Mayhem

Causing violent and damaging disorder, also known as Chaos. This was the one word that Ace had remembered perfectly to describe the situation they were thrusted in. Blood. Ace roughly wiped his cheek as he ungracefully hopped to the side in time to avoid an armament cladded blade. He glanced at his palm and felt nothing as he stared at the red stain left behind. It had been a while since he'd saw, felt, smell, and tasted the burning sensation. Screaming. The man abruptly yanked his head back as Ace pushed one of his fingers a bit too far, resulting in the figure being disrupted and bending a way that wasn't normal by any standards. "Where is it?" Tears. Ace stared at the salty substance that rolled down the man's cheek as it dropped down to the ground. Maybe Ace had missed all of this too much, as he felt his heart throb and ache in his chest. "Just tell me then."

Pleasure.

He realized why he was so eager to cleanly slice through the human's flesh and stare at the warm crimson liquid that oozed out. Ace had missed this, he had fallen into the childish rhythm of the people he was with and ended up playing, 'house.' "Tch." He clicked his tongue as he threw another blade at the throat of a man trying to escape. "Mah." Obviously the young boy hadn't disliked thrashing about and taking people's lives, but after being restricted for a while it was suffocating as it flustered Ace's thoughts and bullied his conscience with unrelenting guilt.

Fire.

This was what Ace had missed the most. The gratifaction in indulging into his pure flames was a feeling that could not be measured especially when people and items burned at its expense. Everything just seemed to come undone when coming into contact with his flame and Ace cherished that.

"Ace."

More

"Ace?"

Even More

"Ace!"

Don't stop.

"Ace!" Two hands jerked the younger boy around. Apprehensive and anxious eyes met merciless ones, storm brewing quickly between.

The cruel eyes stayed still before snapping back to reality and their normal selves. He looked around before looking back at his previous guardian, he noticed the fear creeping into the adult's eyes. "I - Is something w-wrong? Cora-san?"

Just as Corazon was about to ask for elaboration, the thought of Law nested into his mind. "Law! We have to go to Law!"

Ace timidly nodded before stumbling behind the older man.

"Law! Law we did it! We got it!"

Law's vision faded in and out before he gathered the strength to focus on the vibrant red in front of him. Those idiots actually went and did it, why and how was none of his concern as relief rinsed his body and he allowed his shoulders to drag from its normal tense stature. "Ace . . . Cora-san." His breathing hitched before he continued. "I'm glad you're ok."

Ace stared down at the teenager, he looked like a donkey on it's last leg, close to kicking the bucket but fighting to stay about. He bit his lip trying to suppress the throbbing in his head, temples, and the anguish slowly building up in his throat

"Silence," Corazon snapped his fingers. "Hurry, it's the Op Fruit!"

Law dully stared back at the man, "The building is on fire and I heard gunshots." He struggled to gasp for air once more, "so I thought you were in trouble or something." He was sure he hadn't imagined the gunfire and the shouting at the top of the mountain, because at one point it had almost been enough to give him the strength to climb the contentious mountain, disregarding the strain it'd put on his entire being.

Excited eyes peered down at struggling one's, the man quickly responded to the boy's lacklusterness one upping it with more vibrant energy. "That's not important! Cheer up!" His scream caused Ace to attempt to hold his ear, "This fruit will save your life!"

"Even if I eat it, we don't know if it'll cure my disease."

Ace stifled, he hadn't noticed the other boy's non-humane instinct of wanting to live. He knows that he himself had his own fair share of demons and was in no position to judge someone, but watching it from another person that was close to him, a child nonetheless, was for Ace's lack of term, unsettling to say the least.

However, Law's counter argument was useless as the devil fruit was shoved down his throat. "Eat it!"

Ace struggled to watch the scene without cracking a smile, the weight and tension of the situation helping him stay stoic, he himself knew just how bad a devil fruit tasted. "This is go-"

*Pop*

The sound stilled both of the boys a sense of cold breeze sweeping the napes of their neck as they slowly tilted their heads up to watch the man's massive figure, they both cherished, crumble limply on the ground without so much of a struggle or a squirm.

"CORA-SAN!"

Their eyes reading concern, shock and confusion as they rushed to flip the man over.

Ace was the first to speak , "Wh- What happened? How?"

The younger boy's question fell on deaf ears as Law reverberated it, fear wiring his thoughts and emotions, "What happened!?" his voice tripped over its words as he pleadingly looked at the younger boy next to him

Ace heart raced as he timidly shook his head, "I - I don't know. I didn't see any of these wounds earlier." His hands began to twitch as he bit down on his lips, recalling and recounting the events as they flashed through his mind he searched for any hints of weakness the man showed or any suspicious traces of blood.

"You didn't see?!" Law's eyes were murked with fury as this was the first time he'd lashed out at the little one. "What do you mean you didn't s-"

"Law!" Corazon hitched from below the boys. "I'm not dead yet!" His pupils locked with Law, slow creeping disappointment and disdain sliding into his pupils and then trailed to Ace.

The man took a long drag of the air as his shoulder inclined and slowly declined, with the passing of the oxygen through his windpipes. He shoved his hand into his pocket anxiously and pulled out a capsule, "Give this to the marines . . . It'll help save a country named . . . Dressrosa."

Law and Ace exchanged a glance, before the older boy reached forward. "I hate marines, you know that . . ." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Who do I give it to?" The guilt in his eyes devoured his hatred.

Corazon managed to crack a grin, "A-Any marine will do." Both boys nodded intently, before stumbling off after one another.

{:}

"Do you think he'll survive?" Ace was one step behind Law, he wasn't aware that the older boy was able to run as fast as he was.

Law huffed and twitched his head in the kid's direction, "What? Why would you ask that?" Ace's pupils drifted down as he began to focus on the ground. The recent months spent with Corazon and Law had really made him soft and an outer shell compared to his old self. Law glanced back and paused. "Of course he'll survive." He stated, his eyes sharpened with passion and focus as he ran straight forward.

"Mm." With a new found determination Ace nodded his head.

As they neared the marine boat, Ace began to slow up. "Go on ahead of me. I'll wait here and be on lookout." He sheepishly reached a hand behind his head and scratched it. He didn't need to take chances, not right now at least.

Law skidded to a stop, leaving tracks in the snow, "Lookout? Bu- . . . ok. I'll be back quickly."

Ace nodded gratefully. He hadn't told anyone about his heritage and he wasn't going to risk them finding anything out about it today. "Good luck." He flashed a smile.

Law returned the expression by gesturing two thumbs up. Instead of Ace waiting he decided to head back to Corazon, keeping the man company.

{:}

Ace's throat clamped as his own skin crawled on top itself.

"V-Vergo?" Corazon croaked, "Don't tell me this is your se-secret mission." Corazon's eyes fluttered loosely before being covered by his hand. "Man."

Ace attempted to swallow the dryness away but it stayed stubborn. "Sp-Spoonman-san." He quietly whispered to no one but himself, his figure daunted amongst the snow. His eyes became more wide by the second, until his body flinched at the sudden sound, "I found someone!" Law poked his head from out behind the massive man. "Look!" He grinned making his eyes hug his cheeks.

"B-Boy?" Vergo eyed Ace before looking at the capsule in his hand, slowly gazing over the contents of the message. "Mm."

Law hopped down from Corazon's back, proud of the feat he had accomplished, however, before his feet could touch the ground he was tackled by Ace. "Move!" Law tried to retaliate but felt a sharp breeze cross his face as he witnessed a black figure rocket towards Corazon.

The superior man proceeded to beat Corazon mercilessly and cruelly, before kicking him away into the wooden items behind him.

Law watched helplessly, unable to do something, another passing breeze of the arctic as sent a shiver through Law's spine; that, or the man's fierce and predatory gaze that met his. He moved his fingers as they dampened by the minute from congregating sweat and his ears overheated. "Wh-What?"

"You stupid! That's Vergo-san," Ace hissed under his breath, his chest sweltering with uncertainty and confusion of the situation.

Before either of the boys could move, Vergo lept towards Law punching him in the face and joining Corazon in the state of unconsciousness.

Ace's eyes followed the older boy's route towards the ground, "La-" His voice was cut off short as his head snapped towards the aura that was emitting off of the older man. "Give me a break." Ace scoffed, "You're not mad, are you?" his attempt at lightening the situation proved feekle as the older man continued his relentless march towards the boy, expression not softening.

"Why would you hit him?" Ace's voice came out weaker than he had planned, as his limbs became numb from the snow. "Why are you in the marines? Why is Doffy's on brother scared of him?" He found his mouth running rampant in contradiction to his own mind's wants.

Vergo stopped before crouching down to Ace's level, "I should be asking why."

At Ace's confused expression, he inhaled slowly, "Why were you with him?" His shoulders heaved as he exhaled, "Why was he looking for a marine?" Ace's eyes widened by every word, "Why was he going to betray Doffy?" the last part rolled off of Vergo's tongue like oil.

Ace fell to the ground, staring up shocked. Ouch. His head was throbbing as mixed consciences fought for dominance and were speaking at the same time, today had taken a toll on him and it's only gotten worse.

"W-What?" He stared at Corazon's unmoving figure, "So are you going to kill him?" His question flowed out staticy, scared of the answer he would receive to what he'd consider a stupid question.

"Kill him?" Vergo pointed to himself, "Me? No, no that's Doffy's problem. Not mine." He then turned towards Ace, "But now you get to go home." He attempted to manage a wry smile as he dialed on the transponder snail.

While the older man was distracted by the voice that came through the phone, Ace noticed the other two figures on the ground began to move. He wanted to help, talk, or do anything, but his mind came to the conclusion that doing nothing would probably be more help to the pair than anything else.

"Corazon." Ace bit his lip, tears on the verge of spilling out, but wouldn't dare cross that line. "Law. I'm sorry."

At some point Ace had lost consciousness and was silently gazing around at his new surroundings before glancing up towards the sky, his eyes rested on the familiar steaks of light, as his mind slowly cleared from fatigue. His mind drifted over the thousands of memories he accumulated throughout his years and stumbled across one. Birdcage.

{:}

Ace was walking so he ould get some fresh air, the events of today raking through his mind non stop when he was yanked into the building and spazzed as a hand was put over his mouth.

"Calm down. It's me."

His captor released him for Ace to get a better look at his face, "C-Cora-san!" His eyes traveled down to their feet, "Law?!"

"Yes, yes it's us." Corazon smiled at the boy's reaction adding, "Are you surprised we're still al-"

"Why are you still here?!" Ace's shoulders bristled with his overwhelming emotions. "W-Why?" He choked out, his voice cracking with every syllable.

"We couldn't have left without you."

Ace's gaze hardened at the smoothness of the older man's response, "You're kidding right?" He felt disgusting as if his skin was becoming heated but not with its usual sensation. "You'll die!"

Corazon rested eyes and breathed out, taking in is surroundings. "I know."

"Stupid." Ace bit his lip, whilst turning around and heading for the door. He ignored all the calls and pleas behind him, his mind created enough noise by itself.

Ace walked from behind the building and watched as the pirate was controlled to slash down his beloved crewmate.

"Idiots. All of them are idiots." He wheezed staring off into the distance as the string ripped through numerous items. "The pirates, the marines, Vergo-san, Cora-san, Law, even Doffy!" Tears began to consume most of the eye, "Stupid!"

A hand rested on his shoulder and at this point Ace didn't care who it was, he would probably spout off and end up getting in trouble, but so be it.

"I feel like you can make all this chaos stop." Two vicious eyes pierced down at him.

Fear, an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous and likely to cause pain. Ace felt this, he felt all of it. After spending at least a year with Doflamingo, it had been a while since the emotion had flourished in Ace's emotions. But as of now it was creeping near his heart and at an alarming rate.

"W-Who are you?" He mentally scolded himself from stuttering. Rule one don't ever show fear unless you want the consequences for it.

"That doesn't matter."

Ace wanted to run, to look away so badly, but he was absorbed into the man's eyes. It was one of a wild animal, stalking its prey or protecting its territory. He felt that if he had turned his back now, then it would have been the end of his existence.

"It does matter." Ace steeled himself into his spot, his face's temperature dropped rapidly. "It does." Rule two: on the off chance you're able to deal with the fear, don't push your luck.

Ace had already broken two rules, only whatever god was out there would save him.

And the god did just that. The man chuckled, "You're cheeky brat, I like you and so will she." However the younger boy couldn't quite tell if the expression was genuine or more so sarcastic.

However, for any reason unknown, Ace frowned. He wasn't quite sure, but he knew it broke, rule three: Do not give the fear a reason to cause you pain or continue to threaten you.

"Hahaha, i'm taking you." The man wrapped his long arm around Ace, lifting the boy with ease despite the squirming and fighting back. "Also, I wouldn't activate any devil fruit if I were you."

The boy paused limply in the man's arms, 'How did he know?' Ace's thoughts ate him alive as the man began to pick up the pace to who knows where. However, sometime during the ride, he had blacked out.

{:}

"Why do you have him?"

"Well see you caused him some big problems, so he wants payback."

"What do you mean?"

"Those pirates you killed and stole from are under us."

"We didn't take your stupid devil fruit."

"Yada yada. Didn't your brother steal it? Don't take me for being dumb."

"It's not- Why him?"

"Usually we would settle for your whole crew's life, but be happy we're settling on just him."

"Why him?" The word repeated themselves unrelentlesly, grasping for the answer.

"Ugh, let's just say he interest me so in turn I know that he would interest him."

"Ughh." Ace's vision started off murky before lining up to see the two figures talking. One a man he knew well from the countless of tutor lessons, direction of orders and mayhem around any area they were in, whilst the other had just kidnapped him.

"I can't just let him go." Doffy tapped on the table, an obvious sign of him becoming more irritated, Ace recognized the gesture all too well as that would signal the end of his or his crewmates shenaningans, the word now sounding foreign for Ace to think of. "He's family. My family isn't items." Ace felt his skin crawl, when just a week ago he was sure that would of slightly delighted him in such a sick twist of manor but now that same word made his stomach churn and mind race with images of a black feathered man.

The older man sighed before leaning back in his chair, "Alright then, let's make a deal." His eyes glanced over to Ace which he didn't hesistate to throw a glare back weak as it was from the disorient mind of his, before firmly looking at Doflamingo. "Let him be with us for at the least a year." Ace jolted, what was this boot camp? A trade? Was he some type of item for fuck's sake?

Doffy paused, "I don't understand. Why do you want him so badly? It's confusing." Before staring back at Ace and hardening his resolve, which Ace couldn't understand for the likes of him why, to Ace the man was lucky enough to be called an associate much less a stranger for everything that had happened in the span of an hour or two caused a different picture to be painted so helplessly within the darkest crouches of his mind.

"Well, it's exactly as I said he's . . . interesting." The man didn't take his eyes away from Doffy, Ace used that time to begin to squirm and wiggle within the man's arms before giving out from a sudden wave of fatigue and finally realizing the shape and sturdiness of the man's muscle hidden underneath his black jacket.

Doffy pressed his fingers together, before sighing and making eye contact once more with the man. "You said a year . . . correct?" Ace blinked hard once, then twice because surely he didn't hear the sound of resignation within his previously feathered captain's voice, don't call Ace a dictionary but he knew what family was and normally one didn't give in on them so easily without much of a brawl or at least an argument.

"Correct, however, the more you show your displeasure of it, the more I want to keep him." The man nestled in his chair sending a wavering gaze to Ace that didn't fail to flip his stomach even more so than the recent turn of events, he didn't get internal instincts that screamed run away in the face of the man but the whole chronological of events up to the uncomfortable atmosphere of the room hadn't left him the sanest

Ace didn't like this man. He didn't know why, but he just didn't like him. Then again though, Ace didn't like anyone a lot of times.

"Alright. A year, no longer, but shorter if necessary." Doflamingo smirked, with veins creeping on his forehead.

The man nodded, before standing up with Ace secured in his arms.

"D-Doffy-san." Ace's blood chilled first victimizing his fingers and moving onwards. "Doffy-san?" His heart beat rapidly as if it was going to rip its way out of his chest, He's not really letting me go is he? Ace mustered all the oxygen into his lungs and opened his mouth, "DOFFY!"

"I'm sorry, Ace."

Sorry. "Sor-ry?" Ace held back the burns forming in the corner of his eyes. "Eh? Sorry?" His frame began to tremble and shake violently. "Sorry?"

The man looked down towards Ace, "Breathe, boy."

Ace hadn't realized he was making external noises while he was breathing, all he knew was that his chest was cramping and his throat followed suite by slowly sealing itself.

"Sorry?" He had blanked out.

A/N: This story is getting a lot of views but not nearly as many follows and likes but to those who have thank you! It means a lot and makes my day, but even more so a review to guide me as a writer would be even better! Thank you for this :)

Also this chapter focused mainly on Ace to give Sabo sometime to breathe in his chapter as I know this pace is fast so I don't want to rush it back to back.