"Fire fist?" Sabo called out.
The teen took his head out of his hands to glance over at Sabo before sighing. He pushed himself to his feet glaring at him.
"What do you want?"
"Answers! Where is Marshal D. Teach!"
"What?" Ace looked confused as he regarded the other boy carefully. "I don't have time for whatever crap you came here for. Get lost."
Sabo took a step forward refusing to back down. "You better make time. Tell me where Marshal D. Teach is right now, and what you did with that boy."
Sabo watched surprise blossom on Ace's face as he stared at him. "You mean Luffy? How do you know about that?"
Sabo ignored him and took another step forwards driving Ace against the wall. "Since when did Whitebeard start kidnapping children? Or was this your doing? His parents owe you money so you grab the kid for what…Collateral? And I thought Whitebeard's were supposed to be an honorable bunch."
Not liking his tone Ace shoved him away anger mixing with the confusion now as he regarded the teen wearily. "What the hell are you talking about? How do you know about Luffy? You better tell me now because trust me you do not want to be on my bad side today of all days."
"Luffy?" Sabo repeated. So the mystery boy had a name. It felt oddly fitting. "I don't care what side of yours I'm on so long as you call off your goddamn men. I guess kidnapping and torturing kids was too hard for you so you sent your cronies. You do make a good pirate."
To be fair that wasn't entirely called for. But he had a bad few days and if anyone deserved Sabo's wrath it was this kidnapping pirate. He couldn't stand people who abused their power to make other lives miserable.
He had apparently pushed him too far with that last one. Ace lunged forward his hands grabbing Sabo's shoulders with a cry of rage.
Sabo briefly remembered promising Izo to talk things out with Ace instead of fighting. Although to be fair he felt like for the time being they were beyond talking. Maybe they could pick up the conversation when Ace was a bloody pulp.
He reached behind his back to grab his pipe as Ace took a swing at him, his fist morphing into fire. Apparently, they didn't just call him fire fist for fun.
Sabo was forced to lean backward to avoid yet another painful scar across his face. In the process, his hat was knocked off his head and into the muddy grass.
"Thanks for that," Sabo said sarcastically as he ran his gloved hand through his hair. He felt oddly naked without his hat. It did wonders for hiding his scar, something which both attracted a lot of attention and made him stand out. Two terrible traits for revolutionaries to possess.
He braced himself for the next attack…only it never came. Ace was staring dumbfounded at him. Not the heartwarmingly furious way he had come to enjoy so much but rather in a way that was making him rather uncomfortable.
"Are you alright?" Sabo asked as Ace's arm reached out to touch his scar. Sabo instinctively turned away with a sharp intake of breath and Ace's fingers paused.
When Ace spoke his voice was so soft Sabo had to lean in to hear him.
"Why do you have his face?"
"What?" He was starting to suspect this pirate was quite mad.
"Sabo?" Ace asked his voice strained. "Why do you look like him? I don't understand."
Blue eyes met grey ones and for the first time, Sabo realized how tired Ace looked. He looked like he was about to cry. What's more, even though this was their first time meeting he looked so familiar. Much like with that boy…Luffy. A feeling that he couldn't quite place bubbled up in his chest. Sabo lowered his guard, letting the pipe fall to the ground.
As it turns out this was a big mistake as the next second the fire teen snapped out of it and clocked him as hard as he could across the face.
'And this is why we don't let our guard down,' Sabo thought to himself viciously as he was knocked to the ground.
"What the hell?" Sabo asked sitting up. He thought they were having a moment. Albeit a very weird moment with face touching.
Whatever anger Sabo felt quickly diminished as Ace towered above him, so angry fire licked at his skin.
"WHAT THE FUCK SABO!"
Sabo rolled away narrowly avoiding another fist aimed at his face. He lashed out with his feet catching the teen in the knees and sending him sprawling onto the ground.
"You're insane!" Sabo yelled as Ace lunged at him.
"And you're an asshole!" He responded as he pinned the boy beneath him. Sabo reached out for his pipe which lay a few feet away in the dirt.
"I'm not the asshole that randomly attacks people." His fingers closed around the metal and he brought it above his head to stop the fist currently heading for his nose. He was pleased to see the teen was no longer on fire. He caught Ace firmly in the ribs with the end sending him flying back a few feet.
"And I'm not the one who kidnaps kids."
Ace snarled at that as he threw himself at the blonde.
"CUT THE CRAP!" He screamed as he blocked the pipe with his hand. "I would never hurt Luffy. You know that!"
"Excuse me if I don't believe you." Sabo twirled the staff expertly, ripping it out of Ace's hand. "With you being so stable and all."
"What happened to you, Sabo?" Ace said as Sabo leaned in for another attack. Ace blocked it yet again as he leaned forwards. Sabo closed his eyes expecting pain.
Instead of hitting him Ace's arms circled around his shoulders hugging him tightly, desperately. Sabo was too shocked to do much more than let out a surprised grunt.
"How did you do that?" Nobody could break through his guard.
"You always pull to your right, Ace muttered into his shoulder pulling him closer. "You idiot."
His throat felt dry. "You know me?"
"Of course I do moron. Do you think I wouldn't recognize my own brother? Although I can't say the same about you."
Sabo didn't say anything. He was too caught up in what Ace had said.
"You're my brother?" Ace nodded again and Sabo felt a growing wet spot on his shoulder as the other teen began to shake.
"Yea but… just shut up for a second okay?"
Unable to think of anything else intelligent to say Sabo kept his mouth closed. He had no idea what to do. They had never covered this in his training. In fact, he wasn't very good with the whole touchy-feely-emotions thing. Up until now, it hadn't really been a problem.
After a few increasingly awkward minuets, Ace finally pulled away wiping his eyes hastily with the back of his hand. Although it was pointless as the tears weren't stopping.
"Go ahead and laugh," He said bitterly as his shoulders shook.
"Why would I laugh?" Sabo was very confused and laughing was the last thing he felt like doing.
Ace regarded him carefully. "You really don't know me?"
Sabo shook his head covering his scar with one hand. "I don't remember much of anything about my old life. Until recently he thought it had been a blessing. But right now looking at the crying teenager he would give almost anything to understand.
He looked at him up and down before making a face. "Are you sure we're related? Because I'm pretty blond and you're kinda not?"
Ace laughed through his tears. "No idiot we're not related but you hate your parents. We both do. You and Lu are the closest thing I have to family."
Sabo frowned, "Lu?"
"Luffy." Ace reminded him. "Our little brother."
"Wait there's another one!" This was the strangest conversation Sabo had ever had. Ace was telling him about his own family like it was a polite conversation.
"Why should I trust you?" If there's one thing Sabo had learned after all these years it was that people always lied.
Ace leaned against the wall beside him, laying his head back. He let out a small twisted laugh as he looked up at the sky.
"God help me, Lu," he muttered. "I am having a really weird day."
"You and me both."
"You have a scar on your right ankle from where a fox bit you."
Sabo pulled his pants up with a small huh. He had wondered where he got that.
"Your favorite color is… or at least used to be blue. People tend to annoy you but you always put up with them because you're a nice person. You're super smart but you claim it's more because you work hard than natural talent. You hate nobles and injustice and your favorite food is stew although you're not really picky. You don't care much for sweet things but you will eat almost anything. And like I said before you favor your right side leaving your left open for attacks."
They were silent for a moment before Sabo sighed. "This is so weird." He had never told that stuff to anyone. And here was a complete stranger who apparently knew everything about him despite Sabo hardly knowing his name.
"And it just keeps on getting weirder." Ace sighed as he slid down the wall.
"How do you know all that?"
"I told you Sab, I'm your brother. What don't I know about you guys?"
Ace buried his face in his knees with a groan. "Fuck Sabo I really messed up. I broke my promise."
Sabo sat down beside him wordlessly. He didn't quite know what to say. He had never been in a situation like this before. He was still trying to wrap his head around the whole family thing. Although the reason he had left in the first place was because he had felt a kinship with that kid, Luffy or something. He hadn't been expecting to actually find something let alone a mystery family who knew all his secrets before he did. This was what he wanted right? Maybe. But then why didn't he feel happy? Instead, he felt weirded out, like he was having a very odd dream and it was time to wake up now. Instead of being happy, he felt really sad.
"What promise?" He asked finally.
"I told you I would look after Luffy while you were gone."
"Oh, Sabo said feeling stupid. That was a promise he didn't remember making.
"And if you haven't noticed I didn't. A lying maniacal psychopath has him."
"Marshal D. Teach," Sabo said as the pieces came together. "He took your brother!"
"Our brother." Ace reminded him with a small grin which the blonde returned.
"He took our brother." The word felt alien on his tongue. "Why though? Because you were his superior?"
Ace sighed as he looked at Sabo honestly. "This is so strange."
"Tell me about it." Sabo said, "I mean why target you specifically?"
Ace shook his head. "No, it's weird that my best friend in the whole world doesn't know me."
"I thought you were my brother?"
"See!" he groaned, I can't believe I have to explain this to you of all people."
Sabo huffed, "Well sorry you're having a hard time with this. I have no idea what that feels like." He said sarcastically.
"I see you kept your sarcasm," Ace said.
"And I see you kept your freckles. Bet you thought you were going to outgrow them huh?"
"Leave my freckles alone, they were a gift from my mother."
"One that keeps on giving."
"Watch it Outlook. If you could remember what your parents looked like you wouldn't be giving me such a hard time. Talk about potato heads."
Sabo smiled at that, a real smile this time. "Thank god for amnesia I guess."
"I guess," Ace echoed softer.
"Can I tell you a secret?"
Sabo blinked taken back. "What are we- kids?"
"No if we were kids you would already know and I wouldn't have had to tell you but since you so conveniently forgot I need to retell you. But only like five people know so you have to keep it a secret."
"Alright," Sabo loved a good secret.
"You asked me why Teach went after me specifically. Well Gol D. Rodger is my dad. I think he wanted to use that to leverage his ego."
Well, that escalated quickly. Sabo had been hoping for something very different.
"Why would you tell me that?" He asked. That seemed very reckless. "So many people would love to use that against you."
"I'm in this mess because someone is using it against me." Ace reminded him. "And you were one of the five who knew anyways."
"How do you know you can trust me?" Sabo challenged. "What if I changed since we were kids?"
"Don't be stupid," Ace told him as he stared at his boots. "Memories or not you'll always be my brother."
After a second he looked back up at the blonde a smile on his face. "God I missed you. More than you could possibly imagine."
Sabo looked down at his scarred wrist, peeking out from his glove. "Even without my memories?"
Ace nodded.
"Evening without my charming good looks?"
Ace nodded again, "Even with your sarcasm intact of course Sabo."
Sabo remembered his dream of the three of them sleeping on that warm summer night. He could feel the hot breeze and see the stars above the leaves and he had felt very full. He always thought it was weird that he scarfed down his food so protectively even though no one had ever dreamed about taking it. When he was little he hadn't liked sleeping in the beds. They had felt so big and empty to him. Maybe in his own way, he had missed Ace as well.
"Sabo I need your help," Ace said carefully. "You're the only one who can help me. You're the only one I will ever ask to help me. Without you my friends will die."
Sabo looked up at him, "we're going to get Luffy back right?"
"Of course."
"Then I'm in."
XXX
Luffy's legs gave another shake as he fell once again onto his knees. He saw black spots dance across his vision but he pushed them aside in order to stand back up. He was not a quitter. Especially when Thatch was relying on him.
He had snagged the keys from chess teeth so those nasty armbands were finally gone. That had helped a great deal but he still felt lightheaded and weak. At least he could finally use his powers now.
He pressed his knuckles to the floor using shaky arms as leverage to stand back up. He used the walls to steady himself as he once again took off toward the prison cells.
He had forgotten how stale the air was and how cold and dark it was at the bottom of the ship. The floors were always flooded making him nearly double over the second he stepped in it. He leaned heavily against the railing as his fingers fumbled with the keys.
"Thatch!" Luffy called as loudly as he dared. He received no answer. He swung the door open met with darkness.
"Thatch?"
"Who?"
Luffy let out a sigh of relief as he made his way into the room letting his eyes adjust. He had been seriously worried Thatch hadn't made it through the voyage. His shaking hands felt along the wall like a blind man.
The man was leaning against a pillar in the center of the room. His foot was shackled to the wall but aside from that he was free. Apparently, he hadn't pissed Blackbeard off as much as Luffy had.
"Are you okay?" Luffy asked crouching down beside him. He felt his forehead only to find Thatch was still running hot.
"Marco?" Thatch asked as he brought a hand up to feel Luffy's face. Luffy pushed it away in annoyance as he pulled out his medicine.
"I think you're sick." He pushed the medicine to the man's lips but he pushed Luffy away with a grunt.
"Marine then?"
Luffy frowned. He had no clue what he was talking about. What was a Marco? It sounded tasty. His stomach growled loudly.
"I'm not a dumb marine." He huffed, "Drink this and you'll feel better."
Thatch ignored him as his fingers trailed over Luffy's face.
"Ace?"
Luffy froze at that. He wished he could say yea, he was his fearless and strong older brother who would get them out of here. But no, he was just Luffy. Still too weak and young to take on Blackbeard. Instead, he had to run and hide like a coward.
"It's Luffy." He told him. "We're friends remember."
Thatch smiled at that as he let his arms fall to the floor, trusting. "Luffy!"
Luffy leaned forwards and helped him drink the medicine. He hoped it would make Thatch feel better because the way he was right now Luffy doubted he could walk much less run if he had to. Usually, Luffy would be able to help him but at the moment his trembling legs could barely carry his own weight much less anyone else's.
He sat down frustrated, throwing the now empty medicine bottle to the floor. What now? Sit here and cry like the little kid Blackbeard seemed to think he was. No way.
If he couldn't bring Thatch to a doctor he would bring one to the man. Even if it cost him his freedom.
'Sorry Ace.' He thought as he stood up. He may not make it out of this after all. But Luffy didn't like to think about those things. The universe was funny and unlike countless others he didn't claim to know what was going on ever. But if there was one thing he did believe in it was his older brother. When Ace set his mind to something not even the universe could protest. He was stubborn like that.
XXX
One Piece Fan Forever: Poor Luffy indeed
Astoria Lilika: I shall absolutely keep writing! Thank you for reading.
dkop21: Thank you!
ThisIsLightful: Indeed! He is a good boy who loves his brother so darn much. Thaks for the review
ar111: I am very well versed in the cycle. I'm glad I can cause people the same strife I feel. Hopefully there was enough angst in the reunion.
EnixFairy: I'm glad you like the story Yes! He is free of the cuffs. Yea Thatch is pretty stationary. But Luffy shall stick by him as resident cinnamon roll. I think if you sprain your ankle one more time you will set some sort of record. I agree with your sentiment about school subjects except my feeling towards math are a little more negative but English is chill. And I think it's more along the lines of "FUUUUUUCK Chemistry!". Aww thank you for the complement. Hopefully this chapter will live up to the hype.
Kenzela: Haha. I don't think s too sneaky here I think everyone is just drunk. But Luffy seems to adapt quickly when lives are at stake. I'm glad you like the story.
Jui-Imouto-Chan: Tell me about it. Luffy only puts in effort for other people. Sabo to the rescue! After a lot of talking. Thank you for the review
Randomly Talented: Yes! There will be blood for what Teach did to Ace!
weep for the empty: No! Don't take it back that was one of the nicest comments I've gotten. You mentioned you write as well so I read them (I'm a sucker for ASL stories) and I really liked them I hope you update. I'm dyslexic as well ad I can vouch for how much fun it is. I'm really glad you like my stories. They are my happy place Hopefully this one was good as well.
Virid Visette: Yes! All the Garp. I'm glad you liked Garp. I think he is secretly pleased with how close Ace and Luffy are even if they team up against him. I'm glad you liked it!
DemonKittyAngel: I hoped you liked their highly anticipated reunion. I don't know if I did it justice or not as so many feels. Lols (everythingimploes). They won't get to Luffy for another little while but once they do everything will blow up in their face. Haha yea Sabo is kind of a piece of work but I think they all are. Your right Garp had to leave most of it up to Ace and Sabo.
'Hmm... you ever wonder if the WBP should just give him a permanent minder to whack him upside the head when he's being an idiot? Nah, it would need to be one of his brothers or best friends for him to listen'
HAHA I love this line. So true and funny. Ace does hit Sabo and vice versa. But I think Sabo is as guilty as Ace for having Luffy in his grasp and letting him go. I love ASL so much. So precious. Your right somehow both Ace and Sabo tease Luffy while still wanting him to like them the most. Thank you for the review it cracked me up. I'm glad you're enjoying the story.
dkop21: Will do Glad you liked it.
leafpool5: I'm glad everyone liked Garps POV! Notice that Ace immediately knows how old Luffy is way back in chapter 2. I don't think Sabo even tried to keep his promise. Ace does in deed punch him. Luffy can hold it together for now. But in a few chapters when he finds something he is going to lose it. 'wink- nudge- hint.' But I think he can keep it together after that. I'm glad you don't mind about the spelling. It's not great but I have problems catching mistakes when I proof it. Yes if college doesn't kill me crippling failure will get me instead. My semester is much mellower this time around. I hope your exams went well.
yuzukikuran476: Keep smiling little Luffy!
BillCiTheDemonGuy: I'm glad you liked my story! Thank you for the review!
Mel72000: thank YOU! For the review