I know I said that I said that this chapter will be longer but I realised that the story (and cliff-hanger) will have little impact on the rest, so please enjoy!
Shout out for the amazing Charizgrovsion who made this story possible with her beta-ing.
Ace was looking at the blond currently walking beside him – painfully shuffling more like – both to observe him and to catch him when he trips.
For the fourth time.
It was frustrating how he didn't accept any help, or even let him touch him for that matter. The night watch blanket Thatch placed on his shoulders stopped just before the man's skinny knees. It was obvious that both men had been through terrible hardship and it made Ace feel uneasy. After all, they didn't seem much older than Luffy.
Just as Ace was going to start a conversation to break the awkward silence the blond boy beat him to it.
"Who are you?" the kid asked, his voice seemed rougher than before and Ace just realised that he has been stressed out since he woke up. Mentally cursing himself for his stupidity Ace stopped walking and used all the lessons Makino taught him, reaching out a hand, Ace introduces himself.
"My name is Portgas D. Ace, Second Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, pleasure to meet you. And you are?" Ace didn't let it show how nervous he was, thanks to the excellent poker face that he possesses, but he couldn't deny that the blond wouldn't take his hand and with it an offer to help. When the young man seemed unsure of whether or not to trust him Ace pressed on feeling a vague sense of Deja-vu.
"Trust me, no-one on this ship will do you any harm," Ace said, voice soft and reassuring.
The man hesitantly took his hand in a firm grip, contrasting harshly with his frail appearance and took a breath.
"My name is Zero -" the boy – Zero – seemed to snarl at himself, making Ace flinch in surprise but he still kept his grip with the kid.
"S-Sa-Sanji. My name is S-Sanji."
Ace mentally frowned at the difficulty for the blond to say his name, wondering why he gave a different name first. But just then he saw a mark under the blanket and his blood tuned cold.
No. No.
On the kid's left side was a brand of a thick circle with four inverted triangles at the four sides, each side represented one of the blues. the North and East triangle were facing outwards.
The boy lets go of his hand and stares over Ace's shoulder, seemingly oblivious to the pirate's scrutiny. "Can you take me to him now? Please?"
Ace shakes himself out of his short, horrified stupor and nods. "Of course." In the process of turning back around to lead the way however, Ace notices the kid pull the blanket more firmly around himself, hiding the mark. So he had noticed Ace's reaction. Feeling guilty but not knowing what to say to rectify the situation, Ace continued forward.
His mind was in turmoil though. For someone to even be able to do that to just a kid. It was revolting. Ace felt sick. Knowing what that particular brand meant; what it represented.
It was a brand of a fighting slave.