(Dark Carrier AU)

"Get me some ice cream. I want chocolate and vanilla. Get some freshly baked cookies to go with it," Ace ordered a slave who bowed and immediately headed for the door.

Ace sat down at the window seat and stared out at the blue sky before sighing and pulling away. He grabbed one of the discarded books on the side table and opened it, set on trying to focus on something else than the outdoors. He didn't bother closing the window though. There was really no breeze up here to disturb him after all.

A cry startled him but he didn't bother getting up. He glared at the doorway, spotting the tall, pale man wearing a strange mask. He held the slave girl by her arm, his other hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her sobs.

"Would you mind letting the girl go?" Ace raised a brow.

"I'm not going to hurt her," the man replied, voice heavy behind the mask. "It's surprising to see a Lord of a Celestial Dragon care about a slave."

"Don't really care to be honest. I just want my food," Ace said, sighing. "So, what do you want? Money? Women? Men? Or is this a kidnapping? I haven't had one of those in a long time."

"You say all that so dryly, Ace," a voice said from behind him, right at the open window.

Ace scowled and pulled away, although standing up was a bit more difficult considering he was about eight months pregnant. He didn't know the exact weeks, he didn't pay attention to all that, he just obeyed whatever the doctors and Cedric said on the matter. Ace refused to grow attached again.

Ace went over to the tea set at the other side of the room as a very familiar blonde man stepped down from the window, looking very awkward now. He gripped the edge of his top hat, lowering it down from his face, taking in a deep breath.

"Ace, this is probably going to be a shock for you but I need you to hear me out," Sabo began, wearily. "It's me... It's- I'm..."

"I already know, Sabo," Ace cut him off, raising a brow. "So what?"

Sabo looked taken aback, his eyes going wide. "What?"

Ace rolled his eyes, he really wasn't bothered dealing with this at the moment. He just wanted to go back to bed, maybe sleep for a few years. It wasn't meant to be though. Sabo and the tall guy remained in the study.

"Oh Sabo, did you really think I cared when Rob Lucci told me you were alive? Why would I? I don't know you. We haven't seen each other in years," Ace replied coldly.

"We're brothers."

"We drank some alcohol," Ace laughed, not allowing the guilt to seep in when he saw Sabo wince.

"What did they do to you Ace?" Sabo asked, so very softly.

"Cedric's loved me, been kind, caring. All the kind of things you would expect in a relationship to be honest," Ace mused. "Now, what are you here for?"

"I want to take you home."

"Well that would be a fairly short journey considering I'm already here," Ace gestured to the room. "Welcome to the study."

"Ace, you know what I mean-"

"Care to enlighten me?" Ace drawled out, gesturing to the pot. "Tea?"

Sabo spluttered. "Tea? No! And the Whitebeards! I want to get you back to your family-"

"Oh yes," Ace laughed, and it was a cold and bitter sound. "The Whitebeards. I heard they disappeared a while back. I guess Marshall D. Teach really did give them a run for their gold."

"Ace," Sabo's voice softened. "I am so sorry. I heard rumours you were trapped up here but I had hoped they weren't true when we couldn't find any records of you. I was a fool. I should have come sooner-"

"Why should you have?" Ace couldn't help but raise a brow. "I'm content where I am. I have a loving husband and we're about to have a family. I'm doing my duty."

"That's the priestess' words," Sabo spat, his eyes burning. "Not yours."

"Do yourself a favour here and leave, Sabo. You're going to get caught," Ace sighed as he sat down at the table. "I would rather that didn't happen to you but it wouldn't be my problem otherwise."

Sabo followed, kneeling down and actually reaching up to hold his hands. Ace nearly groaned but Sabo looked so desperate, so upset and it made Ace irritated that he still had such a bleeding heart, when he was meant to be calm and relaxed and let everything run off him like rain.

"You don't really mean that. Right, Ace?" Sabo asked, ever so softly, looking so desperate.

Ace wasn't sure if he should lie and tell him no, he didn't give a shit about him and send him off weeping or tell him that he did care and risk his brother doing something stupid. Ace debated about it for a second. This was no time to be soft hearted. Cedric would be furious at the very idea of Ace talking to Revolutionaries.

"I've already said my piece," Ace scowled, pulling his hands away from Sabo's, who looked pained. "Now release the slave and get lost. Go do some revolutionary things like paint graffiti and trash someone's house or something."

"It's a serious organisation-"

"Well, your serious organisation can let my slave get back to work, before she gets whipped, and then leave me in peace," Ace said coldly. "I don't want you here. So get lost."

"Ace, please. Come with me," Sabo pleaded. "Let me take you home."

"I'm already home, Sabo. I live here, with Cedric, and I refuse to leave."

"Dammit. Why do you never make things easy?" Sabo gritted his teeth and instantly Ace was on edge at the sight. He was even more on edge when Sabo's eyes met something behind Ace as he stood. "Take him."

Ace whirled round but froze when there was no one there. He didn't have even a moment to move, Sabo's arm wrapped around his own and pinned them to his sides while a hand clamped over his mouth and nose. A hand that had a cloth in it. Ace gave a protest and tried to struggle free, but Sabo had been fighting and training over the years, while Ace hadn't. He didn't stand a chance and he knew it.

He should have called for the guards the moment Sabo had stepped into the room but it was too late now. Ace felt his body sag into Sabo's arms and his vision blurred. Ace whimpered as everything began to grow heavy and hazy.

"Sorry, Ace. This is for your own good," Sabo murmured into his ear just as everything went dark.

He felt Sabo move his hand away from his mouth but Ace didn't have the strength to shout. His body completely relaxed and he slipped into a deep sleep.

.::.

Sabo ignored the pitiful struggle Ace put up. His brother hadn't properly exercised in a long time, he was also heavily pregnant, there was no way Ace could fight him off, not in his condition. Once Ace finally slumped into his arms, he apologised, he hadn't wanted to drug Ace. It would have been better if Ace came with him willingly, but it wasn't the first time he had been forced to kidnap someone (usually a panicked slave) to save them, and it wouldn't be the last either.

He scooped Ace up into his arms and turned back to Karasu who was still holding the girl's arm but he no longer had a hand clamped over her mouth. She seemed a bit more settled, even as tears continued rolling down her cheeks.

At least Karasu managed to convince her to come with them then. All they needed to do was break the collar and the chains. Sabo would do that when they were back in Morley's hiding spot, and then have her sent off to their hide out.