Chapter 12: Missing a Brother or Two

Time had always had a funny way of flowing. Albeit being measurable by tools like hourglasses, clocks or calendar, a day could pass in a flash while partying, or drag on for an eternity when one was trapped at a desk under a pile of paperwork.

Waiting for Marco to come back from Marine Ford had been excruciatingly dull, each hour drawn-out, without even a storm to distract the crew of the Moby Dick. The days had come one after the other, all the same.

Then suddenly, Time had awoken from its slumber and got its ass into gear.

Ace was ecstatic as he strolled towards the main deck. Thatch, who had come to get him, was chatting behind him with one of the men of his division about tonight's feast. Ace wasn't paying too much attention, too intent on reaching the gathering of pirates near Pop's chair. Of course, if the fiery pirate was so excited, it was because he was eager to hear about how the negotiation had turned out. Not at all because seeing the Phoenix set his chest to a blaze, which was saying something for a man made of fire.

Marco was sitting on Pop's armrest, already telling the details of Mani Lala's deal, when Ace pushed his way to the front of the crowd. The blond pirate didn't stop talking, but Ace could swear he smiled as their eyes met. He had trouble concentrating on the words, too focused on the sight of the pirate bathed by the sun, almost ethereal, perched nonchalantly above everyone else... By the Sea he needed to get a grip on himself or he would start to drool. A change of tone in Marco's speech brought back Ace's concentration.

"And now let me tell you the most bizarre story, yoi."

Something flashed across Marco's face akin to pain or sorrow, but it was gone so fast Ace thought he might have imagined it.

"Are we finally going to learn why you spent one night in Marine Ford, Son?" Pop's asked.

"Yeah, Marco, did you find a nice marine willing to share their bed with a pirate?" Haruta chimed in.

Ace's heart jolted in anguish as the crew roared in laughter. The First Commander must have known this would happen, as he stayed impassive, waiting for the crowd to be silent once again.

"Well, not a bed, a couch." Then, with the air of someone about to drop a bombe he added. "But I don't know if 'nice' is the right word to qualify Garp the Fist, yoi."

"WHAT!"

"Holly mother fucking shit!"

"You don't say..."

"No way..."

"You're kidding, right?"

They all talked at the same time while Marco seemed to enjoy the chaos. Ace's brain had just shut down, unable to process the idea implied by the ruckus pirates.

"Now, now, I hope I don't have to specify the Marine Hero slept in his room, yoi." He said, scolding them as if he hadn't just suggested the opposite.

"GURARARARARARARA! And what brought you to the old dog's quarters, Son?"

Marco's face turned sombre, and Ace stared at him in trepidation. He had a bad feeling about this. The crew seemed to sense the change in atmosphere and quieted.

Marco turned to his father.

"I found out why Sengoku was so inclined to resolve the conflict with Mani Lala peacefully, yoi. They're preparing for a war with the Revolutionaries." He closed his eyes as to gather himself before continuing. "Do you remember last-week's article about the Revs?" Pop's nodded. "Well, it wasn't just propaganda, it was a message for Dragon."

"You mean..."

"They are keeping his son hostage, yoi. He's just a fifteen-year-old boy called Luffy, and Garps' grandson. I found him almost bleeding to death in a street after a marine had stabbed him..."

It was as if a rug had been pulled from under Ace's feet. It didn't make any sense. Those words couldn't exist. Luffy was on Dawn Island, training until he was old enough to go out on the sea. Ace had just left him, he couldn't be in the Grand Line being stabbed by marines. It was hard to breathe. A hand touched his shoulder. Someone was shouting his name. Ace barely felt his knees hit the deck as the world started to fade around him.

Marco jumped from Pops' seat when he saw Ace having what seemed to be a panic attack. He tried to call the boy's name, but he was unresponsive, eyes blown open, hyperventilating. Behind him, Pops was giving the order to the crew to give them space. Marco was about to guide Ace to the side when his eyes rolled into their socket. The blond caught him before he crashed to the floor and carried him to the infirmary.

By the time Pops joined him, Marco had already put Ace on a bed, informed the nurses of what had happened and run some tests to be sure everything was all right health-wise.

"Did he seem under the weather for the last few days, yoi?" Marco asked, knowing the sleeping pirate was fine before he left.

"Not that I am aware of. Though he did look bored and was eagerly waiting for your return."

That came as a surprise. Marco hadn't realised Ace was so invested in the fate of Mani Lala. The First Commander was proud of how the fiery boy had grown to care for the crew, their allies and their territory.

"Hm, well he doesn't seem ill so I'd say he had a panic attack and fainted, yoi. We'll have to wait for him to wake up, it shouldn't take too long now."

"Then I'll stay here."

As predicted, their wait didn't last long. About ten minutes later Ace started to stir.

"Welcome back, Son." Pops said as Ace opened his eyes.

"Wh- What?"

The young man looked around in confusion until his gaze landed on the blond doctor. He froze, his mouth gaped in horror, then shot out of bed like a bullet, almost tripping on the blanket, and grabbed Marco by the upper arms in a grip that would have been painful for any common man.

"You lied! What you said about Luffy! It's not possible! Why? Why did you say that?"

Marco was taken aback by the distress he could read on Ace's face. He was pleading. Pleading for everything Marco had said to be a lie.

"Son, sit down." Pops said in a gentle voice, putting a hand to the agitated pirate's shoulder in a reassuring manner.

Slowly, the hands on Marco's arms let go, and Ace sunk on the bed, haggard. Marco sat across from him.

"You know a Luffy, yoi?"

He did not get an answer immediately. Neither he nor Pops pressed the young man. Eventually, Ace raised his head and started taking in a tired voice, not looking at them.

"I grew up in the East Blue, on Dawn Island. Garp, he adopted me, pffff... Wanted to make a marine out of me." He chuckled humourlessly, and Marco could very well picture it, having met the man in a more domestic situation than usual. "He dumped me on some mountain bandits, hidden in the forest. Then, when I was ten, he dumped his seven-year-old grandson too... I tried to kill him for about three months." Pops smiled, no doubt reminded of Ace's hundred killing attempts on him. "The little shit was persistent, and we... Well, in the end we became brothers."

A silence settled on the infirmary. There was little doubt in Marco's mind that the boy he had met and Ace's brother were the same person. If he had felt guilty when he had left the kid behind, now he felt ashamed and remorseful. He sighed, breaking out of thoughts that would lead nowhere.

"The day I left for Marine Ford, the WENP published an article about a revolutionary being captured on Dawn Island, yoi. It sounded like a load of crap, but it was the Marine's way to send a message to Dragon."

"That's bullshit! Luffy's got nothing to do with the army! He doesn't even know he has a father!"

Flames had erupted on the Ace's shoulder, punctuating his tirade. Marco waited for him to cool down a bit before continuing.

"They don't care, yoi. They're using him as a bargaining chip, or as a bait." The young man before him was trembling, his jaws clenched so tightly Marco feared he would crack a tooth. "If it's of any comfort to you, they are not keeping him locked up, yoi. He isn't in chains..." The image of the collar around Luffy's neck flashed before his eyes. Ace didn't need to know that for now. "He lives with Garp, yoi."

Some of the tension bled out of Ace, but not enough to stop his trembles.

"Y- You said he was h-hurt."

"It's how I found him, yoi. I took care of his wounds, don't worry, he'll be back on his feet quickly, yoi. I heard from the vice-admiral chaperoning me that the culprit had been discovered, and that Garp was dealing with his punishment." He had also been discreetly contacted by Garp himself who had 'accidentally' let slip the location of the remote base he had sent any marines who had dared to hurt his grandson, and if one of their allied crews were to clash with this base, and the marines in question were to find a gruesome death, it would surely be a fortuitous coincidence.

Ace seemed to mull over what he had just learned, so Marco gave him the time to think.

"How was he?" Ace finally asked in a small voice.

"Not very happy, yoi. But he isn't giving up. Told me he was going to be King of the pirates, yoi."

Pops laughed heartily, and Ace's lips curled into a light smile.

"Of course he did."

"Gurararara, he seems to be an interesting lad."

"He is, yoi. And Pops, you won't believe who he's friends with." His father looked at him with a glint of curiosity in the eye. "Red-hair Shanks, yoi! The man even gave him his hat."

A thoughtful air came across the old pirate's face, and Marco brought back his attention to Ace.

"I'm sorry I couldn't bring him back with me, yoi."

"I get it." Ace sighed. "I know the life of the people of Mani Lala were at stake." He stared into the emptiness once again, his face a mask of sorrow. Marco's heart clenched at the sight.

Pops put a hand on Ace's shoulder comfortingly.

"We can't change what has already been done. What's important is what we do now." Whitebeard said, drawing an interrogative look from both pirates beside him. "I think it's time to call on a meeting. Marco, go and gather the other commanders, will you?"

Marco immediately sprung to his feet, walking with purpose towards the door. Behind him, he heard Ace splutter a question, to which Pops responded with a chuckle.

"Well, to save your brother, of course!"

Running through a jungle. The sound of footsteps following him, but he wasn't running away. He was giving chase. An animal was fleeing between the bushes. It wasn't fast enough. They would catch it and feast on it.

Sabo tried to concentrate, to remember the dream he just had, but it was eluding him. Shreds of images were floating beyond his reach. He hadn't been alone. Were his companions the two children in Dragon's picture? Was his dream even a memory, or just a trick his mind was playing on him, weaving together images based on what he imagined his previous life to be?

Unfortunately, short of finding the two boys, he had no one else to ask. Dragon didn't know the name of the older one, and Sabo didn't have the time to go to the East Blue to investigate.

He sighed dejectedly and got out of bed. This was going nowhere. Better get back to work then.

For days he had been elbow deep into Marine Ford's blueprints and every information they had gathered on the base. A few of the Revs were ex-marines, as was Dragon himself apparently, so they had a nice pile of folders to dig through.

Then, there was the planning. How to get in, how to find Dragon's son, how to escape. They couldn't just waltz in and dock their boat. One option could be to come from underwater with a small bubbled ship, then swim to the island with bubbly coral. It had its risks, like being spotted in a vulnerable position, but it was the most inconspicuous way in. Another one would be to infiltrate or hide into a Marine ship. As much as he liked messing with marines, he wasn't a fan of this option. It would be time consuming, and a higher chance of being caught before even landing. Not that he doubted their skills for passing as marines. And no, that one-time he was uncovered after sneaking into a Marine base's kitchen didn't count, Koala!

Anyway, once they were in, they'd have to find their target. Garp had confirmed the kid was staying with him and allowed to wander, but nothing guaranteed it would still be the case, and even if it were, he might be under surveillance. They couldn't afford to be caught up in a fight, they'd be surrounded faster than it takes to say 'revolution'.

Getting out would be tricky, too. He wouldn't be content until they had at least three ways of escaping secured. It was freaking Marine Ford they were infiltrating after all.

Someone knocked on the door once, and entered.

"Did you sleep at all?" Koala asked in disbelief.

"Morning to you too, and yes, some."

"You know, it won't do any good if you fall asleep on the mission."

"I knooow..." And now he was sounding whiny. Great.

"You're under too much pressure, you'll work yourself sick." She sat across from him, her brows knitted in worry. "Is it because of the dreams?"

He slouched against the back of his chair in defeat. No way would she drop the subject.

"It's not just the dreams, its... All this time, I had this ache, and I didn't know it was there. It was normal, it was how I experienced life... But ever since I saw this picture I... When I saw them, it was as if I had just found a missing piece. For a brief moment, I felt almost complete. Then it slipped away, and now I can see the hole inside of me. It was always there. I can't unsee it. I miss them Koala. I miss them and I don't even know who they are. And I'm scared to be wrong. What if they don't recognise me? What if I'm mistaken? What if I stay broken forever?"

Somewhere during his speech he had started crying. He was too tired to care. Koala leaned towards him in a gentle hug, cradling her fingers through his hair while he sobbed on her shoulder.

"You're not broken. And I promise you that we will find them. Once we save Dragon's son, we'll ask him who is the other boy in the picture, and we'll look for him together. Don't worry Sabo."

They stayed like this until all the tears had deserted him. He almost wanted to call himself a crybaby, and somehow this thought made him laugh. He felt lighter.


A/N: I'm back! Thank you for your patience!

Brief summary of my life, I spent a month with my family, my family member who got hurt is doing better now, and now I'm back from my road trip. I didn't have a lot of time to write as I had to settle in the house (long story short, I used to live in a tent but it broke while I was away), now I live in a tiny room that is my work place and my bedroom. And I also had a tonne of work.

Gosh, was it hard to get back into writing. I had to chip away at it, and I don't know how I feel about some parts of this chapter, but at least it's finally out!

I might start to take more time in between each chapter as I'm a bit busy lately.

Anyway thanks for reading.

Until next time mes petits sucre-d'orges