They Don't Know About Us
Author's Note: Hey everyone and welcome back to They Don't Know About Us! You guys like my little twist I added? xD Did Rouge two-time Roger and Rayleigh? Who knows. Did Roger know and lie to Shanks his entire life? Possibly. Did Rayleigh and Rouge lie to Roger and Roger never knew? Maybe. Does Rouge actually know who Shanks' father is? Well, we'll find out. All your answers will take place in this chapter! I'm so happy that you are enjoying the fic!
Question: Would you want a special retrospective of Roger's backstory? Decisions, decisions.
I have more crack fics of my weird af dynamic coming out cause why not?! xD
Just note: Ace cries quite a bit in this chapter so that might seem OOC for him for a hot minute for this chapter. Boy has emotions he needs to let out. Plus, he's not exactly the same guy from canon sooooo we'll let it slide xD just a warning in case anyone is like "Ace doesn't cry like this". Let my boy just have a good cry xD he needs it. Especially in canon. So much anger in our boy.
Thing with the update schedule: I am doing Kinktober and Whumptober this year so updates might get sketchy. Probably not but just a heads up. I'm working on the prompts for the challenges ahead of time in hopes it won't affect my other fics. We'll see. Just a heads up. I also have other fics in the works that I'm working on as well cause I have no self-control.
I REALLY need to work on my other fics… but here I am with this. I am so glad that you guys are enjoying this fic and I want to thank you so much for your comments/kudos/etc! THANK YOU!
Chapter Warnings: Male Pregnancy (I'm not going to put this in the chapter Warnings anymore, its just gonna be there from now on), Mental Breakdown, mentions of forced abortion (NOT BY ACE, it's a mention made during Marco's part)
Chapter Nineteen: Next Stage (by AAA)
Chapter Summary: The Marineford War is over, and the pirates have won. Garp confronts Sengoku about his actions and Law. Marco confides in the Commanders and Whitebeard. Rayleigh and Rouge explain the secret. Ace panics. Luffy shows Ace the one thing he needed.
Garp was seething. He knew his presence at Marineford should have never happened. He shouldn't have even indulged in the fact that his great grandson was facing death. A part of him screamed to be there simply to keep Ace calm throughout the process. He had known the second that Ace's execution had been announced. He knew that Marineford would be facing the combined forces of their family.
Mihawk had already been at Marineford due to his Warlord status; under the direct orders of Garp to send a message to Whitebeard. It had been treason. Something he kept close to himself. If he was ever found out providing confidential details that were only meant for the Marines, he would lose everything. Something he wouldn't mind in the slightest. Even if his loyalty lied with the Marines and World Government. Even if Mihawk had been aligned with the Marines in the eyes of the world, none of the Warlords were meant to know that information in the case if they were to pass it onto the pirates.
Garp was fine with his decision.
Shanks had been an obvious arrival. As much as he used to get onto his grandson for raising his pups on the sea, he couldn't see anyone better to create fine young men. Shanks had always had a large heart of gold. One that shined better than anyone else. Shanks was highly respected throughout the world. Just for his actions alone of only reacting when provoked. The World Government provoked Shanks in the largest way possible.
Dragon and Rouge were also denominators that he expected. Rouge's own grandchildren that she would do anything for. Rouge was very family oriented and would do anything for her son. He wanted to give her a chance to take part if she chose to but slipping the information about Ace hunting down Blackbeard to her so she could get the head start she would need. Dragon would never allow for his family to get hurt. Especially not after what happened to his mother. Dragon's hatred for the World Government was one of the strongest forces that came from his son.
Luffy… well he should have expected that. He doesn't even know why he was surprised to begin with.
Of course, there were the Whitebeard Pirates. The one crew that you absolutely do not mess with their nakama. Sengoku should have planned more accordingly about that.
He never expected what Sengoku had to say. The farfetched information of Rouge and Roger in trying to confirm the main reason of Ace's expedited execution.
Then there was the biggest issue. Sengoku could say whatever he wanted to try and twist the narrative, but the fact that he knowingly was going to allow Ace to be executed pregnant. It was against one of the biggest laws that the World Government had.
From what he could tell the only ones who knew that information were Sengoku and the three Admirals. Not one other Vice Admiral knew, and most likely to keep the information from Garp.
And it pissed him off.
Garp didn't get involved because he could separate his job from his family. Even if they were criminals, they were still his family, and he could see sympathy for them because of that. They were his family. He didn't want any of this to happen to them. He wanted them safe and sound even if they were causing mischief on the seas.
Now he wondered if Sengoku could do the same thing. Sengoku had adopted a young boy years ago named Rosinante who used the code name Corazón and eventually went rogue in hopes of saving a young child. That young child ended up being the "Surgeon of Death" and Pirate Captain Trafalgar Law.
Something Garp wasn't expecting.
He definitely wasn't expecting the hypocrisy to follow regarding Law and Sengoku. The Fleet Admiral hugging the young pirate with tears in his eyes. He could understand knowing that your children's will lived on, but that definitely wasn't the moment.
Not when Sengoku had ordered the deaths of Ace, Luffy, and eventually Shanks. All three Garp's own grandchildren.
Garp stood at the end of the bay, watching as all the pirates and the members of the Revolutionary Army simply just sailed away. Right where they belonged. He was highly rethinking his position within the Marines.
His family was safe. That's what mattered.
He waited until he couldn't see them anymore before he was turning to look at Sengoku. Sengoku's face had been warped into what he could only call shame ever since Akainu so carelessly told the entire world that Ace was pregnant the entire time and they had known.
If the world was rioting before, they sure as hell weren't going to be holding back now.
"What the hell was that Sengoku?!" Garp growled, fists clutched as he glared nose to nose with the man he had seen as a friend for years. Sure, Garp kept Rouge a secret on her own request and indirectly Shanks. Garp knew Ace and Luffy were his grandsons but that was it. Sengoku didn't say anything to him. Choosing the remain silent. "Fine, you had your damn mind set that you were going to kill an unborn pup let along allow for Sakasuki to continue after him despite knowing we couldn't touch him!?"
Sengoku growled. "Why didn't you tell me he was Hawkeyes' son?! That would have cleared this right up."
"Bullshit. You made it clear he was going to die anyway. Hawkeyes' contract wouldn't have saved him in your eyes. You were so focused on Roger that you got blinded to rules we have to follow." Garp snapped back. "You went after not only him but Luffy and Shanks. You gave the world all the ammo it needed to turn against the Marines, Sengoku."
"I really thought that the bloodline lived." Sengoku muttered.
"It doesn't. You were going to kill those boys for someone else's blood. Not even one that runs through their veins." Garp stated. "If you had just asked me, I would have told you. The world knows they are lies. Even if they were unintentional."
Sengoku sighed. "I didn't mean to put you in that position."
"You are a hypocrite, Sengoku. That's all I gotta say." Garp finished before he was stomping away to check on his men.
X
It was finally over.
They had won.
The War of the Best had came to a conclusion with the pirates reigning victorious with the successful rescue of Ace.
They had pulled all the remaining alive pirates from the carnage that was left over of Marineford, getting them to the safety of any ship they came across. The first ship to leave was Law's with Luffy and Jinbei aboard. Jinbei had been given serious injuries according to Crocodile when protecting Luffy from Akainu's relentless onslaught.
Ace and the remaining Strawhats were taken aboard the Red Force that pulled out next. The Moby Dick and the other Mobys following closely behind. The allied forces trailing after them.
Leaving Marineford behind.
Marco stood on the deck of the Moby; his eyes glued to Marine Headquarters. His heart in his stomach as he clutched onto the railing. He felt like he could finally breathe again. He had been on edge since the second that Ace had departed from the Moby Dick, and then discovering that his lover was scheduled to be executed had him regretting not following after Ace to stop him. He knew there wasn't stopping Ace's decision, but he still felt like he could have done more to try and persuade him into returning home.
Marco was prepared to die in the war if it meant bringing Ace home. Putting his life and soul on the line for the person he loved the most. He never dreamed he would be so lucky to have someone like Ace in his life. Sure, he's had a handful of encounters in his life, but never someone that he wanted to truly be his. Call him selfish for the fact that Ace was so much younger than him. Marco couldn't help himself. He had fallen hard.
Marineford could have turned out so differently. That had been proven multiple times. Ace almost being executed more than once. One time was still too much in Marco's mind. He wanted the Omega to be safe and sound with them. If it hadn't been for Mihawk, Luffy, or Oars, Ace would have been killed on the scaffold before they ever got to him. If Law hadn't been there, Whitebeard would probably be dead. Dragon and the Revolutionary Army had saved the Whitebeard Pirates right when they needed the back up. Jules had saved the Moby Dick and various nakama from the raining magma from Akainu. Rouge had protected Whitebeard against Squard. Just so many things could have turned out differently. Even if Shanks had shown up just mere seconds later than he had, Ace would have died protecting Luffy.
Their pup would have died.
If Marco had known, he never would have allowed Ace to run off on his own. Even if that meant betraying the trust that Ace had built up with him. The thought had crossed his mind when Ace had been raging on the deck that day. He had so many regrets, but for now he would just be glad they made it out alive.
From what Whitebeard had stated, once they were in the clear from Marine Headquarters and away from the Tarai Current, they would be stopping. Either going to the closest island or just coming to a still in the middle of the ocean. There were so many questions floating in the air. Even Shanks had been quiet since Marineford. Marco could see the Red Force from where he was. He had hardly seen Shanks actually come out of the cabin since the ship pulled out. Ace hadn't been out even once. Though, they haven't been away from Marineford for long.
The Commanders were busy over going over their divisions. Starting to organize ways for their nakama to cope with the events of the war. Check on the numbers and arrange for any funerals that needed to be done and where and what would be happening with their deceased members. The Second Division had taken the biggest hit out of all of them. Rouge had temporarily stepped back up to the position under an agreement with Whitebeard just for assisting with Marineford before she would be done. It was better Rouge than Ace. It was information that Marco wished to keep from Ace if the Omega asked about it. He couldn't begin to imagine what was going through Ace's head in that moment. He had been chained and helpless, watching as his nakama put their lives on the line for him. His family showing up and proclaiming all their secrets to the world. His own little brother going through multiple near-death experiences of his own throughout the course of the last few days in hopes of rescuing Ace. Marco was going to get some of his own division, the psychiatrists within his division, to spread out throughout the crews including the Strawhats and anyone else who needed them in order to release anything that might be on their minds.
They all had a lot of recovering to do.
Ace probably ranked at the very top of that list. If not the top. He couldn't imagine being helpless to watch your nakama – your family risking everything just for you to make sure you could live to see the next day. The Marines had been out to make sure that they came out the victors. That Ace never left Marineford alive. Even knowingly going through with an illegal execution. On more than one end. The newfound information of being Mihawk's son that proved he was under the protection of Mihawk's warlord status since even before his conception to the very life growing inside of the Omega. Akainu had used Luffy against Ace after already getting on the hot-head's nerves by targeting Whitebeard's honor. Something that had Ace leaving the Moby Dick in the first place.
Akainu's actions alone made it clear that they knew Ace was pregnant before he was even escorted from Impel Down. Marco was almost thankful they did bring him to Marineford. It made it a whole lot easier to get to Ace. Though he was sure if they had all attacked Impel Down, they could have done it.
It was no secret to criminals that Omega men and women of any dynamic all went through a blood test within the confines of Impel Down. Especially those on death row. If it came back positive, the prisoner was locked away into solitary confinement with very little medical assistance and even risked giving birth completely on their own. The guards only caring long enough to take the pup from their mother or Omega father to take them to the rumored facility in Marineford where they would be raised to be Marine soldiers.
It was disgusting.
Marco wasn't even sure how true those rumors were or if there were any statue to the claims. He wouldn't put it past the Marines to do such a heinous thing. Pirates and criminals alike were viewed as nothing short of scum. He supposed being taken to a facility to be raised as a soldier was better than ruthlessly killing a innocent and helpless newborn. He couldn't help but wonder how many of the Marines were just the children of criminals brainwashed into working for the World Government.
That could have happened to Ace. With them believing he was related to Roger – in the case of him being his son – their pup wouldn't have survived. They would have either forced an abortion of the fetus or waited until Ace had given birth to just end the life of the pup once it took its first breath.
No wonder Ace was terrified of the thought of people finding out about his connection to Roger. Whitebeard had confirmed it to them on their way to Marineford's bay. Ace had gone to Whitebeard and told him that Roger was his grandfather.
That rose the question again from Silvers Rayleigh's statement at Marineford. That he was Shanks' father and not Roger. Rouge confirming it even. Even going as far as to the show instinctual physical manifestation of a bond that can only be done through family members. There were other forms of this phenomenon, but the one Rayleigh specifically done could only be performed by family. Not just a pack member who had bonded with another. Shanks looked shocked enough that he had absolutely no clue what Rayleigh or Rouge were talking about.
It just added to the list of revelations done at Marineford that day.
To the world, Roger had no children, and his bloodline was dead.
So, why would Ace tell Whitebeard that Roger was his grandfather? He knew Garp was Rouge's father thanks to Whitebeard. It only left the possibility that Roger had to have sired a child. If he wasn't biologically related to Shanks, that would mean his own lover – supposed lover? – and First Mate had lied to him for years. That is if Roger didn't know about it. Shanks clearly saw Roger as his father figure. Stating that the man was the only father he had ever known for years, basically indirectly telling them all who Roger was to him.
None of it made sense anymore.
Though, that was the least of Marco's concerns.
The top of the list was Ace and their pup.
Second was escaping the wrath of Ace's parents.
Third was making sure his nakama were okay.
All specifically in that order.
He was sure Mihawk's eyes were still on him ever since they left. His small boat trailing along behind the Red Force with the Warlord on the ship itself. The hairs on the back of his neck had been sticking up ever since Akainu so carelessly gave away such vital information.
Vital information that led to his own downfall.
One thing was for sure: Don't get in the way of a mother and their pup. Especially one like Shanks. Shanks might not like conflict, but by God when he did get involved it was always almost practically one sided. Shanks was by far one of the strongest – being able to face Whitebeard single handedly and walk away without a scratch – and smartest on the sea with a fiercely strong and loyal crew right behind him. There was a reason he was the youngest recognized yonko on the sea. He more than proved he was deserving of that title with his own actions at Marineford. He could even easily talk one out of conflict as if he was just having a causal conversation with them. That red head was one terrifying man if he wanted to be.
If he had the option of going up against Mihawk or Shanks. He might just choose Mihawk. The World's Strongest Swordsman sounded better than a pissed off, Momma bear yonko. Taking down a man made of magma with his bare hands only added fuel to the fire.
Either way, his options weren't that great. He would probably end up served on a platter for dinner with one apparent misstep.
None of that changed the way he felt for Ace.
One thing he had always wanted within his life was a family of his own. He had found that with Whitebeard and his brothers and sisters of the sea. Being a large, chosen pack that sailed and did everything together.
This was different.
This was his mate to be and their pup. A pup that is half him and half the person who came crashing into his life and torching any self-control that Marco did have.
Now, all he could do was hope for a moment alone with Ace.
"Hey, Marco. C'mon, Oyaji wants to see us." Thatch stated as he walked up behind Marco, clapping on the back. The blonde Alpha couldn't move. His legs locked into place. His mind was heavy. Every part of him screamed to fly over to the Red Force and see Ace but at the moment he had work to do. With the deep breath, he finally let Thatch pull him away from the railing and start over to where the Commanders had met back up.
He hated to admit that he wasn't listening to a word that anyone was saying. Instead watching the Red Force as it sailed. Ace still hadn't walked out, but Shanks was now on the deck saying something to Mihawk.
His instincts were still flaring. Raging into wanting to see the Omega. He had – shamefully – frozen at Marineford from Akainu's words. It had been how Straw Hat was able to get away from him and rush to Law's aid. He hadn't been able to move at all until after Shanks and Mihawk had beaten Akainu.
Akainu had relentlessly been going after Ace and Luffy.
He could have lost Ace. He could have lost their baby.
"Marco?!" Fingers were snapping in front of his face, pulling him out of his thoughts again to see the rest of the Commanders, including Rouge, and Whitebeard staring at him with concern. Rouge was giving him an almost knowing look as she gave him a soft smile, placing her hand on his shoulder in a silent gesture. It had been Izou to get his attention. The kimono clad Omega staring at him with a frown. Izou's normally delicately done hair was all over the place. Tangled in multiple areas. Make up smeared across his face. He definitely looked like he had been through hell and back.
Hell, they all did.
Marco had his own injuries wrapped up by Deuce despite his own abilities healing the best they could. He had gotten careless during the fight. His judgement clouded and all he had on his mind the entire time had been Ace.
He had been right there. So close to getting up to Ace, but Garp had interfered. All over Marco sleeping with Ace. Not the fact that he was trying to rescue him.
Yeah, that added another thing to worry about to his list.
"Marco? What's wrong?" Izou questioned again.
Marco sighed, looking over to his former fellow Commander for a moment. Rouge had remained silent on the revelation with Rayleigh. Probably preferring until she could talk to Shanks. It was all making sense now. Why Shanks had been so close to Rouge every single time the Roger Pirates and Whitebeard Pirates would come in contact with each other. Rouge usually was always glued to Shanks. He would never understand why she didn't just tell them. It's not like any of them would have judged her. Was she concerned with the fact her son is supposedly the son of Whitebeard's rival? Or rival's first mate? That was even more confusing. She had basically given up Shanks at what Marco would guess was four, since that's when she returned to the Whitebeard Pirates. Honestly, he didn't think anyone would understand her reasoning. Shanks was her son, yet she allowed him to sail the seas with a completely different crew.
It's almost ironic. Shanks had been that close to being a Whitebeard Pirate.
It would have been interesting.
Were they so terrified of everyone finding out Shanks' apparent parentage that they decided to cut off all ties? The only time he had ever heard Shanks refer to Rouge as his mother had been right at Marineford. Before than it was always Commander or nothing at all. Marco had always just guessed it was because of Rouge's soft spot for kids. She had been a surrogate mother for a lot of them. Acting as a mother figure or older sister figure for many of them when they needed one.
It was almost even more ironic that they didn't get Shanks as their nakama but instead Rouge's grandson, his son in the form of Ace. As the same position that Rouge had filled twenty-one years before.
Marco wouldn't even begin to understand why she didn't return to them following Ace's birth. He made a mental note to ask her when they all finally had a chance to talk about everything that happened. All the secrets.
Marco could absolutely understand Ace hiding his parents from them. They were all pirates after all. Shanks was another yonko, former member of the Whitebeard's crew and a son of a Warlord. The great grandson of a Marine Vice Admiral. Not just any Vice Admiral – the Hero of the Marines, Garp and the great nephew of the dubbed Worst Criminal in the World Dragon. Ace had a lot of powerful connections all over the world and not one of them knew.
Connections that had done absolutely everything for him to get him out of there alive. He was sure the bloodbath that was the war would have been worse if Ace's pregnancy had been revealed sooner.
It was still odd to say.
Ace's pregnant.
"I could have lost them both." Marco muttered, finally looking away from Rouge towards the others. He had seen just how quickly their faces changed. "I should have done more to stop Ace before—"
"Marco, don't you dare." Thatch growled, eyes changing quickly to a glare. Marco sighed, looking to his sworn brother. "You know very damn well that nothing would have stopped him. Neither of you knew. It's not like you could have chained him up. Ace had his mind made up."
"Thatch, that's not the point." Marco replied.
"Then what is?!" Thatch snapped. "You're not the only one regretting letting him leave! Hell, he left because of me!"
"You were in a coma, there was no way you could have done anything." Marco retorted, growling.
"Exactly! If you couldn't even talk him out of it, who could have?!" Thatch exclaimed. "We can't dwell on what happened in the past. We can only look forward and be there for him. Everything you are feeling is completely valid. You have a right to wish things were different, but unfortunately, it's not. Marco, you can't do this to yourself. The two of you are going to need each other." Thatch continued, his anger turning back into his normal joyful tone. "You're my brother, man. We've got your backs. If you need someone to scream too. Get angry at. Point that at me. I'll cook you up some nice dinner and we'll talk about it. We all need to keep a level head right now."
"I still wish I would have known." Marco stated. "It really is a miracle that the pup survived. I don't think I will ever understand how."
The other Commanders made noises of agreement, casting soft smiles at Marco. "Son, there was no way either of you would have known." Whitebeard stated, reaching out and placing his hand on Marco's back.
"If Law is correct with his timing, he would have been so early in his pregnancy no signs would have been showing yet." Rouge added, her own smile gracing her lips. "It's okay to wish Ace never left, but this is where we are. He's alive. They both are. Let's look at that, okay."
Marco nodded, leaning against Rouge who had wrapped her arms around him just like she used too when he was younger. His nose buried in her hair, picking up her scent of cherry blossoms and chocolate that was radiating in an attempt to sooth him. It was working. His body relaxing as he inhaled. She had always been good at keeping people calm. It was when she was enraged that you had to watch out. She was not someone you wanted to piss off.
"I can't even imagine what he's feeling right now." Marco added.
Rouge sighed. "Probably the same as you. Maybe worse. It would be hard to tell. Ace has always acted impulsively. Going by instincts over rationality most times. He's been that way since he was little." The former Commander stated. "He has Shanks right now. Once we stop, go and see him, okay."
Marco bit his lip and with a nod, Rouge released him. "Alright. Let's go over this." Marco stated.
X
For the first time in weeks, Ace felt as rested as he probably could be. His mind had been plagued the entire time with the screams of his nakama and the heat from Akainu that had been on his back. Cracking his eyes open, he was still curled up within the blankets off Shanks' bed. His body was still exhausted. Either way, he pushed himself up. Forcing himself to leave the comfort of the bed. His stomach was twisting in knots from the hunger he was feeling.
He noticed quickly that he wasn't alone. Sitting at the edge of the bed with a towel over his neck, hair dripping wet and a fresh set of clothes on was Shanks. His face flushed over once his stomach let out a loud grumble, signifying just how hungry he was. Shanks looked over his shoulder, a soft smile on his face as he motioned to the bed side. "Nash brought you something to eat. Said it should be easy on your stomach. You haven't properly eaten in weeks and on top of what we found out. You'll need it." Shanks stated. The Omega grabbing the towel and rubbing it over his red hair again before he was discarding the towel into the nearby basket he kept within the room.
Ace nodded, reaching over, and grabbing the food off of the table. The two sat in a comfortable silence as Ace all but scarfed down the food. Shanks hadn't moved either, but Ace could see the tension in his shoulders. Once he was finished with his plate, he placed it back on the table. He crawled down the bed to sit by Shanks with a whisper of, "Mom…" Before he could say anything else, Shanks was turning and pulling Ace into him. Fingers curling into Ace's hair. Ace paused as he felt the tears hitting his shoulder just seconds later and Shanks' shoulders starting to shake. "Mom, hey…" The words caught in his throat as Shanks hugged him a bit tighter.
"You scared the shit out of me." Shanks whispered. "Please, don't be so reckless anymore." Ace closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around his Omega father and placing his nose in the crock of Shanks' neck. Bringing in the cherry blossom and strawberry scent that lingered. "No matter how far you go… no matter if you have families of your own… you'll always be my pups. You and Luffy both…"
Ace couldn't contain it anymore, letting his own tears free fall as Shanks pulled away. The older Omega cupping either side of his face with a gentle smile despite the tears on his face. "How can I face them? I made so many mistakes… that they had to come after me. I could have killed—" He choked again as the sob broke from his body. Shanks wiped the tears on his face away with his thumbs as Ace leaned forward and curled into Shanks. "I want… I want Marco."
"I know. He'll be here soon. We are setting anchor temporarily." Shanks replied, going back to giving soft pets to Ace's hair. "Ace, it's not your fault."
Ace sobbed again at Shanks' words, hands curling into Shanks' forearm that was wrapped around him in a comforting manner. "Yes, it is. They wouldn't have been there if it wasn't for me."
"Firefly, that's just how the Whitebeard Pirates are." Shanks replied. "They do not ever let one of their nakama get hurt or killed if they have anything to do with it. They will absolutely go to war for anyone in their ranks because that's what a family does."
Ace sniffled, wiping at his face as he leaned back up. "What about Luffy?"
"Your brother is fine." Shanks gave a soft smile. "He had to have surgery. Which was done by Law. He's okay. He's recovering now." Ace nodded. "You've been asleep for over a day."
Ace's eyes widened. He was really asleep that long? He still felt beyond tired despite apparently having hours of rest. "Mom… how did you find out you were pregnant?"
Shanks hummed, leaning back on his hands, and looking up at the ceiling. "Well, with you I couldn't stop falling asleep. Well I guess you could say, I kept fainting. I would just fall over if my blood sugar dropped. I ended up forming… I guess you could call it a form of narcolepsy while I was pregnant with you." He stated. "With Luffy, I was having cravings and symptoms I recognized."
Ace moved to cross his legs underneath him, picking at his nails as he looked at his lap. "How could I get myself in a position where I could have killed my…" He couldn't even finish the sentence as he once again was subconsciously placing his hand over his stomach.
Shanks sighed, moving his own position to be sitting pretty much the same as Ace was. "Ace, you didn't know. You can't think like that."
"I was so sure I wasn't when I left…" Ace replied. "I would have went back if I found out…"
Shanks took a deep breath as he pulled Ace back into his side. Ace's head falling to sit on his shoulder. "I could only guess that your symptoms only started to show after you were imprisoned if you were getting them. Masked behind the sea stone poisoning and the fatigue you already had. The only way you would have known is if they told you. They made it clear they were going to keep that information secret." He paused as he pulled away, forcing Ace to look up at him. "Don't blame yourself." Shanks stood up, pulling Ace up along with him. "We've stopped so c'mon. Your nakama are anxious to see you."
Ace paused, staring at the door as the air caught in his throat. He quickly shook his head. "I… I can't." He stopped again as his breathing started to pick up. "I'm not… I…" He found quickly he couldn't form the words through his uneven breathing. Shanks kneeled down in front of him, hands on either side of his face as quiet reassurances followed.
He barely noticed when Shanks' hands moved away from him and instead were joined by a new set. A very familiar pair of hands that were cupping either side of his face and forcing him to look up again through tear clouded eyes.
Marco was standing in front of him with a gentle smile. "Hey, Ace." He whispered. Marco's voice only caused Ace to choke out another sob as he lifted his hands to place them over Marco's. The flicker of his flames coming to his hands as they connected with Marco's skin. The Alpha followed in suit, letting out his own blue flames to dance alongside Ace's.
"I'm just gonna leave you two alone." Shanks excused himself, exiting out of the room a moment later.
The Omega sucked in a deep breath, managing to gain control of his fire again and extinguish them as Marco shushed him quietly. "I'm so sorry." Ace finally managed to find words, his voice cracking through the mixture of emotions flooding through him.
Marco only shushed him again, the pad of his thumb running over Ace's bottom lip. "You have nothing to be sorry for."
"But I do." Ace retorted almost instantly. "I… I could have killed our pup."
"Don't think about that right now." Marco stated. His hands moving from Ace's face. Going over his arms until they were settling on Ace's flat stomach. "You're both alive. Even if you didn't know. Who will fault you for that?"
"How do you not hate me?!" Ace snapped. "I broke my promise. I left. I got captured and started a war. I've been knocked up this entire time. I almost made it to where your attempts to rescue me were in vain." He kept rambling on before he was cut off by lips sealing over his own, causing him to practically melt into Marco.
When he pulled back, Marco sighed, placing a kiss on the top of Ace's head. "I could never hate you. Ace, look at me." The Omega forced himself to look up. Still seeing that gentle smile, the glint in the Alpha's eye. "No one blames you for what happened. I certainly don't. You're home now, that's what mattered to all of us." Ace didn't say anything, just shaking his head as Marco moved his hands to grab one of Ace's before pulling him along.
Walking out of the cabin and into the direction of the deck, Ace noticed quickly that everyone was on the Moby Dick's deck. Law's ship was to the side of the Red Force next to the ship he could only guess belonged to Dragon. The allied ships were further along in the water, but it appeared as if the Captains were all on board of the Moby. Whitebeard was sitting in his chair with the Commanders taking up their normal spots. Shanks was also standing on the deck. Mihawk was there too. Jinbei was also on the deck, bandages peeking out from underneath his clothes.
He noticed quickly that Luffy who should be recovering was standing not far from Mihawk with a determined look on his face. How the hell was Luffy even standing?! Let alone awake?! Law was next to Luffy, looking none to happy that Luffy was standing there. His brother was standing there, shirtless, covered practically head to toe in bandages. The only skin that he could see was Luffy's face and even the sides were bandaged. Without surprise, the straw hat was back on his head. Ace felt the ping of guilt return again as he kept his eyes on his brother.
Luffy seemed to notice him first out of everyone because he was already scrambling across the deck away from his nakama to Ace. Almost completely knocking him off of his feet from the force that Luffy crashed into him. Ace gave a soft smile as he wrapped his arms around his brother's shoulders. Luffy's nose burying into his neck. Luffy didn't make a sound. Just standing there.
He could only imagine what his brother had gone through over the last few days. Maybe weeks? Possibly. His execution had only been announced a week ago. He was sure that maybe Luffy knew then since he had broken into Impel Down and caused one of the biggest jail breaks in history from the prison. He could only breathe in relief knowing that his brother was alive. A stubborn jackass, but an alive stubborn jackass.
A moment later, Sabo was walking over. Placing a hand on each other backs before he was pulling them both into his own chest. Ace barely noticed that Sabo was just slightly taller than he was. Jerk goes missing for ten years, presumably dead, and ends up taller than Ace? Not cool. He was the older one.
He smiled letting his head lean against Sabo as he curled his fingers in Luffy's hair.
He had his brothers.
He could forget about the world for just a moment.
And, he owed Sabo one nice punch to the jaw for making them believe he was dead.
X
Shanks could only smile upon watching his two children officially reunite. Sabo joining them a moment later in a silent reunion that had tears in Shanks eyes. He had been so focused on making sure that Ace and Luffy got out alive that he hadn't noticed Sabo's presence at first. To say he was stunned was just barely grazing the emotion he felt.
He was ecstatic that Sabo was alive. Sabo had practically became a son to him on Dawn Island ten years before. Bonding with his own sons and becoming their sworn brother. A part of him wished to this day that Sabo had asked him to come onto the Red Force as an apprentice. He knew it would have taken one look from Ace and Luffy and he would have relented.
Whatever happened led him to Dragon, so it wasn't all too terrible.
Sabo was alive. Luffy was alive. Ace was alive.
All of his boys were alive, and that's all he could ask for.
He would willingly lay down his own life if it meant any of them could continue theirs. They all still had so much to do with their lives.
This was just one big speedbump in their way. Now that it was over, they could take the moment to relax and just be grateful. Shanks knew he was. At any moment, Marineford could have gone horribly wrong. In the complete opposite direction than the outcome.
Before anything, he had to get his own answers.
"It's crazy. Ace looks just like Shanks did back then." Vista hummed. Shanks looked over to the Commander through the corner of his eye, seeing the glint in the Alpha's eye.
"How did we never notice? They are practically splitting images of each other. The only difference is Ace's hair." Izou added, a smile lingering on his newly painted lips as he too looked at the brothers' reunion.
"Remember when Oyaji wanted to kidnap Shanks?" Thatch snickered.
"He had the grandmother. Couldn't get the mother, but then got the son. Ironic, really." Haruta laughed.
"If only Commander Rouge didn't talk him out of it. It would have been so fun. I would have had a partner to drive Marco crazy with." Thatch sighed, a protest leaving him as Marco's hand swatted at his head. Which the Fourth Division Commander barely dodged.
Shanks blinked.
Wait, what?
Whitebeard wanted to kidnap him? When?
The Commanders noticed the look he was casting him before they were all grinning. Whitebeard looked like he was looking anywhere but Shanks with an expression of guilty written all over his face. Rouge bellowed out a laugh where she was sitting between Jozu and the newly rejoined Marco. "Yeah, I forgot to tell you about that Shanks." Rouge laughed. "Eddie wanted to kidnap you right out from underneath Roger's nose."
Shanks let out a chuckle as he gripped the rail behind him before he was leveling a look on his mother. Rayleigh wasn't far from them. He needed answers and he sure as hell was going to get them. "Speaking of Roger. What the hell is going on?!" Shanks questioned.
His question had silenced the entire deck, even bringing Ace, Luffy, and Sabo's attention over. Rouge had looked down to her lap, but Rayleigh had kept the same smile on his face that he had been wearing since pretty much the moment he had said he was Shanks' father. "It's a long story." Rouge stated.
"I've got all the time in the world." Shanks growled, his nails scratching across the wood his hands were on. "Did you really make me believe that Roger was my father for years, only for it not to be true?!" The red-haired Omega looked down to the deck below, feeling the prickle of tears stinging his eyes.
He didn't want Rayleigh's revelation to be true. He respected Rayleigh. He was his teacher. Mentor. Honorary uncle through sworn brotherhood. He couldn't be his father. His father was Roger and Roger alone. Roger never once acted like Shanks wasn't his son.
So, either his mother lied along with Rayleigh or Roger knew and none of them told him.
All he knew was, he was hurt. He felt absolutely betrayed.
"Roger is your father." Rouge stated, finally looking back up. The soft glint in her eye and her knowing smile lingering on her face.
"Then what the hell was the eye thing?" Shanks immediately snapped. "You've lied to me for years, and you are still trying to say that. I don't know what to believe anymore."
Rayleigh stood up, walking over, and grabbing Shanks by the wrist. The Omega Captain growled, baring his teeth as he tried to jerk his arm away. The Alpha man just sighed, pressing his fingertips into Shanks' bond gland on his wrist. Forcing him to calm down. Eyes glowing gold just the same as they had before. Almost as if he was trying to prove a point. "Your mother isn't lying to you. She never did."
"You expect me to believe that now?!" Shanks yelled.
Rouge had stood up, walking behind Rayleigh and back into Shanks' line of sight. "I know it's confusing. I'm sorry we never told you about it. Roger is your biological father."
"Your father made me promise him that no one would ever know you were his son." Rayleigh stated. "He told me to do it by any means necessary without telling you."
Shanks paused, eyes widening for a moment as he was looking back up to Rayleigh. "What—what are you talking about?"
Rayleigh smiled, dropping Shanks' wrist as Rouge reached up to her shirt and moved it just enough to reveal a bond mark still residing on her neck. "By any means necessary." Rouge muttered.
"That… that isn't possible." Shanks muttered, blinking.
A bond mark between mates disappeared over time after their death. Almost like it didn't exist. Usually just a small, barely noticeable scar was left behind signifying that someone did have a mate, it wouldn't be as prominent as what he was seeing. "Shanks, Rayleigh is technically your father too."
"Roger didn't wish for us to tell you that he… the last time I saw him, he asked me if I would take his paternal rights of you, including the instinctual rights to you. He didn't want us to tell you unless we absolutely had too." Rayleigh explained. "So, me and your mother bonded right before she returned to the Whitebeard Pirates. Effectively making me your father."
Rouge smiled, placing her hand on Shanks' arm. "So, Rayleigh is your father, but Roger is also your father."
"How is that possible if he never did that bond with me?" Shanks muttered.
"He didn't need to, sweetheart." Rouge muttered, smiling and lifting her hand to run her thumb across Shanks' cheek. "You already had a physical bond with him. He could have done the other one, but since we didn't want to tell you if we didn't need to, we did the bond instead." She explained.
Shanks' mouth dropped open. "So… you're saying…"
"Technically, I adopted you." Rayleigh confirmed. "It was Roger's trump card. When he was named Pirate King, he knew that eyes would be looking at his bloodline and asked me if the time ever arose, I would take his place."
"This is still so confusing." Shanks muttered, sitting down next to Whitebeard in shock as the words rang through his mind.
From what was explained, Rayleigh had a talk with Roger, and it led to Rayleigh adopting him? The way they did it was Rouge and Rayleigh bonding?
This…
This was a lot to process.
That didn't explain the eye color.
He thought that was only possible with blood relatives.
"The eyes… our eyes…" Shanks muttered.
Dragon stepped forward, standing on the other side of Rouge. "I can explain that for you." He stated. "Whenever you adopt a child, as long as if you have a bond with them or their parent… the glow can happen in gold because you are family. You don't have to be biologically related, Shanks." The Revolutionary explained. He turned his head to look at Sabo, and sure enough both of their eyes glowed the familiar gold color before it was gone when Dragon looked back at Shanks. "See."
"What about Shakky? Does she know?" Shanks whispered.
"She does." Rayleigh confirmed. "She knows about it all."
"Shanks, I know we kept this from you, but we hoped we never had to use it. Sengoku made it clear that he wasn't going to let any of you out of there alive." Rouge added, tears in her eyes as she kneeled in front of her son. "I think… I think Roger planned for something like this. He had always been so cautious when it came to you."
Shanks just sat there, staring ahead of him.
He still didn't completely understand what was going on, but apparently it was Roger's idea.
Which was a strange one.
But, he supposed it worked.
Rayleigh and Rouge, and indirectly Roger from the grave, had tricked the World Government and in turn the entire world into believing Shanks was their child and Roger had no children.
Well, at least he got some answers.
He would never be able to ask Roger about it.
He wished he had known.
X
Ace was still glued to his brothers as he listened in on the explanation from Rayleigh. His head still leaning against Sabo. Sabo had yet to let either of them. Not that Ace was going to complain. His eyes moved away from Shanks to Marco, seeing the Alpha's gaze was locked on him as well. Taking a good look now, Marco was bandaged all around his torso and some around his head. He let his eyes move over the rest of his nakama after that. Many of them were also wrapped in bandages.
Izou looked cleaned up. Hair neat again and make up fixed but also had bandages wrapping around his torso underneath his kimono. Thatch, who was sitting next to him with his arm over his husband's shoulders, was also in bandages again. Haruta was in another set of clothes. Bandages around her leg. Jozu's entire arm was wrapped up.
He kept looking around, noticing more of the injuries that everyone had.
Deuce was practically also covered head to toe in bandages. Mihawk had clear signs of exhaustion and lingering marks on his body. Shanks had bandages around his neck that Ace hadn't noticed before. Luffy was covered. Rouge had bandages.
Whitebeard had bandages.
Everyone had some form of bandage on them.
From injuries from a war for him.
"Ace?" Sabo muttered.
Ace was brought back to reality as he noticed that his breathing had once again picked up.
This was his fault.
They had these injuries because they came after him.
"Hey, Ace… are you okay?" Luffy questioned.
Luffy was covered in injuries. Almost died multiple times and he was asking if Ace was okay?
This wasn't right.
He had pulled away from his brothers, looking at his former nakama with wide eyes. His breathing still picking up. Their screams from before ringing through his head again. He placed his hands over his ears as he squeezed his eyes shut. Why did they go through all of this? He had disobeyed clear orders. He even cried in happiness that they had came for him. Were willing to spill blood for him.
Now here he was. Standing completely guilt ridden.
He shouldn't feel this way.
"ACE!" Luffy's hands were on either side of his biceps now, forcing Ace to look at him. His eyes snapped open to see the worried glance from his brother. "Hey, what's going on with you?"
Ace shook his head, looking around again to see the concerned looks now focused on him.
They had already gone through so much and here he was panicking.
They shouldn't be doing this.
He wasn't even one of them anymore.
Ace started to back away as he said, "I can't do this." He whispered.
"Yes, you can." Luffy replied.
"No! I can't!" Ace screamed, fire flaring off of his hands. "It's my fault! They wouldn't be hurt if it wasn't for me! They were there because of me!"
"Ace…" Luffy muttered, eyes going wide as he stared at his brother.
It felt like the cuffs were around his wrists again as a growl left his throat, clawing at his hair to get the sounds of the war out of his head. "I didn't deserve any of this! They would have left me."
"We would never do that." Marco stated, standing up and crossing the deck to get within arm's reach. Ace took a step back.
"He's right, Ace." Thatch added, also joining Marco to stand behind Luffy. Confirmations and agreements followed closely behind. "You're one of us."
"No, I'm not!" Ace snapped, taking them all off guard. He could tell by the stunned looks that followed. "I resigned from the Whitebeard Pirates."
"Commander Ace—"
"I'm not your Commander anymore!" Ace growled. "I'm undeserving of that title. I blatantly disobeyed orders and left on my own. I got myself caught. I got imprisoned. That's on me. You don't have to clean up after my messes."
"Ace—" It was Jozu this time, also approaching them.
Ace felt like he was being closed in on. Like a weigh was on his chest as he tried to level his breathing. To think clearly. His ears were ringing as a felt a hand on his arm, which he promptly jerked his arm away. "You all got hurt because of my recklessness. People died for me. Nakama who didn't have too."
"We would have anyway." Haruta said.
"You shouldn't have to!" Ace yelled back, tears of frustration coming to his eyes as he growled again. "You… none of you should have to come after me. You all tried to tell me not to go! I wouldn't listen! This is my fault." His voice cracked as he felt his knees give out from underneath him. "I almost gotten myself killed. I almost got my own brother killed. I almost got you all killed. I also killed my own baby. You all warned me not to go… my own mother and father told me to be weary of Teach and I didn't listen. I don't deserve this kindness."
"Yes, you did." Thatch muttered, dropping down to his knees in front of Ace. "You went because of me. I got stabbed by Teach, and you went to handle him how we usually do."
"Son, you can't blame yourself." Whitebeard's voice bellowed, loud footsteps following as Whitebeard now stood behind his sons to stare down at Ace. "You are my son. I would go to war for you all over again."
The tears overflowed in the Omega's eyes as they spilled over. "How can you forgive me so easily?!" Ace questioned almost immediately. "I put you all at risk."
"I just told you. Because you are my son." Whitebeard said the second that the last word had left Ace's mouth.
"I don't deserve this." Ace muttered, shaking his head. "Not when I caused so much… not when I almost got my own brother killed."
He froze as he felt straw touch his forehead and a hand on the top of his head. The air caught in his throat as he lifted his head, peeking up to see the brim of a very familiar straw hat. Luffy was standing before him again. A frown settled on his face. "Shut up."
"Luffy!" Sabo gasped.
Luffy ignored him, instead kept staring at Ace.
Luffy had put his straw hat, the same hat he never let out of his sight, on his head.
"Straw Hat-ya, that might not be a good idea." Law stated, eyes wide.
"Luffy…" Ace muttered, lifting his hand to touch the brim of the hat.
"Are you seriously going to sit there and lay blame on yourself?!" Luffy stated, his voice leaving in a low growl. "Last time I checked; you don't make the decisions for me. I don't care what you want. I do whatever the hell I want."
"Luffy—" It was Sabo again, only to get cut off by Luffy still addressing Ace directly.
"You said I followed you to sea, but who was it that first called me the King of the Pirates? Before I was even born?" Luffy questioned, his gaze practically piercing through Ace as Ace's eyes widened. "It had always been you. You made me strive to be stronger. Made me want to get strong enough so I could beat you. Why do you have to be so damn stubborn you won't listen to anyone?"
Ace growled. "Damnit, Luffy! You almost died and shouldn't even be out of bed right now! You just had surgery for fucks sake."
Luffy matched him with a growl. "So?! Who cares?!"
"I DO!" Ace screamed, up on his feet down and getting nose to nose with his brother. "I was chained in my cell, being told that my brother had twenty-four hours to live. You wouldn't have even been there if I hadn't been reckless!"
Luffy wasn't backing down, grabbing Ace by the front of his shirt, and pulling him almost impossibly closer. To the point that their foreheads were actually touching. "Straw Hat-ya! You'll aggravate your wounds!" Law exclaimed, moving to try and pull the two apart but Luffy just shrugged Law's hand off.
"I would do it again if it meant making sure that you were alive!" Luffy screamed back. "You were always protecting me as a kid. Gray Terminal. On the Red Force. Arabasta. I always had my big brother. Always protecting me. What happens when the big brother needs someone?! His family comes!" Luffy continued. "You want to sit here and tell everyone that they should have left you behind?! You're out of your damn mind, Ace. You can blame yourself. That's fine, but don't act like your life doesn't mean anything!" The air once again caught in Ace's throat. His eyes widening as he noticed the tears in Luffy's eyes. "I was helpless at the end. When I collapsed, once again my big brother was there to save me, and I couldn't do a damn thing. If Dad hadn't shown up, you'd be dead!"
Ace grabbed the back of Luffy's hands, contemplating rather if he should rip them off or just let Luffy continue to put his own frustration out. He could feel just how much his brother was shaking. "Luffy—"
"I would had to have sat there and watched as the person who means the most to me in this world just died before my very eyes!" Luffy continued. "We all care about you. We love you. Your life is more than some stupid pride. Pride that almost got yourself killed. You're so damn stubborn that you won't listen to anyone."
"Luffy, that isn't going to help anything." Sabo stated, trying to pry the two brothers apart, only to be shoved back by Luffy. The Alpha's hand returning back to Ace's shirt.
"Why do you keep saying you are so undeserving?! What, you didn't listen to the old man?! When do you ever actually listen to anyone who isn't our own dad!" Luffy paused, breathing heavily as he tightened his grip on Ace's shirt, "You are wearing one of those necklaces… you have someone who loves you more than anything. Don't think of all the bad that came out of this. That bastard is dead. Revenge has been served. You are alive, and you have a damn pup on the way. Stop with this guilt trip you have going on!"
"Lu—"
Ace couldn't even get another word in before Luffy was once again cutting him off. "Didn't you promise me that you wouldn't die?! That you would live your life with no regrets?"
"Yeah, but—"
"No, buts!" Luffy snapped. "This sounds like a whole lot of regret to me! Why are you regretting leave a ship for something that you believed in?! Yeah, so what. You got captured. None of us would ever allow you to actually die! I would rather die before I lose my brother!"
Luffy huffed, letting Ace's shirt go as Ace stumbled on his feet for a moment before he caught himself. Looking at his brother with wide eyes. The Alpha was standing there with his arms crossed over his chest and the same frown settled on his face. Ace was at a complete loss for words. Instead, he grabbed the brim of the hat and pulled it over his eyes. Shielding his face from their view.
"My hat… is our promise." Luffy added. "Our promise to continue living our lives with no regrets."
"Ace, don't you see." Marco stated next, coming forward until he was once again in front of Ace. His finger underneath Ace's jaw to force the Omega to look up at him. "You're a Whitebeard Pirate. The world knows what happens when you mess with one of our nakama. That includes you. You did what you did because you wanted to honor Oyaji. Avenge what happened to Thatch. You can't blame yourself for not knowing about Teach."
"But, I did." Ace muttered. "Mom warned me growing up about him. If I ever saw him to just walk away. This crew… became my family and I couldn't just allow him to walk all over that."
"I know, Ace." Marco replied, a smile back on his face. "You did your part. We can't change anything now. I thought the same thing. I kept replaying the moment you left in my head. What I could have done to keep you home… it's just who you are, Ace. You're honorable and kind. Deserving of everything this world has to offer for you. We can't change the past. Now… now, we focus on the future." The blonde's arms wrapped around him, pulling him close against his chest. His nose going straight for Ace's neck where his scent and bond glands were. "I could have lost you. I could have lost you both… but I didn't. You can't fault yourself for a war that would have happened for any one of us. Just come home."
Ace took in a shaky breath as he gently pushed Marco away from him and shook his head. "I… can't. I'm sorry." He muttered, turning on his heel and starting towards the gangplank. "I… I have a lot to think about." He finished before he was crossing the board and starting back towards Shanks' cabin. Leaving them all behind him. His hand braced on Luffy's hat on his head.
His stomach was twisted into knots.
The fear still coursing through him.
His mistake almost cost him something far greater than any treasure. Any need for revenge. He couldn't face that reality. At least, not yet.
Author's Note: No, Luffy did not give the hat to Ace. Kind of think of it like his unspoken promise with Nami. I'll have Luffy explain his thought process in the next chapter. Just want to be clear, our favorite Straw Hat wearing boy will remain our favorite Straw Hat wearing boy xD With Rayleigh, I told the idea to my friend and he told me it could make a good twist to make the Marines look more like idiots so I rolled with it. I had thought about originally putting it in sooner and talked myself out of it. My friend really liked it and said I should add it. So I did. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Updates might be weird for the next month or so because of Kinktober and Whumptober cause I'm getting involved in the challenges with the goal of completing them so my time is being split. I will see you next time!