Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece; that belongs to Eiichiro Oda.
A/N: Posts this half asleep after waking up. Good thing these are prewritten. I go back to sleep now.
WARNING: In the second section, Sabo dresses up as a female and goes into town with everyone mistaking them for a "her". Even though it was on purpose, Sabo still hates it. Also later, after Garp's gift to Sabo is ruined, Sabo almost has a panic attack from being unexpectedly touched by an adult.
Aside from that, I hope you enjoy the story.
Ace's gift, a leather-bound book they could write in, found its first use in counting and calculating the worth of their pirate fund. They started it together a year ago after they finally started using each other's names and they're quite proud of the haul they've acquired so far.
Half a million Beris was no joke, even though at least half of it came from stealing from the Child Slavers. Sabo will state that they and Ace had to stop for a while after the injury. But Garp had gone and dealt with those arseholes just before he left so they only lost about two months.
Still, considering they could steal more impressive valuables and do so more often as they got older and stronger, they're certain they could buy a decent pirate ship like Merry then later at Water 7 Sunny by the time they were both seventeen.
"Hey Sabo, you know a lot of things, right?" Ace asked, sorting it all to make it easier for them to document.
They hummed and nodded, waiting for the follow-up question.
"How much is a good pirate ship worth?" He asked.
Sabo finished evaluating a gaudy necklace that was in fashion two years ago and dumped in the Grey Terminal for some reason. It could be recycled for a pretty good profit. The gems and gold were real after all.
The Straw Hats were prepared to use 200 to 300 million Beris to either repair Merry or make a new ship. And Franky had used that money just to buy the best material, Adam Wood, for the Thousand Sunny. Considering that Water 7 is the best in the business in the entire world, it would inflate the price. Premium quality goods mean high prices.
Not to mention but their occupation could also drive up the price, bargaining with criminals came with a risk after all. Then there's also the size to consider and the type of ships. The complexity of design and cost of material would also inflate the price. They're ashamed to say, but they don't know enough about ships to truly get a good idea on a possible price.
"There are too many variables to consider identifying a number." They admitted. "It depends partially on the type of ship we'd be looking for. That then depends on our crew. Like how many will there be? Are some of them going to be in the abnormal size range and have to have special considerations? I doubt our first ship could actually cover all of that and we'd have to be able to use it on our own for a while as we gain crewmates."
They cut themself off. They were letting new thoughts in as they spoke, and they knew they'd talk too long about it if they hadn't. Ace looked dazed by everything they said so they tried to summarize it. Though it could have partially been because they had used a few big words in there.
"Lot of variables, so I'm not sure," Sabo said. "Our first ship wouldn't be worth as much, but I do know our final ship would be a few hundred million."
Ace looked over the piles of riches they'd already required. "How much do we have now?"
"Before this latest haul, half a million." That seemed to take the wind out of Ace's sails for a split second but fiery determination filled them back up before they'd even fallen completely slack before they could even continue on to the good news. They did so anyway. "This latest haul's our second-best yet. If we keep this up, we'll have over a million before our next birthday."
Their best friend matched their grin. "Then what are we waiting for?"
They let him drag them away from the half-finished job of appraising their treasure. When they have another sleepless night, they would just finish the job then.
"Ah, young love." The shopkeeper sighed as they left the florist.
Convincing Ace of just buying a hibiscus bush instead of buying a new flower twice a week was easy. The disgusted face he made at the shopkeeper's comment about the two of them was worth more than the bush itself. They almost wished they didn't so they could keep dragging him in and make him uncomfortable with more of them.
They fake giggled at the comment and a little sincerely at the face and started dragging Ace away. Oh, to be a fly on the wall when Ace first came back to the florist wearing a wilted flower and demanding another one. It must have been so amusing.
"Come on Ace, we need to get home before lunch." They said in a higher-pitched tone than their usual voice. They pick up their 'shopping' bags and start leaving the city.
"Whatever Sabrina." He groaned, eyeing them like they might do something weirder than their usual. Usually, that meant something cruel or dangerous apparently. Sometimes they wanted to hear what Ace thought about them, but their mind often brought up the worst enough to also never sincerely wish for it.
As soon as they're reunited with their pipes and out of the city, Ace immediately stayed well out of their reach. They let him, the hand holding and comments from strangers seemed to have pushed him to be permanently embarrassed. The blush was still on his face. To be fair, they'd gotten a little embarrassed too, but taking joy in Ace's constant blushing and stumbling was enough to distract them.
The worst part about going into the city for them though was overhearing everyone call them her. It grated on their self-control to not announce they were a boy too. They'd truly been spoiled by the bandits and Ace calling them 'they'.
"What the fuck was up with all that?" Ace asked. "And why the hell did I have to call you Sabrina? I thought you liked Sabo."
"I do, it's my name and I'm not changing it," Sabo said.
"Then why the hell did you ask me to call you something else? Also, I know you wanted to kick those arseholes for calling you a 'little lady,' why didn't you?" He screamed at them.
They considered it a good thing that Ace had waited until they were in the forest before doing that. If the wrong person had heard that…
"Same reason why I didn't want to go into High Town." They stated.
"And what the hell is with that?" Ace brought back up. He questioned it then, but they weren't willing to explain where anyone could hear it and then repeat it to the wrong person. "We could have stolen so much from there."
They stopped for this conversation. Her memories suggested that Ace wouldn't care about this, but they weren't sure. The only reason they were even telling him was that had they promised to do so earlier. Ace frowned as he stopped too. He even crossed his arms after dropping his bag of spoils.
"Over a year and a half ago now, a Nobleman's child was killed in an explosion. The killer was never found." Sabo said.
"Wait, you killed someone?!" Ace looked both terrified and impressed. But he was also a little grossed out after the initial reaction.
"I faked my death! I didn't kill anyone." They yelled back. Well, there goes any dramatic tension. They really should have expected it though. It wasn't the first time he'd ruined it.
"Oh, was that it?" He asked, shoving a finger up his nose. Because of course, he did. Honestly.
"If my parents find out I'm alive they'll lock me up and try to use me for their own gains again." They growled. "They're stupid fucking arseholes shallower than their own bloody mirrors and so goddamn condescending. They don't bloody care about anyone other than themselves and getting to rise up the social ladder so they can look down on even more worthless peasants whose mere blood is worse than shit. Heaven forbid they so much as get too close to them."
They turned and punched a tree, imagining it to be their faces. The wood cratered upon impact. It felt so good. They fell to sit on the ground and grabbed the hair in one of their pigtails. Hair grows at about half an inch a month and it's been twenty-one since they started growing it out. It should be ten and a half inches then. They really don't have a way to properly measure it.
It's getting nice and long in proportion to them though. That's nice.
Another set of hands grabbed their remaining pigtail and started braiding it. Saying it's a useful skill that could probably be applied to dealing with ropes was enough incentive to convince Ace to learn it. It was definitely a true fact and totally not a ploy that would get their best friend to play with their hair. Nope, totally no ulterior motives.
Though it was nice whenever someone else played with it. It was kind of relaxing. Their hair was worth all the painful tugs and knots that almost had to be cut out. Hell, if they were letting it get cut though. It's their mark of freedom! As long as it grows, they were free. The longer it was, the longer they'd been free.
"It should have been a pretty popular topic. They can't drag me back if they all think I'm a girl. It's a son they lost." They said quietly. The anger was being washed out the more their hair was platted by Ace and themself. It left them feeling kind of hollow, or perhaps they should say tired. "So yeah, I go by Sabrina and try to only be a girl. It hurts but being back in that hell hole would hurt so much more. They would cut my hair and force me to only be a boy.
"I started growing my hair out after I got out. It reminds me I'm free, Ace. Free to be me and do what I want." There were no tears, just simmering rage. "I hate them."
"That was pretty obvious when you swore. You never do that." Their bestest friend ever said. "I still remember you said Shiftry instead of shit once. That was probably the closest you ever got."
Sabo chuckled at that. Ace had asked if it was a fancy swear word like Au Revoir was a fancy way to say goodbye. In retrospect, they'd very poorly hidden their past from him. Garp had realised it straight away. Though they had tried acting sophisticated then.
Yeah, Ace's reaction to them being noble-born made sense. He'd probably already figured it out long ago.
They tied the finished braids with some small ribbons. Not their favourite hairstyle, too girly. But it served its purpose. Ace's braid was in noticeably poorer condition than theirs was. To be fair, they could practically do it in their sleep. They've done it half asleep often enough.
"Hmm, you're getting better at it Ace." They said it so smugly there was no denying it was the beginning of a challenge. Before he could retort though, they got up and grabbed their bag. "Race ya home!"
They took off, the wrongness of wearing a dress fuelling their desire to get home and change. Ace had to grab his bags and the small bush before following. They knew the only reason they won was that it was awkward running with a delicate plant.
Sabo really needed to step up their long-distance running game.
Swimming with crocodiles wasn't as intimidating as it used to be when they hunted them at least once a week. Especially when some of the more intelligent crocodiles recognised them and some of those ones decided it was better to just avoid them.
Some still wanted to eat them though, so it wasn't smooth enough sailing for Garp to decide he should chuck them in that river full of piranhas. Sabo and Ace had agreed to never tell the crazy old man about it. The old guy with a head of still mostly black hair did not need suggestions on how to worsen their training sessions.
It was a truly horrendous early birthday present when he dumped them in said river. Especially since the winter chill tried to slow their limbs. It sadly didn't affect fish as much as it did the reptiles.
At least their actual birthday, Ace's and Sabo's eighth birthday at that, wasn't spent training.
"I don't wear dresses." Sabo scowled at the sight of the monstrosity. Dear Oda, the frills on that thing. Maybe if it was a sleek metallic or dark member with gradient detailing, then they could bear wearing one, but dresses always sucked. They never felt right on their torso. Now that they thought about it, perhaps it was because of the lack of breasts.
The depressed and fallen face of Garp wasn't enough to make them accept it, especially as Ace's laughter made him roll on the floor at the sight of the monstrosity. If he saw them wearing it then he'd never let them live it down.
"But you'd look so adorable, Sabo," Garp whined. The hero of the navy, whining because a child wouldn't wear a dress that he'd gotten them. Why was he even getting them anything in the first place?!
"I'm a boy! I still have manly pride. Just 'cause I'm a girl too doesn't mean I'd wear that frilly monstrosity." They shouted at him.
Ace continued to laugh in the background, but he paused in it long enough to get out: "Aww, but it suits you." They'd never heard a more blatant lie.
They grabbed the blue and white monstrosity (so obviously marine colours, but they didn't mind that so much. Blue was their favourite colour after all) to the surprise of everyone then pounced on their best friend. "If you like it so much, how about you wear it!"
They're happy to report that in the scuffle, though they didn't get Ace to wear it, the monstrosity was utterly ruined. Also, Ace's screams could get very high pitched if one used the right threat. Said threat they'd take to their grave because they liked being the only holder of this most delicious intel. Also, blackmail.
"Oi, brat and blonde brat," Dadan called before tossing two daggers at their heads. At least they were sheathed. "Now stop stealing our weapons when you want a sharp edge."
Said daggers were at the better end of quality the bandits had. Good enough to skin their own kills and replace their old broken knife. It didn't like skinning the tough hides of crocodiles apparently. Sabo usually returned whoever's blade they used to do whatever job after that but sometimes they'd break too.
"Tch, whatever old hag." Ace grumbled.
Well, that just won't do. But trying to force Ace to do anything wasn't something they wanted to do. It was more fun to subtly coerce him. It failed more often than not, but it was a fun challenge, nonetheless. He'd been catching on to when they'd been doing it lately which was just another bonus.
"Thank you for the gift, Dadan." They gave a slight bow.
Some might say manner gave you nothing, but she remembered when she was given chocolate for 'manners'. Really it was just doing as her mother had asked without questioning it for once, but it had left an impact on them.
They turned to Ace so they could trade and compare their gifts this year, but they saw Dadan gave Garp a smug grin. What was that about?
Suddenly, there were arms around them and lifting them off the ground. The problem was that it wasn't Ace doing it. To make it worse, he wasn't one of the weak bandits they could knock out with a single blow. Monkey D Garp lifted them off the ground and almost sent Sabo into a panic attack.
His only saving grace was the fact that it was comparable to a hug, didn't hurt, and didn't feel like it was a detached gesture he was only doing because it was his job. If they hadn't choked on their own breath, they'd be screaming at him. Whether in terror or terror masked in anger was up for debate.
"My own grandkid liked a bandit's gift better than mine. What is this world coming to?" He cried.
"Let me GO, Old Man!" They shouted, kicking at his face. Hoping his eyes weren't as durable as the rest of him. They're let go and they hide behind Ace. Their heart and chest hurt from the organ beating too hard. "Why'd you grab me? Ace was right there. Are you going blind old man?"
"My grandkid is saying such hurtful words," Garp stated. Ace stiffened between them.
"Ace is your grandkid, you idiot," Sabo called back out to him.
"No, he isn't." Garp's finger was up his nose as he said that. Ace's finger mimicked his and copied the unimpressed look the older D had. Turning so they could see it. The identical actions threw some doubt on her memories saying they weren't actually closely related. Then again, maybe it's a Clan of D thing.
Sabo didn't get the chance to call the Vice-Admiral out on that statement before Ace added on to it.
"Yeah, I'm his grandson." They facepalmed at the statement and groaned.
"Bwahahaha." Garp laughed. "I hugged you because you were the one, I was talking about. You're very mean to your old man, Sabo."
That froze them. Had the old man adopted them? That… shouldn't be surprising. When the character Ace and Luffy brought the character Sabo home and introduced him to their grandfather he'd been adopted too.
But one meeting and being related because he was Ace's and Luffy's brother didn't really seem like a strong bond in the manga. They, Sabo, wasn't even Ace's sibling right now. They didn't know Luffy, so they weren't his sibling either. They're just his adopted grandson's friend. How the hell did that make them his grandkid in this life?
A finger clicked in front of their face and they reflexively blinked.
"Good, you're back." It was Garp, Ace was there too but most of the bandits were either gone or very obviously trying not to be there. They all were sitting in the main room though and it was impossible for there to not be traffic.
"Why?" Sabo asked.
"The idea came to me when I found out you were sharing your birthday," Garp admitted, subdued. Though he laughed as he added, "Can't believe you forgot your own birthday!"
"Shaddup." They whispered at that, ignoring the urge to cover up their face. Though his answer just left more confusion.
"It goes with the gift I got for Ace though." Garp continued, pulling out a photo and giving it to the said boy.
They peek at it in interest. It's Portgas D Rouge, his mum. Aside from the blonde hair and brown eyes, she looked so much like Ace. Maybe her eyes were a bit softer, but all female's eyes were. The flower in her hair was more of a dark pink instead of the red that Ace wears but it only added to their similarities.
A part of them wished they could find a picture of Roger to compare the three, but they're sure Ace really only got his colouring from the man. Her memories were too fuzzy to try remembering pictures and even then, they were drawings in their said past life. The few opinions she'd known on the matter agreed with their observation.
"You look like your Mum." It's a whisper but it's clearly heard.
"You look a little like her too," Garp said, drawing both their attention, "It's in your hair mostly, though I think your body is going to be slender like hers when you grow up too. Your eye shape is closer to Roger's than Ace's are though."
Sabo felt the rising dread but also the longing as they started to catch on. Ace hadn't yet but they could see he was on the verge of doing so.
"I've heard you talk in unison before." The eldest Monkey grinned. "You could both definitely pass for actual twins."
Holy Goda he was actually suggesting it. Ace finally caught on too. "Wait, you want to say that Sabo is his kid too?" They didn't know what emotion or emotions were in his voice as he said that. It or they were strong.
"Yep." He seemed so proud of the idea. Sabo almost wished they knew what lead him to this decision. Did Sengoku leave something in the crackers Garp stole from him?
"Are you crazy? That's the stupidest thing I've heard in my life!" Ace shouted at him.
They thank the fact that he wasn't looking at them when they flinched at his disgust at the idea. Garp might have caught it but that didn't matter to them as much.
"Either they're your blood sibling, or I'm going to have to explain to some pretty important people why I've adopted the not-dead son of a noble and not returned 'him' to his family." He brought out a photo, it's a year old and it's of both them and Ace cuddling while asleep.
The only reason why they're not blaming the old man for taking a picture of them without their consent while sleeping was the fact the picture was adorable. They would have done the same. Heck, it was probably a crime not to immortalise it. They were totally going to try and steal it off him.
"The name was written off as a coincidence." Garp continued as Ace silently fumed. "There are probably dozens of people with matching names out there."
"You want me to start calling myself Portgas too, don't you." Their voice was flat, but they hoped it could be confused with something else that wasn't the truth.
Garp nodded. Ace whirled on them, it wasn't anger in his expression, it was fear. Right, if they agreed to this, when or if Ace got outed as Roger's child, everyone would think they were too. The whole world would want them both dead, not just him.
Honestly? They couldn't care less.
When she'd said she wouldn't be Ace and choose to be Sabo instead, her reason was she hadn't wanted to be Roger's child. Sabo couldn't agree with her reasoning. They're glad to be Sabo. Glad that Ace was their best friend. But they really didn't care about being Roger's child.
Garp was trying to blackmail them and Ace into going along with it. Whether it was because he'd accidentally bragged about them both or too many saw the photo and their name stuck out. Maybe he had another reason for it, they didn't really know.
"If I did that then I'd be Roger's kid too." Ace flinched at the name, but Garp blinked shocked at them before nodding. He hadn't known they'd known.
Sabo looked at Ace and shrugged. "Okay then, people had already been saying I shouldn't exist. What's the rest of the world really? I don't really care about their idiotic opinions."
"Bwahaha, well said, Portgas D Sabo." Garp laughed.
"You're weird and stupid, Sabo." Ace, their twin, sighed with a voice full of resignation.
They grinned. "Maybe." They spoke. 'You are worth it.' They left unsaid but hopefully understood.
Next chapter: A domesticated Luffy is spotted.
(Domesticated by Makino at least)
Sabo and Ace are now twins! Also, Ace's disgust at "Young Love" is partially because he's eight and doesn't care about romance and because he knows that if Sabo wasn't pretending to be female, then they wouldn't be saying it. (*Looks at the end of chapter 11.* Definitely not against young love. Although, Ace is a bit of a possessive brat. So that could also be it)