Law gasped as he shot up, hand going to his chest in agony. There was something wrong, something wrong with Luffy, he could tell, a faint echo of a staggered beat that he hadn't felt in a very long time. His own heart thumped beneath his palm, something he still wasn't used to.
"Water Law." The actual use of his name had Law snapping his head around instantly, eyes locking onto his husband who stood in the doorway, face shadowed. "There is something I need to do and I'm sorry Law, but I will need my heart back for it."
Panic and worry set in, as it usually did when something like this came up and no matter how many times Law tried to reason with him, no matter how many times he had told him that if Luffy was to die then Law would too… because he couldn't lose the last person he loved, not again. He would break.
"And is this going to be a quick and easy adventure because you only ask for your heart when you wish to use Gear 5?" Law chuckled as he stood, hiding away the concern and stalked forward, Room already forming around them.
A wide D grin pulled at Luffy's cheeks. "Nah, quick and easy. I'll be back before you know it, just want to have fun with something."
'Scalpel'
"Well then Lu-ya, I want this back soon, after all, you did give it to me when we wed." Law chuckled as he pushed the heart in delicately, while Luffy did the same to his own.
"I know... Bye, Torao."
It was that afternoon that Law discovered that Sabo-ya had been killed, that Luffy had vanished off the face of the earth. It had been that afternoon that Law had found out that he had recovered all the pieces of his Virve card.
Two weeks had gone by, two weeks of Law scouring the very oceans for his husband, sleepless nights of nightmares. Calling every member of the Strawhat Grand Fleet, Shanks, and Allies and having Bepo follow the Thousand Sunny because he couldn't leave their side, just in case Luffy would return.
It wasn't long after that Law woke to Bepo urgently waking him and pushing him above deck to see the Strawhats around a table on the main deck, still as stone and silent. His heart hammered as he shambled over, eyes widening as the image of Luffy in Gear Five, fire in his eyes, a wide shark D smile on his gigantic form smashing what was left of Mary Geoise and the Red Line it rested on to the ground.
They rushed towards the smouldering remains.
Peru-peru-peru
Law jerked forward, hand going for the receiver of the snail as it took on the familiar features of Lucky Roux. "You found him!"
'L-law… I'm sorry… Anchor isn't… he's hurt… SHIT LUCKY HURRY… I have Law on the DenDen! CAPTAINS' HAKI IS GOING TO TEAR THE SHIP! Law You need to hurry to us! These are our co-ordinates Anchor's not gonna make it…'
Law was up and running, uncaring of his dress or that he was barefooted. He cursed as his brain finally decided to wake up and he shambled himself right to Nami who was with Bepo. He quickly relayed the coordinates though his ears were trained on the chaos that was on the other side of the DenDen.
His chest ached in a way that Law hadn't felt since he was a kid, not since the poison ate away at his very cells. He felt weak, body spasming and bones aching, yet he felt like he was struck with counter shock over and over again.
"Law we're close to them two hours at best, if we use Coup De Burst, we can be there quicker, but we can't with Polar Tang…" Nami explained and before Law could even open his mouth Bepo was running, telling them to leave while he and the crew followed behind, their main priority was Luffy.
Everything was frantically moving around him, but Law's entire focus was on the DenDen in his hands, ears pinned to try and capture every sound that echoed out of the receiver. He could feel Zoro by his side and anchor him to their current location, his ears straining to hear what was happening.
Snippets began to become clearer over Lucky's shouts.
Iva could heal me with hormones… for a price… one I was all too happy to pay.
Ten years of my life… Ten years and after what I just did…
Don't make me lose another kid, Anchor, please, not you too. Please, son…
I'm sor…
A scream tore from Law's throat as the words cut off, a scream echoed by Haki of a broken King, a broken father. He felt power burst out from within him, a Room flickering in his desperation, he could fix this, he could fix everything if only he could get there… his power could reach Luffy, and he could reverse it just for a moment just to give him enough time to get there.
Something in the air roared as his Room and power collided with Shank's Conqueror's Haki, he pushed through it latching onto the source, letting it fuel him as he found Luffy and pulled.
The last thing he recalls is someone screaming his name… and then nothing…
X
Ace snapped his head up as he felt a soft wave of Haki roll over him, a pulse that brought so much Joy that he could only recognise as Luffy. From the corner of his eye, he could see Gramps do the same, their eyes snapping to the lone figure in the distance with matching looks of horror.
They were already horrified after watching Luffy fall from the sky with several well-known pirates, but this was different. This was unsettling… because even from this distance they could hear it. Laughter, wild and manic, the likes that Ace has never heard from his little brother's mouth in his entire life.
Garp on the other hand had heard that laugh before, even if the pitch was different, that the location and time were long past. That was Dragon's laugh, that was the laugh of bitter fury the likes Garp himself had tried to control after everything from when he was young.
Anger he had thought skipped Luffy.
Monkeys were prone to anger, their fury a beast the likes that would rival the raging seas but always controlled until provoked… and skies above and seas below was it provoked.
Luffy didn't bother screaming for Ace, he could see his brother saw him clear enough. The tension behind him was palpable, especially when he turned his manic grin towards them all. "Let's get Ace back."
His gaze flickered around the faces of his allies and then towards Whitebeard watching as Crocodile made his move. Luffy remembered every single movement and action that happened this day and though he used Gear Second to save the old man he was older and wiser now.
A vicious grin pulled his smile tighter as he took off, using the Marine's Rokushiki tactics of Geppo and Soru to reach the Moby Dick in time, kicking up with a Haki-covered foot to knock back Crocodile once again. He made a mental note to thank Sanji for helping him learn the techniques out of sheer boredom.
Crocodile's surprised face was one Luffy would remember. "H-How?"
"I have no time for your petty squabbles or desires!" Luffy snapped with a low growl, eyes pinning the sand logia with a glare. "But I will not let you harm Ace's Oyaji, so stay back!"
The closest of the Whitebeard Pirates, those that were on their way to help their Pops froze at the words, at the rippling of Haki that was laced in the last two words. Marco kicked back the marine he was fighting with and turned to stare up at the kid brother Ace never shut up about in wonder.
Whitebeard turned his gaze away from the battle at the ripple of Haki, his eyes locking onto the straw hat. A memory from long ago flickered across his mind's eye, Red-Hair Shanks when he was younger with a sword in his hand and Haki trembling from his frame flowed into a recent one…
"Hey, squirt. That straw hat you are wearing. It looks exactly like the one Red-Haired Shanks used to have on him." He spoke blinking in surprise as dark piercing eyes flickered to him, an image of Roger flying across his face.
Luffy stared at Whitebeard for a beat, his sharp grin turning into one of mischief. "You know my dad? Of course, you're right it was his hat. He left it to me, a long time ago."
Whitebeard and Luffy ignored the sharp inhales and the panicked whispers of those who heard and continued to stare at one another. Luffy knew what was coming next and grinned in preparation. The conversation continued as it did in his memory, but he did not yell back as he did last time…
"You think I care!? You think that what you said would scare me off? Ace is my brother! I would drive this place back into the sea to save him." He started low, letting his anger thread through his words. "I WILL BE KING OF THE PIRATES! I WILL NOT LET YOU STAND IN MY WAY! GOT IT?"
A soft din took over the battlefield as his voice cracked through the air like lightning, his glare never leaving Whitebeards, even when he spun his naginata, power rippling with it. No, Luffy sharpened his smirk and stepped forward, hand going up and catching the butt of the blade with all his strength and Haki.
The crack in the air was deafening, the silence that followed that even more so. None were more surprised than Whitebeard when the dust cleared to see the small brat holding the end of his weapon like it was nothing, even his arms strained with the force he slammed down. A wide D grin and flashing eyes peered out from under a straw hat.
Flashes of Roger superimposed over Straw Hat Luffy and Newgate couldn't help but laugh. "You cheeky little brat, you remind me so much of Roger. Alright kid, let's go save your big brother."
Laughter spilled past Luffy's lips as he turned to face the stunned faces, grin ever sharp but the beast within was raging to be let free, he could feel it vibrating under his skin. There were still things that needed to be said, needed to be explained so that things that happened last time didn't happen again. Because Luffy knew that if he rescued Ace and Whitebeard died still… well… the guilt would destroy his brother faster than a blade ever could.
"First, the Marines have set a trap. The walls will rise and trap all who enter, then they'll set the Pacifistas – cyborg clones of Warlord Kuma – on us all." He uttered looking up at the giant old man, fingers twitching. "But I need you to stay here, keep your strength for what is to come, your kids will need you and Blackbeard is on his way."
"You dare order me around brat?" Whitebeard rumbled unimpressed.
A snarl escaped Luffy's lips, whisps of steam flicking out from his skin. He could feel his Haki and his Fruit fighting to be free. "I've already seen the end of this war and it ends with you and Ace dead. I won't let that happen. Pineapple suffered greatly because of it all. Your kids suffered greatly."
"How long?" Whitebeard asked after a moment once the words finally registered.
"Ten years or so," Luffy replied humourlessly, ignoring the sharp inhale of the giant-ossan and the looks of those around them.
Newgate nodded and stepped back, shocking everyone further and muttered low enough for only them to hear. "Very well." A smirk. "Pirate King."
Wild laughter echoed through the icy tundra around them, "Let me clear the way. HANG ON ACE I'M COMING!"
"Luffy!" Ace gasped as he watched his brother slingshot forward off the Moby and onto the ice. Completely ignoring his Gramps and the Fleet Admiral beside him talking, he couldn't take his eyes off his little brother, heart lodged in his throat as Luffy tossed several marines away.
Something feral lit up behind Luffy's eyes, his smirk turning sharper as the familiar flash and gleam of Kizaru smacked down before him and scattered Ace's ship-brothers like ants. "Oh, I remember you." He muttered darkly.
"You're the boy the Celestial Dragons wanted me to take care of." The Admiral hummed in bored amusement, foot lifting to send a devastating light kick.
Luffy laughed low, dodging Iva's death wink easily as he threw his hand back, second gear Armament Haki flickering bright. His eyes flickered up to Ace briefly, before turning his attention to Kizaru once again, this attack would hurt, he'd make sure of it and if the Light Logia survived well Gear 5 would deal with him but for now... "Gomu Gomu…. RED HAWK!"
His punch flew forward, melting the ice below, and leaving a gouge. The heat sizzled the air and forced people to flee back as it roared past, but the Whitebeard Pirates and those all affiliated watched with wide amazed eyes as a powerful Fire Fist as strong as their Ace's roared past, splitting the light in two and sending Kizaru back through several walls of concrete till he stopped at the base of the execution platform.
Silence… dead silence as everyone stared at the Rookie, his head bowed low, hat shading his eyes while his fist flickered with flames. Disbelief and awe in the eyes of many, disbelief in Marines, awe in Pirates as their gaze flickered from Straw Hat to Fire Fist who gazed down with an open mouth.
"…how?" Marco choked out as he landed next to his Oyaji. The news he had heard and was going to share dying on his lips as he watched Ace's little brother somehow recreate Ace's signature move with ease and without the Mera Mera no Mi. Not only that… "How can a rookie of all things take on an Admiral and win?"
Whitebeard turned his gaze to his eldest son. "Luffy is no rookie, not anymore." He stopped and turned his gaze back to the warzone to see the beginnings of something else, something that shouldn't be able to happen since Straw Hat knocked out Kizaru. "Ah, there are the… Pacafistas… he warned me about. TAKE OUT THOSE CYBORGS!"
Luffy let the world fade around him as he pushed through, using both the marine techniques of Soru and Kami-e to dodge and move faster combined with bursts of second gear and observation Haki to reach his brother. Occasionally, he can feel a lucky nick of a blade as he allows himself closer to send a devastating blow before moving on.
Ace watched with his heart in his throat as his little brother fought a war that he should never been involved in. Not for him, never for him, he wasn't worth it. Please Luffy, turn back! He watched as blood splashed, watched as marines fell and his brother took hit after hit that should never have happened. He cant take this anymore! He was the older brother; this was his entire fault and Luffy shouldn't have to suffer!
"LUFFY STAY BACK!" The scream tore from his lips, rippling the air and stilling the war once more. His heart broke as he watched his little brother stumble. "What the hell do you think you're doing!? You became a pirate because I wanted to!"
Garp looked down, heart aching as he watched his eldest grandson break and scream, reverting to hurting Luffy to keep him away.
"You only went to sea because you were following me! But I've got my own damn life without you in it! I WANT YOU TO STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!" Ace continued to scream, forcing the words from his throat, and tasting bile as he slumped forward. He swore once Sabo died that he wouldn't ever make Luffy doubt his love, and would do all he could to cherish the child that had saved him so many times.
He continued to spit the words, but if asked he would not be able to tell you what was said in that moment. He could only tell you that his heart broke to pieces and the image of his brothers' eyes was burned forever behind his lids. "Go home Luffy! I didn't ask for this!"
Please Luffy… please I am begging you… if you died because of me… don't die here with me…
"ACE!" Luffy's voice roared over the war, snapping Ace's head up. "You're my BROTHER!"
Flashes of their childhood overtook his vision, their oath, and every declaration of love and care. Luffy, please… I cannot lose you like I lost Sabo… you need to live to complete your dream!
Sengoku glared at Garp as he picked up the denden, eyes piercing down to the floor where that blasted rookie lay waste to the marines in his path with techniques he shouldn't even know. Flashes of Garp and a young Dragon flickered in his mind and… orders are orders.
"Gather your wits! You're making a mockery of the Navy by letting this rookie take control of things!" He snarled, losing some of the control of his temper as he watched Luffy completely dodge and ignore the marines before him, kicking back the club of the giant. "Make no mistake! He's a true threat in the making. Raised alongside "Fire Fist" Ace as his step-brother…"
"No don't!" Ace begged for only Sengoku to hear, straining against his chains.
The Fleet Admiral didn't even bother to look down. "If that wasn't bad enough, he's the biological son of the revolutionary, Dragon!"
The resounding boom after the announcement had everyone watching as the giant collided into the ground with enough force that buried him several feet. Luffy flipped and landed on the bare bloody stomach with a manic grin and laughter.
Unease began to crawl up the spines of those near it, inching back subconsciously as they continued to watch the young man laugh.
As his laughter ebbed, Luffy pulled his hat forward enough to shadow his eyes. "My blood father may be Dragon… But you forgot one thing."
"And what is that Straw Hat?" Sengoku asked, unsure as to why he was even replying.
Dark red eyes peered out from under the hat, a grin full of sharp teeth. "My father, the one who claimed me… well… I come by his power and strength. I am the son of Red-Haired Shanks. Now give me back my brother!"
Author Note: Okay so this WAS going to be two chapters but looks like three... oops?