Loguetown was chaos, people murmuring in excitement over the upcoming execution of his Captain, of the Love of his Life and Rayleigh felt sick. He wanted to scream and rage, to tear the throats out of all who even dared to utter their pleasure of his death… but Rayleigh promised, he swore that he wouldn't go off the rails, that he would be here and find their sons who had snuck away to say goodbye.
This was not the place for Red and Blue, but they had to be here, it was an important stepping stone in their timeline. This was the turning point, the one that Roger had prepared them for since that fateful, agonizing day on Laugh Tale. Rayleigh had tried to fight the decision, tried to get Roger to change his mind and let them leave with him and stay with Rouge, but he refused, said he had a feeling that it happened in every lifetime if they wanted it to or not.
He tuned out the speech, eyes locked on his love, his captain through the crowd under the heavy cloak he had opted to wear, hiding away his features and golden hair. He knew Momora was here somewhere amongst the crowd, his Haki bright in Rayleigh's mind and devil fruit in full transformation. He was the safest of them all, no one but the Roger Pirates knew that he even had a Akuma no Mi. His task would be one of the hardest, gathering intel, taking over the underworld and playing nice with the very people who were causing their family pain.
The rest of the crew had split back to their home seas in waiting, their eyes and ears to the ground for any news of what was to come and setting up information networks. They needed to be ready for the news of the Fruit that Shanks must find and pass onto a son who would be Roger's legacy and who had changed their stubborn captain's mind so easily.
"Rayleigh, it's almost time," Crocus uttered soft, watery. "He would not want you to see this, you know that, it's bad enough the kids are. We need to go make the preparations for Blue and Red while everyone is distracted."
Closing his eyes Rayleigh nodded and turned away just as his love's knees hit the wood of the execution platform. Garp's voice was loud, booming over the shouting people and crews, a steady thing but Rayleigh could hear the sadness in his Voice. Garp was their friend, one of the only good Marines that they could trust and tolerate besides Sengoku and Tsuru. Rayleigh knew how much this was killing him inside, knew since the moment Roger brought Garp in on the plan because it was his grandson too.
Turning his back on his love felt wrong, and leaving their sons to watch said execution also felt wrong, but they couldn't have stopped them. They did try and still, somehow, Red and Blue ended up here. The harbour was filled with ships, some familiar, some not, he could see several rookie ships bobbing along, Mihawks and Crocodiles amongst them.
His Captain's voice roared through the streets of his birth, a wave of his haki surrounding him. I'm sorry, I love you, forgive me, I love you, I love you, free, free, free… Then the world stilled for a moment, silence, complete and utter silence before Rayleigh was falling to his knees, doubling over as he sucked in a ragged breath and screamed .
Roger's voice was gone. The space within Rayleigh's heart, his soul that was wholly his Captain, a bright bubbling cheeky warmth was now hollow, empty . His love, his husband was gone. He screamed into the rotting wood of the docks, barely acknowledging as Crocus threw him over his shoulder and carried him away from prying eyes.
He could hardly breathe, his throat raw from his screams, tongue coated in copper. He was a first mate without a captain, a soul shared with two others now only down to one. He longed for a bottle, he longed for the embrace of oblivion but he promised. He promised that he wouldn't let his grief consume him and their sons to think they were abandoned. That was the only way Rayleigh could rein it all in, to pull his grief back and bury it down, down, down, till he was numb, so he could function.
"Are you with me again Ray?" Crocus asked worried, hands speckled with red, tears rolling down his cheeks. The little shack that he was pulled into was a disaster, everything shattered and it was only now that Rayleigh could feel every cut and wound on his person.
Oh… he lost control in his grief, Haki flaring wild and shattering the sea rotten wood and all within. "I'm with you… how… how long was I not myself?"
"A few hours," Crocus replied hesitantly and Rayleigh shot to his feet, observation flaring.
Loguetown was emptier than before, so many voices that screamed and raved in greed for the One Piece and the death of his Captain were gone . He couldn't feel Momora anymore, nor could he sense Red only Blue. A slew of curses escaped him as he ran, towards Blue, towards his son whose voice was awashed in grief and loathing, so dark and twisted that Rayleigh was panicking.
"Blue!" He breathed as he skidded across rain-slicked cobblestone to see Blue curled up in an alley, tucked hidden away between two trashcans and crates.
Frightened, red-rimmed eyes snapped up at the name, blue locking on silver and lighting with grief and relief. Buggy scrambled out from his hiding spot, sobs shaking his frame as Rayleigh crashed to his knees and pulled him close. "Ray-san!"
"Thank the seas you're okay, are you hurt? Where's your brother?" Rayleigh asked after a beat, pulling back enough to look at his son who was rubbing at his eyes as the rain continued to pour.
"Shanks is gone… We had a fight… He was… he was the important one… I thought we were alone and I pushed him away 'cause the captain had plans and he… he was the important one." Buggy sobbed out, his heart breaking and causing Rayleigh to curse in his mind.
Roger was adamant that the boys never knew, it would change the path too much and it couldn't be risked. Rayleigh thought otherwise, always thought the boys deserved to know about Luffy, about Laugh Tale beyond the fraction of what they shared. He should have known Buggy would overhear them when he practised using his devil fruit.
"Kid, Blue… no. Fuck, we should have told you. Come on, we need to leave." He gathered his son close, wrapping his cloak around him and made his way back towards where Crocus and he had readied the boats for their escape. He flung his observation out far in desperation to find Shanks, only to find nothing, Red was gone and he only hoped that this didn't cause a ripple effect.
Crocus jolted in surprise from the deck of his small ship as Rayleigh jumped from the docks onto the deck of what was his and the boy's ship with only Blue in his arms.
"What's happened? Where's Shanks?" Crocus asked with wide eyes, hands letting the rigging go as he turned to look back towards Loguetown.
"Gone, his Voice is no longer on the island. The plan stays the same, be safe old friend!" Rayleigh called as he placed a sobbing Buggy against the mast and began to unfurl the sail and pull up the anchor. "Keep an eye out you hear me! I'll see you soon when it's safe."
Crocus waved off with an affirmative, echoing back the statement as Rayleigh pushed the small boat into the current away from Loguetown and back into the East Blue, towards a relatively safe island. His heart ached as he glanced back, watching the island grow smaller in the distance, praying that Garp would follow Roger's last request and get to their wife in time.
When he deemed it safe he tied off the ropes and let them drift, East Blue was safer than any other sea and though claimed to be the most peaceful, Rayleigh knew better, but no pirate from here would even come close to surprising him or last in a fight with him. He wouldn't even allow them to get close while he comforts his son.
"Blue, son, I'm sorry… I'm sorry for making you think that for so long. Your role in the upcoming years is important too." Rayleigh sighed as he slid down the wall of the small little shack that was only just big enough to keep them sheltered.
Buggy scoffed, rubbing his eyes. "That's a lie, I was never the important one, the favoured one. Shanks was Captain's heir, always was but that's okay, because Shanks deserves to shine… He's the better brother, the better son ."
"Let me tell you a story, because what you probably heard wasn't all of it." Rayleigh began with a tired sigh, heart aching as he tilted his head back and let the rain wash away his tears. "When we landed on Laugh Tale, Roger found a place in the heart of it, refused to allow me entry till after… told me everything months later once he had arranged everything… Let me tell you about the story of your nephew-to-be, Shanks' Ocean Blessed son and the suffering he has lived through."
Rayleigh told Buggy everything, something they should have done the moment they got back to the island where they left them. Should have set their sons aside and told them what was to come, that Roger's heir, the true carrier of his Will would be born long after he was gone. Buggy had his own role to play, here in the East Blue, using every trick he knew from a life before them and after to create a network that would rival the underground one of the Grand Line. His job would be the hardest, because he would have to test all those who wished to venture into the Pirate Graveyard, will have to wait and find his nephew, the prince his brother crowned.
He spilled it all, watching as Buggy's face paled, horror and grief washing anew with each secret Rayleigh spilled… he didn't spare a single detail, not when Roger killed his grandson, the plans, the story that Luffy told, the grief that clung to the items disintegrating in Rayleighs when he went back to place his loves hat and their ship.
He told Buggy that he was just as important, just as loved.
"How… how am I supposed to do this?" Buggy asked after a long while, once Rayleigh's voice had grown hoarse, blue eyes wide and staring at Rayleigh, pleading for an answer he could not give. "We have to find Red, he's all alone… Ray-san he thinks we abandoned him! He thinks I hate him!"
"I don't know Blue, Roger refused to tell me everything. We can't push fate's will more than we already have… the changes that have already happened are not how they were previously." Rayleigh whispered brokenly, eyes slipping closed as he pulled Blue closer. "We can't find Red now, he's taken the path we tried to change, if we find him now then we might change it for the worse… he may never find his nakama, his husband… his son."
It pained him greatly to know that he failed Shanks, failed his husband in the promise never to let their sons feel as they did. He managed to find Buggy, but Shanks was a whole other issue and Rayleigh felt it deep in his bones that if they went now, then they would pull at a string already woven and change everything for the worse.
It didn't take long for Buggy to fall asleep, tears still flowing down his face. Rayleigh gently tucked him into the pallet he had made and wrapped the blankets around him with an aching heart before pulling out the white den den and dialling a number.
'Ah! Let me guess, you wish to talk about Dragon again. No, I have no comment on his movements, last I heard he was out at sea and finding it hard to move safely. We'll gain on him soon enough, don't you worry, I'll bring him in myself, personally, family be dammed. Yes, that's correct, any other questions must go to Senny. Bye.'
Rayleigh sagged at the news Roger was laid to rest in the ocean and not burned and spread across the lands he so hated. Worry churned though at the fact that Garp was being watched and that he may not be able to make it to Rouge in time but Rayleigh himself couldn't go, he was watched more so than Garp… He would have to trust the man to save the remaining piece of Rayleigh's heart.
He moved to the front of the ship, pulling out the flask he always kept on him, fingers trailing across the crude etching Roger had made before giving it to him, a rough sketch of their Jolly Roger before Taro got his hands on the design. Their names are etched on the other side, forever and always together.
The ocean breeze tore through Rayleigh, sending a shudder down his spine. He ignored it, ignored the wind and the dampness from the rain, just closed his eyes and tilted his head back, letting his grief flow from him. In his mind's eye, he could hear Roger still, feel the warmth of him radiating at his back. Laughter, loud and boisterous as he always was, even when sick. Even when they execute me Leigh, I'll never die. My Will will carry on in the next generation, one last trick on the Marines… Just picture it! The Great Pirate Era, those old seagulls won't know what to do with themselves. I just wish I could be there to see it, it's going to be fun, I just know it!
"Why did you lay this on my shoulders meu alegria? How can I go on without you? You changed my life, stole me and my ship and showed me how to live… Your passing will leave a void, a vacuum in a lot of people's lives…" Rayleigh choked out, sucking in a ragged breath to cool off the sobs. "Why do you have to be so fucking selfish!"
There was the anger… He wanted to scream and rage, to unleash his haki that was vibrating under his skin like electricity and let it consume and destroy all in its path just to ease the ache. But he couldn't, not on this tiny ship in the middle of the sea and his Devil Fruit son sleeping behind him.
He just had to wait, to be patient for a little while longer, to finally be with Rouge without the fear of the Marines breathing down their necks. Together they would be able to weather the storm, to hold the grief and loss of Roger. Till then he will have to train with Buggy until he was ready to go on his way and make his way slowly towards Dawn, the island that Garp arranged for them as no one would suspect the partners of the Pirate King there.
Sighing he took a sip from his flask before putting it away and getting to his feet. He furled the sail and tucked away the ropes so only the current would take them as they drifted and not the wind. He knew these waters just as well as Roger and knew where he was at all times with a glance at the stars or sun placement.
"Pops?" Buggy's watery rasp called from the pallet, confused and scared.
"I'm here kid," Rayleigh murmured as he crawled into the hide, curling around his son and pulling him close just like they did back on the Oro when they had a nightmare, only this time it was just two instead of four or five. "I'm here, I'm not leaving."
Days passed like that, Rayleigh and Buggy drifting closer to the island filling their days in silence, knife work or Haki training, both of them worried and grief-ridden till they came across a small uninhabited Island near the calm belt. It was there that they stayed, trained and Rayleigh wore a path around the small piece of rock.
'I'm sorry Ray, I've looked all through the West, and there's no news of Red. I managed to get a hold of Spencer and Doringo but they haven't seen him either.' Gaban's voice rasped across the den den, voice grief-filled but also full of worry.
"Thanks for looking Gab, I should have…" Rayleigh trailed off with a grimace.
'It's not your fault Ray, Red's got his own path to follow in this, you know that.' Scopper interrupted gruffly, having none of that. 'How's Blue taking it?'
Sighing, Rayleigh ran his hand through his hair. "Not well, he blames himself and will continue to do so until we find out if Red is… if…" He couldn't even bring himself to say it.
'He's alive Ray, believe that. That nephew of mine and son of yours is smart, we taught him and Blue well. Prepared them, he'll be fine, you'll see. Just give it time. I've got to go, there's marine activity and this line isn't safe. I'll call you again next month.' Scooper rushed out, finishing off by telling his First Mate to give his other nephew his love.
Rayleigh was stuck, he so desperately wanted to find his son, to make sure Red was alive and well, not caught by slavers or dead somewhere back in Loguetown, but Cop was right, they prepared their boys for everything.
"Still no sign of Red?" Buggy asked forlornly as he dropped down beside him, limbs scattering like scattered Berri coins.
"Not yet, I have to wait another week to call Momora, he's doing all he can to spread Captain's news around, sowing the chaos. I already spoke with Crocus and Shanks didn't return that way, Yamon and Oden are unreachable being back in Sky Island and Wano… I'm waiting to hear back from CB, Gallant and Jackson." Rayleigh informed as he began to place Buggy back together. "Gaban sends his love."
Buggy tiredly pulls himself together and curls up. "I miss everyone."
"I do too kid, I do too. But soon, we can join Rouge until you're ready to fly the coop." Rayleigh chuckled, pulling Buggy into his side and looked out over the ocean. Ignoring the way his stomach churned and his heart telling him that something had gone wrong, that Roger's plan was being derailed back to Fate's original design.
It was several months later, when both he and Buggy were safe on one of the islets that were part of the Organ Islands, that the news finally reached him. His world crashed around him as he read Morgan's Big News, as he stared blankly at the image of Baterilla burning right there in black and white.
'Baterilla destroyed in the search for the late Pirate King - Gold Roger's - bloodline. Rumours of his dalliance with women on the island spread, can the rumours that the Pirate King started a family before capture be true?
Well, it is with sad news that I must deliver it, the rumours had been confirmed by sources on the island itself and the Navy has acted! A lost generation for the hunt of Gold Roger's blood, none survived.
A faint ringing had begun to sound in Rayleigh's ears as he read Momora - Morgan's - news. Baterilla is left in mourning, an entire generation wiped out, their to-be son and Rouge amongst the dead. Something broke within him, leaving him empty and cold, the papers fluttered to the ground as he turned and began to walk towards the sea.
He should have said fuck it when Roger planned this, should have said that he didn't care if he had to fight off every marine if it kept Rouge safe. He should have gone to her, it should have been him and not Garp. At least then he could have saved her from this fate, he could have saved them… and if he couldn't then he could have died with them.
Who was he without Roger? Without Rouge? A First Mate without a Captain, a failure of a partner and father… that's what he was. A coward, a drunk and a nobody… a fool for holding out on hope that he would probably never get to see. Shanks had vanished, no one could find him, Rouge and their child were gone… Blue… Blue would survive, because that's what he was good at… he didn't need Rayleigh… hasn't for some time now.
Nothing mattered now, not anymore. Roger's plan had truly begun to crumble and it brought the world, Rayleigh's World, crashing down along with it. Everything was falling apart and as he choked down the tears, the screams, Rayleigh broke the last promise he made to his husband, his captain… he let his grief consume him and ran, diving into the ocean and leaving Blue crying for him on the shore, begging him not to go and leave him too. Screaming that he needed him, but Rayleigh knew that to be a lie. No one needed him. Not anymore.
Buggy screamed and sobbed for Rayleigh to come back, for his father to come back, he screamed himself hoarse until he couldn't any longer. He dropped to his knees and crawled towards the paper, taking in the news that broke his father and sucking in a ragged breath.
His mama was gone… just like Captain… He was alone, for the first time since Rayleigh held out his hand and brought him back to the Oro with a promise of Family. Buggy was an orphan once more, because what else could he be?
Sucking in another breath Buggy hardened his heart, tucking away his grief into the depths of it for a later date. Rayleigh may be gone, but Buggy had a role to play and he won't fail his brother again, and won't fail what family he will acquire in the years to come. He swore to uphold the task that he had played in the past, the fool, the jester while testing those who wished to test their luck in the Grand Line and wait for the day his brother came back to East Blue.
He committed the name Benn D. Luffy in his memory, Benn D. Luffy, Benn D. Luffy… Over and over till he could recite it forward and backward. That was who the Captain told the crew to look out for, to be ready. They all had a task, a role to play and though Buggy was still unsure of all the details, he just knew that whatever happened to Luffy, wouldn't happen again.
He'd make sure of it.
With a grim smile, Buggy straightened and turned his gaze towards the direction he knew the village was located in. He hasn't got any time to waste, time to find a crew of his own, even if it pains him that his family is gone… he would carry on. Do as his Captain had wanted and hope that maybe, someday, Rayleigh would come back and Shanks would find him.
I'll do you proud Captain, I'll protect your home sea and carry on your wish.