Ah, finally back with an update! Feels like it's been a while :D Sorry for the wait, guys! Between finals and updating my other stories, I didn't have a chance to get to this one. But now here we are! Also since you guys seem to have enjoyed the 1,000 review special, I'll be sure to do more in the future. Actually, I eventually plan on writing a series of very long oneshots about each other the character's pasts. That won't be for quite some time, though, since I don't want to spoil anything.
Also a big thanks to samiya88! She reviewed every chapter and it was very enjoyable to read through all of those reviews! Thanks so much!
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece, as usual. However, I ALSO don't own Bink's Sake. The original song is by Kohei Tanaka and the English translation was done by Viz Media and shadowlink4321. And just to be sure I credit everyone, the version I was listening to for this chapter was Midiguy's "Alone at Sea" version. So there you go! That belongs to me in no which, way or form.
She wouldn't panic. She wouldn't run away. She was a Low Town soldier and damn it she was going to act like one!
…That's what she kept telling herself, though it did little to quell her shot nerves.
For the past twenty some-odd minutes, the woman had been left as the sole guard to the holding cell of one notorious blond who she was not pleased to be acquainted with. In a way she felt honoured that Admiral Aokiji would trust her with such an important task, but more than that she swam in fear. That man—that young, young boy—was one of the most elusive criminals to ever walk the streets of Low Town. Over the course of a short six years he became one of the largest names the underground had seen. His sins stretched all across the board, from theft to battery, even murder. But the worst part was what they didn't know. That terrified her.
The blond entered the scene the year she enlisted in the military under the command of Garp the Fist. Her job was rewarding, knowing she was helping to keep scum off the streets—preventing harm from coming to the townspeople. At the time, the term Blue Gentleman had just been coined, describing a youthful figure robed in blue, a black hat atop his head, white mask shielding his features from view, who roamed the streets. No one paid him any mind—he just snooped around, gathering information on some two-bit thugs. The boy never hurt anyone, never intervened in the happenings of the underground and never revealed himself. In fact, he showed up so scantly over the first year that rumors were spread of him being a phantom—a shadow of the past. With the town's history, it almost seemed possible. That harmless suggestion sparked an urban legend about a young, masked boy appearing before catastrophe—a victim of the purge, they said. And that's all he ever was, all they made him out to be.
Just another ghost story.
Then something changed.
…How many atrocities had he committed since?
The tang of iron still sat on her tongue, bile burning in her throat as she thought back to earlier in the night, seeing the guard who'd gone missing turn up in the Blue Gentleman's base of operations—the state he was in. His face was so bruised, so swollen, so disfigured that they hadn't recognized him at first. How could he do something so horrific?
She didn't know the guard particularly well—didn't learn his name until he was admitted to intensive care. Grey. His name was Grey. While his surname escaped her, she would never forget that one word just as she would never, never be able to erase that image from her mind. Colourless skin. Missing teeth. His eye—ripped from its socket, the optic nerve severed crudely—missing. It was only found when they combed the room, left in the corner, in the dirt. Like it wasn't important. Like it didn't leave a man with only half his vision.
Like it was okay.
When the criminal saw it, he simple smiled.
"So that's what became of it."
…Was he even human?
And Sir Trafalgar had the audacity to say that the man was 'playing nice' as he put it. "He showed him mercy." That was mercy? How? Because he was left teetering between life and death? Because he wasn't put out of his misery?
He was a human being. He was alive.
She remembered arriving in intensive care, accompanying the medics to transport the injured men. A woman—the lieutenant's assistant, she recognized—broke down as soon as she laid eyes on him. Apparently they went to the same academy at some time or another. She wept for him, caressing his cheek post-op, sitting next to his bed. It was heartbreaking.
And now she was guarding the man who put him there—his assailant.
What made it worse was knowing that the one who brought about the Blue Gentleman's capture was a criminal himself, known to be one of the most brutal members of the underground, the Surgeon of Death. For the detainment of the Gent, his crimes were pardoned. It hardly seemed right.
Pushing brown strands from her eyes, she tightened her grip on her rifle, turning to face the cell. The blond within it was still, unmoving as he stared out the small, barred window near the ceiling, completely silent. He'd been like that ever since Trafalgar and Admiral Aokiji left, dazed and speechless. Compared to the manic laughter she heard during his capture, the criminal was far more subdued. Still, she wouldn't let her guard down. The fact that they assigned her to guard him meant that they suspected he could somehow break out of his cell—or cause trouble in some other, more creative way. She wouldn't let that happen.
Her mind betrayed her, constantly flashing back to that cement building, the stench of rot filling her nostrils. It just made the image of his blood-coated gloves and mask that much more unsettling.
The blond's mouth opened ever so slightly and she tensed, gripping the rifle so tight that her knuckles turned white. His head tilted just a bit, facing her a little more.
"Scared?"
His voice was chilling—hallow. It echoed against the walls and, in her fear, felt like it was surrounding her. Despite that, despite the obvious lie, she furrowed her brow and shook her head.
A ghost of a smile passed his lips. "You shouldn't lie, you know. It's bad manners."
The soldier pulled her mouth taut, glaring at him. "I don't want to hear that from scum like you." Manners? What did manners matter? He wasn't exactly a house guest. For everything he'd done over the past six years, he could be executed—the first publically executed criminal since Gold Roger all those years ago.
He chuckled, but it was nothing like the wild laughter from before. It was a quiet, barely audible, almost soft sound. As Blue lifted his leg onto the hard, worn mattress, resting a forearm on his knee, he turned back to the moon shining through the window. "Fair enough, Madame. You have a point."
She didn't want to associate with him. It would be best to turn back around and pretend he hadn't spoken a word. But she couldn't because, despite how resentful she was towards him, she was also curious. Maybe just one question—
"You don't have to be," he stated.
The soldier blinked. "What?"
"Scared," Blue elaborated, gesturing to the cuffs on his hands, pulling the chain taut to prove his point. "I can't do much like this."
He has a point, but…
"Sir Trafalgar insisted on using a straightjacket, but was prohibited from doing so."
Again that airy, light-hearted laugh cut through the quiet. "Yes, that's certainly something he would do." He acted like they knew each other. Did they? Was that why the Death Doctor knew where his base was situated? "And yet your superiors did not heed his words. Doesn't that quell your worries, even a little?"
"No," came the immediate response, "not at all."
"Oh?" There was clear curiosity in his tone. The woman couldn't believe she was speaking with that—that monster.
She faltered a moment, feeling her heart race as she was reminded of just who she was talking to. But she didn't back down. "You're dangerous."
Finally his smile fell. "I am."
Quiet. Still, perfect, agonizing quiet. She wasn't used to being in that room—watching over the holding cell. The soldier was quite familiar with the whole of Impel Down, most certainly with its lower levels, but not there. On each of the levels were hundreds of convicts, from murderers to thieves, even a few gang bosses. It was never quiet. The lacking voices were foreign—unfamiliar—and did nothing to settle her nerves.
Blue's voice cut through again. "Doesn't it seem strange to you?"
"…What?"
He raised his arms, parting them as much as he could with the cuffs around his wrists. "They have their man. They've finally detained me after all this time. Six years without progress and now—" The blond stopped abruptly, allowing his limbs to fall into his lap. "Here I am, completely untouched. That man—the tall one—he gave you orders not to fire lest your life is in jeopardy, correct?"
Reluctantly, she nodded.
"Do you know why that is?"
She swallowed. "They're waiting for the Fist—"
"Why though?" When she couldn't give an answer, she found a grin playing on his lips. "They have yet to remove my mask. Did you notice?"
"W-well, I…" They were waiting for Garp, right? Because he was the biggest name in Low Town law enforcement—that was the reason, wasn't it?
"To put it simply: they can't."
"…What?"
"They don't have the authority; they cannot touch me because of something Trafalgar told them." She bit her lip, not saying a word, waiting for him to piece it all together. "Low Town officers hold no power over nobility."
Her eyes widened. That's why he's unharmed. That's why they haven't removed his mask.
That's why he's safe.
Beneath the lunar sky, a carved, polished stone stood overlooking the sea. It glowed under the silver moonlight, drawing all attention to its smooth surface. Even amidst the strong ocean winds, it never swayed, never faltered, remaining firmly in place.
He approached, taking slow, somber steps to the cliff's edge, looking down. Gleaming waves rolled against the rock base, crashing violently in fluid motion, roars echoing through the distance. It was always such a peaceful place—his favourite. Years ago he would spend day and night sitting beneath the trees, reading old books and looking at aged photos. And he would talk. Every day, sitting at the grave, watching its unchanging form, he would tell stories—fantasy adventures, urban legends, even tales of his past—whatever he could to entertain the name etched so carefully on the polished rock.
Eventually he managed to pull his sight from the water to the grave. If he had a face, he would look at it with sympathy and fondness. He had no skin or muscles left to do that, though.
Nearing it, he looked down at the thin layer of dirt coating its surface, a deep guilt rising from his non-existent gut. He knelt and brushed what he could away with his long fingers of bone. When he saw them, he froze. Everything went eerily still as his mind wandered. That boy wouldn't recognize him as he was. He might even be scared of his skeletal appearance. He clenched his fist.
Averting his attention to the small, wrapped package in his hand, his mood brightened. That child always had such a sweet tooth. He offered the grave the wrapped box of chocolates and attempted to forget that they would never be eaten. Just once he wanted to forget, just for the moment.
Rising to his feet, he slipped the case from his back and removed his violin. A moment was spared to look at its aging body. Through it all, his instrument remained by his side. It was his most valued treasure as a musician but more than that, it remembered days when life was simple. It took him back to a time so far off, it felt like a dream.
Again he turned to the grave, wishing he could smile. "Shall we play a song, Laboon?"
His only reply was the wind whistling as it rushed through the trees behind him.
That boy always liked to listen to his music. He would sing along, even to the songs whose lyrics escaped him. Were he really there, he would have beamed up at his father, nodded enthusiastically and swung his legs over the cliff's edge as he waited for the violin to sound its iconic notes.
Oh how he missed the boy.
He entered his stance, looking up at the sky. The dark velvet of night was dotted with billions of tiny flecks of light. Stars. He wondered what they were, really. An old legend said they were the souls of those who died—that when your life ended you rose to the sky to watch over those you left behind. It was a beautiful thought but he couldn't bring himself to believe it. When he died, there were no stars.
His arm moved in practiced motions and soon the first note floated on the wind.
The waves continued on, pulled by howling winds. It took him back to a time long passed. He could almost hear the creaking of the ship as it sailed through the restless waters, swaying beneath his feet, the crew laughing gleefully. It was all a memory, faded with the years.
The notes carried on, slow and somber with his mood.
Yohohoho, yohohoho
He sang, repeating those lines slowly, quietly, listening as his voice reverberated through the air, stretching over the cliff and out onto the endless sea.
Making a Delivery, bringing it across the sea
Bink's sake in the hold as we sail through the breeze
That song made him remember. He could see them all smiling, waiting.
Far across the eye can see, the sun is shining merrily
As the birds fly in the sky as they sing out with glee
That crew was family to him. Each time they set out, they would sing that song. The captain was a merry fellow, someone he could see himself dying for. Unfortunately, he hadn't lasted long enough to do so. There was always that sliver of regret in his heart, clenching his chest whenever he thought of it. If he hadn't been so reckless, would things have happened differently?
Bid adieu to everyone as we sail under the sun
Sailing on from dusk 'til dawn and singing out as one
Cross the gold and silver waves, changing into water sprays
Sailing out on our journey to the ends of the sea
He remembered setting out one last time. Laboon waved excitedly among the crowds from the Edge Town docks, beaming at him as they sailed towards the horizon. He waved back, shouting to the boy until he was no longer in sight. Just like every time before, his eyes were filled with ugly tears and a large frown crossed his face. His crewmates clapped him on the shoulder, assuring him that he would see his son again in a few months. Their trip was long, but those words helped him see it through to the end.
Making a delivery of Bink's Sake through the sea
Let be shown that we are known as pirates, sailing free
Time to raise the flag up high, of jolly roger in the sky
Raise the sails and tell the tales that never pass you by
When they finally turned back around, finally went back home, he cried again. Everyone sang that night, drinking in celebration of their voyage's end. They talked about seeing their families again. Brook cheered, happy that he could return home to his son—to see him again.
Except he didn't.
Somewhere in the endless sky, a storm has started coming by
Waves a-dancing, sails a-prancing through the wind and rain
If you let blow winds of fear, then the end of us is near
Even so, tomorrow the sun will rise again
Sometimes he wondered if eating that devil fruit was a curse. Day in and day out he would ask himself that question, watching over Laboon's gravesite. He couldn't understand why he was allowed to come back and the child wasn't.
When they returned home, Captain Roger had been furious. What became of their hometown in such a short amount of time? How could they miss so much in less than a year? After so long, he was starting to forget what Edge Town looked like before it divided. Most of what he could recall were just feelings—warmth and happiness and peace. Returning, everything lost its vibrancy. It dulled into muddled shades of brown and gray. Everything aged, withered.
Died.
He was too late.
The skeleton could remember dying. He remembered the fight, the blood, the stench of death permeating the air. Being a pirate, he was no stranger to battle. Injury wasn't a foreign concept. He knew what happened when he fell, when he struggled to rise from the dirt and continue his pursuit of justice. The tang of iron as he coughed was something to that day he could taste, even without a tongue.
Noise blurred together, meshing into an incoherent mess. He didn't care to hear what was said as blades clashed and guns fired. All he cared for were the screams. People were dying. With each man that fell, someone was losing a father, a lover, a friend, a son. For those that returned from battle, some would go home to nothing. No one would be waiting for them. It wasn't right.
Through those thoughts, he cried. Tears fell on his bloodstained cheeks as he lay in the dirt amongst fallen allies and foes, corpses. He felt ashamed, unable to do more. He wanted to support the captain. More than that, he wanted to stop the death. Why did they have to kill each other? Why was he killing? Because of anger? Because he wanted revenge? For Laboon? Would he want that? Would that make him happy?
Amidst the violent cries and sounds of battle, he hummed that song, recalling better days.
Making a delivery of Bink's Sake through the sea
Through today and through tomorrow, all your dreams will lay
Say goodbye should we depart, and keep your memories in your heart
Don't you frown and don't be down, but live to seize the day
He wasn't sure how many years he waited on that cliff, accompanying the sole grave. Day and night blended together. Sometimes he would stare at his skeletal form, disgusted with what he became. When he ate that fruit, he never expected to become that. It took a year of floating aimlessly to gather up the motivation to search for his body, buried alongside his fallen crewmates. A field of nameless corpses awaited him, unmarked graves throughout. It was his own fault for becoming what he did, for not searching sooner, but he wasn't sure he wanted to be brought back.
One day, after endless waiting, a boy arrived. He ran up to the cliff and shouted at the sea.
"I'm going to be king of the pirates!"
What an interesting child, saying that even when pirates were long gone from the world. The boy with him seemed to think that as well, reprimanding his childish dreams but laughing all the same. That day he recalled clearly, as vivid in his memories as yesterday. They were the first who didn't turn away—the first who didn't run in fear. Each day they would visit. The elder would pay his respects to Laboon as the younger went on about the day's events. Later, he thought that maybe they realized how lonely he was. They brought him company, friendship. Eventually, he learned to smile again.
Oh, but he didn't have a face.
Looking back, he never thought he'd still be following that boy, treating that gang just like family. It was hard to leave that cliff. He worried Laboon would feel abandoned—that he would feel forgotten. Now, he realized that maybe it was for the best. He learned to move on, to let go.
And now he could begin again.
Making a delivery of Bink's Sake through the sea
Sailing on from dusk till dawn and singing out as one
After all is said and done, we all end up as skeletons
Tales unending, rules a-bending, journey just begun
Cleaning up after his brothers and sisters became a bit of a habit for Ace. Being one of the youngest members of the gang, he was given mundane tasks like that growing up, to be of use when he was too young to join them on the field. Now, even years after he was allowed to fight, he often found himself going around the dining area, picking up tableware to bring to the kitchen. Although he insisted he was fine to be out on his feet, with two more days to go until his stitches could be removed, he was ordered to take it easy. And so that was where he found himself, trying to be of some use.
Bringing the last load into the kitchen and placing it on the counter, he sighed. Cleaning up after hundreds of siblings could be exhausting, even for him—not that he minded or anything.
"Is that all?" Thatch asked from his place at the sink, scrubbing a plate until it shined. Ace always found it funny that, even as head chef, Thatch was determined to continue doing the chores he did when he was of lower rank. He supposed it had something to do his perfectionism.
"Yep, that's the last of 'em," the commander stated, slumping onto a stool at the counter. He'd done his share for the night. Actually, what time was it? Most of his siblings were in bed, he knew, but there was no clock nearby.
"Good," Thatch said with a relieved sigh.
"Tired?" the younger questioned, resting his chin in his palm as he watched his older brother clean.
"Nah, I slept pretty well last night so I'm fine—can't say the same for Marco, though."
Ace blinked. "Why?"
The cook's hands ceased their movement and he hummed in thought. Choosing his words carefully, he said, "Blue's stunt yesterday really got to him."
"How?"
"Well…" He rubbed his chin, trapping suds from his soapy hands in his beard. "Marco's never really said much about his past, right?" A nod. "Well that guy managed to get him to admit to some things, pretending to be you."
"Like what?"
"I'm not going to tell! He'll kill me!"
Ace shrugged. "Then I'll ask him."
"You can't!"
"Why not?" Thatch, in Ace's opinion, went overboard with things like that—especially when they involved Marco. Whatever happened in the past couldn't be that bad. Even if it was, it didn't matter to him; what's done is done, right? There was no point in getting upset over it. And why was he the only one who wasn't allowed to know about it? Was it because he was the only person to join in recent years? Were they trying to keep the secret between the original members of the gang? That hardly seemed fair.
"It's just…" Thatch's voice faded, ending with a sigh. "Just not now, alright? He's not in the greatest of moods."
Looking into his brother's worried eyes, Ace conceded. Couldn't argue with that, could he?
"Great! Mind doing me a favour, then?"
So how, exactly, did a conversation about Marco's past end with Ace bringing said brother coffee?
Internally groaning, the fire user decided not to dwell on it. As he walked down the long corridor that led to the division commander's office, his thoughts turned to the brand new ink permanently tattooed to his arm. Just thinking about it made rage-filled flames jump to life on his skin. Somehow he doubted Sabo was aware of it while in his body. As much of a sleazy bastard as he was, he was a respectable sleazy bastard. He wouldn't have done something like that… probably. Then again, he did allow the Surgeon of Death to experiment on his body. Just the thought sent shivers running up his spine.
Trafalgar Law. There was prime suspect number one. But what reason would Trafalgar have for giving him that tattoo?
Argh! Screw it, I give up!
He would just have to… think of a way to alter it or something.
Arriving at the blond's office door, he knocked. It took a few seconds for that familiar, tired voice to call through wood, granting him entry. When he walked inside he noticed that even at such a late hour, Marco was doing paperwork, which begged the question: what kind of paperwork did a gang have? Sure they were more like an organization at that point, but they were still illegal. What kind of documentation was needed?
Brushing his questions aside, he placed the tray on his brother's desk, who smiled appreciatively.
"Thanks yoi."
"Thank Thatch; he's the one who asked me to bring it. He said you haven't been sleeping well."
"He worries too much," the phoenix stated, pouring himself a cup. "Care to join me yoi?"
Ace grinned. "Sure, I've got nothing better to do."
The youth dropped into the seat across from his sibling, grabbing a cup for himself. Caffeine didn't go well with his narcolepsy, but what the hell? It was late anyway; if he fell asleep it wouldn't matter too much. Somehow he had a feeling Thatch had him bring two cups for that very reason…
As Marco continued writing whatever he was before, Ace got curious. In all his years of knowing him, he never really asked about his duties and responsibilities. He knew he had more to keep track of than the other division commanders, but what?
It seemed Marco noticed his curiosity. Blue eyes stared at him for but a moment, returning to the writing etched in black ink. "I'm taking inventory yoi."
"For what?"
"Everything," he stated simply. "Weapons, ammunition, food, medicine…" His voice faded, implying there was more.
"Wait, for all of us?" The blond nodded. "How often do you do that?"
"Every two weeks, if I can yoi."
"Sounds annoying," Ace commented, sipping his coffee.
The elder laughed, taking a drink of his own. "It's relaxing. I did things like this before I joined yoi."
"Yeah?" He was hoping for more information, but his brother only gave him a silent nod.
The quiet was never awkward between them. Maybe it was because of how long they'd known each other, but Ace was used to silence between them. It was calming. Living with hundreds of brothers and sisters, eating meals and fighting with them, moments like that where he could sit in peace were welcomed. Even he needed a chance to relax every once in a while.
"Thatch didn't make this," Marco noted, staring into his cup.
"You noticed?" Ace grinned. "I made it. What do you think?"
"Not bad," the blond stated with a small smile, "but since when do you make coffee?"
That grin widened when he thought of it. Ace didn't do much at home in the kitchen, but he knew quite a bit from watching Thatch. That came in handy in High Town. "I decided to help out when I was in High Town. Luffy's hopeless; he needed me. The kid's so stupid he'd probably starve to death if left on his own."
"And the coffee?"
"I made it for his dad, but the guy's such a damn drunk he demanded rum. His brother liked it, though, so I sometimes made it when he stopped by." Best not to name him, right? Actually, come to think of it, Sabo preferred tea to coffee. He never complained, though.
…Though if he had, Ace might have just shoved the damn stuff down his throat.
He tilted his head back, staring at the lamp-lit ceiling above as he thought. "It feels like it's been forever since I stayed there. I wonder how Lu's doing." He decided to leave out the part where he spent the night there in Sabo's body. Marco probably wouldn't like that.
"You're pretty attached yoi." He could hear the amusement in his brother's voice.
Ace's head shot up. "I'm not—well, m-maybe, but—" He took a deep, calming breath. Maybe he should say something. It was Marco; he could trust him just as much as he could Oyaji. "Can… can I tell you something?"
The phoenix raised a curious eyebrow, placing his pen on the surface of the desk to show his undivided attention. "I'm listening."
The fire user decided to avert his gaze. "There's actually something I never told anyone." He chanced a glimpse at the elder, seeing that calm, unaffected expression he usually wore. It put his anxiety at rest. "Before you found me, I had a brother."
When he glimpsed that time, he saw the blond's eyes go wide—something he'd only witnessed a few times in his life. He felt panicked. Should he not have said anything? He decided to continue, though. No point in stopping there.
"We weren't related by blood," he assured. "It was after Mom died. I found him and helped him, but his father took him home." Marco's face had settled once more and he continued to listen in silence. "That kid… was Luffy. I didn't realize it at first, but it's definitely him. I didn't know what happened to him, and now…"
After a short stretch, Marco reached over and ruffled his hair, just like he'd done when he was little, smiling at him. "I'm happy for you yoi."
Ace's mouth gaped. What did he mean by that? Happy that he found him or—what else was there?
Before he could ask, a loud slam resounded through the base. Both commanders jumped up, ignoring it when Ace's cup fell to the floor, smashing into unsalvageable fragments. Then, distantly they heard a shout.
"Someone, hurry! I need help, damn it!"
They dashed out into the hall, racing through the corridor towards the voice. Ace could hear his heart beating in his ears, his flames flickering to life beneath his skin, begging to be released. It felt like an eternity too long before they found Izo on his knees, a still lump in his arms. Others were already there kneeling beside them. They approached slowly, cautiously, and as they got closer Ace could see a head of matted, greasy brown hair.
His eyes widened. A lump formed in his throat yet still he tried to swallow the bile rising from the pit of his stomach. Shock came and went quickly, replaced with inconsolable anger. He took fast, shallow breaths, clenching his fists and bowing his head. "…Who did this?"
Namur was gently lifting Haruta from Izo's lap, preparing to bring him to the infirmary. There was so much—
Something slipped from Haruta's sleeve: a tiny, black piece of paper. Izo grabbed it, rising to his feet, his kimono stained with filth and blood. Thatch was by his side, offering a reassuring hug. Ace wasn't so friendly.
"Who. Did. This?" he asked again, articulating every word.
Izo continued to cling to the redhead as he held out the paper for Ace to take. He unfolded it, Marco looking over his shoulder, and his face turned pallid white.
Black paper, white top hat.
The Blue Gentleman.
Sabo.
"I'll kill him."
Dawn would break in a scant few hours. While Admiral Aokiji had assured her that they would be gone no more than an hour, three had passed. She could feel herself drift off, sitting against the stone wall beside the cell bars, glancing periodically at the criminal—the noble. It baffled her that someone from High Town would do everything he has. Why? Why would he get his hands dirty when he had all he needed in Paradise? She'd asked over an hour ago, unable to retain her curiosity.
"Is it really that unexpected?"
That was all he said. They hadn't spoken since.
Now she was searching for a new conversation to start. Her primary focus was to stay awake and keep an eye on the prisoner, but her eyes kept sliding shut. It was inevitable that she would succumb to exhaustion; her only choice was to stave off sleep until her superior returned.
And… Blue was surprisingly easy to talk to.
"Why'd you do it?" Her inquiry came out in a quiet, slurred whisper. Eyes focused on the ceiling, she didn't bother to look at him. What did it matter? His face was hidden behind a mask, anyway. She couldn't see him. Even being a scant few metres from where she sat, he was still a lifetime away. "…How could you do that to him?"
The reply was even, emotionless. "I do what I have to."
"You had to beat him within an inch of his life?" She scoffed at the thought. "What you did… it's deplorable."
"You've never interrogated someone, Madame?"
A pause. Her blood ran cold. Then, "It's—"
"—Different?" Disbelief laced his tone. "Is it really?"
Was it? As far as she could recall, she never ripped anyone's eye from their head. "…It is."
Blue snorted. "How naïve of you." Then, just as it had before, his voice softened. "All that glitters is not gold."
Her shutting eyes snapped open and instinctively she replied, "The Merchant of Venice."
That same light, warm, uncharacteristic chuckle. "You're well-read; that's a rarity in Low Town. You should feel proud."
Proud of what—reading classics? "Isn't it 'glisters'?"
"Words change with the times," he said with a shrug, "but the meaning is eternal. Beautiful, isn't it?"
"I still hate you."
"Fair enough, Madame…?"
She couldn't believe what she was doing. She couldn't believe it, yet still she answered, "Synesthesia." Glancing his way for a scant moment, she observed the piqued interest conveyed in his movements.
"An unusual name," he said, "but quite fitting, don't you think?"
While she hated herself for it, she felt her mouth curve upwards, just a bit.
Confusion of the senses.
Perhaps he was right.
Suddenly she heard the door. It should have alerted her, but when she saw the dark-rimmed eyes of the Surgeon of Death she just felt her lids slip further over her eyes. The man barely acknowledged her, glancing for but a moment before fixating on the blond in the cell. Synesthesia's eyes roved over his gloved hand where a familiar beating heart sat, being squeezed ever so slightly. She could hear the prisoner's hitched breath in response to the touch.
For but a moment her eyes closed. When next she stared out at the world, she saw the Death Doctor opening the cell door. Was he supposed to do that? She couldn't think straight, but seeing Admiral Aokiji standing at the entranceway put her worries to rest. Her consciousness was fading fast.
"—was good company." That was the Blue Gentleman.
Trafalgar scoffed in return. "You're a prisoner and yet you still treat yourself as my superior."
"I'm a noble; it's in my blood."
Everything faded out and when she next cracked open her lids she saw the criminal being pulled by his shackled wrists out of the room. She watched them go, narrowly registering the warm, blue cloth wrapped around her shoulders.
Omake
Soldier: -nudges sleeping girl- Oi, Syn. Wake up.
Synesthesia: -groans, yawns- What is it?
Soldier: Where'd the prisoner go?
Synesthesia: Hmm? Oh... Sir Trafalgar and Admiral Aokiji took him.
Soldier: Alright, you can go back to your room then.
Synesthesia: -stretches- Alright...
Soldier: Oh, and Syn?
Synesthesia: Hmm? -yawns-
Soldier: You... you might want to clean up before heading to bed... -leaves-
Synesthesia: ...What? -looks down at Blue's bloodstained coat, screams- WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! GET IT OFF GET IT OFF!
A/N: So this chapter is the start of something... fun. Fun for me, at least. Not so sure about you guys. And I know, you probably didn't enjoy the part from the OCs perspective much. Don't worry, she's NOT an important character. We'll probably see her around a little, but I mainly wanted to show Sabo from his enemy's perspective. She gives a very different outlook on him than other characters.
So sorry for no Luffy this chapter :( I took his part and gave it to Brook since I needed to fit his story in somewhere, and though you guys might not remember, Luffy was wondering where Brook was. Now you know! Luffy didn't make it into the next chapter either, (and yes I've already written and completed it) but that's because something veeeeeery specific happens. After that he'll make his return though! And as promised, he'll have more scenes!
Just to clarify some things: yes, Brook was part of Roger's crew in this fic (it's AU for a reason). Yes, Laboon was his son, not a whale. And Brook is actually about 50 in this fic, so he's younger than in canon.
[DO NOT READ THE FOLLOWING UNLESS YOU'VE READ UP TO CHAPTER 731 OF THE MANGA]
So. THAT CHAPTER. I'm going to keep this vague just in case people who haven't read it accidentally glimpse at this, so bear with me. Gotta say, I called it, but I didn't expect it this soon. (Does anyone else find it absolutely hilarious that this happened in an arc where Law plays such an important role? Anyone? XD) So some of you might wonder what that means for this fic. Well, absolutely nothing. This story began before I read chapter 731 and it'll continue on just as I always planned. You already knew that, being AU, the characters were going to be OOC (especially in his case) and I've grown rather fond of writing him in this chapter so he'll remain as he always was. Maybe future stories will be impacted by the manga, but not ongoing ones. Knowing that, I hope you guys will continue to support and read the adventures of our favourite hothead, morbid surgeon, gullible Luffy and beloved blonde bastard ;)
[OKAY, YOU CAN RESUME READING. SORRY ABOUT THAT]
To my lovelies~
Blueh: Aren't they?! XD Lol you might want to show a little relationship in Zoro and Luffy's relationship because it's important XD Same with Brook and Luffy's and Nami and Luffy's. We'll learn more about Ace joining Whitebeard but we'll learn EVERYTHING important that happened to him in his life before the start of the story in his oneshot ;) But like I said, that won't be for some time.
Frostheart D. Blaize: Awe, you're welcome~ ^^ Lol I think marrying someone's fanfiction is going a little overboard XD
Son Goshen: Yeah, I really wanted to show how insecure he actually is. But no matter what, Luffy is still Luffy XD Don't worry, your OTP will be getting attention still ;) It's my OTP too, after all XD Yes, yes it can u_u Long chapters shall continue! Don't worry, he's not that similar to the Marco in The Devil's Fruit - his parents weren't murdered nor was his best friend :P He just has... a lot on his back. Lot's of guilt. Makino's death is coming up! Eventually! XD She was mentioned a few times and she's been in both bonuses but otherwise I haven't mentioned her. We'll be getting to that though. That'll be one of the first mysteries solved. You gotta hate it when characters promise they'll never die, 'cause they always do. Law wasn't involved in EVERYTHING, but he was involved in a lot. And now he betrayed them. Lovely, isn't it? I'll be sure to write more! Next chapter is going to be FUN XD
key46812: Yep, it's how they met! There's more to it obviously, but we'll get to that later. Actually, you know how I mentioned everyone's oneshots? Well each of the Straw Hat's is going to get one as well (some will be the earlier ones I can start on since they don't have as many spoilers) so you'll get to see how each of them met Luffy and what happened from then on :) You'll also get to see it from both their perspectives and Luffy's. I will~
maybe143: Glad you like!
Yannaninin: Yeah, I know what you mean. Same happened with me and my mom. Since you guys liked the bonuses thus far, I'll be sure to write more in the future!
Bluebird42: Lol that's all it did for you? XD Don't forget, most of it held important points in the story ;) Nope, you're not too far off. Zoro... Zoro wasn't a very nice guy. But... it's a little more complicated than that.
hitomi65: Glad you like!
samettikettu: Luffy's mom was a lot of fun to write :D Sabo's JUST starting to scare you? He started scaring me when he thought killing Ace might be a good idea, and I'm writing him XD
Guest: Awe, you're sweet, thanks :) Well you're pretty right about that! Marco's past is probably one of the most important in this story. He's connected to a lot more than you'd expect and it's actually pretty dark. I've hinted at some things, but I'm not sure how many of you guys caught on yet. Nobody's mentioned it, at least. He and Thatch will each get their own oneshots like I mentioned above, and Marco's will probably be just as long as Ace's, Luffy's, Law's, Sabo's and Shanks's. I did my best! Let's hope I passed them all...
azab: Glad you like!
Spiders-Are-Our-Roommates: Great reaction! :D
Diclonious57: You're welcome!
spoons-are-evil: Scene 8 was enjoyable to write :D Everyone expects Marco to be the first to join, but not this time ;) Yes, yes he was. He was a big name even before joining the gang. More on that later :P Yeah, Luffy gets a lot of his personality from his mom. I'll introduce more important parts with them in the future, I promise :) We'll see how well your theory holds up later. He became a noble before Roger died. Lol the main reason (in this story at least, not in some of my others) he doesn't want to tell his age is because of a different reason, though it's still related to his ability. I haven't touched on Makino much. Will in the future, though, since it's a big plot point. Ah yes, Law being scared of Sabo. Law used to be a pacifist. Hard to believe, right? Were it not for Sabo, he MIGHT have been a normal doctor. But, well, we all saw how that turned out. Surprisingly what he said in the omake was actually a good contrast to the bonus XD Actually, that wasn't the first time I used the "Big Brother chased the monsters away" line. Luffy thought it too, remember? Shanks was contemplating something very important. There are a lot of blurred lines in this story about right and wrong, what's just and what isn't. It had to do with that and with a few of the characters. Yep, the Blue Gentleman is indeed sad. Bet most of you thought it was just because of the colour of clothes he wore :P It was a little deeper than that, but yeah, that's what I was revealing. Yes, it was originally just going to be 15 chapters, but now it's over double that XD And the end just seems to get further and further the more I write... Hope you guys don't get bored with it by the time it ends. Nope. Originally Sabo was going to be just like canon, only he was going to act darker as the Blue Gentleman. But he was going to be pretty normal other than that. There are a lot more changes than what was mentioned... maybe I'll tell you guys more of them later on XD Teasing is fun~~ :P
94Insane: Yeah, poor Sabo did a lot for him but he threw all of that away ^^; Well at least you had fun reading it! :D Law's pretty much betrayed everyone at this point. The reason he had Sabo arrested instead of Luffy is because Sabo's a more notorious criminal.
The-Chibi-Master564: That was fun to write :)
luffylova: Here it is~~ As I've said many times now, it's not going to be for a while. That's just one part of a pretty big plot so other things take precedence over it. Luffy mentioned it last chapter - Sabo hasn't mentioned it to him. And right now Sabo's a little preoccupied...
Mon Esprit Libre: It wasn't lacking a comma, it was supposed to be written the was Thatch was saying it in his head. Though the 'Damn' was supposed to be in italics but fanfiction changed that for some reason ._. The missing period was just a typo, not really anything worth noting. Thanks though! Yeah, they're updates have been messing with my fics... I don't like it DX Lol that was intimidating? It wasn't even 10,000 words XD Well everyone seemed to like the long length so hopefully you'll get used to it.
samiya88: Thanks SO MUCH for all of the reviews! It really means a lot to me QAQ And so much compliments - I can't take it! You're so sweel T^T If you notice, Sabo's been portrayed a lot less calm an collected than in the earlier chapters ;) I've still kept Makino's role pretty vague. All I really mentioned was that she was like a mom to Luffy and was Shanks's wife. But you guy'll get to learn more about that soon enough. Law's focus on money hasn't been mentioned in more recent chapters, but it's actually a big motive behind his actions throughout the whole story. Chapter 12 was one of my favourite to write. I got to hint at a lot of stuff :D Yep, Law's actually terrified of Shanks XD He has his reasons, though. Shanks had reasons he couldn't take Ace with him. There was something going on at the time and bringing Ace with him would've caused more harm than good. Yeah, Law paid close attention to Luffy. But, well, now he's betrayed him :P Ah yes! Sabo standing before the crowd! I bet most people have forgotten about that, but it'll be coming up again ;) Pay close attention to when he calls him Sabo and when he calls him Blue and you might get why he switches between them ;) Yep, you can blame Law's sadistic nature 100% on Sabo. The commander Law captured was Haruta :) Yeah, it was a bit stupid on his part to do that, but by now we know that Sabo's a rather messed up individual... Yep, Law made a big mistake there and let on more than he should have. He thought it was okay because Sabo was drugged but that clearly wasn't the case. The reasons why Law betrayed them will eventually be explained. Yeah, Ace has a very strong admiration for Marco because of their pasts. Yep, Luffy just has this part of him that just makes people want to be with him. He did that with Brook and Nami too :) Again, thanks SO MUCH for the reviews.
RawR: My exams ended December 16th. If you want to keep track of when my hiatuses are, you can just check my profile :)
Mizunou: The pairing IS pretty odd ^^; I can understand why you would avoid it, a lot of people have told me they did the same. It wasn't SUPPOSED to be SaboLaw but... it ended up that way hehe... Awe, so happy to hear that you're enjoying it! I've put a lot of work into writing this story so I love hearing that you guys are having fun reading it. Hope you'll stick around!
AyumiUK: Thanks so much for all of the reviews! Twisting canon is fun :P As a warning, I should probably tell you that Sabo does from badass to disturbing.. nah, you'll figure it out! Getting stabbed was a good excuse for Ace and Luffy to meet ;) Haha, interesting image XD When I pictured the part with Law saying "It's alive" I just pictured his gloves and clothes being all bloody and him looking with this uncaring and cruel expression... Yours is more entertaining XD Haha, that's awesome! Housewife Luffy... brilliant. The Straw Hat's stories are all closely linked to the main plot in different ways. A few have been mentioned so far, but more will be talked about in the future. No one can win against Luffy :P Yes, Sabo is VERY scary. And he gets worse. A lot worse. You've been warned. Thanks, glad you like them! I have fun writing the omakes ^^ Hey! I'm not sadistic! ...much. Shanks goes by Akagami in the underground. That combined with the fact that Shanks hasn't been very active in recent years meant that Ace didn't learn much about him. Lol I'd love to see that Zombie!Ace fanart XD Yep, Sabo corrupted Law. You'll find out about Makino later ;) A drunk Sabo is a Sabo you don't want to see :P Or, well, LAW doesn't want to see. Yeah, you guys will find out how and why Shanks lost his arm. It's an important part of his backstory. I make no promises about character death :P Hehe, Law had a lot of self-control for not killing Luffy then and there XD Luffy's mind would be a very, very scary place.
Gyuchin: Well I'm glad you gave it a try :D Awe, you flatter me~~ I'll be sure to update whenever I can! :) The next chapter is going to be fun muahhaha...
jazz9599: Glad to hear you're enjoying it :)
Leite Destiny: Thanks so much! You're so sweet ;_; If you finish that sketch of the Blue Gentleman I'd love to see it ;) Yeah, that chapter was really big. I got reviews, PMs and Skype calls about it XD I plan on drawing some stuff for this fic, actually, but I don't plan on uploading them anytime soon. You're so nice QAQ The plot for this story was originally just AceLu and very short and simple, but I started being like "Hey, adding this would be fun!" and that continued to happen until it became unrecognisable and VERY complex XD I'm happy with it, though. Thanks, I'll be sure to take my time, but I have a lot of fun writing this story so sometimes it IS how I relax XD It's the most fun out of all my stories (or the ones I'm currently uploading to the site, at least) so sometimes writing it is almost like a therapy for myself. That scene with Sabo and the 200 people hasn't been explained yet. I'm glad to see you noted it! :D As you've probably noticed, this story is EXTREMELY long so there are things from early on that won't be mentioned again until quite a while later, so it's good to make mental notes of them ;) As for what that was about, you'll have to wait and see. Oh I never mind long reviews! I LOVE THEM XD Yes, Ace just has a crossed-out S as his tattoo. As for Luffy knowing or not knowing about Sabo's violent side, remember how he mentioned to Law that he was scary? Well that's all I'm saying :P Law's funny because you guys know the most backstory of him aside from Ace yet you don't know the important bits :P Yes, Luffy's like that both in canon and in the fic, but for different reasons. You flatter me ^^ And don't apologise, I love reading long reviews! (Now to the 2nd review~) Yes, he was referring to Law. Question is... actually, I'm not going to ask you that question. It might contain spoilers :P Well whether you decide to comment on all the chapters or not, I'm happy to read them ^^ SaboLaw has grown on me a lot too. That's why I've added it to other stories XD The next chapter continues on from the last scene in this chapter and only contains Law and Sabo's perspectives so you'll get 2 differing views on what's going on (and really minor SaboLaw hints) so hopefully you'll enjoy it :)
Starry Roses: Welcome back and happy holidays!
(That took a VERY long time to get through, not that I'm complaining :P I love reading all your reviews. It really motivates me! So thank you all and I hope to hear from you next chapter. Actually, I think this was the most reviewed chapter yet... by far... Thank you all so much for the support QAQ Oh! Also, guess what? Next month is this story's 1 year anniversary! My baby's growing up! *sniffle* Should I do something special for it? Let me know if you have any ideas! Adieu~)