Ace doesn't expect to see his double again.

They're going to beat Blackbeard and be sent home. There isn't any time for goodbyes.

So Ace is very surprised when he walks into the forest after the sounds of the battle fade (explosions? Really? Could they be any less obvious?), only to see two figures standing over a beaten and charred body (did they kill him?).

"I thought you were supposed to go home if you beat him," Ace says, because he really can't think of anything else to say (he is trying really hard not to look at the fallen form of Blackbeard).

Fire Fist and Straw Hat give him identical looks of uncertainty.

"We did beat him," Fire Fist says hesitantly. He glances down at Blackbeard and kicks the body. Blackbeard groans (oh thank god he isn't dead; Ace doesn't know if he can deal with dead bodies). "Why aren't we going back?"

"Of course it's not that simple," Ace groans and shoves his face in his hands. Their only theory on how to get back was wrong and Ace doesn't know what to do anymore.

"Maybe… maybe Blackbeard isn't what's keeping us here." Straw Hat says suddenly. When Ace and Fire Fist look at him, he grins. "My nakama said that there's something tying us to this world, right?"

"They said that Blackbeard can't open the portal unless he's touching it," Fire Fist agrees. "I assumed he already had it, but…"

"If it's not Blackbeard that's keeping you here, then what is it?"

The three stand in silence, surrounded by the wreckage of the forest. Ace doesn't know what to do; they thought that they understood how to get the pirates home but apparently that plan didn't work. Now they have two beat up pirates and an unconscious asshole.

"Oh, I get it," Fire Fist says suddenly and grins. "It's not a what but a who."

"Who?" Ace asks

"This is a parallel world, right?" Fire Fist laughs. "So far, everyone from my world has a double here too. So that means Blackbeard does as well. Blackbeard can't have anything tying him to this world because he's never been here before, but his double on the other hand…"

Straw Hat groans and flops on the ground. For someone who is beat black and blue, he was still pretty damn lively. "This is too complicated. I want to go home! And I'm hungry!"

"You're saying that Blackbeard's double is keeping him here," Ace says.

"He probably doesn't even know he's doing it," Fire Fist agrees. "But if we get the two of them together… we should be able to go home."

"Are you sure about this?"

Fire Fist and Straw Hat look at each other before grinning, "Nope!"

"But it's the only plan we have," Fire Fist says.

"Okay, great. Fine. Whatever. Looks like we're searching for bastard number two now."

Ace knocks on the door of Marco's home, two pirates and an unconscious body in tow tied up in as many chains as Ace could buy (it was very, very difficult to make sure no one saw the bastard).

Thatch throws open the door a second later, hones in on Ace and throws his arms around him with a happy cry.

"Ace!"

There's a thump from inside the house and suddenly both Ace and Thatch are tackled to the ground by 140 pounds of overexcited little brother. Luffy is cheering, switching between sobs and smiles ("I was so worried!") and hanging on Ace's back like the monkey he is.

When Thatch finally lets him go (untangling Luffy as he does), he sees the pirates and Blackbeard for the first time.

"Why…why are you guys still here? And—holy shit, is that Blackbeard!?"

Fire Fist grins and holds up Blackbeard's beaten and chained body. Thatch visibly leans back while Ace has to stop Luffy from poking it.

"Turns out we need his double too. Dunno where he is though," Ace explains.

"Come in, I guess. Marco's in the living room." Thatch says as he eyes the body wearily.

Straw Hat rushes in, dragging his double with him before anyone else can say anything. Fire Fist follows at a more leisurely pace, dropping Blackbeard in the entrance way before following his brother. Thatch glances at Ace as he shuts the door and tip toes around Blackbeard as much as he can.

"You sure he's not going to like…wake up?" Thatch squeaks.

"Ask Fire Fist or Straw Hat," Ace says. He's pretty sure the bastard isn't going to wake up, but then again the people from their pirate world could easily take a beating that can kill a person in this world.

Ace enters the living room and waves at Marco, who is lounging on the couch. He, at least, doesn't seem too surprised about the pirates still being in their world.

"Marco doesn't know where Blackbeard's double is either," Fire Fist says when Ace takes a seat next to Marco.

"Pops might," Thatch says and Marco gives him a weird look.

"Pops…" Fire Fist mutters. He clenches his fists. "Isn't he a shipbuilder in this world? Why would he know?"

"Pops knows his way around this town better than anyone," Marco says and sighs. "I hate to admit that Thatch might be right but… If anyone knows where he is, then it's Pops."

"Then let's go!" Straw Hat says and springs from the couch, only for Ace to yank him back down. The pirate pouts, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Tomorrow," Ace says because today has been a long day. His brother was attacked, half the forest outside their town was burned down, he still has to call the police and give statements about both his house and his car, and the pirates are still there.

Reluctantly, both pirates agree.

"Pull your hoodie down more," Marco hisses at Straw Hat as they make their way through the bustling shipyard. Several people have come up to greet Marco, but he tries to make the conversation as short as possible. He's already had people ask who the two people he'd brought with him are and doesn't need to start any more rumors than necessary.

Thatch is behind them, bringing up the rear. He glances at everyone, trying to dissuade them from asking about the newcomers. After all, it wasn't often they brought people that didn't work there to the shipyard. The last time it happened, it had been Ace.

Speaking of Ace, he had been left at Marco's house with Luffy. Partially because he wanted to make sure Luffy and Luffy's friends are okay (they really did take a hell of a beating yesterday), partially because he's still dealing with his house and his car, but mostly because he's supposed to watch Blackbeard and make sure he doesn't wake up ("Just start smacking him if he shows signs of consciousness." "That seems very unsafe.").

"This way," Marco says and pulls the two pirates towards Edward Newgate's office. Marco distinctly hears Fire Fist muttering names of some of the workers under his breath as they pass them. He glances at his friend's double and wonders if it was a good idea to bring him here in the first place.

Well, he doesn't really have much of a choice anymore.

Thatch raps his knuckles on Newgate's door. "Pops? We have a question."

"Come in," Pops's voice booms. Thatch opens the door while Marco shoos the two pirates inside.

Inside is dark, the only light coming from the lamp on Pops's desk and whatever streams through the windows. They can still hear the shouts of the men as they work on various projects. Every once in awhile, a flash appears as someone rushes past the office. Pops is looking at the two pirates with thinly veiled interest and Marco prays that neither of them are dumb enough to take off their disguises. Pops would know right away.

"Oyaji…" Marco hears Fire Fist suck in a breath, his fists clenching and unclenching. Marco doesn't know his story, but figures that something must have happened between the two of them for Fire Fist to act like this.

"So this is this world's mustache old man?" Straw Hat mutters, luckily quiet enough that only Marco and Fire Fist could hear. "He's smaller."

Fire Fist elbows him before Marco can.

"Be respectful." Fire Fist hisses.

"Pops, we're in a bit of a situation," Thatch rubs the back of his head sheepishly and Marco tries not to scoff because situation was an understatement of the century. Thatch gestures to the hooded Fire Fist and Straw Hat. "These are our, uh, friends."

"Do you need any help?" Pops asks and his eyes sparkle with a kindness that Marco has never seen in anyone. Marco can never repay the man for all he's done for him and his friends and knows that even if he told him, he would offer unconditional support, but this is something he doesn't want him or any of his co-workers with.

Pops glances at the two pirates for a fraction of a second and Marco knows he just has to say a word and they would be out of his life forever. It's tempting, but Marco has become kind of attached to the both of them and their strange quirks. He promised he would help them get home and planned on staying true to that promise.

"No," Marco says. "Don't worry, we've almost got it figured out."

We think, he adds in his head.

"We want to know if you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Marshal D. Teach," Thatch says slowly.

Pops leans back in his chair, looking at the two of them. "Marshal D. Teach, hmm? Does he have something to do with your situation?"

"It's complicated," Marco says and tries not to sigh.

"He's in jail," Pops answers, but he still seems concerned. Marco tries for a reassuring smile, but is not happy on the inside. If Teach is in jail, that only meant that he'll be harder to get to without anyone seeing and it'll be impossible to bring him back to Blackbeard.

Marco hears Thatch bitterly mutter "Of course he is," under his breath.

"Which jail?" Marco asks, because at the very least maybe they could talk to him.

"Are you sure you don't need help?" Pops asks and Marco shakes his head. "He's in Impel Down."

Fire Fist starts coughing while Straw Hat sucks in a breath. Seems these two have had experience with the place.

"Where else would it be?" Fire Fist practically hisses. "The universe hates me."

Pops is staring at both of the pirates now with an emotion that Marco can't quite describe. Marco bites his lip before deciding that they had enough information. There was no reason to stay here longer than they needed to. Marco catches Thatch's eye and nods towards the door.

"Thanks, Pops. We'll be going now." Marco nudges Fire Fist and grabs his arm. Thatch is leading Straw Hat by the back of his hoodie. Marco can feel Pops's worried eyes on his back, but he doesn't turn around.

Before he closes the door, Pops says, "Stay safe, my sons."

When the door swings shut, Marco lets out a breath of air he doesn't remember holding. Fire Fist is surprisingly limp as Marco lets him go, but Marco doesn't worry about it too much for the time being.

Well, at least neither of them were discovered.

Fire Fist doesn't speak at all as Thatch and Marco lead them around the shipyard. He lets Marco drag him around without any resistance, eyes on the ground. It's a stark contrast from the hot-headed, curious, loudmouth that he's shown himself to be.

Straw Hat notices it too if the concerned glances were anything to go by.

After they finally reach Marco's car, Fire Fist curls up by the window, face pale. Marco eyes him as he climbs in the driver's seat before his worry gets the better of him and he turns around to the backseat, "What is wrong with you?"

Thatch looks up in surprise from the passenger side but Fire Fist just seems to curl up more. "It's my fault."

"What, exactly, is your fault?" Thatch asks. Straw Hat is shaking his head in the background but Marco had to know. What causes this Ace to act so different from Marco's best friend? What has he gone through?

"Everything," Fire Fist says and goes quiet once again. "All of them here are happy here. No one is dead."

"Stop that," Straw Hat snaps before Marco can respond (because what does that mean?), "It's not your fault."

"It is. I was the one that got captured. They went to war for me."

"They're you're nakama! Of course they did!"

"THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE!" Fire Fist suddenly explodes, voice hurt and angry. Marco suddenly decides that prying was a bad idea if Fire Fist's stricken face was anything to go by. "Because of me so many are dead… Pops is dead… and I…"

"SHUT UP!" Straw Hat snaps right back, "You're always talking like this, Ace! I hate it! Your dad is not your fault! The war is not your fault! Mustache-ossan gave his life to save you because he WANTED to! He's a pirate, he's free to do whatever he wanted! And he wanted you to live! I want you to live!"

"Luffy…."

Straw Hat huffs, crossing his arms over his chest and turning away from his brother. "Stop saying such stupid stuff."

Marco feels like he's intruding, but Fire Fist looks better than he did before. Wide eyed, he glances at Thatch, who shrugs.

After a few minutes of silence, Thatch hesitantly speaks up, "Okay, uh, what are we going to do about Teach?"

Neither Straw Hat nor Fire Fist answer, too wrapped up in their own thoughts. Marco sighs and says, "We'll see if we can talk to him first. Then we'll figure it out from there."

tfw when u get scolded by ur little bro

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