A/N: Welcome to the chapter, one and all.

27. Little Baby Brother

Once his shift is over, Law is dragged to Zoro's room by Shachi. Sanji was lounging in comfortable clothing on a chair near the bed, watching Zoro amusedly as he stood and stretched his stiff limbs, wincing in pain every few seconds.

"Told you you wouldn't be fine," the blonde sighs. "I don't know why you think you'd be raring to go after that nasty cut."

Zoro ignores him and draws back his shoulders, slinging an arm across his chest and pulling back his elbow. "I just have more pain than I thought. Don't get your boxers in a twist Shit Cook, I'll get used to it."

"You know, I really could've bought into that ruse, but I'm actually worried about you for once, so please just rest, Marimo."

It was then Law and Shachi came tumbling in. The surgeon checks them both over. "...How're you holding up?"

"Law!" Sanji grins. "How've you been? Feels like it's been ages."

Shachi shuts them in. "Same here, honestly."

"I'm good, just some lingering bruises," Law replies, edging further into the room.

The blonde hums. "I'm doing fine too, pretty much back to normal. This one, though-" He jerks his chin over to Zoro, who frowns at him, "-is still in some pain. Not as bad as before, but enough that his ass should still be in bed."

"Y'know, part of that was from you punching me in the stomach, you know that right?"

"I'm glad you guys are faring better." Law looks between the two of them. "When are you gonna leave?"

"...Why am I getting ignored?"

Sanji whips out his phone for the time. "It's getting close to six, so now, actually. Visiting hours are gonna end soon."

"If you wanna stay a little longer, it's okay," Law offers. "I'm here, so they won't say anything."

Zoro sits back on his bed after getting as close to loose as he can get. "Nah, that's the one thing they've been really strict about now. I overheard a nurse talking about it. Because of...the incident, all visitors gotta leave once six hits. For patient safety, they said."

Law crinkles his nose, ignoring the pit in his stomach. "Really? I didn't know that."

"I've heard rumors but I didn't know it was true," Shachi murmurs, holding a thoughtful hand to his lips. "It used to be eight, right?"

"Used to be," Sanji affirms, standing. "So let's hurry and leave, yeah?"

Shachi makes a move to grab Zoro's belongings, but the blonde waves him away. "I got this, thanks though."

"I'm starving for some real food," the green haired grumbles, holding his middle as he stands. "These hospital meals ain't doing shit."

"What about the food I brought you? All that takeout from Baratie?" the red head questions. Sanji chuckles as he shoulders a couple bags. "Dude, that was gone in about ten, fifteen minutes tops."

Law shakes his head as Shachi dissolves into various sounds of disbelief.

Zoro's already out the door, noisily complaining of his dire need for a decent meal, and the blonde is on his heels, seething at the man to quiet the hell down. Ironically, he's the louder of the two.

"Let's take our leave as well, shall we?" Shachi grins, and Law motions with his hands to the door. "After you."

The red head bats his lashes at him, bashful. "My, what a gentleman!"

"Shachi, I will yeet you out the window if you don't move your ass."

"'Yeet'?"

"I've...been around Luffy for too long. Learning his lingo."

"Ah."

As if on cue, his phone rings. The surgeon digs around for it and pulls up the caller ID. Speak of the devil.

"Oooh the boyfriend," Shachi coos, wiggling his eyebrows at him. Law shoots him a look as he skirts further down the hall for a little more privacy. "Give me a minute."

"I'll be here," Shachi snickers after him.

Finally around the safety of a corner, he answers the call. "What's up Luffy?"

"Hey," comes the shallow voice on the other end.

Law is quiet for a moment. He sounded a little forlorn. "...Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I mean, as fine as I can really be at the moment." There's an exhale of breath through the nose on the other end. "...You know, Buggy asked me the same thing this morning."

"Who?"

"The bus driver. Middle aged, blue hair...looks like a clown?"

"Oh yeah, I remember him. Lil rough around the edges, but he was nice."

"Right? But anyway. Um..." Luffy trails off, and when he speaks again, his voice is even softer. "When are you coming home?"

Law isn't too sure why the place where his heart should be flutters at the words, but it does. The surgeon felt the familiar tingle of a blush pinch his cheeks for what seemed like the first time in years. His emotions have dulled to a monotone drone ever since the passing of his father, so for him to react like this at simple words was a marvel in and of itself.

Only Luffy could do this to him, even when he's staring in the face of grief.

"Um, I should be back in-" Law removes the phone from his ear to check the time. "Maybe in another twenty minutes?"

There's a relieved breath. "Oh, good."

"What, you in my apartment or something?" Law jokes, but to his surprise, Luffy actually sounded nervous.

"If...I said yes, that's okay right?" Luffy asks softly, and the surgeon is stunned into silence. He didn't mind the teen coming over, not in the slightest, but Luffy would usually text him, giving him a heads up. The only other time he'd come over without announcement was the time when they placed truth or dare.

When Luffy wanted to spend time with him.

"Of course, I don't mind at all," Law returns easily. "I'll be there soon, alright?"

"Heck yeah." There's a spring back in Luffy's voice. "I'll be waiting. I have a surprise."

"Oh? I'm excited."

Law can hear the smile over the phone. "You should be. You might think it's a little gross though."

What? "Nothing you give me could be gross, Luffy."

The teen on the other end chuckles. "How much you wanna bet?"

Well...it could've been worse, Law thinks grimly, holding up the spoonful of rice and thick specimen.

Luffy had cooked for him.

Though the image of Luffy in an apron and struggling to turn off the stove was a lovely surprise in and of itself, and it might've made him freeze in the door in open mouthed shock, that wasn't what Luffy had in mind when he said 'surprise'. The teen had cooked- and Law was being extremely generous with that word, attempted is what it really should be- him some curry. Despite how it turned out, at the end of the day, it was really thoughtful and sweet of him. But Law just couldn't help but wonder.

How in the world did Luffy even do this?

The teen was able to turn the usual brown-orange color into a purple. Law didn't even think something like that was possible. Maybe it was a special talent of the younger.

The teen sits at the island with a plate, digging in without so much as a second thought. Law sat beside him, watching with an expression he hopes is schooled into nonchalance. It was a little sickening watching all the food go down so fast, especially because of its questionable color, but Luffy soon finishes his plate, licks the purple from his lips, and gets up for another serving. Law had yet to take a bite of the rice and curry, a bit scared his digestive system would rebel against him. Luffy could eat anything and take it like a tank. Law on the other hand, was a bit more picky with his food.

As Luffy returns to his seat, he notices the look on the surgeon's face and frowns. "Have you tried it yet?"

Law takes a deep breath. "I'm not going to lie. I'm a bit terrified."

Luffy snorts and shoves a spoonful into his mouth. "Tastes better than it looks."

The surgeon makes a doubtful sound in his throat, then grunts when Luffy socks him playfully in the shoulder. "Just try it."

The surgeon takes a deep breath, one from his gut. "If I die..."

"God, you are the most dramatic-" Luffy rolls his eyes. "Law, eat the damn curry."

His eyebrows shoot upwards at the command, and for some twisted reason, he feels his face reddening. Oh god, he hopes that didn't just awaken something within him.

"Yes sir," Law obeys, bringing the spoon to his mouth to partake of the meal. The first taste he's hit with is something surprisingly familiar. And sweet. He chews slow, brows knitted in concentration.

"Is this...beetroot?" he asks after he swallows, floored. Luffy grins into his water cup. "Yup."

Law tilts his head a few times, humming as he tastes. It wasn't nearly as terrible as he thought. Different for sure, but not awful. He wasn't used to dishes like this. The curry was just a little on the bland side, but an extra few shakes of salt could fix that, easy. And...maybe a few more spices. What else could make it better..?

He needed to taste it again.

Law feels Luffy grinning at him as he brings another spoonful to his lips. And another. Then another.

"This...isn't all that bad, actually," he admits between bites. "I mean the potatoes are a little undercooked, and there's a bit too much cinnamon, but..." Law makes an appreciative sound, and Luffy huffs out a dismissive breath.

He can feel Luffy's gaze on him, slightly taken aback by the bluntness of his statement. As if a filter has been peeled back. Law means no harm, truly, it's just...how he was now. A bit rougher around the edges. But Luffy didn't deserve that. There's a clarification on his lips, but Luffy cuts him off. The look is gone.

"I told you," the teen side eyes Law, helping himself to another scoop of rice. "And I'm not Sanji, so of course it won't be perfect, duh."

Luffy swallows before adding, "Has anyone ever told you you're a picky eater?"

Law quirks the side of his lip. "No one has to tell me, I already know."

"How tragic. Guess we're gonna have to change that, aren't we?" Luffy grins, mimicking the words Law himself said when he had cooked. Though Law wasn't one for venturing out to try new foods, if it was Luffy doing the cooking or recommending, he just might step out of his comfort zone.

"Sure," he responds, and Luffy makes a whooping sound.

"By the way...thank you, Luffy," Law says, turning to him with a small smile. Luffy blushes softly at the words and shakes his head, gaze on his food. "It's no problem. I wanted to...see you anyway." The last words end in a low grumble.

Law raises an eyebrow. "Come again?"

The teen turns to him, looking like a pipe about to burst. And then. He does.

"After I came back on the bus from Amazon Lily- oh god I need to tell you about the bus ride there- I was bored to death because Barty was still not back so I tried doing the unthinkable, schoolwork of all damned things, but I just couldn't focus! Like at all. I was so frustrated- I still am to be completely honest. So I was like shit what to do? I even tried going to the dance studio but my stupid head kept wandering back to you and how you got called in for that crazy surgery and how stressful it must've been, so I was like hmm, wait a minute. I could try to do something for him, like a thank you or whatever. And my dumbass decides to cook. Cook! My god, worst decision of my life. Do you know how long it took to make this? Hours. I haven't stepped in a kitchen to cook in god knows how long, and this just-"

Law finishes his plate and stands, rounding the island to get to the sink. He watches Luffy ramble with a tender smile plastered on his face. The teen was just so effortlessly adorable. He truly didn't have to try. As the surgeon places his clean dish in the rack, he sees Luffy frowning- well, more so pouting- at him. Law looks from his angry eyes, to his lips, then back again.

"...What is it?"

"You just keep..." The teen reddens further. "It's not fair. You and your stupid eyes. They throw me off."

"But I wasn't doing anything."

Luffy washes down the last of his curry with water and shoves the plate towards Law, who washes it while watching the younger with a poorly controlled grin. "Yes, you were. You liar."

The surgeon tilts his head, innocent. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Luffy narrows his eyes for a moment, regarding him, before pushing up from his stool. "You know what? Never mind." He walks away from the kitchen and plops down on the couch.

Law chuckles and places the second dish in the rack. He dries his hands and faces Luffy. "No, please. Enlighten me. I want to do better. What was I doing?"

The teen was reeling, and covering his head with his hands. "Oh my god, Law. You're really gonna make me say it. I swear you're the biggest tease I know."

"That's pretty funny." Law arches a mischievous brow in his direction. "I think the same thing about you."

Luffy opens his mouth to retort, then closes it, remembering their early encounters. "Shit."

Law barks out a laugh as he walks into the living room. He leans over the armrest to capture Luffy's lips in an upside down kiss. The teen below him immediately opens his mouth wider and brings his hands to Law's sideburns, bringing him closer. Luffy's irresistible like this, and Law absolutely loved it.

The surgeon repositions himself to be on the couch, straddling Luffy's hips with long legs. The teen knocks back his head and the older slides a hot tongue over his neck, his strong fingers holding Luffy's cheek and chin out to the side. At the quickened breaths of the younger, the surgeon grins. Law bites down on the soft flesh, and below him, the teen lets out a strangled cry.

"Good god- ah!"

Law's hands explored his chest, and brushed over nipple. He smiles into the bruising flesh at the reaction and sucks mercilessly, branding himself onto the younger. The surgeon tilted Luffy's neck even further to run his tongue over the teen's jugular and Adam's apple, grazing teeth against the sensitive area. Once he finds another stretch of untouched skin, Law plants a kiss so wantonly that he hears Luffy's breath leave him in a shaky exhale. It soon turns rough, and Law growls into the flesh with bared fangs. The teen's fingers had laced into his hair and took root, curling tightly at every touch and mark Law left.

The surgeon turns gentle as he returns to Luffy's mouth, sighing against the plump lips. He feels the rapid fire heart beat of the younger hot against his chest as he fully rests against the teen below him. Luffy lazily kisses him back, hot breath dancing across Law's cheeks.

When they separate, Luffy stares deep into Law's eyes for several moments. "The gold in your eyes. It does this thing where it like...glitters sometimes," he says softly, reaching up and rubbing a thumb over his cheekbone. "Did you know that?"

Law shifts so his hands wrap around Luffy's middle. "No, I didn't." He pauses. "Is that what was happening earlier?"

"Maybe," Luffy admits sheepishly, smiling. "It's just. Really pretty and really distracting."

Something stirs in Law, and he reaches up to kiss the expression right off Luffy's face. "So are you, Luffy," he murmurs against him, and the teen hums affectionately against his lips. He felt warmth spread from his mouth all the way down to his toes, followed by flares of electricity. The surgeon felt his brain turn to mush as Luffy moaned quietly into his mouth, and Law responded by biting his lip in kind. When the teen smiles against him, Law knew he was a goner. God, the effect Luffy had on him. Unparalleled.

Luffy pulls back in a daze, but winces, gingerly touching the skin on his neck. "This is gonna bruise like crazy, isn't it?"

"Oh yeah." Law's pride in his work is damn near palpable as a grin splits his face. "I made sure it would."

The teen looks at him accusingly. "And I'm the tease."

"Correct."

Luffy throws a pillow at him, stifling his next words. It makes Law fall backwards on the sofa. Now freed, the teen stands. "Imma go see how bad it is," he mutters.

Law peeks at Luffy's retreating form as he heads to the restroom. "It looks great, if I do say so myself."

"Of course it does," Luffy scoffs as he enters. At the string of curses that follow, Law has to hold his mouth to keep from laughing.

The teen exits with his entire face aflame. "How did you even do that?"

Law raises his brows suggestively. "Want me to show you again?"

Luffy blushes further but doesn't comment. He shoves his hands into his pockets as he stalks back to the couch, and Law watches his every move like a viper, ready to pounce once more. And he would have, too, had Luffy not removed his hands and came back with a folded piece of paper. The teen looked troubled.

"Hey, what's up?" Law asks gently, touching Luffy's shoulder. His entire aura seemed to make a u-turn. The surgeon blinks down to the note. "What's that?"

"I was going to tell you over dinner, but I forgot," Luffy breathes. "Got...side-tracked."

Law is quiet as the younger turns the paper over in his hands.

"On the bus to Amazon Lily this morning, some guy gave me it. I don't know who it was, but one minute, people are getting off the bus, and the next I have this, and no one's near me."

The younger begins to unfold it. "Usually I'd ignore something like this, since my fans can get a little wild, but...here, look."

Law reads over the message and feels himself getting increasingly concerned. "What the fuck..."

"I know." Luffy sighs and runs his hand back through his hair. "I don't know what to make of it."

"What time is it? Isn't it close to seven?"

Luffy walks over to the island, where his phone lay. He makes a face. "Ten till."

Law stands, heart beating hard and fast. "If I push the speed a little, we can make it."

The surgeon rushes to grab his keys and wallet, and Luffy stands gaping behind him. "Are you really gonna just trust this and go?"

"Of course not," Law snorts, stuffing his wallet into a back pocket. "I'm calling Shachi and the others to come too. And you should probably call Zoro and Sanji. We'll need all the eyes we can get."

Luffy scrambles after the surgeon, who was making a beeline for the door. "But isn't this dangerous? We have no idea what this note could really mean. Plus, Zoro and Sanji just got out of the hospital. Not to mention you're still healing from your own injuries..."

Law tosses Luffy his yellow scarf and smiles so wickedly that the teen is taken aback.

"Dangerous? Please." Law bends to put on his shoes. "That could be information we need right there. People don't write shit like that unless it's important."

When Luffy still didn't seem so sure, Law stands and pulls him into a hug.

"Don't worry," he murmurs into his hair. "We'll have others watching our backs in case of some shady shit, and I'll be here the whole time. I'll make sure everything will be alright. Okay?"

Luffy nods into his chest, and Law pulls away, grinning. Something was so off about that smile, Luffy thinks worryingly. It was like he wasn't nervous or apprehensive at all.

He looked more excited.

Luffy furrows his brows as Law turns to unlock the door. "After you," he purrs, and when Luffy exits, the surgeon is right behind him, bouncing on his toes. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, and his head was crystal clear. He felt on high alert, not anticipating, but ready to react quickly if needed. Though he didn't have a sword like he did sixteen years ago, he had a pocket knife, which could be even deadlier if whoever this was ticked him off hard enough.

It's been so long since he's felt this way.

He lets Luffy lead him out of the apartment complex and into his car. As he straps himself in, his left arm ached, reminding him of the bullet graze he was still dealing with. He pauses. Bullet graze. Bullet. A...bullet..?

Fuck.

He hits the steering wheel, cursing, and Luffy looks over to him wildly. "Hey, hey, hey, what's wrong?"

"I'm such an idiot, I fucking forgot," Law grits. When Luffy waits for him to explain, he sighs and continues.

"One of the patients I was operating on," he says, backing out of the parking lot, "was hit by the same bullets that killed Corazon."

The teen before him goes wide eyed and silent. "...What?"

"Yeah, I couldn't believe it either."

"...There's no way they're not connected."

Law gives him a dry smile. "That's exactly what I thought." He turns onto a street and drives down the darkening roads.

Luffy drops his shoulders and watches the greenery go by. "...This is so crazy."

"It is, but we have to deal with it somehow. I'll just go in first thing tomorrow and talk to him. He should be awake by then. Hopefully, I'll get some answers. I don't want to lose this lead."

"Yeah. That'd be useful."

The surgeon pulls out his phone without breaking eye contact with the road and hands it to Luffy. "Pin is your birthday. Could you give those idiots a call? Then the lovebirds as well?"

That was cute. He had changed his own pin to Law's. "Sure." Luffy gets to work dialing, heart in his throat. Hopefully, whatever they were about to get themselves into wasn't too risky.

The last thing they needed at the moment was more injuries.

Earlier That Day

"Why did you put yourself in danger like that?" Sabo fumes at his colleague. "We were just briefed on the situation by the nurse, Barty. You almost died!"

From beside him, Koala rubs at her eyes sadly. "I almost had a heart attack when I heard the news. Barty...you scared the crap out of me. Out of all of us. When I phoned HQ, everyone panicked."

The green haired man was sorrowful, but adamant. "I'm sorry to worry you guys. Really. I don't want anyone to be sad, but I still think it was worth it. I was able to figure out what their next move is!"

"Yes, you were," Sabo sighs, "but at what cost? Because if it's this-" He vaguely gestures to his bed. "-then I'm sorry, but I'd much rather stay in the dark."

It was the middle of the afternoon when Barty woke up to someone's voice. The sleep in his system blurred his vision, but he could at least tell he had visitors. When the figures beside his bed came into focus, surprise made him freeze.

Sabo and Koala stood before him, scared, the latter crying but trying to keep it together. The blonde looked pretty upset as well, and for good reason. Although Barty can sympathize with their worry for him, he did not regret his decision. He couldn't. How could he? He had gotten a crap ton of info.

So what if he took a couple bullets for it?

Koala puts a calming hand on Sabo's forearm, and she turns to the recovering man. "Barty," she begins softly. "We know that you're passionate about this job. Everyone in the Revolutionary Army has been trying to catch our man in the act. We're just as anxious about this as you are, but we work as a team. Always."

Sabo still shook with rightful anger. "What did you expect to do, take everyone down by yourself? You've gotta stop acting like your body has some sort of magical barrier, because it doesn't! We worry for you, man! Especially now that Cavendish isn't glued to you anymore." At the mention of his ex, Barty recoils. The last thing he needed right now was to remember that man. Thinking about him hurt deeper than the bullets.

"Sabo..." the red head begins, but Barty draws his lips into a line and raises up a hand. "It's okay. He's right anyway. I was...being stupid and reckless."

The two Revolutionaries quiet as Barty struggles to sit up in bed. The green haired situates himself as painlessly as he can, then turns to his comrades. "I thought I could investigate the places we were suspecting and come out with some news unscathed...of course, that didn't go as planned."

"We're just glad you're okay, Barty," Koala says softly. "The doctor said you were very lucky."

The green haired smiles. "I got lucky last night too, because the first place I checked out, they were both there."

"Both Kaido and Doflamingo?" Sabo asks, stunned. At Barty's nod, he exchanges stupefied glances with Koala.

"But...they never meet up," the red head mutters, baffled. "Not unless it was something of...great...importance." Her speech slowed down as the realization hit her, and she snaps up to Barty.

"Did you by chance get to hear what they were discussing?"

Barty exhales slowly. "Most of it, yeah. It wasn't a long meeting though."

She takes in air shakily, and her words are barely audible. "What were they talking about?"

The man looks between the two of them before dropping his gaze to his folded arms. "Remember when we were looking into him manufacturing drugs and stuff? Well, it looks like that part is over now. They've already started selling it in the blackmarket."

There's a deathly silence in the room.

"Shit," the blonde curses, pinching the bridge of his nose. "That was the one thing I hoped to avoid."

"Yeah, things aren't turning out too well," Barty admits. "They even called them 'Phase 2' SMILEs."

Koala purses her lips. "They've gone bigger and better, huh?"

"They have. But there was a mistake made in the midst of it all, and that was one of the main topics of the meeting."

The blonde closes his eyes tiredly. "I have an idea it has something to do with that club getting burned down."

"Bingo," Barty nods. "Apparently, Doflamingo's brother found out that he was working with Kaido. He helped run the club with him. Didn't even know the man had family, let alone siblings."

"How the hell did he mess up that bad?" Koala asks, frowning. "We barely get any info for months on end, and his brother uncovers the scheme?"

"They are related," Sabo reminds her. "Who knows what this brother of his is like. He could be just as cunning and intuitive as our man. Plus, he can always be around Doflamingo without arousing suspicion. That's a big advantage we don't have."

"I don't know how he found out, but he did," Barty continues. His voice takes on a sullen tone. "Apparently, Doflamingo was at Caesar's lab when his brother uncovered the truth, so he made one of his men who was there try to kill him. Name's...Trouble? Truffle?"

"Trebol," Sabo corrects. "We knew he was close to Doflamingo, but to be asked to do that..."

"Never mind him, is this brother of Doflamingo's okay?" Worry lines the red head's face. "His info would be of great use to us if we can get into contact with him."

Barty casts his gaze downwards. "Hold on, lemme finish."

His dejected response gives Koala pause, and she relinquishes the floor back to Barty. "This Trebol guy apparently had some trouble killing the brother, and ended up failing. Doflamingo was raving mad when he found out. Just retelling the story, the guy was pissed." The green haired shudders at the memory.

"Since Doflamingo 'failed to keep everything under wraps'," Barty makes air quotes at the words, "To prevent any further information leaks, Kaido wanted to burn the entire club to the ground. And get this- he paid off the police to do it, and they're all staying hush hush about it."

"Of course it's the police!" Koala sneers, blue eyes narrowing. "Those bastards, never doing their damn job. And they only got worse ever since that shitty Akainu took up the position as Chief."

"Hold on," Sabo says slowly. "Isn't this exactly like-"

"That incident from two years back," Barty finishes for him. "Yeah. I'm thinking something similar happened back then, too. I have no idea if Doflamingo was involved, but Kaido definitely must have been."

"What did they say happened after, Barty?" Koala prompts.

"Right. So Doflamingo is furious because his club is getting burned down, and he leaves to hurry back there. Even though the Trebol guy said he was shutting off the exits into the club, trapping his brother in to try and kill him again, it was too late. According to Doflamingo, the fire was imminent and indiscriminate. It'd take out anyone in its vicinity. So he told Trebol to just save his own ass, and he would come to finish the job himself."

Sabo and Koala are very, very quiet. "So what you're saying is..?" the woman whispers.

Barty gulps thickly. "The brother found out the truth, and Doflamingo killed him because of it."

Sabo stares hard at the edge of his bed, saying nothing for a long time. When he does speak, he sounds pained. "That damned bird. He would even go this far, wouldn't he?"

"We've got to get in there and stop him now." Koala's hands are angry fists.

The green haired makes a sound of agreement. "I agree. But we've got to be even more careful when we go in. They've...upped the ante."

"How could they possibly do that?"

Barty turns to the red head. "They have a hostage."

Sabo tsks, face contorted into annoyance. "Of course they do, the scoundrels. I hope he or she's alright. Get a description of 'em?"

"Better," Barty gives them the smallest of smiles. "I got a time and a place."

"...What do you mean?"

Barty closes his eyes as he travels back down memory lane. "Doflamingo and the others were talking at a table in this enormous warehouse. Lots of big cargo blocks I could hide behind. As I was watching them from the shadows of one, I look around and realize one of the boxes isn't a box, but a jail. And I've seen the guy in there before." Barty rubs his neck and studies the floor. "He's my roommate's ex. I have no idea how the hell he ended up in that situation, but he seemed pretty roughed up. He was an asshole to my friend, but...I kinda felt bad for him. There was more blood than skin, and he just sat there all alone."

"God, I wonder what happened," Sabo muses with a hooked finger on his chin. "And although I condone needless bloodshed, I have to wonder...why aren't they killing him?"

Barty shrugs. "I have no idea. But the guy looked a couple feet in the grave. When he finally sees me, his eyes almost pop out his head. I'm motioning him to not make a fuss, please, but he ignores me and shouts out, 'Three Days, Mard Harbor, seven' real loud. I was scared shitless because the guys at the table were all like 'why did he suddenly say that?'. I turned and ran. No way I was sticking around after that. But Doflamingo saw me, pulled a gun, and aimed."

"He's the one who did this to you," Koala concludes, frowning.

"Yeah. And that's pretty much everything."

"So something is happening in three days at Mard Harbor? Around seven?" Sabo shakes his head in disbelief. "We'll have to mobilize a force to intercept. That hostage has some balls to do that in front of them, especially not knowing who you are."

"Not gonna lie...I was shocked as well," Barty mutters, mind wandering back to their unfortunate first meeting.

"All those guards and shit he has, you got past them twice?" Koala was watching him with her jaw on the floor. "How did you..?"

"Just watched my back real carefully. I did promise to not get hurt..." Barty shrugs. "Even after I got hit, when I exited the building, there happened to be a medical vehicle nearby to help me. I just have crazy good luck, it seems."

"No wonder you're at the top when it comes to infiltration. You are a force of nature, my man," Sabo exhales, shaking his head. "That sounds insane."

"Just hearing it makes my heart race." Koala presses down on her chest for emphasis. "God. You are something else."

"That's why I don't regret it, you know?" Barty looks over the extent of his injuries. "As much as I got hurt, this information is valuable. For capturing Doflamingo, for ending their scheme, and...even for Luffy. Poor guy's been struggling ever since the Going Merry burned down."

"Luffy?" Koala questions.

"My roommate," Barty smiles softly. "He's a really good guy, he's just been- um. Sabo? You alright?"

The blonde had turned into a sheet, and stared down at Barty with the most terrifying gaze he's ever seen on the man. How the hell do eyes get that damn big? He seemed to be coming to terms with something, and Barty could practically see the steam coming out his ears from thinking so hard.

"Luffy," Sabo tries the name on his tongue. "...Luffy?"

Barty raises an eyebrow at him. The man was strange on a day to day basis, and sure, this day was a little weirder than most for obvious reasons, but this is the first time he's seen the blonde look so helplessly confused.

Sabo stills as it finally hits him.

Realization washes over his features, and to Barty and Koala's horror, the man inhaled a sticky, wet breath. His bottom lip trembled, and he began to shake as his eyes welled with tears. Sabo, the Chief of Staff, crying? It wasn't unwelcome, but it was a stark contrast to his normal self, and Barty finds himself unabashedly gaping. He closes his jaw as the man speaks.

"Does...does he wear a straw hat?" he sniffs through his tears. "Good god..."

Barty jumps at the slight nudge Koala gives him. Oh. That question was directed at him. "Uh, yeah. Sometimes."

"No fucking way..." Sabo palms at his eyes. "Shit."

Barty glances up to Koala, and she greets his concerned gaze with a wide one of her own. So she didn't know what was going on, either. She narrows her eyes, racking her brain for an explanation. Barty watches as memories play across her countenance, and at a particular one, she throws a hand over her mouth. "Oh my god, Luffy was his name, wasn't it..."

"Am I...missing something here?" Barty asks, darting between the two of them. Sabo had braced his arms against the bed for support as he fell apart. Koala moved to rub comfortingly on his back, watching Barty with her features tugged downward.

"Can you describe him?"

"Uh, let's see," the green haired begins. "He's got black hair, round eyes, pretty skinny. Oh wait, that could describe anyone. Luffy...uh. Has a baby face? I don't know if that helps."

Sabo chokes on what sounds like a mix between a sob and a laugh. "That would be him," he says with a sniff, wiping at his wet face. "After all these years."

Barty was so confused at this point, he outright spoke his mind. "Why are you crying over Luffy? Do you know him or something?"

"Do I know him?" Sabo repeats incredulously. "Do I fucking know him?"

The blonde leans to grab Barty's shoulders, and Koala steps away. His eyes are sad, happy, stressed, thankful, and disbelieving all at the same time, and Barty finds himself shrinking under the sheer amount of emotion.

"Luffy is my brother," Sabo chokes, voice cracking. "My little baby brother."

Barty stares at him in shock. He's what?

"And for the last twelve years..." he continues, grip tightening. Barty almost complains because of the pain, but finds his breath gone at Sabo's next words.

"...I thought that he was dead."

A/N: Writer's block hit me hard once again. :( But as always, thank you for reading. Until the next!

P.S. Luffy's cooking is inspired by this scene from episode 780. He actually made this (with mistakes of course). Links in AO3.

P.P.S. The harbor Kidd yelled out, Mard. It's the first and last two letters of 'Marine Ford'. Take that as you will.