The Bloody, Free-Flying Fist

"I'll never...let anyone die again!"

The old promise easily rolls off his lips with the same conviction and pain as when he was seven years old (stronger and stronger and stronger and nii-chanpleasedon'tdie); in his mind's eye, he sees strong shoulders set with pride, wavy locks of black hair that move as they reveal a squared chin, freckles and a smirk. Something in his chest, he isn't sure how or what (painlovepridejoyAce), bursts into flame and travels down his hardened, black arm in tiny shocks of electricity.

Hody moves fast (but not fast enough to surprise him any more, not after that blinding white light that—if he hadn't been so lucky—would've killed his First Mate), shouting something manically, probably something threatening, but he can't hear, can't see.

(All he sees is blood and concrete, all he hears is gunshots and clashing swords; his heart beats loudly in his ears like a butterfly with a broken wing, desperate to keep up—but it eventually stops and falls, tired and worn and beaten, but his heart is saved anyway with the sacrifice of his brother's blood and he hates himselfthem for it, for that weakness in him)

Small tendrils of fire slowly come to life on the length of his skin, Hody's laughter so far away to his ears as he feels Weak-hoshi's small, skittish breaths next to him. His arm flares, ablaze with orange flames—the sensation is not new to him, but it still follows with that burst of warmth that, before, made his throat clog up and tears fall with memories.

His arm snaps forward and he feels the fire in every muscle, every vein like a gentle sigh. It reminds him of sunshine and love and sake ("From this day onward, we're brothers!"), and something in him heals and mends but breaks and shatters at the same time.

Thank you: for loving me. So much.

And his fire fist flies.

"...Red Hawk!"

.–.–.–.–.–.–.–.

Author Note:

Let me explain the title (I know it's rather long and a bit strange); as I did this little chapter, it occurred to me that 'Red Hawk' has a few things that could link to its name. First of all, 'Red Hawk' pays tribute to Ace's 'Hiken' with its kanji (火拳銃 - "Fire-Fist Gun"), which is always heartbreaking. Then, 'red'. Red dignifies fire, obvious, right? But it could also dignify 'blood'.

I'm not entirely sure but I believe that Luffy used that same arm for pressing against Ace's wound; ergo, red=blood on that hand, sort of a reminder/tribute to that day. But then, why 'hawk'? Well, my guess would be because a hawk is a bird; birds are usually symbols for freedom. Birds symbolise the endless sky and its freedom. Therefore, 'Red Hawk' is basically saying that the price for Ace's freedom was paid in blood. Does that make sense? No? Oh, well, I tried.

Besides that, we have reached 50 reviews! Although not as popular as "Mourning and Acceptance', you people have nonetheless stood with it, and seemed to have enjoyed it. Currently still working on the other requests (this one made by Honeydee) and will try to publish them soon :)

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