Sorry 'bout updating little late, but school is killer of free-time. Beta'd by ninjabunny11
Poisoned Sidd – If you liked what happened last then you have something even better in this one. 'Cause here is only reality~
Little Lady Slytherin – I know, but trust me it's definitely worth it in my eyes. *grinning like a loon*
TheCaptainOfShips – I don't plan (now) on writing jealous Ace and Sabo (in the next chapters maybe) I have something better in mind. *wink*
Last time:
Others simply blinked, taken aback by their reactions. "What's with you two? You look like you had your heart crushed; and where is Luffy? Aren't you guys always with her?" Thatch asked again when no one spoke.
Blackbeard started grinning maliciously. Yes, he would be sure to make the girl suffer for almost ruining his carefully made plan.
Narrator's POV
After Ace and Sabo left the two lovers behind and made sure they wouldn't do it again, they went on Sunny because they weren't in the mood to talk to their nakama.
"Poor Zoro and Sanji. Don't you think you were a little too ruthless?" Robin asked them, chuckling from her sunchair. The two just growled, disagreeing.
Robin then glanced at them, searching, and after finding what she looked for, she gestured them to follow her. "I think we should talk."
"Well, I don't think we're in the mood to speak," said Ace, ever the polite one.
Robin just smiled mysteriously. "Who said I was giving you a choice," she said and walked into the aquarium bar. The boys sighed, but went after her.
The three walked into the vacant room and Robin sat on one of the many chairs. The brothers leaned on the mast, facing the archeologist.
"You wanted to talk, so talk," Ace spat out.
"Fine. I know you're not ones to beat around the bush, so allow me to do the same." The boys raised their eyebrows in question. "I know about the relationship between you and Captain-san." The two shifted uncomfortably, but otherwise didn't say anything. They glared at Robin, daring her to continue.
"I know you love her, and I know it goes beyond a sibling relationship."
Ace and Sabo froze. They wanted to deny it, but they really couldn't. Then they looked at each other, realizing that both of them felt the same.
The normal reaction should be to snarl and proclaim that you wouldn't let your rival have her. The two, however, weren't normal. From when they were little, it had always been the three of them, and it was unthinkable for this to put a rift between them.
If Luffy, the oblivious idiot, ever loved them more than brothers, then she would have them, but only both of them. 'We will win her heart. After all, I love them both. But no way in hell I'm saying it aloud to this jerk! I can't believe he never told me!' The two thought this simultaneously.
"I see this is going to be interesting." Robin chuckled and the two stopped glaring at each other to look at the woman curiously. "Ah, it's nothing. I was just thinking that Luffy is a very lucky girl," she said. Ace and Sabo blushed at the implications while cursing. She knew way too much.
The very dark blush on Sabo's face quickly faded as the youth thought to yesterday. If Luffy really did feel something for him, she must hate him now. He made out with a girl right before her eyes. Not that he'd had any say in it. He even didn't like Koala like that!
Ace's blush intensified as he thought to the times the three Ds' slept together in one bed. The fantasies he'd entertained in the past week about her (and even Sabo, but he wouldn't admit, at least for now).
"You need to tell her. You can't take another step if you keep denying your feelings." Robin pulled them out of their thoughts and the two looked suspiciously at her.
"Why do you want to help us? Don't you think it's disgusting for us to have such feelings for Luffy?" Sabo asked. Ace only gazed at her intensely.
"You may be siblings by bond, but not blood. I don't see a problem with it. And I'm helping because I want to see my Captain happy." Robin answered, and the boys sighed in relief. They pushed away from the mast and went to find Luffy, but Robin's voice stopped them.
"Besides, I find this situation very amusing. It's entertaining to watch the three of you, all the more so once you become involved in more… naughty activities." Robin said devilishly. The boys shuddered and were out of the room in half a second.
"Huh, Ace? Sabo? What's wrong with you, why do you look like tomatoes?" asked Marco, once the boys set foot on the deck of Moby.
They glanced at him, slightly horrified from the last thing Robin said to them. "That woman is…" Ace started, but was unable to continue.
"What woman? What happened?" this time Izo tried.
"That Strawhat woman!" the boys yelled and the commanders flinched, but their curiosity only grew.
"You mean Nami yoi? Did you borrow money from her? If that's the case, then I pity you. She's a demon when money is involved." Marco said, recalling the warnings from the other Strawhat pirates.
"No, not her. Robin. Not only does she know everything, but she's twisted!" Sabo exclaimed.
The Whitebeards blinked. 'Now say what?'
"It doesn't matter. We're going to find Luffy. See you later." Sabo added, not wanting to talk about the devilish woman.
"Yeah, and if we don't come back, then it was nice meeting you all, but don't go look after us. We don't want you to see our mutilated bodies." Ace said and happily marched ahead, leaving the commanders gaping.
The two men made their way across the town, hoping to catch a glimpse of the raven-haired female or her straw hat. So far they hadn't had any luck.
"Do you think she hates me?" Sabo suddenly asked. Ace glanced at him curiously.
"You know, for kissing Koala. Though she was the one who kissed me." Sabo grumbled the last part.
"It's Luffy we're talking about, so we can be only sure if we ask her. Though now that you mention it, how come you told Koala it was your first kiss? I know for sure you've managed to charm a few ladies," Ace answered him, teasing.
"It's true that I need to ask her in person, but that's what I'm most afraid of." Sabo said and sighed in defeat. "And for your information, I may have some experience with ladies, just like you have, but I've never kissed anyone. I may sound like a girl when I say this, but I wanted to be it special." He added the last part with some annoyance, challenging Ace to say something against it.
Ace chuckled amusedly, before his expression turned serious and he sneaked a glance at Sabo. "If you want your first kiss to be something worth remembering, then just kiss me~ After all, if we both want to be with Luffy, it will happen sooner or later."
"W-WHAT!?" Sabo all but yelled, blushing furiously. "You can't mean it! I already told you, she took my first kiss!"
"I'm not sure you can count it as a 'first kiss', you know. And if you do, then forget about it." Ace said cheerfully.
"You can't just erase what you don't like."
"I'm not talking about erasing it, just remaking it."
Ace's intelligent reply had Sabo sputtering for a moment. Then he considered the option. "You may be on to something. How about it; if we get Luffy to agree to be with both of us, I'll let you 'remake' it."
"You sure about that? I would have thought you would want Luffy to remake it~" Ace sung the last part, hoping even for more blushing. Sabo looked very good when he blushed.
What Ace didn't expect was for Sabo to grin mischievously. He also had challenging edge in his eyes. "Oh, choices, choices. Should I remake my memory with a charming angel whose body many would kill for, or with my jerk of a brother who thinks he's such hot stuff~"
The two were so engrossed in their banter that they didn't even notice they were in the forest. The same forest where Luffy with Anika were currently talking about the two brothers. You must love the coincidences.
"Oh, is that so," started Ace, his voice dangerously low. Sabo smirked. He wasn't intimidated in the least; actually, he was amused by how easy it was to rile up his brother.
Before either of them could say something or move (be it moving forward or jumping each other), they heard voices. Both of them shut up, listening to the strangers that were in the forest.
The first voice was of some young girl. They couldn't make out what she said, so they carefully moved closer. Next, they heard a very familiar voice. "I love someone."
The boys stilled, understanding dawning onto them. It was Luffy. The sister they were looking for, the girl they loved. And now they were hearing for the first time that she loved someone.
They moved closer; they needed to know if it was the two of them that Luffy was talking about, and whether she was talking about love for a family member.
When Luffy said there were more types of love, they were prepared for the worst. In other words, they were ready to make the guy's life hell, whoever he was.
(Please, try to understand the boys. They wouldn't kill the poor soul if they thought he loved Luffy enough. In the end, they just wanted for her to be happy. Of course, that didn't mean they would just let it slide by. After the D's would be done with him, he would probably prefer to be dead.)
The rage they felt turned into confusion, however, because in the next moment, Luffy was telling the girl about her brothers. When she told the other about a weird tingling feeling, it confused the boys even more.
When the unknown girl asked her a question, the brothers held their breath, telling themselves that it couldn't be what they thought. They started leaning forward, wanting to hear more; needing to hear more. And then she said it.
"I love them. Ace and Sabo, I really love them."
Like some dam broke, Ace and Sabo fell out of the bushes, not caring that their cover was blown. The two girls whirled toward them.
Once Luffy recognize whose company she was in, she paled as she uttered their names. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
It was then that the younger girl grasped the situation. She wished Luffy good luck and said her goodbyes. The wink Anika sent Luffy went unnoticed by the trio.
Once they got over their shock, the two males stood up. Ace slowly marched towards Luffy. Like a wolf stalking its prey.
Luffy gulped and took a step back. She certainly didn't want to talk with these two, not right now. But before she could run away, a body was pressed against her back and didn't allow her to move. The person made sure Luffy couldn't bolt away by putting his hands around her hips, holding her tightly.
Ace smirked at Sabo's action and made the final step, stopping before Luffy, and the female gulped. She couldn't understand what's happening.
Luffy averted her eyes from both of them. They frowned. Ace then lifted his hand and gently tilted Luffy's chin, making her look at him.
The second their eyes met, Luffy blurted: "Why are you acting like this? Say something! Or are you so disgusted with me, that you won't even talk with me anymore..."
After whispering the last part, Luffy closed her eyes. She didn't want to see the hatred on their faces. The brothers, however, were stunned into silence. They had never known Luffy was thinking this way. It hurt them to know they were those reason behind those rising tears.
Ace and Sabo had a moment of silent communication before they moved. Sabo placed a light kiss against her neck, while Ace gently licked Luffy's tears away.
"If you're disgusting because you love us, then we're disgusting as well." Ace whispered after he licked the last tear away. Luffy instantly opened her eyes when she heard what Ace said.
"You're not disgusting!" she yelled. Ace and Sabo chuckled.
"That's good to know." Sabo said and then shared a look with Ace, knowing they need to say it now. "Because we love you as well."
Luffy's eyes widened and she gasped. 'This can't be real.' she thought.
She was proven wrong when Ace leaned forward and kissed her. It didn't last long, but it contained the love the two felt for each other. Once they separated, Ace looked at Sabo. It was time to make his move.
Sabo grinned at Ace as one on his hands left Luffy's hip and ended up in the other male's hair. Sabo then pulled Ace closer and kissed him. It started as chaste as Luffy's, but soon became much more and the two pulled away from each other breathlessly.
Sabo then spun Luffy around to face him and kissed her as well. Luffy gasped, surprised at the sudden movement, and Sabo used the opportunity to sneak his tongue inside her mouth. The female moaned at the sensation, more so when she felt another pair of lips on her neck marking her.
Sabo then left Luffy's lips, but still he could feel honey on his tongue; strange, he expected her to taste like meat.
Ace took the opportunity and kissed Luffy again, intent on fully savoring the kiss this time. Luffy complied and opened her mouth to Ace, but battled him for dominance, a battle Ace wasn't going to lose.
Ace put his hands over Sabo's and stepped closer to Luffy, so there wasn't even an inch separating their bodies. Once that happened, they both moaned, surprised when their naked (in Luffy's case almost naked) chests touched each other. Ace wasn't wearing a shirt like always, so that wasn't what was surprising, But Luffy's sparsely clothed body, which went unnoticed till now, was. Ace broke apart from Luffy, leaving the both of them breathless.
Ace slowly pulled away from the hug, looking at Luffy's chest, and for the first time he noticed the ragged scar on the girl. He lifted his hand and touched it, wondering what kind of pain she was in when she received the injury.
Sabo noticed the change of atmosphere and went to stand before Luffy and at Ace's side. "What happened?" he asked lowly.
Luffy glanced at them and bit her lip. Sabo caught her reaction and decided to change the topic. Now wasn't the best time. "So you love us, hmm?"
"Yup, I do!" She chirped, and the brothers were taken aback how easily she admitted it this time. "And Ace and Sabo love me too. I'm so happy!"
The boys blushed when she said it. But they didn't argue; it was the truth.
"But then why did Sabo kiss that girl if he loved me?" Luffy asked, and there wasn't any blame or anger in her tone, just curiosity.
"I didn't kiss her. I mean I did, but that's only because she surprised me, and before I realized what I was doing I was lip-locked with her." Sabo answered and looked at the ground; he was certain Luffy would slap him.
"That's good. I was worried you liked her."
Ace started laughing, either from Luffy's aloof reply or simply at this dream-like situation. Sabo was ready to face-palm; Luffy never ceased to amaze him.
"I love you." Ace and Sabo said in unison as they caressed her cheek.
Luffy smiled her widest smile yet. "I love you too." she answered and kissed them both on the cheek.
The moment, however, wasn't meant to last, as Ace fell asleep and the two had to catch him before he hit the ground.
Luffy look at Sabo questioningly, who explained, "We had trouble sleeping, when we couldn't find you yesterday."
"That's why you remind me a zombie," murmured Luffy with wonder, as she plopped on the ground and placed Ace's head on her lap. "In that case, you must be tired too. A nap sounds pretty good right about now."
Sabo glanced at her, then at Ace, who looked really comfortable. Luffy saw and shifted Ace a little, making room for Sabo and gesturing him to use her as a pillow.
Sabo felt his eyelids grow heavier and took Luffy's invitation. The second his head touched her legs, he was out.
Luffy looked at her loved ones soundly sleeping, and smiled gently at them as she threaded her fingers through their hair. Her heart was still beating rapidly, and right now she was happier than she'd ever been. This is what she had always longed for. Then the female followed her brothers since childhood, and lovers as of this moment, into dreamland.
"Thatch! What took you so long? Did you get lost? Maybe you're getting Alzheimer's," teased Haruta, once the commander made his way on board.
"Hahaha, very funny, Haruta. For your information, I happened to cross paths with some Marines."
"Maybe Haruta's right, gramps. It took you longer than normal to shop for your ingredients, even if you did fight with marines on your way back yoi" added Marco.
"Tch, I'm still young. By the way, look what I found. Well, more like I took it from the marines who were crazy enough to attack me, but still…" as he said it, he took out a fruit from one of his many pockets.
"Is that a devil fruit?" gasped Izo, when he saw the curly pattern on the fruit.
"It looks like it, but I don't have any idea what power it holds. If I'm going to eat it, I don't want to be stuck with some lame power."
As they debated on what fruit it could be, Teach was shocked. This was what he was looking for all these years and now it was right in front of him, just shy of his reach. He quickly schooled his expression. Lucky for him, Marco currently had his attention on Thatch, as did everyone else.
The mood on the board of Moby had improved after morning, but it still wasn't the same as usual.
As Pops scanned his sons and daughters on the crew, he felt the air stirring. Things were about to change, and he knew that whatever was about to happen would affect them forever.
His eyes found Teach, who was currently talking to other crewmates. Whitebeard thought back to that damned file Luffy had brought to him. He knew that the girl firmly believed in everything she said to him, but it hurt to even think that one on his sons could be a traitor.
"SHISISHI. I win!" yelled Luffy, who appeared out of nowhere, scaring the shit out of everyone present.
"HEEEH, no fair! You must have cheated! There's no other way you could have won!" Ace cried out, panting with Sabo on the railing.
"How could I have cheated? We all started at the same time," asked Strawhat, blinking her owlish eyes and tilting her head cutely. The brothers blushed at the sight, but it went unnoticed as their cheeks were already tinged red from their race.
"So you're all finally back. We were starting to worry," voiced Marco.
The trio looked at him and quickly answered, "We're home," with grins on their faces.
"Welcome home," was the reply the troublemakers received. After that, everyone went back to what they had been doing before, with grins that were missing earlier. Now that their little brothers and sister were alright, everyone felt more alive.
"Oi, is that a devil fruit?" Ace asked, curiously looking at the item Thatch was holding.
Sabo nodded. "Yes, the swirly patents are characteristic of an Akuma no Mi, but I don't recall seeing this one before in any books,"
Thatch sighed, depressed. "And here I thought that if anyone would know, it would be our walking encyclopedia. I'm disappointed in you," said Thatch in mock anger, and the person in question sheepishly smiled.
"Luffy, are you okay yoi?" Marco asked, seeing the female staring at the fruit blankly. After he voiced the question, the brothers and Thatch glanced at Luffy.
"Thatch, you should get rid of it." she said with an emotionless voice.
The answer took them by surprise. The D.s' moved closer to Luffy with concern, but it didn't illicit any reaction from her.
"Why would you say something like that? Do you know what kind of fruit is it?" Marco tried asking, and her eyes finally left the fruit as she studied him.
"I don't know. The only thing I can tell you is that it smells like death."
Those who heard it stilled and narrowed their eyes at the Akuma no Mi. Thatch thought about what he heard, before walking off with a decisive air. He announced that he was going to talk with Pops about it.