AN: Back again with a new chapter guys! Thank you all so much for your support, and I hope you enjoy it! Thanks again to Niji Hitomi Kabra for betaing!

Chapter 3

It felt like Ace was drifting. In a bank, black space of warmth, surrounded by a comforting scent and a sense of safety. He wasn't alone. Everything was alright.

Ace really didn't want to wake up. Didn't want to face the outside world. Face the chaos and the fear and - and the death…

This was peace. Stillness. Serenity. Like he was wrapped in a warm embrace. Like he was loved.

And it was rudely disrupted by the sharp slap to Ace's cheek that had him opening his eyes, a panicked noise escaping him. Sabo's face came into focus, his expression strained, brown eyes fearful. "Come on Ace, I need you to stay awake."

"'M awake." The fae protested sleepily. "Stop worrying… 'M fine…"

Sabo shook his head and gathered Ace up in his arms. The fae's head spun dizzily at the movement, and he clutched at the front of Sabo's cloak tightly. "Ugh too fast…"

"Sorry - s-sorry. You need to eat something."

Ace was set down on a dusty, torn up couch, and the fae wrinkled his nose. "Stinks… go 'way…"

"Come on Ace!" There was a light tap against his cheek, and Ace's eyes settling on Sabo's own worried gaze. "You need to eat something. And drink something. And - fuck-!"

He disappeared from Ace's vision for a few moments, and the fae was left staring vacantly up at the ceiling. He blinked, trying to keep his eyes open, and counted the cracks in the ceiling to keep himself focused. Or at least… try to. He managed to keep his eyes open at least, but he always lost count sometime around the twentieth crack and had to start over again.

When Sabo returned, he shoved a hand under Ace's head and lifted it a little, the rim of a bottle placed against his lips. Cool water splashed against his skin, and the fae sipped at the proffered water, his tail weakly beginning to swish back and forth from where it hung off the edge of the couch.

Ace let out an annoyed whine when the bottle was pulled away - he hadn't realised how thirsty was, and he wanted more damn it! - before it was silenced by a wedge of fruit being shoved into his mouth.

An orange? Ace didn't remember Sabo picking one up from one of the vendors…Not that he'd been able to see everything, what with how distracted and how sick he had felt at the time.

But he… couldn't remember the last time he'd had a piece of fruit. Let alone a fresh piece of fruit.

It tasted like heaven.

The fae chewed it slowly, swallowed, and obediently opened his mouth again when Sabo raised another to his lips. Ace kept eating them until the orange was finished, and Sabo brought the bottle of water to his lips again for him to drink from.

The fae sipped at it, thankfully feeling a little more alert than before. At least now he could keep his eyes open without any struggle.

With a sigh, Sabo pulled the bottle away and ran his fingers through Ace's hair. "How are you? Do you feel - anything different?"

Ace gave a slow blink, unconsciously pushing into the touch. "Hh… I think… so?"

He tilted his head and blinked again. "... Can feel you."

He could. If he focused on the sensation, it was like he could… feel Sabo's presence beside him, like a soft, comforting warmth. It made him feel relaxed, safe.

Like he had before. When he had been floating in the darkness. It just… wasn't as strong.

"That's…" Sabo swallowed. "That's good, Ace. That means - the bond's starting to take hold..."

Ace yawned and nodded, then gave a sleepy smile. "Mmm. Bonded…" The smile fell. "What would Lu…"

"Luffy's Luffy. He won't think anything bad of it." The vampire sighed and stood up. "The bond - the one we all share - won't be shaken by this. So please, don't worry about it. Don't think about it or this-" he gestured between the two of them, "new bond, alright? We can sort everything out once we're away from here and have Luffy with us."

He moved away, adjusted his cloak, and picked up the bags and slung them over his shoulders - and Ace couldn't help but think that Sabo looked like he was missing something…

It took a few seconds for it to click. His pipe. He'd lost it when they were trying to get away from the Blood Sleuth. Sabo would easily be able to find a new one - there was definitely no shortage of scrap metal, especially in the outskirts of the major cities. But what he really needed was something more sturdy than ordinary metal. Before they had left, Sabo had had his staff, but he had to leave it behind…

Ace knew that, had Sabo had it, he would not have been injured by the Blood Sleuth. And he would have most likely gravely injured - if not killed the beast.

If only that had happened…

Suddenly, the fae shot up from the couch. He immediately regretted it, as the entire room spun, and Sabo's form shifted out of focus. Despite that, he managed to wheeze out, "We have to go, now."

"Yes, I'm aware." The blond strode over and pulled Ace to his feet, and the fae let out a soft groan as the room around him spun even more than before. He slumped against Sabo, and the blond wrapped his arm around Ace's waist to support him. "If we can get to the outskirts without being caught again, I think we'll be free of them. If we can find a river we may be able to cover our scent - or at least bide ourselves some time."

Ace nodded weakly and tried to gain his footing properly, but Sabo tsked. "None of that now."

A yelp escaped the fae, the fur on his tail fluffing up in surprise as Sabo scooped him up in his arms - and was down the stairs and out the door, into the dark streets and down a hidden alley.

Ace clenched his eyes shut and held on as tightly as his arms allowed. Inwardly, he was cursing himself for being so weak. It was always like this. Ever since they had escaped - Ace had been forced to keep his powers at bay, to be protected by Sabo - Sabo was doing everything for him, was risking his life, defending him, even - even allowed himself to be bonded to Ace!

All of this and… Ace knew he would never be able to repay the vampire. And at the moment, he couldn't even fucking walk by himself. He hated this feeling!

Hated feeling so damn weak!

"Stop it."

Ace blinked his eyes open frowning. "What?"

"Stop - doing that thing. That feeling thing that you're doing. The negative feeling thing." Sabo was scowling, though he kept his eyes straight ahead. "I can feel it. You're not being a burden, you are most certainly not weak, so just - just stop it."

The fae stared at him, and a bright flush came to his freckled cheeks. "W-what? You can - feel all of that?!"

"Yep." Sabo's eyes finally flickered down to him, and his lips twitched into a smile. "Sorry if it's invasive. But it's - a mutual thing, I'm sure you've realised."

Ace swallowed and nodded. If he focused… what he got from Sabo was a kind of - tension. Fear. Of being caught? Yes, but there was something else… Worry? And… something warm, something that the fae didn't even dare to try and identify...

And he felt this for Ace?

The fae averted his eyes, chewing his lip. Really, now wasn't the time to be embarrassed about this kind of thing!

When Ace dared to peek back up at Sabo, he noticed a soft pink covering his usually pale cheeks - and he felt some satisfaction from that, because that meant he wasn't alone in what he was feeling.

Sabo glared at him, the pink darkening. "Shut it."

Ace's lips stretched into a tremulous grin. "I wasn't going to say anything."

"Good." Sabo sniffed and smoothed his expression back into a blank mask, and turned into another alley. "How are you feeling? Still light-headed?"

Ace blinked and nodded. "Yeah. A little… And 'm hungry. Craving something more… Filling. Meaty."

The vampire let out an amused snort. "Sounding like Luffy there, Ace. But don't worry - I have something you can eat, just as soon as there's some distance put in between us and this city. I managed to pick a lot more than the vendors actually saw... "

"Alright..." Ace closed his eyes with a hum. That would explain the orange. They were rather expensive these days…

He would hold Sabo to what he said.

And he… couldn't wait. Soon… soon, they would get Luffy, and then they would be free…

The artificial light made his skin itch.

Usually, Luffy could deal with it. Ignore it. Hide under the covers of the large, comfy bed - or even under it, when it became too much.

It never stopped. Never turned off. It seemed to come from the ceiling, but Luffy could never tell from where exactly. If he looked at it for too long his eyes started to hurt. And with no windows, there was no way to feel what he really, truly needed.

Natural sunlight. Not this fake, itchy, artificial stuff that just wouldn't stop.

It was becoming just… too much. Not even hiding under the bed was helping anymore.

Clank. Rattle. Clank, rattle.

It was a repetitive noise. The sound the only thing to keep Luffy entertained until the mistress came to spend time with him. He tugged, then let it go slack, then tugged again. Over and over again.

He wanted to get out. He needed to get out. He'd been trapped for too long, too, too long, and he just WANTED OUT!

A frustrated groan escaped him, and he rolled onto his back - ignoring the way it crushed his wings - to claw at the underside of the bed with his nails. The wooden planks that kept the mattress elevated bore scratches all over, and was one of the only ways for Luffy to alleviate his frustration. As long as he didn't scratch too deep, or bounce on the bed too hard, then things would be fine.

He wouldn't be reprimanded. Luffy knew that the hard way, after the bed had to be replaced the first time.

He found the mistress' visits much more preferable to the punishments.

With another frustrated noise, Luffy curled onto his side and began tugging at the chain again. Connected to the collar on his neck and anchored to the wall above the bed, it was long enough to allow plenty freedom to move about the small room - and even small bathroom it was connected to. But in all the time that Luffy had spent there, it had never broken. Never even budged. No matter how much he pulled it, or chewed at it, or scratched at it - he couldn't break it.

The same went for the collar around his neck. He knew he would never be able to put even the slightest dent in it.

Only a Celestial could take it off.

That made the hope of breaking free… practically non-existent.

But Luffy - the eternal optimist - hadn't had his hope completely depleted.

Not yet.

Because one day… whether it be an hour, a day, a week, a month - a year… or a decade, or even a century…

Ace was gonna come for him. Ace had never let him down before. Luffy had no doubt that his brother would come for him. Sabo too.

He would come.

Luffy just… had to endure it. He could. He would survive.

He would be free.

"... Ace… where are you?"

AN: *coughs* soooo... I hope you enjoyed :'D reviews and comments are most welcome!