Zoro was so over this. The party had been going on for at least two hours now, and it didn't look like it was going to end any time soon. The music was too loud, the food smelled too incredible for his starving body, his feet were hurting, and if those fucking nobles didn't stop petting Luffy's head, someone was going to die a very painful death tonight. If only he had his swords, than these pigs would see what happens when you make Zoro mad. Who do they think they are, touching his captain as if he was a common dog? Why do they think they deserve to even breath the same air as him?

"Oi, shithead, calm the fuck down. If they see that you're glaring at them, you won't be the only one who gets punished," Dartbrow hissed. Zoro was this close to just punch the guy in his face and walk away. Probably to Luffy. He had been forced to sit at their "Master's" feet, away from Zoro and Sanji. Of course, they were only about 5 meters (≈16 feet) away, but he was still too far away from their captain's side for Zoro to feel calm.

"Fuck off," Zoro grumbled, shooting a glare at Sanji. If he couldn't punch him, this was the next best thing. He pretended to not see the exaggerated eye roll Sanji replied with.

His eyes looked around the room, stopping at the enormous metal box in the centre of everything. He suppressed a shiver. He remembered the last time he had seen a box like that. Of course, he'd been inside of it then. Two years ago, at a party exactly like this.

"Is, is that…?," Sanji whispered, his eyes staring at the box, no doubt drawing the same conclusion Zoro had.

"Yeah, I think so," Zoro replied. "Seems like we'll be getting company."

"Fuck."

Zoro had not been able to say it better himself.

Thatch had fucked up. Royally fucked up. Why do things like this always happen to him? Alright, he'd never been in this kind of situation before, but still. And really, it wasn't his fault! How was he supposed to know that the girl that he'd been hitting on had been a slave dealer? So what if Marco and Sabo had warned him about the island being famous for slave dealers. So what if Izo had told him not to talk to anybody. It's not like he would know!

Oh, who was he trying to fool? He'd fucked up, and there wasn't any more to it. Thatch took a deep breath. Now wasn't the time to freak out, he needed to keep his focus if he was going to get out of here. Alright, what did he know for sure?

First, he's been a captive for about four days, which meant that Pops probably didn't know where he was. If he did Thatch would have already been out of here.

Second, he had been "sold", for lack of better words, yesterday. The woman who had bought him told him that she worked for a world noble, which was the worst case scenario for a slave. No, think positive! Thanks to nobles always living large, it would be easier for Pops to find him.

Third, they hadn't collared him, only shackled his ankles. It was still bomb shackles, so he wouldn't be able to run away without losing his legs, and even if he wouldn't die, he didn't want to lose his ability to walk. So escaping on his own was out of the question.

Forth, they shaved him, but more importantly, they had destroyed his hairdo. They had washed him, which had made his hair hang over his shoulders. Then they'd dressed him up with silk and then forced his hair into a braid that hung down his back. After that, they shaved him everywhere. And when he said everywhere, he meant everywhere. It had not been a good experience.

Fifth, they had put him in a metal box and moved him who knows where. The only source of light and sound came from a window, which was so small that he wouldn't be able to get his hand through.

Sixth, he could hear music and people talking to each other outside of his prison, so he probably was at some party. Which also meant that he couldn't make a scene. After all, if there are many nobles there are many guards.

And that was it. Thatch put his head in his hands, sighing. Fuck. Fuckity fuck. This was not good. Things looked bad. The only thing he could really do now was wai-

The rich sound of trumpets cut him off from his thoughts. The sound of talking and music died down, and when the trumpets stopped it was completely silent.

"Thank you all for coming to the young Masters party," a shrill voice of a woman, the same woman who had bought him, cut through the deathly silence. "Today, 36 years ago, the young Master was brought here from the heavens, and today we've been celebrating this miracle. As a gift from myself, I would like to give you this."

Light broke into the box, blinding him. Before he had time to understand what just had happened, someone took a hold of his arms and dragged him out from his prison. When he was out he was forced down on his knees on a cold marble floor.

As his eyes started to work again, he was met by a horrendous sight, a disgusting world noble. The noble was sweating heavily, drool running down his chin, his hair heavily waxed back and he was incredibly obese. Great, now he needs to get out of here for two reasons. To get back to his family, but also to puke. But that wasn't the only thing that made Thatch's stomach to revolt.

At the nobles feet sat a black haired boy, he seemed to be around 13 or 14. Just like Thatch, he was dressed up in silk and had his ankles shackled. However, he also wore jewels of every color and his face was covered in makeup. He looked like a pampered doll. What broke the illusion of perfection was that the boy was covered in bite marks, hickeys and handprints. He was, without a doubt, a sex slave. Thatch's hatred for the world nobles just increased by 143%.

"This specimen was handpicked by me," declared the woman, petting his head. Thatch had to stop himself not to bite her hand off. "It is very well defined and, as you can see, not bad on the eyes. It is not trained, as you like to train them yourself. I hope it will be to your satisfaction, my Lord."

The noble gestured for two guards to bring him forwards, dragging him over the floor until he was in front of the noble. He looked at Thatch with a critical eye, before making a happy sound.

"I like it. I've been looking for a new toy to add to my collection. It'll do," the noble approved. Thatch saw how the woman relaxed, before she bowed low.

"A perfect choice, my Lord," she praised.

The noble nodded, before gesturing to someone behind him. Two boys, maybe around 16 or 17, moved forwards. Thatch hadn't even noticed their presence. Just like the black haired boy they were covered in bite marks and hickeys. What really caught his attention were their looks. One of them had blond hair with bangs that covered half of his face. He also had swirly eyebrows. Very swirly eyebrows. The other boy had green hair that was combed back into a small ponytail, his green eyes never leaving Thatch's face. Who had naturally green hair?

It was weird, usually nobles wanted generic sex slaves, but these two stood out. And now that he thought about it, he could see that beneath all the black haired boys makeup, he had a scar beneath his left eye. His eye color was also a vibrant red. Seems like the noble liked different looking kind of slaves. Thatch did have two different colored eyes, maybe that was the reason he'd been selected?

"Take my toys to their room. And tell my new toy the rules"

"Of course, my lord." The woman bowed once more before turning and walking out of the room, the guards pulling Thatch with her. Thatch looked over his shoulder and saw how the blond boy lifted up the black haired boy into his arms, bridal style, before the three of them followed them out.

Luffy gripped Sanji and Zoro's hands in a tight grip. He was seated in between them on their bed, and in front of them was the man. The lady had just left them after she'd told the new man the rules -Do as the Master says. Don't speak back. Don't look at Master. Don't talk in the Master's presence. Keep your hands behind your back. Don't cry if the Master hasn't commanded it- and now they were supposed to 'bond', but Luffy didn't want that. Luffy was tired. Luffy was hungry. Luffy wanted to cuddle up to his Nakama and sleep, but this man had destroyed it.

The man was looking at them with a weird look. He seemed sad, but at the same time angry. Pity. Luffy didn't like it when people gave him that look. The man cleared his throat.

"Hello, my names is Thatch," the man, Thatch, told them. "What are yours?" He didn't answer. After all, this man was an outsider, and the only thing outsiders did was hurt him and his Nakama. The Lady had taught him that. He could only trust Zoro and Sanji. Thatch sighed, the look of pity never leaving his face. "I know that you've been through a lot, and I'm sorry that this happened to yo-"

Zoro flew up and before Thatch could finish his sentence Zoro had shut his hand around Thatch's throat, strangling him. Luffy couldn't help the whimper that escaped him. He didn't like it when Zoro was mad. Zoro would never ever hurt him, of course, but he only got mad when things were about to hurt them. Sanji hugged him tight, murmuring comforts.

"Finish that sentence, and I'll finish you," Zoro growled with his teeth bared, looking like a wild beast ready to pounce. The name Master gave him really suits him.

Thatch eyes narrowed, and before anyone could react, he stood up, took hold of Zoro's arm in a crushing grip, forcing Zoro to let go of his throat, and then pushed Zoro into the bed once more. Sanji stood up, ready to defend, Sanji would always protect him, but stopped as Thatch put his hands up open palmed.

"Easy there," Thatch said calmly, ignoring the shock radiating from the boys. "I didn't mean it in a bad way. I'm sorry I made it sound that way. We are all in the same boat here, and being enemies won't help us in any way."

Sanji and Zoro watched the man. Luffy could feel his Nakamas unease, and understood why they felt that way. This is the first time in two years someone talked softly to them, talking like Luffy, Sanji and Zoro weren't disgusting, weren't broken. The only time people did that was under a punishment or when the Lady would use her ability on them, and they only did that to lure them to think they were safe. But when Luffy looked at Thatch, he didn't feel anything like that. No blood lust. No intent to hurt them. Something inside of him was telling him that this man was alright.

Making his decision he stood up on shaky legs. Zoro and Sanji were immediately by his side to support him, but Luffy waved them off. He was the captain, he couldn't always depend on Sanji and Zoro to support him. He stood in front of the man, but not staring into his eyes. A small part of him was screaming to do it, to look into this man's eyes, but a bigger part knew that that would only cause pain. The man seemed a bit uncomfortable.

"Angel," he said gently.

Thatch face morphed into one of surprise, before understanding replaced it. In a soft voice he said, "Is, is that your name?"

Luffy nodded, smiling softly. He could feel Sanji and Zoro's confusion, but also acceptance. Luffy was the captain after all. What he says, goes. Zoro stepped to his side.

"Beast," he rumbled, still trying to look intimidating.

Sanji sighed, shaking his head, before he as well stepped forwards.

"Demon," he rasped.

Thatch looked at them with a mix of sadness and confusion. At least it was better than pity.

"Those are not your real names, are they?", Thatch asked.

Luffy shook his head, the smile still on his face.

"But it's the only ones you'll give me, right?"

Luffy nodded, still not letting the smile drop.

"Guess you'll tell me in time," sighed Thatch, shaking his head. He was smiling a little though.

Thatch seemed to want to say something else, but an enormous explosion that shook the entire room, and probably the entire mansion, cut him off. Luffy lost his balance and started to fall towards the ground. Sanji and Zoro immediately took hold of him, half holding half carrying, both with worry oozing around them. Thatch however, had a big smile in his face.

"Took you long enough, Pops."