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.

72. Chapter 72

I'm sorry in advance for this chapter. This chapter is going to be rough friends- like rough. But no one is going to die! They're just getting a little too close.

XXX

"Isn't there anything you're scared of?"

Ace rolled his eyes, the familiar crooked smile on his face. "I think life is too short for that."

"Well maybe it could be longer if you thought things through more," Marco told him.

"Well, we're pirates right? Aren't we supposed to pretend we're fearless or something?"

"Everyone's scared of something."

…

Ace looked scared. Really and truly scared. Marco couldn't remember seeing that look on his face before. Not even when Thatch had gone missing, leaving a trail of blood behind, nor when the straw hat arrived, or even when Sabo hadn't woken up after his headaches consumed him.

Ace hugged Luffy in his arms, holding him tightly against his chest, his shaking hands on top of Sabo's, both of them trying to stem the bleeding from the deep gouge over Luffy's chest, even as blood streamed through their fingers.

Luffy was paler still, unmoving and small underneath them. Dirty, and bloodied, very similar to how Marco had found him. All their hard work had gone to waste in the hours they had taken their eyes off of him. Marco felt worry prick at his stomach once more. What had happened? Why had Thatch let Luffy come out here?

He felt the eyes of both boys, the unbearable weight of their desperation, silently begging him to help them. Marco was one of the oldest. Certainly, one of the earliest to join. Oyaji relied on him to do what he couldn't sometimes… like go after Ace, like watching out for his siblings when they were far from home. But when had everyone started thinking that he was infallible. Sure, his devil fruit certainly didn't help- but even Marco had his limits. And he was quickly hitting his.

He sank down to his knees between the two boys, assessing the situation with a sweep of his gaze. "What happened?" he asked, gently but firmly moving both of their hands off the wound so he could take a look. It was a small but deep wound, going straight through Luffy's chest. small but deep, going straight through Luffy's chest, straight through some vital organs.

Both boys were silent for a moment before Sabo answered, his voice soft and unsure. "Someone stabbed him… a marine."

He could have worked that out for himself. Marco meant the rest of it. Luffy was more injured now then when Marco had left him. Who knows what he had been through since then. He seemed to attract trouble.

"How long ago?"

"I don't know…half an hour… Thatch tried to get you."

He was late. Marco knew that. Ace had left him in a life and death fight with Teach. When Thatch showed up to tell them, the ex-pirate hadn't exactly given them a time out. Instead, the tables had abruptly turned and the exhausted Marco had to hold Teach off alone. At least until Thatch could go get some of their siblings to help. Not that he planned on telling Ace that. Marco knew that Ace had acted instinctually when hearing Luffy was hurt, not fully comprehending the situation around them.

Marco had followed him as soon as he could, worried both for the ship brothers he had left behind to fight Teach, and also for Thatch who he assumed would follow him. But the man stayed rooted to the spot, as if going back to the scene of the crime would burn him. He didn't think Thatch was as alright as he was pretending to be, but there was time for that later.

Marco schooled his breathing, pressing his hands against the kids wound. He let his eyes slide closed, felt his breathing slow, focusing on the wound beneath him even though he already knew the outcome. He wasn't a god. There were limits, and healing Luffy the first time had been reaching the edges of his. Everything afterwards- saving Sabo, healing siblings, fighting for his life. As he had told them hours earlier back in the catacombs, 'you've basically used me up.'

Still, he forced himself to go through the motions. Focusing his energy on that one spot, trying to concentrate on whatever was left of Luffy's lifeforce, feeling it slip through his finger, trying to hold on to the thrum of energy until his own heart beat with it, frantic and weak.

'Come on, come ON! one more time, just one more time.'

It was as fruitless as ladling water from an empty barrel. He was exhausted, and injured, and there was nothing left of his phoenix to give right now. Yet still he tried, forcing whatever he had left into the wound, willing the wound to close, for the skin to stich itself back together, for the blood to stem.

He felt it working, but only just. Not enough to heal the damage, nor even stop it from getting worse. Not enough to save whatever was left of this life. Marco opened his eyes, biting back a swear of frustration.

Ace was watching him, his eyes were dark, blood and soot covered his face. Even at eighteen, he looked really small in that moment. Marco remembered his conversation with Whitebeard all those weeks ago. 'I can't help but feel like if we lose Luffy, we lose Ace.'

Marco wished he would stop looking at him like that. This wasn't his fault. He wasn't the one who did this. But he knew it wouldn't matter. Nothing he could say would matter to the two of them right now.

Marco closed his eyes again, trying once more to sense Luffy, to find him in the unresponsive body beneath his hands. It was like trying to catch the last few grains of sand in an hourglass before gravity did. And still, he did it, holding on as tightly as he could. Marco tried to pour whatever was left of himself, into the absence that was once Luffy. But there wasn't enough of either of them to fill a void.

Where had they gone wrong? After all of that, how had they managed to mess it up?

His brow furrowed, concentrating, trying to dig deeper, focusing all of his energy on strengthening that last dying ember, deep within the kid. Trying to coax them back to life. Not willing to accept anything other than yet another miracle.

For a split second it felt like it might be working, he felt something shift ever so slightly in Luffy. So, feint he might have imagined it. And…

Marco's eyes flew open, his concentration broken as he sat back, dropping his arms. So immersed he had been he had forgotten about his surroundings. Both Ace and Sabo were staring at him, their eyes large, confusion on their face. When he sat back, he had done it violently. As if startled.

He didn't know how to explain that to them and as he turned back to Luffy he doubted he had managed to do anything at all. Marco kept pressure with his hands, assessing the wound once again. He seemed to manage to scab it over, but just slightly. Nothing near what he had been trying to do.

"I- I can't-," he began.

Something dark on the fringes of Marco's senses shifted, Ace and Sabo had felt it too as they turned.

He could just not catch a break today. Marco reacted the fastest, jumping to his feet in front of them. Sabo a moment behind him, leaned forward, his fingers scrambling to take over from Marco, pressing down on the wound which was still bleeding sluggishly. Ace was a moment late, reached out to push Sabo underneath him, shielding his brother in his arms just as the sky lit up around them.

Marco swore as ash rained down from the sky as molten earth fell around them. He managed to raise his own flames to meet them, altering their course.

-he had followed them.

XXX

Ace heard Sabo swear, watching the scene from over Ace's shoulder. Apparently seeing something he didn't like-like their imminent deaths. "Take over," he said, wiggling his shoulder to signal for Ace to let him go.

Ace's hands once more fell down on the wound, allowing Sabo's paler ones to slip out from underneath, once more relinquishing his hold of Luffy as he rose to unsteady feet. He turned to leave and hesitated.

"Don't… don't let go… okay?" His voice was small and shaky, like he was a child again. Ace didn't know which one of them Sabo was talking too as he left to go help Marco- trying once more to save them.

Ace didn't look up. He didn't turn around to see yet another monster gunning for them. He was never going to let go- even if- even if there was nothing left to hold on to, Ace would keep holding on. Even if the stars turned cold and fell out of the sky, and the oceans rose up to eat them, even if lava rained down from the sky.

It was more than that. Ace was mad, at everything and everyone. He was supposed to be remorseful or something. But he was just mad. Angrier than he remembered ever feeling before. All that rage he had been carrying around, all that anger he had for the world, that he had learned to ignore, surged back chasing away the sadness until it was all he felt.

He was mad at Teach for destroying everything he had, mad at the marines, at the government, the revolutionaries, Luffy's useless father, just at the world. He was mad at the Whitebeards for letting this happen, he was mad at his once friends, mad at Garp for never helping his little brother, mad at Marco for not being able to save him, mad at Sabo for not having a better plan, for not being smarter then the rest of them, mad at the sun for shining, and the sky for trying to be blue, and perhaps worst of all he was mad at Luffy.

Mad at him for not listening, for letting some… some no one hurt him like that, for trusting in Ace, for believing Ace when he promised to save him. But more than anything he was furious at him for tricking Ace all those years ago when they were just snot nosed kids. Ace hadn't asked for a little brother, he hadn't asked for someone to take care of, or for someone's absolute trust. He was clearly the wrong choice. Especially for someone… someone like Luffy. Someone who was whole and had a seemingly endless capacity for love and trust.

Ace had made that clear when they first met. He had done everything he could think of - almost killing the other- to get his point across. So then why? Why had Luffy made Ace love him if he was just going to die?

For a moment he felt his fire rush to the surface. All that anger he usually kept below pushed forwards. He could do it, just let it all go. See how bright he could burn if he really tried. Maybe he could light up the whole world. Wouldn't that be perfect. If they wanted a monster, he would show them a monster. He could be everything the world had expected him to be. He could rival Rodger in terms of awfulness.

"Even if I had been- you would have loved me anyway." He knew Luffy would have. He was stupid like that. Even if Ace really was a demon made out of hellfire and brimstone- Luffy would have befriended it. Nothing about Ace had ever scared Luffy.

Ace carefully lifted one of his hands from the wound, pressing down harder with his other as pushed Luffy closer towards him. Tucking the younger boys head under his chin, still trying to protect him even now.

"Thank you," he rested his hand on his baby brother's cheek, "even though I'm no good, even though I have a demon's blood in my veins, even though I was mean to you, and even though you deserved better- thanks for being my brother."

He closed his eyes, feeling his them burn with the white-hot fire brewing inside him. A traitorous tear spilled over the edge of his eye, burning up on his cheek with a hiss, evaporating into the air as quickly as it had come.

He would show them-

"Bye you guys. Be free now."

It was always going to happen. He was always going to be no good.

"What did you wish for?"

"To make you cry."

.

"When you die- do you go up there? To be a dot?"

"If I die, don't leave me down there, okay? I'll be cold, and I'll get lonely."

"I'm not going to let anyone put you down there- not alone."

.

"There's so much I want to show you- there's this place, and it's all sand."

Life would have been so much easier if Ace had just stopped fighting it. Maybe then Luffy wouldn't have had to die.

"I think everything good in me- I probably learned it from you."

Ace felt hot, hotter than he had ever been before. Like there was a supernova burning up in his chest. Ready to explode at any-

Sabo collapsed besides him, having half fallen, half crawled back to them, his knees cut up and new blood splattered across his temple. He looked impossibly pale and tired. But he didn't seem to realize it, his eyes fixed on one thing only. His shoulder knocked Ace's, half falling over onto him Sabo pushed himself to his knees, reaching his arm out for Luffy's throat.

Ace moved on instinct, his free hand reaching out to snatch Sabo's wrist, holding it there safely away from his target. For a second blue eyes met his own, wide and startled. He tried to pull away, but Ace held on tighter, shaking his head ever so slightly and all at once Sabo understood. Ace was trying to protect him. Maybe protect the both of them from what he knew Sabo wouldn't find.

Sabo closed his eyes, squeezing them tightly. It was only then Ace loosened his grip. But Sabo didn't pull back like he had expected too. Instead, the other boy grabbed Ace's hand. He opened his mouth perhaps to explain what had happened between the Marine admiral and Marco, but no words came out. Instead, Sabo's chest shook, a tremor running through him, and then another. His hand tightened on Ace's as the movement grew more pronounced.

Ace's own eyes widened, watching Sabo. Watching his brother break down. Watching his relentless brother break down. Watching his brother run out of plans and things to say.

Ace hadn't been the only one who had loved Luffy and Luffy wasn't the only person Ace was supposed to watch out for.

Damn it. Damn him!

Spell broken; Ace's anger fell away. All the pressure building inside of him seemed to vanish into the air around them. Ace wasn't mad. Ace didn't want to burn the world. There wasn't anyone in front of him to be mad at. Just his little brothers, surrounded by his crew, fighting for their lives.

Maybe if Sabo hadn't come back Ace wouldn't have had to face the cold truth. He could have just gone on hating and burning. He wouldn't have to think about everyone he had wanted to protect, and all that he failed to do.

He had given it a good try. But Ace hadn't really been a monster in the end. Life would have been a lot easier if he had been. He wouldn't have been lonely as a kid, he wouldn't have gotten himself tangled up with Luffy and Sabo, and the Whitebeards just for every single one of them to break his heart. But as it turns out he was just as painfully human as everyone else. That's why he was here.

"Where's Marco?" His voice was soft, so soft he didn't think Sabo heard him.

"The admiral… I lost sight of him," Sabo told him, his words scattered.

Ace nodded. He hoped he was all right. He really did. Even if the great phoenix wasn't going to save the day- not this time. He still wished he could have helped his friend for a change instead of the other way around.

"Did you know-," Ace began, "that when you die, you go up there- to be a dot… a star."

He saw the worry on Sabo's face as he turned to look at him, not understanding at all. Ace tried to give him a smile, but it wouldn't come, so instead he pulled his hand free of Sabo's to pull him closer. Sabo didn't fight him, allowing himself to be drawn like a ragdoll against Ace's chest. Ace pressed his lips against the messy bloodstained blonde hair.

Ace's temples prickled in warning and this time he listened to it, once more allowing the world around him in. There was that bloodlust. Something very powerful and full of hatred was coming for them. Coming for him. He felt Marco's energy, so much feinter then usual. Like a broken lighthouse in a storm. Ace had done that. In his own way. Pushing the man away. Making him guess, making him act rashly trying to keep up with all the lies Ace wasn't telling him. Making him take care of Ace's family when he failed them. Making him do the impossible. He had seen that look on Marco's face right before they had gotten attacked. He couldn't do it. He couldn't save Luffy, not anymore. Maybe if Ace hadn't abandoned him to fight Blackbeard alone. He winced, realizing that he truly had left his friend, too wrapped up in worry to put the pieces together. And he had done it again just now, leaving both Sabo and Marco to fight the marine because he was too far gone in his own head.

At the rate he was going, Ace shouldn't have even bothered saving Marco- not if he was just going to kill him slowly with his negligence. And everyone else. Thatch and Izou, and Jozu, and… and… Oyaji.

He would never get to apologize to them. Or thank them. Or tell them that to him… they were everything.

He moved his head, resting his cheek on Sabo's hair. What were the odds, in this huge uncaring world. That Ace got his twin back. That somebody had done what Ace couldn't and grabbed Sabo's hand that day. What were the odds that their little brother brought them back together. What were the odds that he would quite literally get his better half back against his side. It was as if it was the universes way of telling him sorry-

Sorry for forcing you to be born, sorry for making the world hate you, sorry for killing your parents, sorry for killing your little brothers, sorry for turning you against your crew. Sorry for making you think you were a monster. You can have them all back one last time. Just… sorry.

"It's okay," Ace said back to the world, to Sabo who had gone still besides him, to his old family fighting so hard behind him, to Luffy who had been telling Ace as much for his whole life.

Ace closed his eyes, holding on to that feeling of danger that seemed to come from all directions. He could almost see the fight without ever looking. Feel how cold this place was. How dark it was. And at the same time his chest felt warm. He focused on that, only vaguely aware of Sabo's small gasp, weakly trying to pull away from him. But Ace held on tightly, keeping both his brothers against his side as the heat grew. He no longer wanted to burn the world down. He wanted to encompass it. Engulf it, consume it? No that wasn't right. He wanted to show everyone what they had done. How they made him feel.

Sabo tried once more to push away even as the fire crept from Ace's arm, and cheek onto him, spilling out over him, his hair, his face, his chest.

"Ace!"

Sabo's face covered in dirt, and bandages, his front tooth missing and his tiny nose bleeding, "Partners- I like that sound of that." …. "I'm on your side no matter what?"

It fell onto Luffy, spreading out from Ace's hand. Pooling into Luffy's wound and burning softly on his chest, covering him with fire. The flames, soft and timid at first, picked up speed as they spread outwards, tumbling onto the ground around them, rising up from the cold stone around them like the blood that soaked the tiles was oil.

It wouldn't stop with them; it just wouldn't stop.

Ace understood right then. More clearly than he had in his entire life. He had been fire long before he had ever laid eyes on the fruit. It had been all around him. Burning those people, all encompassing, nearly burning him and Luffy. Angry and out of control, nothing but a tool used to push them down with their faces in the dirt and hold them there.

After Ace had gained the power, he thought that he could do that as well. Be the same force of untamed destruction if he needed too. But the longer he had it, the more he realized it wasn't like that. When he was a child, the fire had hurt them. Burning their skin, blistering, and scorching them.

But now it just felt warm to him. It kept him safe from the surrounding world, and with it he could protect everyone.

He had been wrong. Fire wasn't evil. It wasn't there to destroy everything in its path- He wasn't there to destroy everything he touched. It was warm, it comforted people, it protected them, it gave them light when things were dark. Just like he had tried to protect them.

It was just a wish. To be bright. To be warm. To be safe. To fight for what he wanted. To keep everything, he cared about safe. It would let him do that. It let him spread out from himself, into the fighting around them. It let him turn the ground beneath their feet into fire. It let him latch onto his friends, to spread up them like a vine of flames, and to fan out across them.

Distantly he heard them scream, and the commotion. The noise of panic as fire overtook everything. And, with grim satisfaction, he felt the cries of those who retreated from it, abandoning the fight . But he felt it distantly. All of his focus taken up by giving the fire life. A controlled fire that large, burning on so many people should be impossible to hold. But Ace's somehow knew it. It could feel what he felt. Drawn to the familiar energy like a magnet and holding there.

He would show them.

"No you don't," Thatch had said, rolling his eyes. "No one ever wants to be left alone. What do you really want?" Ace felt Thatch's panic now, felt his fear as the flames climbed up his boots, his legs, scouring across bandaged and injured skin, emaciated ribs.

"If you want to touch a single one of them, especially Luffy. You're going to have to kill every last one of us first." Marco's fire felt warm and gentle against Ace's own. He had never needed Ace's protection, and he certainly didn't now. But it didn't stop Ace from covering him all the same.

"We always have a choice. It only seems like we don't sometimes," Oyaji told him. Oyaji held out his hand to the fire, inviting it onto him, letting it cover him without a hint of fear, as assured as he had been when he allowed Ace onto his ship, when he had declared Ace would be his son.

Ace couldn't tell them. But he could show them. His flames doing what he had wished he would.

Even the ones who hated him for his betrayal. Even the ones who had tried to hurt him before. Ace tried to reach out to all of them. He couldn't do it. There were so many brothers out there. But he grabbed everyone he could reach. Covering them in fire, burning against their skin with nothing but warmth. Like a coat of armour.

He hoped his words reached them somehow. If Ace was fire, and if the ground was fire, and the air was fire, and his heart was absolutely broken, then- he reasoned- the flames that held his friends had sprung up from nothing, full of his sorrow, and his fear, and his grief, and his gratefulness. He hoped they could tell how much Ace had loved Luffy. That he had only betrayed them because of this. And he had loved them too. So much. So much that he made them worry. So much that he would always run off, putting himself in the way of harm so nothing would ever hurt them. So, he could take the blows for them. So they would always be there, making him feel like he hoped they felt now- warm, protected, and wanted.

If things had been different, he would have stayed with them forever. Always protecting them. But he had promised his baby brother he would never leave him. Not again. Because Luffy hated being alone. So instead, he was burning himself up, using everything he had, for a few more minutes with them.

But he knew it wasn't possible. So, his words would have to die with him. But the fire, the scorch marks against the ground, the warmth, that would stay.

Ace was tired. It was everything. All the lies, the desperation, holding onto his secrets so tightly until they were pried out of him. He was tired of failing over and over, He was tired of Luffy getting hurt, he was tired of being so worried he felt sick. He was tired of being tired.

He felt that tiredness now, deep within his bones. His flames trying to inch back, trying to dim, running out of fuel. But he ignored that, the warning in his own body as his hands started to shake from the strain.

He heard Sabo saying something, gently trying to get Ace to let go of him. It was probably disconcerting, Ace realized for the first time. Being on fire. Knowing that any moment his concentration could slip. But it wasn't like that. Ace had never been this closely attuned to his power before. It wasn't something that came from him. It was him. And he would never hurt them. But anyone that tried, anyone that attacked them or was foolish enough to touch the flames would feel how much it hurt.

"Stop," Sabo was saying, "Ace enough." He tried again to wriggle free but Ace didn't let go. Being in so many places at once, the only thing keeping him from dissolving into fire were his brothers, anchoring him to this spot. "You can stop now!" Sabo said, giving up on getting out of his grip. "It's okay."

It wasn't- but it would be. One way or another.

Sabo would be okay, Ace decided, even as he hugged him closer. He remembered him so well as the little blond kid he used to be. Looking at Ace in concern from over the top of some book he scrounged up. Following Ace into all sorts of deadly fights, lecturing him afterwords like he was Ace's mother. Off in the corner filling crinkled journals with stories. Too proud to let himself be one upped by Ace. Too independent to ask for help. Too kind to ever say no to Luffy. He grew up so well. So brave, and selfless. Ace was so proud of him. He was so proud of both of them. In his journeys Ace had met a lot of people- truly wonderful people. But he had never found anyone quite as unwavering, or kind-hearted as the two of them. Imagine that. Growing up dreaming of journeying around the world, and all along Sabo had been right. They had had the real treasure.

Ace's heart really hurt, it took everything he had to keep the flames there, but he was going to do it even as it killed him.

"Ace enough, please!"

He had never even got the chance to tell Sabo that. All that time he spent with him these last few months, and it had never even crossed his mind to try. And now, as Ace felt his life force burning itself out to keep his flames alive, he realized that he didn't have the energy for it anyway.

But this was Sabo. The same kid who had happily turned down a life of endless food and luxury to live in a garbage heap. A kid who had not only gotten adopted by the revolutionaries but ended up nearly leading them. He didn't need Ace's praise. And he didn't need them. All those years without them, without even a memory of them, and he was fine. He would be fine again.

Ace had always needed Sabo more anyways. Ace was the one who couldn't live without them.

He felt dizzy, a pressure in his chest threatening to overwhelm him. It felt like holding his breath, knowing you would have to breath and just let the flames die down. But he wouldn't, not for one second. He wasn't corporeal enough to pass out, too far gone between his body and the fire he had grown from the ground. Like he was a tree, sending roots across the whole battlefield.

At some point, Ace's hand had moved from Luffy's chest to his hand. Ace only vaguely remembered cauterizing the wound, some time right when he decided to set the world ablaze. Right when he forced himself to accept that Marco wasn't going to save the day this time. Ace squeezed Luffy's hand tighter. The flames so bright around their joined hands the blaze burned white hot, nearly colorless. He hoped that wherever Luffy was he could feel it. That the fire was keeping him warm.

If he had known that sitting, there in the hallway would be the last time he would get to talk to his little brother…

But it was probably alright. Luffy just knew things. Things he shouldn't. Like how people felt deep inside- like how Ace felt. Words had never interested Luffy all that much.

"Stop! Stop it! You need to stop! Ace, enough. Let go. You're hurting yourself! Ace!"

Sabo sounded so desperate, so heartbroken. It made Ace sad. Almost enough to listen… almost. But he kept his eyes closed, trying to ignore the way his body trembled with the effort. Trying to ignore the way he felt himself grow fuzzy, as the margins of Ace's body began and where the fire burned collided. He was losing form.

From somewhere in the distance, he heard the others. Their fear having been replaced by confusion, and then noise, so much noise. He heard fighting, and from somewhere in that fighting he heard Marco. His voice sounded like Sabo's.

"ACE! STOP IT!"

Ace didn't need to see him to recognize the worry in Marco's voice. It was quite familiar with how much Ace seemed to wear it out. His flames, still tightly wrapped around his friend felt how tired Marco was, how worn out he was, how scared he was for Ace, scared enough that in that moment his concentration slipped. In that instant where Marco failed Ace felt the hair on his arms stand up, his whole-body alert. The danger reigniting his senses as he jolted back to reality.

The need for blood- his blood- slammed into his full force as he gasped, his eyes snapping open. Sabo felt it too, trying once more to get up. But with everything he had left in him Ace held him there, against him, held Luffy's now warm hand.

He heard Marco cry out in warning as he took off after the monster currently gunning for them. Still-STILL trying to protect him, even after everything. And Ace had come into this world thinking himself alone, unloved, and unlucky. What had someone like him done to deserve all of these people? It must have been something really good.

It was only now, as he felt the burning hot heat of the man whose aura was filled with thoughts of blood and violence, that Ace finally drew back his flames. He forced himself to let his friends go. For his fire to dwindle and die. He forced himself to pull away from them. He released his hold on the ground below them, and the air around them. He had wanted to protect them longer, just a little longer. But they had lives to lead, they had a treasure to find, seas to conquer, backs to watch, stories to tell, parties to plan, barrels to drink. They had their whole lives in front of them. And as much as he hated it. As much as he didn't want to. Ace had to let them go now.

Like Thatch would say, We part ways you and me-

He heard Marco's cry of warning as the man drew back, building his attack. And Ace did the same.

He didn't turn around; he wasn't sure he even could anymore. And besides, he didn't need to see what lay behind him. Not his friends devastated look, or the fury and hatred on the marine's face, directing generations of hatred right at Ace for the crimes of someone else. He had seen that his whole life. He wanted to stay right here.

Whatever energy he had left, Ace drew up his fire around them, burning hot, hotter than he ever remembered it before. And still he never burned the two boys in his arms. To them it would never be anything but warm.

"ACE!"

"ACE!" Sabo mirrored Marco's concern, moving to try and block somehow, do something. But Ace was faster, pushing him down, covering both of them, reminding himself that no matter what he had to stay solid. Even if it was the last thing he did.

The man whose name wasn't worth remembering snarled, spitting his title like an insult, his anger peaking right before the blow. He was furious Ace hadn't spared him so much as a glance. But there was nothing worth seeing behind him.

Ace felt the impact like an earthquake, his flames rising up to meet the wave of magma descending upon them once again. It was hot, hotter than anything Ace had ever felt before. Hotter than Marco, hotter than the fires that had burned Goa. It was too hot, even for him. He felt his flames weaken, but he held it in place all the same. Imagine what it must look like, Lava stories high, piled against the walls of fire, relentlessly beating down upon it like a tsunami. And still Ace burned brighter, refusing to give even a little.

Sabo tried to move, but Ace held him there, silently begging him to stay still. To just let Ace protect him one last time.

Teeth grit with the effort, Ace opened his eyes. It was dark, the sun having been blotted out by ash and lava. There was a red glow all around them, the light refracting through the magma and fire, like a messed-up kaleidoscope- or like hell was on their doorstep.

Two little kids blinked up at him from between his arms. Sabo, his eyes too big for his head, covered in scrapes, his little baby tooth still missing. Luffy besides him, even smaller, his hat ridiculously large, tears already falling down his crybaby cheeks even as he sucked his lip, trying to keep them inside.

"Ace!" kid Sabo said again, his voice small. He sounded so scared.

"I won't let go this time," Ace promised him. No one would tear them apart ever again. That was one promise Ace could still keep. Even as he felt his power slip. Even as his flames began to fail.

He felt the wall of lava, hardening in the exposed air and liquifying again at the heat of his flames, beginning to push past his guard, fighting through on nothing more than the sheer will power of the marine with so much hatred towards him.

Don't let go- don't let go of them- don't let go of them-

The force of the magma shattered through his fire, like the breaking of glass, slowly at first and then all at once.

He heard Marco's screams, heard Sabo's own, right in his ear. And still he didn't loosen his grip, even as saw his own future. He was going to die.

He could dodge the attack- he could let it pass through him. But he wouldn't. He was going to stay right here.

"You," the man panted behind him, further enraged by the fight Ace had put up. "You were a Mistake. You Should Never Have Been Allowed to Exist."

Maybe… But then why did everyone sound so sad. Why where there so many voices that joined Marco's. Why…

Ace felt the hit, felt the lava splash against the exposed skin of his back, beginning to burn through him as if he was made of paper. Destroying him from the outside in and taking Oyaji's mark with it.

It hurt-

It hurt. But-

He felt Sabo rip free of his arms, heard the commotion behind him, felt his own blood spilling down around them. And still his chest glowed white hot, burning away everything that wasn't himself, hotter than he thought he could burn, until it was just him again.

It hurt- but not as much as Luffy had. Not nearly. Ace focused on that, holding onto his hand.

If he was a mistake, one that was never meant to happen- then he hoped he was a good one.

The sun was setting, the world was getting dark, and with it came the coldness and quiet.

It was just them, back in the field, collecting fireflies in the grubby little jar.

"Thanks for loving me."

Luffy just smiled, his nose wrinkled in that familiar way, his grin too large for his face. He didn't say anything, his smile said it all. He handed the jar to Ace.

Above them the stars in the sky were close. Closer than Ace had ever seen them before. And somewhere up there were his parents, the ship mates Ace had lost too soon, and all the people he could have met one day- or at least so said Luffy.

Ace opened the jar. Letting the fireflies free.

"Bye," he told them. "Be free now."

Ace's eyes closed, and he fell forward, landing on top of Luffy. Shielding him from the world. Their hands still locked together.

XXX

WAIT! Do not kill me. There's more. Hold on you, guys. Bare with me (yes, I know, my dying words). But I mean it.

I have been planning to write the scene where Ace awakens his devil fruit, and uses it to protect his friends for almost as long as I have been writing this story. And even though I didn't get it exactly like how I wanted it I am still so happy to share it.

The next two chapters were meant to be one long final war arc chapter. But it got way too long. So for the sake of all that is holy I had to cut it up. But the next chapter (and the one after that) are almost done. I will post chapter 72 but only if you guys are able to crack my cipher. I've hidden five keywords in the story that will decode the messages using the first word of each paragraph on the odd numbered chapters that correlate to each phase of the moon.

(I'm just kidding. I will work on finishing chapter 72 today and if it is not out in three days, I will owe you guys my first born (rabbit). Should mine start to multiply.

So this lucky duck is currently on a remote island off the coast of BC called Haida Gwaii, which is supposed to be life changingly beautiful. I went over for work but because of the tides they can only work for a few hours every day, so I spent the last three weeks finding shells, and agate, and fossils, and discovering a shipwreck (and also watching a rusty excavator stack rocks on a beach. But the people here are so lovely, they keep giving me their beach treasures. So once again the BC government is funding my fanfiction writing time.

And you guys said this story is dark. Oda what are you doing! Didn't he say he's writing One Piece for like middle school aged boys.

Also, go check out the amazin French version on AO3: Défenseurs Sans Peur by Merry_Gallehl. Because they're awesome.

XXX

LunaDaUni: (Re: how many chapters are left) Hmm? I'm not sure. If I gave an answer, it would probably be wrong. I think until I get tired of writing it. Maybe 30? Maybe only three. I am debating finishing this war arc and writing the rest as a sequel story because I will bring dishonor on my cow if my crowning achievement in life is writing the longest running One Piece fanfiction.

Mel72000: So true! We will get there! That is Marco's next challenge as the designated babysitter. And I am glad you liked it! I never even thought about it like that but That is beautiful!

Guest: Unfortunately, I think the Teach retribution is going to get delayed. (Because I want to align back with the canon at some point). But that jerk deserves it! But someone is going to take him down sometimes in this story. I know who it is going to be!

At least Ace finally hit a turning point, although it was a bit late and cost him just about everything. But better late then never. Shanks is on route. He will show up in 73 to put a stop to the fighting.

Onar27: Aw, I am glad you liked it. And that is so sweet. Thanks.

I have to confess; I am having a hard time keeping up with the updates on everyone. It's a war, and so many things are going on, but I am still debating how much I am going to show of it. If I did everything we would be hear quite a while. But I will try to get the important points in during chapter 73! After Ace dipped, Thatch went and got help to fight Blackbeard so Marco could go help Luffy. So Whitebeard is fighting Teach, Akainu came after them, and was intercepted by Marco and Sabo went to help him (until Sabo got hurt and came back). Hopefully it will be clearer over next time.

I'm really glad you like it : ) thanks for reading.

VayNami: Why thank you. What a nice review. I think more than anything I think Ace wants Luffy to stay with him (but he doesn't want him to get hurt anymore either). They really do love each other! (Why Oda!). I really want to put other characters in. I'm still deciding who? I'm not sure about Law. I would like to, but it might not fit. He won't show up in the war sadly. I'm not sure if Luffy needs saving or not. He is a god (kinda). We shall see. For sure Jinbe, Zoro, Nami, and Robin though! Anyone whose meandering around the ocean is fair game for pre- series Luffy friendship.

I think when Luffy wakes up he is going to be a little too shaken to keep his grudge (except against doctors). Although they have a lot to make up for to him!

Pause143: You are always so nice. Thank you. Your reviews are always so cheerful : )

NerineLibertas: Haha, when people tell me that I remember how I used to do that in highschooler. I failed so, so many tests. But I'm sure you are smarter than me and remembered to eat and sleep. But I'm really happy you like the story. And that it got to you. It won't stay sad forever! It will get better.

Zahadacem: Oh my goodness, I am so sorry. I hope you are okay. That is awful. I know I'm usually lying when I saw this but for real this time, things will only get better once the war is done. Shanks to the rescue. (Also I hope you feel better).

Crazykittylover: They are mostly being very nice! My own pride made me want to clarify that this isn't exactly my best work haha. But thanks to you and everyone I always get really lovely responses. But thank you for the nice words. Slow recovery seemed to be the winner.

Polars: Ah I do! That was so fun. I was watching a movie with my roommates and every time I looked at my phone, I had more emails saying really nice things about my story. Thank you for that. (I too do not approve of the broken reminder system). I think it's fixed for now… sort of.

And never. Long comments always make me so happy. It is a good feeling to work hard on a story and find out people spent their own time replying back to it.

Poor little Luffy indeed. (And everyone). Thatch is important to his family. They will have to show him when he gets back. Akainu is the worst, Red Dog indeed. Somebody did not get enough hugs as a kid and is now making it the worlds problem.

Poor lizard as well. He will be missed. But he's with his Lizard brethren now with no humans to mess it up.

Everyone is really mixed on Garp. He is an interesting guy. Although Luffy may have been better off if he took a more active parenting approach back there. But he does always know how to talk to Luffy. I also forgot but I think back in the tunnels Ace revealed to Marco and the others that were there, that Luffy was Garp's grandson. But the others have yet to find out.

More fluff en route. And thank you for the birthday wishes! I'm not sure what Whitebeard has to make of the Monkey family. It is very chaotic. I am really excited to get to write the straw hats in eventually. But yes! If Marco and everyone has anything to say about it, Luffy will get over everything and go back to his happy go lucky self.

Aww, a me compliment. Wow, thank you. I feel honored. I'm lucky I got to meet so many kick ass biology chicks to look up too. You are too nice. I will definitely finish their story unless the bear that lives in my back yard gets me first : )

Special Wings: Oh my goodness, that was quite a commitment. This story is embarrassingly long. I am so glad to hear you enjoyed it. Even after a marathon read.

Eternal She-Wolf: Thank you! Hopefully I can get Ao3 updated as soon as possible. EITDOP is next up on my update list. I just want to save Luffy here first haha, then we will go reunite him with Ace.

That is why I love Ace so much. As a kid he was the sweetest, kindest, lil psycho ever. Marco does not get paid enough for any of this. It's a labor of love for him. Ace's ensuing meltdown and recovery is going to take a long time. But we are almost there. (Does Luffy know Ace or what!)

Ppleater: Why thanks. Slow recovery is the winner. Luffy will get all the TLC. I will do my best : )

Kitsune Foxfire: Hello! Ooh, that is not a vote of confidence for . Tween me will forever love this site, but it is quite faulty isn't it. Sorry it is kind of sad right now. But I am glad you liked it! We will get there.

Merry Gallehl: Aw, of course. Oh damn! Why thank you. (I apologize in advance for the spelling mistakes. I should fix it… but it's so much work.) But I really appreciate it. I am sure who ever was having a hard time with the English version will too!

ASXCE: I would love that. It would be such a cool scene. And Luffy would forever have bragging rights over Ace. Unfortunately I don't think a full gear five would work just yet with the time. So it's more of a Gear five easter egg.

Wishfull-star: No, for once Luffy is going to take his time getting better. But he will get better. And in the process unbreak his brothers hearts.

Aimforthedogstar: Almost there! I think probably angry they are messing with Anchor- and kinda guilty. Ace reaching out to his friends started the process! Hopefully everyone understood him a bit better after this! The next few chapters will be all about Luffy and the WB's with much MUCH lower stakes. That is the goal, and unburdened Luffy. We just need to start working towards it! (And I am so glad you liked it. Hopefully you liked the latest chapter as well). Angst I can do haha.