A foul taste of bile fills his mouth as Mihawk ruthlessly slams his knee into Buggy's stomach.
They set a rule for Buggy not to use his devil powers during their melee-focused sparring sessions, to give him an edge should he be hindered from using his ability. Today they are focusing on his dodging, something he is the best at, albeit with swords and other slashy things.
First, on the other hand, not so much.
"You can still hold back, I won't complain," he wheezes as he springs back to gain space, to which Mihawk allows, his arm curled around his stomach with a wince.
Mihawk simply gives him a blank look, "I was, before. But if I continue to hold back you won't improve. And you know better than anyone what it means to have the pirate king's name attached to your head." He says an unexplainable look passed in his eyes for a second, but he continues before Buggy could even suspect what it was, "We'll need all the strength we have, not if the giver finds out about Ace."
That is true, they'll need to be prepared for everyone because both pirates and-
'wait'
"We?" He says quietly, absently picking up Ace when he crawls within his reach, they let the little lad wander around away from their sparring but still within his and Mihawk's range and eyesight.
"If you think I'm going to waste all this effort just for you both to parish…" the taller man stops with a shake of his head.
Golden eyes flick down to Ace and back up to Buggy who shifts anxiously at the man's sudden intensity, "I've told you before Buggy, I'm a man of few things and care about even less, but the few things I do care for, I'll guard with ferocity." Mihawk says pointedly, his tone belaying the monster that sloths within.
A monster born from the kindness of a kindred clown.
Buggy clenches his fingers, careful not to hurt Ace
as a rush of emotion that is too much and too complicated swirls within him as he takes in the earnestness from Mihawk.
"I-" he starts with a-
Buggy's eyes snap open as his senses pick out a fluster of Mihawk's malicious intent followed by the familiar sound of Yoru slicing through the air.
Buggy's heart stutters a little as the fear of battle creeps up. He springs up haphazardly, a migraine throbbing behind his ears as he ties his tangled hair into a ponytail and slips on his boots before making his way toward a sleeping Ace.
"Heyy, little flash," he cooed gently, gently reaching a gloved hand to caress the babe's cheek soothing the little one's warbled confusion as he regretfully wakes Ace up.
"Com'ere, we've got company," he says with a shaky grin, wincing as he hears the sound of the fight outside intensifying.
He swiftly secures Ace on his chest with Ace's bunny-patterned baby swaddle that Mihawk gifted him in the evening after they settled into a merchant Island on their journey for the night. He picks up his own gift from Mihawk, a white captain's coat, throwing it on and making sure it covers Ace before making his way out.
He quietly opens the door peering out from the crack, his fingers threaded with knives in preparation, his heart throbbing in his throat as he prepares for another fight.
It seems it doesn't matter how much time passes, he'll still be the cowardly cabin boy who can't hold a candle to his crewmates. He feels his body jolt as he steps out into the open his senses taking in the large ship of people and a scarily familiar powerful presence that makes his blood freeze.
"Please, no!" He whimpers making his way to the end of the boat, his mind racing with dread as he looks ahead watching as Mihawk fights off his opponent.
"HAHAHA!"
'No' it can't be.
The voice of Garp reaches his ears as he watches the War hero play with Mihawk, his cheek nicked and his coat shredded, but otherwise unharmed, while Mihawk holds Yoru out threateningly his stance and aura radiating 'back the fuck off'.
"That's a good swing you got there my boy!" Garb says with the Monkey D trademarked grin.
"NO! No! No!" He says shaking his head frantically, drawing everyone's attention as they take in his pale form.
"Lil' Bug!!" Garp roars his voice just as loud as it was when Captain and he fought, destroyed an island, and then drank their bellies full laughing arm in arm.
He springs back in fright as the man sorus in front of him much to Mihawk's horror.
"Ah!" He yelps, leaping further back as the man continues to make grabby hands while chasing Buggy and howling about the disrespect of the youth and the power of the fist of love.
Mihawk slowly lowers his sword in pure confusion, his adrenaline pumping and his body shifting in pent-up aggression, he has to stop himself from swinging his sword at the sound of footsteps stopping next to him. The only reason he's not attacking is because he can't feel any genuine fear from Buggy once he sees who he is fighting.
Along with the fact that Garp held back during his assault, he's sure the other is here for something, and much as he hates to admit it he's not strong enough to stop the man at this moment.
He briefly looks towards the older male in a top hat as he steps up to Mihawk's side like an old friend, "You've got quite the arm kid." His fellow audience member offers with a lot of his hat.
"Tch,"
The other chuckles softly at his lack of response, "Heyy, I'm serious I haven't seen Garp waddle like that in a long time, you tripped him pretty well."
He continues to keep a close eye on Garp as he replies, "I'll be the greatest swordsman to breathe on this earth, I can't afford to not be good."
Shifting his weight he leans on Yoru as he asks the question that's been on his mind since the vice-admiral showed up, "Why are you here?"
The man's face is hidden behind the shadow of his hat but the slight smile he can see is fond, "cause that man has too much of a heart for the line of work he does."
"Huh?" He says with a dubious look, the man is arguably the most successful marine.
At his response the other waves his hand, "It's not important."
Before he can say anything more he has to prepare himself as Buggy flies into his back, he grunts at the impact but otherwise stands still.
Mihawk's breath hitches as Buggy's nimble arms curl around his waist as he wails dramatically, "Save me, Please!"
"Lil' Bug!" Garp wails with the same amount of dramatics, only to stop his advances as the giant blade that almost hacked his nose off levels with his crotch.
His traitor of a right-hand covers his mouth with a chuckle as the pompous little shit tells him, "Not a step closer,"
He feels his eye twitch at the disrespect of the youth, with a scowl he lifts his fist, "Just who do you think you are!" He growls, puffing up like a bull.
The young shit merely looks at him the image of Lil' Bug clinging to him making the intimidating aura less effective, but Garp can feel this one's potential.
"Someone who will cut you down if you continue to harass Buggy."
"H-Harass!?" Garp squeaks red in the face, stepping forward he lets his haki press into the youngster feeling a trickle of pride as the young man does not even budge.
Only to stop and let out another loud laugh that makes Buggy flinch.
Bogard notices and lifts his scabbard and lightly smacks his boss's head, "You're scaring your boy Garp," his voice quiet having moved to the man's side once he arrived, he rests he's his scabbard as he makes his way back to the two teens, and Ace
Who Garp still hasn't gotten to see.
"Buggy, right?" Bogard says, tilting up his hat and showing off a friendly expression, asking like he doesn't know the exact time of date Buggy joined the Roger's.
Mihawk reluctantly lowers his sword feeling a foreign emotion as Buggy tightens his arms for a second before stepping back, he doesn't know why he misses the warmth.
"Y-yeah, that's me." He says with a shaky smile reaching for the offered hand, while instinctively keeping his other arm around the ace, still hidden under his coat.
The brat is thankfully docile at the moment.
"I'm sure you know how Garp is?" The man's haki is soothing to his oversensitive ass. It's like the man has his whole essence sectioned neatly into shelves. A calm steady beat.
Bogard continues unaware of the calming effect his presence has on Haki sensitive people, "I apologize for the abrupt and startling arrival, but my commander was nothing if not adamant that he fulfilled your Captain's last wish."
"Captain's last wish?" Buggy breathes having spoken too soon as Ace begins to stir, reluctantly he opens his coat and shifts Ace higher, his face softening significantly and his anxiety calming as those curious eyes pure around with a confused coo.
The sound of falling makes him look up only to blink in astonishment as one of the most intimidating men he's ever met is slumped on his knees, his eyes drinking at the sight of Ace like a man starved.
"I-I," Garp tries, but chokes up at the sight of such innocence, shuffling towards Buggy not caring about how he looks as he desperately seeks to see what could have been his greatest failure.
"I'm sorry," he breathes, not knowing who he's talking to.
No, he does.
He's talking to all those babies who died in Ace's name, and how much of a burden this will unwittingly bring on to the little one.
"How?" He asks, wondering how Buggy got out.
"How did you get past the CP0?" He asks not to be able to comprehend and wants a distraction.
Buggy blanches, his throat closes as his mind goes back to that night, but it's not the horror he is thinking of.
"Y-You're doing a good job," Rouge says to him between heavy panting, Buggy's hands covered in various fluids as he helps his mother figure with the birth of her son.
"Shouldn't I be saying that to you?" He cries, his hands shaky as he holds the baby's head and shoulders, a cloth and basin of warm water waiting next to him.
She chuckles weakly, but oh so beautifully, before her face contorts against another contraction, her fingers clenching the fabric she lays on. Buggy feels his stomach drop as he feels her Haki stutter and waver as the baby is almost fully breached.
He knows intimately how much holding the pregnancy affected her, and as much as he wishes he could do something he knows he can't stop her death.
Failure, he be.
"Almost Rogue!" He says feeling a trickle of excitement despite himself, maybe in another life, this would have been his little sibling, raised alongside Shanks with Roger being the protective older brothers.
she lets out another yell and finally brings her son to the world. He scrambles frantically, securing the towel under her just in time to catch the little babe and carefully wraps the cloth around the child.
His arms shake as he holds out the baby to Rouge who forces herself to sit up and gives him a tired smile, her eyes full of love as she gazes upon the small bloody bundle. He gently sets the babe in her arms, his voice in awe as he tells her it's a boy.
"A boy huh?" She grins showing the fire that all D's have.
"It seems Roger was right, the fool." She says her Haki is full of bittersweet love.
"Welcome to the world, my precious little Ace."
She looks down at him with a proud grin, "You have your older brother to thank for making sure you arrived." That makes Buggy shuffle his nose glowing as he tries to deny it.
She ignores him continuing with a tone that belies the full scope of love she presses into him, "Gol D. Ace, I'd like you to see my other proudest accomplishment."
"R-Rouge?" He says, feeling his lip tremble.
"You think I would have taught just anyone my tricks?" She asks with a laugh, her hand not caressing Ace and reaching out for him.
He shifts letting her hand cradle his face uncaring for the mess his knees sit in, in light of the love she is showing him. He closes his eyes basking in the love and affection.
"You are my son, and I know you will continue Roger's will." That makes him still his eyes snapping open at that.
"You are more like my Roger than you give yourself credit for, you are the fun and joy, the adventure of what's next."
"Plus, you are the only one I trust unconditionally to watch over my legacy, both of them." She ends with a wink.
"I don't know how much time I'll get to have with Ace, but I'm so grateful I get to experience it with you Buggy."
A/n:
So… should I have Ace see Buggy as a father figure or a big brother?
Promise that shanks will make his appearance soon, even if he has to force his way in