So, this chapter definitely needs a warning, I just don't know what to give it. So just to be safe consider yourselves generally warned of unpleasantness and then specifically warned about gun violence, gun threats and death threats. (Teach is being super easygoing with his gun here please don't read if guns are a trigger). As always I would be happy to send anyone an 'edited' version of any chapter if there is something that is tough for them to read.
XXX
Akainu listened impatiently as the pirate bastard listened to his daily check in of the Whitebeards. The man liked to act like he was superior to the pirates but in fact he was just as dumb and even more full of it.
"What did he say," The admiral asked folding his arms over his chest.
"Things are going according to plan," Teach told him pleased with himself. "My spy says Whitebeards health fails, but he refuses to admit it. He will be dead within the weak. He is gathering his forces to appear strong, but he is in the dark as to what to do with them."
"Your source is a fool, as are you." Akainu told him and he watched the smirk fall from the man's face.
"What!" He growled.
"The fleet admiral informed me, the revolutionaries know of our location. I suspect they found some way to communicate this with the Whitebeard pirates. He is gathering his forces for an attack and trying to make it look like the move of a desperate man."
Teach paled at this. "You knew this!" He accused. For how long!"
"Days."
"And you expect us to take on their forces!"
"Backup has been summoned." Akainu told him, the warning clear in his voice. "Forces that will be enough to rival the revolutionaries and the Whitebeards."
"How!" Teach demanded. "This spot was chosen for that reason. No one could ever find us here by chance. This was the incompetency of the World Government!"
"Watch your tone!" The admiral snapped as steam began to roll off him. "Don't you dare question the capabilities of the World Government or you will be the next pirate to be eliminated."
"How long!" Teach snapped not in the mood for more of this. "Since Whitebeard found out."
"It is impossible to know. A week at the most."
Teach cursed. "You think your so clever, keeping this from me. I know this man, I know how he thinks. Just because the ship has stalled that doesn't mean he has. He would send scouts, his strongest. The prisoners!" Teach said suddenly. "They would be after our prisoners?"
Akainu felt himself burn with fury as he turned away, storming out of the office as he headed for the prisons. Like hell Dragon's son would escape under his nose.
They had doubled the guard a few days ago but there were ways around that if someone was truly determined.
But in the end his worrying had been for nothing. When he reached the cell he saw Dragons spawn, laying where he had been chained up. At the sound of the door opening he slowly pulled himself up, trying to cover his eyes from the harsh light.
The marine allowed himself to release some of the tension he had been carrying. The prisoner was still here. He alone could not be allowed to escape. If he was anything like his father, and it had become increasingly apparent that he was, then the world could not function with yet another criminal heretic. He had been confident in his decision to end the brat's life, even if it went against orders. The fleet admiral was not unwavering in his choices. He was friends with Garp, he occasionally was known to have a soft spot for children. If he could look past this and see clearly Akainu knew he would see reason. The brat was too dangerous to be kept alive, even as a lure for Dragon. A quick elimination was necessary for both should he get the chance. But after his last attempt Sengoku would remove him from the detail or he could receive a professional reprimanding if he tried again. So for now the brat would stay alive. Although he may wish he were dead. Akainu would see to that.
When the spawn saw who it was his eyes grew larger and his muscles tensed. Akainu had made a point to avoid him but he knew the kid understood that it was him who had ordered the interrogations and insisted on the last despite knowing it would kill him. At least it was supposed to. It seemed the child had more lives than a cockroach, just like his father.
He strode into the cell, watching the boy pull away, held in place by the chain around his ankle. But both knew there wasn't much he could do. Not trapped in a cell like this. So instead he brought his knees to his chest staring up at the man as he came closer. After all this time he would have expected the kid to become shy or timid. And to a certain degree he had become wearier. But more than anything he had replaced previous behaviour with aggression and defensiveness.
He snarled in warning at the Marine as he came to a stop in front of him. It reminded the man of a cornered cat. It was a pathetic display. Akainu knelt down onto one knee before him, looking him over impassively. When he reached out his hand the kid snapped to bite at him but he was much quicker. Grabbing the bruised jaw with just enough restraint to refrain from snapping those same jaw bones like a splinter.
The kid hissed in pain as he tried to pull back, his fingernails scrambling to get his hand off. Akainu only gripped tighter in warning. He leaned closer until his mouth was inches from the others ear.
"You-!" He said his voice low in fury. "Will never escape from here. Do you understand? I will let every pirate go before I let you leave alive. Do you understand!" The kid gasp as he dug his fingertips into the sun starved skin. "If you try, if you even think about escaping, I will make you regret it!" The palm of his hand began to smoke in response to his anger and the boy yelled in surprise desperately sinking his nails into the Marines hand trying to get him to let go of his face.
Akainu released him, disgust plain on his face.
The boy instantly reached to the burned skin on his cheeks, raw and pink. He glared up at the man, angry and defiant.
"Why?"
He needn't answer the questions of criminals. Akainu brought his foot down angrily and the boy recoiled, covering his head with his hands as he was kicked roughly to the floor. Something fluffy in the corner of the cell caught his gaze and he turned to see the stuffed bear.
"Where did you get this!" He demanded snatching it up.
The boy just glared at him rising to his feet. Akainu was quick to knock him back down. "Prisoners aren't allowed personal items." He ripped open the animals back feeling around for any smuggled items.
"Give it back!" The kid told him, his legs shaking underneath him.
The Marine stared at him before looking back to the toy in his hands. For some reason it made him angry. Not an escape attempt, or weapon as he had thought. But apparently it was a comfort gift. Like a kid who had to stay overnight in the hospital. Only the boy before him wasn't a kid he was a criminal. Age was irrelevant in the eyes of the law. Whoever mistook the boundary between justice and sympathy would need to be reprimanded. Akainu did not accept weakness in his men.
"Who gave you this?"
"…"
In an instant he burned the furry toy, the smell of melting cotton filling the cell.
"NOOO!" The boy screamed as he lunged at the man, trying to grab it. But he forgot about the chain on his ankle that stopped him inches short and sent him back to the ground.
"That was favorable for you," He told him as he dumped the pile of ashes onto the floor. "Attack me again and you will regret it. Don't forget boy, you're at our mercy. And justice will be delivered."
But the kid wasn't listening, instead he had crawled forwards on his hands to dig through the pile of ashes. His searching fingers found a single button, it had fallen before it could be burned like the rest of it.
Akainu turned on him angrily but before he could take it back the boy shoved it between his teeth. If the man tried to forcibly take it, then it would be swallowed in a heartbeat and then he would either admit defeat or reach down his throat to get it back. All together it wasn't worth it.
But it wasn't the button that angered the marine. It was the boy. Even after all this time he was still so defiant. Either the interrogator was losing his touch, or the kid took after his father to an extreme degree. He felt pure anger course through his veins. He left the cell, barking orders at the marines on guard.
"Tie the prisoner up! Double the guard. If anyone not authorized tries to pass by shoot them on sight. You are to have no other contact with him."
The Marines obeyed wordlessly as Akainu left. Heading back to the center of the base. He had work to do. No disgusting pirates would be breaking into the base under his watch. He would snuff them out like rats, one by one until the world was cleansed.
XXX
The dirty pirates in question had decided against getting Akainu's permission to infiltrate the base. Tempting as it was. Oyaji had called with specific instructions for them. So specific all three of them were at a complete loss of how he could possibly know so much about the base. They were to sneak in through the network of tunnels that ran throughout the island. They had been carved strait into the rock itself when the base was first made so bootleggers could evade any pursuing marines. They were unstable, some had flooded with sea water and others were part collapsed and led nowhere. As such they had fallen out of use. But in theory they led up from the ocean to the main base. It was their best bet. Oyaji had also asked them to rescue any of Teach's prisoners that they came across. It would make this whole mission harder. But at this point anything to tick off Teach.
It took them nearly a day to navigate the tunnels. They were a mess, made to confuse anyone inside of them. But eventually they started to see familiar arrow markings on the wall that led them higher and higher up the caves until they hit a main hallway. They followed that until it led them to a trapdoor entrance to the basement of the base.
"And I thought this place was miserable from the outside," Haruta hissed as they watched Izo work on the trapdoor. It had been locked from both sides, and it was clear it hadn't been used in years. Decades maybe.
"Let's get Thatch out of here and burn the whole thing to the ground."
"We can't burn rock," Juzo told him.
"Fine, destroy it. I don't care. Nothing good can come from this place."
"Juzo I think I got it, I need you to push it open. It feels like something is on top of it."
They switched places so the muscular man could ram his shoulder against the door until he managed to shove whatever rested on top of it off. The resounding crash was very loud and the three of them waited, holding their breaths to see if anyone would respond. But when no one came they risked peeking through the hatch.
"Clear," He called climbing the rest of the way into the base. The other two followed him into what looked like a scarcely used storage room.
"If we get separated, we will meet back here. We can free Thatch and wait out the rescue in the tunnels." The two nodded their heads in agreement.
"Let's go quickly," Haruta said looking around. "This place gives me the creeps."
"Imagine how Thatch feels." They pressed forwards in silence. None of them wanting to think too much about how miserable Thatch must be. They would make it up to him, somehow. They would find a way.
They crept out of the storage closet only to find themselves in a huge network of tunnels, most abandoned and dark. But there was a glimmer of light towards the end which they followed until it connected them to a trafficked hallway. Unlike the other rooms the lanterns on the wall were lit and marines occasionally patrolled past. Although they were rare.
"I can't believe that bastard really did it," Haruta growled.
"I'm more interested in how he did it," Izo said. "What could he offer them to get himself this many reinforcements?"
"Well that's something to think about," Juzo said as they crept along the hallway. They followed the murmured talking of the Marines. The guards became more and more frequent the further they went and they were forced to duck into rooms to avoid them.
"We need to camouflage," Izo whispered as they watched another pair of marine's patrolled past the door. Most of the rooms that lined the hall were empty or storage. But from the ones they hid in it was clear at one point in time they were prison cells. Horrible ones. But the high amount of guards in this area was a good thing.
"I think Thatch might be in one of these cells," Izo told them. "What would be the point of guarding an empty cell?"
"Well we can't make it much further without being spotted. And if they find out we're here before we can locate Thatch it's all over."
"Camouflage," Izo repeated. When the next pair of Marines passed, they stuck them from behind. The men were unconscious before they hit the ground. Izo and Haruta took their uniforms, as it was unlikely Juzo would fit, and left them under his watch.
"Really think this will work?"
"We can hope," Izo said as he straightened his brothers tie. "Keep a straight face, don't meet anyone's eyes if you can help it."
Trusting Juzo with the unconscious men they continued down the hallway. There was a handful of marines standing in the hallways, their guns over their shoulders at attention. Two more stood firmly stationed in front of one of the cell doors. Bingo.
Izo and Haruta shared a look as they came up to the group. Trying their best to hold authority in their pose. The trick to looking like you belonged was feeling like you did. If you didn't question your position, then nobody else would without a reason. However, the reason was out of their control.
One of the Marines in front of the door turned to look at them, the rest seemed content to ignore them.
"Your late," he barked. Izo said nothing.
"Where is Len?"
"I don't know, the captain told us to take over for them," Izo told them calmly.
The man squinted at them. "I haven't seen you around. More new recruits?"
"The base just keeps sending us backup," He said to their silence. "I'd be real eager to learn what this big threat is that they need to keep throwing reinforcements at us."
"Couldn't say," Izo said.
"Whatever," The man shrugged gesturing to his companion. The other man handed the keys over. "The Admiral is on the war path. Don't take your eyes off him. There will be hell to pay if you so much as speak to him. He's uh- in time out." The man smiled like this was somehow a joke to him.
Izo closed his eyes. A marine Admiral, that was just about as bad as things could get. No wonder Oyaji had warned them against detection.
"Of course, sir." Haruta, who had never called anyone sir in his entire life, responded. The man left, leaving them at what was apparently a grueling eight-hour watch shift. The other guards quickly resorted to playing cards although they would hide them at the approach of footsteps.
Izo caught Haruta's eye. They needed some way to get inside that didn't look suspicious. Their way arrived around dinner time along with the meals.
"We were starving," One of the men said as a new group of marines handed out the food. "Yea right you lazy bums, you were playing blackjack not working."
"Can't we do both?" One of the men joked. "Deal you in?"
"Maybe later," One of them grunted. "We have to feed the monster." He gestured to the last bowl. It wasn't sandwiches like the rest of them got but rather disgusting looking gruel and an apple which was quickly snagged by the one with the cards.
"Oh don't give me that look, It's not like he eats it anyways. You guys shouldn't even bother. Less mess for us to clean up later. Plus this way you can keep all of your fingers intact."
"That's true," The man hesitated. "But that creepy Blackbeard doctor ordered that we make him eat. If he died on us they would have our heads."
Haruta was glowering from besides Izo. Furious about how callouses the Marines were being. But Izo was planning.
"We can give him the food," He said. "Play a round of cards while you're at it. We don't really mind."
"I always wanted to see a real live pirate," Haruta practically spat and Izo sent him a warning look. But the men just cackled with laughter.
"Don't know if he's a pirate or not." The marine said but he handed over the plate easily. Glad to be rid of the responsibility. "Your newbies right?"
"We're that obvious?"
"Well no veterans would risk their fingers," He teased. "Make sure he eats all of it. He's tied up so it will be easier for you today. Do not put anything near his mouth you don't want bitten off. And whatever you do don't untie him."
"We can manage!" Haruta told them still furious as he took the plate. The man was talking like he was a wild animal.
"Don't say I didn't warn you!" He laughed as he handed Izo one of the lanterns before the group turned back to the card game.
"Scream if you need help."
Izo unlocked the door wordlessly, as they slipped inside. He closed it firmly behind them, placing the lantern down on the floor. It was pitch dark inside the cell. Inhumanly so. Haruta stepped in front of him.
"Thatch? Thatch is that you?" He whispered. There was no answer. "Thatch?"
Izo shone the light around trying to get his bearings. Not Thatch? He came up to the support beam where the scary prisoner was tied. He placed the light down beside them. This prisoner was too small to be their lost brother. But he was someone.
"It's a kid?" Haruta said his confusion quickly turning to concern. They had been talking about a kid. They had tied him up in a cruel way…. And they had called it time out? Like they thought this was somehow funny?
The boy's back was against the support beam, his hands bound around the pole with a thick knot of rope, his legs bound similarly so he couldn't kick anyone. His eyes and mouth were covered, which was so excessive with how dark it was in here. Without a light there was no way he could see anything anyways. And perhaps worst of all was the heavy chain wrapped around his ankle, tethering him to the post he was already tied to.
"What is he doing here?" Haruta asked still surprised. "Did Teach do this?"
Izo gently put his palm on the boy's cheek to let him know they were there. The kid jumped, rattling the chains as he did so, and began to squirm in his holdings. As if he could somehow work himself free.
"Can you hear us?" Izo asked making sure to keep his voice low. "It's okay, we're going to untie you." He pulled out his knife and began to saw at the bindings at his ankles. The second his legs slipped free Izo felt pain explode in his side as the boy kneed him in the ribs. He fell over, barely rolling away in time to avoid another kick. He pulled back, only just noticing the chalk circle around him.
"Haruta," He called to his friend sliding him the knife from across the floor.
"What are you serious?" His brother asked as he grabbed the knife. "What if he screams."
"I doubt the guards will care," Izo spat. "This isn't right."
Haruta nodded as he raised the knife to the boy's face. The kid flinched back at the feel of the metal, hissing despite the gag.
"Shh, it's okay." Haruta promised as he sliced through the cloth over his eyes. He turned the knife onto the boy's arms, careful not to knick the bandages that covered most of his skin as the ropes fell.
The moment he was free he pushed off from the poll, scrambling back as far as the chain on his ankle would let him his hands tugging on the cloth covering his mouth.
"Please don't scream," Haruta whispered to him as they watched him tear it off and throw it to the other side of the room in disgust.
'Definitely young,' Izo thought. young-teen or pre-teen. And he was injured. It was hard to tell how badly with the dirt and bandage layer covering him. He approached him slowly. It was clear the boy wanted to retreat as he did so but he was trapped in place.
"Hey there," Izo greeted trying to keep his voice light despite their situation. "Listen I know we might be dressed like one, but we're not on their side alright."
"Izo," Haruta warned.
"Your one of Teach's prisoners I take it?" He asked. "Do you have a name?"
"…"
"I'm Izo, and that's Haruta. We brought you food if you're hungry." Haruta offered the bowl to him but he didn't take it. If anything, it seemed to put him more on edge. His teeth snapped at Haruta's hand when it came too close to him.
The man yelped, quickly pulling back. "God, and I thought they were kidding about the biting."
The kid kicked the bowl, sending the grayish gruel all across the floor and flipping the bowl over with a loud clatter. Izo winced.
"How is it going?" One of the guards called from outside the door. "Is he misbehaving. Do you need backup?"
"No, we're fine." Izo answered back, quickly motioning for the kid to stay quiet.
"No bruises?"
"Nope, We're fine!" He repeated.
"Well give 'im a good kick in the ribs for me alright. Kid really nailed me in the stomach yesterday. I'd been meaning to pay him back for that."
"Umm," Oh god! "Sure thing." He said shaking his head at the kid while he said it.
"Sh-shh," Haruta tried to comfort the small teen. "We aren't going to hurt you. We're not going to make you eat either. We're not here with them. We are actually looking for our friend." The kid hugged his knees to his chest, his dark eyes scanning over the two of them.
"Have you seen any other prisoners here?"
There was a long moment of hesitation before the kid nodded.
"That's great! Have you seen him! Is he okay!" Haruta started. The kid just stared at them.
"Do you know where the prisoners are?" Izo clarified.
He shook his head after a moment.
"Are they okay?" Haruta asked again.
The boy nodded and both of the Whitebeards broke into a smile. But the moment was lost on the kid as he continued to stare at them blankly.
"God," Haruta ran his fingers through his fringe in frustration. "Are you okay?"
"Listen, we need to get our friend. But we can't get caught. Do you want to come with us?"
There was a long pause before he shook his head surprising the two of them. "You want to stay here?" He shook his head again leaving them in somewhat of a crossroads.
"We can't just leave him here… right?" Haruta asked Izo. He was so sick and injured and his breathing came out more like gasping meaning there might be something wrong with his lungs. Haruta honestly didn't know how many days he had left in him. Especially with the psychopaths outside.
"Right, listen umm- kid. We can't get you out right now." He tugged experimentally on the chain.
The boy just stared back at them, no emotion happy or sad reflected on his face. It was a little unnerving but more concerning.
"Don't tell anyone okay."
"…"
"Are you hungry, or thirsty?" The food they had been feeding him looked disgusting. He shook his head and Izo sighed. Unsure of what else to do, he had never been in this position before, he reached out his hand to touch the kid's cheek in reassurance.
The kid turned away from the hand, pressing his face into his knees in a sure sign that he did not want to be touched. Izo dropped his hand apologetically. He didn't know what compelled him to do that. But everything about the kid caused guilt to well up in his chest. So instead Izo shrugged off his coat, standing up to tuck it around the kid's shoulders.
"You're okay," He told him as he tried to scoot back further. "You must be so cold. You don't have to go with us, we're not trying to kidnap you. Do you have family?"
The boy hesitated before nodding once. Izo smiled. "We can bring you back to them…. Do you believe me?"
The boy shook his head and Izo fought off another sigh. "That's okay. Just hang in there all right. We will be back for you. Stay warm." He tucked some food and water into the pockets of the coat nodding to Haruta. His brother looked so hesitant as he glanced back at the kid.
"We will be back," Haruta finally said reluctantly following Izo. "I promise."
Izo cast one more glance at the kid, watching them from beneath the oversized Marines jacket. No, he really didn't believe them at all did he. That was all right. They would prove it to him. He knocked once on the door for the other guards to let them out.
"Wow," I can't believe he didn't attack you," One of the Marines said. "That has to be some kind of record. Did he actually eat his food?"
"Uh, yea sure."
"No kidding? Without throwing it up after?"
"He's that sick?" Haruta asked turning to look in concern at the door. "You should get the doctor."
"That pirate doctor knows, he was the one who told us to start force feeding the brat when he quit eating. The kids being transferred to Impel Down once the Marine back up arrives. I doubt he will die before then. That's all that lazy ass cares about."
"Impel down," Izo echoed faintly looking at Haruta. "But he is just a kid?"
"I don't know man," The Marine said with a shrug. "Don't even bother feeling bad for him. Wait until he tries to bite your throat out and those feelings will disappear. The damn thing is vicious."
"What about the other one," Izo said trying to sound casual. "Is he as much of a handful?"
"Oh god no." The man laughed. "Eats his food. Hardly says a word. Never bites people! Apparently, he used to be… harder to deal with. According to the Blackbeard pirates at least." The man leaned closer as if they were exchanging gossip. "But get this- the pirates said they played a little joke on him."
"A joke?" Haruta echoed faintly. The man nodded enthusiastically.
"A really good one. Only he didn't find it so funny. Ever since then he's been the perfect guest." The Marine laughed in honest. "I'm sure the pirate deserved it."
As the Marines laughed. Izo clenched his fist, the sick feeling in his stomach growing.
XXX
The horizon was clear. As it had been for months. Akainu turned away from the window to get back to his work. He would be glad to be gone from this place. Working with criminals left a bad taste in his mouth.
One of the Marines knocked on the door. "Sir, there's a problem."
That was not what he wanted to hear right now.
"What is it!" He snapped.
"It's just, uhh, the Guard Len. He had kitchen duty an hour ago but he never showed."
"So?"
"Uhh, we can't find him anywhere. We checked his bunk, the mess hall, everywhere. We've been looking for hours. It's a small base, there are only so many places you can go."
"Did he show up for any of his duties today?"
"That's the odd thing sir, no one reported any missed shifts today."
"What was he scheduled to be doing right before?"
"Uhh, he was supposed to be watching the prisoner."
Akainu stood up from his seat so fast it toppled behind him. He grabbed the Marines shirt pulling him closer. "Did The Guards See Him!"
"Uh, no. Apparently him and another guard switched their shifts with two of the new recruits."
"Who," The man breathed, and smoke curled from his mouth like a dragon.
The man was clearly nervous now. "Well umm, the thing is… or the reason I came to find you… we can't find them either."
He snarled as he shoved the man away stomping towards the door. "Get Blackbeard! Get those incompetent guards while you're at it. I want all of them in the throne room NOW!"
The man scrambled off to do just that as Akainu stomped back down to the prisons below. They were here now. They had been here for who knows how long. Right under his nose. They had been left alone with the prisoner. Incompetent all of them.
When he reached the basement, the guards were all standing at the door, white with fear.
"UNLOCK IT!" He snarled at them, and they jumped to do just that.
The boy was there. His ankle still chained to the beam with seastone. But he had been untied. His wrists and ankles were an angry red from where the ropes had bitten into his skin. He was sleeping on his side, his head pillowed onto his arms and his knees curled to his chest like a cat taking a nap. Even from across the room the Admiral could hear his scratchy breathing. But more worrying was the jacket draped across his shoulder.
Feeling his anger peak the man stormed up to the boy, grabbing his hair and yanking him up. His large hands grabbed a fistful of the torn collar and he heard a rip as a few buttons came undone.
"WHAT DID THEY SAY!" He screamed and the kid gasped in surprise. His hands once again trying to loosen the man's grip on him.
"Nhhhn," He groaned his toes scrambling to touch the ground.
"What Did They SAY!" Akainu repeated. "Those men who talked to you. What Did they Tell You."
But the kid didn't say anything other than a pained gasp and Akainu dropped him to the ground. Instead he searched through the coat pockets finding only food and water supplies. He searched the kid's clothes next, nearly snapping the wrists that tried to push him off. But it was apparent that he honestly didn't have anything.
"Your useless!" He snapped. A useless mute now. He pulled the sea stone handcuffs from his belt roughly turning the prisoner around to attach them to his wrists. "Whatever they told you it's all lies. You're not going anywhere but navy headquarters. Your fate will be decided there!" He unlocked the shackle on his ankle, pulling him along by a fierce grip on his wrist. The kid stumbled, unable to find his footing as Akainu practically pulled him down the hallway. When they reached the threshold from the basement to the main hallway, he shut his eyes tightly, unused to the bright light. Too annoyed to wait the admiral continued forwards, dragging him along. When he arrived in the throne room a few moments later Teach was already waiting for him.
"We've got a rat problem, it seems," He said before turning his attention to Luffy. "Oh little one, you looked awful. It seems some time alone did wonders for breaking your spirit huh?"
"Who are the rats?"
"Izo and Haruta," Teach told him. "The guards gave me their description. Two of Whitebeards top commanders.
"They pose no threat." Akainu said. "It's Whitebeard himself we are interested in."
"They're his scouts," Teach said. "If there here then the man is sure to follow. Until then… Let's set ourselves a rat trap, we'll see how many we can catch."
"How do you propose we do that!" The Marine growled. "We have no bait."
Teach's smile grew as he looked at Luffy. "Our baits right here. He just needs the right… motivation."
"Fine," Akainu said. "Handle it. I am going to search the perimeter. Do Not! Let either prisoner out of sight or this partnership is over." The man stormed off, Teach watching him go with disinterest.
"Marines," He said when the other was out of earshot. "So serious." He turned to Luffy, his grin cruel. "Do you think they're here to save you?" He teased.
Luffy shook his head and the man laughed. "What's this! You've finally learned to hold your tongue? If all it took was a dark closet to lock you in then I was trying much too hard."
And Luffy, because he couldn't seem to learn his lesson Ever, stuck his tongue out at Teach.
The man looked angry at first, then slowly he laughed it off. Nothing was able to ruin his good mood today. The confidence of a man who was days away from getting everything he wanted. So Teach was jovial. And as an added bonus Luffy was silent.
"Well little Luffy. As I will soon be rid of you, and your nightmare is only beginning, I will give you one last thing. But only because I need something from you in return."
Luffy tilted his head in confusion.
"It's what you've been asking for." Teach said with a large smile. "The only thing you've been asking for."
XXX
When Thatch woke up there was a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. It certainly wasn't there before he had gone to sleep. He moved it gently, confused how it had gotten there. He had drifted off sitting on the floor against the wall. It was hard not to fall asleep, there was literally nothing to do in here.
'Maybe one of the Marines,' he thought sliding the blanket off. It certainly wasn't anyone in Teach's crew. Thatch spent a lot of time at the furthest wall, listening to the ocean outside. Just as he remembered Luffy had done, what had to be months ago.
Thinking about the ocean comforted him. As it always had. Everything about it was cyclic. It was unpredictable, but predictably so. Time was always changing, so were people and their circumstances. But slowly with each rolling year. It was all just so many waves. They began, they had their moment and slowly they would disappear only to give way to another and another and another. The new would over take the old, the small would give way to the large, and so on forever.
And on days the ocean was calm he liked to think about his memories. Maybe humans got greedy with them, always needing more. Never appreciating the one's they already had. Thatch's life had been an interesting one. Not completely happy. Most people with amazing childhoods didn't become pirate outlaws. But it wasn't all bad. He didn't believe anything was ever all bad, not even this. Sometimes it just took a while to find the good parts. And Luffy, well he had been the good part.
So Thatch worked through each one of his good memories, time with his family, time with Oyaji, that one time he had laughed so hard he started choking. All memories he had forgotten so quickly. But now they felt good to think about.
Oyaji liked to say that they were all children of the sea. They had come from it and one day they would return to it. That was just how the waves worked. And it wasn't always bad. It was just waves.
He heard noise from outside the cell but ignored it. The marines or pirates were always making some kind of fuss. The two groups seemed incapable of getting along. He had learned to simply tune it out. Although today they seemed particularly excited about something. He stood up, coming to the front of the cell to look out between the bars. A few Marine's stood guard, more then there had been this morning. They ignored him even as he waived his hand to get the attention of the man nearest him. But Thatch was not dissuaded.
Finally, after five minutes of waving his arm between the bars the Marine turned to look at him, annoyance clear on the man's face.
"What's got them so excited?"
"Shut it pirate scum."
Thatch waited a moment for the man to continue. When it was clear he wasn't going away the Marine scoffed at him. "Orders from the higher ups. They don't tell us nothing."
Thatch knew the feeling. Teach enjoyed keeping him in the dark. He leaned back against the bed with a sigh. Either way something was happening. Good or bad it mattered little to him. In order to lose something, you had to have something left, and he was beyond the point of being able to have things taken away.
His attention shifted to the ceiling at a small but persistent scratching. A mouse? No probably a rat. But before he could decide the noise stopped as suddenly as it had come, and he was left in silence once more. He leaned his head back against the bed with a sigh, feeling a very deep and familiar tiredness fill his bones.
He must have drifted off at some point during the long hours. He didn't hear the scratching resume nor the thumping footsteps as they came down the hallway. The marines remained silent at the mans arrival and it was only the clanging of the keys against the metal bars that woke him.
"Go-way," Thatch said his voice scratchy from sleep.
"I have a present for you,"
"-Don't want it."
There was a loud grating sound as the man forced the bars open. "Oh but you do-," He said as he pushed inside, roughly throwing something to the floor.
Thatch sat up reluctantly, irritated at the disturbance. But the words he had on the tip of his tongue died as all logical thought left his mind.
Standing in front of the door stood stupid Teach, smirking like the satisfied cat who caught the canary, but Thatch didn't care about him. There at the man's feet, sprawled out on his hands and knees where he had been dropped was the kid. But not just any kid, it was Thatch's kid.
They were both staring at each other in complete shock. Thatch felt himself pale, and then pale further. For the most inexplicable reason he felt sick. He opened his mouth without realizing what he was doing until he called the other's name. Or at least that was what he meant to do but no sound came out of his mouth and he only succeeded in mouthing the others name.
It was Teach who broke the silence first, quickly growing impatient with them he leaned down to grab Luffy's arm practically throwing him at Thatch.
The other had to dive to catch him.
"Well do you want it or not?"
Thatch didn't answer, still in shock as he looked down at Luffy. He felt cold in his arms and small. But he was staring back at the man very much alive.
"But-," Thatch said his brain working to catch up. "But-but," He stalled, "I thought- you said that he was…" dead.
"I lied!" Teach snapped. "Sue me. You had it coming for the escape attempt and what you did to my men."
Thatch looked back to Luffy, slowly trying to wrap his head around it. "But I saw you. You weren't breathing."
"If you want to thank anyone thank the Doc, he was able to get the kid's heart going again after you left."
Thatch frowned as he ran his thumb over Luffy's cheek. The teens dark eyes were staring back at him. His face covered in a layer of dirt and blood and Thatch could see new bandages poking out of his much too large clothes. But none of that mattered to him right then. Against his wish's tears began to well up in his eyes.
He closed his eyes tightly and pressed Luffy against his chest, hearing the surprised squeak of the other as he did so. But Thatch only tightened his arms around him. He had been so sure, all these months alone- that he would never be able to see Luffy again. He couldn't have possibly known….
Teach spoke again, but whatever he said fell on deaf ears and eventually he gave up.
"I'll be back for you two in a few hours," He warned. But the words hardly registered with Thatch's overtaxed brain.
He didn't know how long they sat there, on the freezing cold floor. It was only the gentle tugs on his sleeve that brought him back to reality. He had been holding the other too tightly. He loosened his grip sitting back a little bit so the kid could breathe.
"Sorry," He said as Luffy started to cough, a violent wracking sound like something was rattling around in his lungs. Thatch winced leaning forward to help but Luffy waved him off. When it passed he sat up, wiping the blood away with his sleeve as he turned to look at Thatch.
"Your okay!" He said finally his voice even worse than Thatch's was. And despite his tears Thatch's face broke into a wide grin.
"I wanted to ask you that," He said furiously wiping his cheeks to no avail.
"Your crying?" Luffy noticed, "…does it hurt?"
"No-no," Thatch assured him as he tried again to stop. "I just…" He reached forward to put his hand on Luffy's cheek. "I really missed you. I didn't think I was ever going to see you again."
"Me too… missed you. Stupid Teach told me I couldn't say bye."
"Bye?"
"Hmm," Luffy hummed. "He said he sold me- to the marines." He closed his fingers around the goggles Thatch had wrapped around his wrist and there was an odd look in his eyes as he did so.
"That doesn't make sense," Thatch told him trying to wrap his head around the situation. "Why would they want you? Take you where?"
"Don't know," He murmured. "It's really bright- here… my head's hurting."
It wasn't bright in the cell at all. But Thatch looked at him sympathetically. He had to stop himself from asking if the other was okay, they both knew the answer. He didn't know what to say right then, 'you look sick' or maybe, 'you look like your dying.'
"Hold on okay," Thatch finally said. "I'm not going to let them take you away again I promise." It was a promise he wouldn't be able to keep.
Luffy knew it too. "It's okay." He promised his friend. "-Because you're okay."
Thatch bit his lip as he looked at the other. He wished he could offer comfort, or a real promise. But no matter how much he tried or how badly he wanted something he was so powerless. It made him sick to think about.
He took the glasses off of his wrist to instead tie them around Luffy's neck. "Oh kid," He sighed. "I am so sorry. You'll never know how badly I wanted to protect you. But I don't think I've ever failed someone as completely as I failed you."
Luffy tightened both hands around the goggles, running his fingers over the cracked glass and twisted metal. "-Not true," He told Thatch seriously. "That's not true! It's not your job to protect me… but you were taking care of me. I didn't really realize it- sorry."
"Yea well, you save my life. So, we can call it even?" The last thing Thatch wanted was a thank you, not from him.
Luffy nodded. "I- wanted to tell you. In case I never saw you again."
Thatch wanted to say something- anything. But he didn't know what he could say to that.
So he stayed silent as he watched Luffy crawl onto the bed.
"-Soo soft," He said sleepily nuzzling the blanket with his cheek. And something in the way he said it made Thatch frown. He pulled himself from the floor as well, sitting down on the edge of the bed as Luffy predictably began to fall asleep.
"Hey Luffy?"
"Hm," Luffy hummed in sleepy appreciation.
"If … if I really won't get the chance to tell you, thanks' for coming back for me and saving my life." Even if it had been a stupid decision. "-And thanks for keeping me company. I don't know what I would have done without you."
Luffy opened his eyes, tiredly reaching out to grab Thatch's wrist, his other hand firmly holding the glasses around his neck.
"I'm glad I met you too."
XXX
The guards came back for them hours later. They said nothing to Thatch's questions and the man could hardly fight against them as they flooded their cell. Luffy wouldn't wake up despite their best efforts so they cuffed his hands with sea stone and threw him over their shoulder. They put Thatch in handcuffs as well, with two marines on either side of him as he was forced to walk alongside them.
No one said a word until the hallways began to widen into large corridors with a surplus of marines standing guard against the doors. Teach was waiting for them inside the throne room. The same room where Luffy first met the marine Admiral with the single seat made of stone that had been delicately carved and sprouted from the floor like a tree.
"What is this?" Thatch asked as the guards pulled him to stand in front of the man. Teach's crew stood behind them, unusually serious. Meanwhile the marines lined the walls and doorway, surrounding them.
"Where is the Admiral?" Teach asked one of the men.
"He said he was rat catching," the man looked confused as he said it but Teach understood perfectly. "Should I go inform him?"
"No, don't bother." Teach scoffed. "I hardly need his help to handle this. He would only get in my way with all his preaching of justice."
"What is this!" Thatch repeated, violently trying to free himself from the marine's grip. But they held him to the spot.
Teach finally turned his attention to him, and a grin spread over his face as he did so. He motioned for one of the marines to bring Luffy over.
"Oh Thatch, my old crew mate. How long have we known each other?" When Thatch didn't answer Teach did it for him. "Years at the least. You might not have known me, but I know you. You were so loyal, so trusting, you had so much faith in that senile old man. Right up to the end." The marine slid Luffy off his shoulder in front of Teach, when he let go Luffy fell to the ground, hitting the floor with a thud as he moaned. The pain succeeding in waking him up.
"- I just want you to know," Teach told Thatch as he leaned down to pull Luffy up, testing the cuffs on his wrists as he did so, "That your faith was misplaced. Whitebeard will fall and in that void of his power I will build my empire."
"Your insane," Thatch told him.
"Aren't we all?" Teach said with a laugh.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you helped me do this," He gestured around him in delight. "You and you," He threaded his fingers into Luffy's hair like a proud father and the kid tried to push him away in disgust. "I owe you both my thanks."
"You can keep it," Thatch told him.
Teach just laughed. Not even his prisoners' insults could ruin the unnerving amount of cheer he had. "I just wanted you to understand," He told him. "Since you won't be around to see it."
"And you," He told Luffy turning his attention back to the teenager. "I owe you the most. For someone who was always alone you have so many people who were willing to give up their lives for you -and in the end nothing they did even mattered to you." He laughed as Luffy tried to shove him off.
"But I need one last thing from you before the marines take ya' alright?" He reached down his belt to grab his gun, showing it to Luffy proudly. "Your pretty stupid so I will make this easy for you. This gun, it's full of little metal bullets. And on their own they ain't bad. But this thing fires them like a cannon got that." Without warning Teach pointed the thing at the ceiling, firing a shot. The sound was deafening in the quiet room and Luffy turned his head away. Teach's smile only grew.
"See, pretty powerful huh, it went right through the rock. Imagine what it would do to a person's skull… Hey," Teach scolded, nudging Luffy's jaw with the barrel of the gun so he was forced to look back at him.
"Now I know you and your freaky power don't know what that feels like…"
Luffy turned to Thatch, the fear clear in his eyes. "Don't!"
Teach just motioned to his crew behind him and Catarina stepped forwards. He handed the gun off to her. "You might not be much of a talker anymore. But I remember you used to be. So I'll tell ya what. The louder you are the longer he get's to live." Teach patted his cheek roughly one last time before Burgess stepped up to hold Luffy's arms and Teach finally answered Thatch's question.
"I'm making a rat trap of my own. And nothing makes better bait then a kid screaming for help. Let's see what we can catch." Teach grinned at the room as he sat down heavily on the throne behind him.
"No," Luffy said hoarsely. His eyes wide with horror as he watched Catarina approach Thatch.
"You'll need to be louder than that," Teach advised as the whole room watched as she pressed the barrel of the gun against his temple.
"Noo," He breathed on the verge of a panic attack.
"Luffy it's okay- it's okay," Thatch promised him. Instantly inclined to comfort him as he watched the fear on his friend's face. "I promise it's going to be okay."
"Wow, I figured you cared about him more then that." Teach said. "Catarina- "
"NO! STOP!" Luffy snapped at him turning to Teach. "You can stop this! Please- don't kill him."
"I can't HEAR YOU!" Teach snapped at him.
"STOP!" Luffy tried to scream but his vocal cords had been too damaged, and he could hardly manage a low scream let alone the wailing Teach was demanding.
"That's pathetic."
Luffy closed his eyes desperately struggling against Burgess's hold on him as he screamed. "STOP! PLEASE STOP. DON'T HURT HIM. I'LL DO ANY-," His voice cracked in the middle, but he forced himself to keep going. "PLEASE DON'T DO THIS. SOMEBODY HELP HIM! HOW CAN YOU ALL JUST STAND THERE!" He screamed at the marines lining the walls. "THEY SAID MARINES CHASED PIRATES- HOW CAN YOU HELP HIM!" Some of the marines shifted uncomfortably as he called to them. But not one stepped forward to help.
Teach's grin was back as he listened to Luffy's screams grow in pitch. Not as loud as he would have liked but as loud as the kid could manage with his ruined vocal cords. And hopefully enough to attract every damn rat on this island.
"Well- well," Teach said over Luffy's hoarse screams. "I guess there are no rat's brave enough to challenge the cat. Catarina, I think you know what to do."
"STOOOP!" Luffy screamed as Burgess had to hold him off the ground as he struggled. "DON'T KILL HIM. YOU CAN'T."
"Sure thing boss," The woman smiled, her attention fixed on Thatch. "No hard feelings," She mocked him as her finger clicked the hammer, tightening on the trigger.
"Whatever ya' say boss."
"STOOOOPPP!"
"Do it."
And in that second a gun shot rang out in the room.
Catarina screamed as she stumbled back, the gun laying on the floor as she clutched her bleeding hand. She cried out in pain and then again as she stared in shock at the bullet hole in her hand.
Behind her two of the marines had stepped forward, one armed with his own smoking gun.
"You shot me," Catarina screeched rounding upon them. But Teach waived her off, stopping the marines from approaching them with a single wave of his hand.
"There you are," He said with a smile. "I've been wondering when I would see my old crew again."
"We were never your crew," one of them snapped.
"Sorry we're late," The one with the gun said, his voice much gentler as he looked at Thatch.
Thatch was staring at the two of them in shock, his eyes impossibly wide as he regarded the crew mates he never expected to see again. "Izo… Haruta- " his voice was barely louder then a whisper but they heard him all the same.
"Are you okay?"
"Guys-," Thatch tried as his voice faltered. "You came."
"Of course, we did. Did you really think we would leave you?"
"Why did you do that," Thatch asked, the devastation clear on his face. "He's going to kill you too. I- I can't-." He looked between the two of them like they were deities.
"Why do you think idiot," Haruta asked him without any real edge in his voice. "We couldn't let you die. We're your brothers, aren't we?"
"Well-well-well," Teach mused as he rose. "Whitebeard sends his best and I'm suppose to believe that it's you two? Be honest now. Who else?"
"No one," Izo told him his voice hard. "We came alone."
"Forgive me if I don't trust you, now boy's put down the weapons."
"Or what? You'll stab us in the back as well?" Haruta hissed.
"No," Teach motioned to Burgess and the man pulled his own gun from his belt, turning it on Luffy. "I assume you guys met the kid, you may or may not care if he dies. I don't really know. But I promise you Thatch cares a hell of a lot. So put down your weapons or Burgess here is going to shoot him."
"You can't kill him with that," Thatch growled.
"Not with an ordinary bullet," Teach said. "But the marines gave us these nifty sea stone ones. I bet you anything that- that would do it."
"Fine," Izo snapped lowering his pistol, "Leave that child alone. We'll listen to you." Haruta did the same, after a strong cuss at Teach he lowered his sword. And in that instance Teach signaled the marine's forward.
It was only when the two pirates were restrained, firmly held by the marines that Burgess took the gun off of Luffy.
"Good," Teach said as he strode over to Thatch. "Where were we?" He picked the pistol up from where it lay on the floor. "Oh right, wondering if there were any other rats among us." He spoke next to the crowd of marines. "Last chance to save your crew mate…. Going once," He raised the gun to Thatch's head once more. "Twice!"
"Don't you dare," Izo warned him.
"Or what?" Teach challenged. "What will you do to me? What will any of you do to me? He turned to look at Luffy over his shoulder. "What about you! You love to tell me what I can and can't do. What do you say to me now?"
"Leave him alone," Thatch told him his voice low. But Teach ignored him.
"Stop!" Luffy told him. His voice was breathless and all but shot from the screaming. "Stop! Stop!" He gasped, his voice turning into a sob.
"You're a broken record. If you really can't scream anymore then you know what's going to happen to your friend?"
"Wait no," Luffy said. But as much as he tried, he could hardly raise his tone over speaking level.
"Guess that's it then."
"NOooo! Noooo! Thatch, I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He told his friend hoarsely.
"None of this is your fault," Thatch promised him, offering a small smile of reassurance.
"Yeah right," Teach laughed. "This is all your fault! You could save your friend if you wanted too, just call the rest of the rats here!"
"I swear to god leave him alone!" Thatch snapped.
"Know this," Teach told him. "There are people on this island that can help you. But your so damn quiet they can't even hear you!"
"Hurt Thatch and it will be the last thing you do," Haruta warned.
"Now or never kid! I'll give you the count of ten."
"I'm trying!" Luffy cried as he dug his fingernails into Burgess's arm. "Please, don't kill him!"
"Ten!"
"NO!"
"Nine."
"Stop!"
"Seven…six… five…"
Luffy squeezed his eyes shut as he cried out again. His throat was on fire. And no matter how badly he wanted it to, his vocal cords had been too damaged to go on screaming and instead sounded pathetic and broken when he tried. He remembered his 'interrogations' where he would be expected to say something, he knew he couldn't because he didn't know the answer. His voice gave out then too. That was where he broke it in the first place. And whenever that stupid- smug- mean- jerk- face would ask him where his father was, he would give him the same answer;
"ACCCCEEE," Luffy screamed! "ACE help me!"
"Not this shit again!" Teach snapped losing any threat of his temper he had left. "I thought you were passed this already! ACE Can't Help You! He's Dead! Do You Get That? He's not going to save you! He's not going to help you. He's not going to do anything for you!"
"Your wrong," Luffy told him, his voice was scarcely louder than a whisper.
"I'm not wrong! Your too stubborn to admit it! Everyone else knows it!"
"No," Luffy told him with a sniff. "He wouldn't leave me here! He can't die."
Teach gestured the gun at the two pirates. "Tell him! Go on!" He ordered.
"Don't!" Thatch warned.
"Kid," Izo said gently, ignoring Thatch. "I'm sorry if you knew him, but he's gone."
"No," Luffy shook his head feeling tears begin to well up in his eyes. "He wouldn't do that to me."
"Our captain saw it happen," Haruta told him.
"Stop LYING!" Luffy snapped. "He's not dead!"
"Luffy it's going to be okay," Thatch promised him.
"You don't listen do you!" Teach snapped. "Fine, think what you want. But he's never coming back for you. He betrayed his crew, murdered his friend, poisoned his captain and then drowned like a coward."
Luffy sniffed as he felt the tears begin to drip down his cheeks. "Your wrong- your all wrong! Stop telling Lies about him! ACE WOULD NEVER DO THAT!"
"Your impossible," Teach grit his teeth as he turned the gun back to Thatch.
"Four!"
"Three!"
"Two!"
"…"
"Ace, please!" Luffy begged.
"One!"
And then everything was on fire.
There were screams from all around them as the marines and pirates alike tried to scramble away from the heat. Luffy closed his eyes to the blaze. Held in place as he was there was nothing he could do to avoid it. But it didn't burn him. Not like it burned Burgess, he heard the man scream. Instead it felt warm, the flames gently licking at him as they dried the tears on his cheeks.
It didn't take long for Teach to nullify it with his darkness power. Almost as quickly as it had come the flames died, the darkness replacing them as they snuffed out the warmth into their void.
But when they cleared the room was in pandemonium. The marines and many of the pirates had tried to scramble for the door, a good bunch of them sporting painful looking burns.
The two pirates remained in their spot, unharmed, the marines were no longer holding them back.
Teach held his own in the center of the room as the last of the darkness disappeared like puddles drying after a rainstorm.
-And standing right between Teach and Thatch, looking angrier than he had ever been before, was a familiar young man.
When he spoke his voice rang throughout the room like a thunderstorm.
"He Told You To Stop!"
Teach dropped the gun in shock, taking a step away from the two of them like he was looking at a ghost.
"That's impossible," Teach said.
Ace ignored him as his gaze passed Teach's shoulder to instead meet Luffy's own wide eyes. He smiled at his little brother's surprise.
"Hey Lu," His voice was gentle. So much so it hardly even sounded like Ace.
"I've been looking for you."
XXX
XXX
OOf, I am so sorry, that got really rough.
But I keep my promises (sometimes). No more being mean to Luffy, I mean still a bit but like- I'll dial it back. (He had a really bad day). Please don't be too mad.
If anyone is feeling a bit like- damn, she spent how much time on this fanfic story. She really needs a hobby- but like a different hobby. Please review instead! I would love to hear from you guys. Even if it's just once. Tell me what you think so far, you like it or you hate it, I don't mind. I'm always just happy to know people are reading it.
And as always! Please- Pleease be safe and healthy. And be nice to yourself and our poor carbon bodies (and be nice to each other!).
XXX
JulieAnnaMai: I promise you an adorable second part! Right after the war. (I hope you weren't too sad!)
RIAEVANS: Thank you! Your are always so nice!
Snaked: Ooh, sorry. But don't worry. We're here now! No more waiting! And thank you for the review!
Fluffypuppies: Aww, thank you. I am really glad you like it. (Take care of yourself in all the hecticness). Hopefully the chapter did it justice. And I promise to do my best to make the next part of the story un-painful. (And oh my goodness don't worry, I do that all the time).
Thanks for appreciating good old Marine #23, I'm glad you liked him. I think Oda did a good job of showing us that professions don't make people bad, it's how they act. I didn't do a great job with that in this chapter, but it's late and I want to go to bed, so I forgive myself haha. Thank you so much for the review though! I really hoped you liked this chapter as well!
Guest #2: YES! And thank you.
RavenMocker6: Aw, thank you. I think. I hope I didn't make you too sad! Things are just getting better I promise. So, I regret to say but Rayleigh is the one character that was a one-off. I couldn't have Ace running around at shady bars at Sabaody and not meet him. But Shanks on the other hand : )
I will! Thank you for the review! I'm glad to hear you like it.
Catspirit:
Ughghd, I can't wait to get to that part. Stupid war. And Shanks! Yes! But not right now.
And Same to you! Thank you so much for the review! Look after yourself.
Sophia Mendes-Coruja: Aw, thank you so much. This made me so happy to read. Seriously. Same to you! And oh my- you have so much for self-control then I do. I am so sad we never get to see how they really met. But I did have fun writing it. And I am glad you liked it! I really enjoyed writing the confrontations in every story. That's so good to hear. I wish, Sabo and Ace got to talk one last time before everything : ( But I like to think he would have said something like that. And I am really glad about Luffy! I worry sometimes. I think he might have slipped in this chapter. But I think it's all right with everything going on if he's not perfectly in character. But thank you for the encouragement on that! I know this chapter was really rough but soon! He will get all the hugs. (next chapter!)
Wow! That would be a commitment! I am so stressed about how long this story is getting. I starting to think it might be slightly over the five chapters I promised it would be. But I am also very grateful I was able to practice writing and have so much fun in doing it. And no- that is so nice to hear! I really hope I can keep getting better and not subject anyone to fourteen-year-old me's fanfiction again. I think in some way's this chapter might be the climax (part one) and then there is a second one during the war. But it's definitely the turning point for Luffy. I'm glad you like them! For some reason that I don't understand I love to write them both. But as long as the ending's happy I'm happy!
Yes! So excited about that! We are going to make a killer magazine! (and aww, thank you. Your always so nice. You too!) And STAY SAFE AS WELL! I Really hope you and everyone else has a good year, even if it's not the one we hoped for.
Miqila: Lol, I am embarrassed to say how long it took for me to get this! I was sitting and thinking about it for like ten minutes and then I went 'ohhhh- yea.' Haha, my poor- slow internet-connection- brain.
Pause143: He is! And of course! I am happy to hear you liked it. I'm doing my best to keep him in character but sometimes I worry I'm not doing a good job. I promise I have not forgotten about that! I will get back to it in just a few chapters! And I will especially get back to him nearly dying and everything else that happened to him!
Also AWWW, that is so nice to hear. You are so sweet. Thank you. I love eharing people like this story. Thank you so much! I know I always say this but I really- really do appreciate it!
xXxWolvesInTheNightxXx: I'm glad! I hear really mixed things, so I panic sometimes about not being able to keep everyone happy. And same here! I can't wait to write the cute stuff! I'm glad someone else is looking forward to it and not just me. Wow, that's a commitment. I will do my best to get to the Luffy/ Whitebeard as soon as I can! Until then thank you for the nice review! I hope you liked the chapter!
JustCallMeCookie: YES! Let's do exactly that. And oh man 'storm' was a good way to put this. Things got rough. I was wincing while I wrote this haha. I am so sorry about what happened to the Teddy, but Luffy will bring it up again! He hasn't forgotten. Everyone refuses to let him have things thing's! And I totally get you! I think that's why the marine gave it to him, because he was kid a kid even if no one was treating him like one. I hope this chapter wasn't too mean. I worry it was.
Also AWW, that's so nice of you to say. Your always so nice in your reviews! I am really glad you like it! And thank you for reviewing. I love hearing that people like what I'm writing. It always gives me the motivation to keep going even though this thing is like sooo long. Thank you : )
yukino76: Of course! Thanks.
BlueHeartNina: Same here! But I will hopefully have the next chapter written really soon! I'm glad you liked it.
Mel72000: Right! And so is Ace!
XXX
Please excuse the spelling, it's sooo late it's early and I am sooo tired but I am determined to finish this tonight!
With Love To You All!