(Gun warning and lots of cussing)
XXX
Luffy widened his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing. Despite his cries he hadn't really thought they would be answered. He wasn't ever that lucky.
Much like Thatch had felt earlier that day, things seemed to move too quickly for Luffy's brain to keep up with. For a long moment all he could do was stand there, held firmly in place by burgess, and stare.
But Ace was looking at him and only him when he spoke and Luffy.
"-I've been looking for you."
And suddenly his surprise melted away to something else and he felt his eyes become cloudy with unshed tears.
"Ace," His voice sounded broken, or 'pathetic' as Teach had said. But Ace heard him all the same and gave his brother a gentle smile, silently telling him that everything was going to be okay now. And Luffy knew it was going to be. Because Ace was here. And he was going to save them all. Just like Luffy had always believed.
He pulled against Burgess's hold again but the pirate tightened his grasp. Silently warning him to stop struggling. And Luffy felt immense frustration at the man, who dared to force him to stay here when all he wanted was to go to his brother.
"Kid, don't test me right now." The man warned, the gun still in his hand.
Luffy didn't care what he had to say, he didn't care what any of them said. He struggled harder until the man's temper snapped, and Burgess shoved the barrel of his gun against Luffy's temple.
"Dammit quit it!"
He felt a growl build up in his throat which made the wetness of his eyes worse. He was sick of feeling helpless, he was sick of being pinned or chained down. He wanted everyone to just stop.
"Hang on Lu," Ace told him softly and Luffy sniffed, unable to stop himself as the tears spilt over onto his cheeks as he looked at his not-so-dead-brother.
It had been a year since he had seen him, plus however long he had been here. Honestly the days all blurred together for him. Especially after they began to keep him in the dark room. It was impossible to keep time there.
But, like something strait out of one of his happy fever dreams Ace was standing before him, just like Luffy had remembered him. Or maybe not quite, he was older now, you could tell by his face. And a little bigger. But aside from that it was the same brother Luffy knew. The one who protected him from everything.
Luffy closed his eyes, sniffing again as he felt more tears well up. Everything was going to be okay.
He wanted to tell Ace he knew that, and he could hang on. But he didn't trust his voice anymore, so he nodded clumsily instead. His bound hands coming to grip the large one's around his chest that held him in place.
Ace saw his nod of understanding as he turned back to Teach. His expression quickly darkening as he stared the man down.
Teach seemed to have recovered enough to stop sputtering as he shouldered Ace's warning look.
"You-your- but you were dead," He finally snarled. "You drowned yourself."
"Do I look dead to you?" Ace asked, cold fury in his voice.
Teach turned to the Whitebeard's next, looking furious. But what ever words he had on his tongue died when he saw their shocked faces.
"Ace?" Thatch murmured, his face white with shock as he stared at him. Clearly Ace was the last person he had expected to see. Despite what he had said, or hadn't said, Thatch clearly believed Teach about Ace's fate. His refusal to admit it had been to protect Luffy. But now, for the third time today he had gotten a huge shock.
"HOW!" Teach demanded. "How are you here?" and then his face darkened further as a thought came to him.
"IT WAS YOU!" He thundered. "You leaked the location.
"No," Ace answered back his voice low in comparison but no less angry. "You made your own enemies. Now you have to deal with them."
If possible, Teach seemed to grow even angrier. He looked about ready to throw a fit. Like a child who had a toy taken away from them.
"Ace… what the hell?" Haruta said from behind him, still trying to get a grasp on the situation.
Ace turned around to look at the two of them. Deciding they were alright he turned back to Teach, ignoring their questions.
"Let go of Luffy, right now."
Teach glowered at him as he took a step back, calling to Burgess over his shoulder. "Let go of that fucking kid and it will cost you your life."
"Understood," The man said pushing the barrel of the gun into Luffy's head with renewed force.
"Move and he's dead," Teach snarled at Ace.
"He's worth too much to you to shoot him." Ace told him coldly. "Do that and suddenly you have the revolutionaries to deal with."
"Trust me," Teach snapped at him. "It's a risk I'm willing to take. But considering what you've done for him I know you can't say the same."
Ace turned back to Burgess. "Hurt him one more time and I will burn you from the inside out." His eyes flickered to Teach, "-and then you. And I promise- your going to feel it."
Teach snarled at him. "Big words for someone who has no chance of accomplishing them. Was this your plan Ace? Coming here all alone. What could you hope to do except be the first to die?"
Ace frowned as he took the weight of the mad man's stare unflinchingly.
"What makes you think I'm alone?"
Teach roared in fury as he spun around to the marines. The ones that managed to stay relatively unharmed had collected at the back of the room near the doors.
"Where is the Admiral!" He snapped at one of them.
"We don't know," The lieutenant called back. "He isn't answering his den-den."
Teach turned back to Ace. "You?"
Ace shrugged dismissively.
"Well!"
"No," Ace finally told him. "You might have lost me my pirate crew but I still have a friend who hates you as much as I do… well almost."
"Your friends done for," Teach snapped back. "It's suicidal to go up against an admiral."
"Maybe?" Ace shrugged again and the lack of fear in his voice seemed to make Teach even angrier.
"Ace isn't on your side?" Haruta asked unable to be ignored any longer.
"Shut it!" Teach snarled.
"Not unless you make me!" He snarled back, the pirates temper frayed from the situation and the added confusion wasn't helping either. "Tell me what the fuck is going on? Because it seems like you and your traitor friend are at odds, which is strange because just a few months ago he was your errand boy."
"I might be a traitor or his errand boy but the one thing we never were was friends," Ace said.
"Careful," Teach warned. "You'll hurt my feelings. And all this talk of friendship, you were never really friends with anyone were you kid? I mean if you were you would have told them the truth about who you were. But you never trusted anyone enough for that did you?
"What are you talking about?" Haruta demanded. Tired of Teach's seemingly infinite list of surprises.
"Well go on," Teach stooped down to pick up his gun, gesturing it at the pirates behind Ace. "Go on, tell them all the secrets you've been keeping…. If you don't I will."
"Don't do this," Thatch warned Teach. He didn't know what Teach could be talking about, but he was well versed in the man's mind games and he was sick of them.
"You think, after everything you did to me, that this is going to hurt me? Now I'm going to say this one more time- Let My Brother Go!"
"Wait- what!" Haruta said.
"He's not your damn brother! Why do you even care about him?" Teach snarled. "Because he's your responsibility? Or because he's the only one who knows who you are and tolerates you anyways. Or maybe you just get some kind of sick kick out of the hero worship?"
"No," Ace answered back visibly unrattled despite Teach's best efforts. "He is my responsibility," He answered, meeting his little brothers' huge teary eyes. "But I care because I love him- and I can't live without him."
Luffy bit his lip to stop it from trembling. Ace really had changed since he had seen him last hadn't he? Even more then physically the brother he remembered would have never said that to him. Nobody ever had. But that was okay, Luffy never needed them too. He already knew it. But that logic didn't stop the tears from falling against his wishes.
Teach scoffed in disgust. "Then your as delusional as he is."
"Maybe."
"That kids… your brother?" Haruta asked trying to keep up, but completely blindsided by the conversation. "What's he doing here… what happened to him?"
"He's Ace's adopted brother," Teach corrected, a distinction Ace had never really cared to make. "Who apparently he loves so much he never mentioned him… to anyone."
"What happened to him!" Haruta repeated firmly. "Why is he here?"
"Why do you think!" Teach spat, annoyed the point he was trying to make wasn't sinking in.
"You did this?" Izo asked finally speaking up. Teach's silence was answer enough. "Just when I think you couldn't sink any lower. What did you do to him."
"Like your opinion matter to me," Teach said irritably. "He got whatever he deserved." He turned to Ace. "He's like you in all the worst ways." Teach looked back at Luffy, his wide eyes following all of his movements. "Well kid, I got to admit it. Your endless faith was really annoying. But it looks like you were right about Ace. Congrats. You've earned the honor of watching him die yourself." Teach pointed the gun at the pirates in front of him. "And then you, and then you and you."
"Course you don't need to die," Teach told him. "If you join me I'll forgive you… maybe."
"Oh, you've got to be joking?" Ace asked him. "You still want me to join you?"
"Beats dying with these losers don't it?" Teach shrugged. "Hell one day you might even get to see Luffy again."
"Why are you asking me this?" Ace challenged.
"Don't get me wrong," Teach scoffed. "I couldn't care less what happens to you. In fact I've been sort of itching to see your blood for the last five minutes now. People who cross me don't often get a second chance. But your more tolerable then your brother so I guess I can allow it. Because having the son of the pirate king at my disposal has a good sort of ring to it am I right?"
Ace glowered at him and behind him the three pirates stared on in stupid shock.
"I would rather die."
"That's not funny," Haruta snapped at Teach.
"Oh, I ain't joking. "Doesn't act at all like his old man but I assure you he is that man's son. You can kind of see it- when he's real pissed off…. Like right now."
Teach turned to Ace. "Oh I'm sorry? Was that a secret?"
"I told you, I don't care what you say about me," Ace told him.
"Your serious, aren't you?" Thatch asked quietly. Luffy certainly hadn't told him that. "That's why you went after Luffy." After months it finally made sense to him, Teach's obsession with Ace- it was for power. "Your so fucked up."
He was quickly met with the barrel of the gun as Teach pointed it at him. From behind them Luffy moaned in horrified protest.
Ace stepped in between them, willingly accepting the brunt of the gun as Teach adjusted his aim to Ace's forehead.
"Oh, you want to protect your friend now? That's cute. And your sure of your decision. Don't you think your little brothers been traumatized enough yet without having to watch his big brother get shot through the head.
Ace turned to Luffy who was watching everything unfold with horror. Ace tried to give him a comforting smile, but it came out as a grimace.
"I'm going to be okay Lu." He promised. "Close your eyes okay." Teach was right, Luffy had been through enough. He didn't need to see any more of Teach's threats. If the huge tear tracks on his little brother's face were any indication, any more of the bastard's stupid power plays were going to give him a break down.
But like always Luffy never listened to Ace as his eyes only grew wider.
"Don't," Luffy whispered.
"So where are they Ace? Your backup. Are they going to come running if Luffy starts screaming again?"
"No," Ace told him. "Because you're not doing that do him again. You're not doing anything to him ever!"
"Ace," Thatch said from behind him, trying to pull him out of the way. "He's right. Don't do this." His friend sounded horrible. No doubt Teach's hospitality.
But Ace held firm in his spot, ignoring Thatch. To Luffy he said, "Run little rabbit. As fast as you can. Don't look back. I'll come find you."
"Like hell," Teach growled. "He's not going anywhere. Now bring your friend here or Luffy will!" He cocked the gun.
Ace stared back at Teach, tilting his head forward so the gun was pressed firmly against it as if to encourage the man.
"Trust me Lu," He told his little brother. "I won't let anything happen to you."
"But-," Luffy's voice was trembling and he was obviously doing his best to keep from crying. But it was all for nothing as he broke a few seconds later. "Please don't die Ace," He sniffed his panic turning into a sob. "Don't leave me alone here."
"I won't." Ever.
"Fine," Teach seethed. He spread his powers and a shadow formed around Ace's feet making him feel like he had been plunged into an ice bath. Ace shivered and behind him he heard Thatch swear in surprise at the unpleasant feeling. "But you aren't burning your way out of this one."
He motioned to the marines, "If the pirates try to interfere shoot them on sight." There was a low murmur of agreement as dozens of guns clicked, trained on the two pirates at the center.
"Don't!" Izo warned.
"What kind of fucked up freak are you?" Haruta snapped. "Haven't you done enough to that kid yet?"
Thatch tried again to get Ace to move but the younger boy pushed him off again.
"This is a warning to the other rats!" Teach called to the room. "Come out now or I'm ending the Gol D. blood line once and for all."
"Portgas."
"What!"
"My name! Is Portgas not Gol.
"Like that matters!" Teach said.
"It matters to me," Ace growled. He wasn't his father's son, that man didn't even know his name. He was his mothers. She had sacrificed herself for him, she had done everything for him. Not Roger. Anyone could knock someone up and then abandon them. But only his mother could do what she had done. Who ever Ace had become, good or bad, was thanks to her, not Roger. And it was time that Ace stopped paying for someone else's crimes.
He heard Luffy sob again, louder, and he frowned. He didn't want to have to hear him crying.
"Well Portgas," Teach mocked. "Looks like no one's coming to save you."
"Looks like it," Ace answered back.
"No! Stop it! Don't hurt him." Luffy said shakily as he sobbed again. His already broken voice shattered by the barely contained sobs.
"Any last words?"
Ace glared up at him, feeling indescribable anger course through his veins.
"You're going to regret making Luffy cry."
"I doubt it!"
"Stop!" Luffy cried. "Stop-stop-stop STOP! Why won't you STOP! Kill me instead! Hurt me! I don't care" He sobbed again. "Just don't touch Ace."
Ace closed his eyes, steeling his resolve. Why couldn't Luffy ever listen to him. He didn't want to hear his baby brother beg. He didn't think he had ever heard something so awful in his entire life. Well, there was that time Sabo died and Luffy had cried for three days straight. He had sounded pretty awful back then too. And just like then it only made Ace angrier.
"You have the nerve to ask me that!" Teach snapped at Luffy. "After the crap you always pulled."
"I'm sorry," Luffy cried. "I'll do whatever you want. I won't fight you anymore. I'll be good now. Just Please-please leave Ace alone."
"Too little too late kid."
"What the hell is wrong with you," Thatch hissed violently shoving Ace forward to get to Teach. But the dark shadows climbed his leg, holding him to the spot as Ace maintained his place between the two of them. "
"Give your father my regards in the afterlife."
"You can tell him yourself," Ace told him.
And Teach smirked at him, clicking the gun. "You first."
And then he pulled the trigger-
Luffy screamed like he was dying and for the second time the entire room fell into chaos.
It felt a bit like a charge of static electricity, shocking the entire room and sending everyone's hair on end. At least it did for the ones who managed to stay standing.
Half the marines, and most of Teach's lackies took the hit. Their eyes rolling back in their sockets as the collapsed over each other.
At the same time Teach had dropped the gun, clutching his hand in agony. The bullet that had been meant for Ace fired, ricocheting off the floor before embedding itself into the wall behind them.
In his distraction Teach released his powers, freeing Thatch who scrambled back, his eyes wide with confusion and on edge with the sudden burst of power. He felt his brother's arms around him, pulling him back to them. Haruta's hand gripping his wrist so hard it felt like it might break.
"What- was that," He asked in shock.
The room seemed as rattled as he was. The marines were screaming over their fallen comrades, unsure if they were dead or simply knocked out.
"Who was that," Izo corrected him slinging his arm over Thach's shoulder giving his long-lost brother a comforting hug.
Burgess, who had felt the brunt of it, managed not to drop the gun but his hold on Luffy loosened.
Luffy, the only one unaffected, threw the stunned man's hands off of him. And Burgess let him, too surprised to do much more then clutch emptily after him.
But he didn't run like his brother had told him. Or rather he didn't run away. Instead he sprinted across the room, easily avoiding Teach who was too startled to even notice him.
He slammed into Ace's arms, hard. Knocking the older boy back a step with the force of it.
Ace closed his arms around him instinctively. As surprised as the rest of them.
"Lu- did you?" He began. But the truth of it was that he didn't really care. Not right now.
Ace closed his eyes, tightening his arms around his little brother, willing the other to stop trembling.
"I got you." He promised Luffy, gently resting his cheek on the messy hair. And for the first time since this entire mess started, he felt content.
No matter how many awful things he had been forced to do. Or the even worse things he had been willing to do. It would have all been worth it. For this.
Luffy said nothing. But he felt his little brothers trembling stop as he slumped forward in his arms, pressing his face into Ace's collar bone. He was really tiny and cold but Ace didn't care about any of that. Because he had his brother back. And like hell he was ever going to let him go again.
It was Teach's voice that broke through his happiness and Ace opened his eyes, tucking Luffy's head under his chin when he felt his little brother try to look up.
"What the hell was that?" There was something dark in his voice as he reached down once more to pick up the gun with his uninjured hand only to recoil with a hiss as it was still too hot to touch.
Ace could see that the palm of Teach's hand was raw and glistening with the tell tales signs of a burn.
"You let go of the kid!" Teach accused whirling around to face his crew mate.
"Sorry boss," Burgess stuttered still unsure what had happened. "It felt like the kid shocked me- I -I don't.
"Useless- your all useless," Teach muttered as he turned back to glare at Ace. "What did you do?" He accused. "Half of my men are downed. I will kill you for that."
Ace didn't bother to point out that he had just tried. "Wasn't me," He said gently reaching down to draw Luffy's face away from his chest and Luffy reluctantly let him. His face was covered in dirt and blood, with dirty tear tracks carved into the grime. He looked hurt.
But Ace couldn't look too closely before his little brother squirmed, pulling free of Ace's hold he pressed back into his chest. Still too traumatized by what had almost just happened. Ace understood and pulled him tight again.
"How did you burn me? My darkness nullifies your powers," Teach had been talking all the while. Ace wished he could tune him out. But then things would just get messy again.
He looked up at Teach. "What makes you think that was me?"
"Who else could it have been?"
Ace shrugged, looking down at his brother. Luffy had conquerors haki. That was interesting.
"Your full of surprises," He whispered to Luffy.
"Are you guys okay?" He asked the pirates behind them.
"Ace What The Hell Was That!" Haruta asked.
"Is Luffy okay?" Thatch asked cutting his brother off." He squeezed Haruta's hand, trying to wordlessly communicate to leave Ace alone.
Ace looked down at his brother, deciding that he was as okay as he could be for the moment.
"He's okay," He reassured him.
"That was Luffy wasn't it?" Thatch asked. Ace said nothing but the man didn't need his confirmation.
"That little kid did this?" Izo asked.
Teach gaze snapped to Luffy and Ace tightened his arms around him. "You're kidding! He looked back at Ace. "Alright come on, enough of that. Let go of him nice and easy."
Ace felt Luffy press harder against him at the words and Ace put his hand on the others hair reassuringly.
"Come make me."
Teach hissed at the words as he stormed over to Burgess, grabbing the gun from his hold before rounding upon Ace once more.
"I suppose you think that was clever huh? That you somehow are going to win."
Ace saw the gun, gently pulling Luffy away from him once more. He fought to stay where he was but Ace was insistent. Pulling him behind his back as Teach approached.
"Guys," Thatch warned his brothers and Izo stepped forwards. "I think you've done that, enough haven't you?" He told Teach firmly but Ace motioned him back.
"It's okay, stay there."
"It's okay is it!" Teach snarled. "What exactly is okay for you?" He turned to the group behind him. "Pull yourselves together you weaklings. Are you so pathetic that a child can bring you down?"
"Hell no boss," Catarina said. Her hand clumsily wrapped with a scrap of her shirt as she came to stand behind her captain.
"And you," He growled at the marines. "Every one of you still standing. If you let this lot escape, I will personally hunt you down and make sure it's the last thing you do. Your admirable ain't going to protect you from that. Do you understand?
"Pick yourself up," The lieutenant told his men. "Guard the exits. No pirates will escape on our watch." There was a resounded, albeit shaky cry of agreement.
"Ace," Izo warned.
"I see them," Ace said without looking at him. "Stay behind me."
"Like we can trust you!" Haruta snapped, ignoring Thatch's warning grip on his arm.
"You don't have to trust me," Ace said tightening his hold to keep Luffy behind his back. "Just don't move.- You too Lu," He felt Luffy's face peek over his shoulder to see what was happening but he pushed him back down.
"Okay," Thatch promised for all three of them. "You'll be okay?"
Ace nodded as he felt Luffy grab his hand and he squeezed back, even as Teach marched up to him. Once more shoving the gun in his face.
"Any more tricks up your sleeve?"
"Just one," Ace said.
And the ceiling broke.
Or rather some of the support beams that ran all across the ceiling snapped. Ace held his ground as the splinters rained around him and his ex- crew. The others weren't so lucky as they scattered back to avoid the rubble.
Only Teach held his own, his powers protecting him from the worst of the damage.
And amidst all the chaos was Marco, swooping down from the ceiling. His phoenix wings slowing his descent to a controlled fall as he landed before Teach.
And the fury of Teach was nearly tangible as he got his second nasty shock of the day.
"You," He hissed. "You were behind this," He waived his burnt hand. "You stopped the bullet."
"You were too hasty?" He told Ace ignoring his ex- crew mate to instead search the crowd.
Ace shrugged. "I had to. He was picking on Lu."
Marco's eyes fell over Luffy, studying his injured face carefully. "You hanging in there kid?" Luffy peeked over Ace's shoulder at Marco, his eyes widening at the glowing phoenix wings. But he didn't respond.
Marco looked beyond them, and his smile grew even wider as he caught sight of his crew mates and- "Thatch!" He said his voice softening. "I can't tell you how good it is to see you."
Thatch looked shocked, although he was starting to get used to it and a few moments later a huge smile replaced his surprise. "My old friend. I promise it's better to see you. They told me you were dead. I see now that was another lie."
"Oh Ace," Teach hissed. "What have you done!"
"I lied," Ace told him.
"You worthless-," He began only to be cut off by the pirates behind him.
"MARCO!"
"We thought," Izo began.
"-That Ace killed me?" Marco asked smiling fondly at his ship brother. "Trust me the kid needs a lot more practice before he can take me down."
Thatch smiled back at his friend before looking over to Luffy, who was pressed against Aces back, squeezing his hand tightly in his own. Thatch figured he owed Luffy an apology. At the time he had thought it was just blind optimism. But Luffy had been right all along. And no one had ever listened to him. But apologies would have to wait until they could get out of here.
Teach looked absolutely murderous. As if he was unsure who to be angrier at. He turned to the room behind him.
"Get up!" He told them his voice low with the sort of fury that made Luffy tuck in closer to Ace. "Kill them all but bring the little one to me."
Marco looked over at Ace as the sound of dozens of gun's pointed towards them. "Got him?"
"I got him," Ace said, turning around to pull his arms around his brother. "Good," He turned back to his ship brothers. "Hold on to each other."
"Shoot them!" Teach commanded.
And there was an explosion of smoke that covered the room and the sound of gunshots rang out from the terrified marines.
And when it cleared, the prisoners were gone.
XXX
Oh man, things have changed for me since my last update. I am volunteering at an animal sanctuary for two months until school starts. I get to take care of baby river otters and racoons and live here. They are just letting me roam around the place for two days, so I don't quite know what to do with myself. And as always when I'm nervous I write!
They have these two pigmy goats they keep as pets. And I think I'm in love with them. They hop up on your back and just kind of stand on your head and eat your hair until the other one pushes it off.
Anyways, I felt like I owed you guys this chapter. I can't just leave the cliff hanger climax for too long. But I really don't know when I will be able to write the next one. I'll try to do it soon though.
So a few of you asked why Luffy didn't use his conquerors haki to save Thatch last chapter. And the answer is because I wanted him to use it here to save Ace, like he did in the canon (only this time Ace didn't need it). But my excuse, that I thought long and hard about, was that Luffy was gearing up to it (charging up to it), but they distracted him by telling him that Ace was dead. And all of that anger and frustration and helplessness just turned to sadness. It's one thing for Teach to lie but it's another thing for Teach's enemies to agree with him. So Luffy was shocked enough that it disrupted all of that.
So I was blown away by the number of reviews I got. I didn't even know that many people still read this story. So Thank you guys for letting me know, really. It made me so happy. I would love to answer them, but it would take me hours that I don't have and it would mean that this chapter won't get posted until my next day off (whenever that is). So instead I am going to answer them as soon as I can and add them to the chapter as I go. So if you want to know the reply check back in a couple of days and hopefully they will all be there!
Thank you guys so much for the support! You keep this story going after all this time!
Now Ace and co just have to stay hidden for a few days until help can arrive….
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