Chapter Two : Distrust

Ace didn't know what to think of the man in front of them.

The man was tall and has a fairly build body. He has a black hair and intense black eyes that stared at him softly. He also has a long curved moustache. He looked like a pirate with the clothes he was wearing. He has a long red captain's coat, hanging over his shoulder. Beneath his coat, was a blue shirt and had a yellow sash around his waist. He wore a white cravat around his neck, dark blue pants, and what appeared to be black sea boots.

Ace turned his attention to his smile. The smile the man was wearing, was exactly the same as Luffy's. An ear to ear lopsided grin that can be contagious to anyone. The top row of teeth was showing and there was a faint curve to the lips, but there was no crease below the eyes, no movement of the cheeks. It was genuinely happy and glad, no trace of any malicious intent.

Ace was all too familiar with the man in front of him.

Roger. That was what he introduced himself.

At that moment, his whole body was shaking. Bones were rattling as the constant anger build up. His slender fingers tightened the hold in the pipe, his only way to protect himself and his siblings. His heart was pounding so hard against his ribcage as his pulse pressed outward, jerking the veins within. His eyes were twitching, glaring at the man and showing that he's not just a kid.

Only one person stopped him from acting irrationally. It was Sabo. His brother's hand reached for his shoulders, tightening its hold and never letting go. He looked at Ace sternly with the look of disagreement. Sabo slowly shook his head, as if he was scolding him to not to do anything stupid. Too bad for him, Ace was known to do stupid stuff.

Ace backed down, bowing his head. Sabo knows him. Sabo knows his greatest secret. His brother knows how much he hated that name. That was why Sabo was trying to calm him down now. Because if he didn't do something, Ace will definitely do something ill towards the man.

"My name is Sabo and this is Ace." Sabo introduced. His smile was friendly yet wary. "Luffy's our younger brother."

"Sabo, Roger is really nice! My hat blew away and went to the sea so I chased after it—" Luffy rambled, eager to tell his story.

Ace's attention was immediately turned to his brother. "You did what!? You went swimming in the sea!?"

"Yeah, but it's because my hat was in there, Ace!" Luffy whined loudly. "But then Roger saved me and my hat!"

Ace turned to the older man with a new profound feeling. He ran his fingers through his hair, a way to calm himself down after a knowing about such a stupid thing Luffy did. The man saved his younger brother's life.

"You saved him...?" Ace mouthed, still reluctant. Luffy can be all things but he was never a liar.

"Of course, I did. He said it's his treasure." The man replied, still smiling.

"Thank you," Sabo said his appreciation, bowing his head slowly. "Luffy is hard to handle sometimes. Especially when something piqued his interest."

Ace wanted to say his gratitude also but no words came out from his mouth. He bit down his tongue. He just cannot. It was hard to imagine him being a different person.

Ace finally calmed down even just a little. He tried reasoning. This man and that man was different. They did have the same name but it was probably just a pure coincidence. The man he hated has been dead before he was even born. There was no way that they were the same.

Suddenly, Roger's stomach started growling loudly. He squirmed a little. He put his hand on his hair, scratching his scalp awkwardly.

"Sorry," He said with an apologetic smile.

"Why don't you come with us... Roger-san." Sabo looked at Ace, trying to see of he'll agree.

Ace has always been a distrustful person. He was always wary about new people introducing himself to him. It was his way to protect himself from the harm a person might bring. He was brought in a harsh world and was raised by bandits. He limits the people he let in his life, knowing that his true heritage might come out and be used against him.

He'll let it slide, just this once. After all, he saved his brother's life.

"We're just in our way to get crocodile meat. That's what we're having in dinner." Ace added, averting his gaze away.

"Crocodile, huh? Can you three handle it on your own?" Roger chuckled lightly. It was mostly impressed, not ridiculing.

Luffy laughed with him. "You bet! We're actually strong!"

"What are we waiting for then?" Roger asked.

The trio lead the way towards the river where the nest of the crocodiles were located. Luffy kept talking about how awesome the beetle he saw and how disappointed he has been that it was gone. Sabo continue to Luffy to distract him, not wanting another incident of Luffy running again on his own.

Even though he was on the back and cannot see the man, Ace knew that Roger was staring at him specifically. Call it instinct but Ace grew up in a forest with a lot of animals hiding in the shadows. His senses were always heightened for danger. But Roger was no threat. He seemed to be a nice person that have no ill intention towards them.

Ace always trusts his instincts. And what his instinct told him, was that he can trust Roger.

For now anyway.

Roger watched in fascination as the three brothers launched themselves towards the crocodiles in the river. He was standing on a branch of a tree. That way, he can get a clearer view on how the trio will fight. Roger decided to not intervene. This was their fight, claiming that they could handle it. He just want to analyze their movements.

Luffy was the first one to go, the impatient one out of the three. Sabo and Ace quickly went for back up, yelling at their little brother for not following their orders. They had pipes in their hands, an interesting choice of arm. Roger has never seen a person used a pipe as a weapon before. He will surely enjoy watching how they will manage to defeat crocodiles using pipes.

Suddenly, one of the crocodiles appeared with its mouth wide open. Sharp teeth were showing, enough to make children yelled in fear. Except, the three kids it was facing were not the norms.

"Here I go!" Luffy screamed excitedly. He put his pipe up, ready to strike any moment.

Instead of being able to hit the crocodile, Luffy was eaten by it.

Roger was about to do something when he noticed that Ace and Sabo was in action immediately. They struck the crocodile in its head making it open its mouth again. Sabo threw his pipe into the crocodile's mouth. After that, Ace has kicked its stomach and Luffy came back flying, just as quickly as he was eaten.

"That was fun!" Luffy laughed, unaffected by what just happened to him. He was on the riverbank now, not wanting the water to affect him.

"Idiot, don't go attacking it on your own!" Ace scolded.

"It was the third time this month..." Sabo commented, dryly. An exasperated sigh escaped from his nose as he shook his head.

Roger laughed as he made his way down. "I'm assuming this is a normal thing for you."

"Yes, Luffy's a bit of troublesome." Sabo stated, smiling.

"What do you think about my moves?!" Luffy asked, jumping up and down.

"You did fine. Just try to not get eaten next time, lad."

"Nu-uh! This'll be the last time."

"Tch, you bet." Ace rolled his eyes, knowing that it won't definitely be the last.

Roger tried to look at Ace but the boy was avoiding his gaze. His son was obviously distrustful of him. Roger was fine by it. He was practically a stranger towards them. He would appreciate it if he showed even just a little attention though. He can already have a conversation with Sabo and Luffy but not his own son.

He did not want to forced himself to him. Ace will come to trust him in his own time.

Sabo had revealed ropes and with the help of his brothers, they managed to tie up the crocodile they hunted. Roger went over to the river and helped them.

"Let me carry it." Roger suggested.

"Are you sure?" Sabo asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's fine. I can carry it." Roger reassured. In a swift move, he managed to put the crocodile in his shoulders.

"You're strong." Luffy chimed in awe.

"So where are we going now?" Roger asked.

"In our tree house. We used it as a hideout." Sabo replied.

Roger followed the trio again who knows their way to the forest. His stomach continue to churn loudly. He can eat the crocodile all on his own. But that was uncalled for since it was the trio who caught it.

Roger examined with sheer interest the tree house which Luffy claimed they build on their own months ago. These kids seemed to impress him more and more, learning different things about them. The tree house they have built was obviously made from scratch. It was located on the tallest tree Roger has seen on the forest, probably three hundred meters high.

They readied a fire where they will roast the meat. The trio had a stock of usable woods to use as the source of the fire. Roger, on the other hand, started skinning and cutting the crocodile, readying it for grilling. He was no chef but he had experienced over butchering meat.

"You know, there's a Devil Fruit that can make you have fire powers." Roger said, starting a conversation.

"Really?" Luffy asked. "But I'm sure rubber is much cooler!"

"It is, Luffy," Sabo replied making his brother beamed because of the praise received.

"You seems to know a lot." Ace commented, eyes staring at the fire he started. "Are you a pirate?"

"I am." Roger confirmed. Memories of the past resurfaced in his head, years of being with his crew and enjoying his time with them. But those days were long past now.

"Really!? That's so cool!" Luffy exclaimed. "Is that the reason why you know Shanks!?"

"Shanks was an apprentice in my crew."

"Luffy never stop talking about Shanks." Sabo smiled lightly. "That was where he got his hat from."

"If you're a pirate. What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the sea?" Ace countered, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I was a pirate." Roger corrected hastily, continuing his work.

"Why are you here then?" Ace continued his interrogation. Their eyes finally meeting. His gaze was a threatening one as if Roger answered something he did not like, he will attack him.

"To be honest. I don't know, too. I just woke up in the beach where Luffy found me."

Ace stared at him, not believing his tale. But still, he decided to drop the subject. "I see..."

Once the meat was cooked, Roger devoured it with gusto. For him, he was just executed hours ago. And before that, they kept him in prison were the food was absolutely horrendous. He didn't realized just how famished he had been. Within two minutes, the trio and Roger managed to eat up the whole crocodile.

"That was great!" Roger exclaimed, enjoying the whole meat. He threw the bone away in his hands and wiped his moustache.

"You said you used to be a pirate, right? Tell us stories!" Luffy suggested, eyes were twinkling in excitement.

"Sure. Let me tell you the story how I met Garp," Roger agreed, before burping out loud.

Ace looked up at him with wide eyes. The remaining meat on his hands almost fell. "You know Jiji?"

"That crazy old man?" Sabo added, blinking abruptly.

"I'm a pirate. He's a marine. Of course we know each other." Roger answered happily.

"I guess so..." Ace muttered under his breath.

"So Garp and me met on the Louge Town years ago. I was just a rookie back then and he's a newly appointed Marine Captain..."

Roger continued his tale with such excitement in his voice. He reminisced the time when he first met Garp. Garp was first stationed on Loguetown. They battled as Roger's crew was trying to escape the marines. It ended up as stalemate because Rayleigh had to drag him back on their ship. If he and Garp had fought back then without any interference, it will take days before they can know who will be the winner.

"I don't understand," Ace said in confusion after Roger has finished his tale. "Aren't you two rivals?"

"So?" Roger inquired.

"You speak of the old man as if he's your... friend." Sabo continued, frowning deeply and having the same thought as his brother.

Roger let out a laugh. "Because we are friends. We might have tried to kill each other a lot but we still respect each other's strength."

Their relationship might be complicated to others. He was a pirate and Garp is a Marine. Even if that was the case, Roger had trusted Garp the same trust he has in his crew. He knew the marine longer than knew most of his crewmen. During those chase, they developed an unexplainable bond even themselves can't explain. There were no words needed to it, only feelings and trust. And Roger knew that deep down, Garp felt the same.

"I still don't understand," Sabo repeated with a soft sigh.

"Sabo, help me get Luffy to bed." Ace asked as his shoulders were starting to feel numb. Their younger brother had obviously been sleeping while Roger was telling him the story, the events of today's events finally catching up on the boy.

Sabo went over to his brothers. Luffy, still sleeping, grabbed Sabo and clinged to him with his rubbery limbs. Sabo sighed and embraced the boy, careful not to let him fall out from his grasp.

"Go up in the treehouse. I'll catch to you later." Ace ordered sternly.

"Are you sure?" Sabo questioned.

"Don't worry, Sabo. Ace and I need to talk." Roger stated, giving the blond a reassuring smile.

Sabo looked wary. The frown in his face didn't falter. He obviously didn't want to leave his brother to Roger. But Sabo respected Ace's wish. He nodded slightly. Tightening his grasp towards Luffy, he immediately climbed up to the tree with ease.

Ace stood up and started walking away. Without any words spoken, Roger followed him, unbeknownst on where they'll be going. The silence between them was poison. For in that void of sound the shallowness of their conversation was laid bare. Ace kept looking back, glaring. His son's gray orbs were swirling in emotions that can't settle for one. Roger just had a soft face, not smiling and somewhat tense. He understood the seriousness of the situation.

"You're Gol D. Roger, aren't you?" Ace said, straight to the point. He finally stopped on his tracks in the middle of nowhere.

Roger sighed before replying. There was no point in hiding it from him now.

"Yes, Ace. I am your father."

A/N: So good news, folks! I have everything already planned for this story from start to finish. I will try not abandon this since I really have a lot of fun writing it. Roger with the ASL trio is too adorable.

And no, the last scene is not a Star Wars reference.

EDITED: 26/09/21