A/N: I am so sorry I didn't get to reply to like, any reviews ; ; But all of my stuff has been hauled and packed away, I am ready to get on an airplane, and I TURNED OLDER TODAY XD I am a relic of a forgotten era.

I will get back to the reviewers this time, I promise ; ; Thank you all SO much, your kind words and encouragements really helped me deal with the packing and family drama around here. Also thank you for the early birthday wishes! Let's hope today is better than the hell that was yesterday :X

Dedicated to Beyond Kailani for being the best beta ever and teaching me all the British slang I don't understand. ilu!

Now to prepare myself for an all day airport funfest xD

Bonds of Sea and Fire

Chapter 10: It Takes Time To Adjust

"Ace? did you eat too fast? You look really sick," Luffy pointed out. He scrunched his face, struggling with himself for a moment before he held up the last frosty treat, half it already gone and some of it still decorating his cheeks. "Do you want this?"

Ace looked down at him, then sighed, reaching out to wipe Luffy's face off with the hem of his shirt. It was dirty anyway. "You can have it. Try not to get any more on your face, though."

"Thanks, Ace!" Luffy cheered, immediately devouring the last of the shaved ice with enthusiasm. There had been six cups, but Ace and Sabo had barely eaten any. When they had taken a cup each, they'd only eaten half before they'd wound up letting Luffy finish them; Ace because he wasn't hungry and Sabo because he couldn't resist Luffy.

Ace sighed, dropping his shirt back into place and ignoring the damp feeling against his midsection. They'd settled on the deck of the modest ship that had become a temporary home as of late, keeping an eye out for any of the older pirates. Marco wasn't in their direct line of sight, so they didn't even see what had become of the unsettling stranger.

All they truly understood was that the man had been a threat - a danger - to Luffy, and that Marco was going to be the one to take care of it.

"Are you okay?" Sabo questioned, keeping his voice low so Luffy wouldn't notice. "You're really pale."

"I'll be fine," Ace answered, crossing his arms over his chest. "I just want everyone to hurry up so we can go."

Sabo nodded wordlessly, leaning on the railing and keeping an eye out. They'd discussed possibly staying in Loguetown while Luffy had been sleeping, but that wasn't an option anymore. They needed to get as far away from Loguetown as quickly as possible before Ace lashed out or lost control.

Their encounter with the unsettling man had them both on edge as well. They were used to being able to keep Luffy out of serious danger on their own, but neither of them had anticipated having to fight against Luffy himself for his safety. They were used to him listening in a fight, or at least knowing when to yell for their help. Living in a secluded area had done little to prepare them for Luffy's trusting nature amidst a town full of strangers and liars. Ace was still shaken from learning about his connection to Loguetown, but Sabo had seen his stress increase from dealing with that man - that predator, while Luffy had resisted their efforts to keep him safe.

The only thing confusing him now was how much calmer Ace seemed in comparison to how he'd acted on the docks. He'd expected Ace to be harsher with Luffy, scowling and shoving them both away, but Ace was being patient. He'd even cleaned Luffy's face, something he'd never actually done on the mountain when Sabo had been around to take care of it.

"That was tasty!" Luffy proclaimed, stacking the empty cup inside the others and bouncing on his heels. His eyes were shining as he looked to his brothers, seeming completely oblivious to their stress. "Ne, Ace, Sabo?"

"We don't have more," Ace answered automatically, his tone flat.

"Oh, I know that," Luffy answered before Sabo could add to the conversation. He bounced closer, abruptly winding his arms around his freckled brother's waist and pressing his face to his chest.

"Oi, what is it?" Ace asked, looking down at him and automatically wrapping his arms around Luffy's thin shoulders.

"I made you mad," Luffy explained, snuggling close. "I don't know why you got mad, but I'm sorry. I shouldn't be making you mad when we're stuck in a place you really don't wanna be."

Ace and Sabo's eyes widened. They exchanged a quick glance before Ace looked down at Luffy, a soft and uncertain expression on his face. "Luffy…"

"I really wanna see the place the Pirate King was born," Luffy continued. "But I'll see it some day with my crew, and I won't complain if we leave really fast because I want Ace to be happy again. Leaving will make him happy, right, Sabo?"

Sabo shifted closer, reaching out to put a hand on Luffy's shoulder. "Right. And we weren't mad at you earlier. You just need to listen to us," he said, since Ace looked choked up at Luffy's declaration.

"But that Ossan had food," Luffy protested, looking up at Sabo with wide eyes. "Why wouldn't you let me have it?"

"Luffy," Ace's irritation was back, but Sabo interrupted before Ace could start arguing with him.

"You have to trust us. If we say no, there's a good reason. This isn't like Windmill Village where everyone's nice because they care about you." Sabo frowned, trying to think of how best to explain the situation to Luffy without being too hard on him. As much as they wanted Luffy to exercise caution from time to time, neither one of them wanted him to completely lose his trusting nature. "You're going to be the Pirate King someday, but until you're strong enough to set out on your own, you need to let us protect you."

"Oh…" Luffy scrunched his face, struggling with those words, before he nodded. "So if Ace and Sabo tell me I can't have food, it's because it could be dangerous or not tasty?"

Ace rolled his eyes, sighing. "Something like that. Just, don't trust any random person who tells you to trust them, Luffy. Not until we say it's okay."

Luffy nodded earnestly, before pausing. He tilted his head to one side, then the other, before twisting to look up at Ace. "Ne, Ace?" He turned his gaze to Sabo. "Sabo?"

"Yes?" Sabo asked, giving Luffy his full attention.

"We can trust Thatchy and Mango and Izo, right?"

Sabo immediately looked to Ace, uncertainty in his features for how the other would respond, but Ace barely hesitated as he moved one hand to rest on Luffy's head. The straw felt coarse, reminding him of the days he spent clutching the hat as if holding it tightly enough would somehow let Luffy know they were coming to find him, or help them find him faster. "Yes," Ace answered. "We can trust those three."

"Good, because I really like them," Luffy chirped.

"Me too," Sabo admitted, leaning against the railing again and looking at Ace.

"I don't know how I feel about them," Ace answered the unspoken question. "But we can trust them." His gray eyes narrowed at nothing in particular as he recalled the way Marco had just appeared when it had almost gotten violent earlier. Ace had been ready to launch himself at the man with his bare hands - he really needed to replace his pipe - but then Marco had been there, and his tone, his posture, his expression, it had been…

Territorial.

It was almost as if he'd been staking some kind of claim over them, warning anyone else who might try to cause them trouble. It had been completely foreign to Ace in terms of having someone react that way on his behalf, but he'd recognized the intent. He'd gone over that moment countless times since they'd made it back to the ship, thinking back to the fury he'd seen in Marco's eyes, shoving it to the back of his mind each time so he could write it off without feeling indebted in any way.

He couldn't shove it back now, not after telling Luffy to trust them.

"But you don't hate them," Luffy said knowingly.

"I don't hate them," Ace sighed, shaking his head as if would help dispel his thoughts. "I just don't know what to think right now."

"I think trusting them is the right choice," Sabo glanced to Ace, catching his eye and giving him a serious look. "And maybe… maybe it wouldn't hurt to consider their offer."

Ace tensed, but he didn't immediately argue. He'd asked Sabo to be his voice of reason, to be the one to help him make any important judgment calls while he worked on feeling like himself again, but this was the first time Sabo's opinion differed from his own.

"I don't want to talk about it right now," he said instead, absently wrapping his arms around Luffy again and leaning back against the railing. "But we'll talk about it later, okay?"

"Okay," Sabo agreed with a tentative smile.

...

"It was horrible! And he just…!"

The woman scurried, keeping her head down as she passed the two men, clinging to her companion's arm.

"I never imagined the rumors of Marco the Phoenix being in East Blue could be true," the other woman whispered back. When the duo gave pause, turning their attention to the couple, she pulled her frightened girlfriend closer, narrowing her eyes.

"Couldn't help but overhear," Thatch said with a smile he assured himself was charming. "You said Marco the Phoenix is in East Blue?"

"Yes," both women relaxed a little at his smile, though they continued to hold each other. "He's here in Loguetown!"

"Did you see him?" Izo questioned, knowing full well it was more than a glance from the way the women were acting.

"He just killed a man at the docks," the first woman explained, her eyes large with fright. "It was terrifying!"

"Killed a man?" Thatch echoed. His eyes widened. "Was he alone?"

"Yes," the second woman answered. "It was done in completely cold blood. He showed no mercy! You would do well to steer clear of the docks until he moves on!"

"Thanks," Thatch gave a sweeping bow to both women before straightening and nodding to Izo. He was pulling a rather large cart of provisions with one hand, and his other held the bags Izo had accumulated while shopping. "Let's hurry."

Izo nodded, falling back into step beside him as they headed directly for the docks.

"Where do you think the boys are? Do you think they're hurt?" Thatch worried, already chewing his lower lip and thinking up worst case scenarios.

"I think they're back on the ship if Marco has half a brain in his head, which you know he does," Izo replied, rolling his eyes. "I'm just wondering what that man did to cause Marco to skip straight to the kill."

Thatch's eyes darkened. Of the three of them, Marco was the least likely to act rashly or on impulse. When it came to defending their family, every single one of them could easily take a life, but while everyone knew Thatch had to be pushed over the edge before he took that route, Marco usually only did so in response to a direct and serious threat to one of his brothers.

"I hope the boys are okay," was all Thatch could say in response, quickening his pace.

When they reached the docks, both froze for a moment, taking in the sight. Marco was standing near the water with his hands in his pockets, stance casual and shirt fluttering open to proudly display his mark. He barely turned at their approach, but the slight incline of his head told them he knew they were there.

"Ready to go, yoi?" Marco asked, his tone every bit as casual as his stance.

They moved closer, pausing again once they'd closed the gap and gotten a good look at the blond, whose eyes were focused on the water.

"Yes," Izo answered, placing a hand on his hip and shifting his stance like he was trying to figure out how to word what he wanted to say.

Thatch said it for him. "You have blood on your cheek. And some on your shoulder."

Marco faced them, raising an eyebrow.

"And it's gross?" Thatch offered, trying to be helpful.

It was hardly rare for any of them to come away from a battle with bloodstains, but they were about to go be around three children, and disposing of that man had not been a battle.

Marco shrugged, blue flames rolling off his shoulders with the motion. They licked at his clothes, illuminating the area for a brief moment as the blood sizzled and burned away, leaving no trace on his body. "Must have gotten on me while I was cleaning up the trash in this town, yoi."

"Wanna talk about it?" Thatch offered.

"No," Marco reached up with one hand, shoving it through his hair and sighing. "The boys are on the ship. I'll be there in a minute."

"Don't get into anymore trouble," Izo reminded him, frowning. "You already have people talking about you killing a man."

"Trust me," Marco snorted, turning and heading for the vendors. "He wasn't a man, yoi."

"Good thing you took care of it then," Thatch muttered, expression darkening again. He really wanted to go check on the boys.

"Oh," Marco paused, glancing over his shoulder at them. "Something's wrong with Ace. Not physically wrong, yoi. He's just agitated and snapping at everyone."

"So the guy you killed messed with Luffy?" Izo guessed.

"Sort of. But it started before that," Marco frowned. "Just use discretion, yoi."

"Which means don't let Thatch put his foot in his mouth and start chewing," Izo translated dryly.

"Hey!" Thatch pouted, but he didn't protest, dragging the cart along to hurry back to the ship. He was more anxious than ever to make sure the boys were doing alright. The first one they saw as the ship came into view was Sabo; the blond was leaning over the railing and looking their way. Next to him was Ace, also leaning, though facing away from them. As Sabo smiled and nudged Ace, causing him to look over his shoulder, Thatch and Izo were able to make out a pair of small, bandaged hands linked behind Ace's neck.

"We're back," Izo called unnecessarily as they neared.

"Where's Marco?" Sabo asked, his smile fading a little.

Ace didn't speak, but both older pirates were pleased to see worry in his gray eyes as well, taking it as a sign that Ace was beginning to warm up to Marco.

"We ran into him at the docks," Thatch answered, grinning widely when he saw Luffy's head pop up over one of Ace's shoulders.

"Is Mango getting us more treats?" Luffy asked hopefully. "That shaved ice was soooooo tasty!"

"Probably not," Ace answered, turning away from Thatch and Izo again.

"I picked up plenty of groceries," Thatch said without missing a beat, allowing Izo to go in front of him on the ramp. "So I can make some shaved ice later if you want."

"Yay, Thatchy!" Luffy cheered, throwing his hands into the air for a moment and leaning backwards. He didn't fall, since his legs were wrapped several times around Ace's waist, and Ace had his arms securely wound around Luffy in return.

"Did you get our letter sent?" Sabo questioned, turning so he continued facing Thatch and Izo as they boarded.

"No," Thatch admitted. "The festival basically closed everything down, but I have a backup plan. And, I thought of something even better."

"What?" Ace asked, frowning at them.

"Well, after Izo gets you guys cleaned up and wearing clothes that fit you, how about we take a picture? That way it won't just be written words. It'll be undeniable proof that you guys are really okay. That's what I'd want," Thatch said with a sheepish grin.

Sabo's jaw dropped, before a bright smile lit his face. "You have a camera?"

"I do now," Thatch joked cheerfully. "I just thought it might be nice to be able to show your loved ones you really are okay."

"That's… thank you, Thatch," Sabo said. He was still smiling, and the sincerity in his tone had Thatch grinning back just as brightly.

"No problem!"

"Do you want to get started cleaning up now, or wait until Marco gets back?" Izo asked.

"Let's wait for Mango," Luffy decided, winding his arms around Ace's neck again. "And then we can go, right? Ace doesn't like it here."

"Luffy," Ace muttered in a warning tone.

"I don't like it much here either," Thatch said. "We'll leave as soon as Marco gets back."

"I hope he hurries," Luffy sighed, letting his cheek rest on one of his arms. "Ace is grumpy."

"Complain one more time and I drop you."

"I mean, Ace isn't grumpy at all!" Luffy immediately declared, eliciting a chuckle from Izo and full blown laughter from Sabo and Thatch.

...

"I said I'd pay for it, yoi. I'm not going to kill you over shaved ice."

Marco couldn't keep the irritation from sneaking into his tone as he stared down the vendor. Sure, he could relate that maybe in a peaceful sea like East Blue, people might not be used to the idea of watching someone take a life and then go about his business like it hadn't impacted him at all, but that didn't mean he had to be patient. Naturally, townsfolk were cowering away from him, especially now that his mark was exposed.

"R-right, b-but if you w-want, you c-can-"

Marco slammed his hand on the small counter, silencing the frightened man. When he lifted his hand, there were several coins there. He didn't bother asking if it was the right amount or if he needed change, simply taking the flimsy cardboard tray and turning without a second glance.

He knew he was spoiling the boys a little. They didn't need a treat, and if they joined a pirate crew, they'd likely encounter less scrupulous people than the man he'd disposed of on a regular basis. Marco knew he was overreacting just a little - not that he would ever admit it to Thatch - but he couldn't convince himself to stop.

"Luffy! You idiot, you can't just trust anyone who offers you food!"

"Bloody hell, he got his strength back for sure!"

Marco turned, ignoring the vendor and immediately focusing on the boys. It looked as though Ace and Sabo were struggling to pull Luffy away from a suspicious looking older man, and for the first time Marco could remember, Luffy was completely disobeying his brothers.

Flames licked at his forearm, his instincts immediately responding to the potential threat aimed at his - at the boys - and demanding he do something about it. Almost absently, he shook his arm to rid himself of the urge, keeping his narrowed gaze on the trio. He couldn't hear the next words over the vendor's confused questioning and the general chatter of the crowd.

When the man smiled, a smile that set off every internal alarm Marco had, he gripped the tray of shaved ice in one hand and closed the distance before he'd even felt himself move. He was opposed to coddling them, not wanting to undermine the very obvious desire Ace and Sabo had to feel they were still the only protectors Luffy needed, but when the man smiled with such disgusting intentions etched into his beady eyes, Marco could do nothing less than protect all three of them.

One of the man's hands was moving towards Luffy, a gesture indicating kindness and radiating a type of ill intent none of the boys had likely encountered before. In the same moment Marco saw Ace go tense, coiling to launch himself at the man the way a cornered animal might, he managed to angle himself in front of the trio, thrusting the tray of shaved ice in front of Luffy's face to distract him.

"What's this?"

"Shaved ice, yoi." Of course his voice didn't betray his emotions. He prided himself in being able to keep his appearance calm, even when his killing instinct was in overdrive. He barely felt Luffy take the tray, but the joyful exclamation told him Luffy was successfully distracted from the predator.

"Why don't you go wait on the ship?" Marco suggested, taking a step towards the very nervous man. He trusted Ace and Sabo to jump at the chance to get Luffy away without further struggle.

"Okay! Thanks, Mango!"

"Marco," Marco answered automatically, but his eyes never left the man. His lips curved into a humorless smirk. "Marco, the Phoenix."

The man was absolutely terrified - the exact result he'd been aiming for by announcing his epithet - which meant he was less likely to do anything stupid, at least not with the boys as his target. Marco allowed himself a brief glance, just a shift of his gaze to make sure they were leaving, and found himself meeting Ace's eyes.

The freckled boy was uncertain, holding his gaze for mere seconds, though it felt like much longer. He seemed confused, wary, maybe even offended at the notion that they needed protection, but under the surface emotions, Marco thought he saw a deeper meaning.

"H-hey…"

His gaze snapped back to his prey, a man who had no idea his life was already forfeit. Since he had no intention of being discreet, he reached up with one hand to deftly undo the buttons on his shirt, allowing it to fall open and reveal his tattoo.

"I didn't know they were Whitebeard's!" the man tried to argue, taking a step back. "I promise, I'll leave 'em alone!"

"They're not Whitebeard's," Marco answered, gauging just how quickly he planned to dispatch his target by the excuses he tried to offer.

"They're not? Th-then why… I mean, if they're not… it's not like I was going to touch them! I don't hurt the kids, I just get them to the clients!"

Marco's expression remained impassive despite the disgust coiling in his gut. "Clients?"

"I just find the kids," the man quickly answered, his words tumbling out in a frightened, pathetic rush. "Ones no one'll miss, you know? I didn't expect to see any devil fruit using kids around here but they fetch a higher price, especially when their fruit is entertaining or-"

Marco's sudden hiss cut the man's rant short. Children no one would miss. Children whose devil fruit abilities made them a spectacle. Outcasts. Any of his brothers on the Moby Dick would have qualified for the man and his disgusting clients had they been children. Any child already taken could have grown up to become one of his brothers.

Marco turned away, an eerie sense of calm flooding his senses. The man was speaking again, but the words didn't register as he whirled around faster than the untrained eye would be able to track, bringing his leg up and hooking his foot under the man's jaw. He continued the motion before the force of the kick could propel the man away from him, applying enough force that bones shattered under his foot as he slammed the man into the ground, snapping his neck on impact. Blood splattered from from his gaping mouth, eyes going blank as he spent the last moments of his life writhing in agony.

Marco's gaze was cold as the light drained from the man's eyes and he went slack against the ground, cracks in the paved street from where his body had initially hit. He didn't blink as he removed his foot from the man's throat, nudging him over the edge of the docks and into the water. It wouldn't do to dirty up the street, after all.

Marco came to a stop as the modest ship entered his view. From the distance, he could see Thatch and Izo on deck with the boys, and the sight of Ace casually standing by with Luffy in his arms made the heavy feeling in his heart lighten considerably.

There was no use denying it.

Ace.

Sabo.

Luffy.

He'd known them little more than a day and he already felt just as protective of them as he felt for any of his family. The fact that they were so much younger, so lost, only intensified that feeling. What had started as a tiny spark brought on by Luffy's unexpected arrival in their lives had ignited into something none of them had anticipated.

It was normal for Thatch to find himself instantly attached to someone. It was normal for Izo to go along with it, reserving serious judgment for later and trusting that as long as Thatch was happy, it would work out. That was after all, how Haruta had become part of their family, and Thatch's judgment was usually a good indicator. The fact that Izo had seemed to form an independant attachment in such a short period of time should have been the first clue, and Marco wanted to kick himself for not noticing it earlier.

It was not normal for Marco to get swept up in it just as easily. He accepted anyone Whitebeard approved of, but he never got close until he knew they were staying. He was easily the least trusting, always waiting to see the ulterior motive and always ready to assume the worst. With the trio of brothers, whose presence had been volatile and unexpected, his instincts had taken over without his consent. It was jarring enough coming to terms with that realization; he'd have to make sure not to tell his brothers the full extent or the 'imprinting' jokes would probably never stop.

"Are you joining us, or are you going to stay down there like a creep and stare?" Izo teased, looking over his shoulder at Marco with a knowing glance.

Marco grinned back as if his mind wasn't a mess of protective urges and unexpected attachments, jumping from the spot and landing on the deck with more flourish than intended. Sabo turned to face him, smiling hesitantly, and Luffy nearly flopped himself out of Ace's arms in greeting.

"Mango!" Luffy cheered. "You're back-oh!" His eyes went right to the shaved ice, and the way they lit up had Marco smiling wider, glad he'd decided to get more.

"I thought you might want some more since we didn't stay to look around, yoi," Marco held the offering out, chuckling when Luffy kept his hold on Ace and merely stretched his arm to reach it.

"You really didn't have to," Ace argued, frowning with the same unreadable look from before. "You don't need to spoil him like that."

"It's for all three of you, and it's not spoiling you," Marco answered with a shrug. "Accept it or don't."

"I want it," Luffy declared, beaming at Ace. "Ne, Ace, Sabo, do you want more?"

"Sure," Sabo moved to Ace's side, nudging him. "Thank you, Marco."

"Thanks, Mango!" Luffy echoed, following Sabo's example. Ace mumbled as well, but no one heard exactly what he'd said except for Luffy.

"Marco," Marco correct with another chuckle. "Let's get the hell out of here."

"After you eat, you're taking a bath," Izo told them in a stern tone.

"I'll go put this stuff away," Thatch tossed the bags he'd been carrying to Izo, parking his cart near the doors and shouldering two of the heavier bags of food. "Don't let Luffy get to it."

"Okay," Ace answered, sighing and watching Luffy eye the cart while still eating his shaved ice. Luffy wasn't bothering to look at it while he devoured it, and a fair amount was getting on Ace's shirt.

He lifted his head again, glancing at Marco, but before anyone could call attention to it, he headed after Thatch with the cheerful Luffy in his arms, Sabo following closely behind.

...

The glass slipped from her hands, clattering to the floor and spilling juice all over the unpolished wood. A gasp escaped before she could stop it, and at the inquisitive sound from the other room, she grabbed the nearest cleaning rag and fell to her knees to scrub at the mess.

"Is everything alright?"

She jumped, arms tensing, before lifting her head and pasting the best smile she could manage on her face. "I'm cleaning right now! I'm sorry, I dropped it!"

An uncomfortable silence settled over them as she went back to scrubbing, trying to ignore the shaking of her hands. Before she could truly start to panic, one hand covered hers, stopping her from cleaning any further. The hand was warm, larger than both her own and creased from years of working.

"Koala, you don't have to do that," her mother's voice was soft, on the verge of breaking as it had been for so many days.

It had only been a week since her return, and once the elation of finally being home had worn off, Koala had found herself uncertain and anxious, sometimes scared without even knowing why. Back with the Sun Pirates, whenever she'd gotten frightened or paranoid in the dark, it had been easier to go to someone. Easier to find someone who understood, who promised there would be no consequences simply for company.

As much as her mother tried to promise the same, the fear was not something Koala could push away so easily.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, her voice coming out in a rush as she realized she'd lapsed into silence and her mother was looking to her with concern. It was difficult to adjust to her new surroundings, and that made her more anxious than she could ever admit to her mother. She'd gotten used to life on a pirate ship. As much as she loved her mother and she loved being home, it would take time to adjust again, and that time would be difficult for both of them.

"You don't have to apologize, either," her mother promised, sweeping her into a warm embrace. "It'll take time, but you'll be okay, I promise."

"Mommy…" Koala's hands were shaking, and she quickly wrapped them around her mother to hold on, sinking into the familiar feeling of the hug and breathing in her mother's scent.

Neither had changed in all the years she'd been missing, and even though her mother would falter at bathtime, seemingly afraid to look at the mark on her back, Koala knew she was loved. She knew she was loved, she knew she was safe, and she knew the other villagers would never stop walking around on eggshells as if they were afraid to spook her.

"You'll never be a slave again, I promise," her mother swore, voice trembling like it did whenever she started to cry.

Koala tightened her grip, burying her face in her mother's shoulder and struggling to convince herself it was still safe. The sanctity of her mother's embrace had once meant everything would be okay - that the monsters of the world could never reach her there - but that belief had been shattered along with her spirit.

Even though she was doing her best to recover, and her wounds had already started healing, it was too difficult to convince herself to go back to seeing an illusion when she'd already witnessed the truth.

"Mommy?" she whispered. "I promise I'll try harder so you don't have to be sad all the time. Uncle Tiger and all the others helped me so much, but everyone here is scared of making it difficult for me, aren't they? I'll try harder to show everyone I'll be okay."

"Koala," her mother's voice broke again, the hug becoming even tighter, but Koala welcomed the embrace with a smile.

She'd promised the Fishmen she'd tell the villagers about them, and she'd promised her mother she'd become stronger so no one would have to walk on eggshells around her anymore.

Koala made one final promise to herself as they knelt on the dining room floor, clutching at each other. She promised she would see the world for what it was - that she would never let herself become complacent with illusions because they felt safe - and do her best to help change the world into a place where no one would suffer the way she had.

...

"Luffy, stop flailing," Ace admonished, forcing him to sit back down so he could work on drying his hair. "You're going to slip again."

"The sooner you dry off, the sooner you'll stop feeling tired," Sabo reminded him, gingerly pulling on his shirt.

"But-" Luffy started to protest, but Ace quickly used the towel to dry his face, causing the words to come out in a muffled jumble of nonsense.

Ace was the only one already dried off and dressed in his new clothes since he had the least injuries of the trio, and the water had clearly caused Sabo some discomfort. Luffy was already healed enough that he probably wouldn't need new bandages, but he'd still whined about having to wash any of his cuts or be in the water at all.

The only time he'd stopped whining had been when he'd noticed the rest of Sabo's injuries. Anyone else staring so intently at the discolored patches of skin along his left shoulder and side would have made Sabo uncomfortable, but it was Luffy, and his wide brown eyes had been filled with empathy rather than sympathy. He'd asked if it still hurt, to which Sabo had admitted it did, and then he'd made a point to examine Sabo carefully for traces of reddened skin. When Ace had asked him why he was looking for the scars, Luffy had explained it was to make sure he didn't hurt Sabo by accident later.

Sabo had visibly melted at that declaration, hugging Luffy and assuring him he hadn't been hurting him by accident, even though he and Ace both knew it was a bit of a white lie. Once Luffy had been reassured, however, he'd realized Sabo's hug had gotten more water on him, and the whining had resumed.

"The new clothes Izo got us are nice," Sabo commented, examining what he could see of himself. "And they fit perfectly."

Ace didn't answer, automatically helping Luffy with his own clothes. He'd managed to relax during the bath - he'd forgotten how soothing a nice hot soak could be - but now that they were done, his mind kept wandering back to Loguetown.

"Hey, Ace?" Sabo asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"What?" Ace looked to Luffy first, making sure he hadn't helped Luffy incorrectly, but the rubber boy was happily tugging his shirt into place and looking pleased to have clothes that fit again.

"I'm going to take Luffy back to the room and double check to make sure he doesn't need bandages," Sabo answered. "And get him to help me with mine. You wanna go get some air?"

Ace hesitated, seeing what Sabo was trying to do, and he couldn't help but feel grateful that Sabo had noticed. "Yeah. I'll go keep an eye out," he said.

"Come on, Luffy," Sabo held a hand out, and Luffy eagerly took it.

"Do you think Thatchy can make more of that shaved ice now?" Luffy asked, his voice getting quieter as they moved down the hall. "It was really, really tasty!"

Ace shook his head with a soft smile, but as he left the room and made his way to the deck, his smile faded again. The sky was darker than it had been when they'd gone inside to bathe, and a quick look around confirmed Loguetown was no longer in sight. He had no idea how far they'd gone, but with nothing but open sea surrounding them, it was easy to pretend Loguetown and Roger didn't even exist.

Ace made his way to the bow, veering off to lean against the railing and watch the water. He couldn't see his own reflection, which helped ease some of the tension from his shoulders. It was a miracle he'd managed to keep his anger in check long enough for them to leave. He didn't even know what those people had been celebrating. Likely his father's death.

He held no love for the man. He knew a name and he'd heard what people had to say, but to him, Roger was nothing more than burden he'd be forced to carry were no memories of someone who loved or wanted him, and no tangible proof he could find that his father even cared he'd been born. The only link he had to his parents was the story he'd dragged out of Garp a few years earlier about his mother, and thinking about it only made him angrier.

Why had she sacrificed her life for his, when hers was worth so much more?

It was a question he'd asked himself often, or at least he had before Luffy had come into his life. The realization that he hadn't asked it at all recently made him pause, swallowing a lump in his throat.

His fury should have been stronger. Hearing that they were in his birth father's home town, the place of his execution… it should have been enough to override everything else, the way it had been in Edge Town, but it wasn't. Even telling himself he'd been thrown off track by the unsavory man at the docks sounded like a feeble excuse in his own mind.

His eyes narrowed at the thought of the man with the fake smile, focusing on him rather than try admitting to himself what he was starting to believe. He wasn't ready to admit that he wanted to thank his mother for choosing to have him, not when it meant admitting his life might have worth.

"Your hair's still a little wet. Try not to catch a cold, yoi."

Ace jumped, whirling around immediately to see Marco next to him at the railing. His body language indicated he had come over for a casual exchange, but he was angled away like he would leave if Ace gave the slightest hint he wanted him to.

"I won't," Ace answered, turning his gaze away again. "I want to ask you something."

"I'm listening," Marco regarded him curiously.

"Earlier, that guy was trouble, wasn't he?"

"Yes, he was, yoi."

"Sabo and I could have handled it."

"I know," Marco answered, tilting his head back to glance up at the sky.

"Then why did you interfere?"

"Do you want the honest answer, yoi?"

There was nothing mocking or patronizing in Marco's tone, and when Ace spared a glance at him, Marco was looking back with sincerity in his half-lidded gaze.

"Yes," Ace answered. He didn't turn away this time.

"Alright. He was a predator and my instincts told me to protect you whether you needed it or not, yoi," Marco answered with a simple shrug of his shoulders. "It didn't matter to me if you could have handled it on your own. He pissed me off."

Ace went still, eyes widening just a little, but he quickly turned back to the water and gripped the railing a little tighter. "Why? You barely know us. And I already said we're not joining your pirate crew."

"You remind me of my brothers," Marco said. "I would have done the same for any of them. You might not want to join Oyaji, but right now, you're with us. We'll treat you the way we treat our crew, yoi."

Ace clutched the railing even harder, his eyes stinging. "We didn't ask for you to look after us."

"You didn't have to, yoi," Marco reached out and placed a hand on Ace's shoulder, practically jolting him. He hesitated, like he might remove his hand just as quickly, but he took a chance that Ace wouldn't shrug him off in anger. The tension slowly drained back out of Ace's body as the weight of his palm settled, and Marco offered a sincere smile.

Ace took a steadying breath, relaxing his grip on the railing. "What is it about us that reminds you of your brothers?" he asked quietly. It wasn't like they'd spent very long in each other's company. Most of the day - almost two full days - they'd spent together had consisted of the younger trio shutting themselves away in Thatch's room and barely interacting if they could help it.

"For starters, you and Sabo pushed yourselves beyond your limits to save Luffy," Marco answered. "You were completely reckless and willing to attack someone you stood no chance of beating."

Ace sighed softly when Marco purposefully avoided mentioning his reason for being so reckless.

"And nothing is more important to you than your brothers. Your family, yoi," Marco continued. "You and Sabo are very alike in that way."

"But not Luffy?" Ace frowned, glancing at Marco again.

"He's less guarded," Marco answered. "But he wanted to see everything the festival had to offer until it became obvious you were uncomfortable. Then he was willing to abandon everything else to make sure you were okay, yoi."

The lump was back, and Ace swallowed to try and get rid of it as he bowed his head.

"You kids have been through enough," Marco gave his shoulder a very light squeeze. "I just don't want to see you have to deal with anything else right now. You should be relaxing and just enjoying being on the sea, yoi. When you leave our ship to make a new home or when you accept that we want you as our family and come home with us, I want you three to be smiling."

"I've never trusted anyone this quickly in my life," Ace answered quietly, his voice low enough that the wind could have swallowed it if Marco hadn't been paying close attention. "I don't know what to think right now, and I don't know if I really believe everything you're saying, but… thank you. For saying it. And for dealing with that guy so Luffy didn't get mixed up in it all."

"Anytime, yoi."

"Can I ask one more question before I go back inside?"

Marco inclined his head, giving silent agreement that he would answer.

"Did you kill him?"

"Yes."

"Good," Ace murmured, slowly pulling away and heading back inside.

...

"Does he always fall asleep so quickly after meals?" Thatch couldn't help but ask.

"It's a good thing we took the picture before you ate," Izo huffed. "You're hardly even presentable anymore. Not a single one of you have manners."

"It's not my fault," Ace immediately argued, scowling.

"You're the one who tried to hold the plate where Luffy couldn't reach it," Sabo reminded him.

"He had his own food!"

"Next time, balance it better."

"Oh, shut up," Ace grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Besides, it's not like I've never had food on my clothes before."

Izo threw his hands in the air. "Well, they were clean for two hours, so my work here is done."

Thatch gave a hearty laugh, clapping Marco on the shoulder. "I dunno about you guys, but the best part of dinner for me was when Luffy panicked at the thought of us eating pineapples."

Marco glared. "Thatch."

"I mean, I should see what happens if I prepare some mangos next!" Thatch laughed, causing Sabo and Ace to start snickering. Luffy had dropped the pineapple wedge in horror and immediately demanded to know why they were eating one of Marco's friends, which had caused everyone but Marco and Luffy to burst out laughing. Even Izo, who normally hid his smirks and laughter behind one hand, had practically doubled over and lost it.

"I simply must tell Vista about this," Izo mused, rising from the table.

"Sorry," Sabo looked to Marco with a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his neck. "Luffy doesn't really think before he talks."

"Doesn't think at all, most of the time," Ace added. "Sabo, help me get him to bed."

Thatch watched with a bright smile as Sabo once again helped drape Luffy over Ace's back, and the freckled boy dutifully adjust him to get comfortable before they left. Even Marco had softened his glare to watch for a moment.

"You know, despite almost getting kidnapped by a creep and being slightly frustrated about not getting their letter sent right away, they seemed to be in a good mood," Thatch commented. "Even Ace, and you warned us he was the grumpiest of all."

"Ace was smiling. It was almost unnerving," Izo joked, glancing to Marco. "You two were talking earlier. Did that have anything to do with it?"

Marco shrugged, but his expression was just troubled enough that his brothers stopped to study him.

"Phoenix instincts really kicked in earlier, huh?" Thatch questioned. "We heard bits and pieces from the kids about the guy you killed."

"I don't know what to make of it, either," Marco admitted. "But I think I already see them as family."

"So basically, you're going to let Luffy call you 'Mango' forever?" Thatch teased, elbowing him to try and lighten the mood.

Marco sighed. "If that's what he wants."

Thatch and Izo exchanged glances, before both began to laugh again, happy that Marco had formed such a strong bond so quickly for once and amused by how wrapped around Luffy's rubbery little finger he seemed to be. Marco's scathing look did nothing to deter them from enjoying themselves at his expense.

...

"Sabo, can I talk to you?" Ace knew he wasn't asleep yet. Luffy was happily snoring between them, arms splayed to rest over each of them and mouth wide open. They'd hung Luffy's hat on the wall over the bed and settled him into his usual spot, with Sabo remaining on top of the covers again.

The blond cracked his right eye open, shifting to look at Ace in the dim light. "What is it?"

"It's about their offer. You said earlier we should talk about it," Ace answered quietly. "I want to talk about it."

"Okay," Sabo agreed, pushing himself up into a sitting position. Luffy mumbled incoherently, before flopping himself completely over Ace and drooling on his chest.

"More drool," Ace sighed.

"I think it might be a good idea to join their crew," Sabo admitted. "We get along with them, and they've been nothing but nice to us. We can't find freedom back on Dawn Island, but I don't even know where we should start looking for it."

"We don't need to join someone else's crew to be free," Ace pointed out.

"But we don't have to find freedom by ourselves," Sabo answered quietly. "We left Dadan's to be independant, but she knew where we were. She came after us when we were in trouble and she saved your life."

Ace was silent, absently moving one of his hands to thread through Luffy's hair. It was softer than usual, probably due to being washed, and the motion helped relax him.

"We couldn't settle in near the village because of Jiji," Sabo continued. "And because neither of us were supposed to be seen. But we don't have to keep running away from everyone. What if Jiji comes after us to take us back? I'd get sent back to my parents."

"I won't let that happen," Ace's response was instant and combative, which had Sabo shaking his head.

"I'm not saying I don't trust you, Ace. We can manage out here… but is that all we want to do? Manage?" Sabo looked to his lap. "What if this Whitebeard, their Oyaji can give us a home on his ship, and we can still be free?"

"I don't need a father," Ace muttered bitterly. "I don't want one."

"I do," Sabo argued quietly, causing Ace to go still. "Think about it. None of us have ever had one. We hate ours, and Luffy didn't even think his existed. What if it's not a bad thing, having a real father who really cares about us?"

"And you think Whitebeard will do that?" Ace asked skeptically.

"Can't you see it with the way those three talk about him?" Sabo asked. "They're a family, just like we are."

Ace sighed very loudly, closing his eyes for a moment. "What if he turns out to be a jerk? What if they don't want a bunch of kids running around on their ship? What if they aren't strong enough to backup their claims?"

"What if we regret being stubborn and not even considering it?" Sabo countered quietly.

Ace's eyes opened, flashing with pain. For a brief moment, with no warning, he found himself thinking back to the fire in Marco's eyes as he'd stepped in front of them, and he knew exactly why his gut instinct was to refuse.

Sabo waited for him to talk, his expression indicating he knew Ace had thought of something and he was being patient until his brother finally spit it out. It took longer than either of them liked, but then Ace was looking away, tightening his hold on Luffy.

"What if he accepts us… and then he finds out who I am?" Ace asked quietly.

"If he doesn't accept you, then he doesn't really accept us," Sabo answered, his voice filled with conviction. "Luffy and I will always take your side, Ace."

Ace closed his eyes. "Let's get some sleep."

Sabo hesitated, but he knew there was no point in pushing the matter. Especially because Ace hadn't recovered from his earlier turmoil. "Okay. By the way, we really, really can't go back to Dawn Island."

"Why?" Ace asked, figuring there had to be another reason if Sabo was bringing it up again.

"I added something at the end of our letter," Sabo answered, getting comfortable again and closing his eyes to sleep.

Ace opened one eye. "What did you add?"

"That we considered Dadan to be our mother."

Ace's other eye flew open, both widening as a blush spread so fiercely across his cheeks, it felt like his face was actually on fire. "SABO!"

...

A/N: *Wobble* I am become death. I'm so sleepy I don't even remember how to A/N anymore. Thank you so much, everyone! You guys are the best readers ever :D I am going to try to nap before I go to the airport now. See you all when I'm on the East Coast!

~Mithril