A/N: I put it on my tumblr but I'mma mention it on both stories here. I'm moving on my birthday (the 28th of August) and will be busy with packing, so I might not make my update schedule on one or both of the upcoming weeks. I'm gonna try my hardest, though! The good news is I am moving out of a deathtrap in the sticks with no civilization into the home of one of my best friends on the east coast. I will try very hard to get a chapter posted before I leave for the airport, since I also realized my birthday is a Friday and it'll technically be Saturday when I get there xD
Thank you SO MUCH everyone, omg! *flails and attempts to hide Chopper-style behind a pillow* You guys are way too sweet. The reviews and faves have been making me slack off my life responsibilities to make sure I get these chapters done LOL! I really should be packing right now... but WOW the response to Bonds had been incredible. I'm so nervous now xD But I think (or at least hope) you'll all enjoy how this story continues. I know I'm excited to see it :D
Dedicated to Beyond Kailani for her infinite patience with me, her fantastic beta'ing (this chapter was embarrassingly bad before she got to it), and for all the motivation she gives me ₍₍ ◝(●˙o˙●)◜ ₎₎
Quick thanks to Aynslesa for helping me when I panicked over some of my edits xD
Have I ever put a disclaimer on this one? eh. No one thinks I own One Piece lol.
Bonds of Sea and Fire
Chapter 8: A Few Years In Paradise
When he awoke, he didn't make any sudden movements or sounds. He didn't even allow the cry building up in his throat to escape as he was wrenched from a terrible nightmare, going absolutely still so as not to wake his brothers. Even through the haze of the worst case scenarios that replayed in his mind, he could hear Sabo snoring, could feel Luffy shifting around and mumbling between them. It pierced straight through to his heart, keeping it beating as it reminded him that his brothers were okay. They were alive.
It took some time for the tension to drain away - for his breathing and his heart rate to return to normal - but he didn't budge an inch until it did, as if any movement might be amplified by the remnants of his nightmares.
Sabo's hand was resting lightly on his arm, and he noted that the blond hadn't moved under the covers with them. A pang of guilt hit him again - he was pretty sure he wasn't going to feel anything but guilt mixed with relief for a while - when he found himself wondering if the burns were still causing him so much discomfort.
"Ace," Luffy mumbled sleepily, effectively drawing all of Ace's attention to him. His bandages had loosened a little from his tossing and turning through the night, and Ace couldn't help but carefully reach out to shift some of them aside so he could assess the damage for himself.
A swell of anger rose in his chest at the sight of the healing wounds, and it was all he could do to stop from vocally expressing his grief. The skin was red, healing scabs covering thick patches of Luffy's skin in lines around his throat. They'd heard enough about Luffy's bindings in their search for him that it wasn't hard for Ace to visualize Luffy tugging and thrashing against the wire restraints and unintentionally harming himself. The bandages on his fingers only reinforced the imagery and made Ace feel sick to his stomach.
He shifted the bandages back into place and closed his eyes, willing himself to stop thinking about how the injuries had gotten there. Instead, he pushed himself into a sitting position so he could keep an eye on both of his brothers while they slept. Even though he knew it wasn't a trick, a part of him was still adjusting to the idea that this was real. It hadn't been that long since they'd been given the false information, but still felt like a lifetime ago as he gazed at Luffy's sleeping face. If not for the excessive bandages and unfamiliar bedding, they could have been back in their treehouse, ready to hunt in the forest and prepare for a day of scavenging, pillaging, or sparring.
Hesitantly, as he didn't want to disturb either of them, he reached out to take one of Luffy's hands. It was flopped carelessly near his face, and his palms weren't heavily bandaged like his wrists and fingers. Ace was practically holding his breath as he slid his hand into Luffy's, carefully entwining their fingers the same way Luffy always did when Sabo held his hand. Back on the mountain, Ace would grab Luffy by the wrist to pull him along if the younger boy was crying or fussing or needed to be guided, but Sabo always held his hand.
His cheeks darkened when Luffy gave a sleepy smile and curled his fingers instinctively, clasping Ace's hand in his own like it was some kind of treasure.
He could never allow himself to fail his brothers again. He could never allow himself to sink into despair the way he had when Sabo had been relying on him.
I'm the big brother, he told himself, and while he would never view Sabo as anything less than an equal, he couldn't deny that he felt the same protective urge towards both of them.
"I didn't know he could still see me… I felt so happy to know I wasn't alone, but I was also ashamed, because I was the one who'd truly given up."
It may have been a dream. It was possible he'd imagined it; but his gut was telling him he'd heard perfectly, and it had been real. It hurt, knowing he'd been the one to push Sabo into feeling that way. For all his talk when they'd been resting on Dragon's ship, he'd isolated Sabo when his brother had needed his presence and his strength, and he didn't know if he'd ever forgive himself for it.
"When we find Luffy, we're going to be free, Sabo. We won't go back to Dawn Island, and you'll never have to go back to those people. It'll be the three of us, and we'll stay together this time. We'll get stronger, and if anyone ever tries to force us apart again, we won't let them. None of us will ever have to be alone again, Sabo."
Those had been his words, and the severity of his failure caused his eyes to sting with tears he refused to let fall. His eyes were still puffy from the night before, and he had to keep it together.
I swear, he thought vehemently, tightening his grip on Luffy's hand just enough to feel the pressure of his grip and the weight of the contact. I will never be the reason either of them feel alone. I will never fail my brothers again. I won't have regrets like this ever again. I won't let either one of them feel guilty about my actions. I swear, I swear, I swear.
He knew Luffy's wounds would likely heal without leaving scars. The same couldn't be said for Sabo, but they were together, and he would ensure they stayed together and free.
Hours could have passed and he wouldn't have noticed, carefully observing every shift in Luffy's posture and any sign of discomfort on Sabo's face. It wasn't until he heard the door opening behind him that the sense of calm and relaxation he'd acquired after his internal oath left him. He turned, body tense and ready for an attack as he slipped his hand from Luffy's, but the tension drained away when he saw Thatch alone in the doorway. Thatch was the least imposing of the three; the least likely to be a threat.
"Sorry, did I wake you? Well, no, you look like you've been awake for a while. It's Ace, right? Are Luffy and Sabo still sleeping?" Thatch asked.
Ace hesitated. He hadn't addressed any of the Whitebeard pirates directly since shouting at them the night before, but Sabo was asleep, and he couldn't keep hiding behind his brother's willingness to interact on his behalf simply because he felt ashamed for his behavior.
"Yeah," he answered finally, averting his eyes. "They're still sleeping, but Luffy's going to need a lot of food."
"Does he always eat a large amount?" Thatch asked. "It's not a big deal if he does, I just need to make sure I make enough. Any favorites?"
Ace took a deep breath, daring a glance at Thatch's face. "He always eats a ton. And he likes anything with meat in it."
"What about you? And Sabo? I can make anything you want," Thatch boasted, smiling so cheerfully that Ace found he couldn't look away again.
"Anything's fine," Ace murmured, shifting to sit up a little more. His hand automatically curled, as if ready to grab onto his pipe, until he remembered his pipe was at the bottom of the sea. Apologize to him, he urged himself, knowing it would be easier without an audience.
"I'll get started right away then, I just came to see if anyone was awake or not," Thatch laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Do you need anything now?"
"No," Ace mumbled, looking back to Luffy and Sabo. His fist clenched. Just apologize, Ace!
"Okay. Well, I'll be back as soon as-"
"I'm sorry," Ace interrupted in a tone that came out far more aggressive than he intended.
"Huh?" Thatch paused near the door, tilting his head to the side and regarding Ace curiously.
"I said I'm sorry," Ace repeated, scowling and keeping his gaze on his brothers so he wouldn't lose his nerve. "I stabbed you last night."
"What? Oh!" Thatch laughed nervously, bringing his arm up and rubbing the area near the bandage. "This? Don't worry about it. I've had way worse, and I was the one who didn't guard against it."
"You don't need to make excuses," Ace muttered, pushing a hand through his hair and turning to Thatch again. He was sure the shame was easy to read on his face, but he needed Thatch to understand he was taking responsibility for his actions, and that excusing him for being a kid or grieving for Luffy would be needless coddling.
Thatch held his gaze, but instead of dropping his smile and becoming serious, his smile became warmer. It was a response he was only used to seeing from Luffy, and it was so surreal seeing it from a stranger, it caught Ace by complete surprise. He quickly tried to hide it, but he was sure his expression had given it away.
"Alright," Thatch agreed warmly. "Thank you for apologizing, Ace. Don't do it again?"
Ace relaxed, even managing a slight grin. "I won't. I mean, unless I have to. I won't."
"Well, you won't have to," Thatch promised. "None of us are going to hurt your brothers, and if anyone tries while you're with us, we'll take care of it. You can let your guard down here, Ace."
Ace didn't answer that, but Thatch didn't push him. The pirate with the pompadour simply turned and left him alone with his thoughts.
"I'm trying," Ace mumbled to no one in particular, letting his grin fall and pulling his knees to his chest to let his head rest on them for a moment. He didn't know if he could fully let his guard down or bring himself to trust the pirates, even though they'd done nothing but help.
Thatch's words unsettled him, causing his resolve to falter. He was used to being the one who took charge. He was supposed to be the protector - the strong one Luffy relied on - especially after Sabo had left them… and now he had both of his brothers back. With the adrenaline gone, with his guilt easing and Thatch trying to provide some sort of safe haven for them to recover from their ordeal, he couldn't help but feel lost and uncertain.
It was true he'd nearly failed them both - though if he was being honest with himself, he had failed Luffy, despite finding him alive - and he wasn't sure if they could still look at him the same way, no matter how many promises he made to himself that he'd do better.
He was grateful Thatch had given him space, as if the older man had instinctively known exactly what was troubling him and that he needed time to deal with it on his own. No matter how he felt about it, he had to pull himself together before his brothers woke up.
...
"You know, lurking around doorways makes you kind of creepy," Thatch commented under his breath as he headed to the galley to check on the breakfast he'd started. He'd made sure not to leave anything over direct heat since he hadn't known who would be awake and if he'd get delayed talking.
"It's good that he apologized, yoi. And he didn't try to opt out of taking responsibility," Marco answered, stepping away from the wall to follow Thatch.
Thatch rolled his eyes. "He's a kid, Marco. A kid who was at the end of his rope and thought I killed his baby brother. I think I can excuse a small scar when I could have easily blocked it with haki if I'd been paying attention."
"That's just the point," Marco leaned against the counter, watching him pull several pieces of meat from the refrigerator. "You weren't paying attention, yoi."
Thatch sighed. "Which is why it's my fault, not his."
"Which is why it's both."
"Well, it's over and done with now," Thatch said, shooting a glance over his shoulder. "You worry too much, Marco."
"You're too trusting sometimes," Marco replied, unfazed by Thatch's claims. "You should have more self-preservation than this, yoi."
"I'm fine," Thatch promised. "Now if you're just sticking around in the kitchen to lecture me, could you make yourself useful and slice some fruit or something?"
Marco rolled his eyes, but he accepted the task without argument. He knew where all the utensils were - anyone who'd spent longer than five minutes in one of Thatch's kitchens knew - and in no time at all, he was casually slicing up the freshly rinsed fruit Thatch had placed in front of him on the counter.
"You still want to take them to Oyaji, don't you?" Marco asked after several minutes of silence.
"Yes," Thatch admitted, because there was no point in denying it. "You heard them before. They don't want to go back to Dawn Island. They just want to stick together. How are three kids going to manage that out here, especially with the appetite Luffy has?" He sighed loudly, a sound that was drowned out by sizzling from the large portion of bacon he was cooking. "Besides, you felt it. I know you did."
"Ace's haki, you mean?" Marco glanced at him. "Of course I did."
"It's untrained and not very impressive yet, but with proper guidance…" Thatch gestured aimlessly, before grabbing a large metal bowl and whisk. "I don't know about Sabo's ability to fight, but he seems intelligent and adaptable, and then there's Luffy."
Marco set the knife down - almost all the fruit was sliced now - and folded his arms over his chest. "You're worried about him because he's a devil fruit user."
"In East Blue, yes," Thatch agreed. "Most of the people around here still think devil fruits are just myths."
"It's a valid worry, yoi," Marco relented.
"I just… I think they'd be so much happier with a family, you know? I mean, I know I am," Thatch murmured, shoulders sagging. "You know how important having a place to belong is. Those kids don't have anywhere they belong, except with each other. That's all they seem sure of, and with Oyaji, they wouldn't have to be split up. Luffy seems so open and trusting, and Ace looks lost, like he doesn't know how to trust anyone. The burden on his shoulders is too big for a kid his age. And Sabo… you heard them last night, those burns happened back in Goa, before they set out to rescue Luffy. How do you think he got those burns? Luffy mentioned a fire-"
"You're rambling, and it's far too early in the morning for hysteria," Izo's voice cut him off, and he lifted his head to see the crossdresser making his way into the galley as if he owned it.
"I'm not rambling that much," Thatch argued, pouting and watching Izo lean against the counter next to Marco. His hair and makeup were perfectly done, and Thatch had to wonder how he had the time or energy. It was still at least an hour to dawn, and the only reason he was up was because he wanted to make sure no one had to wait for breakfast.
Marco inclined his head, not even having to give his verbal agreement with Izo for them to know what he meant.
"Oh fine," Thatch sighed, going back to whisking. "I'm rambling. So what?"
"You're still worried about the boys," Izo stated.
"I am," Thatch agreed. "It's not like I'm hiding it."
"There's no point worrying about it right now. We still don't have the full story, and we don't know what they want aside from staying together," Izo pointed out. "Don't make this decision for them, no matter how good of a decision it might be."
Marco raised an eyebrow, studying Izo almost lazily. "You want them to come too."
Izo sighed. "I'm not opposed to the idea. They're loyal, and Oyaji would love them instantly."
"I can't argue with that," Marco agreed. "But the New World is still out of their league."
"Haruta's too. But what's a few years in Paradise, really?" Izo asked. Before either of his brothers could answer, he headed for the door again. "I'm going to go check over their wounds."
Thatch and Marco exchanged a glance at the implication behind Izo's words, before Thatch grinned and turned back to the stove. "Have I mentioned how happy I am you guys are here?"
"At least four times since we got here," Marco chuckled. "But it's not like I'm keeping track."
"Just… shut up and slice some more fruit, birdbrain," Thatch sighed, causing Marco's chuckles to grow in volume.
...
"I said I'm fine," Ace mumbled, averting his eyes again.
"Hm," Izo continued to apply the salve on his hands, carefully wrapping them with bandages without binding too tightly. "Your hands are covered in blisters, and you need more rest. Try not to overdo it."
Ace sighed, but he didn't argue again as Izo finished up. He had to admit, the salve had calmed the stinging sensation that had been irritating him for days, and it felt nicer when his skin wasn't exposed to open air.
"That goes for you too," Izo added, catching Sabo watching them. The blond tensed when he noticed he'd been spotted - especially because Ace had clearly thought he'd been sleeping - then slowly pushed himself up with a sheepish grin. It was hesitant and shy, but the grin was easily endearing and had Izo softening his tone. "Do you mind if I look over your wounds now?"
Ace frowned in obvious worry at seeing Sabo awake already, but there was nothing harsh or hostile in his expression since Luffy was still completely out cold, snoring away without a care in the world.
"Okay," Sabo answered, shifting to sit on the edge of the bed so Izo could reach him. As he left Luffy's side, Ace angled his body so he was technically turned towards Luffy, but poised to jump to his feet if needed.
By now, Sabo was used to somewhat routine checkups, even if Ace had never been as thorough or attentive as Izo. He was pleased to hear everything was healing nicely, and aside from a few healing wounds that had torn open and needed bandaging, he was only suffering from exhaustion.
"I may not be a doctor, but I'm absolutely forbidding the two of you from trying to fight or do anything stupid," Izo muttered once he'd finished with Sabo's bandages.
"Why do you think we'll do something stupid?" Ace countered.
"Well, you rammed this ship with your tiny fishing boat, and you attacked three adult pirates with a lead pipe and a knife," Izo pointed out. "If you hadn't been attacking Thatch, you wouldn't have left a mark. Thatch is an idiot."
"Why do you say he's an idiot?" Sabo asked, interrupting before Ace could respond. He could see the freckled boy growing agitated.
"Because if he wasn't an idiot, he would have blocked the attack rather than get distracted by how big his heart is," Izo huffed. "He's always been like that."
"We can relate," Sabo cast a fond glance at Luffy, then offered another hesitant smile at Izo. "Looking after your brother can be exhausting, huh?"
Izo blinked at the comparison, but despite Thatch not being the youngest - or even younger than him for that matter - he had to agree that Thatch was the most childish. Even Haruta, at the tender age of fourteen, tended to act more mature. Unless of course, the youngest brother was being influenced by Thatch. Then it was mayhem for anyone involved. A smile touched his painted lips at the thought, and he nodded to Sabo. "Thatch certainly gets into enough trouble if left to his own devices."
Ace's shoulders relaxed, and while he didn't smile, his expression softened.
"And you don't need to tense up so much when Marco's around," Izo added. "He isn't fond of kicking kids, even if they are hostile and waving weapons around…"
"I didn't see what happened," Sabo said, looking to Izo. "Marco kicked him?"
"After I stabbed Thatch," Ace muttered. To most, his tone would seem apathetic, but Sabo recognized the shame easily, and Izo's scrutinizing gaze seemed to be able to read him with alarming familiarity. "He kicked me after that."
Neither boy spoke after that. It was obvious they both understood that Marco's actions had been in response to Thatch being hurt, and they could both respect that Marco was protecting his brother, especially if Thatch was as troublesome to take care of as Luffy often was.
Izo had to fight the urge to smile again. He was better at reading children - again, from experience with Thatch - even if he didn't instantly get along with them the same way Thatch did. He appreciated their reasoning and acceptance of Marco's actions when it would have been so much easier to make excuses or whine about it. Another trait that would help them prepare for the New World if they stayed.
"Now," Izo said after allowing them several moments of silence. "I need to look at Luffy's wounds."
Ace bristled again, but Sabo reached out to put a hand on his arm, communicating with a look that Izo didn't bother trying to read. It seemed to work well enough, because Ace eventually shifted out of the way, and Sabo moved to Luffy's other side again so Izo had space to work.
"Thatch will be bringing breakfast in shortly," Izo said while he checked over the bandages, pleased by how quickly Luffy's injuries were healing. "Do Luffy's wounds ever leave scars?"
"Not since he ate his fruit," Sabo answered. "Because his skin's rubber."
"I see," Izo smiled, pleased. "Well, he feels a bit feverish again, but it doesn't seem like that pirate left any permanent damage on him. He should be back to normal in no time at all."
"Thank you," Sabo said politely.
"I'll leave you three alone now," Izo said, rising gracefully. "Marco and I will be in the galley if you need us. No doubt Thatch will eat in here unless you kick him out."
"You're not going to stick closer to Thatch?" Ace asked quietly, looking to Izo with a serious expression.
Izo regarded his question for a moment, then shook his head. "No. There's no reason for any of you to attack Thatch, and it's clear you'd be more comfortable with less crowding. Thatch will leave if you ask him to."
Ace didn't address him again, waiting until Izo had gone before he turned to Sabo.
"How long have you been awake?"
Sabo shrugged his shoulders, pleased to be able to do so without excruciating pain. "Not long. I think I woke up when Thatch was leaving the room."
"What do you think about them?" Ace asked, looking to his bandaged hands.
"I don't know," Sabo admitted. "They seem trustworthy, but it could be an act. Honestly, though? I don't think it is. Marco's hard to read, but Thatch is like an open book, and Izo… it's hard to explain, but he kind of sets me at ease. I was thinking about that last night before I fell asleep."
"What do you mean?" Ace frowned. "Izo unnerves me."
"It's because he's level-headed and logical, I think," Sabo explained, chewing on his lower lip thoughtfully. "Last night, he asked if I could talk about how I got hurt - how Luffy got kidnapped - and I actually didn't mind telling them. I didn't have the energy last night though."
Ace sighed softly. "I'll take your word for it. I don't trust my own judgment right now, Sabo."
Sabo stilled at those words, turning to Ace with a pained look. "Ace-"
"No," Ace cut him off, shaking his head. "I lost it. You know I lost it. I don't need to explain it because you already know exactly what I'm talking about." When Sabo didn't argue, he continued, softening his voice. "I don't know when I'm going to be able to think clearly about any of this. Right now, I need you to be the voice of reason, just like you usually are."
Sabo wanted to protest, wanted to tell Ace not to be so hard on himself, or to explain how he'd messed up to show neither of them were perfect, but something held him back. It was in the way Ace's hands gripped at his own forearms as if he were trying to ground himself and keep his emotions in check, and the way Ace's silvery eyes would flash with guilt like he thought he needed to redeem himself before he could open up.
It was so unlike Ace's usual reaction that Sabo had no other choice but to assume Ace already knew Sabo had given up on him, and he blamed himself for not being strong enough to prevent it.
"I'm sorry about before," Ace sighed when Sabo didn't say anything. "I-"
"You don't have to say it," Sabo nearly panicked at the misinterpretation of his silence. "I should apologize to you too-"
"How about we both just admit we screwed up," Ace cut him off, finally meeting Sabo's eyes. He looked uncertain for a moment, almost afraid, but it quickly melted into an almost sheepish expression. His smile was boyish and sincere. "And we agree not to do it again. No more apologies and no more regrets."
Sabo didn't answer at first. He knew it was far more complicated than that, and he wanted to express it somehow, to make sure Ace really understood that he shouldn't hate himself and shoulder all the blame as he was prone to do, but when he searched the freckled boy's eyes, he saw clarity. Like he had guessed, Ace had already reached a conclusion on his own, and he was sincerely trying to release them both from their guilt.
He turned his attention to Luffy and gently brushed a few strands of unruly hair from the sleeping boy's face. The motion had Ace's expression softening even more and his grip on his arms slackening.
"Okay, Ace," Sabo answered, trusting that Ace would make an honest effort to let go of his own guilt if he did too. "Just don't try to deal with this yourself. Luffy and I are here." A warm smile stretched across Sabo's face as he nodded in agreement. "No more regrets."
"Yeah," Ace's smile widened in response to Sabo's, eyes shining with relief. Any lingering tension in the room broke, leaving the boys in a comfortable silence for several moments, until Luffy's sleep-squirming became a distraction.
"What do you think we should do now? I mean, after we recover," Sabo questioned, watching Ace put up with Luffy smacking into his side. "We need to get a letter to Dadan and Makino-san."
"We can do that in the next town," Ace agreed thoughtfully. "I wonder if Jiji's been alerted yet. Makino-san said they were trying to contact him right before I left."
"If they did… do you think he'll make us go back?" Sabo's smile faded. It wasn't that he had anything against Garp - well, that was a lie, but in terms of his intentions, he seemed good - but he couldn't risk going back to Dawn Island.
"Probably," Ace sighed. "I doubt he's anywhere near here though, so we have time before he can try to chase us."
"Ace… Sabo…"
Both brothers paused at the sound of Luffy's voice, then gave him their full attention as his bleary eyes started to open and he blindly grasped in the direction their voices had been coming from.
"Oi, take it easy," Ace admonished him, grabbing onto his hand to stop him from flailing. "We're right here."
"Good morning, Luffy," Sabo added, taking his other hand. "Did you sleep well?"
Luffy blinked at them, lying there for a moment and staring at their faces like he was trying to burn them into his memory forever, before abruptly using their hands to pull himself into a sitting position so he could throw himself at them. "Ace! Sabo!"
Sabo braced himself, but Ace quickly cushioned the impact by moving forward to meet Luffy halfway, letting go of his hand to wrap his arms around the whimpering boy instead. "Hey, what's with the crying?" Ace teased. "We're right here, dummy."
"Didn't we promise we'd be here when you woke up?" Sabo added, joining the hug at a slower pace and angling the left side of his body away from them.
"Y-yes, but…!" Luffy tightened his grip on them to emphasize his happiness.
"But nothing," Ace said firmly. "We're here."
"Okay," Luffy tightened his grip, sniffling and clearly struggling to hold back tears. "I'm hungry."
"Thatch is making breakfast," Sabo assured him, though he had no idea how long it would be before Thatch actually appeared. He didn't feel confident going to look for him.
Luffy quickly calmed down despite having no food and rubbed at his eyes as he pulled back. He kept a tight grip on Sabo's shirt, and Ace didn't begrudge him that. "How do you feel?" Ace asked.
Luffy continued rubbing his eyes for a moment, then sniffled. "I'm still dizzy," he admitted. "But mostly hungry." He let go of Sabo suddenly, stretching his arms out and grinning. "I can move around now," he sighed with relief. "I'm so glad I'm not tied up anymore!"
Ace clenched his jaw, but he kept his tone as neutral as possible. "You won't be tied up again."
"Ace is right," Sabo muttered, and his voice was harder than Ace's. Just because they'd agreed not to have any more regrets didn't mean they couldn't feel anger on Luffy's behalf.
"Good," Luffy puffed his cheeks a little, then exhaled. "I… I wasn't scared," he said, keeping his head bowed and his face hidden. "I wasn't scared, and it didn't hurt!"
"Idiot," Ace mumbled, lightly smacking him upside the head and knocking his hat off. It was a wonder the poor thing was still keeping its shape considering Luffy had worn it to bed. He didn't wait for Luffy to protest or reclaim his hat before he tugged the younger boy closer by the back of his neck and held him to his chest. "I was terrified."
Luffy stilled, carefully twisting so he could look at Ace without dislodging himself. Ace's hand was still on the back of his head, fingers lightly brushing through his messy hair. "Ace was?"
"So was I," Sabo murmured without shame, reaching out to place a hand on Luffy's back.
"It's okay to be scared sometimes, Luffy, and you don't have to lie about it hurting. You can tell us the truth, because we're your big brothers." Ace's voice, though soft, was filled with conviction as he felt a slight tremor in Luffy's shoulders.
The younger boy hesitated a moment longer, then bowed his head and buried his face against Ace's chest. "I was scared," he whispered. "I was really, really scared! And it hurt all the time, but I promise I didn't let Bluejam see me cry! Even when he tossed me in the ocean and dragged me with the boat, and when he ate in front of me and laughed at me, I didn't cry!"
Ace clenched his jaw so hard it ached, but he didn't say anything, simply pulling Luffy closer with his other arm and continuing to stroke his hair. He let his head rest on top of Luffy's, eyes meeting Sabo's and sharing a pained glance.
"You threw the treasure over the side of the boat so he couldn't have it, right?" Sabo prodded, wanting to remind Luffy of his bravery.
"Yeah!" Luffy twisted so that his neck was at an unnatural angle, looking at Sabo from where Ace was holding him. "I was so mad that when I broke out of the barrel and got a hand free, I wanted to make sure he couldn't have the treasure! It wasn't supposed to be his!" He scowled suddenly, sucking his lower lip in.
"Luffy?" Sabo questioned, reading his petulant expression. The tone of Sabo's voice drew Ace's attention from the door, where he'd been sure he'd sensed movement of some kind from the hall.
"He hit Makino," Luffy said miserably. "I wanted to make him pay for hurting my friend."
"Dadan and the others helped her," Ace promised. "And Bluejam is dead."
"Really?" Luffy's eyes widened a bit. "I don't remember that."
"Thatch killed him," Sabo confirmed.
"I like Thatchy," Luffy stated, smiling. "When I was really scared and really dizzy, Thatchy made me feel better. He sat with me so I wasn't alone, and when I told him I missed my brothers, he said he missed his too."
"Where were they? I mean, weren't they here too?" Ace asked with a frown.
"No, Mango and Izo got here later, I think," Luffy said thoughtfully.
"I think his name's Marco," Sabo tried to correct, not wanting Luffy to accidentally offend the man the next time he came into the room.
"I'm pretty sure it's Mango, because he looks like a pineapple, right? And that means he sounds like a fruit, right?" Luffy asked.
Ace snorted, but his grin gave away his amusement. "What kind of logic is that? Don't call him Mango. It's Marco."
"I'm really sure it's Mango," Luffy argued.
"Sorry to interrupt," Thatch's voice had all three boys looking up as he nudged the door open with his shoulder, carrying a large tray in both hands. "But breakfast is ready, and you can definitely call him Mango if you want."
"Thatchy!" Luffy cheered, pulling back from Ace and pumping both fists into the air. "Food!"
"He said Thatch's name before he said food," Sabo pointed out with a sly grin at Ace. "That's impressive."
Ace grinned back, feeling far less nervous than the last time Thatch had been in the room. "He must really like Thatch."
"Ah," Thatch's smile lit up his whole face, a blush dusting over his cheeks. "I'm honored! But please, be excited for my food. Ace said you liked meat, so I made a lot."
Luffy opened his mouth to answer, but nothing came out, save for drool.
"Oi," Ace said, untangling from his little brother. He put one hand on Luffy's upper arm, the other at his side, and was pleased when Sabo did the same so they could easily lift the rubber boy and set him on the edge of the bed.
Thatch set the tray down on the floor since it was far too large for the only table in the room. He'd gone all out, cooking multiple breakfast foods just in case there happened to be a dish no one wanted.
He learned very quickly that wasn't a problem, as Luffy nearly lunged off the bed to shovel the nearest piece of meat into his mouth. Ace and Sabo held him back - although both hands easily stretched to snag some anyway - and prevented him from from diving right into a large bowl of fried potatoes.
"Try to eat slowly," Ace snapped, tugging Luffy back onto the bed.
"I'll move the table so you can reach it," Thatch promised. "I just don't think it'll hold the weight of the full tray."
"Iffsh ood," Luffy said around a mouthful of ham steak, beaming.
Thatch burst out laughing, and the sound, along with his smile which was so similar to Luffy's even if it didn't project warmth with the same intensity, had Ace fully relaxing and Sabo smiling back.
...
"You look relaxed," Izo commented, setting his tea down and crossing one leg over the other. One eyebrow arched inquisitively, but Marco simply smiled in response and slid into the chair across from him at the table.
"He made crepes for you, yoi?"
"He must be feeling guilty," Izo chuckled, looking to his elaborate breakfast. There were crepes stuffed with savory cheese and white sauce, as well as a selection of sweet ones with fresh fruit and cream spilling out. "He barely ever makes them back home."
"I got a generic breakfast," Marco joked, motioning to his plate. "He's playing favorites, yoi."
"Well, I'm winning then," Izo said with a shrug. "So, what was with that look?"
"What look?"
"The look on your face when you came in," Izo pressed. "You've had your feathers ruffled all morning, and now you look like you figured out the answer to some troublesome riddle."
Marco shot him an unimpressed look, then shrugged, not denying that his mood had noticeably shifted. "I think a couple years in Paradise would be nice."
Izo paused mid-bite of his delicious strawberry crepe, then smirked. "They've grown on you. That's why you're no longer lurking in the corner."
"Where else are we going to take them, yoi?" Marco asked, avoiding the comment. "Besides, they're too young to be on their own."
"So what brought about this change of heart?" Izo resumed eating, the look on his face clearly indicating he wouldn't be dropping the subject any time soon.
Marco rolled his eyes, but he knew Izo well enough to know it would be less of a hassle to just answer his questions outright. "Ace."
"Ah," Izo nodded and didn't press further. The hint of satisfaction in his painted smile had Marco regarding him warily. "By the way, your knife skills could use some work. These strawberries should all be the same size."
"Don't push your luck, yoi."
...
"Wow," Thatch stared at the empty tray, blinking several times as if he thought he could make the food reappear if he concentrated hard enough. When he'd first moved the table over to start dishing out food, the boys had nearly started to brawl over it. He'd settled them down and assured them they could have as much as they wanted, which had them sticking to their own plates for the most part.
He'd seen Sabo spoiling Luffy, relinquishing anything Luffy seemed to want from him, while Ace rolled his eyes and only let Luffy have something if he successfully stole it. Not that Thatch believed for a moment that Ace hadn't been aware of Luffy sneaking things off his plate. They indulged him in different ways, but they both clearly doted on him, and it was incredibly endearing.
Despite knowing about Luffy's appetite, he still hadn't expected the boys to finish everything he'd brought. He'd been so caught up in making sure they had everything they wanted, he hadn't even eaten his own breakfast. In fact, Luffy had taken that plate.
"That was so good," Luffy sighed, resting his hands over his large belly and leaning against Ace. He still had remnants of his meal on his cheeks and some in his hair, but while Ace swiped a hand over his own mouth to clean up, Sabo actually took a napkin and began cleaning Luffy's face. "Thatchy is a really good cook. I wish I could eat like that all the time."
"What if you could?" Thatch asked, tearing his gaze from the empty tray. Ace and Sabo both halted what they were doing, exchanging a glance before giving him their attention.
"What do you mean?" Ace asked.
"You guys don't know where you want to go yet, right?" Thatch asked.
"We can make a home anywhere," Ace insisted, defenses rising at the slightest implication that they couldn't handle being on their own.
"That's why I want to give you something to think about," Thatch said, looking to the boys seriously. He didn't want them to think he was coddling or patronizing them. "You could join our family."
"Your family?" Luffy echoed.
"We're pirates," Thatch answered him. "Our captain is the strongest man in the world, and our crew is a family. That's why Marco and Izo are my brothers. There are more back on our ship. We gain new family members all the time - in fact, the youngest one right now is only a little older than Ace and Sabo. His name's Haruta."
"We don't want to join someone else's crew," Ace answered, scowling. "We're going to be free."
"Yeah," Luffy agreed, nodding. "I know! Thatchy, you could join my crew!"
"You're not going to be the captain, idiot."
"Are we going to be in a crew together, then?" Sabo asked.
"We are now," Ace insisted. "But Luffy's not going to be the captain."
"I'm the captain!" Luffy insisted, puffing himself up. "Or I won't be in the crew! Ne, let me be the captain!"
Thatch laughed at their antics, shaking his head. "Okay, okay. I'm not asking you to join without even meeting Oyaji-"
"Oyaji?" Sabo echoed, furrowing his brow and returning his attention to Thatch.
"Our captain," Thatch clarified with a warm smile. "We call him Oyaji."
"Oh," Sabo nodded in understanding, but Ace's expression darkened.
"Anyway, I'm not asking you to answer right now or anything, I just want you to know it's an option. You could come with us to the Grand Line and meet the crew, and if you want to stay with us, I'm sure you'd be welcome to. If you don't, we can still take you to any sea you want to live in. It'd just be a small detour," Thatch promised. "We have complete freedom on the seas."
"That's a generous offer," Sabo said, cutting Ace off before he could retort. "We appreciate it."
"But we're not joining you," Ace added firmly.
Thatch grinned in response, gathering up the dishes and rising with the tray in his hands. "We'll set out for Loguetown in a little while. Feel free to roam around or come find one of us if you need anything, okay?"
"Thanks a lot, Thatchy," Luffy said cheerfully, waving both hands.
"Thanks," Ace added when he felt Sabo's gaze on him.
"Thank you," Sabo echoed them with a pleasant smile at the older man.
"No problem. Oh, and after lunch, Izo will probably have questions," Thatch warned as he left. "So be ready for that."
"Wonderful," Ace mumbled.
"I said we'd tell them about Bluejam and stuff last night, remember?" Sabo jabbed Ace with his elbow, then winced sharply and cradled his left arm. "They saved Luffy, so they deserve to hear it."
"Fine," Ace relented with a huff. "As long as they can help us send a letter back to Dadan once we get to Loguetown."
The sound of snoring drew their attention to Luffy, who was still curled up against Ace's side. At once, Ace's expression melted into something far softer than he'd ever managed back on Dawn Island. He figured it wouldn't hurt for them to relax until Luffy woke up. As much as he wanted to go back to the deck and feel the wind on his face, he knew all three of them could use a lot more rest.
...
"I don't know when I'm going to be able to think clearly about any of this. Right now, I need you to be the voice of reason, just like you usually are."
"How about we both just admit we screwed up… And we agree not to do it again. No more apologies and no more regrets."
"I was terrified."
"It's okay to be scared sometimes, Luffy, and you don't have to lie about it hurting. You can tell us the truth, because we're your big brothers."
Marco opened his eyes, staring up at the sky. The wind was picking up, pushing incessantly at the sails as if trying to urge them to return home, but the modest ship remained in place despite only using a single anchor. They planned to resume sailing soon, but not until Thatch was done making himself something to eat.
Even surrounded by the vast, open sea with the singing of seagulls on the wind as it ruffled his hair, Marco couldn't get Ace's words out of his head. More than that, he couldn't banish the image of Ace's tormented expression - the wild desperation in his eyes as he'd shouted a plea disguised as a threat to defend Sabo - from the night before.
All three of the boys were admirable and strong in their own way. He'd pegged their personalities instantly upon seeing them together, aware of them clinging to each other and crying despite trying his hardest to give them privacy. Unable to completely block out their reunion, even while focusing on comforting Thatch, whose empathy for their plight had moved him to tears, Marco had found himself classifying them. Sabo was the patient and well-mannered one, Ace was the fiery and temperamental one, and Luffy was the reckless and lovable one.
Now he knew that assessment barely scratched the surface. He'd seen in Sabo's eyes, torment and anguish from someone who had experienced despair, had almost broken under the weight of the world, and was still struggling to recover. He'd seen in Luffy's eyes, the innocence of a pure heart who could easily laugh and smile after having been tortured while unconditional love radiated from him in droves, causing those who received it to attempt to return it tenfold.
In Ace's eyes…
He'd seen himself.
There was something dark in Ace; something dark and cruel, and it clutched at every part of the freckled boy's heart. It was no wonder at all that Ace had lost himself so thoroughly. Marco didn't even need to see him to know that when he looked at Luffy, the darkness was smothered, like Luffy's love for him shone too brightly for it to remain. He could hear the change in Ace's tone when he was looking or talking to Luffy, despite having remained outside of the room when the boys had spoken. It changed with Sabo too, but it wasn't the same.
It was eerily similar to the way he changed when addressing an enemy versus addressing his family. The same way Whitebeard and eventually his brothers had healed the scars in his heart and kept his darkness away, the way they had taught him what it was like to feel loved, the way they had changed him…
It was the same change taking place in Ace's heart, and he was far younger than Marco had been.
Even if they declined staying - which he doubted they would once they met Whitebeard - and even if Ace never stopped associating them with the way he'd felt when he thought he'd lost Luffy forever, Marco would make sure those brothers stayed together.
No one deserved to go through life believing they couldn't be loved or accepted. No one deserved to look at their own reflection and believe the world would be a better place if they'd never been born.
He'd almost forgotten what that darkness had looked like, until Ace's words that morning had reminded him in the form of an identical expression in light blue eyes, staring back from a crying child's face in a broken mirror.
"What are you thinking about?"
"My childhood, yoi," Marco answered Izo, inclining his head to the other man and showing no surprise at suddenly having company. "Are we ready to leave?"
Izo studied him, clearly unsure of how to take that answer, since Marco's childhood was never openly discussed on the Moby Dick, but when Marco gave a lazy grin to show he wasn't lapsing into some sort of painful memory, the crossdresser shrugged. "Thatch said we can get started now, and there will be plenty of time for lunch before we reach Loguetown. I'd have to agree - this skiff barely moves as it is. I'm shocked he made it anywhere on his own with how little maintenance he does."
"You're starting to sound like Fossa," Marco joked.
Izo snorted. "As long as I don't sound like Blenheim."
Marco laughed, any remaining tension leaving his shoulders as he pushed away from the railing to go help with preparations. Hopefully Loguetown would be uneventful, and they could return home as quickly as possible.
...
A/N: So a quick note "A few years in Paradise" is an implication of staying on the first half of the grand line until the young'ns grow up a bit :3
That Random Guy: Kyaaaaaah ^.^ Thank you so much! I don't know what your hat looks like, but I imagined it as a snazzy top hat like Sabo's, sans goggles. Maybe with a feather plume.
ghosst: We'll see Garp soon, and Dadan/Makino/the others will be addressed shortly :D Thanks so much! *squee*
(✿◕ ‿◕ฺ)ノ))｡₀: *ﾟ✲ฺβyё βyё✲ฺﾟ*:₀
~Mithril