Summary: Luffy is 15 years old when the Gorosei discover his existence, and decide to use him against his father. He is then sent to Marineford. While his grandfather is determined to make a marine out him, for his protection, Luffy is dead set on escaping. However, what will happen when the Gorosei discover that the boy ate the devil fruit which had been eluding them for so long...

Rating: I rated it M for safety, and because some chapters are a bit angsty, with violence, cursing, traumas,... I will be putting trigger warnings at the beginning of every chapter when necessary, don't hesitate to ask me to add some I wouldn't have thought of.

A/N: More notes at the end. Enjoy!

Dragon's offspring

Chapter 1: Garp's having a shitty week

Garp choked on the half eaten rice cracker that he was previously happily munching on.

His friend was waiting for the information he had just delivered to fully register. He gained his composure back, hoping against hope that he misheard what Senny had said.

"What?"

"The Gorosei, they know about Luffy being the son of Dragon. They're tired about the actions of your son, especially since his involvement in the civil war in the Kielen kingdom. They want payback, and… we can't get a hold of him, so they're trying a different tactic…"

Sengoku wasn't meeting his eyes, his gaze fixed somewhere between the desk and the door behind him. It was bad. Of course, it wasn't a secret that he had a cute grandson who he was training to become a strong marine…

Well, several grandsons who should have become strong marines, but Ace was now flying a Jolly Roger, and Sabo… Still, Luffy would be a great marine, he was certain of it.

However, few people knew the link between him and Dragon. That one of the worst criminals alive and free was the son of the Marine Hero Garp wasn't an information the marines wanted out. Too much bad press. Garp doubted the Gorosei was even in the know.

A resounding bang shook the office as his fist collided with the desk and the feet admiral finally met his eyes.

"Who!" He was boiling with fury. "Who tattled about my family to the Gorosei!"

Sengoku let out a sigh, he looked tired, old.

"Sakazuki…"

"Don't tell me you're unleashing that… dog on my grandson and the Goa Kingdom!" He interrupted him, dread coursing through his veins. He knew too well what that asshole was capable of.

"He isn't the one we sent. Garp, calm down! I know the situation isn't ideal…" Gard let out a derisive snort. "But it isn't an other Baterilla. It isn't about making an example out of him, we need him alive, and out of respect towards you I made sure the team retrieving him wouldn't mistreat him."

He had to contact Makino and Dadan as soon as possible. Maybe they could hide Luffy in a cave or something… No, it wouldn't cut it. He'd need to leave Dawn. Someone in Foosha could take him discreetly to a different island, then he could arrange a better hiding place. He just had to buy some time… Maybe he should try to contact Dragon… Or Ace… Hell, at this point he would even contact that no good red haired brat who corrupted his sweet grandson, if it could make a difference!

"When are they leaving?"

"You can't do anything Garp."

"When are they leaving!" He wasn't going to just sit there and wait for things to happen. Sengoku seemed to deflate, face laced with guilt, not able to withstand the gaze of his friend any longer.

"You can't do anything because it's too late. I wasn't allowed to inform you about the mission before now. I received confirmation that Luffy has already been apprehended and is currently on his way to Marineford." More gently he added "I'm sorry Garp."

The world was crashing down around him. His half formed plans to keep Luffy safe crumbling before his very eyes. It couldn't be happening. He knew there always had been a chance that Luffy would be targeted by the World Government for the deeds of his father, just as Ace was. Dragon knew too, that's why he gave him the custody. That's why Garp hid him with Dadan. That's why he wanted to make a good marine out of him. To protect him! Without his awareness, a small "no" escaped his lips as he sank into the chair behind him.

The ship was sailing, and there was no way for him to prevent it.

The two men stayed silent, both contemplating the finality of the situation. When Gard talked again, his voice had lost its usual boisterousness. If even possible he seemed smaller, tamed and resigned.

"When will he arrive?"

"In about a week. They've already reached Calm Belt."

The conversation was measured, the perfect opposite of how it had started, though each word held a tension, each sentence was treaded as in a minefield.

"What will happen to him?"

"He isn't a prisoner, he's a hostage. They want to apply pressure on Dragon…"

"It won't work. He wouldn't give up the Revolutionaries for his son, he won't surrender!"

"I know. It isn't the point."

Garp was sick. He knew where this was going. It was a punishment. They couldn't hit Dragon so they hit Luffy. Because they could. It was a psychological war. But Dragon wouldn't bent. At least he would be furious. Maybe that's what they were aiming for, waiting for him to be rash and make a mistake…

"Senny, he's an innocent child, barely fifteen. He doesn't even know who his father is… You know I've been training him to be a marine, he's my grandson! He could become an Admiral one day!"

Sengoku let out a sigh. Maybe this situation could be salvaged, somehow.

"For now, the plan is to detain him in Marineford. As he is your grandson, he will have some agency, though he will be highly monitored. I can't make any promise, a lot depends on the Gorosei's decisions, but maybe, if he is behaving, we could consider recruiting him at some point…"

Hope and foreboding were intermingling inside of Garp. It wasn't great, but he could make something out of it. Luffy could still be a marine in the end, and when he'll have proven his loyalty and strength, they won't try to use him against his father anymore. He could even become a hero, that for sure would protect him against any unjust execution. Like he had always planned. Now he just had to convince Luffy to behave… Like he thought, salvageable, somehow…

—

Five days. She wasn't panicking, it wouldn't make him comeback faster. But she was gently crossing the threshold between a bit concerned and worried sick. She already told herself yesterday that if he wasn't back today she'd call Garp. The sun was about to dive into the sea and there was still no sign of a ship on the horizon. There wasn't any point on delaying it anymore.

It had been a slow day, and the last client had already departed. Makino gazed one last time at the sea, then closed the doors of the Party Bar for the night. She sat herself at a table in front of her den den mushi and dialled the number Garp had given her so many years ago. It didn't took long for him to answer, his familiar voice grumbling some form of greetings, the snail mimicking a strained facial expression.

"Garp-san?… It's Makino… I…"

She was choking back on repressed sobs. Ok, maybe she was starting to panic. I need to take a grip on myself, she thought, before breathing deeply through her nose then exhaling slowly.

"Garp-san, it's about Luffy…"

"There's nothing you could have done." He interrupted.

That derailed her train of thoughts. She wasn't expecting this reaction from the marine, and she hadn't even told him anything yet. Which meant he already knew, but how? He couldn't have been told by someone from Dawn Island, only three people knew about Luffy's disappearance, she, the mayor and Dadan. They all agreed that it would be her role to break the news to Garp since she had the most informations about the whole affair. Unless he contacted them directly, which was a possibility, there was no way he should have known. Her guts were telling her that something was really wrong.

"I know Luffy disappeared, I've just been informed by the Fleet Admiral. He is currently on his way to Marineford. I'm sorry, I wasn't aware of that operation, they kept me in the dark until it was too late for me to intervene…"

Makino's ears were buzzing, she had to rest her forehead in her hand.

"Why?" Her voice was barely audible. Garp let out a sigh.

"I can't give you all the details, it's not something the World Government wants to publicise. They figured out who Luffy's father is and decided to use the kid against him…"

"But Luffy has nothing to do with his father!"

"I know, but, Makino, listen…" his voice took a fierce tone. "When Luffy gets here, I'll do everything that I can to protect him! I'll be damned if I let anything happen to my grandson!"

A small smile blossomed on her lips. She knew Garp was sincere. For all his ruggedness, he loved his grandson, grandsons, deeply.

"He should arrive in less than a week…"

Worry was gnawing at her entrails. Luffy had left Foosha, with some sailors he had befriended, about ten days ago. They were supposed to take him on a short trip, show him the ropes of how to sail a ship. They had seemed so nice, spending a month docked at the village, telling stories of their adventures throughout the night at the bar. Luffy had really taken a liking to them, Makino too, she hadn't suspected a thing. Then, when they didn't come back, she thought of the worst. Their ship capsized by a storm. A pirate attack. Them being slavers and selling Luffy for his devil fruit. Not knowing had led her to discover the full extent of her imagination, as scenarios had unfurled in her mind one after the other. Though, Luffy being taken by the marines hadn't been one of them.

Will he ever come back? The question was left unspoken. She couldn't bear Garp telling her what was most likely the answer. She wiped a tear that had rolled on her cheek.

"I'll tell Dadan. You know her, she doesn't let it show but she's really anxious too." Last time she talked to the bandit's chief, the woman was plotting murder against the sailors that took her kid.

"Thank you Makino, no point in letting her stew." No point in waiting for a ship. "I gotta go. I'll call when things have settled. Take care of yourself."

"Thanks Garp, you too." There wasn't anything else to say, except "When you see him, tell Luffy that I love him, please."

"Of course." Softly spoken was heard, before the snail closed his eyes, going back to sleep.

Makino gathered her legs against her and hugged her knees. Tomorrow morning, she would take one of the bottles of rum she kept for special occasions, and travel the well worn path through the forest, up the mountain. She and Dadan, and maybe Woop Slap if he's up for the trip, would drink to Luffy. To his well-being. To Garp keeping him safe. To him somehow finding a way to be free.

Tonight though, she would mourn the loss of the kid she almost thought of as a son.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading this first chapter. This is my first ever fanfiction (no, the cringy one page story I wrote when I was 15 years old certainly doesn't count, it never even existed).

I've already written four other chapters, but I don't know at which pace I'll be posting them yet. Right now I'm able to take a lot of time to write, but it won't be always the case, so I don't want to set the bar too high. Also, I have a dyslexia and english isn't my first language. I spend a lot of time hunting for any mistake, but I struggle with grammar. If you notice any scandalous blunder, please feel free to let me know.

I wanted to explain what motivated me to write this particular story, but I don't want to spoil the next chapters too much, so I'll do it in an other note.

Thank you for reading this note, any feedback would be greatly appreciated, but anyway you have my gratitude.

Until next time!