The base was as cold and unwelcoming as you could get. The sight of it made Marco's skin crawl. The perfect hole for Teach to hide in. He entered through the tunnels in the bedrock below. That had been one of the only pieces of information Sabo's revolutionary connection could offer them. There were bootlegging tunnels throughout the whole mountain, but where they were or where they led was anyone's guess. Marco spent nearly an entire day trying to navigate the tunnels and the other sneaking around the base itself. When Teach had called for reinforcements his ask had been answered in full. There were marines everywhere, not to mention the admiral. Particularly Marco's least favorite. This was going to be risky.
He found Luffy first and for a horrifying moment he thought the boy was dead. Lying on his side in the pitch-black room. When Marco touched him he felt cold- deathly cold. But he was just sleeping, or passed out. They were one of the same with how far gone Luffy was.
Marco would have to leave him here. He knew it, even without testing the sea stone chain. If he tried to bring Luffy with him now they would most likely be caught. He tested the chain all the same, trying to pull it from the wall before it began to sap his power. It was no use. Without the key the kid wasn't going anywhere. It was a good thing Ace hadn't come with him. He doubted the younger boy would have been able to leave his baby brother. Not like this.
"Hold on Monkey D. Luffy," Marco told him. "Ace is coming for you."
There was a ragged teddy bear a few feet away, lying forgotten on the ground. It looked so out of place in the prison cell. What kind of person trapped a kid in a prison cell, not so much as giving them any light or contact, and then threw a Teddy in with them.
Marco kicked it, feeling annoyance at the marine's gesture of kindness. Then thinking better of it he retrieved it bringing it back to the sleeping prisoner. Luffy curled up a bit tighter, tucking his face into the soft fur. Subconsciously trying to block the world out. But he didn't wake up. And Marco left.
He went after Thatch next. Finding him far away on one of the upper floors. The man was doing better. If only physically. He too was covered with bandages and looked filthy with blood and grime. Only Marco didn't mistake him for a corpse.
He was sleeping as well, which seemed to be all Teach's prisoners did. Leaning back against the bed with his head braced on his knees. At the very least Thatch was only sleeping, and not passed out. No doubt he would wake if Marco wasn't careful enough. And if he woke then there was no way Marco could just leave him here, even if it was only for a bit longer. But then Teach would know something was wrong and his job would become much harder.
But Thatch did not wake up. And Marco once again left him. But not without carefully draping the blanket over his shoulders first.
"Soon," He told one of his favorite brothers. They would take him back and Whitebeard would see this whole place burnt to the ground. But first there was work to be done.
Just over four days since splitting up Marco met Ace and Sabo at the base of the caves. He had expected them to take longer- and for Ace to be alone.
"You're a sight for sore eyes kid," Marco greeted Sabo. "I thought we might have lost you."
"And I thought you didn't like me?" Sabo answered back more amused then anything.
"I don't like revolutionaries. But your all right for one." He turned to Ace. "But I am surprised you let him come? With whatever kind of relationship you two have going on and him having been in a coma a day ago."
"We're not in a relationship!" Sabo argued.
Marco hadn't meant that kind of relationship, or maybe he had. Honestly, he didn't know at this point. And at the moment he had bigger things to worry about then figuring out which kind of team, if any, Ace played for.
"I don't really let Sabo do anything," Ace muttered as he looked up at the hulking sight in front of him. "He just does whatever he wants… That's it?"
Marco nodded turning back to the task at hand. "Fair enough. Just tell me your not going to pass out again?"
"I won't." Sabo assured him.
"One day you guys are going to sit down and tell me everything. And I mean everything."
"If we make it out of here alive I will write you a book," Ace promised. "Did you find Luffy and Thatch?"
Marco hesitated a moment too long and watched the fear rise in Ace's eyes. "I did," He said ushering the two of them into the cave.
"Are they- okay?"
"No," Marco told them honestly. "We need to get them out of here as soon as we can. Luffy especially." He didn't know how long the kid had left if left under Teach's care.
"Well let's go get them!" Ace said pushing past Marco even as the man reached out to grab his arm. "It's not that easy."
"Yes, it is!" he argued.
"Listen I overheard the marines talking. Reinforcements are on their way, Teach knows something is up. He doubled the guard force and it's only going to get worse from here."
"I don't care," Ace said pulling his arm out of Marco's grip.
"Luffy's chained with sea stone. Even if we stormed the place, we couldn't free him."
"Then we get the key."
"And do what with them? It's not an issue of force," Marco reasoned catching Sabo's eye this time. He knew he could appeal to the logical blond before his words would reach Ace. "What's the use of freeing them if we have nowhere to take them. We can't fight off everyone at once. No matter how much we might want too." He added.
"You have a plan then?"
"This place is built like a maze, there are hallways built into the walls. Most of this place is abandoned. We can use that. I spent the last three days exploring it."
"Learn our way around here better than them," Sabo said catching on and Marco nodded. He turned to Ace who frowned.
"He's right."
"I don't care."
"Teach has had his way for too long," Marco told him. "He's overconfident and that will make him sloppy. Let him make his move, it's sure to be a spectacle. He will have to unchain Luffy. We will get them then. It's our best option to remain hid-"
"- I Don't Fucking Care!" Ace snapped, embers of fire shooting off of him as his temper snapped.
They stood in silence for a moment until Sabo turned to look at Ace. He didn't say anything, but his opinion must have been clear on his face, at least for Ace. After a tense second Ace broke their gaze, huffing as he turned away, exhaling smoke.
"Ace," Sabo said after a moment.
"Yea I know." Ace said defeated, his voice much softer now.
Marco watched in surprise. He had never seen anyone derail Ace like that. Let alone when he was so angry that he lost control of his flames. Maybe they really were in a relationship.
Sabo turned to Marco. "Show us."
"Just promise me something," Marco told them. "I know what I'm asking is incredibly unfair, but I need you not to seek Luffy out."
"Why!" Ace said immediately alert.
"Just- trust me." Marco said. "Please Ace. When you asked me to take you on your words I did. Do the same for me." He knew that if Ace were to see Luffy he would never be able to leave him there, sea stone chain or not.
Ace's gaze didn't waiver. "He's alive."
"He's alive." Marco agreed.
"Fine," Ace said.
Marco turned to Sabo who nodded. "I won't go looking for him."
XXX
Sabo was silent as he made his way down the corridors. Gently opening the doors in front of him to look in each room. There weren't many, if any people on this level. As the row of rooms on top of the basement cells there was little use for them other than storage. So he was undisturbed in his searching. Which was ideal for this.
The Whitebeard scouts had arrived last night. Marco was in contact with Whitebeard. At least as much as he could afford to be, telling him what they had found and how to navigate the base which the man relayed to his sons.
For the time being Marco was sticking with the pair of them, making sure they remained undetected for as long as possible. Not that they knew of course. No, they couldn't afford the pirates to know they were all still alive. So Marco followed them silently, often from the ceiling or in the walls. Making sure to draw marines away when they got to close to the pirates, or leaving a door unlocked for them when they were headed in the wrong direction. While Marco was busy babysitting his ship brothers Ace was keeping an eye on Teach and Sabo was supposed to be watching the Admiral. But there would be time for that later, there was something important he had to do first. Because honestly, one doesn't face up with a marine admiral very often. It was dangerous. And they all knew it.
"This one," He said to himself prying the door of one of the rooms open. There was nothing special about this one. Sabo let himself in easily looking around. Dusty and abandoned just like the rest. But- he walked over to one of the far corners, focusing his attention on the floor. -Luffy.
He could feel him. Kenbunshoku. The most basic kind. And Sabo was very good at it. He didn't need to actually see his little brother to see him.
It felt like…it was hard to explain what this felt like. Sort of like standing next to a person and closing your eyes. That feeling you get from their companionship may it be awkward, compatible, tense, familiar. That's what Sabo felt. And right now he just felt Luffy.
He had kept his word to Marco. If only because it was nearly impossible to sneak into the cell with how many guards Teach had recently added, and continued to add.
Sabo sunk down to his knees. Closing his eyes as he concentrated. It was easier the closer you were. He could see him, in that way only Haki let you do. Luffy was sleeping, curled up on his side. His aura, if that's what you wanted to call it, was small. Unusually so, but it was him. Their baby brother. The one who cried too much and went running behind their backs when he got scared. There was no one to hear him crying now.
And Sabo leaned forward his brow creased in concentration as he focused in on Luffy. He could destroy the floor. It would be so easy for him. He could grab Luffy before the marines even realized what happened. But he couldn't break the sea stone could he.
This was what Marco had been afraid of. This and… It only took Sabo a few seconds to understand what Marco had realized days earlier- Luffy was dying.
He didn't know what was wrong or how long he had left. But he could tell that Luffy's energy was starting to falter.
Sabo opened his eyes slowly. Feeling all the worry and concern turn into something else. There was nothing he could do for Luffy. Not as things were right now. And that made him so- So- Angry.
The idea of facing off against a marine admiral suddenly didn't seem as daunting as it did a few minutes ago.
"I'm going to kill them," He promised his brother as he rose feeling the kind of anger he hadn't felt before. Every single person who got in his way, everyone who ever hurt Luffy. He wouldn't forgive them.
XXX
"Hey!"
Akainu paused what he was doing.
"I said HEY!" Sabo said again. "Are you deaf or just fucking stupid!"
The man turned now, his eyes narrowed warningly at Sabo. Besides him the two navy officers had turned white with shock and fear.
"One of the criminal rat's show's themselves." The man said, his tone dangerous. But Sabo was beyond caring.
Now that they were staring face to face, and Sabo could look into the eyes of the man who had helped keep his brother captive, he could confidently say that he hated this man. Beyond hatred, he despised him. He wished in that moment that he had Ace's flames, so he could scorch everything.
"So just stupid," He snarled as the marine rounded upon him. Heat coming off him in intense waves.
"Mind your tongue," He hissed. "Or those words will be your last."
Sabo glared up into his cold eyes, his own hand tightening on his pipe.
"Better I die here then spend one more second breathing the same air as you!" He spat.
The Admiral roared in fury, pushed too far by the worthless criminal in front of him. He lashed out, fist swinging towards Sabo. Lava beginning to drip from his shirt onto the floor beneath them.
Sabo rolled to the side, scrambling to his knees just in time to block the next attack as the man came again and again.
"You-dare-talk-like-that," The man snarled his fist slamming besides Sabo's head with enough force to leave a dent in the stone floor. "-To-The-World GOVERNMENT!"
Sabo could and had filled books with things he dared to do to the World Government. But this wasn't about that. Whatever grudges he carried he hadn't brought with him. This was about Luffy and Ace.
Using his staff to knock the man off balance he brought his knee up, lashing out at the man on top of him. It was enough to send the Admiral reeling back as Sabo pushed himself to his knees. Ducking behind the nearest pillar as a mass of lava flew past him. He felt the heat on his skin as part of it hit the pillar, exploding with a sickening hissing sound.
"You've killed yourself challenging me," Akainu said. "
"I'll send your captain Whitebeard after you soon enough."
"Knock yourself out!" Sabo called. "He's not my captain."
"Then what brings you here, to challenge me?"
"I bring myself," Sabo told him stepping out from the pillar to once again face the man. Not like he could ever know what it felt like to have your baby brother stolen from you. The same one you spent your childhood looking after.
But despite the marines claims that this was justice it wasn't. Because Ace might be a pirate but no one came after him because he was a pirate. Nobody chose him to blackmail just because they felt like it. This was about Roger. The fact that the marines had lost control to him. And decades later they were still so scared of him, or what he had done. The only way they could truly feel like they had won was by controlling Ace, killing Ace.
And then there was Luffy. Who had done nothing to them. Who, legally they shouldn't be able to even touch. But for him they had given him the worst punishment they had in place of his father. It didn't matter he was a civilian or that he was fifteen or even that he was already half dead when they got him or that he didn't even understand why they were doing this to him.
"You'll regret getting caught up in this!" The man thundered. "The powers at play here are out of your comprehension Boy!" As he spoke lava bubbled up from his skin, seeping down to the floor where it began to sizzle, melting the stone beneath him.
But still Sabo held his ground, tightening his grip on his weapon as he willed his haki to spread outwards, protecting it and him. And somewhere in the back of his mind there was a voice telling him to run. He had the man's attention, just what he had been tasked to do. Now he needed to get away. Lead the man away while he was at it so Marco and Ace could do their part. Because as strong as Sabo was, and he did not like to underestimate himself, he didn't think he could take out a Navy Admiral. Especially not what may be their strongest one.
But no matter how much the logic made sense Sabo didn't want to run. He didn't want to do anything but stay right here. Because he was mad. Mad at Teach, mad at the pirates, mad at the marines, and mad at the Admiral. There was one person in the whole fucking world he and Ace had wanted to protect no matter what. And that was the person they decided to go after. None of this was fucking fair!
So part of him just thought; well I guess I am going to die today.
He would protect Ace just like he wanted. And Luffy didn't even have to know he was alive. He could go on thinking Sabo died eight years ago. The two had made it this long without him. They would be alright.
He thought about Luffy, how small his aura was getting. He had just wanted to see him one last time.
"I wanted to kill all the rat's in one place." Akainu told him pushing his magma out into the room.
"Yea?" Sabo asked feeling the heat on his boots as the first wave of heat threatened to crash down on him.
"When do we ever get what we want?"
XXX
"Shit!"
A loud crashing sound broke Ace's attention. From besides him Marco looked up as well.
"What was that?"
"Sabo." Ace said his eyes going wide.
The two of them were hidden in the rafter of the ceiling. Below them in the throne room, a sickeningly egotistical room Teach had just announced his move. He was aware of the Whitebeards. And he was setting a trap for all of them. Ace had no idea what that entailed but the thought made his stomach churn. It wouldn't be long now, before Teach called upon his two prisoners and began his game. Just like Marco said he would.
Everything was going according to plan… except-
"Sabo what have you done." Ace muttered under his breath.
"Go," Marco said.
"I can't."
"Ace," Marco told him. "Nothing's going to happen to Luffy- to anyone of them. I can protect them."
Ace bit his lip as he glanced back behind them. Sabo had to distract the marine Admiral. Just distract. Nobody said he needed to confront him. God dammit since when was his brother the hot headed idiot? He certainly had been calm enough this morning. This whole time he had kept his composure while Ace's kept slipping. So why now.
There was another crash in the distance.
"I'll be back," He promised.
Marco nodded as Ace stood up, making his way along the stone column as it led to the wall. He knew this place better now. Or at least enough to get to Sabo undetected.
XXX
"It was a fish!"
"Come here," Sabo said trying to wipe the deer blood off his brother's face. It didn't look quite right, a tiny little seven-year-old smiling brightly covered in blood. Even if it was from a hunt.
If he was going to act like a baby duck, following them everywhere up and down the mountain, immediately crying for them whenever he got scared or hurt. Then they were going to treat him like one.
"What fish?"
Luffy pushed his brothers hands off him too excited to stand still. He bounced impatiently on his feet, ready for another adventure, and then another and another. There was no keeping him down.
"I saw it over by the river! This morning. It was the size of a mountain! Can we eat it! I told Ace but he didn't believe me."
More likely Ace didn't care.
"Don't you think we have enough food right now?" Sabo asked looking at the huge piled of deer meat Ace was skinning for dinner.
"Please Sabo! It will be fun." He grabbed Sabo's hand swinging it between them.
"Why don't you go by yourself?" Ace would be pissed if they both took off and they couldn't just leave all this deer meat lying here. No way it would still be here when they returned.
"Hmm, no way." Luffy made a face. "I don't like being by myself. Besides I like you guys best!"
From a little way's away, kneeling over the front hooves Ace laughed roughly. He had been listening to their conversation.
"Yea sure, you like us now that you want something."
Luffy frowned. "That's not true! I always liked you the most!"
"As opposed to who? The bandits. Everyone we know is shit. You just say that because we feed you."
"Hey! You don't feed me, I help!"
"Guys!" Sabo said sensing an argument coming. He should have predicted it when Luffy said that. Ace always tried to pick a fight whenever anyone showed him affection.
"You nearly get eaten every other time! The deer almost trampled you! How do you help us exactly?
"JERK!"
"Weakling!" Ace shot back.
"AM NOT!"
"Are TOO!"
"Guys stop it!" Sabo told them pushing between them as he tugged Luffy away so he could wipe the rest of the blood off his face. Luffy huffed in annoyance at Ace.
"He's right," Sabo told him kneeling down to try and get the stain out of the front of his shirt.
"I Help!"
"No, I mean you'll change your mind." They would only be Luffy's favorites until he got a better offer. People moved on. And they always- always, moved on from Sabo. They told him that they loved him, but in the end they were just liars. It was just a part of life. It only hurt if you let it. Besides it wasn't like they were going to be together forever. When Luffy outgrew needing their protection he might outgrow them as well.
"NO!" He said frustrated as he pushed Sabo's hands away once more. "I like you guys best! Better then everyone in the whole world!"
"Idiot, you don't even know everyone in the world!" Ace told him.
Luffy huffed in annoyance as he looked back at Sabo. "Well If I did you would still be my favorites."
"Oh yea?" Sabo asked.
"Yea!"
"How are you so sure of that?"
"Um?" Luffy thought about it for a second. "I don't know." He said finally and Ace scoffed.
"You guys wouldn't get it," He said finally. "You don't like anyone."
"Who says we don't like anyone!" Ace said irritated.
"You did," Luffy told him. "This morning. Maybe when you're old and nicer you'll understand."
"What did you say!" Ace said already rising to his feet ready to hit Luffy.
He reacted as he always did when Ace was seriously pissed off. He ducked behind Sabo, his tiny fists grabbing the other's shirt.
"Come back here!"
Sabo let Ace hit Luffy once before pushing him away. He figured Luffy deserved that for mouthing off.
"Enough," He told his brother. Ace just glared in annoyance stomping back to the deer.
Luffy peaked out from behind Sabo's shoulder.
"I can't believe you just played the 'we'll understand when we're older card on us," Sabo told him. That was their move.
Luffy tugged on his shirt again to get his attention. This time keeping his voice low so Ace wouldn't overhear. "Sabo."
"What?" Sabo turned as Luffy leaned up to whisper in his ear.
"Even if I knew everyone in the whole world, you're always going to be my favorite… Ace too even though he's grumpy."
Sabo smiled. God Luffy really was seven wasn't he. That's not how the world worked. But then again it might be how Luffy's world worked.
"Want to hear a secret?" He asked and Luffy nodded.
"I like you guys best too." He held up his pinkie so Luffy knew he was serious.
The little kid's face broke out into a grin as he wrapped his own around Sabo's in a pinkie swear. The most sacred of all promises.
"Let's not tell Ace." Sabo said loud enough for the older boy to hear.
Ace scowled as he continued to work, trying his best to ignore them. Which only made Sabo want to tease him more.
He reached forward to grab Luffy into a big hug. Luffy, although surprised, hugged him back. Sabo was just tall enough to rest his chin on the others hair so he did, smiling at Ace when the older boy looked up.
"Oh, I'm sorry are we ignoring you Ace. Do you want a hug too?"
"No!" Ace said now doubly annoyed both at the teasing and now being excluded. Ace was not a hugger, but he also got jealous easily. Honestly sometimes it was just too easy with them.
"Luffy still want to go look at that fish?" Sabo asked as he slipped his hands into his little brothers.
"Yea!" Luffy said, swinging their arms excitedly.
"What do you say Ace," Sabo asked him. "Want to come? I mean I guess you'd have to say that we're your bestest- most awesome friends first. Right Luffy!"
"Yea!" Luffy said excitedly. Having no clue what he was agreeing too but he liked the energy.
Ace narrowed his eyes at them. "Whatever."
Ace would make him pay for this later, he was sure of it. But right now it felt worth it as Luffy pulled him toward the lake, clueless at his part in Sabo's teasing plot.
He definitely loved the two of them best. Even if it wasn't forever. But then again Luffy hadn't lied to them yet. Maybe Sabo would understand- when he was older.
XXX
The floor was literally lava. Like the children's game except there was nothing fun about this. Sabo stood on the desk watching the magma sea steadily rise as the Admiral charged again. Forget going on the defensive it was all the teenager could do to fend off the attacks that came relentlessly. This man was strong. Terrifyingly so. There was no getting around that.
When the attack came again Sabo ran off the desk, lunging into the air to grab the railing above him flipping over it evenly as Akainu charged after him.
"I thought you wanted to face me," The man's voice echoed behind him. "Yet here you are running away."
This made Sabo pause, turning to face the man with a frown. "Fine." He said.
And Akainu attacked, his molten fists evenly meeting Sabo's armament coated staff. Sparks flew off of the altered metal.
"You're a fool."
No argument there. Sabo really was being an idiot. He ducked under the mans arm hopping up onto the railing to escape yet another lava attack. Only for the man to counter with his foot, knocking at Sabo's legs and sending him flying off the railing and into the opposite wall. He felt the impact distantly and then the inevitable plunging as he fell to the ground below. Now a volcanic lake.
Only he never felt the heat.
Ace caught him as he fell. His own fire protecting him from the lava's intense burn.
"Another one has emerged," The man hissed in fury steam escaping from his mouth like an engine.
"Sabo," Ace said trying to get the other's attention.
"Mnn," Sabo replied still too dazed from the impact with the wall. He felt Ace's hand searching his hair only to come back bloody.
Sabo tried to concentrate on his brothers face but it kept swimming in and out of focus. And then Ace was running. Sabo squeaked in surprise as he felt himself thrown over the other's shoulder. There was a thundering behind them like a stampede and he could see the blurry outline of magma as it stretched after them, and the Admiral with it.
"What the hell was that!" Ace asked him furiously as he flew down the corner. "You were supposed to distract not actually fight him!"
"Sorry," Sabo said as the world finally came back into focus. He patted Ace's shoulder to let him down but his brother didn't lesson his grip. "I got mad."
"Yeah well join the club. Doesn't mean you have to do this!" Ducking around another corner, out of the Admiral's view he pushed his brother against the wall hiding behind a stack of old crates and the man thundered past.
The two held their breath as he did and didn't release it until the man had past. Ace rose slowly to his feet, starting to crawl out from under there. Sabo grabbed his arm pulling him back down.
"Wait," He said catching Ace's arm. "Where are you going?"
"To fight that jerk!" Ace said as he tried to crawl away yet again only to be stopped.
"You just called me an idiot for doing that!"
"Yea well you're supposed to know better."
Sabo growled as he shoved Ace back down. "Ace let him go."
"But-"
"Where is Luffy?"
Ace fell silent for a moment before answering. "With Teach."
"Get him!"
"But the marine?"
"I'll handle him." Sabo said. "No more stupid fighting I promise. I can lead him away from you guys like I was supposed to. He will hardly even see me." Sabo knocked on the walls. "I am a quicker learner then you. I know my way around pretty well by now.
"I don't want to just leave you?"
"You won't." Sabo promised taking his hand. "Get Luffy. Make sure he's safe. Tell him hi for me okay? I'll take care of the rest."
Before Ace could agree Sabo was already pushing past him as he went to the hallway. "HEY!" He screamed down it. "HEY YOU STUPID JERK! YOU LOSE SOMETHING!"
Sabo turned to look at Ace one last time. 'go," He mouthed. And then he was gone. Already running headfirst into danger. Just like he always did.
Ace frowned as he stood up. He took a tentative step after his brother before turning around running back down the hallway they had came from. Luffy first. And then he would be back for this idiot. And the Admiral.
He sprinted down the hallways, choosing the route he remembered taking. He had been leading the man away from the throne room but now he had to go back there. It was a good thing the hallways here were mostly empty or this might be kind of tricky. But Teach had summoned all of his lackies for the show. And Ace was late. Very late.
The closer he got the louder the noise became. Someone was screaming. Quite loudly. He followed the noise down another few hallways until the sound became loud enough for him to recognize it as Luffy's. That just made him run faster all the while his heart sinking. Marco had promised! He had promised and Ace had trusted him. Why was Luffy screaming! He had never heard him sound like that before. He was screaming for help. He was screaming for them to stop.
Reaching the abandoned attic directly over the throne room Ace threw himself to his knees, crawling forward through the hole in the wall that led to the rafters. He could hear everything up here with crystal clarity.
The throne room that mere hours earlier was empty was now full of marines. Teach's so called back up. But Ace didn't care about them right now. His attention was fixed on the figures at the front of the room. Teach stood tall and proud with his gun trained on Thatch. Izo and Haruta were there as well, their weapons securely confiscated. And standing near the throne was Burgess holding Luffy tight against his chest. A gun held loosely in his hand.
Luffy was still screaming, or at least trying too. But his voice was too damaged to be loud anymore.
"Stop!" He begged breathlessly. "Stop-Stop!" He was crying. And Teach thought it was funny.
"You're a broken record. If you really can't scream anymore then you know what's going to happen to your friend?" Teach told him.
"Wait no."
"Guess that's it then."
"NOooo! Noooo! Thatch, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
And Ace moved forward, throwing himself along the rafters as he ran. Headed straight for them. His only instinct to help his baby brother. But in his haste he had forgotten about Marco.
The older man caught him before Ace even got halfway across the central beam. He grabbed Ace using his free hand to cover his mouth.
"Don't make a noise!" Marco told him.
Ace pulled his hand off his mouth with an angry growl. "Marco let go!"
"This is what Teach wants," Marco hissed in his ear. "Use your head. He is trying to lure us out."
"You said you would keep them safe!"
"Their safe Ace," Marco promised him. "I'm not going to let anything happen to them."
"They don't sound safe!"
"Don't fall for it," Marco told him. "Please Ace we are so close. Let him lower his guard. Then we will get them- all of them."
"None of this is your fault," Thatch promised Luffy from below. Trying to quiet the boys panic.
"Please Ace, I know how this feels. I know how hard this is." And it was hard. Worse than torture.
"Please, don't kill him!" Luffy cried from below.
"Let go," Ace said trying to squirm free of Marco's grip as Teach began to count down from ten. He was counting down to shoot Thatch, and he was using Luffy's screams to draw them out. Like Ace couldn't possibly hate Teach any more then right this second. Although there were few things that would make him come running faster then Luffy crying for help.
And even though Teach's little act might be a trap it was real for Luffy. He could hear it in his voice, how desperate he was. He didn't know Luffy could sound so sad.
"Seven…six… five…" Teach counted, enjoying every horrible minute of it.
And finally something in Luffy seemed to snap as he began to scream again. Asking for help from the only person who never failed to answer him.
"ACCCEEE, ACE help me!"
Marco had loosened his hold in the last few minutes, but it was a good thing he hadn't let go or Ace would have been gone. The man swore softly as Ace once again began to struggle for all he was worth.
"LET GO OF ME!" He hissed hardly bothering to keep his voice down anymore. He rolled over, trying to kick Marco off. But the man held his ground pinning Ace onto his back as the two of them struggled.
"Not this shit again!" Teach snapped at Luffy. "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!"
"Ace it's okay, it's okay." Marco promised him. "I know! I know."
"Why Don't You Ever just let me go!" Ace hissed his fingers digging into Marco's arm even as the man pinned him in place. And Marco knew he wasn't talking about just this.
"If I let you go, you'll die!" Marco told him his voice serious and full of emotion. "IF I Ever Let You Go like you want then you will get yourself fucking Killed!
"THEN LET ME DIE!" Ace hissed back at him.
And without warning Marco collapsed on top of him, knee's on either side of ace's hips and his forehead against his shoulder. And for a moment Ace was too surprised to move.
When he finally did speak his voice was different then Ace had ever heard it before. He sounded older, and much wearier. "I never understood… why you were like this. What happened to you. How do you still not get it?"
"It doesn't matter," Ace told him lowering his voice as well. "Nothing about me matters. Please let me g-"
"Ace," Marco cut him off. "I can't do this right now. I can't take it. Not right now. I just- can't."
The two of them lay there for a long moment. Listening to Luffy yelling, "Stop LYING! He's not dead! " He sounded so angry. But more then that he sounded scared. Scared Teach was right.
"Your little brother loves you so much," Marco told him, his voice distant. "How could you do that to 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."
"He would have been better without me," Ace told him.
"Your wrong- your all wrong! Stop telling Lies about him! ACE WOULD NEVER DO THAT!" God Luffy and his endless faith.
"Doesn't sound like it." Marco told him sitting up.
"Four!" Teach began the count again. "Three! Two!"
"Ace, please!" Luffy begged.
And Ace shut his eyes. "Sorry Marco."
"One."
In an instant he was on fire. The man jumped back in surprise, but it wouldn't have mattered. In a second the whole room was burning. Everything and everyone but his friends.
Everything was in chaos as he jumped from the rafters onto the floor below. All around them there were panicked screams.
And Ace felt his flames touch Luffy even as he flinched away in fear. But Ace would never hurt him. He had been crying. And Ace hated it when he cried. He dried the tears on his cheeks. Even as he felt Teach's darkness begin to close in on him. And when the flames fell away, they were left with just them.
Teach looked at him, pure disbelief on the man's face. As if he was seeing the impossible. Good to know that not everything was going his way today.
"He Told You To Stop." Ace told the man, conveying Luffy's message. Nobody had listened to his little brother. But they were listening to him now. Every single one of them.
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!" He said.
But he didn't matter. Ace looked past him to where Luffy stood. His eyes huge with surprise.
Ace smiled.
"Hey Lu."
XXX
There is your Ace chapter. About what they were up too. I had wanted to get into it this chapter, but it ended up way longer then I meant so next chapter will be about Ace going back for Sabo and Marco becoming in charge of a very upset Luffy.
I had to extend my stay at the animal sanctuary so that's why this chapter was later than I intended. Sorry guys! I am super excited for the next chapter so you won't have to wait too long!
I am still working on catching up with reviews, they take me a little while to answer all of them. But I really appreciate your guy's feedback. I love hearing from you, you keep the story going.
Hopefully next time has Sabo and Luffy reunite but no promises. Sometimes the chapters just kind of get away from me. That's how you ended up with 42+ and counting.
(And Thanks so much to Akaichi-rin for helping to proof this mess of a story)
Stay safe you guys!
XXX
CalmlySweet: Of course! Thank you for reviewing! And I have nothing to complain bout in life : ) Hopefully things are going well for you too.
Yes my spelling is horrible. No argument there. Thanks for those, I will try to be more careful. I usually do the Microsoft read out loud app to spell check it so words that sound right but are spelt wrong get skipped over by me.
Masofi: Aww thank you! I am glad you like it.
vcelinka123: He was! And no more recap chapters. On to the hugs part now! Sorry you had to wait a bit longer.
kmcfee01: Same here! And thank you!
Guest #1: Aw, that's so nice. Thank you. I love hearing people still like it.
EmeraldEyedL: Huzzah for Revieww!
Sophia Mendes-Coruja: Of course! I'm glad you like it and all the feelz. Take care of yourself as well. And as always thanks for your support!
JustCallMeCookie: No, Thank you! You are always leave such nice reviews! I always love hearing that people like these stories and that they like writing themselves! I love doing this because it seems like the best way to get better and still be able to share what your doing. But thank you for sticking with me this long : ) And I'm sure whatever you choose to write will be amazing! And I promise the story is just going to get happier and happier from now all (but it will always be just a little bit sad). Thank you so much for your reviews! You are too nice.
Wanted-50Berry: Aw, I am sorry. Don't worry Luffy is going to get better now that he is safe. And hopefully he will meet Sabo next chapter!
NekoUsagi1234: Thank you! I'm glad you like it.
Pixi: Ace loves his little rubber brother. Luffy loves him too. Yea, Ace is kind of shy about that sort of thing. But he got better since he was a kid.
Luffy is going to get into it with Marco which is going to derail them a little bit. But I promise comfort hugs all around.
And Luffy will go back to being a happy little bean. He never stopped. Just nobody has let him be happy in a while. Don't worry Marco will be there to protect Ace. And soon so will Sabo. There is still a lot of stuff to resolve with Ace and his belonging issues.
But Luffy will get his ocean of hugs!
Oh, there is still so much to resolve... Because Ace really deserves his place within the Whitebeard Pirates. And Luffy deserves an ocean full of comfort and hugs and kisses and love. And Thatch, too.
Stay healthy to you too!
Falsepermanence: Aw, I'm glad liked it : )
Alynawatlovers: Sorry to make you sad. But yes! Their safe ish now.
Gracie15Trowa: Yea it's a sad story. Sorry to make you sad. It is going to get better form here. But if it's not your thing that's super fair. There are so many great stories out there!
Aquarica: Luffy is too nice. And the SAbo Luffy reunion is coming really soon! I hope it will be sweet. I'll do my best. And haha, it's my therapy as well. I'm glad you like it!
Sakihinata: Yes they are. Of course!
Neathane: Of course!
fluffypuppies: Yes, Luffy can hug Ace as much as he wants now! I am really glad you liked it! And thank you, that's so nice to say. I hope your health stays good as well. And the Sabo reunion will happen really soon.
Thank you : ) same to you.
Guest # 2: Of course! And next chapter will be happy-ish as well.
Phoenix-Fire-Queen: Thanks, Hopefully Luffy will meet Sabo next time!
kagome11:Of course! More fluff to come.
Akaichi-rin: You're an angel. Thank you for helping me! Sorry I was a bit slow to put the updates on. I didn't really have good internet when you were sending them. But I will be much quicker from now on.
Mad Cheshire Rabbit: Aw, same here. Ace really is the best big brother ever.
FanficFanatics26: That guy is back! I hate him too.
QueenEirelyn96: I am glad you liked it! And Ace and Luffy are back together now. And Thatch has his brothers! I'm glad you were looking forward to the rescuers POV, now you have it! More Sabo next time! He disobeyed Dragon a little bit. But he was just angry. I hope you liked the chapter!
JulieAnnaMai: Aw, thank you. Yes, Luffy has been having an understandably hard time. But things will improve for him! And Thatch will be there the whole time doting on him and trying to feed him. And thank you! Same to you, take care of yourself.
Fennec: The next part of the story will focus a lot on all the relationships and trying to fix them. I think the Whitebeards were under the impression, based on how he acted and What Ace said that he didn't have any family. He had never mentioned having anyone which was odd. I also think that they know most teen pirates didn't become criminals because they came from super stable loving homes. They never asked Ace about any siblings, so he never lied. But he told them he didn't have any parents. So they just kind of assumed that meant family. Plus he never wanted to talk about his past or where he came from so they didn't push it. So their surprised he would willingly betray them for someone he has never even mentioned. More on this later! I am glad you liked it! You put a lot of thought into it which makes me think about it more!
ShadowPillow: Aw thanks. I'm glad you like it.
Snaked: Luffy is going to take a bit to get back to normal. He's still himself just not all the time. But he will entertain the crew still with how crazy he is!
Wordlet: Cuddles and fluff are my favorite. And good therapy for me too! Hopefully more on their escape plan next chapter. But right now they need to wait them out. Thank you for the review!
Pause143: Of course! I am really glad you like it. A lot more hurt and hugged Luffy in the chapters to come, and from now on. Nothing but cuddle for him.
xXxWolvesInTheNightxXx: Aww, thank you for waiting. That must have taken forever. I promise so many more Luffy and Thatch moments in the future. And Thatch can start to feel better as well after that horrible day.
BlueHeartNina: Soon I promise! Sabo comes back next time.
Caro: Aw, sorry to make you sad. Thatch is such a sweetheart pirate. Yea Ace loves his little brother and will always put him first. I'm glad you liked it!
swee2iepea: Of course! Thank you for the review. Soon enough all the Whitebeards will understand what happened and thy can start to move on. And they can all start to feel better.
fazio13: Aw thanks
Alicenee: Poor Luffy :'( He and Thatch got really close. Thatch is like his uncle (or at least he thinks of himself like it). Watching him die kind of traumatized Thatch so now he is super protective. More fluffy brother bonding to come!
Aw thanks. That's what I love about Luffy. Even if he's not strong enough his principals don't change. He's a brave little guy. And I like to think that Luffy was the most important person to Ace! Just since he knew him longer and feels protective of him.
But thank you for the praise! I love hearing people are enjoying the story! You are so sweet thank you. Aw.
(Yes, I am so excited to write that. I think it will be funny if Luffy bites Marco)
I hope you had an amazing summer as well!
SakuraS41: Yea, they can have some family time. Of course!
A6r6o6k: Sorry it was a bit late.
BlueThief: Aw thanks. I loved writing it. Ace and Luffy will get a lot more cuddling in together later! They all had a super tough day but they just to wait it out and they will be free.
iyulia juuzou: Of course! Sorry it was alte.
NeverTooMuchInspiration: Aw thanks.
RIAEVANS: Of course! Sabo will be back with Luffy soon enough.
DemonKittyAngel: I will. They all need a nice long vacation. Where they can start to feel better. But hugs all around soon.
Poor Ace is still weird about showing affection. But he get's over it for Luffy. I hope you liked the chapter. And I can't wait to write the next one. Yes, that's exactly what is going to have to happen. Thatch will have to give him a crash course in dealing with Luffy. And Luffy is going to take it upon himself to hit anyone over the head with a plank of wood if they say anything bad about Ace.
I'm glad you liked it! Stay safe as well.
Mel72000 : More Luffy cuddles on the way! Of course!
atrum nemus: aw thanks : )