A reveal of the ASL separation and a little of their past. Also some fluff.


evangjoanne - I knowww, oops, I'm planning to make him remember of course don't worry :D

Hi, I think it has been a week. Finished a semester recently and hopefully I can write more during the short sem break.

This chapter was kind of hard to write, I tried really hard to to avoid making it a 'question+answer' dialogue but it still feels that way.

Well hopefully you'll enjoy this long chapter anyway~


Chapter 15 ~ The Returned Brother

The next morning, Marco woke up to an uncomfortable weight on him. He glanced down to see a raven teen lying on top of his chest, snoring away and drooling on his shirt. At least he's wearing a shirt this time.

Marco pulled the blanket higher to cover both the raven and himself. Luffy seemed to find him comfy, as he snuggled and moaned in satisfaction. The blond chuckled slightly and brought a hand to massage the raven's scalp, slowly moving down to his neck, back, waist, hip, and ass…bare ass?

It took a while for his groggy mind to realise that Luffy was, very much, naked. Though, seeing as they bathed together several times already, it didn't really bother him at all. Besides having to suppress the heat rising to his cheek.

That is, until he heard one of his brothers calling him, Marco's eyes widened. His brothers, who have no sense of privacy would definitely barge into his room like they own it.

Just as his door swung open, Marco had bundled the naked raven in his blanket and rolled him to the side. Causing Luffy to wake up with a surprised yelp.

"Marco! The boy's missing!" Izo said, urgently. Izo was one of his brothers, who would usually knock. Did Luffy going missing made such a big deal?

"What was that for~?" A muffled whine came from the blanket.

Izo stared, wide eyed, at the bundle of blankets that seemed to be wriggling, while Marco closed his eyes and groaned in defeat.

Luffy popped out of the blanket with an offended look, that made him look pouty. The blanket slowly slipped off his shoulders and onto his lap, revealing his shirtless self.

Izo shot Marco a 'seriously?' look with a raised brow. "You had him here? Ace and Sabo are going wild because he went missing," the crossdresser said with ire.

If Marco guessed right, Ace and Sabo must've bothered anyone who was awake, once they found out the raven was missing and they could be very persistent (read as annoying).

At this point, Luffy had ignored them and laid back down on his bed. Pulling the blanket to cover half his face. Marco shot the teen an accusing glare for waking up and going back to sleep, instead of just remaining still in the first place.

"Is he naked?" Izo asked with a very amused look, "we found his gown and bandages next to the infirmary bed."

Marco brought a hand to his eyes and down his face, in exasperation. He glared at his brother who seemed very amused at the whole situation.

The 16th division commander smiled, "I'll tell the two idiots he's fine, and breakfast's ready."


Once Izo left, Marco tackled the raven, pulling the blanket away from his face.

"Let me sleep, pineapple head~" Luffy whined and grumbled, pushing him away.

Marco clicked his tongue, "oh, no, I won't, yoi," he said, snatching the blanket again.

"Fine," the raven huffed, glaring (more like pouting) at the blond on top of him.

"You just had to get up, yoi," Marco said sarcastically, referring to his earlier brief appearance.

"Wha- I didn't know," Luffy pouted, "I was still half asleep~"

Marco sighs, again, in exasperation with a small smile causing Luffy's pout to deepen. The blond decided to kiss it away, leaning down to bite the protruding plump lip. Eliciting a soft moan that allowed his tongue entry into the warm mouth.

The teen whined a bit before he succumbed and responded, hooking his arms around Marco's neck to deepen it. Pressing his face closer and using his tongue to push back his intruding ones. Feeling the rough texture of the tongue and soft texture of teeth, as it nibbles on the muscle.

Marco decided to stop it before it got too heated, "Why are you naked yoi?" He asked with a raised brow.

"You guys took my clothes off, and gave me that useless gown," Luffy complained with a small, annoyed frown, folding his arms. Marco rolled his eyes, sat up by his side and stared at the raven, his dark circles still prominent.

"Did you sleep enough yoi? You look so tired," Marco said, worriedly. Brushing a thumb over a sleepy, onyx eye.

Luffy got up to sit beside him, wrapping a blanket around himself.

"I'm just tired from the war," Luffy said, slapping his hand away.

"Tired from war doesn't give you dark circles yoi, tell me the truth," The pirate said, firmly.

Luffy groaned, hiding his face on Marco's shoulders, "I've… been having nightmares since- that day."

Marco sighs, "so you haven't been sleeping yoi?" He asked, rubbing the younger's back.

"I sleep, just not well," Luffy admitted, "spent nights training instead," he continued.

Marco hummed a little, "is that why you came to me last night yoi?"

Luffy groaned slightly at how accurate the blond is. "I hated the infirmary, I don't like the smell or the noise," he admitted with a deep sigh. Not liking to admit his stupid weakness.

"Okay, breakfast yoi?" Marco asked, changing the topic, helpfully. Luffy gave a soft nod into his shoulder which he felt. "Let me get you something to wear then," Marco said, not noticing the raven falling asleep on his shoulder. He stood up causing Luffy to jerk back awake with a yawn.

Marco dug around in his wardrobe to find some clothes and pants, shifting through the mess in the room.

At the end, Luffy could only wear a purple oversized shirt and loose shorts, tightened with his blue sash. The teen looked like he's drowning in clothes.

"What the hell's this?!" Luffy grimaced as he pinched the shorts, "I would rather not wear it!"

"No, you're not , not wearing pants yoi," Marco said, tugging the sash back on.

"Just let me wear your boxers," he said, taking the pants off.

Luffy placed his hands on his hip and grinned, satisfied with what he had. Now it looks like he's not wearing any pants, with the shirt reaching a bit above his knees.

Marco put a hand on his face and peeked through his fingers, groaning. 'Yeah, nope, no way he's going out like that yoi,' he thought to himself. Marcos's never going to let anyone see that.

Luffy didn't care, he's technically covered already (and comfy too). It's probably because of the days he spent as a slave, but he could barely feel embarrassed anymore. It's nothing compared to being paraded around, naked, dragged like a pet.

'Who cares,' he shrugged, and proceeded to attach his holsters and daggers on his thighs. He just can't feel safe without at least some weapons. Though he left his katanas alone, for now. Marco had kept his weapons in his room, luckily. Luffy was glad to see his precious weapons safe and sound in the blond's room.

"Let's go?" Luffy said with a smile, but Marco stood in front of the door with a no nonsense face.

"We're not leaving until you wear pants yoi."

Luffy grumbled and gave the uncomfortable, too big pants a side glance. "How about this?" He asked instead, transforming into the familiar cat sized fox Marco had seen just last night.

This time, the weapons and clothes disappeared together in white flames into nothing but fur. Marco stared in awe for a while before nodding in satisfaction.

"Yep, that's better yoi," he said and picked the fox up. Since it seemed reluctant to move, as if asking to be picked up. "I guess our roles changed," he said, thinking back to when Luffy would cradle him, as a bird, instead.

The fox huffed and snuggled into his arm, not bothered by the fact that he's cradled. It took only a second for Luffy to fall asleep in his embrace.

This time, Marco noticed him falling asleep, noticing five of the fox's tails hung lax from his arm. He smiled, stroking the soft fur while slowly walking to the galley, following the last breakfast rush of this morning.

Many were already beginning to leave the galley. Breakfast time tends to vary, since everyone wakes up at different times and Marco's quite late today. However, the commanders were mostly still gathered, so was the captain.


Whitebeard's POV

Whitebeard woke up this morning to a fuss caused by the two brothers because of their missing guest.

Apparently, the two of them visited the infirmary to see 'their brother' (he really wants to know their story), only to get Whiskey shouting at their faces about how her patient went missing. Leaving his bandages and clothes by the bed.

They bothered anyone awake about where Luffy could be, annoying Izo in the process. At the end, the crossdresser decided to bother their eldest, most responsible brother instead.

It worked, since he came back not long after, to tell Ace and Sabo that the boy's fine and was with Marco. What was interesting was how Izo looked very amused and excited when he came back, and Whitebeard wanted to know what his son had seen.

The two brothers obviously rushed towards Marco's room, only to be stopped again by Izo and dragged to the galley. Whitebeard only laughed at his children's interaction.

Now, they were in the galley sulking while eating breakfast. Most of the commanders gathered for breakfast, while some left already. Curiel and Rakuyo being some, they had the night watch and had eaten an early breakfast to go to sleep.

Then his eldest son entered, carrying a tiny black fur ball, curled in his arms. Marco was wearing a small smile on his face, petting the fox. Whitebeard recognised the five tails immediately, black with golden tips. It was just yesterday when those same, adorable tails were burning with power. He was sure there was something more between his son and the little fox brat.

The zoan seemed to realise it was surrounded, tensing visibly in Marco's arm. Poking its head out, golden eyes scanning the entire room with suspicion. For what? Whitebeard wasn't sure. The galley went quiet for a while at the new entrance, but quickly went back to making noise, fitting of pirates.

At the same time, the fox turned his golden eyes at the man carrying him. Marco paused for a while near the entrance, probably for the fox's benefit. Whitebeard frowned a little when he saw the fox falling back asleep easily after his son gently rubbed its forehead. The fox was probably still very tired and wounded, even if Whiskey had reported that Luffy had great healing powers and would be fine by the second or third day.


Marco walked over to the commander's table where they were gathered. Ace and Sabo were ready to pounce, as soon as the man was close enough to reach. Marco lifted a hand to stop them and sat beside oyaji, opposite of the two brothers to stop their advance.

"Is he okay?" Ace asked worriedly.

"He's fine yoi," Marco said with a hint of groan. They've asked this question several times and it's getting kind of annoying. "He's just asleep."

"Okay…" Sabo said, taking the hint.

Oyaji decided to interrupt now and ask the question everyone had been dying to know. "So, how do you two know the brat?"

Sabo and Ace exchanged sad glances for a bit before answering, "he's… our baby brother," Ace said through gritted teeth, "but he- doesn't seem to remember us at all."

"He's got partial amnesia yoi," Marco informed.

"What? How?" Sabo asked, he remembered having a temporary memory loss after the explosion happened. Anything that could cause amnesia can't be good.

"Erm," Marco hesitated, wondering if he had the right to say anything, "something with a fight that hurt his head, you'll have to ask him yourselves," he said instead.

They looked disappointed but nodded anyway.

"You two have never talked about a little brother before," Haruta said, mostly to change their topic.

"Why would we? It's a sour topic, plus we thought…" Ace trailed off.

"He died," Sabo continued with a cracked voice, "It's been ten years."

Everyone could see the guilt dancing in their two brother's eyes, but why were they guilty? It's not their fault, right?

"Can we know what happened?" Oyaji asked, by now the galley had begun emptying. The crew, noticing the atmosphere, also tried to stay away from the commander's table and not eavesdrop.

Ace fidgets, shaking his leg below the table. He didn't expect to live to tell the story to anyone besides Jinbei. Sabo was also noticeably uncomfortable as he fingered his top hat's rim, rubbing and bending it. The commanders of course noticed, and exchanged worried glances.

"I'm not forcing you of course," the captain added softly with a smile, "it's alright if you prefer to not talk about it."

"No, it's fine," Ace relents, "it was because we're too weak, so Luffy had to protect us instead," he said with poison lacing his words, clenching his fists. Poison aimed towards himself, full of hatred.

"It's not just you," Sabo said, looking equally pained.

They've never seen the blond looking that way before. It was common for Ace to self-loathe but never Sabo, but it seems he was just that good at hiding his emotions. A true revolutionary soldier.

"You two are not weak," Vista said, "you're a commander and a chief of staff."

Haruta nodded, "your brother's devil fruit is just- crazy strong."

"It wasn't crazy strong back then, we didn't even know it was mythical," Sabo said.

Whitebeard and the commander couldn't help feeling bad, this whole time the two brothers were with them they didn't know or helped with this at all. The two brothers continued their story anyway, unaware of their family's guilt.

"It was when we were thirteen and Luffy was ten years old," Ace began.


~flashback starts~

"Ace~ I'm hungry," Luffy whined for the hundredth time.

"Seriously Luffy, if you say that one more time I will smack your head," Ace growled.

"I'm hung-"

"Luffy stop annoying him already!" Sabo nagged, trying to look serious but holding his laughter back wasn't helping the case.

"Shishishi, but it's fun to annoy Ace!" Luffy cheered as he ran ahead.

"That little-" Ace shouted angrily, but there was a small smile playing on his lips as he chased the little fox.

Sabo shook his head fondly, before running after the two idiots. He'd never trade his brothers for anything.

That night they hunted several boar and one crocodile for dinner, well more like Ace and Sabo hunted. Luffy didn't want to hunt the forest's animals, always staying far away, searching for edible plants instead. They cooked it near their treehouse, their home, and fought over the meat like usual. Even though Ace would secretly let Luffy take his, if he noticed the kid eating a portion less than the equal share.

At night, their baby brother would transform into his fox form since it was warmer for him and them. He would be in his huge form, enough for them to lie their heads on. His fluffy tail wrapped around the both of them, like a really warm fur blanket.

They had a good sleep and were excited for the next day. The three brothers were going to visit Makino in Foosha for the week as usual.

Makino was a nice barlady in a small village that used to raise Luffy, before he ate a devil fruit that is. Garp said it was dangerous for a devil fruit user to be in the East Blue and one as young as he is, since it was so rare. And dropped the little furball with Ace and the bandits (Illogical Garp sense).

Anyway, Makino always baked them cakes and made desserts for them. Even provided them with new clothes when they grow too big for their old ones.

Sometimes they'd even sleep over at her bar; without Garp's permission of course, the old man didn't want them anywhere near the village and people at all. Though it was pointless since the brother ventured everywhere anyway. From the small village, the trash dump; Grey Terminal, and even the Goa Kingdom.

However, that day, their visit didn't end well. They weren't even close to the village yet, when Luffy sensed something was wrong.

"Ace, Sabo, there's many people heading this way from the village," Luffy said worriedly, gripping his pipe tighter. He was in hybrid form, enhancing all his senses.

"How many? Do you think they're strong?!" Ace asks with slight excitement.

"Don't get excited, baka!" Sabo scolded, "well, Luffy?"

"Erm, I'm not sure, why are you asking me?!" Luffy said, looking confused.

"Can't you- I don't know, sense them or something?!" Ace said, while they hid amongst the branches of a tree.

"It doesn't work like that!" Luffy grumbled, "shhh!"

Men, at least thirty of them walked into their sight. They were wearing neat, white and blue uniforms with caps. It looked familiar, yet different from what their grandfather wore.

"Marines!" Sabo whispered harshly in slight panic.

"Shit! What are they doing here?!" Ace panicked. They can't have found out about his or Luffy's heritage right?! They never told anyone, but Sabo. Even though they found out about Luffy's together. Well, Makino and Dadan knew, the mayor too, probably. But they can't figure it out, right? Ace would never forgive himself if his brothers get hurt because of this.

"Ace, snap out of it!" Luffy whispered, pinching the freckled raven. He offered Ace a grin, "don't worry, we'll be fine."

Ace swallowed, "right," he said, before returning it with a wobbly smile.

Sabo sighs in relief, Luffy could always somehow sense when Ace's mind spirals out of control and snaps him out of it.

They managed to evade the marines' notice, hiding their presence well. Once making sure all of them were out of range, the three boys hopped down from the tree.

"It was your dad, Sabo," Luffy said, "the leader, I think a captain rank, said something about a noble reporting about two kids spoiling and killing his son. They did an investigation and found out we're here."

"Shit! That useless father of mine," Sabo cursed, brushing a hand over his blond locks.

"At least he still thinks you're dead right?" Ace questioned, glancing at Luffy.

Everyone saw Sabo's small ship blown up by the celestial dragon and then swallowed by a sea king, after all. Luckily they were friends with the lord of coast. When Dogra came with the news that Sabo got shot and swallowed, they ran to the beach to find their brother badly burnt but alive.

"Yeah, the man only said two 'devil spawns'," Luffy drawled and rolled his eyes while Ace glowered at nothing. Luffy hugged the older raven around the torso and looked up adorably, "look Ace, we didn't do anything wrong! They're just-" Luffy frown in thought for a while, "-stupid!"

Sabo chuckled, guessing that Luffy couldn't find any other suitable words. He bumped Ace's shoulders, "Luffy's right you know," he smirked. "Besides, this was my disgusting 'father's' fault," he added with a deep guilty sigh.

"Fine, fine, I get it already," Ace relents, with a small smile, "no need to feel bad, it's not your fault."

"Should we go check on the village?" the blond asked, "I know they're marines, but- they don't look nice at all," he said with a grimace.

Ace nodded in agreement, they could literally pass as pirates in disguise if it wasn't for the way they talk.

"On it!" Luffy grinned and climbed up a tree quickly, like a baby monkey.

Ace and Sabo stayed below and observed their baby brother, while watching for the enemy. Luffy went to bother a nest of birds, talking to them and asking for help. It was still amazing to watch no matter how many times they've seen him talk to animals. They couldn't believe it at first and chucked it to Luffy's collection of weirdness, until he introduced them to Midoki, the lord of the coast. Ace and Sabo had freaked out and gaped when Luffy hugged the sea king's snout, giggling like an adorable idiot.

"What should we do now?" Luffy asked once he got down from the tree. Two birds flying towards Foosha village.

"We should warn Dadan," Sabo said, urgently.

"Ah! We forgot about the hag," Ace deadpanned. Luffy snickered at the nickname and Sabo could only shake his head in amusement. Panic totally forgotten.

They quickly rushed back towards the hut while Luffy kept an ear out for any of the marines.

"Ace, Sabo! I smell smoke!" Luffy exclaimed, still running.

"What?!" Ace said

"Are they burning something?" Sabo added.

It didn't take long for them to find out what was burning. It was their treehouse. The three brother's eyes widened, Luffy and Sabo's eyes water while Ace's glowered hatefully.

"Those bastards!" Ace shouted, enraged.

"Our treehouse!" Luffy sobbed, finally letting the tears flow.

Sabo didn't waste any time to hug his younger brother tightly, causing Luffy to cry even louder.

"Stop crying!" Ace scolded, anger taking over.

"Hey Luffy, you don't want the marines to hear us, do you?" Sabo coerced instead.

Luffy stopped abruptly, biting his quivering lip. Several sobs and hiccups slipping past his sealed mouth, eyes huge and watery, looked really angry.

"We're making them pay!" The freckled raven growled.

This time Luffy didn't say a thing and only silently agreed. Sabo wasn't sure if that's a good idea, seeing as the target were the two of them. But he was quite mad himself, he didn't manage to save any of their stuff. Like the Sakazuki cups they used to do their brotherhood bond.

Further into the forest, there were several dead animals left around the forest from bullets.

"Ace, Sabo, they're not dead…" Luffy said, sadly, "we need to kill it, it'll suffer like this."

"We don't have time, Luffy," Ace said.

"Why did the marines even attack them?" Sabo asked, frowning in anger. It was unnecessary.

"Please?" Luffy asked again, "I don't want to leave them like this."

Some of the animals were shot on their stomach and left to suffer slowly, until they eventually died. Ace eventually agreed and killed them with his pipe while Luffy used a small knife he got from Grey Terminal to end some of them. Sabo could tell Luffy didn't like doing it and took over for him.

After that they continued towards Dadan's hut, more sad and angry than before. Once they arrived, what greeted them was the sight of the bandits, roundup and tied up.

"What should we do?" Luffy whispered from a tree nearby.

"How can they not know we're here, these marines suck," Ace wondered to himself.

"Where's the two devil spawns!?" They heard the leader shout, "tell us! And we won't put all of you in Impel Down!"

"Great! They'll spit it right out!" Ace whispered harshly, rolling his eyes.

Luffy and Sabo exchange worried glances, "no she won't!" Luffy huffed.

"I know she won't but her underlings might!" Ace said with an insulted frown.

"Ooooh~" Sabo and Luffy said together with a sheepish smile.

"There's no brats here! Are you crazy?!" Dadan yelled back, "have you seen the jungle?! No kids can live here, and WE'RE BANDITS!"

"Don't lie to us!" Another higher ranking marine said, "we saw the treehouse nearby."

"We don't know a thing!" Dogra shouted.

The rest of the bandits were starting to look uneasy and worried. The brothers exchanged glances, not knowing what they should do.

"Ye-yeah we won't say a thing," a bandit stuttered.

"I thought you meant 'you don't know' a thing," the marine smiled darkly. The bandit's eyes widened and started sweating bullets.

"Shit," Sabo cursed, while Ace groaned and Luffy slapped his face.

"Kill one of them!" The leader ordered and a marine aimed his gun at Magra.

"No!" Luffy shouted and rushed out to tackle the marine holding a gun at the bandit.

"Damn it!" Ace cursed and also went out of hiding with Sabo. They might complain about the bandits but they don't hate them, they were still raised by these bunch after all.

"You stupid brats! Why didn't you just run away!" Dadan scolded but the tears gleaming in her eyes said otherwise.

"Hmph, so you do know the devil spawns," the leader sneered, "and there's three of them."

"Leave them alone you stupid marines!" Dogra shouted.

Ace would never admit it but he felt quite surprised and touched that the bandits actually cared about them that way. He honestly was ready to be betrayed at some point.

They quickly took out their pipes and stood defensively, the marine officer Luffy tackled had already fainted. The marines were quite surprised by the little boy's strength and quickly took out their weapons . I t was not good for them since the marines had guns, while swords could still be defended with pipes, guns were something else.

"Capture the two black haired ones!" The leader, they assumed, ordered. He was tall and bulky with a suit on but what made him different was the white 'justice' cape that their grandpa always wore on his back.

"You're not touching my brothers!" Sabo shouted and glared as harshly as a thirteen year old could.

"Don't get in our way!" A marine shouted, as Sabo charged.

Sabo and Ace worked on beating up the marines, but they were stronger than the usual thugs they fought with and were harder to beat. Luffy, on the other hand, sneaked quietly to free Dadan and the bandits when their attention was shifted away from him.

However, when the bandits began to stand the marines noticed Luffy and tried to attack the little kid, thankfully it was blocked by the freed bandits. Luffy joined his brothers with his own pipe after passing his tiny knife to Dogra, so he could take over freeing everyone else.

The fight was dominated by the three boys to the marine's ire, and was quickly joined by the newly freed bandits.

That was until the leader himself joined, apparently a commodore rank based on the lower ranked marine's remark. The brothers weren't sure how strong a commodore was, but Sabo knew they were almost as high as a vice-admiral, and using their grandfather as an example wasn't helping.

The bandits took on the lower ranked marines but their numbers were also quite quickly reduced. Luffy was getting angry at how easy they killed anyone and had started growling. Animals of all sorts were starting to crowd the area, Ace and Sabo knew it was because of Luffy but the marines were just confused. Though it wasn't going to help since they had guns and swords, a bullet was mostly enough to stop the animal's advance.

Ace, Sabo, and Luffy stood back to back defending each other from any hit. Luffy uses his heightened senses to help his older brothers avoid bullets by using his ears and nose, while they protect him from swords instead. Even though they were used to fighting groups of people at once, this group was better and more coordinated at it.

It didn't take long for them to start getting worn out, and the marines pushed back were only replaced with new ones. There were about 17 lower ranked marines and 2 higher ranked ones left, after an hour of fighting.

"Brats! Run away, get away from here!" Dadan shouted.

"But-"

"Go Away! Now!" She yelled again.

They exchanged worried glances, but it was better if they ran away too. The commodore wasn't even fighting seriously, he was smirking and having fun. They needed to draw them away from the bandits and hopefully escape from this island.

They couldn't get far, while crossing the bridge, the commodore appeared in front of them, and the other captain covered the back. They were trapped. The three of them easily decided the captain was a better choice and decided to retreat that way, but Sabo was caught by the captain and held up by the collar. The man threw Sabo aside, his head hitting a rock that stuck out on the ground. The blond cried out in pain and groaned, his head bleeding as he struggled to get to his feet.

"NO! Sabo," Ace yelled and ran towards the man only to get shot on his leg.

Luffy, distracted by Sabo, didn't manage to prevent the shot this time. Ace screamed in pain, thigh bleeding from the bullet. Luffy saw red, he started snarling and growling like a feral animal. He jumped the captain while Sabo regained his balance and ran to Ace to try and stop the bleeding.

"Don't hurt the devil spawns, you Fool!" The commodore yelled at his partner, a captain.

But his partner wasn't paying attention since there was a huge fox mauling him. He shot the fox once but it didn't stop as it grew even larger, almost three quarters of the tiger lord's size. The commodore remained on the other end with an irritated look; he wasn't willing to move and help his partner at the risk of the other two brats running off (which they would never do without Luffy but the man didn't know). He probably assumed his partner could get the zoan off of himself but he was wrong.

In a rage, Luffy couldn't control himself. Ace's and Sabo's calls to stop weren't heard as he bit the man's neck off, spraying blood everywhere. Luckily, or unluckily, his energy ran out after that and turned back into a human again.

Their baby brother was panting and covered in blood, he finally snapped out of whatever daze he was in and looked really shaken at what he did.

"Ace, Sabo, I…" The ten year old stuttered as he walked slowly over to them, holding out his bloody hands. His face, especially mouth, was covered in blood.

"It's alright Luffy, it's okay," Sabo said calmly, rubbing circles onto his back.

"Y-yeah, you didn't do anything wrong," Ace said, through clenched teeth. His brows were drawn together from pain.

Luffy frowned, his eyes teary with a mixture of battling emotions. He glanced past them, the two of them turned around, realising this wasn't over just yet. The marine commodore was now staring at the three of them with narrowed eyes, but mostly their baby brother. They didn't like that. The brothers turned to run towards the clear area and away from the commodore, only to be met with eight more marines arriving from the other side. Now they were boxed in between the strong leader and eight marines with guns, oh and also a ravine below them.

"Give it up brats, you're trapped," the commodore smirked, "That tiny brat is quite strong and violent. What a shame since he's quite adorable. Well, not that it matters since you, threats, must be eradicated from this world."

"Stay away from our baby brother," Ace snarled. He and Sabo turned towards the single man, hiding Luffy behind them.

He laughed, "are you sure that's your brother, looks more like a monster," the man taunted.

They both could feel Luffy flinch behind them. "He's our baby brother! SHUT UP!" They both yelled.

The marine commodore laughed mockingly, "I can say and do whatever I want! You brats are too weak to stop me!"

Both Sabo and Ace tensed as the marines approached from both sides. Ace could barely stand, supported by Sabo, and growing a shade paler with every passing minute. The two of them were so distracted by the enemies that they didn't pay attention to Luffy.

"Ace, Sabo, I love you both and I'm sorry," Luffy whispered quickly with regret. The two of them were instantly alert but it was too late.

"Wha-," Ace didn't have a chance to complete his sentence.

He was falling backwards, into the ravine. Sabo right beside him, screaming his lungs out as they both fall down and crash landed painfully on the ground. Probably breaking some bones, but managing to protect their heads from damage.

The last thing they heard was their baby brother screaming about how they were going to die with all the predators down here and crying for the marines to help. But Sabo was pretty sure Luffy was the one who tripped both of them, besides he said sorry too.

"What is Lu thinking!?" Ace shouts in panic, struggling to get up with a broken arm.

Sabo was turning paler by the minute, even without any blood loss, "Ace, we need to get up there quickly! Luffy's planning to let himself be caught!"

Ace's eyes widened in panic. But Sabo broke his leg from the fall, if the horrible purpling bruise on his shin and his cries of pain from trying to stand was anything. Even if they tried to get back up there as fast as possible, it would still take days.

In the end, it took them both 2 days to find their way back up, leaning on each other. Ace had his legs tied so tight with his clothes to stop the bleeding while Sabo had a branch tied to his leg.

When they reached the bandit's hut, Dadan cried like a madwoman thinking they were all taken. But Luffy wasn't there anymore, and Garp arrived just in time to stop them when they tried going after him.

The two of them were forced to stay behind, feeling horrible and broken. Held together only by their grandfather's promise, that he would find and bring their baby brother home. They held onto their thinning hope as months passed, only for it to be destroyed when their grandpa returned in two years with the news that Luffy was probably already dead, executed.

Just like that, they lost their little light.

Ace grew bitter with every passing time, and Sabo tried his best to help. But he didn't know how to stop the raven from blaming himself when he too, blamed himself. The two of them trained hard, very hard, everyday to destroy the World Government in vengeance. Leaving the island when they turned seventeen years old, together. Over time, Sabo realised Luffy was a sour topic and shouldn't be brought up, it always made Ace spiral out in anger and hatred. 5th May became a reminder of their weakness and loss, instead of a birthday they love to celebrate.

The brothers grew slightly happier out in the ocean as pirates. Not as happy as they could be, and probably never would be. But slowly they gained allies, leaving a wake of destruction everywhere they went, especially for the marines.

It didn't take long for them to gain notoriety as the two cold-blooded demons. Ace had removed his last name completely to make sure what Luffy did to protect him didn't go to waste. The son of Gol D. Roger was dead, as far as the world knows, except for Sabo and some of their past acquaintances.

Entering the New World in only a year, Ace ended up picking a fight with Whitebeard and all Sabo could do was stand by his side. The unexpected happened, and they were eventually adopted. Sabo watched Ace grow happier, even if not to how it used to be when Luffy was around. However, he wanted to do more and decided to join the Revolutionary Army to fight the World Government.

Ace hated the idea of the blond working for Dragon, the cause of Luffy's blood. Thankfully, his work to destroy the government aligns with his goals and earned the man some reluctant points. Sabo, informing him that the man was still searching for his son, also helped earn the freckled man's approval.

~flashback ends~


Everyone was gaping, varying from slightly to widely, bar Whitebeard and Marco, duh. Whitebeard was frowning deeply and Marco just looked stoic. Izo's lips were hidden behind a very intricate, red, and fancy wooden fan. However, they all looked similarly grim at the story.

"Your brother killed a captain when he was ten?!" Vista voiced out.

"He kind of snapped," Sabo mumbled, "it wasn't his fault."

"Of course it wasn't his fault son," Whitebeard assured, "the marines were crazy for sending a commodore and captain to capture two kids. Besides, your blood means nothing."

There was a chewing sound that everyone missed before, engrossed in the story. Now they turned towards the fox in Marco's arms, who was very much awake at this point. It's Golden eyes betraying no emotions, lying his tiny head on the table, and reaching at the food from the first mate's plate with his tongue. However, it looks like the fox was raising a brow of scepticism, even though it had no brow, with its head tilted sideways slightly, still chewing stolen food.

"Aww," Thatch cooed, he couldn't stop it.

The fox chuffed and 'rolled' his eyes before he hopped off Marco's lap to his right, beside Thatch. It then proceeded to burst into white flames, eliciting girly screams from some very 'manly' pirates. Appearing as a human this time with a very unimpressed look aimed at the chef on his right.

"What?! I did not scream," Thatch muttered evasively, turning pink.

"Mm-hmm," Luffy hummed sarcastically with a small quirk on his lips. But he seemed really tense.

"I did not!"

"Forget it Thatch, everyone heard it, pretty sure Jiru and Haruta screeched too," Izo said, amusedly. Jiru turned red and groaned, hiding his face in his palms. While Haruta looked away, shrugging.

Thatch wasn't lying this time, the raven was adorable and good looking. Though he looked a little pale and tired. The boy had huge eyes that looked very much open, even though it was half-lidded. Round face with defined jaw, framed with messy raven hair. However, it also revealed the many scars he carried, from his neck down to his arms. It's like only his face was spared form torture.

Everyone tried to ignore it, choosing to focus on the person itself rather than the scars that marked his body. Even though Ace and Sabo visibly gulped, either from seeing their brother again or the state he is in.

Whitebeard furrowed his brows at the sight of those painful scars that shouldn't be on anybody, yet carried by this young teen who was barely twenty.

"Luffy!" Ace said, or almost yelled. Said raven turned towards the older raven with a slight apologetic look.

The freckled and blond man both stared at him quite desperately but Luffy still can't remember anything. Even if there was that small niggling at the back of his head. He felt kind of bad since they looked really broken from what happened but Luffy can't feel any closeness to them at all.

"Don't you remember that?!" Sabo asked hopefully, "anything at all?"

Luffy shrugged, "sorry, but no. I could barely remember my past after my head got hit," he said, genuinely apologetic this time. The two brothers deflated, shoulders sagging in defeat.

"How's you get hit?!" The blond one asked worriedly.

"Fighting ring, giant, too young, lost," was the bland reply they got. It was understood nonetheless.

"Wait! Fighting ring? Why were you in a fighting ring?" Ace asked, realising something,

Luffy bristled, "not answering that."

However, some of them already made the connection. Prisoners don't go into fighting rings, slaves do. Whitebeard being one to realise, frowned deeper in anger. Realising, the mark on his neck is like a permanent reminder that he was once owned by another human being, an item.

Marco sighed quietly at that, as he offered the raven some food. Guess Luffy wasn't going to just trust them with that after all. He was actually surprised the raven hadn't just bolted already, probably because he was still there, and maybe his hunger

There was silence for a while until everyone processed the story further.

"Wait, you pushed your brothers down a ravine?!" Vista exclaimed in shock, finally catching up the conversation. Luffy only shrugged in response again, he can't even remember it after all.

"Owh that's nothing, I mean Garp threw us down for 'training' so many times," Sabo scoffed. The commanders facepalmed, they couldn't even say they didn't believe it since it definitely sounds like something Garp would do.

"Yeah, besides I practically shoved Luffy down the ravine the first time we met too," Ace said sheepishly.

"What?!" Haruta said, confused. Luffy didn't even react and continued eating the food Marco gave him.

"What's with your family and a ravine?" Jozu mused incredulously.

"Ehehe, I might've tried to kill Luffy in the beginning when he followed me around for three months, to be my friend," Ace recalled, rolling his eyes fondly. A small smile showing on his face.

The younger raven, however, showed barely any reaction. Whitebeard found it disconcerting that the boy was so emotionless, his eyes looked so old and tired yet he was barely half his own age. But he had seen the raven talk to his eldest son, so he chalked the emotionless face to the unfamiliar and threatening environment he might be feeling.

"Huh, doesn't sound like something I'd do," the raven said distractedly, more focused on his food. Ace and Sabo exchanged disappointed glances.

"I guess you changed," Sabo muttered sadly.

"Why are you so sure I'm your brother anyway?" Luffy asked, still showing no emotions.

"Garp's your grandpa?" Haruta said more than asked.

"And your name," Ace deadpanned.

"Oh, right," Luffy groaned, "I'm too lazy to use my brain so, excuse me." Everyone else sweatdropped at the remark.

"I don't actually remember him, I only know that Dragon's my dad and Garp's his dad, so," the raven explained further. That made sense to Ace and Sabo, they had thought their brother remembered Garp but not them.

"The scar below your left eye is kind of an obvious indicator too," Ace said, "you sort of stabbed yourself to prove you're not a crybaby."

"I always wondered where I got that," Luffy mumbled to himself, grazing the crescent scar. Finally showing slight interest.

"You also have three huge scars on your back from a bear claw," Sabo added, glad to finally gain his brother's interest.

"I don't know about that, I have many scars," the raven said nonchalantly, ignoring everyone's dark looks.

"Yeah, you have that three gash yoi," Marco blurted with a slight nod, Luffy turned at him in slight surprise.

Now there were wide eyes pointed at him. Whitebeard grinned and Izo looked extremely amused, while Thatch was failing to hide his smile. Also the two brothers looked shocked and about ready to stab him. Luffy, on the other hand snorted in amusement, finally showing a semblance of an emotion. Marco groaned for the umpteenth time today, realising his mistake.

Thankfully, Izo decided to help him by changing the subject. "Why didn't he just jump down with the two of you then?" He asked the two brothers. They exchanged glances and shrugged.

"If we all go down, they would've probably gone down to search for our corpse. But with one of us alive, they'll assume you're dead and cut their losses," Luffy explained, wiping his mouth.

"You remember?!" Sabo asked again, hopefully.

"Err… no, It was just- an explanation that makes sense."

The two brothers deflated in disappointment at that. There was an awkward silence after that and Luffy was getting a little jittery.

"Ahaha, I thought you would be suspicious and not eat the food," Thatch tried to joke as he cleaned up the plates. The others groaned and facepalmed at his attempt though.

Luffy chuckled a little, surprising the surrounding pirates. "Poisons don't work on me," he smiled a little.

"Your devil fruit?" Namur asked.

"No," the raven said. His two self-proclaimed brothers perked up in curiosity while Marco looked regretful.

"Then how?" Vista urged, twirling his moustache.

Luffy glanced at his two self-proclaimed brothers, then at Marco. The blond didn't give him any readable look, so he decided to say something milder. "I have- tried every poison before..." he trailed off.

"What?!" Sabo squeaked, "why would you do that?"

"You make it sound like I had a choice," Luffy sighed. Ace and Sabo gasped at that and looked extremely horrified, so was the others. Luffy sighs, changing the subject instead of elaborating. He doesn't enjoy the pity party.

"How are we brothers then?" - tilting his head sideways- "We don't look alike at all, maybe a little with Ace," Luffy said, finally accepting that maybeeee they really are brothers, "but I'm pretty sure I'm not the Pirate King's son."

The brothers looked slightly happier at that question, since it meant Luffy kind of accepted them as his brothers. Marco bumped Luffy's knee with his own below the table as a sign of gratitude. Luffy turned at him and smiled discreetly in return.

"We drank alcohol from sakazuki cups, sworn to be brothers," Sabo said, grinning at the memory.

Luffy finally smiled a little wider and relaxed a little more. Maybe it would be great if he could remember, having two older brothers that seemed to care for him. Since he sucks at being an older brother.

"Anyway, we wanted to thank you for the help, brat," Whitebeard told the raven with a wide smile.

"No need, I had fun~" Luffy grinned, finally looking as young as he should, "I hope Akainu's dead though."

Izo chuckled, "oh, we all do, we all do."

"You called him sensei," Haruta said, "is that for real?!"

"That- was actually true," the raven said with a thoughtful look, "pretty sure he wanted to kill me rather than train me," he added with an amused smirk.

"That's not okay," Jozu added seriously.

Luffy chuckled sarcastically and humorlessly, "a lot of things were not okay," he sighed and added nonchalantly, "but it's fine now."

"Oh-kayyy," Thatch said awkwardly.

"How old are you now?" Izo asked.

"Does it matter?" he replied, then decided to answer, "I'm twenty...I think."

"You think?" Whitebeard asked, wondering why and Marco just stayed quiet. He knew quite a lot already about the raven and decided to let Luffy answer the question as he pleased.

The raven grunted, "I can't remember my birthday after I forgot, so I counted by year."

"Your birthday's fifth of May," Ace intruded, "so you're actually nineteen turning twenty."

"Huh, okay I see,"

"So…how did you end up as an assassin?" Jozu asked, and the raven's back to being a jerk.

"Is this an interrogation?" Luffy asked bluntly. Marco groaned, "what's that for?" He said, pouting at the blond.

"Gurarara, no," Whitebeard interjected, "I think that would be enough for today."

They started leaving the table to head for a commander's meeting. Marco had forgotten that Luffy wasn't exactly wearing pants.

"Lu-Luffy, are you not wearing pants?" Ace asked, too calmly.

"I am," he replied, "it's just tiny," he said with a slight raised eyebrow as if challenging him to say otherwise. Ignoring the stares directed at his very bare and scarred legs.

However before anyone could say anything, Whiskey entered the galley and focused on her missing patient. Marco pinched his nose bridge, it's really not a good time for the head nurse to meet Luffy.

"You!" She yelled, "you should be in the infirmary!"

"I'm fine," Luffy replied as she walked even closer.

"No you're not! A hole in your stomach is not fine," she continued, "I want you back there immediately."

This was bad, no one can argue with her. Even the captain has no authority over her most of the time, and no one knows what to say right now.

"No," Luffy said, his face a blank slate.

"What?!" Whiskey shouted, she hates it when her patient won't listen to her.

"I'm fine and I'm not going to the infirmary," the raven said with a finality.

She growled and walked even closer, too close. Luffy's face was emotionless but everyone could see his fingers twitching beside his dagger, not to mention the nails sharpening into claws. His breathing was controlled but deep, then his eyes turned gold and everyone was on alert.

Marco had seen the fox slice arms and heads with too much ease when people intruded in his personal space. He didn't need the head nurse getting sliced into pieces by his 'boyfriend'. He quickly gripped Luffy's twitching arm and pulled him back, though he wasn't expecting to be flipped over the shoulder by the tiny raven. Shocking everyone to silence.

"Ow," Marco grumbled with annoyance.

Luffy on the other hand had released the blond's arm and was covering his mouth in surprise. Until a snort escaped and broke into a bout of giggles, surprising everyone pleasantly. Soon enough it was joined by Thatch, Ace and everyone else, even Whitebeard was chuckling.

"Great, laugh at me yoi," Marco grumbled while Luffy offered his hand.

"I'm sorry, but- to be fair you surprised me," the raven said, "don't do that, I could've torn your arms off."

"Hahaha, no you can't," Thatch added, "can you?" Luffy only gave him a small, too innocent smile. "Okay, remind me to never surprise you," the chef added quickly.

Marco rolled his eyes and flicked the raven's head, "Don't slice anyone up yoi, please," he said.

Luffy looked away and pouted like a child, "wasn't going to," he complained.

Whitebeard was glad that he seemed more relaxed now and could still smile, despite his past. That pearls of giggles sounded so light and genuine, he wished they could bring that out more. It seems the raven had a temper and twitchy reflexes, but other than that, he can't wait to have the raven become one of his sons.

"Also, thank you for your help but I'm not going back to the infirmary, or I'm burning it down," the raven told the nurse which was beginning to fume.

"I've spent enough time in labs and infirmaries to last a lifetime, so no thank you," Luffy glared at her. It's really weird how he can look adorable and pouty, yet intimidating when he wants to.

They understood what he meant, and the infirmary was probably not a good place for him to spend his time in.

"Whiskey, let him be," Whitebeard told his stubborn daughter, though she seemed more conflicted now.

She sighs and reluctantly agrees, "but you need to come get checked at least once, till you're fully healed."

"But I'm fine," the teen said again, poking at his stomach causing the blood to bleed onto the shirt, "can't even feel it," he added, shrugging.

"You're getting bandages yoi," Marco added, pulling his prodding hands away. He swore this kind of thing had happened before.

"Kay," the raven replied and walked away, only to be pulled again by Marco. "What?"

Marco raised a brow and glanced at his pantless leg, then back to the raven.

"Riii~ght," Luffy said, smiling a little before transforming back into the raven fox.

He then hopped back into Marco's arms to the two brother's disdain. It seemed to find it comfortable and safe enough to fall back asleep. The blond seemed satisifed with having the raven back in fox form and in his arms again.

"I'll make him some clothes," Izo said, smiling and chuckling, "can't have him stay as a fox forever because he's pantless."

Everyone finally started moving out of the galley onto the dock, finished with breakfast for the day. They gathered on the deck where oyaji's chair had been fixed, it was the first thing they fixed.

"We'll gather in the meeting room in twenty minutes," Oyaji announced as he sat on the chair. Then they dispersed to do their own thing. Except for the two brothers and Thatch that was still following him.

"Can I- pet him," Thatch asked eagerly.

"You do know he's not an animal right yoi?" Marco said.

The man child pouted before smirking, "protective already?" Marco only rolled his eyes in response.

"Wait, how did you know him, Marco?" Ace questioned, still looking disappointed at not being able to carry the fox

"I landed on his island yoi."

"His island?" Sabo asked incredulously.

"He's living alone?" Ace asked, surprised. Marco nodded, a little confused. "But he hates being alone," the raven added sadly.

Marco looked surprised at that, he didn't know that. Luffy never mentioned anything about being lonely, but then it could be because he doesn't trust people anymore.

"Well, I guess he changed…" Sabo sighed, "he wasn't that dark and- brutal."

"Yeah, he was more like a ball of sunshine," Ace said, smiling fondly.

Thatch and Marco exchanged glances, they've never seen Ace smile like that. Sure they found him as an angry person and managed to make him open up and smile, but not that way, never that way.

Then suddenly the two brothers burst into tears, "he's alive, Sabo, he's alive," Ace cried.

Sabo only nodded, crying too. "He's changed and grown up but he's still Luffy."

The two older men didn't know what to do, and Marco felt kind of bad that Luffy was closer to him rather than his forgotten brothers. Hopefully, Luffy would join their family so they could help him remember or fix the bond over time. Though if the raven joins his family maybe Marco would need to disown himself, because there is no way they were becoming brothers, no way.


I think in the original Zoans can talk in their full form but since I made Marco unable to, I'll stick to it.

Ik its unrealistic, but if Luffy could survive being thrown into ravines at 5 by his gramps, I'm gonna assume his tough brothers can too.

I'm planning to make Luffy slowly remember his brothers, fuhhh, pretty sure that'll be hard.

(8909 words)