Defenders Without Fear

by FawnTheFox

What if Thatch had found the Yami Yami fruit two years earlier? Instead of being killed by BlackBeard, he ends up kidnapped, along with a certain flame user's little brother. Still distrustful of his new crew, Ace is reluctant to ask for help. Through his efforts to save Luffy, the Whitebeard crew gets a better understanding of who Ace is and what he's willing to do for family.

47. Chapter 47

What now?

"We're okay." Ace promised holding Luffy firmly when he tried to break away again. His instincts trying to push him away from the fire that surrounded them. "Luffy stop," Ace told him tightening his grip. "It's just me. I'm not going to hurt you."

He felt Luffy still at the words, but he didn't relax. Stressed about the situation, of being attacked, and stressed about once again being on fire. Ace hadn't really had time to explain it yet.

He turned his attention back to Jozu who was watching them from the other side of the flame barricade. Waiting for the moment it faltered, for Ace to make a misstep. And then he would be right here.

"So this is what it comes down too then?" Juzo's voice was powerful and it held a great deal of anger. Anger at Ace for killing his family. For betraying them. For what he had tried to do.

"Killing me won't solve anything," Ace told him. "Not right now. Just let me show you-,"

"STOP LYING!" He yelled. "I'm tired of the circles you spin. There is nothing you can say that I can believe. Now stop hiding behind that kid and your flames and come face me like a man. We'll see just what it's solves then." In his eyes there was nothing but hatred. Ace knew the feeling well. He felt it whenever he looked a Teach. Pure, unhindered betrayal.

Ace deserved this, and more. But there wasn't time right now. Apparently Luffy was thinking along different lines.

With a furious push Luffy tried once more to free himself from Ace's arms. This time driven by anger and not fear he broke free. Ace scrambled after him, catching up right before the flame barrier. Luffy still managed to pull Ace forward a step as he tried to get to Jozu.

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" He yelled at the man, his voice breaking in the middle but Luffy was too angry to care how pathetic he sounded.

"YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!"

"Luffy stop!" Ace said.

And in that instant the pirate attacked. He fortified his arm with another layer of diamonds before plunging it through the flames to grab them. His hand snatched at Luffy's wrist trying to pull him away. Ace acted instinctually, lashing out at Juzo's head which was lesser protected. He felt the smack and the man staggered back. In the same moment Ace's concentration waivered and the flames flickered before falling away.

When Jozu charged forwards again Ace pushed Luffy down onto the floor, putting himself in between the two of them. Just in time to take the full brunt of the attack.

And that was how Izo and Thatch found them.

"STOP!" Thatch called in horror. "What are you guys doing?"

Jozu and Ace looked up but didn't move. Not willing to turn their back on the other one. Izo reached them first, putting himself between the two of them. Thatch followed him, grabbing Luffy. He wrapped his arms around the younger boy's shoulders in a half comfort-half restraining hold.

"Their done now," Thatch promised him. "See?"

"Easy there," Izo told Jozu as the two of them separated. Ace took a step back but it seemed the larger man was far from done with him.

"You're here?" Jozu said as Izo put his hands on his shoulders, trying to get him to take a step back.

"We're all here." He promised his brother. "Me, Thatch, Haruta's here somewhere." He pointed to where his brother stood with Luffy. "Attacking them will accomplish nothing. Ace's trying to help us."

"You're Working WITH Him!" Jozu said in disbelief. "He's The One Who Killed Marco."

"No! Juzo I know what you think but Marco's…." He trailed off as his gaze drifted to the hallway ahead of them. "Right there," He finished.

Everyone's attention, except Luffy's (who honestly did not care) snapped to Marco.

Jozu's eyes grew wide as he looked Marco up and down, the fight slowly ebbing out of him only to be replaced with shock. "You're… you're here." He finally stammered. "But how! Teach said that…"

"Teach is a liar," Marco told him. He seemed to be saying that a lot lately. "You can't trust him."

And without a word the large man crossed the hallway. Wordlessly he reached out, putting his hand onto Marco's shoulder. He gave it a rough squeeze. "But- but Pop's said… Ace betrayed us. He betrayed you?"

"Ace tried to save me." Marco told him.

"No, I didn't." Ace said speaking up at last. He looked at Marco. "That's not what happened."

Marco just rolled his eyes. "Always the hard way with you isn't it?"

Ace's eyes were cold, unreadable. He said nothing and Marco fought back a sigh. This was going to take a while. "We can talk about it later," He added for everyone's benefit. The unspoken message of Ace will explain everything, was clear. "For now it's great to see you my friend. Thank you for stirring up some more trouble for me as you always do." He said that part with affection but Jozu surprised him by reaching down to wrap him in a large hug. Marco's smile softened a bit more as he returned the gesture. He had been away from home for a while… but it had been longer for them."I missed you too," He said.

"Whitebeard will not listen to the nurses without you. He thinks he has a free pass or something to day drink." Jozu told him.

Marco smiled at that. It seems like all his hard work had been forgotten in his absence. "We'll have to fix that when we get back then."

Jozu let him go, stepping back to look at Thatch. "And you!" He said.

"And me?" Thatch parroted with a smile. "Not like you haven't seen me in a while or anything huh?" He gestured at Marco. "Ignore me, I don't want to interrupt your moment. I've been having the best year."

"Good to know you're jokes still suck," Jozu said as he took a few steps towards him. But when he got too close Luffy growled, pulling against Thatch. He was clearly not ready to move on from what had happened.

Remembering him Jozu glanced down. "So who is the kid?"

"This is Luffy," Thatch said putting his hand on Luffy's head.

"What happened to him?"

"Teach." Thatch said abstractly. Luffy tilted his head back a bit looking up at him. "Luffy this is our friend Jozu. Remember I told you about him?"

"You did?" Jozu asked in surprise.

"The story about the diamond dude, and all those windows?" Thatch said to Luffy's confusion.

"Prisons really changed you." Jozu told him.

"Yea, I made friends with a fifteen-year-old and we're starting a gang." Thatch mocked.

"Well are you guys all right? You don't look great."

"We will be… right?" He asked Luffy.

Luffy said nothing as he eyed the large man in front of him. Size-ing him up. Distrust in his expression.

"Jozu," Izo broke the silence, calling the man's attention away from Luffy. "The marines are following us. I think their getting closer and we still need to find the others."

"Others, you mean Haruta?"

"-You've been learning these tunnels? Is there anywhere we can hide away from them?"

He thought for a moment, "Yes, if they don't know this place very well I think I know somewhere we can go. We should hurry, before the tides come back in. Some of the side tunnels re-flood.

Marco nodded and Thatch finally let go of Luffy. That turned out to be the wrong thing to do. After the adrenaline left his system, he had been a bit lightheaded. Thatch had been one of the only things keeping him upright. Without the support Luffy felt his world tilt a bit and he put out a hand to the wall to steady himself. But he misjudged the distance and ended up collapsing against it.

Thatch cried out in alarm, catching everyone's attention to Luffy's disappointment. But before he could fall further Thatch's arms were around him again. He felt himself being gently lowered to sit on the ground, a supporting hand on his back.

"I told you not to over do it!" Marco's voice scolded him from above.

"Is he okay?" Izo asked. They were all crowding him now. Luffy wanted to move back but when he tried, he just ended up collapsing.

He felt Marco's hands on him once more, calm and collected as he always was, feeling his forehead and the unnatural warmth there. "He will be fine, he just needs to rest. I don't have time to look at him right now."

"So what really happened to him?" The new pirate asked. To Luffy's dismay he was right next to him. Close enough to reach out and grab him if he wanted. The thought worried him but there was nothing he could do about it right now.

To his relief he felt Ace push through the super-close-touchy-feely pirates who all kept trying to touch him for like no reason. Or at least Luffy felt like they had no good reason. It wasn't like he went around poking people for nothing.

Ace was soft but insistent in his motions of moving the others away as he kneeled down in front of him. "Luffy, are you okay?"

Luffy wanted to get up, away from all the people.

People pressing in on him from all sides from the darkness. And the air smelt damp just like it always did. The scent mixed with blood. His blood. And pain. He wanted to fight back, to make them leave him alone. But he couldn't even sit up.

He felt Ace gently work his hands under him, lifting him off the floor.

"You got him?" Marco asked. "You're not looking so great yourself."

"It's fine," Ace said and Luffy felt him adjust his grip. "Let's find the others so we can…" The rest was lost as Luffy passed out.

XXX

When he woke up some time had passed. He didn't know how long it had been other then their location had changed. His cheek was pressed against something warm, it took him a second to realize that it was Ace's back. He relaxed again. Whatever had happened Ace would keep him safe. So maybe he could go back to sleep…

They were arguing. It was what woke him up in the first place. Fighting off sleep for a little while longer Luffy tried to pay attention to what they were saying.

The shiny man from before was still angry. At Ace of all people! Luffy didn't like him. He didn't like most of them. Marco was a doctor which meant he was no good, the other two had LIED about Ace. They told him Ace was dead right during the moment when Luffy Could Not handle anything else. And then the smaller one had started saying all this stuff about Sabo trying to kill Ace or something and being evil. But Shiny was the worst by far. Luffy wanted to keep an eye on him in case he started attacking Ace again, which could be at any time, but he had fallen asleep. He thought Thatch should get better friends. But they seemed to make the man happy so Luffy held his tongue.

They made their way down a shorter tunnel. This one was beginning to flood. There was water on the floor that came up to everyone's shoes. Luffy didn't feel it but he heard it as they began sloshing through it. He caught the shadows on the wall as they passed- eight. Were their really eight of them?

More awake now Luffy grabbed a handful of Ace's shirt, trying to sit up despite being carried. Sabo was walking near them, staying close to Ace. When he noticed Luffy was staring at him he smiled at him.

"Welcome back," He told him. Behind Sabo was Thatch and the other pirate. Haru… something. Meanwhile Jozu and Marco were in front, guiding the way, a small flame in Marco's hand. Why was everyone always on fire today?

They came to a stop at the end of the hallway. There was a small room hidden behind some broken crates. This place seemed to be nothing but long hallways, small rooms and long forgotten crates that smelt like alcohol. Luffy didn't really know what bootlegger tunnels were but everyone kept repeating it so he guessed that was what this was.

"Wait so Ace WAS following Teach's Orders!" The man was arguing again.

Luffy blinked, looking around the room. It was dark and cold and made of stone just like the rest of them. But he couldn't hear the trampling footsteps of the marines overhead, so he guessed they were safe for now.

"It's not as simple as that," Marco told him putting a calming hand on his shoulder.

"Yes it is Marco!" The man said his voice a bit softer. "Your either with us or against Teach. I'm not an idiot."

"I stand corrected then," Sabo crossed his arms. Luffy could tell his brother liked sparkly as much as he did. But Ace just pushed Sabo's shoulder, silently telling him to knock it off.

Luffy closed his eyes again, feeling a sudden sickness wash over him. The adrenaline he felt earlier was long gone leaving him empty and dizzy. And this wasn't helping. He touched Ace's shoulder.

"Huh?" Ace turned his head to look at him. "Are you okay Luffy?"

Luffy nudged his thigh into Ace's hip but when his brother didn't get the message he said, "Let-go."

Ace lowered him down so his feet touched the floor. Luffy held onto his shirt until the floor stopped shaking beneath him.

"Lu?" Ace asked again, this time drawing the attention of the others. Which was the last thing he wanted. He ignored them all as he shakily walked over towards the wall. Halfway falling and Half kneeling Luffy sunk to his knee's pressing his forehead into the stone. It was cool and damp and it felt good against his flushed skin.

Usually Luffy liked it when the world threw him curve balls. He liked excitement, action and the unexpected. But right now he wished it would all stop. Luffy felt like he was getting worse. He felt himself slide in and out of the present and his head stopped working sometimes. Like he was watching everything unfold behind a sheet of glass, disconnected from his body. And he was wandering through a dream. An odd one. And then there were moments where the fog lifted and he was slammed back into reality, like before. When he found himself surrounded on all sides by fire. And he wished it could all just stop.

Up until a little while ago he had nothing but blackness. He couldn't hear or see anything, and nothing ever happened except the guards forcing food into his mouth, the doctor 'visits' and the occasional torments from him. Luffy hadn't been happy there. In fact, he couldn't remember a time in his life when he had been unhappier. But it was predictable. The real world was less so. And he loved that about it. But right now he was too scared- too pathetic to keep going as he had been.

Not that he had told any of this to anyone. His brothers were worried about him enough. And he didn't want them to worry. Whatever time he had with them he wanted them to be happy like they used to be. They promised they were going to save him. He believed them. But he just wasn't thinking very far ahead anymore.

Luffy felt hands on his face, gently pulling him away from the wall. That was no good. He liked the wall.

"Luffy?" Ace tried again. "Are you okay?"

Luffy blinked at him, the world shifting back into focus. And then at the others beyond Ace's shoulder. They had stopped their conversation to look at him. He wished they wouldn't. He turned back to Ace blinking slowly as he searched for the words.

"Your… a candlestick?"

"What?" Ace's face was genuinely confused before it clicked. For a second, he looked like he wanted to laugh. But he didn't. "Yea, I guess. I ate a devil fruit- a fire one. Sorry that I surprised you."

"Oh," Luffy figured that made sense. Ace was- always kind of fire. At least he had been to him. But he didn't think Ace liked devil fruits. He hadn't when they were kids. He always told Luffy how dumb it was to have a pirate that couldn't swim. "Why?"

"It was an accident," Ace told him.

"You said-," Luffy began.

"Yea- I know, I know." Ace cut him off. "I gave you such a hard time for doing that. It turns out you were right. It is a lot easier to do then I thought."

"…told you."

"Yes you are incredibly wise," Ace said as he reached out to feel his forehead. "Your hot, are you feeling alright."

Luffy shook his hand off. "Where are we?"

"In the tunnels." Ace said. "Same as before. Jozu found this place earlier. "He thinks we can stay here for a little bit while the Marines go past us. He doesn't think they will start looking in the boarded-up tunnels until later. But a lot of the hallways off this one are flooded. No wandering off, stay close to me?" When Luffy didn't say anything, Ace turned around to look at the people behind him, specifically the one he had just fought. "I have to go talk to him. Stay next to Sabo alright?"

Luffy knew that tone. It was a warning. Ace didn't know how their talk was going to go. And all of a sudden, he was sick of this, of always being on edge, of the endless damp slate colored stones. He caught Ace's arm as he turned to get up.

Ace looked at him curiously. "What's wrong?"

"Can you…take me home?"

Whatever Ace had expected it wasn't that. "What? He asked. When Luffy didn't answer Ace shifted onto his knees in front of him. "Where's home?" He asked him softly.

Luffy didn't really know. He didn't know anything anymore. Somewhere on their island maybe? Somewhere in the east blue? He didn't even know which ocean he was in right now. Now that he thought about it he didn't care as long as it was far away from here. Somewhere where he could see the sky above him and the ocean in front of him.

Ace felt Luffy's fingers loosen as he tried to let go. But Ace chased his hands, holding it in his own, careful to avoid the sea stone on his wrists. Sometimes when he was really upset Ace had a hard time reading him. he didn't like that because when Luffy was upset he did some stupid things, even by their standards. And right now, Ace had no idea what was going through Luffy's head.

"What is it?" Ace asked him.

Luffy looked over his shoulder at the wall. His eyes tracing the dark stone that covered their surroundings. He followed the curve of the ceiling to the opposite wall where the others sat, most were staring at them.

"Lu…?"

Luffy turned back to Ace. He was wearing that look again. Luffy knew it was because of him. Because he was being weird. He didn't mean to be, but he didn't really know what was normal right now. "Are you going to leave again?" He finally asked.

Ace didn't say anything, but he didn't need too. Luffy had his answer. He pulled his hands free and Ace let him go without resistance. Luffy pulled his knees against him. He expected his brother to go talk to his sort-of-friends, it was obvious they were waiting for him. But Ace neither moved from the spot nor did he look away.

When Ace spoke again his voice was different, soft and shaky. "Luf-," He tried once more reaching out to touch him. Luffy backed up on instinct pressing against the wall. When he was really upset sometimes, he wanted to be left alone, especially lately when alone started to mean safe. But he immediately regretted it by the look on his brother's face. Ace dropped his hand, sitting back on his heels.

"Luffy…" Ace said his voice lowered to a trembling whisper. "I am so sorry." And for the weirdest reason he looked like he wanted to cry. But Luffy had to be mistaken because Ace never cried! No matter what. Honestly at this point Luffy didn't think he even could cry. But he moved all the same. Pressing away from the wall onto his knees he clumsily wrapped his bound wrists around Ace's neck.

"It's okay," He said hugging him tight. He didn't really know what Ace was apologizing for but he didn't care. Luffy didn't understand why everyone kept telling him sorry. He had never been interested in apologies from other people. Ace was the same way. Only maybe Luffy could understand this time. Earlier when he had been acting stupid he had been desperate for Sabo to forgive him for everything. But Sabo hadn't done that. He said that Luffy didn't need to apologize because he hadn't done anything wrong. Even though Luffy knew that was a lie. In the last few months he had failed in every way possible. Everything he was raised for, trained for and lived for was unattainable to someone as weak and pathetic as him.

He didn't know why Ace was so upset. Whatever he thought he had done it couldn't possibly be as bad as what Luffy had failed to do. But if Ace felt bad too then Luffy could try the whole apology thing again.

"It's okay," he told him again. "I'm not mad at you for leaving anymore… I promise. I dissolve … ab-solved… absolve?" That wasn't right. "I adsolve you," He settled on.

Ace pulled away from him, ducking under his arms. He still looked a little sad but there was a small smile on his face and he seemed like he might actually laugh. Luffy didn't know if that meant it had worked or not.

"Dissolve?"

He nodded.

"Are you actually trying to make me feel better?"

Luffy nodded in honest. He had thought that was obvious.

And suddenly Ace didn't seem amused anymore. He did that thing like he was holding back a sigh. "Thanks' Luffy," He said standing up. "You're too nice."

He had heard that one before, especially when they were younger. Ace hadn't said that in a while.

"Hang tight with Sabo," He told him as he left to go talk to their other brother. Luffy just blinked after him. He had done it wrong then? Why would someone apologize if they didn't want to be forgiven?

XXX

"There's something wrong with Luffy," Ace said as Sabo rose to his feet.

"Ace there are multiple things wrong with him right now. What did you expect?"

"No, I mean something's bothering him… something else? I tried to talk to him but I just made things worse."

"Yeah I saw that," Sabo told him. "At least he's not mad at you anymore."

Ace shook his head, "I'm no good at this. Can you…?"

"Sure," Sabo told him. "But can you handle the…"

"It will be fine," Ace said looking over his shoulder at the group. They had been pretty patient with him. Not like they could go anywhere.

"Ace are you sure, because I know how you get when…"

"-Just take care of Luffy," Ace told him.

"Fine," Sabo said. "How you two managed without me all this time I'll never know."

"I had to be nicer to him," Ace said somewhat hesitantly.

"I bet that killed you."

"A little bit." Ace smiled softly at his brother. Thank you."

"Of course, Ace. But I'm right here okay. If you want me to, I'll fight all those guys for you… well maybe not Thatch. That would be unfair. But the rest I got your back."

"I know," Ace told him. "I don't know how I survived without you either." Sometimes life wasn't an amazing adventure, sometimes it was hell. And you did the best you could even when it felt like there was no way you could possibly bare to deal with another day. But you did, and you survived the next one and the one after that and eventually it got better. Right now, Ace thought it had to get better. Because eventually the universe had to run out of bad.

XXX

Ace left to go 'talk' to the pirates, and hopefully explain enough to get the big one to stop yelling. Sabo knew this was the last thing in the world Ace wanted to be doing right now. And he sympathized. Ace had never been very good at talking about his past- any of it. And this situation was impossible. But Sabo hoped that at the very least the pirates would think twice before they continued to throw accusations at his brother. Especially since they didn't know a damn thing about the things he had done to protect them.

Sabo was feeling rather protective of him right now, of both his brothers. The new pirate had only managed to piss him off. But he tried to ignore the feelings now. Ace was right Luffy needed him more then Sabo needed to vent.

Luffy sat against the wall, looking small and scared. Sabo approached him slowly, sinking onto the floor besides him.

"Ace thinks somethings bothering you," He said and Luffy turned to him.

"Somethings making him sad," Luffy said.

"He's dealing with a lot right now," Sabo told him. "Everyone is. That's why the pirate guy seems so mad," He gestured a little ways away, where the man was 'talking' through yelling. It was clear the noise was stressing Luffy out by the way he pushed back into the wall. Like if there was any way to get further away from the noise he would. Sabo contemplated moving them a bit but he decided against it. He wanted to be close by if things did go bad. So instead he risked calling out to the group, interrupting whatever angry thing the man was about to say.

"Let's use our inside voices!" He told him.

"And who the hell even are You?" The man asked.

"If we're too loud the marines are going to come running," Sabo said seeing the second warning look Ace sent him that stopped any snide comment he had.

"He's right," Marco agreed. And although he looked like he wanted too the largest pirate didn't argue. But his eyes did linger on the two of them. Sabo figured he was trying to get a read on them. That was fair as he was doing the same.

When the pirates resumed their conversation at a normal volume, he turned his attention back to his little brother. But Luffy's attention was no longer on him, nor the pirates. His gaze was looking just over Sabo's left shoulder, staring straight at the wall. Or rather like he was looking right through it.

"Luffy?"

Luffy didn't say anything, his eyes narrowing. There were goosebumps on his skin and his shoulders were raised, he was tense.

"Luffy!" Sabo tried again looking behind him where Luffy was staring. But as far as he could tell nothing was there. And then Luffy moved, his eyes slowly tracking along the wall. As if following an invisible bug as it crawled across the stone. But there was nothing. Nothing at all.

"Lu!" Sabo reached out to grab Luffy's shoulder and he jumped slightly, looking at Sabo wide eyed.

"What's wrong?" Sabo asked him gently. He looked back at the wall. "Is there something there?"

Luffy's frown grew as he shook his head. "No."

Luffy had always been a terrible liar. But he seemed more confused than anything. It was as if he honestly didn't know. Ace was right, something was up with him. Something new.

Before Sabo got the chance to ask him, Luffy spoke up. "Why is Ace worried?"

"A lot of stuff happened," Sabo said after a moment. "That's why we were so slow to find you… Ace is dealing with some of the fallout."

He was being purposely vague. The last thing Luffy needed was this. But he seemed to understand all the same.

"It was stupid Teach right?"

"Yea," Sabo said.

"He does stuff like that," Luffy looked down at his bandaged hand, flexing it back and forth.

"Stuff like what?" Sabo asked him gently. "What did he do to you Luffy?"

"He did all of this to hurt Ace." Luffy said avoiding the question all together.

Sabo changed tactics, "I don't think Ace wants you to worry about us alright?"

"Because you guys will be fine?" Luffy asked him and something about the way he said it made Sabo worried.

"Of course we will," Sabo would make sure Ace was going to be fine. "And you will too."

Luffy looked up at him and Sabo knew he didn't believe him. "Come here," He told him and Luffy hesitated a moment before pushing closer to him. Sabo wrapped his arm around his shoulder, pulling him against his side. He waited until the younger boy stilled a bit before he asked, "What's wrong. What are you afraid of?"

"I'm not afr-,"

"Right, concerned then. I know you Lu, I can tell when you're freaked out. I might be able to help." He added when Luffy didn't say anything.

He shifted under Sabo's arm, tucking his legs in as he leaned against him. "How do you know if you're crazy?"

"Huh?" Whatever Sabo had expected that wasn't it. He looked down at Luffy in confusion. "Why do you think you're crazy?"

"I can feel things… that aren't there." Luffy told him his eyes moving to rest in the corner of the room.

"Things like?"

"Bad people?"

"Who?" Sabo tried. "Who's bad Luffy? Teach?"

Luffy shook his head before he began to nod and then back to the shaking. "Not him," He said.

"The marines?"

"Not them."

"I can't help if I don't know what's wrong?"

Luffy pulled away from him a bit, sitting up to look Sabo in the eyes. He looked really serious. "You- you'll never let anyone kill you right? You're too strong for that."

"Uhh, I mean no one's been able to so far. That has to mean something."

Luffy didn't look comforted. "But Really! You won't let some stupid person beat you right? Even if they're really strong? Or Ace or anyone! I don't…"

"I'm not invincible Lu," Sabo told him. "But they would have to be pretty damn strong to take on all of us."

This was not the answer he was looking for and Luffy huffed, his attention drifting back to the far corner.

"You can feel things," Sabo said when it was clear Luffy wasn't going to say anything. "Like you knew that Ace was coming back?" That did the trick as Luffy turned back to look at him. "Does that happen a lot?" He pressed.

"I don't know… sometimes."

"Well I can do it too," Sabo told him watching Luffy's eyes get larger.

"Really?"

He nodded, "Ace too, but just between us he's not that great at it." He smiled. "Marco as well, I bet you some others too. I'm no expert but I can show you one day, if you want?"

"Really?"

"I promise," Sabo held out his pinkie and Luffy took it. "Is that why you think your crazy?"

"No- yes… I don't think so." He huffed again, only this one bordered on something much deeper. Luffy wasn't just frustrated he was terrified and confused and too exhausted to be dealing with all of this. "Sabo my head hurts so much," Luffy told him his voice a bit shaky. "I don't know if it's still working right anymore."

"Shh," Sabo tried to calm him down before he spiraled. He pulled Luffy against him again hugging him tightly. "Luffy you're not crazy." He said. "We know all that already?"

"You do?" Luffy tried to look up at him.

"Of course, I honestly have no idea what you're running on because it's not food, it's not water, I don't think you have a ton of blood leftover."

"But I still have my brain stuff… you don't lose that right?"

Sabo actually laughed. A weird sound in the chillingly quiet room. In front of them the pirates continued to talk in low voices, although Ace looked over at the noise.

"It's a package deal Luffy," He told him. "If your body's really sick then that means your head is kind of sick too. You won't be actually yourself until we can properly fix you up. I know it sucks but bear with it for a little while longer."

"You're really smart," Luffy told him.

"Only compared too you little brother," Sabo teased him lightly.

"Rude," Luffy told him his attention going back to the damn corner.

"Do you feel somebody over there?"

"I don't know," Luffy said pushing a bit further against him. "Sometimes someone would watch me. I couldn't see them but I always knew they were there… it felt like they were shouting at me without actually making noise?" He pressed his palm into his forehead in frustration.

"What happened?" Sabo asked him. "Who did that to you?"

"I got really good at knowing where they were," Luffy said ignoring Sabo's concern. "Even if they were far away I could tell… but now I don't know. It's different."

"Luffy," Sabo said doing his best to keep his voice clear of the anger. "You have to tell me what happened." This was the closest Luffy had come to voluntarily telling Sabo what had occurred with his captors. But as much as Sabo wanted, or needed to know it was clear that today was not going to be that day. Either Luffy couldn't or didn't want to talk about it because he ignored the questions all together.

"When you guys brought me in here," Luffy said after a long pause. "-I felt like somebody was nearby." He looked back at the corner. "Really close. Like just on the other side of the wall? Someone really bad. But I didn't really realize it and then it was gone. I feel like something is watching me but when I focus there's nothing there?"

Sabo sat up a bit, looking around the room, focusing on the corners with his haki. "The Marine's are getting pretty close," He told him. Gods willing, they would pass by as expected. "But they're still aways away. No one is there Luffy."

"So I'm crazy?"

"You're not crazy." Sabo told him again. "You're stressed. We're not going to let anything happen to you okay?" Luffy was looking at the corner again. Sabo put his hand on his cheek gently pulling his attention away from it. "You have to trust us…. Please?"

Luffy nodded slowly, his eyes large and owlish as he turned his attention to Sabo. He knew Luffy trusted them, he always had. Implicitly.

"So maybe you can trust me when I tell you that you need to eat something."

Luffy shifted in his spot, clearly not liking the direction this was going.

"I know," Sabo told him. "Those people forced you. Your really sick and food is the last thing you want. But if you don't start eating your body is going to shut down. Please Luffy." He added after a moment of silence. This was the last thing he ever expected to have to beg Luffy to do. Everything about it seemed so wrong, so alien. But here they were.

Luffy moved a little bit, leaning deeper against the other's shoulder. He didn't look happy about the idea but he nodded.

Sabo smiled back at him, thrilled by the small victory as he wrapped Luffy into a tight hug. Luffy only made a surprised noise as he pressed his forehead against his knees until Sabo let him go.

He broke up a few pieces of a protein square for him before crushing it up and mixing it with some of their water so Luffy's stomach could handle it better. Sabo doubted it was very tasty (it tasted like chalk on a good day), but he also knew nothing would taste good to Luffy right now.

He finished most of it, although not as much as Sabo had wanted. But he didn't push him beyond another few sips.

"Are you okay?"

Luffy nodded as he leaned back against him once more. He felt full and maybe a little sick but ultimately better. And Sabo was warm behind him and something about him was so nostalgic. Like a feeling Luffy hadn't had in a while. Especially not while he had been here.

He was still trying to think of it when he started to drift off. He felt Sabo shift him a bit, never letting go of him.

The word came to him hours later. He had no idea how long he had been out but some time during his sleep the pirates had given up their discussion and gone to bed. He had been woken up again by another nightmare, they were nearly constant now. No matter how secure Sabo felt he couldn't protect him from his own head.

It had taken Luffy a moment to get his breathing under control and for the façade of the dream to fade away. When he came back to himself, he was laying on the floor against the wall where he had fallen asleep. Sabo lay next to him, his back facing him fast asleep. At some point Ace had joined them. He lay on his side behind Luffy, his arm thrown over the two of them protectively. Completely dead to the world. No- not dead just sleeping…Luffy checked just in case.

-They were sleeping. Both exhausted. Luffy turned over onto his side to face Ace. He poked his cheek but the other didn't respond so Luffy grabbed his hand instead wrapping his fingers around Ace's slightly larger ones. When Ace still didn't wake up he tucked their hands under his cheek, laying his head back against the cold stone floor.

Safe- that was it.

This place was hell. But right now, this little patch of floor felt like heaven. Laying between the two people who always protected him and took care of him. Who had done so much to save him even if he was useless and weak. They had never cared about that. They stayed with him all the same. The only ones who had stayed in his entire life.

It was still dark, and it reminded him of his cell.

But they were so warm.

XXX

Sorry about the late update. I have been so busy lately. And these chapters take me forever. (This one's coming up on forty pages- almost ten thousand words. That's A LOT of Words!). Once I start I can't stop apparently. Especially now that I get to write the chapters I've been waiting to forever.

I know some of you might be tired of the 'tunnel hiding chapters.' But I apparently love them! So much drama for me to write. I know I say this a lot but we are coming up on the war arc, which is going to be really rough for a lot of reasons. So these are a nice way of everybody getting to take a little break. I think their will only be two or three more before everyone arrives and the fighting starts.

I wanted to include it but it was getting too long and I really have to study for my midterm. Which I can't do until I finish this update. But next chapter will have Ace explaining the situation to the Whitebeards so hopefully things will be a bit better once they understand the situation.

Luffy has been reunited with both his brothers! Things are finally getting better. What else could possibly go wrong now….

XXX

BlueHeartNina: I think Luffy was so confused why everything around him seemed to keep getting lit on fire. He didn't know Ace was the one doing it. : )

Pause143: aww

All the names are taken T-T: I'm so glad you liked it! Thank you. I was waiting forever to write their reunion.

sakura240: Ace has Luffy level luck. I am excited to have all three of them together, just being there is already making Luffy feel better. Don't worry! They are stronger then the creepy guy. Even if he is kind of stalking them. They will be happy and safe in just a few chapters. But the war will be a little rough. (But it will be short-ish). Luffy is more observant then he get's trouble for, or at least I always thought so. He did really have a hard three months when he was separated from Thatch. Especially because that guy was hassling him. But we won't really get into it until later when Luffy is finally safe and getting better. (And thank you! That is so nice to hear). Hopefully this chapter resolved the whole Jozu thing. And Luffy would do anything if he thought the people he loved were threatened, especially right now.

Hopefully the holidays went well and of course! I love being able to update. And thanks for liking my cliffhangers haha. Almost done with midterms now! Thanks for the lovely review! I hope your year goes amazing!

MR97: Aw, I'm glad. Luffy and the rest will be with the Whitebeards sooner! They just need to get this annoying war out of the way! And he can start to focus on getting better.

LoveToBake: Right!

Shadow54321: Thanks!

AnimeChic01: Thank you! I will try to update the next part a little quicker so it goes by fast!

Wandering-Mind 95: Aw, sorry to make you sad. A lot of people said that this made them cry too much to be enjoyable. I feel bad about that. It's funny you say that because I had a little notebook of story ideas and my plot ideas after chapter 32 were to leave Luffy alone so I can give everyone else their own angst haha.

That is so nice to hear that you like it. I have been writing this story forever so I am really glad people still like it. Even if it is (very slowly winding down). More on Garp and Dragon later, but don't worry they are going to be okay. Of course! I'm happy to write this story. Thank You for taking the time to read it. And thanks for such a kind review.

Aquarica: Don't worry, Luffy is getting better bit by bit, especially now that he has so many people to care for him. And unlimited hugs for Luffy. And thank you for the compliment. That's so nice.

Rose Narcissus: No ASL sibling will be killed. That happened enough in the cannon, no one needs to re-live another traumatic Ace death. I will explain the whole Shanks thing in a few chapter I promise. And thank you for the review!

Animago: So Sabo will stick with Ace and Luffy for a while, but not forever. Eventually the three are still going to pursue their callings. And thank you! I'm glad you like it. Luffy is capable of great things! I'm glad you liked it. Hopefully you like the rest.

NekoUsagi1234: Jozu just needs a good explanation session. He will understand! Luffy is going to take a while to get better, just with how sick he is. But he is slowly feeling better with everyone taking care of him. Blackbeard will get what he deserves- eventually. I'm still deciding about Akainu.

Aquarica: I'm glad you liked it. Luffy was still angry that Ace left him. Jozu is logical, he just needed the whole story first. Hopefully this chapter and the next one will tie the conflict up. And thank you!

Pixi: Yea, Marco was needed immediately. They probably shouldn't of let Ace go alone, or left Luffy alone. This will definitely not be the last time Ace deals with the fall out of his crew. But he is prepared for that as long as Luffy's okay! The cuddle sandwich was a little bit late (Sabo- Luffy- Ace cuddle pile.) But it will also not be the last time. And it did make Luffy feel SO much better! I can't promise the creepy CP guy won't find them (cough -right now). But they aren't a group to be messed with. Espicially since almost everyone knows what he has done. I haven't quite decided what's going to happen to him. But thank you! And same to you. Stay healthy!

iyulia juuzou: Super sweet. That was the goal.

Wishfull-star: Yes! My specialty. Is it bad that I wrote this yesterday and I actually don't remember who finds Jozu first after Ace and Luffy. But I'm pretty sure it's Marco. And thank you! I will try to update sooner. Same to you!

yukino76: Of course! They will be out of hiding in two-ish chapters.

A6r6o6k: Yes! Ace is with pirate fam. Even if things are tense. I have actually gotten some comments telling me to cut all the explaining and talking out but I love it haha. So I am glad someone likes it as well. Next chapter will have Ace's conversation with first Jozu and the others about the whole situation, and then again with the entire Whitebeard crew after the war. Because I love the conflict! So lot's of reactions!

Urutiyori: of course! I'm really glad you liked it!

JulieAnnaMai: Thank you! Their over now at least. Too bad it's midterm season again. Poor Luffy indeed. But he is doing a bit better now. And now he has both his brothers. But his tormenter is going to be a huge problem. At least the Jozu situation will resolve itself! And thank you for the nice compliment.

Rose Narcissus: Yea, sorry about the cliffhanger. Hopefully this one sums it up. Ad thank you! At least finals are over now. ASL are reunited? Yes, Luffy is doing much better now that he has both of them to look after him. But he is still a little bit sad. They do still need to do something about the sea stone. Luffy will be really sick either way but he can heal quicker without it. I will get into them explaining the situation to Jozu next time! I think (it might change) but he will understand even if he is not super happy about it. The amriens are going to be a problem. But not for a little while. Yes, so full disclosure I kind of forgot he said that. But I think it's been about two days. One day left. But White Beard is also going to be a little bit late (more on that later). They are super close to reuniting. Did Sabo go to find Ace when he told Luffy what? Are you asking about earlier? Sabo was leading the Akainu away from the throne room fight with Teach and Ace switched places with him (tagged him out I guess). Ace was mostly running from the marines in that time.

Thank you for reading! I'm glad you like it.

xXxWolvesInTheNightxXx: Aw, I'm glad. And thank you for your cliff hanger support! I love them too but only because I get so many comments every time (although a lot of them are angry haha). Thank you for the comment!

soul of dark and light: Well I'm glad you like my writing.

SoulMore: Thanks!

Yuzuki476 (I'm going to group your comments together. But I can honestly say I loved all of the feedback. I was watching a movie with my roommate and she was all "you havn't put your phone down for an hour" because I just kept getting reviews. It felt like Christmas came early : )

Chapter 1: Luffy was in the woods at the time. He is relying a bit less on Dadan now that he is older. So she is sometimes used to not seeing him for a week. Makino lives so far away so it took her a while as well. And as for Blackbeard getting to them with Thatch it's the same as the cannon but Luffy is another story for later.

Chapter 2: Ace is still a little reluctant to trust his new crew. Even if he might want too. He hasn't revealed who he is yet and he is worried about their reactions.

Chapter 3: Ace is a stubborn idiot but he isn't sure the Whitebeards would help him for this reason (because he is an idiot). And Luffy's a brave idiot. Idiotness runs in the family.

Chapter 4: Thatch is going to get really fond of Luffy really fast. And of course Ace misses him!

Chapter 5: So I haven't actually written the scene yet, as I'm sure you now know. But I'm getting really close! Shanks ahs something to do with it.

Chapter 6: Luffy is protective over Ace.

Chapter 7: Why thank you! The Luffy Thatch friendship keeps me going.

Chapter 8: Ace is an idiot when it comes to trusting people with his backstory. Plus the whole Rayleigh knowing who he was kind of scared him.

Chapter 9: Sabo (in this story) still lost his memories. I think in the canon Sabo probably saw a picture of Luffy or Ace in the newspaper and it didn't click until later. So I think he needed a bit more of a shocking reminder.

chapter 12: Luffy is a tough kid. And so is Marco. They will be okay.

Chapter 13: I don't know if it was that much of a blessing that Ace and Sabo met Marco haha. They didn't handle that great.

Chapter 14: Why thank you!

Chapter 16: Like the amount of questions I got asking me if Marco was dead or not was insane. I'm glad the answers out now!

Chapter 17: I think Luffy didn't really seem the harm in it. He didn't know what it meant so he decided Sabo's glasses were more important.

Chapter 19: Teach doesn't give them a chance to escape again.

Chapter 20: I guess this version of Teach might be a bit smarter then the real one, figuring out Luffy's dad and what not.

Chapter 22: Haha, I think even if Ace and Sabo did rally the Whitebeards and Shanks they would have no idea where to look. But Dragon is on the case and so is Whitebeard. They are just in the dark.

Chapter 23: Thank you, people kept telling me it was too dark so I began calling it dark-fluff.

Chapter 24: I think Ace is concerned that if he tried to ally with the Whitebeards like he did Teach will kill Luffy like he threatened to do.

Chapter 27: Don't worry it won't be so sad forever. Not even death can stop Luffy.

Chapter 30: Garp is doing all he can on his end. I know I don't really go into detail but he is going everything in his power to find out where Luffy is being kept.

Chapter 31: I don't think it's selfishness on Ace's part. He just doesn't think the Whitebeards can help him/ would especially after his sort of betrayal. And he is afraid of what they will do to Luffy if Teach finds out Ace is trying to side with them.

Chapter 34: It's a bit of a dark story. And it's always going to be. But it is getting better!

Chapter 35: Sabo is a genius haha, Ace is just going along with his plans. They really did forget about Shanks. But they don't really know he is involved in this.

Chapter 37: I swear the three of them had it kind of hard in their early life, especially Sabo and Ace. (Luffy too, but Sabo and Ace took care of him a bit).

Chapter 41: Luffy is going to need a lot of time after this.

Chapter 45: No one we like is going to die. Pinky promise.

Chapter 46: Ace is still an idiot. And you're all caught up. I really enjoyed your reactions. They made me laugh. Hopefully you will like this one too. Thanks for all the amazing comments.

Animago: The Sabo?

Yes! This takes place when Luffy is only fifteen and Ace is eighteen. And thank you! I really glad you like it. There will be lots of ASL. Is Sabo soap? Haha. #alltheasl

FoxyPlayz3106: Oh nice! And aww, thanks. I'm really glad you like this. That is such a nice thing to say. It's really nice to hear after putting so much time into this haha. But it's my happy place so I'm just grateful to be able to share it with people.

Irene Sharda: Luffy has had a really rough go of it. Stupid CP. Fear made him develop very quickly. But more on that next chapter! And I love protective brothers. I think they are so kind and selfless, especially when it comes to protecting Luffy. Ace puts them over everything. I'm glad you liked it!

LimeGap: Stage one cuddles! I forgot about that haha. I think we're migrating to stage two cuddles, Luffy is finally starting to feel better now and he has people taking care of him. And I'm glad you liked the chapter. Thatch has such a special place in his heart for Luffy. I'm trying to find places for Thatch cuddles but he get's a bit over shadowed by Ace and Sabo who havn't seen Luffy in forever.

03Morgenstern09: Chapter 32 is my favorite, I think. I'm really glad people liked it too. And thank you, that is so nice.

Jhh88015: Today is the next chapter!

just1randomhooman: Glad you like it!

SarcasmRocks: Aww, thanks. I'll try to update quicker this time. Same to you!

Louve3: Why thank you! That is so nice to say. I'm French too! But only like-halfish (and my French sucks). That's so cool. And best of luck for you too. Stay safe.

creativesm75: Aw, thanks.

creativesm75: Soon they will be completely free of him! Almost there.

Catspirit: Thank you! At least finals are over now. Ace never really had the chance to tell Luffy, and Luffy wasn't in the best state of mind during that scene. Like he says in this chapter he is really hurt and having a hard time mentally keeping up with what is going on. Especially in situations where all of a sudden their on fire he is just scared. I don't think he really had time to think about it in all the chaos. He didn't forget as much as never put two and two together in the first place.