Red-Hair is Your What?
Summary: Marineford turns into something… surprising. Which leads to a surprise for Ace and Luffy.
Or, everyone learns something new about both Portgas D. Ace and Red-Haired Shanks.
Author's Note: Yeah, enjoy I guess xD On with the fic!
Before I forget, Shanks does have both arms for this cause the Higuma incident ended a bit differently.
Warnings: Canon Divergence, Alternate Marineford Events, Portgas D. Ace Lives, Shanks arrives sooner, Shanks has both arms
Red-Hair Is Your What?
There was nothing anyone could do. Not whenever Ace was in that mindset. The mindset of being unable to turn on his feet and run. They had been successful thanks to Straw Hat Luffy that Ace had gotten off of the scaffold. Ace's own brother being the one to get to him. No one could even breathe as they screamed for Ace to get away from Akainu.
Marco had felt his blood run cold from hearing Ace's shout of pain. His body flying backwards through the air before he was landing face first against the concrete of the plaza. His heart skipped a beat as he reached for the guy who helped free Ace, a snarl on his face as he said, "Make me a key! Get these damn things off of me!"
He had to hurry. He had to get to Ace.
Ace was in trouble.
He couldn't take on Akainu. Rather Ace knew that or not, he wouldn't back down. It was a trait that was both good and bad.
Marco could never be able to fully explain the fear that was coursing through him. There was nothing he could do. He was stuck like this. A sea prism stone cuff around his wrist keeping him from being able to use his powers. He could get both Luffy and Ace out of there if he could just transform. He could even block the attack. He knew it was coming. His haki was screaming at him and telling him that the danger was still there.
Everything in him screamed to get to Ace either way. Watching him rolled up on the ground and cradling his arm. Izou in complete disbelief as he muttered, "How did he get hurt? Did he burn him?"
Thatch had been the one to answer the question for them all. "Magma burns hotter than fire." He muttered in complete horror. "Ace is going to lose this. He has to get out of there. ACE! C'mon, let's go!" Their words would never be enough to get him to turn and run. Ace never ran. It was just something he didn't do.
None of them could get close enough. It's why none of them had intervened at this point. They just couldn't without the possibility of dying if they tried. Marco would be the only one who would be able to. Yet, he couldn't. Not because of his carelessness during the war and allowing himself to get cuffed. It restricted his ability to combat Ace's fire with his own regenerative abilities. Ace's fire was already hot enough. Akainu's magma was worse. Akainu was speaking to Ace. Talking about both Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Dragon.
There was nothing they could do.
It was like time was slowing down as Akainu's attention turned away from Ace to Luffy. Luffy had fallen forward, reaching out for a vivre card. Not just any vivre card either. Ace's. "Straw Hat! Get out of there!"
The lock was still getting worked on between Haruta, Deuce, and the wax fellow trying to break through it since the guy helping them couldn't touch them. He growled for them to hurry. This was bad. Really bad.
Ace had noticed Akainu too as they all heard Akainu say, "You two are the only targets I'm after. Say… goodbye."
Ace gasped as Akainu lunged over him. Marco felt the air catch in his throat as his eyes widened. He didn't even have to guess what Ace would do. He knew. Ace would never be able to block it and Luffy had no more strength left. He wasn't even sure if Ace's brother would be able to get out of the way in time.
This couldn't be happening.
He couldn't allow this.
There was nothing he could do.
"ACE!" He found himself screaming.
Ace was on fire, the flames dancing over his skin as he followed behind Akainu. Moving even faster than the Admiral was. Throwing himself between Luffy and the Marine without a second thought. Marco could only wait for the worst to come.
This couldn't be how this all ended.
He had so many things he wanted to say to Ace. He wanted to hold him again. Wanted to kiss him and call him an idiot for running off like he had. Even if he was following the rules of the Whitebeard Pirates. Even if he had ignored their warnings.
He couldn't lose Ace.
Ace always spoke so much about Luffy. How much he loved and cared for him. If it came down to who's life mattered most to Ace, Luffy would always come first.
He just never thought he would have to witness it.
He wasn't even sure if any of the Whitebeard Pirates, hell even the Marines, were breathing at that moment. Ace had the look of pure determination on his face, waiting for the impact. His back turned to Akainu.
Marco begged anything and anyone who would listen for this not to happen.
"Please don't take him." Marco whispered.
It seemed like that prayer was answered as suddenly Ace and Luffy were shoved out of the way and Akainu's fist connected with a sword. The blast of haki coming next that knocked a few of them off of their feet. Marco was positive he would have been if it wasn't for the fact he was already kneeling down.
Ace was now laying on his back on the ground next to Luffy. Breathing heavily as he stared up in shock. Marco could release a breath of relief as he noticed that Ace was in fact still alive.
But who the hell saved him?
"Wait…" Marco whispered, his eyes landing on who was standing before Akainu, keeping him from getting to Ace and Luffy. Using himself as a human shield between the two. "Red-Hair?!" Shanks peeked up, a smirk on his lips as he stared down Akainu. He could hear the shocked exclamations around him as Marines started to speak of Shanks facing off against Kaido yesterday. Somehow making it all the way to Marineford within that time. That was impressive. But it was Red-Hair, so of course, he had found a way to do it.
The man who shoved Ace and Luffy away stood up, replacing his top hat back on his head. "Sorry, we're late." He stated. Getting a better look at him, he couldn't look much older than Ace. Maybe even younger. It was hard to tell.
Marco's gaze settled back on Shanks just as he felt the cuff break off of his wrist. He would have been just mere seconds too late from helping Ace.
In this moment alone, he was completely in the debt of Red-Haired Shanks. Marco never thought that day would come. That he would actually be in the debt of the younger pirate. Though, this was a very good reason to be.
"Shanks?! What… how?" Ace questioned.
Shanks smiled, not taking his eyes off of Akainu. "You really think I would let you get executed?"
"I deserve it!" Ace snapped, the fury coming to his face, "My bad blood—"
"The same blood that we share?" Shanks questioned.
The entire battlefield was in a dead and tense silence. Marco's jaw dropped as he pushed himself up and looked over at Thatch, "Did he just say they share blood?" Thatch whispered, leaning in by Marco. Marco could only nod.
"Shanks!" Luffy shouted, the happiness filling his voice as he registered finally who was standing there.
"Hey, Luffy." Shanks whispered, "You've sure been causing a ruckus on the sea. I would expect nothing less."
Luffy grinned, crossing his legs underneath him as he grabbed the same straw hat that Shanks used to wear and placed it on his head. Using it to hide his face, but his smile was still visible. "Ah, shucks, Shanks."
"What the hell is going on here?" Akainu growled.
Shanks smirked, eyes moving back to Akainu, "What have I said about messing with the people I care about?" Marco had felt a chill go down his spine from the bone-chilling glare that Shanks was wearing. "Ace is one of those people."
"What is this about you sharing blood?" Akainu continued, looking more interested in Shanks than he did Ace or Luffy at the moment.
Shanks grinned, stepped back and sheathing Gryphon again as he turned without a care. Throwing up his hand with a small wave. "Just what I said. He's my baby brother."
Marco was almost positive at this point that he had been killed during the war.
Shanks is Ace's what?
Ace growled as his face flared. Flames dancing on his shoulders as nothing short of a squeak left him. "I'm not a baby!" He shouted, getting back up to his feet, pouting as he growled and crossed his arms over his chest. "I am literally twenty. How long are you going to call me that?!"
Shanks snickered, reaching forward and pinching Ace's nose in between his fingers. "Until the minute you can defeat me in a fight."
"Oh, you—" Ace launched himself at Shanks, only stopping as the person who had shoved him wrapped his arms around his waist and hauled him off of his feet. "Let me go, bastard! Just one hit! I gotta— who the hell are you anyway?!"
Shanks laughed again.
Marco wasn't sure why no one was reacting. Not one pirate or Marine had moved an inch, instead gawking at Ace and Shanks. "You don't recognize your own brother, Ace?" Shanks questioned.
Ace froze, blinking at Shanks. "Of course, I recognize you two idiots."
Shanks clicked his tongue, waving his finger. "Wrong." He winked, motioning behind Ace, "Take a closer look."
Ace turned his head slowly, blinking rapidly at the blonde who was standing there. The man had let Ace go, giving him a grin, "Hey, Ace, it's been a long time."
Marco had seen Ace angry before, but not this angry. "Wait a damn minute—OH YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" Ace screamed, balling his fist, and slamming it into the jaw of the blonde.
"What the hell is happening?" Izou questioned, a visible sweat drop going down his forehead.
Marco chuckled in disbelief. "This is supposed to be a war. They know that, right?" Marco questioned. It wasn't that he wasn't happy Ace was alive. This just didn't seem like the time for family affairs.
Well, family affairs that no one seemed to know about.
How many brothers did Ace have exactly?
Ace was seething in anger as Shanks this time had to latch onto him, pulling him away as Ace was nothing short of trying to claw at the blonde. Luffy looked dumbfounded as he looked between Ace and the blonde, "What is going on?"
"That fucker!" Ace screeched as Shanks used both of his hands to pin Ace's in front of him, keeping him lifted off of the ground. "Your dumbass dies, and you come back and tell me it's been a long time?!"
"Ace, son, what is going on?" Whitebeard questioned, stumbling forward, and leaning against his Murakumogiri.
"I would like to know too!" Luffy exclaimed. "Who is this guy?"
The blonde chuckled, reaching up and taking off his top hat. "You really don't recognize me, Luffy? I know it's been ten years, but I can't be that much different."
Luffy blinked before suddenly his jaw dropped, tears welling up in his eyes before he was jumping up. Marco was surprised to see that Luffy suddenly had the energy to even move now. His arms wrapped around the blonde similar to that of a koala or a sloth. At this point, he couldn't even tell.
"Is anyone going to answer any questions?" Akainu questioned.
The four that were standing in the middle of all this simply looked at Akainu and snapped, "No!"
It brought Ace back to his original thought as he turned back towards the blonde – which Marco assumed was Sabo – growling as he kicked his legs, "Let me at him! C'mon, Shanks! Just nine more hits! One for each year! Just let me at him!"
"Like a feral kitten." Shanks sighed, dropping Ace down onto the ground on his ass, "Fine. Only nine."
Ace smirked, standing up and cracking his knuckles. Sabo let out a nervous laugh, muttering, "Luffy, you might want to get off of me."
Ace was cackling almost like a mad man as flames danced over his shoulders, a grin on his face, "Looks like my jackass of an elder brother let me off my leash. I get to do as I please."
"Garp!" Sengoku suddenly shouted, "What the hell is going on? Why does that brat keep saying Red-Hair is his brother?"
Marco turned his head just enough to see Garp looking any direction but Sengoku while whistling, "I don't have any idea what you are talking about."
Marco looked back over in time to see Luffy jumping off of Sabo just in time before Ace's fist slammed into the top of Sabo's head. Marco grimaced noticing the haki that was laced in it. Before another came down and another.
"That has to hurt." Haruta muttered.
"Does violence just run in this family?" Deuce grumbled, wiping a hand over his face before exhaling sharply.
"Hey, Ace! Okay, I get it! Ouch!" Sabo shouted with each punch.
Before they knew it, Ace had landed nine before. The Second Division Commander sighed in content, making a dusting off motion with his hands. "That's better." Marco paused as he heard the emotion behind it. The sound of Ace's voice cracking. The choked cry came next as Ace covered his face with his hand before he was reaching over and throwing his arms around Sabo, "You damn jerk! What the hell? How are you…"
Sabo gave a soft smile as he reached up, wrapping his arms around Ace's midsection, "It's a long story… but a short version is, when I got shot down, I was found by Dragon-san."
Garp snorted, muttering out, "Of course my damn brat ended up with another brat."
Sabo was still smiling, reaching up and stroking his hand through Ace's curls, "I would have came back, but I… couldn't remember anything."
The air had caught in Ace's throat, his eyes widening as his hands curled in the collar of Sabo's jacket. "How?"
"You're execution announcement." Sabo replied, "It made me remember everything. I'm so sorry, both of you. I made it here just in time. I had to come save my brother. I couldn't just let you die."
Ace choked on a cry as he buried his face in Sabo's shoulder, reaching one arm out to bring Luffy to him, "You damn bastard."
Marco felt like for a moment, they were intruding, that this was a moment that they weren't supposed to see. Shanks turned away, looking back at the Marines, "Swallow your pride. You aren't getting to Ace or Luffy as long as I'm here." Shank stated, reaching his hand down to grab his sword. Marco noticed the sudden appearance of the rest of the Red Hair Pirates now.
He could have sworn he heard Benn Beckman say, "He just had to bring a bird." Benn sighed, "At least Shanks made it here in time."
"If you still wish to fight…" Shanks said, pulling Gryphon out again. The Red Hair Pirates had made a barrier of themselves between them all and the Marines, "Come. We'll be happy to take you on."
No one was left in the condition to fight. Let alone another crew that belonged to a yonko. It appeared that Shanks didn't even bring his fleet with him. Which meant that he was confident that the Marines would decline to fight them. If two yonkos teamed up, it could be disastrous. It was up to Sengoku if he took the bait or not.
"I don't want to fight them." He heard some people start to whisper.
"What did they mean by brothers?" He heard another question.
Marco couldn't blame them; he was curious himself. At this point, who knew what they meant by it. Ace's parentage had been revealed, and he was pretty sure Shanks would take any chance he could to troll the World Government. For all they knew, that was the case this time.
He had completely missed as Sengoku and Shanks exchanged words until he heard Ace pipe up with, "Oh, hell no! As if I'm going to let that bastard get away with speaking about Oyaji like that!"
Marco felt the vein in his head pop out as he sighed, transforming into his phoenix form, and padding over to where Ace was standing.
Did Ace not learn anything within the last ten minutes?
Ace peered up at him for a second as Marco let the frustration out. Pecking directly at Ace's nose as the younger pirate moved his hands in front of his face to conceal it. "Hey, Marco!" Ace exclaimed, but Marco kept pecking as he forced Ace to start backing away towards where the Whitebeard Pirates were standing. "Quit it!"
"I think Marco is trying to tell you to stop it." Shanks teased, snickering slightly.
"Yeah, sorry, Ace, but we aren't going to let it happen this time." Thatch stated as both him and Izou reached out for Ace.
"The only way you can get through us is by burning us down and I doubt you'll do that." Izou added.
"That or Marco might just peck you some more." Thatch said next.
Ace got that pout back on his face as he crossed his arms and looked away. Marco morphed back into his regular form, a smile on his face as he reached forward and brought Ace into his arms. Feeling Ace's unnaturally warm body temperature against his chest. His smile got bigger as he buried his nose within those black curls. Ace relaxed in his hold, leaning his nose against Marco's collarbone like he was seeking that comfort from before. "We can't lose you." Marco muttered. "Just stay out of it. You already protected Oyaji's honor."
"You know what, I can just make this easy on everyone." Sabo suddenly interjected. Marco could only blink as Sabo came up to his side with Luffy on one shoulder. The First Division Commander backed away slightly as Ace gave a confused look before he too was being hauled over the blonde's shoulder.
"Sabo!" Ace screeched, "Put me down!"
"No can do." Sabo replied, "This is the only way to get your stubborn ass completely out of here."
Marco chuckled as he watched Sabo jump up into the air, landing on the top of a bird that he had failed to notice before. Ace was struggling the entire time, giving protests every few seconds before the bird was flying off.
"Well, would you look at that." Shanks hummed, "The reason this war is happening is gone now." The red head turned to look at Sengoku, a sly smirk on his face, "Want to keep this war going?"
Sengoku gritted his teeth, snarling for a second before he sighed, "I suppose you're right." The Fleet Admiral looked conflicted for the moment before he questioned, "I'll let this war end, on one simple term. What do you mean by brothers?"
Shanks laughed for a second, sheathing his sword again, "Just what I said. He's my brother. Let's just say, you are about seventeen years too late. I'll leave you be with that information." With that, he turned on his heel and moved over to the others, "Lead the Whitebeard Pirates onto our ship, we're going home."
"But… I wanna know the answer to the question." Thatch stated.
Marco rolled his eyes, snorting as he reached over and grabbed Thatch by the arm. He had a hot-headed idiot to go reunite with.
X
With Marineford in the past, the others were now on the deck of the Red Force and ally ships moving behind them. Marco was nothing short of surprised to see that Sengoku had officially agreed to end the war. Let alone Shanks' appearance at Marine Headquarters.
Now, it was time to get some answers.
They had all decided that Marco was going to be the one to take the bait and get them their answers. The rest of the Division Commanders were bunched up together, peeking out from behind the cabins in an attempt not to get noticed.
They were noticeable.
Marco just wasn't going to tell them that.
Deuce and the rest of the former Spade Pirates only laughed and shook their heads as they moved along. Ace was still with Luffy and Sabo as Shanks had joined them. Marco couldn't hear what they were saying, but Ace had a large grin on his face the entire time.
"Marco!" Ace exclaimed as he noticed the blonde Commander was now standing beside them. Marco could only smile for the moment as Ace's arms wrapped around his torso and his head settled on his chest. "Thank you… all of you." He whispered.
Marco leaned down, pressing his nose into the top of Ace's head. The younger pirate was freshly bathed now, and he could smell the sweet smell of the shampoo he had used.
"Hey, Ace—"
"You want to know about what happened at Marineford." It wasn't a question.
Marco hummed, "Yeah, I do."
Ace pulled back, a shy grin on his face as he scratched the back of his head, "So, Shanks may be my elder blood brother."
Marco snorted, shaking his head, "I figured that considering what was said. Was that just a lie or…"
"Nope. All true." Ace confirmed.
Marco clapped his hands in front of himself, peeking up at the others as he said, "I need you to explain this to me."
Ace made a noise, turning to look at Shanks, "We are going to need a drink. Maybe a lot of them." Ace smiled again as he placed his hand on his hip and looked over at Marco, "We're gonna be here a while."
Shanks snickered again for a second before he was looking over at his shoulder and shouting for alcohol to be brought out. After the day Marco has had, he wanted to get plastered. Even more so with the idea of sitting through a story time with Ace. If Luffy got brought up, they were going to be here for days. Ace never shuts up whenever Luffy is spoken about.
Marco sighed, pinching at the bridge of his nose.
Ace made nothing short of a giggle as he pointed behind Marco, "Tell them to come out before they all fall over stacked up like that." He stated before he was turning and walking away. Marco practically choked as he turned around to see the rest of the Commanders lined up by the heads up the wall. He let out a laugh as he threw his head back. That was even more noticeable than what they were doing before.
Soon enough, the alcohol was brought out and everyone was sitting around the deck. Ace had taken a spot directly in Marco's lap, one arm through over Marco's shoulder, his fingers moving through his hair. His other hand was accompanied by a tankard that was filled to the brim with alcohol. Ace was already on his fifth one, already tipsy at that point. He would tell the younger pirate to slow down, but he didn't feel like having his hair set on fire.
After being in Impel Down, shackled to a scaffold where he was told he was going to die and had to watch his nakama being killed, the man deserved a drink.
Multiple.
If he didn't know any better, he would say Ace was already drunk at this point.
Shanks had been the one to start the recount. Telling them anything that they asked. There was a flush on his face already, hands wrapped around his tankard as he looked down at the liquid inside.
Marco never thought he would hear that Gol D. Roger had another son who was hidden directly on his own ship.
Shanks had recounted the events of Baterilla and meeting Monkey D. Garp again. The promise between Garp and Roger to protect Ace.
He was even more shocked to hear that Ace grew up on the Red Force. In a similar situation to that of Shanks. That Garp would check in on the two and make sure that Ace's secret had never been discovered. Shanks was simple. He just didn't talk. Ace had been searched for by the World Government. Ultimately what had led to the death of his mother.
Ace had told the story of how he met Luffy and Sabo officially. The events that had happened on Dawn Island that led him to believe that Sabo was dead. In turn, Luffy also had gone onto the Red Force after Shanks discovered that Garp was going to send him to live with Mountain Bandits – and the fact that Ace had stowed him away on the ship.
He had never heard a word that two children had been on Shanks' ship at all through the years. But it did explain the two separate sudden disappearances of Shanks off of the Grand Line three years ago and almost a year prior.
The stories had continued as Ace placed his head on Marco's shoulder, seeking the comfort from him that he would late at night before everything had gone down.
To think, all these years this secret had been kept.
Though, Marco knew he would always be in Shanks' debt. Not only for saving Ace but for saving Whitebeard and getting them out of Marineford with no more causalities.
Who knows how the war would have ended if he hadn't shown up.
Even Sabo had made a difference. He was sure that Shanks never would have let Akainu through, but he had still shoved his brothers out of the way. Ten years and a supposed death. Forgotten memories and that bond between the three still remained.
None of them were blood related and they couldn't have a closer bond.
Sometimes, blood didn't make family. It was the bonds held between people that made it.
Just like all of them.
It didn't matter to Marco that the Moby Dick had been destroyed. That their home was gone. It hurt like hell seeing his home for the last thirty years being destroyed, but his home was where his nakama were. As long as if they all had each other, they would be fine.
He never even noticed that he had wrapped his arms around Ace tighter until he felt those warm fingers dancing over his stubbled jaw, forcing him to look up. Ace was giving him a soft smile, looking down at him with glossy eyes, "You okay?"
"I should be asking you that." Marco replied.
"I'm perfect." Ace whispered, leaning forward, and connecting their lips.
"Get a room, you two." Shanks exclaimed. Ace and Marco both laughed as a piece of fabric connected with their faces. Ace just swatted his hand at the fabric, waving back at Shanks before he pulled away from Marco.
Suddenly, the four brothers halted, giving each other looks before they were scrambling up. "What's going on?" Marco questioned.
"If you don't want a headache for the next week," Ace stated in a hurry as he stumbled over his feet, "Run!"
Marco felt the confusion fill him before he was going face first into the deck and the pain splitting in the back of his head despite his Devil Fruit powers. "Damnit, wrong brat." Marco blinked as he picked up his head, looking up to see Garp standing behind him.
What?
How?
Also, why?
He looked back over to where Ace had been to see that the four were already gone but the drunken giggling followed from the cabins.
"Get your law defying criminal asses back here!" Garp shouted, his heavy footfalls coming next as Marco just laid back down to his fate. Huffing as he rolled on his back.
"You know, maybe I shouldn't have asked." Marco groaned.
"Welcome to the family, bird brat." Garp exclaimed before the cabin door was slamming shut.
"What kind of family is this?!"
Whitebeard was cackling, "That is some initiation." The Captain stated, "Those two really did just troll those Marine bastards. Roger was right about them."
Marco turned his head just enough to look at his Captain, "Oyaji, you knew?!"
Whitebeard continued to chuckle as he took a drink, "Roger told me about the red-haired brat last time I saw him, and Ace told me about Roger before he accepted being my Second Division Commander."
Marco groaned, "You could have told us!"
"This was more fun."
Author's Note: You know, I have no idea. I hope you enjoyed.