They barely breathed, watching as the goddess formed from the twisting ropes of water that rose from the sea. There was a brightness to her core, a light so blinding that they could hardly stand to watch, yet they dared not even blink. The blackness of the eternal night was swept away, the waters of her domain set ablaze with colors that they had never witnessed in the bleakness of the world. Yet, they were aware on some level that it was not her who gave off such a beautiful thing. The goddess was unable to bring about such brilliance into their world, not with her own power. She had been born too closely related to the god of the sky, the one who cast the net of black over them and smothered them for no reason other than his own amusement. It had been so, so long since the god had fallen asleep, bored with existence and their suffering. Even the lights of the falling stars had been few and far in-between, leaving those who lived on the mother of the water goddess desperate and desolate. Yet this display, this light entranced them. The wings of their backs fluttered and spread, one by one, white feathers reaching out as if desperate to feel the warmth that she carried.
The goddess formed from the water, her eyes opening and arms grabbing at the source of light as she pulled it from her chest. Golden eyes stared at them, curious and wide, held securely against her bosom. The white fire of his hair sizzled and crackled, burning at the visage of the sea goddess in its intensity. The goddess did not flinch away from it, only shifted the young boy until he could stand on his own two feet and wade out of the water. As a collective they dropped to their knees, heads bowing and hands splayed out wide in front of them. They could feel the power from the boy, just as vast as his mother's but more wild, more encompassing than the sea. As young as he was, there had been a depth of knowledge in his face, and they could only guess at his true age.
Small feet padded forward, stopping at random in front of one of the kneeling men. No one looked up, they hadn't been given permission by the goddess, and they doubted any disobedience in front of her child would be tolerated. They were sure she was as protective as any other, and had the reserves of power to back her strikes.
"What's your name? I'm Nika!" The boy crouched, smiling down at a man who had yet to look up. There was hesitation in his movements, as if wondering if he were to listen to the command of the younger boy.
"Speak," the goddess' tone was gentle, and the man relaxed from his position on the ground
"I am known as Kors." He spoke hastily, daring a glance up. The light of the new god was blinding after being in the dark for so long, but Kors would not look away, not when he could see such a beautiful display before him.
The gold of Nika's eyes brightened, his power wavering and shimmering in the air around him as he smiled. "Mom said granddad made you! I wanted to see!"
Kors became acutely aware of the large wings on his back, of how they fluttered and spread out after so long after being in the cold.
"Can I touch them?" Nika's hands reached out and Kors couldn't help but smile, finally fully relaxing as he nodded and turned. Spreading his wings out further so the new god may look. He expected tugging and rough gestures, but the child's hands were surprisingly gentle, easing his fingers between his feathers with light touches and noises of appreciation.
"Do you want to fly together!? We can all fly together!" A laugh escaped the child and he jumped up, bouncing on the balls of his feet with a large grin.
Kors hesitated, willing but unable to fulfill the god's request. He was saved from having to explain by the sea goddess who moved forward, still stuck in the water even as she ventured to the very edge.
"Nika, they cannot."
The smile fell from Nika's face as he twisted back to look at her, a pout on his lips as his excitement deflated. "Why not? They have wings! It's no fun flying by myself."
Kors hummed in understanding, eyes shifting to the bare feet of the god and back towards what he could see of his back. The god could fly, but he did not know how it was possible without his own pair of wings. Even the god of the sky had needed a pair to break away from the land that bound them all. Kors felt the eyes of the sea goddess on him, prompting him to explain.
"My god," he began, voice soft. "It is true that we have wings, but we cannot fly. It is too cold, our limbs will grow stiff in the sky and we would fall to our demise."
Nika frowned down at him, the weight of his stare making him shift. Nika was a child still, yet the weight of his presence was that of a god. White eyebrows were furrowed, face scrunched as the god closed his eyes and nodded in thought. A sudden smile split his lips and golden eyes snapped open, tiny hands reaching out towards him and splaying flat against his chest, forcing Kors to brace himself least he be pushed off his knees.
Light blinded him, a searing heat ripping a scream from him as his flesh felt as if it were sizzling under hot palms. Surprised gasps were scarcely heard yet Kors knew his fellow tribesmen could do nothing to help him. Even if the gods slaughtered every last one of them, there was nothing they could do in the face of such might-
The pain stopped and a warmth entered his lungs. His eyes opened, unknowing when they had closed, and he saw his hot breath in the air. Nika was smiling down at him, wide grin on his face and laugh bubbling up on his lips. "There! Now you can fly as much as you want!"
Kors gasped, grabbing his chest and expecting pain, but only felt the smooth unblemished skin. There were murmurs of astonishment around him and Kors wondered at what happened for them to stare at him like that.
"But it can't just be you," Nika hummed. "We can't play like that." Nika turned from him and Kors watched with wide eyed fascination as the young god pounced on a woman, Aell, his hands touching her chest and pushing against her bosom, as if searching for her heart. She convulsed, eyes scrunching closed and teeth gritting in pain-
Kors felt his eyes widen, watching the flames curl around Aell's back and ignite her in an eternal light. Her hair bled white, mirroring the god she got her power from. He stared, frozen in his spot as she panted and smiled, hand going to her chest just as his had done. Stiffly, Kors glanced over his shoulder, unable to comprehend the sight of the fire that burned upon him but did not harm. A ragged gasp escaped him, catching sight of his own white hair. His head snapped back to the young god, watching as his entire tribe was blessed with the warmth of his soul.
"Nika." The sea goddesses' voice came out stiff and Kors froze, eyes shifting away from his changed form to the god in question. He watched as the young god blinked, a sudden tiredness to his eyes and limpness to his limbs that couldn't be shaken away. The boy stumbled and the woman he was in front of reached out on instinct to grab at him. She yelped and hissed, taking back her burned hands despite still wanting to help him.
"Nika!" The goddess insisted, the tides rising around her and straining to bring her closer onto the land they stood upon. Kors risked the pain and flapped his wings, bolting forward and letting out a hiss as his palms burned away. With a gentle toss he threw the young god with enough strength to hoist him towards his mother, watching him be caught in a wave and brought towards her, now asleep. The goddesses' mood shifted instantly with her child back in her arms and she rocked him, bringing him towards her and letting his body be absorbed into the center of her chest. As transparent as she was, Kors could still see the god sound asleep, breathing her water as if it were the air. She gave them a final glance, and without another word she dipped into the waters of her domain and left.
xxx
Sabo let his eyes flicker towards Dragon, observing how his lips tightened into a thin line as he watched the Going Merry dock into the port. Dragon lifted a hand to his chest, fingers splayed open over his heart as he rubbed, almost trying to dig his nails into his flesh.
"Dragon?" Sabo called out, question in his voice. The elder paused, a deep sigh leaving from his nose as he forced himself away from the window.
"Tell me Sabo," Dragon started, heavy footsteps following him. "When Luffy comes near, what do you hear?"
Sabo blinked, his blue eyes swirling with confusion. Hear? He shook his head, not understanding the question. All he ever heard was Luffy's laugh or voice full of excitement, usually calling out his name in joy. He knew that wasn't what Dragon was asking for though, and unable to give him the response he needed Sabo just shook his head in denial. "Nothing."
Dragon grimaced, eyes flicking back as if to look behind him but his body refused to turn back towards the Merry, towards Luffy. "When Luffy was…born," Dragon paused, as if the word didn't fit right but was unable to come up with a better one that fit. "I heard drums. They came and went with the tide, like the thunder that rolled off the sky and like rocks that shattered from the mountains."
Sabo swallowed, tense. The room was deathly silent, as if they had been placed in their own vacuum and sound was simply unable to exist. He tried to keep a level head, focusing first on the thing that Dragon himself seemed to question. "Born?" He repeated, prompting Dragon to explain his dislike of the word.
Dragon's eyes flickered back behind him and this time he allowed his body to turn, brows furrowing as he looked back out towards the window. From the distance he stood from it, the dock would no longer be visible, hidden away by the bottom of the window sill, yet he looked down as if he could see past the brick and wood. Dragon remained silent before giving a small shrug, unwilling to humor his question.
Sabo frowned but ultimately dropped that topic for another time, zeroing in on what Dragon had been more willing to talk about initially. "You asked me what I heard, then mentioned the drums. You hear them now?" Sabo knew he came to the correct conclusion, but he asked in order to engage in the topic and ease Dragon along the conversation.
"I didn't always. After he was born, they went away for years, then-" Dragon took a breath, and Sabo realized that no other topic ever broke through the man's composure so thoroughly that he was able to see the slight tremor in his hands.
"When I ate that devil fruit, the next time I saw Luffy, it was like my heart wanted to beat out of my chest." Dragon finally looked at him, a hesitation to his next question that made Sabo pay even closer attention. "Did…Ace ever experience such a thing?"
Clarity came over Sabo as he realized why Dragon had bothered asking him any of this at all. This wasn't a topic he could delve into with anyone else, even Ivankav or Kuma, they were unrelated to this in a way that strangers were, and Dragon doubted he wanted anyone to see him in such a vulnerable state. No, that was unfair. Even now Dragon wasn't vulnerable, but he was unsure of himself in a way that a leader of an army couldn't be. Despite everything Sabo was touched that Dragon was able to open up to him in such a way despite their differences, and he vowed he would do his best to help alleviate the man's concerns.
He thought about it for a bit, Ace never told him anything explicitly about feeling strange next to Luffy, but Sabo felt he knew his brother well enough to be able to determine if he were simply hiding something from them. "No…" his answer came out slow but sure, unable to recall any events that stood out to him.
Dragon seemed to deflate and be ready to drop the topic, but Sabo continued. "I don't think it ever had to do with Luffy specifically, but-" Sabo's lips twisted, hating to recall this particular memory. "Ace almost drowned, and for a while after, I would always catch him looking over his shoulder, like he was trying to find whoever was watching him but unable to. I don't think he ever heard anything, he would have been annoyed by the constant noise for sure, but he never mentioned looking like he was watched." While it wasn't the answer that Dragon was looking for, Sabo could see that it made him thoughtful.
And ever the distant man, he skipped right over the information that Ace had drowned and delved straight into the details instead. "Do you think it stopped? Or do you think he got used to the feeling and simply lives with it?"
Sabo shrugged, there was no way for him to know for sure. "I can't say, but I think it went away. Ace is too paranoid to get used to something like that, especially while Luffy was still too little to really defend himself. He would have gone crazy trying to find the source of it after it annoyed him enough." Sabo let out a chuckle at the end, shoulder shaking slightly and hand drumming along the pipe as he brought it to rest on his back. He gave the room another cursory glance, ensuring they didn't miss anything that was needed.
Dragon snorted, the air losing the stifling tenseness that had shrouded it since the beginning of the conversation. "From what I've seen of him, I think you're right." Dragon put his hood up as he spoke, walking towards the door as he continued to speak. "I'm going to keep my distance as expected, but you're more than welcome to go visit your brother. If something happens, I trust you'll be able to handle it."
Sabo hummed and followed him out, thoughts drifting to the logia user who was stationed on the island. "He shouldn't be a problem to Luffy, though I may ask Lu to let it play out. I know Ace's fire can't hurt Luffy, but I wonder if he can be held back by Smoker. We could never really test it since Ace doesn't have that kind of control over his fruit, though he doesn't need it since fire would be a useless way to hold someone without hurting them."
Dragon grunted and went down the hall to the left, raising his hand over his shoulder to wave him off. "Keep me updated."
Sabo turned towards the opposite hall, a bounce in his step and smile forming on his face at the prospect of meeting up with his little brother. They saw each other often enough, but Sabo's work kept him busier and less available than the others. He was jealous of Ace for that fact, his other brother able to see Luffy more easily with his freedom over the seas and a captain lax enough to not be threatened by the teen visiting a rival's ship so often. To be fair they were all a special case with that, Sabo doubting that any other member would be given such freedom so easily. There were too many politics involved, some that they still had to adhere to, but overall, the lack of restrictions were quite the blessing.
Wind whipped around him as he jumped from the nearest open window and onto the roof, hand reaching up to grab at his hat as it threatened to fly away. His smile was broad now, blue eyes shining under the morning sun as he darted forward, legs taking long strides towards the edge of the island.
He saw when his presence was noticed, Luffy turning to him with a smile so wide that it must have hurt regardless of his stretchy skin. Before Luffy could call out his name Sabo darted down, sweeping his brother up in a hug and turning them around to help lose the momentum he carried. "Luffy!" He called, aware that his brother had the air knocked out from his lungs and was unable to respond as enthusiastically. Still his baby brother managed out a croaked-out version of his name and Sabo laughed at his attempt. Once he placed Luffy down he was able to take in everyone else's appearance, taking note of the swordsman that relaxed his grip on his blade when it was apparent Sabo knew his captain.
Sabo turned to them, tilting his hat down and nodding to each in turn. "Zoro, Nami, Sanji and Usopp, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Sabo, Luffy's older brother." Their eyes widened in surprise, whether it was at knowing their names or being Luffy's older brother, he couldn't say.
"So, you've heard of us!" Usopp who had been hiding behind Sanji darted forward, thumb up and gleam in his eye as he postured. "I'm sure Luffy couldn't keep his mouth shut about us!"
Beside him Luffy tilted his head to the side and blinked. "But I didn't even tell him your names yet."
Zoro's eyes sharpened on him and Sabo kept his smile steady despite the intensity of the look sent his way. He shrugged and waved off the silent question, covering it with one of his own. "What kind of brother would I be if I couldn't find out something as simple as that? You should know me better by now Lu." He tugged at a black lock that stuck out from under Shanks' hat and let his smile drop some. "I take it you're here for a log pose and to restock?"
Luffy snapped his fingers, eyes widening as he pointed at his navigator. "Nami! That's it! A log pose!"
She sighed, a deep and full sound that made it seem like she had already been dealing with Luffy for years despite it only being a couple weeks. "Yes Luffy, if you would have listened to me you would have realized I said that."
Sanji rolled his eyes at Luffy before clasping his hands together and swooning over to Nami. "Nammii swannn! Of course you knew that, your intelligence knows no bounds!"
Usopp ran a hand down his face and sighed in exasperation as he gently grabbed Sanji by the collar to drag him away.
Sabo let out a chuckle at the scene, turning away from their bickering to face his baby brother again. "Lu, your dad is going to be waiting for you on the other side of reverse mountain. I hear he wants to know how your trip went."
Luffy nodded in confirmation, smile pulling across his face. "Yeah, I heard! And Ace is going to be there too! He has something for me." Luffy looked up at Sabo expectantly and he chuckled even as he shook his head. They had managed to beat some tact into Luffy while they had all been together, but the eagerness Luffy showed sometimes still made it clear that there was more to his words than he said. It was fine though, the main purpose was to have Luffy keep himself from shouting their plans to the sky and within reach of anyone nearby. Compared to that, this had been a great improvement.
"There's that word again," Usopp's voice came from behind him, and Sabo glanced over his shoulder to see the sniper cringing away from a suddenly annoyed Nami. Sabo raised a brow in question, wondering what part of Luffy's sentence they seemed to have a problem with.
"Dad." Nami repeated, hands coming up to pinch the bridge of her nose as she closed her eyes. "Do we have to worry about who he is? Is he like…" Nami trailed off and opened her eyes, gesturing vaguely to the sea. "Like his mom?"
Sabo barked out a laugh and easily shook his head in the negative. They all sighed in relief simultaneously and Nami's mood lifted nearly instantly. "No, he's nothing like Lu's mom. I'm sure you'll all get along."
"Great!" Sanji cut in, pushing past Usopp to stand by Nami's side. "I'd hate for our precious Nami to get irritated over that brat over there."
Sabo frowned, not liking the connotation that his little brother was a burden to them. He glanced towards the woman and Nami had a scowl on her face, putting his fears at ease. Her loyalty was absolute, and while it seemed like the blonde could be an airhead in some situations Sabo decided that he would give him a chance. An elbow to his side took him out of his thoughts and he looked down to see Luffy smiling up at him, understanding in his gaze.
Sabo snorted before he smiled, realizing Luffy knew him too well to be able to hide his cautious side from him, even if it was against his own crew. This time he didn't hold himself back, in his mind it was justified. He hardly saw Luffy as it was, and Luffy never minded even though he and Ace both knew Luffy was getting too old to be babied in such a way. He let his hands run through his little brother's hair, his straw hat tilting back and falling off, caught by the string around his neck.
"You're going through reverse mountain right?" Sabo questioned, pulling his hand back from Luffy and letting his younger sibling have his own space once more.
"Yep! We're gonna ride it all the way down it's gonna be so much fun!" Luffy exclaimed, hands raising up and mimicking an amusement park ride. Though Sabo doubted any of those rides could hold a grain of excitement against the entrance to the Grand Line. He took a quick peek back at the others and they didn't look the least bit concerned, probably not knowing what the entrance was really like. He debated for a moment on whether or not to tag along, smirking at the prospect of seeing their reactions, but ultimately he knew he couldn't. Before Sabo could continue and ask if their ship was ready for such an adventure, he was cut off.
"Luffy!" A voice called out, gravely and deep, like time had carved it out of the edges of rough rock. Sabo turned, brows raising in surprise as he spotted the familiar face of an older man. His hair had gone completely grey, posture stooped, yet he shuffled over with a smile, eyes lighting up despite the heavy years of wrinkles that adorned his face. Sabo smiled and nodded towards him, unoffended as he was completely ignored. The old man pushed past him, gaze set solely on Luffy. His brother turned, unsurprised when the man knelt before him, hands clasped in prayer. Sabo sighed, lips tightening as he saw Luffy's crew gape in surprise at the scene.
Luffy laughed, soft and warm, breathing life into Sabo's soul. His brother reached out, hand gently clasping the elder's, this routine so familiar to them that the words didn't even need to be spoken. "Stay on the island for the next two days, gramps. It's not safe for you out there."
The elder nodded, grey, wispy hair bobbing in the breeze as he spoke his gratitude. "Yes, yes, thank you!" The man paused, a hint of hesitation lining his form, and for the first time since Sabo could remember, the elder dared to finally look his brother in the eye. Sabo remembered being young, wondering where such a reluctance came from. Those that had prayed always held Luffy with a sort of reverence, whispering under their breaths and skirting around the edges of Luffy's acknowledgment. Like they deemed themselves unworthy of taking up too much of his time. And yet to him, Luffy had always been his brother, goofy and brave, courageous. Even with the ever-looming presence of his mother, his brother had never been one to think himself above others. Sabo frowned, face hardening as he thought of everything that had changed, his days of ignorance no longer valid as he stared at the boy that others called god.
When he left the Red Force, Sabo had made it his personal mission to find out what he could about the world, and along the way he had discovered more about his brother than he thought. Dragon had been more forthcoming than Sabo had originally anticipated, the man a well of knowledge that would have taken Sabo a long time to gather, even if he did have to sift through the words of regret that had plagued each sentence.
"You know something about this," a deep, murmured voice cut Sabo off from his rambling thoughts and he was quick to glance over at the green haired swordsman, face impassive even as cold eyes narrowed on him.
"I might," Sabo didn't agree nor disagree, eyes trailing back to Luffy who had begun to talk to the man with animated motions, his hands rocking like waves and fingers curling like a clashing storm.
"The only time I ever saw someone kneel like that was to pray, worship even." Zoro's voice was low, but Sabo was acutely aware of how silent the others had gone at his back. No doubt straining to hear whatever words he was carefully deliberating.
"Some people just do that," Sabo waved off, blue eyes hardening as he glanced back at the others, daring them to challenge him for more. To his surprise the swordsman wasn't swayed by his demeanor and pressed on, but not in the way that he expected.
"We already know he's different, anyone can tell just by looking at him." Zoro paused, flicking a quick glance over his shoulder to the chef. "I don't care about what he is, what I care about is if he's going to need us to back him up because of it."
Sabo raised his brows in surprise, taking in their determined expressions. They weren't asking for him to reveal Luffy's secret, not that he thought Luffy had kept it a secret, but they still didn't understand all the signs in front of them. Sabo decided he could admire that, friends who wanted to make sure they had Luffy's back and what he was didn't really matter. "When he was younger the admirals hunted him down. Now, because of politics, they keep their distance." Sabo contemplated his next words, being careful to take in a few of their fearful faces. "People just as strong will come after him if his secret gets out before he's really ready."
"That his mom is the sea?" Nami questioned, voice low and breathy like she was still trying to overcome the seriousness of the situation.
Sabo shook his head and he saw her face go pale, the orange of her hair washing her skin out in a way that made her look sick. "No," he muttered, frown creasing his lips. "The navy is aware of that link but they think it's something else entirely, and that works to our favor. And as grand as that revelation is, it is only a drop in the bucket. If you ever figure it out, if you ever see something you think you shouldn't have, it's for everyone's safety that you never mention it." Sabo's tone had grown hard, his hand clenched tightly as he met each of their eyes.
Nami shook her head, orange hair swaying in the breeze. "That doesn't make sense. That's a huge deal, how is the navy justifying not going after Luffy every second?"
Sabo clicked his tongue, trying to word it in a way that would make sense and not give too much away. "I misspoke, they're aware that Luffy has a connection with the sea. They don't believe him when he calls it mom, I believe that they think it's a reference to how the sea is believed to be the source of all life." Sabo paused, aware he could delve into that topic for a while without answering the question. "We're pretty sure that they think it's the work of a devil fruit. Maybe some unknown power of the Gum-Gum no mi." Sabo shrugged. "However they justify it, I'm fine with, its close enough to the truth and far enough that it works in our favor."
Sanji blew out smoke, head tilting back in contemplation as he stared up at the blue sky. "Something that the navy would hunt a kid down for-"
"Something that shouldn't be talked about more." Sabo interrupted, gesturing for an end to the conversation. Even out by the pier, surrounded on all sides by water, there could be less than desirable people listening in. But the sea was a safety net he could at least count on, knowing that the goddess would drown anyone capable of harming Luffy. He looked back towards his brother who was still caught up in a conversation with the elder man before he spoke again. "When you enter the Grand Line there's going to be an organization there known as Baroque Works, they're moderately dangerous depending on who you encounter, but their real strength is their network of communication. Just keep that in mind."
Nami nodded her head, eyes narrowing in concentration. "Right, thanks for the heads up. We'll make sure Luffy doesn't get caught up giving away valuable information."
Sabo smiled, shoulders easing from the tension that had unknowingly been building up. "Good, I'm counting on all of you. For now lets explore the town and make sure you guys are stocked up properly. Then tomorrow morning you should be good to head out."
xxx
Shanks groaned, his head pounding as he baked under the sunlight. Benn was a cruel man, making him stay outside while he was so hung over he could hardly stand. Rayleigh gave him a harsh pat on the back, making him tense and sequentially making his blood thump harder through his veins which in turn made his head pound more. Rayleigh laughed at his miserable groan, fully aware of what he had done.
"Bastards, all of you." Shanks muttered, gripping the railing and watching the horizon so he wouldn't puke.
"The results of overindulgence" Mihawk's voice drawled out from his other side and Shanks had half a mind to mock the words back at him as if he were a petulant child. He resisted only because that would require him looking away from the horizon and realizing they were on a swaying ship.
"Whatever!" Shanks muttered under his breath, unrepentant. "How could I not celebrate? Luffy's all grown up and getting his own crew together! And-" Shanks cut himself off, head tilting towards where he could hear Yasopp's voice even though he didn't look towards his sniper. "He made sure to pick up Yasopp's kid, I think whether he like it or not he's going to see his son sooner than he thinks."
Rayleigh hummed next to him and from the corner of his eye, Shanks could see him raise a hand to stroke at his white beard. "I doubt that will go smoothly. Awkwardly if anything. Mostly from Yasopp's part. But I think there is potential to build a relationship there, at least I hope so. It's always a shame when a parent and child drift apart."
Shanks bit his lip, finally daring to look away from the horizon to glance at Mihawk. His friend's face was as impassive as ever, eyes half lidded in his display of typical boredom. Mihawk's ringed, yellow eyes landed on him and he raised a brow in question. Shanks shook his head to deny whatever he was thinking but the action immediately came with a bout of nausea that he couldn't force away. He leaned over the railing and heaved, face scrunching at the bitterness in his mouth and the way his body flashed with heat.
Someone rubbed his back and Shanks groaned, vision blurring momentarily before he hauled himself back up, feeling a bit better now that he got that out of his system. The hand moved to his shoulder and shoved him back from the railing, dragging him away and forcing him to backpedal, least he fall and get dragged.
"That's good enough for me." Benn's voice was behind him and he realized then who was taking him away, no doubt to do some actual work.
"No wait we were talking!" He pleaded, reaching a hand out towards Rayleigh or Mihawk, whoever would reach back out to him. None of them did, both sharing an amused glance at his suffering.
"Traitors, both of you," he groaned, turning his head back to glance over his shoulder and view Benn. "Have mercy on me!"
Benn shook his head, the silver of his hair catching the sunlight. "Can't do, Boss. There's a call for you and Whitebeard didn't sound very patient."
Shanks turned and straightened, ignoring the small flare of pain that stabbed at his brain as he did so. Benn's arm fell away from his shoulder and he continued on as if nothing had happened. "He says it's important but won't say what. He wants to tell you directly." Benn gave him a sidelong glance as they walked down the stairs to the bottom center of the ship.
Whitebeard had never been an ally per se, but since they both had a couple of rowdy brothers as part of their crew, one officially and the other unofficially, it only made sense to share information that was important. And that information mainly pertained to said boys. Shanks hummed, blinking and letting his eyes adjust to the change in light as they descended further down. There was no point in speculating about what Whitebeard wanted, he would know soon enough. That and they hadn't been in contact for some time, so it really could have been for anything.
Benn closed the door behind him quietly, chasing away the shadows of the hall and ensuring their privacy. The room was well-lit compared to the rest of the ship seeing as it contained all of their cartography and navigational equipment. Shanks passed all the scattered maps and spare log pose, heading towards the back where a row of den dens were situated. A plain, encrypted one had the line open and he picked up with a cheerful greeting, hoping he would scare the rival captain a bit with his volume.
"Ah! Well look at who it is! Long time no call old friend!" He grinned and leaned over the counter as he rested a fist under his chin to support his head.
"Red Hair," Whitebeard muttered, not sounding the least bit disturbed by his boisterous greeting. More than likely used to his antics after years of these types of calls.
"What can I do for you?" Shanks didn't drop his cheerful tone, in far too good of a mood recently to let Whitebeard's call damper it.
"My boy is heading your way, he has a fruit for Luffy." Whitebeard's voice continued on over Shanks' surprise, not letting him get a word in. "Don't be a brat, Thatch and Teach are going with him."
Shanks scowled, teeth clicking in annoyance as he stood back up from over the counter. He hefted a sigh that he was sure Whitebeard would hear before letting his head roll back so he could stare at the ceiling. "Yeah- Yeah, okay." He grumbled out, annoyed that he would have to deal with that man but otherwise pleased that Ace was coming for a visit. "You have good timing, we're on the other side of reverse mountain waiting for Lu to head over."
Whitebeard's chuckle was gravely through the connection, "Oh I know."
Shanks rolled his eyes even though Whitebeard couldn't see it. "Yeah, yeah you and everyone else apparently. The navy has been sending the occasional scout ship out near us but it's not like they'll do anything. The boys just need to make sure they know to avoid them well enough while they don't have backup."
"They know better than to harm my sons," Whitebeard's voice was laced with a warning and Shanks mood sobered, his easy smile slowly fading.
"Yeah," Shanks agreed into the line, hand tightening on the receiver momentarily before he eased up. Neither said a word for a moment, a silent but neutral agreement cementing itself between them once more. Just as they had done before, they would put up a united front if need be to ensure the navy stayed the hell away from their family.
"I'll keep a look out." Shanks hung up the call, his prior joyful mood diminished by his thoughts.
"Boss," Benn began, his steps heavy on the floor as he walked deeper into the room. "I got a bad feeling about this."
Shanks stared at the sleeping den den, hands limp at his side and red hair coming into his view as he tipped his head forward in acknowledgement. "I hear you, Benn."
xxx
Thatch grunted, shifting his feet and leaning away as much as he could when Ace poured more of his flames into the small motor of his striker. The attached propellers spun at high speeds and he glanced over his shoulder wearily, watching the blades turn at a higher rate far too close for his liking. "Don't fall!" Ace called out when Thatch's arms accidentally loosened from around his chest. Ace's footing was shit and forced Thatch to bend his knees in a way that would be uncomfortable after a long time, but there wasn't much he could do about it at the moment. He appreciated Teach wanting to go with them to provide extra protection, but the loops they had to go through to make it possible made it seem less and less worth it. He had almost voiced as much, but Thatch knew he should be more grateful to his crewmates. He looked back over his shoulder one more time, smiling slightly when Teach gave him an awkward wave. He sat in his own dinghy but Teach was so large that it hardly mattered. The boat was close to sinking just from the man's weight and Thatch didn't want to risk the possibility of it actually happening. He sighed and turned back to face Ace and the endless horizon, resigned to the long journey ahead.
Throughout the trip Thatch tried to ignore how his stomach turned and threatened to wring its way up his throat and out his mouth, but there was only so much he could do. Ace hadn't let up from his maximum speed for some time, and at this point Thatch didn't think he would. He had half a mind to look behind him and see how Teach was fairing, but he doubted he would be able to stay holding onto Ace with the speed they were going. They were at least halfway to their destination by now, and Thatch now completely understood why Ace was sent out when messages needed to be sent with speed and confidence. He could only imagine how fast Ace could go when he wasn't hauling two other people around.
"Don't you think we're going too fast!?" Thatch raised his voice above the winds, hoping Ace would hear even if his voice seemed to be stolen away as soon as he spoke.
Ace shook his head, black hair whipping more wildly. "No! Besides if you want someone to blame, blame Lu!"
Thatch blinked, surprised that Ace would ever throw Luffy under the bus like that. "How are you justifying that!? Poor kid isn't even here to defend himself!"
Ace turned back with a wide smile on his face, ready to argue, then his eyes slipped past him, and Thatch watched in slow motion as they widened in horror. Ace jerked, the flames on his feet dying and fizzling out as he shifted them away from where his power could propel the striker. Before Thatch could ask, before he could even turn to see what had Ace so terrified, he was shoved by his brother.
Pain blossomed across his back, tearing down and dragging along his skin and muscles. He gasped in pain just as he fell into the sea, water entering his lungs and burning him from the inside. Thatch breached the surface, choking and gasping, numbly aware that if Ace hadn't shoved him away, that hit would have gone right through his heart. His vision blurred and stung, his right arm useless and numb from the attack. He kicked his feet, trying his best to even out his breathing past the burning in his throat and back. It was almost too much, and an undetermined amount of time passed before his ears stopped ringing. He could hear voices, muffled and through cotton, but his vision was beginning to clear up. The tears in his eyes had washed away the salt and Thatch blinked once, twice, then the world came into sharp focus.
His breath stuttered, heart clenching in pain at the sight of Teach, a long-held crewmate and brother shoving Ace away into the sea, a black miasma pouring off his form and grin wide on his face. Thatch spotted the bloody knife that was sent overboard, the armament haki on it fading away-
"Ace!" He croaked out, head snapping to the side and watching as blood pooled up from where Ace had been tossed. Thatch didn't hesitate, diving down and swimming the best he could after his brother who sank like a rock. Ace's eyes were open, wide and terrified as they locked onto him, hands reaching out weakly and trying to grab at him, to help Thatch in any way.
They were deep, too deep. Thatch felt his lungs begin to burn, his legs and one good arm screaming at him to stop, to swim back to the surface and take a breath.
Thatch squeezed his eyes shut, ignoring his instincts and giving a final push, finally grabbing ahold of Ace's hand and yanking Ace towards him. His eyes stung and it had nothing to do with the salt of the sea. His vision began to blacken around the edges and Thatch's kicks were growing weaker, his strokes of the water losing their potency. Rays of light danced in his vision as he fought to bring them both up, closer and closer-
He sucked in a breath, air finally entering his lungs. With renewed strength Thatch hoisted Ace up, thankful as all hell that he could hear Ace take a deep breath, even if it sounded like he was choking. He didn't speak, didn't look in the direction of where teach had been, mind only focused on getting them to the now destroyed striker and hauling Ace up onto it the best he could.
"Ace," he croaked, legs kicking harder. "C'mon kid help me out here! You need to grab onto the wood, you gotta get up on it the best you can-" Thatch's voice choked off and his vision blurred, realizing he was still suffering from the lack of oxygen, from the lack of blood. "Please Ace," Thatch barely heard his own voice, but he saw Ace's grip tighten on the striker, muscle bunching and forcing his body up on the makeshift raft. Ace's calves were still in the water, but it would have to be enough.
Thatch choked and he felt Ace grab him by the shirt, dragging him forward and now letting him drift away. "Thatch," Ace croaked out. "You too. Grab it!"
He felt with his left hand blindly, catching hold of a nook of sharp wood and latching on with all his strength. He heaved himself up the best he could, his bottom half still in the water but torso securely on the floating piece of wood. Thatch's vision tunneled, the darkness creeping in further. He turned his head towards Ace, and once he was sure his little brother would be safe enough from the water, he let himself pass out.
xxx
Shanks paced, eyes scanning the horizon. His guts were clenching in worry and warning, his blood cooling in fear. The moon had just risen, the pink hues of the sunset fading away into a blanket of night. His crew stood tense, their eyes hard despite the worry lingering in the air around them.
"Boss," Benn muttered, his voice breaking the silence of the night. He let the word hang and Shanks squeezed his eyes shut at the weight of it.
Ace should have been there by now.
"I know Benn, I know."
xxx
A burning pain radiated from his back, dragging him from whatever state of unconsciousness he had unintentionally drifted off to. Thatch's next breath came out in halted huffs, his lungs trying to draw in air that seemed hard to gather. He slowly became conscious of his surroundings, of his tight grip on the remains of the striker and the cool waters that lapped at him. Salt had dried and crusted over on his wound, bringing with it the stinging pain that had woken him up from his deep slumber.
"Thatch?" Ace's voice was low but equally relieved. Thatch forced his head up from where it rested against the wooden board, neck stiff and eyes blurry as he spotted Ace most of the way on the remains of the striker. That was good. The last thing he remembered consciously doing was helping Ace up on it, knowing that the sea weakened his brother enough that Ace's grip on the wood wouldn't have lasted, not like how Thatch's could even with his wound.
"I'm up," he muttered out, voice constricting in pain and lips dry. Still, he managed a smile, glad he was even alive. He hadn't expected to wake up after he had fallen asleep, but he was pleased to know that Ace didn't have to watch him die. Past his blurry vision he could see Ace's tight smile and the way the moonlight gleamed off his wet skin and hair. Thatch shivered, kicking his feet and frowning when the water he was submerged in only got colder. He glanced up, taking in the full moon and the way that the light danced off the cresting waves, the movement of the clouds and the pace of the stars. He figured it was pretty late into the night and from what he could tell, they hadn't moved that far from their original wreck site.
"Thatch," Ace started, voice coming out like gravel. "Pray."
Thatch wanted to sigh, unsure if it would really do much at this point. Nevertheless, he nodded, letting his eyes slip closed as he bowed his head to the best of his ability, praying the goddess was merciful to them in her indifference. Thatch wondered what made Ace believe in it so much, why he thought the goddess would listen when Luffy wasn't with them, but he supposed in this situation there wasn't much he could do anyways. This was a shot in the dark, one that had the slimmest chance of working, but it was all they had.
"You should too," Thatch whispered out, not raising his head from where he had finally managed to bow it, his stiff muscles still too tired to attempt much movement. After a while, when Ace didn't respond, Thatch resigned himself to the pain and lifted his head once more, muscles screaming at him to stop moving. He was far too dehydrated for this, but Thatch fought through it, aware that Ace wouldn't do something unless he forced him too.
As if sensing his intention Ace finally spoke, voice small. "She won't want to hear from me."
Thatch had to strain to hear him over the lapping waves and the drumming of the blood in his ears, but he managed. Thatch frowned, aware of the past circumstances that had almost cost Ace his life and Luffy his trust in his mother. It was silly of him to have asked, and Thatch mentally berated himself at his lapse of judgement. He should have known better, Ace had never been quite the same around the water since then. Granted Ace didn't care much about it at first, but after the incident, after the next time that pop's and Shanks' crews had met again, Thatch had noticed. It had been more noticeable when Ace was younger, unable to hide his weariness around the water, and while it was much like any other devil fruit user, there had been a sense of something else to his fear.
Despite himself he had to know, had to sate his curiosity. If he was going to die, maybe he would be able to help his brother overcome that innate fear even if just a bit. "Right," he began, hesitating and licking his cracked lips. "Ace." He paused, trying to figure out how to ask. Ace glanced back at him, silver eyes bright under the light of the moon. "Ace, I know how you feel about the sea, it's only natural after all. But why do you think she won't want to hear you also? And… You used to care less about not being able to swim. Yeah, you're good at hiding it around most people but I've known you for years now." Thatch coughed; throat dry. He smacked his lips in an attempt to force his body to make saliva, but it seemed like a fruitless effort with how dehydrated he was.
"It happens to a few of our brothers on occasion, but-"
"It's different," Ace cut him off, voice low. Thatch looked back at him, having glanced away in his discomfort, and noticed that now Ace refused to look at him. There was a wariness to him as he stared at the water, his hands gripping the raft tighter and shoulders hiking up to his neck.
"How?" Thatch broke the silence that gathered between them, his own voice now a whisper.
Ace's breaths started to come out in short pants, his pupils blowing wide before he screwed his eyes shut.
"Woah wait, you don't have to tell me!" Thatch cut in quickly, trying to make sure his little bro wouldn't have a panic attack while they were stranded out in the middle of the sea.
Ace shook his head, wet hair swaying, stray drops of water flicking off and rolling down his face and splashing onto Thatch. "I- she-" Ace took a breath and held it, letting it out slowly and then repeated the action. It was silent again and Thach felt his grip on the wood that held him afloat tighten, his own anxiety rising at the way Ace was glancing around, lips pressed so thin that they disappeared. "I learned to ignore it," Ace began, silver eyes opening and pinning him with an intensity that Thatch didn't expect. "Ever since then, since I almost drowned, fuck!" Ace let out a ragged breath and Thatch reached out with a hand, placing it over Ace's own and squeezing tight.
"It's like she's standing behind me!" Ace hissed out, screwing his eyes shut again. "Every time I'm too close to the railing, every time I look at the shore, it's like I feel her gaze move onto me, just looking and looking! A single tear beaded out from the corner of Ace's eye and Thatch felt his heart twist at the sight of it.
"I didn't care about dying! I only cared that I was going to die in the thing that Luffy loved, and I thought it was over," Ace choked over his own words, eyes opening wide and staring up at the sky in his desperation to look at anything but the sea. "I thought that once a few weeks passed and I coughed up all that water that she would go away, but she didn't! She didn't because I remember watching Luffy's face and just praying that she wouldn't let me die in front of him-" Ace cut himself off and there was a silence so profound around them that Thatch's ears began to ring. He swallowed and gave Ace's hand another squeeze.
"And that's when I felt her just stare." Ace's voice was loud in the dark, and Thatch's heart began to pound in his chest as he realized it had grown too quiet. He dragged his eyes away from Ace and towards the sea, where the water should have been lapping at them and making the slightest noise against their destroyed raft.
It wasn't. The ocean around them had gone deathly still. The water reflected a clear image of the sky, of the moon and stars slowly turning, of the clouds as they drifted lazily by, like a mirror. Thatch felt his breath halt, eyes going wide as he tried not to move. Ripples from his breathing disturbed the water and for some reason that raised the anxiety that had been growing in him to greater heights. It felt like he was drawing in the attention of a predator on the hunt.
"Thatch," Ace whispered, voice so low that it should have been impossible to hear. "I think your prayers worked."
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Thanks for reading!