body was lifted off the ground and shot straight at Hawke. She had no time to react. Smoker's chest slammed into her face and Hawke felt her own feet leave the floor. Her breath rushed out of her lungs as she was flung into Ace. Sandwiched between the two men, she had no idea what was happening or where they were going. Loud crashes resounded all around before they landed in a heap of limbs.

"Ouch," Hawke groaned as she tried to extricate herself from between the two bodies that were immobilizing her. Upon hearing her complaint, the men started moving. Ace got up and looked back towards the restaurant.

"Asshole," he seethed, "Who the hell was that?" Then he turned and offered Hawke his hand, "How about I meet up with you after I deal with this," his smile was suave, yet polite, "Tell Luffy I'm here, will ya?"

Hawke let him pull her up and dusted her jacket off. "Sounds great!" she smiled as Ace started moving back through the wreckage of a house, "I can't wait to talk to you some more."

He sent her a smirk and waved over his shoulder. Hawke watched him for a moment, reluctant to take her eyes off the man. But her delay was punished by a large hand falling onto her shoulder.

"You're under arrest for pirate affiliation," Smoker glared down at her, "Where's Monkey D. Luffy?"

Hawke returned his glare and wriggled out of his grasp. She wasn't about to get caught again now.

As Smoker's fist began emitting smoke, Hawke withdrew a knife and slashed at him. He made no move to dodge her attack and her blade caught the marine across the back of his hand. Hawke smirked at the look of pain and surprise that flashed across Smoker's face. Devil Fruit users are always so cocky, she thought as she dodged around him and sprinted through the rubble, hitting the street and disappearing down it in a flash.

"Now where did Zoro go?" she wondered aloud as she weaved through the backstreets of Nanohana, "Well, I'll find the others and see if he's with them." A smile lifted her lips as she swung around a corner and ran down a deserted alley. I can't believe I met Ace! She let out a laugh and slowed to a jog, I can't wait to tell Luffy.

"Speaking of which…" she trailed off as she came to a stand still, "I need to find him before the marines do."

Glancing to her right and left, Hawke was satisfied that no one could see her. If I'm careful, like I was in Loguetown, she eased her wings out of her jacket and bent her knees, then no one will see me until I'm too high up to be identified.

She leapt into the air and beat her wings with such force that swirling clouds of dust appeared on the ground under them. After another wing beat, she rose above the rooves of the city and could scan the streets. Her smile widened as she almost immediately saw Nami's head poking out from behind a run down stone wall. There they a-!

A shadow enveloped Hawke as a heavy force suddenly struck her back and she plummeted to the ground. Spitting dirt out of her mouth, she quickly drew her wings back in and rolled over to see who had attacked her. She let out a gasp when she found herself trapped under a heavy net.

"What the hell?" she grunted, trying to push it off.

"Ah ah," a voice tutted from above her, "Don't go straining yourself. You can't do anything under that sea prism net."

Hawke glared up at two figures as they bent down on either side of her.

"She's one of them?" a deep voice asked.

"She said she was their scout," the first figure replied.

Hawke tried cutting through the wiry strands of the net, but they were surprisingly strong and her knife barely made a mark. Hands reached out and grabbed at her, pinning her arms down and taking away her blade.

"This is nice," the first voice taunted, and the knife was waved in front of her face.

Hawke tried to get a look at her captors, but the glare of the evening sun seared her vision and she could only see their blurry silhouettes. She thrust her arms out, trying to get a hold on anything that could help her.

"Let me go!" she shouted, hoping someone would hear her, "Who even are you?"

"Calm down, sweet heart," the deeper voice spoke close to her ear and Hawke was hoisted up and over someone's shoulder, "We've got a long trip ahead of us. You don't want to exhaust yourself now."

As she was carried through the backstreets of the city, Hawke realized that they were not heading for the harbour.

"Where the hell are you taking me?" she spat, twisting and struggling in the net.

The man carrying her let out an annoyed grunt, "We're taking you to Headquaters. Stop squirming!"

But Hawke only increased her efforts to break free. By flinging her body around and slamming her arms into her captor's back, she managed to slip out of his grasp.

"Damn it," the man swore under his breath as he lost his hold.

The sandy road flew up to meet her as she fell head first off his back. "Ouf!" she groaned and sat up, still encased in the heavy net.

"Oi!" someone snapped, "We aren't supposed to hurt her! Mister 0 said the least damage possible."

"Well it wasn't my fault," another voice growled in return, "She was rolling around like crazy."

Hawke blinked and paused her movements. "Mister 0?" her breath hissed through her teeth, "You must be with Baroque Works!"

A figure suddenly loomed over her and a cloth was thrust through one of the openings in the wires.

"That's right, princess," a deep voice said in her ear, "And we need you to be cooperative right now so just relax."

Hawke gasped as tried to pull away, but was stopped by a pair of hands grabbing her by the elbows. A strange scent filled her nostrils and flowed down her throat, leaving an almost sweet taste in her mouth. Her legs fell limp and her thoughts became hazy. What is this? Her eyes blinked slowly and she felt herself falling back.

"There we go. Nice and easy." The voice sounded far away, "Now let's get away from this city before nightfall."

The sensation of movement sent butterflies through her stomach and Hawke closed her eyes. She didn't mean to fall asleep, but as soon as her lids fell she lost consciousness.

*A kerchief worn around the head