Warning for child abuse and one creepy guard dude

"Ace, Benny, Cool, Duke, Ed, Frank, Guy, Huey…"

The kid was listing names relentlessly. He had been through the alphabet twice already and had yet to remember his own name. But he swore it was on the tip of his tongue. He was like a super happy kid. For whatever reason the current situation didn't seem to bother him. He didn't care that a mystery man was trying to steal him, nor that he was chained to a bed, nor that his father beat him or even that he couldn't remember his own name. Well he was a bit defensive about the last one. But he didn't seem to think it was out of the ordinary. He was just excited about being let go.

"You don't know where the key is?"

"If I did I wouldn't need your help… Ike, Jim, King, L…"

The bottom desk drawer was locked. Thatch snapped it open easily, digging around the papers there. Hidden away at the bottom of the drawer was a small silver key. Thatch grabbed it triumphantly. It was only then that he realized the near constant talking had faltered.

"Kid?" He asked coming back to the bedroom. The boy was standing on the bed, the cuff around his ankle fully visible. As was the thick chain that ran along it and a handful of bruises Thatch had initially missed. They should probably get him to a doctor sooner than later.

"No names start with L." The kid said simply, rocking back and forth on his feet.

"Yes there are. Thatch argued. Lloyd, Luke, Liam, Leo-" Thatch listed them off as he returned to the kid.

"Luffy!" He jumped on the bed, up and down.

"I don't think that's a name." Thatch told him.

"It is too! It's my name! SEE, I knew I didn't forget. It's Luffy. LUFFY!" He cheered hopping up and down. His legs gave out and he crashed onto the bed still laughing. "Take that!"

"You're sure?" Thatch asked kneeling besides him. He nodded, sticking out his ankle so the man could unlock it. The key snapped into it, dropping the chain off. But the cuff stayed attached to his ankle. Thatch frowned, firmly testing it with his fingers. Was it really sea stone? Who would go through the trouble unless?"

"Luffy?"

"Hm?"

"Do you have a devil fruit power by any chance? I can't get this off."

"Wat's that?"

"You know… a devil fruit. The fruit you eat and it gives you powers."

"Cool!" Thatch helped him down from the bed only for him to fall to the floor the moment his feet touched.

Thatch cussed as he pulled him back up, bringing him to sit on the bed. "Are you okay?"

The boy frowned, rotating his unbound ankle. "I think it's broken."

"What?" Thatch unwrapped the bandages that ran up the first half of his leg starting at his toes and going nearly all the way to his knee. The skin was a deep purple black. It looked dislocated. "What happened? How were you jumping around? Can you walk. Do you need me to carry you?"

"I can do it!" Determination was in his eyes and Thatch had to give it to him. He was tough.

"I know you can. But if it gets too be too much, I can carry you alright. It's going to be a bit scary outside. There is lots of fighting and you might see something really bad. Want to hold my hand?"

His nose crinkled. "No way, that's for babies." He tested the ankle again, a bit gentler. Smiling when he stabilized himself.

"How old are you Luffy?" Thatch took him by the wrist, helping to off put some of his weight. Apparently, that was acceptable as long as it wasn't his hand.

"Dunno."

Thatch wanted to be surprised but at this rate he had been expecting it. Something was seriously wrong with this kid. Brain damage? That would explain the absolute lack of fear. But he seemed lucid enough, kept up a conversation.

"How old are you?"

"Thirty-four," Thatch told him.

"That's really cool that you know that off the top of your head." He swung their arms between them as Thatch led him from the bedroom into the office.

"Most people do." Thatch unlocked the door, peeking down the hallway. The way looked clear. He pulled Luffy along. "If I tell you to cover your eyes do it all right."

"Kay," He agreed easily, looking around in excitement. "Wow, it's so big out here. Hey, can we go exploring?"

"Now's not the best time," Thatch told him. "Have you never seen the rest of the ship?"

"I think I have. Just a while ago. I'm not supposed to leave. I get in trouble when I disobey him."

"Your father?" Thatch asked. The kid nodded. "Is that what happened to your ankle?"

He shrugged. "Maybe. He does that when he gets mad."

"You don't know how your ankle broke?"

"Not this again."

"It's super weird right?"

"Your being mean." The kid tried to pull his hand away but Thatch held on.

"Okay- okay. I'm sorry. I'm not trying to upset you. I just want to understand what happened to you."

"Nothing has happened to me. I'm just- I'm just me."

"Just Luffy," Thatch said after a second, giving the other an apologetic smile.

"Just Luffy." He agreed, swinging their arms back and forth again.

Luffy screamed as two of his fingers were twisted back. Being made from rubber he had never been made to feel this pain before. But now that he was trapped with a sea stone cuff on his ankle there was nothing he could do as the guards broke both of the bones. He heard the snap before he actually felt it. And then it hit him all at once and he screamed. They released him and he fell to the floor, only vaguely aware of anything but the searing pain in his fingers.

"He didn't even bend, how disappointing." The guard kicked at Luffy's ribs, his heavy foot hitting an old bruise. Luffy curled into himself trying to protect his side.

"Of course not idiot, he is wearing sea stone."

"Should we take it off?"

"Boss will have our heads." The guard brought his boot down on Luffy's head, pushing him into the floor. And then, in an instant the weight was gone.

Ace had tackled the man to the side, pinning him against the floorboards as he began to punch him. The others were quick to respond. Running over as they tried to pull him off their crewmate. But Ace held on, furiously beating the other man even as three pairs of hands tried to drag him away.

"Ace," Luffy whined as he forced himself to a sitting position. He rose on unsteady legs, grabbing the shirt of the nearest man as he tried to pull him away.

"Stop hurting him!" Luffy said. But the guard just pushed him back to the floor. He hit his head with a smack, laying there dazed as the sounds of the fight drifted in and out of his head.

And then Sabo was beside him, picking him up and holding him against his chest as he screamed at their brother. "ACE STOP! STOP IT!"

Ace looked up, blood splattered over the side of his face. His eyes locked on Sabo, holding Luffy whose twisted fingers were curled protectively against his chest. And he stopped fighting.

The man under him moved violently, hitting him across the face and knocking him to the floor. He kicked him in the stomach a few times for good measures before hauling him back to his feet.

"Think your tough do you."

Ace growled at him, showing his bloodied teeth.

"Take him to the room, third time this week huh. Going for the record?" Ace just rolled his eyes.

"Don't please!" Sabo screamed. "I'll do anything."

"Oh, shut up." The guard mocked him. "One more word out of any of you filthy slaves and I'll take that kid in your arms and throw him overboard. I swear to god I will do it."

Both his brothers froze and Luffy felt Sabo's arms tighten around him. He didn't like the feeling in the room. It felt- murderous. He narrowed his eyes at the guards, the words building on his tongue. But before he could say one thing to the monsters threatening his brothers Sabo's hand covered his mouth.

"We don't want that do we?" He asked coming over to stand in front of Sabo. "Well?" He grabbed Sabo's jaw, forcing the other to look him in the eyes.

Sabo met the man's gaze head on, fury burning in his eyes as he shook his head.

"Say it," He threatened.

"No."

"No-," He prompted.

"No sir."

The man's face split into a smile as he raised his hand to Sabo's bruised cheek. "That's right. No.

"Bastard," Luffy growled, his voice muffled by his brothers' hand. But the man heard it all the same as he lowered his gaze to look at Luffy.

"Oh, this one has guts, doesn't he?" The man said as Luffy glared up at him.

"No, don't-," Sabo began but the man put up his finger, silencing him. "Shh- I believe I said no talking. That goes for you too." He told Ace who was struggling against the guards that held him.

"Your awfully small to be mouthing out like that don't you think?" The guard asked him. And Luffy growled in response. The things he would say if Sabo would only move his hand. But his brother did not let him go, instead he lowered Luffy until his feet touched the floor. Pinning him against him with the steel like grip over his mouth.

"Sir," Sabo spoke, his voice low and respectful. Nothing like his usual tone. When the man didn't immediately bark at him to shut up, he continued. "I apologize on my brother's behalf. Please forgive them."

The man finally broke his gaze with Luffy to look up at him. "Is that so?"

Sabo nodded. "Our little brother is slow," he tightened his hand as he said that daring Luffy to try and correct him. "He is still young, and he doesn't understand yet. So we are protective of him."

While he was talking the man had brought his hand up again, pressing his palm into Sabo's cheek. Sabo continued, like he didn't even notice.

"How old is he?"

"He just turned twelve."

"Twelve huh?" He looked down at Luffy who glared up at him.

"You're a good kid aren't you." The man asked Sabo.

"I wouldn't know." He told him coldly.

"Too bad this one keeps getting you in trouble… I know you've been helping him do his work."

"He's still young. He will learn." Sabo said.

"So you're asking me for a favor then?"

"Yes."

"And That's how you do it?"

Luffy felt the shift in the others chest as Sabo held back a sigh. He leaned into the man's touch ever so slightly as he asked.

"Please sir."

"Fine." The man conceded. "But house train that mut next time or else." He dropped his hand wiping the dirt away on his pant legs. "Your filthy," He remarked. A fact the three of them were well aware of.

"Take the other away."

"NOO!" Luffy and Sabo cried together as the guards began to drag Ace towards the doorway.

"No, please stop! I'll do anything." Sabo cried. "Don't hurt him anymore- you might kill him."

"Look here slave," The guard snapped. "Rules have been broken. We've been disrespected. You asked your little brother to be forgiven for his mouth. I allowed it. Now you want your other brother to be forgiven as well. How will you three learn your lesson if no one gets punished"

"You can punish me!"

"Sabo No!" Ace screamed once again struggling against them. "Don't you dare!"

"Oh but you didn't do anything wrong did you. No, only the guilty are punished here." That was total bullshit, and everyone knew it. This man was enjoying the power trip he had over them. "So either you let us deal with that one, or."

"Or?" Sabo asked shakily.

"Don't hurt Ace you jerks!" Luffy cried out only to be roughly shushed by his brother."

The man knelt down beside him and Luffy glared straight into his eyes. "Or he goes free and you let go of this one so he can take his place in the punishment cell." The man patted Luffy's filthy hair like he was a misbehaving child.

"I-," Sabo stammered, his hands holding Luffy so hard it hurt.

"Let go," The man encouraged, trying to pull his hand free. But Sabo held onto him like his life depended on it.

"SABO DON'T YOU DARE!" Ace screamed at him. "He Can't Handle It. I Can."

"I know," Sabo said softly and Luffy looked up at him. Confused what was going on. But he knew he had messed up and now his brother was going to pay for it. He shook his head desperately at Sabo. Asking him not to let them do that to Ace.

"I'm so sorry," He told Ace.

"You've made your choice then." When Sabo didn't answer the man turned to Ace who was still being restrained by the guards. "Tough luck for you isn't it. Sounds like your brother doesn't love you quite as much as he likes the little runt. Even though he started all this didn't he."

Luffy's lip quivered. He had hadn't he. He was the one who had insulted the man. That was why they had tried to break his fingers. And then he had screamed, bringing his brothers right to him. If he would have just stayed quite the men would have gotten bored and left eventually. But no, he had screamed because he was scared and in pain. He had wanted Ace and Sabo to come because he wanted them to save him. Like a weakling.

"Anything to say about this?" The man asked Ace, unknowingly walking right into his brother's temper.

"Yea," Ace said glaring daggers at him. "This isn't Luffy's fault so leave him alone. And if you ever touch either of them again you creep, I will break off your hands and stuff them down your throat, so you choke on them."

Sabo's face was pale with fear as he stared horrified at the man, whose face was beet red. He looked ready to blow. "TAKE HIM AWAY!" He screamed at the other guards and they hurried to do just that. He whirled around to the two of them, marching up to scream at them.

"I want you to listen to me closely, especially you brat," He spat. "I'll let you hold onto him for now. But know this. The second we reach the auction I will make sure the three of you are separated. And stay that way for the rest of your lives, which you better hope are short. So take a good look at your big brother kid. Because soon you are never going to see either of them again. And there is going to be no one rushing to protect you then.

It was the longest punishment yet. Ace was gone for an entire two weeks this time. He had been taken before. Many times. But never longer than a week. And despite what Sabo said Luffy knew it was all his fault. He had never hated himself before. He didn't like the feeling.

But when they came back from a long day of ship work, to Ace sleeping on the floor of their cell. Covered in injuries and grime, Luffy nearly cried with happiness. The second the guards unlocked the door he was on his brother. Hugging the hell out of him.

"I missed you!" He said his arms tight around the others neck.

Ace had been sleeping right before the Luffy attack. But now he sat up sleepily, hugging Luffy back. He would never admit it, but he was grateful for the affection. He had gotten nothing even remotely close to human affection for fourteen days.

Sabo dropped down to his knees in front of Ace, whose arms were full of Luffy.

"You look awful," He said.

"Thanks," Ace told him. "I feel awesome."

"I'm sorry Ace." He told him seriously. "I should of-,"

"Save it for someone who gives a fuck Outlook."

Sabo smiled at him as Ace wrestled his hands free from Luffy, pulling the two of them into a hug.

"I missed you guys."

"Don't leave again." Sabo told him, resting his cheek on his shoulder.

"It was so boring without you," Luffy told him seriously. "You can't play tic-tac-toads with only two people."

"Yea you can," Ace told him. They had made the rules after all.

"No, you can't." Luffy told him seriously.

"You can't." Sabo parroted smiling at Ace.

"Whatever you guys say."

Luffy fell asleep shortly after that. Laying half on Ace and half on the floor as he sprawled out, as he did in his sleep. Talking of food and drooling every so often.

"You still up?" Ace whispered to his brother in the darkness of their cell.

"Of course," Sabo shifted a bit so he could see the outline of his brothers.

"How are Luffy's fingers?"

"Not good, they snapped two of the bones. I taped them up to try and get them to heal. He couldn't move them afterwards."

"Can they be fixed?"

"I hope so." Sabo sighed. "We were worried about you."

"Yea, sorry. I think I royally pissed him off. I probably should have kept my mouth shut. But that creep was asking for it and honestly that felt really good."

"No, I should apologize. I was supposed to be watching him. He wondered off and all this started. The two of them had an unspoken deal about Luffy. They knew him well enough to know that he was grossly unqualified for this type of cleaning work. He was doing his best, like them he wasn't ignorant of the stakes. But he wouldn't be Luffy if he was qualified. So he stayed with Sabo the entire day, and when he messed up or couldn't do a task well enough the blond would cover for him. That meant taking on all of his work and Luffy's as well.

Often times Luffy would only make a task worse. Like today he had to polish every single plate. Which he did. But he hadn't realized that his rag had gotten dirty, so by the end the plates looked worse than when he started. Meaning Sabo had to polish all the cutlery on the entire ship, and then redo every single plate in addition to the glasses because one of the guards had caught him and said, "If you have time to do his job for him then we didn't give you enough of your own did we?"

Not that Ace and Sabo were good at this type of thing either, but they were quicker learners then their little brother who was all kinds of ADHD.

In exchange Ace took every punishment that Luffy brough upon himself with the messes not even Sabo could cover for. Like the time he had been ordered to bring them more rum from the cellar, and dropped it while he was carrying it back to them. Ace had lied and said he had done it, the same way he had broken the glasses the week before, and accidently thrown the laundry into the sea the week before because they weren't properly tied to the line. Needless to say, Luffy was a domestic workers lawsuit waiting to happen.

Luffy would always beg Ace not to and scream at the top of his lungs that it had been him. But before the guards could even listen Ace would have a biting insult on his tongue and who did it became irrelevant in the frenzy to beat Ace senseless.

To anyone else in their situation Luffy would be a liability. And yes, he kind of was. But he was their liability. After all they had been cleaning up his messes and dealing with the shit he brought upon them since they were kids. They just did it naturally now.

But they needed him as much as he needed their protection. After all who else but Luffy would still be smiling and laughing after two months in this hell hole. He was like being around a ray of sunshine, long after the sun had gone out.

"This isn't your fault," Ace's low voice brought him back to reality.

"I know… I just wish you would take better care of yourself. If not for you then for us."

"I know," Ace told him. "But like it or not I'm going to protect you two. After all, you're my little brothers" He added teasingly.

"I don't remember agreeing to that," Sabo told him.

"I think you should say it, just once." Ace teased him. "You will feel so much better."

"Get bent."

"Thank you-,"Ace tried.

"Go to hell."

"-For being such."

"An asshole," Sabo finished for him.

"A good older brother."

"I'll say that when you start acting like it." Sabo advised.

"Acting like what Sabo?" He tried. "What will you be saying? Just to be clear. That I am your…."

"I hate you."

"Yea, you do."