Two Weeks Ago

The ocean was peaceful. At the surface the wash crashed relentlessly into the rocks with a bone-shattering force, gentle when compared to what lay beyond.

But right here, it was peaceful. Suspended in the sea, just beyond the sunlight. Out of the world's reach.

-A hand tangled into the shirt, twisting into a fist as the man tugged, ascending towards the crashing waves and sea foam.

It was peaceful in the ocean- but cold.

Shanks broke through the surface with a gasp, fighting to stay upright against the force of the waves that threatened to swallow him, dragging him against the rocks that lined the island.

He was pulled under again as a towering wave swelled behind him. He adjusted his grip on the boys, his hands moving from a shirt collar to under their arms, pulling them up with him as the wave broke.

He spat out a mouthful of water, furiously kicking his feet to stay afloat.

When he opened his eyes, the sight of two sandaled feet greeted him, hanging a foot above the water. Blinking the salt water away, he grinned up at his old friend who looked more god than man in that moment.

"I figured you weren't far."

"Your-,"

Shanks shook his head, "I believe this one belongs to you."

Marco took the boys, hesitating for only a moment before Shanks shook his head again, and the man was gone.

"Later," he told the empty air, "ask me later."

Because it was quite the story.

XXX

Marco sighed as he settled down on his knees beside Luffy. The boy was still, his skin unnaturally pale, his dark hair plastered against his forehead. The puddle of water around him had quickly been stained pink.

Marco should be relieved. He had just saved two lives in the span of a couple of minutes. Lives he couldn't afford to lose. It was nothing short of a miracle. But there was absolutely nothing to celebrate right now. He felt rather sick.

He reached out, his fingers going first to the bruised throat, and then to the kid's wrist. He sighed, dropping his hand after a moment. He had expected that. But it caught him off guard all the same. There were some things in life that never got any easier… not even a little. In fact, they just got worse and worse the older you got.

He brushed Luffy's hair out of his eyes, smoothing it back. The thing that really stung, like more than Marco could afford to let it, was that they had gotten really close. Despite everything, they had almost saved him. Closer than he had expected. And at a certain point, despite how badly injured the kid was, Marco had started to let himself believe that they would really do it too. It just didn't seem like there was any other option.

He ran his fingers through his own hair with a swear, "Damnit!"

He was needed elsewhere, there were still lives he could save. It wouldn't be too late for them, not if he was there. But Marco was tired, his bones ached, and he felt heavy. It was too hard to get up. Not when he knew that the second he did the scene would cease to be what it was, and become something much darker. Right now, he was just himself, just Marco trying and failing to help Luffy. But the moment he accepted that, then it would mean that right now he was sitting on the deck all alone…

And there were arrangements to make. Next steps to consider.

He swore again, leaning back to look up at the sky. He was no stranger to death…. But this one really hurt.

Feeling foolish he raised his hand, putting it on Luffy's chest, his eyes sliding closed. He felt the glow of his hand, hot against the clammy skin beneath his fingers.

-He felt nothing.

Marco dropped his hand. Frustrated with himself. He sighed again, staring down at Luffy beneath him.

"It's okay," he told him. "You're safe now."

A flash of movement caught his eye, and he looked up, his stomach sinking as he recognized Thatch's face. He swore to himself yet again, more viciously than before. The universe couldn't seem to cut him a break today.

XXX

"Want to talk about it?"

Sabo looked up at the pirate from over the top of his cards. "Pass."

"I thought you would say that."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Sabo shot back at him.

"Talk about what?"

"What you are doing sitting here playing cards with me instead of any of the other thousand things I know you could be doing."

"I mean it's not a thousand… a hundred maybe."

"Go fish."

They had been playing high stakes poker until one of the nurses caught them and made them switch to something more 'child-appropriate', even though Sabo had insisted he was eighteen. Marco had gotten a good laugh out of that one, right up until he realized how boring Go Fish was.

It was really silly when you thought about it. Considering everything Sabo had gone through in the last week, let alone his life. But the nurse had insisted, quite loudly, that straight gambling was the wrong kind of outlet for an intensive care patient.

"I figured you would be better at this, but you're pretty bad."

"Just lately," Sabo told him. Although there was no sport to go fish, but he had lost pretty badly at the poker. He owed Marco hundreds of que-tips, and a couple thousand cotton balls. "I have a lot on my mind."

"Want to tell me about it?"

And they had come full circle.

"Sure," Sabo said, pairing up his jokers. "So, do you think Luffy is like a full demon? Or is it just a part-time gig? Cause I'm leaning towards part-time."

Marco swore under his breath, cursing Thatch's name. "I'm going to kill him." He put his cards down. "Sabo I'm sorry."

Sabo just shrugged, turning his attention back to his hand. "I mean… it's kind of weird. But maybe you're right. I mean when we were kids, he spent a whole month howling at the moon. I never really thought too much of it until now."

Marco's back straightened suddenly alert. "Really?"

"Yeah, and all the village goats went missing. Their blood was totally drained."

"Are you serious?"

Sabo rolled his eyes. "No, of course not. And I thought Thatch was kidding."

Marco sighed. "I'm sorry," he said again. "Seriously, I know how worried you are about him. You weren't supposed to hear that."

Sabo shrugged again. "I mean you saved him. So, you're not going to offend me or anything, you can think whatever you want. But... what made you say that? Was it all the biting?"

"No, I just… I'm sorry." Marco apologized again, feeling his face heat slightly as he went back to the cards. "Forget it."

Sabo handed over his last card, the Ace of Spades to Marco. "That's game. You win again. This is starting to feel more like extorsion than pity."

"Well, I wasn't expecting you to be so terrible," Marco said, squaring up his pairs. "I thought Revolutionaries were supposed to be smart."

"It might be the concussion. Or maybe I just like to exceed expectations… what do you want this time?"

"You look tired," Marco told him, a frown on his lips. "What I want is for you to get some more sleep. You're not going to get better unless you rest."

"I sleep plenty," Sabo said, the words quick off his tongue.

He was a good liar if anything. "Yeah, I'm sure. As long as we are watching. Yet somehow the second the lights go off no one is ever able to find you.

"That's so weird," Sabo said, shuffling the deck.

"I know you want to see Luffy. But it is better if you don't, at least for right now."

Sabo's eyes flitted back up. "How is he?" He watched as Marco turned his frown into the deck.

"His injuries are healing…" he said after a long moment. "But slower than I'd hoped."

Slower? Luffy was a fast healer, just like Ace. Always had been. "What does that mean?"

"I don't know what it means," Marco told him, his voice soft. "Look kid, I wish I had all the answers for you. I know I am supposed to. But the first thing you learn in medicine is that human bodies are complicated, then you throw in devil fruits, and whatever weirdness seems to run in your family, and I just don't know."

Sabo nodded, chewing his lip until a spot of blood welled up. "Is he… better?"

Marco put the deck of cards down, regarding the young man carefully. "Sabo… he was without air for a long time, that can have lasting effects. The human brain…" Marco trailed off. "He's feeling better."

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying," Marco promised him. "I can't tell you what's going to happen. But Luffy was really hurting, and he's safe now. Nothing painful can reach him right now. I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's the truth."

Sabo nodded, not trusting himself enough to speak for a moment. Marco was right, it wasn't what Sabo had wanted to hear. But he was grateful in a way. He was being selfish. And he knew it too. But either way, he just wanted his little brother back.

It just wasn't fair. If the universe wanted to punish someone, then it could punish Sabo.

"Can I…" he started but Marco cut him off, already knowing what he was going to ask.

"No."

"But."

"When you are feeling better Sabo, I promise. But give it a few more days at least. Otherwise, the nurses are going to chain you to your bed."

"Why?"

Marco groaned, low and exhausted. They had been through this a dozen times already. Not that it ever seemed to stop Sabo anyway. "This can't be news to you, but you are our resident high-risk patient. That means you really can't be wandering around the ship, especially on your broken leg."

Sabo rolled his eyes. "I don't care about that."

"Well, I do."

"I'll be quick."

"That's not really the point. Besides, I'm more worried about the spread of germs."

"Like getting Lu sick? I'll be careful."

"I mean yes, but it's you two I'm more worried about."

"I don't care about myself."

"Yes, I see that, "Marco told him. "That's the problem. But we put him on his own for a reason. He was exposed to all sorts of things with Teach. It would be really bad if you guys caught something right now."

"If we were going to get sick, we would have already?" It wasn't like they had been staying away from him until now.

"Have you ever been sick before?" Marco asked him, and Sabo shook his head. "That's what I thought. I wouldn't be worried about you two if you hadn't gone and nearly gotten yourselves killed. But you are a smart kid, I know you are. So, I don't need to tell you about how weakened immune systems work. You can trust me Sabo, we are going to take good care of him for you two. I promise. I'll tell you the second anything changes… Sabo?"

The kid was staring off into the corner again, his jaw set. His broken knee was hugged against his chest tightly, as it usually was. He looked so freaking fragile at that moment like he might break apart if Marco touched him. There were some things even doctors couldn't heal, no matter how hard they tried.

"Sabo, I…"

"How's Ace?"

Marco's gaze flickered across the dark room towards the row of beds on the east side of the medical wing.

"He's… tired," Marco told him. The same answer he had given Sabo the last time he had asked, and the time before that. "He needs a lot of sleep… and-"

And Luffy.

"Has he said anything to you?"

Sabo shrugged. "Not really."

Marco nodded, trying to keep his face as neutral as he could. So far, Marco had only really seen Ace stir a couple of times. Hardly awake long enough to keep asking Sabo the same question each time, 'are you okay?'

Apparently, not even near death could stop Ace's protective streak. Which was all well and good, because as much as Marco wanted to, and as hard as he tried, he was doing an awful job of taking care of Ace's brothers for him.

XXX

"You won't even TRY!"

"There is nothing to try."

Marco put his hand on the other's shoulder, but Thatch shook him off.

"You don't know that."

"I do. There are limits, even for me."

Thatch's hand was on Luffy's cheek, his gaze fixed on Marco, his eyes blazed in rarely seen anger. "Please! You saved his brothers; you can save him too- I know it."

"Thatch- he's gone." Marco once again tried to reach out to his brother only to be pushed away.

"Then there is nothing left to lose."

Marco could see it on his brother's bruised face, Thatch's jaw set in determination. He had never seen the usually easy-going cook be this stubborn before.

There was something. Something to lose that was.

This was delusional. The situation was unbearably dark and twisted, but it was the one they had been left with. Just because it hurt, and just because it was unfair, didn't make it any less real. But Marco could see how much this meant to his brother, how he wasn't going to let this go. So Marco just nodded numbly.

Maybe this was what Thatch needed to finally accept it. The chance to help, or at least try. Even if it wouldn't change anything.

Marco put his hand on Luffy's chest once more, closing his eyes. There was almost nothing left of his phoenix. He felt his powers locked away for the moment, like they were hibernating after the strain he had placed on them today. But for what felt like the hundredth time Marco called upon the scraps. Small blue flames broke out across his arms as he pressed against Luffy's chest right over his heart. It was only out of love for Thatch that he tried in honest once again, concentrating over Luffy's heart, waiting for the slightest sign it could still beat. When he didn't get any kind of response he sighed, opening his eyes to the sight of Thatch's pale and bloodied face.

Marco shook his head. "I'm so sorry."

Thatch shook his head. "No."

So much for hoping for acceptance. This situation was hard enough without Marco having to be the one to do this. It had been years since he felt so incredibly incapable. He wished Oyaji was here. He would have known what to say, how to calm Thatch.

"Thatch…"

"No," he said again. "No… I know, I know. But you're wrong. I was wrong too. I thought that… it was kinder, and it was too late… but I'm not wrong this time. I'm not anything, certainly not a doctor. But you can save him. It will work. He doesn't want to die…I promise it will work. I just know it will."

Forget acceptance, Thatch was hysterical. Like 'a shot in the arm of gentle sedative' hysterical. Not that Marco could blame him… after everything that had happened. There would be no reasoning with him.

Of course, the universe wouldn't take mercy on Marco today.

He put his hand on his brother's shoulder, and this time he wasn't pushed away. "Okay," he comforted him. "I believe you. Why don't you go to the infirmary? You've been through a lot, and you need medical treatment. The doctors will help you. And I'll stay with Luffy…"

Thatch swore, seeing through Marco in a moment. "I'm not crazy. I'm serious Marco. You weren't there. You don't know. It was-"

"Thatch-," Marco's voice was impossibly gentle. "Luffy's dead. He was probably gone before he hit the water. Ace knew it, that's why he did that. I felt it- his grief, in his fire. I know you did too. I tried to save Luffy on the cliff, but I couldn't do it. And for that, I am truly sorry."

"You're giving up then?"

Marco had somehow known, ever since he first examined the kid, that it might come to this. An impossible game of shooting the messenger when the inevitable happened and his best just wasn't good enough. Everyone was always quick to tell him that he didn't care. But they were wrong, he did care, about all of it. That's why he had done all of this. And that's why he was doing this now.

"If I could, I would give him my powers in a heartbeat."

Thatch's expression softened a little at that and for the first time, Marco saw doubt flicker across his face. "Ace and Sabo…"

That was the last thing Marco wanted to think about right now. He couldn't even handle Thatch's disappointment, let alone the two of them. The only thing that could possibly be worse than this, than having failed to save a hurt little kid, was having to tell the kid's older brothers who had all but raised him.

"What are we going to say?" Thatch's voice was air thin, barely there.

Marco shook his head slowly. "I don't know." And as he said it he knew it was the truth. There was nothing he could think to say, there was nothing he could say. There were no words.

Thatch stared hard at the deck of the ship, tracing the worn wood with his eyes. He looked really tired. Blood and bruises smudged his face.

"It's time to let him go," Marco told him gently. "I know you loved him. But he's been through too much. I know it hurts, but…" but enough was enough. It was time for them to leave this poor kid alone. Everything Marco had tried to do to help him had only made things worse for him. He was terrified of Marco's treatment. The Whitebeard's presence down in the tunnels had only stressed him out. Marco had saved his life, and in doing so given him a crueler death.

Thatch met his eyes, tears welling up on his friend's dirty eyelashes. "Then what was the point of this? What was the point of anything that we did. If it really didn't matter? Then why…"

"It mattered," Marco promised him. "I promise you it mattered to him." As horrible as things had ended, as much suffering as they had inadvertently caused, Marco knew that it was better that they had tried.

He was glad right then, sitting there on the freezing deck. Glad Ace had betrayed them. Glad Ace hadn't listened to Marco in the throne room and came when Luffy called. He was glad Ace and Sabo had double-crossed him. Because it really had mattered to Luffy. Even though they couldn't save him…. They had saved him all the same. Marco had seen it. The kid Marco had first seen asleep in that dark cell was a very different one who had sat next to him in the tunnels, face red at being teased.

They had done that- Ace had done that.

"Thatch," Marco's voice was gentle, sensing the shift in his friend, the inevitable wave that would come crashing down on him when he finally realized Marco was right. "Whatever happens next, it isn't your fault okay?"

That seemed to have the opposite effect as Thatch's eyes snapped up again, his jaw setting into determination as he shook his head, as if managing to shake off the cloud of doubt around him. "No." He said, and then again more firmly. "NO! I'm not doing this again."

"Thatch!"

"Try again!"

Marco ran his hand over his face, feeling exhaustion once again take over. He really couldn't keep doing this. His friend was in shock and denial. They weren't going to settle anything like this. He shook his head at Thatch, gentling rising to his feet. "I'm going to go get somebody okay, They're going to take him." Because, god knows neither of them were emotionally stable enough to do it. And somebody had to say it. "You need to go to the medical ward- you're seriously injured."

"Marco!" Thatch snapped and there was fire in his voice. "Try again."

Marco shook his head. "You need help," he told his friend. "It's going to be okay."

"If he's dead, then what's the harm of trying one more time," Thatch said. "If Ace was here, he would make you. You know it. He wouldn't let you give up."

"Thatch, Ace almost killed himself," Marco snapped finally losing his patience.

"You know I'm right," Thatch persisted. "Just one more time… for him. Then I'll let it go. I'll believe you."

"Thach… I can't keep doing this."

"Just try- please."

"I'm going to get someone to help you."

"If you don't try, I'll never forgive you!"

Marco stopped in his tracks, feeling his shoulders stiffen.

"Please…" Thatch said again softer this time.

Against his better judgement Marco turned back to them. His movements were ridged with some form of wounded anger. Fine, if this was really what it took to convince his brother. Then he would burn himself out proving a horrible- horrible truth.

"One more time," his voice was cold. "One time. And when I can't do it, you listen to me and you are going to come with me to the infirmary."

Thatch nodded, his face pale. "I promise."

Marco knelt down beside Luffy closing his eyes as he lay both of his palms on the still chest. Knowing how insane, how irresponsible, how disrespectful he was being. And he did it anyway. Because he was tired of being the responsible one. He didn't want the kid to die any more than Thatch did. So screw it. Screw it all. And when he inevitably failed, then everyone would know it wasn't because he hadn't done absolutely everything he could to save Ace's baby brother.

Like before he concentrated, pulling together the sparks of power that still burned in him. Viciously, like a magnet he commanded his flames to obey him, trying to push them into the still heart. And when that did nothing he pried deeper, summoning up power he didn't have.

"I'm sorry." He heard Thatch's soft apology but ignored it. There would be time for that later.

Marco should stop. But something Thatch had said had gotten to him. 'If he was already dead? Then really what was the harm?' And once again Marco felt the overwhelming desire to hide from the reality that would be waiting for him the moment he gave up. So he kept going. Surprising himself with how much power he was able to draw on an empty battery.

And once again, he felt a tugging in his brain, the gentle reminder to stop. He had felt it on the cliffs as well, when he tried to save Luffy then, Ace's sad eyes on him. And he had stopped. He didn't have enough power left anyway. But he had stopped even before that. At the time Marco hadn't understood why, and then in the chaos that followed he had quickly forgotten.

But now, he felt a cold sweat break out across his brow. He wanted to stop. He really wanted to stop. But Marco ignored it, pushing deeper.

At first, he thought it was just his body's defense mechanism, keeping him from doing what Ace had. But the longer he tried the more anxious he felt, the overwhelming desire to stop filled him. Something felt… wrong… off. It was his phoenix, his fruit itself that seemed to be getting restless. His whole body warned him to stop.

And Marco pressed deeper, refusing to be scared away this time. He tried to chase any spark, anything that might be Luffy. -And he found it.

For a second everything stopped. It was like touching a livewire with his bare hands. Out of nowhere, the dead circuit was snapped back into place and the power surged through him.

And Marco died….

At least that was what it felt like. He felt the air rush out of his lungs, felt his heart thud in his chest, felt everything else fall away. His powers rushed up to defend him, scattered and frazzled. Darkness surrounded him.

Luffy was staring at him, his eyes were the color of fresh blood. They glowed in the darkness, piercing through the man as he struggled to breathe.

Luffy sat up, those unblinking eyes never turning from him. He smiled at Marco, his teeth perfectly white against the blackness around them. That inhuman smile, growing larger and larger, crescent shaped like a new moon on a dark night. Like… like…

"MARCO!"

…Like a demon.

"HELP! I Need Help."

Marco sat up. Sucking in his breath in grateful gasps. The world was back, the darkness had been replaced by the familiar deck of the ship, spotted with blood. Thatch knelt beside him, his hands on Luffy. He had turned the small body on it's side, a new puddle of bloody seawater had spilled onto the deck.

"HELP!" Thatch screamed again; his frantic calls met with the sound of running feet.

Thatch's eyes met Marco's, and he was surprised to see relief and gratitude over his friend's face, chasing away the concern.

"Are you okay?"

Marco pushed himself to his knees, feeling numb as he stared down at Luffy. There was a sound, a soft choking sound, as more seawater was coughed up. The tiny- bandaged chest expanded erratically. Like the wingbeats of an injured bird. His eyes were closed.

"You did it," Thatch's voice broke through Marco's thoughts. "You did it! You saved him."

"What's wrong," one of their brothers reached them first, his familiar face creased with worry as he looked over the two of them. "Are you guys alr-,"

"Help him," Thatch begged, "He's breathing! Don't let him die."

Their brother's gaze flickered down to Luffy. "Who is… okay, I'll get him help." The man promised, picking up the little broken body easily. To his credit he wasted no time keeping his promise, casting one concerned look towards Marco before turning on his heels, sprinting across the deck, shouting for help from the others nearby.

Thatch turned his attention to Marco, his face considerably lighter. "Are you okay?"

Marco didn't know if he was or not. His nerves felt frayed, like he had just survived a lightning strike, but there wasn't a sign of damage on him. There was a thud as Thatch moved, falling onto his knees beside him, wrapping his arms around him tightly.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyou," he said into Marco's shoulder over and over.

"What?"

"You saved him," Thatch's usual smiling face was back, long gone was the empty hollow one. "You are amazing. Truly."

Marco looked down at his bloody hands. Goosebumps covered his skin. He shivered, trying to get the feeling out. He had never felt like that before. He had been drained, and exhausted, but healing someone had never hurt before. Not like that. Was it because he had overused his powers so spectacularly? Or…

"They were red," Marco said. "His eyes were red."

Thatch frowned at him. "Whose eyes?"

"Luffy."

"Uhh, sure buddy. Whatever you say."

"Bright red."

"My brother, you need some rest. It's over now."

Marco glanced over his shoulder at the doorway where their brother had disappeared through, carrying Luffy's small body.

Thatch hugged him again. "Thank you for saving him. I knew you would."

Marco frowned, as he stared at the empty doorway. He wasn't sure he had done anything at all.

XXX

Something was wrong- horribly wrong. But he couldn't seem to bring himself to care. Everything was warm and sleepy, and so so nice.

And yet he was being summoned. Ace felt it in his temple, a light but repetitive stabbing ruining what had to be one of his best naps. And that meant something coming from him. He tried to ignore it at first, too sleepy for this. But it was insistent. Softly at first and then a little more desperate. Like the frantic tapping of Morris code.

help me. Help me. Help Me. HELP ME. HELP ME ACE!

Scratch that, like a desperate beacon on a dark night. Calling to him, with such intensity it broke through the fuzzy warm feeling filling his body.

Unable to take it anymore he opened his eyes, yawning widely.

It was dark. And nobody was bugging him. Which was why it was perfect sleeping conditions right now. The room looked familiar, but he couldn't really put his finger on it.

Ace had vague memories of Sabo, his brother's concerned face blurry and at the same time so very blond. Like highlighter yellow in the dim light around him. Sabo had said he was all right, so Ace had known things were all right, and he could go on sleeping. Ace touched the other side of the narrow bed, noticing its emptiness. He had thought Sabo had been sleeping right beside him. It felt like only minutes ago Ace had put his arm over him, pulling him closer. But the world had changed a bit since then, the sheets having been neatly folded over the mattress in the empty space, and it was considerably darker.

Fighting the inviting pull of the fuzzy feeling in his chest that made him want to curl back up, Ace sat up, pulling the needle out of his hand, and the clip off of his finger. He stood up, steadying himself with the bed when the room spun, and his legs threatened to buckle.

Everything was a bit wonky today huh? Not that he really minded. The machine on the bed began to beep unhappily as if it were telling him off.

First things first. He wandered through the dark room, the air was cold against his bare skin. He was cold… which was really odd for him. Someone had taken his shoes and shirt… if he had actually been wearing one to begin with. Leaving him in nothing but loose pajama bottoms that he didn't recognize, and a lot of bandages- like a lot. That was pretty standard.

Ace felt flames break out across his shoulders, trying to warm him up. But they were small and faded out quickly like dying embers. He shivered, something else that was weird for him, feeling another wave of sleepiness crash over him at the attempt.

He found his brother pretty easily, fast asleep a couple of beds down. He patted the bright blonde hair, feeling the other stir as he did so. Sabo was still fine. That was good.

Ace wandered further, leaving the room behind for the darkened hallway beyond. He followed a winding staircase downwards, getting along just fine in the dark.

It was pretty quiet, peaceful even. At least until he made it to the bottom level and the annoying beeping started up again, the very same from beside Ace's bed. As if the machine had somehow followed him down here, scolding him. It was soft at first, but the more he followed the distress signal the louder it became.

The door was left ajar, and Ace slipped inside, doing his best to ignore the beeps. Although someone else had heard it too. He heard their footsteps reverberating in the hallway, voices hushed and urgent.

He decided to ignore this too, looking around the room. It was dark, and crammed with dumb-looking equipment, and empty beds, just like the other had been. Although he was fairly sure he had never been here before. There was a faint glow from a machine, showing an angrily beeping line that marched across it amidst flickering numbers. The glow from the screen casting down onto the unmade bed beneath it…. What a weird thing to have happen twice. Somebody clearly had too much time on their hands if they just went around setting these things up.

"When did it start?"

"A couple minutes ago, I didn't notice anything unusual, so I went to find you and I heard the…"

"It probably just slipped off his finger."

"But…"

Ace turned as he heard the door open, surprised to see Marco and Ann, one of the younger nurses he had befriended several months back. Maybe they could get the annoying beeping to stop. Although it didn't seem as if they even noticed it.

"Ace?" Marco's voice was soft, his jaw slack in a rarely seen stupefied look as he stared at him in shock. To be fair, they probably hadn't expected Ace to be standing in the dark room, in nothing but bottoms and bandages, his eyes no doubt glowing the way they did in dim light. Marco had told him once it was kind of demonic.

Besides him, Ann was stuttering.

Ace turned back to the room, closing his eyes for a moment as light flooded the room. That was bright… like really bright. It made his eyes water. He didn't like it.

Marco was beside him, his familiar voice soothing against the harshness of it. "You're up? When did you wake up?"

Besides them, Ann cried out in concern. "He's gone!"

And in an instant, Marco's attention shifted to the bed. He swore under his breath.

"How is he gone? He was here when I left." She lifted up the crumpled blanket on the unmade bed in concern as if expecting to find an invisible body underneath it.

Even the usually calm Marco was rattled. "Did someone take him?" he went back to the door, looking down the empty hall.

Had they always been this dumb?

Ignoring the stab of pain as he moved, Ace knelt onto his hands and knees to look underneath the beds. A grin broke out across his face as he saw the small ball in the back corner, against the furthest wall.

"Hey, Lu."

That seemed to catch their attention as a moment later Ann and Marco were kneeling next to him, staring under the bed.

"Oh my god," Marco said softly, and the nurse sucked in a low breath.

Ace didn't really understand their shock. First, they were surprised Ace was here, then that Luffy wasn't, and now that he was. They were the ones who most likely brought him here since it most certainly wasn't Ace. He would never have put him down here all by himself. Luffy had never been a fan of too much personal space.

Moving flat on his stomach, Ace crawled under the first two beds, waiting expectantly at the edge of the third.

"Lu?"

His little brother didn't move. His body tucked tight against the corner in a little ball. Bandaged arms were clutching the bedframe like it were a lifeline.

Ace frowned, crawling underneath. He put his hand on his brother's knee only to get kicked off.

Brat! He was the one who had called Ace here!

Ace's annoyance faded as he saw the tremors. Luffy was shivering pretty hard. He must be really cold.

"Luffy?" Ace tried again, gently pulling on his brother's shoulder, trying to get him to let go of the bed. But Luffy held on harder, his face tucked against his arms, bracing to stay here.

Ace sighed, debating leaving him. Maybe he liked it or something? Ace wanted to go back to sleep, the pull was so strong. Although Lu was shivering… besides Ace would be able to sleep a lot better with Luffy cuddled up in his arms rather than balled up under the bed.

Maybe he was upset? That was no good?

"Ace?" Marco knelt down beside the bed. "Is his breathing okay."

Now everyone was just being weird on purpose.

Ace's gaze flickered back to Luffy, watching the rapid pull and extending of his back. He was breathing really fast. Which was probably like twice as good as regular breathing. Ace nodded at Marco.

"Can you get him out from there?"

He could try. He put his hand on Luffy's shoulder. "Lu… Luffy? Come on."

Ace felt the shivering increase, along with frantic little breaths, Luffy's arms further tangling around the bedframe in a way that would just look like multiple broken bones on a normal person.

Maybe it wasn't the cold, maybe he was scared, a small voice at the back of Ace's mind told him. He had woken Ace up, brought him here because he was scared, and he was waiting to be saved. Okay… fine.

Ace crawled closer, wrapping his arms around Luffy as best as he could. "Okay," he breathed, feeling another wave of exhaustion wash through him. We can stay here if you want." He felt the trembling start up again, stronger than before.

Sleepy and acting on instinct Ace reached up with his hand, finding Luffy's fluffy hair and gently grinding his knuckles into his little brother's head as he had a thousand times before. "Stop it, I'm tired."

He felt Luffy still underneath his hand as if Ace had just dealt him a killing blow. Then slowly he felt him uncurl. One arm unwound from the bed, cold bandaged fingers coming up to trace Ace's face.

He closed his eyes, rather than get jabbed, feeling the light touch work its way down from his hair to his jaw, taking extra time on his cheek and the bridge of his nose. As if expecting to somehow feel Ace's freckles.

Luffy must have felt something because his arm wrapped around Ace, bracing himself between him and the bedpost for a second, hesitant to let go of either. Then finally, as if relinquishing his hold on the only lifeboat in the middle of the ocean, Luffy untangled his other hand from the frame. He moved quickly as if he would drown if he wasn't holding onto one of them, clinging onto Ace with everything he had. Small shaking arms wound around Ace's neck like a snake and Luffy tucked himself against Ace.

Ace felt the tremors wrack through Luffy and he hugged him closer, trying to raise his own temperature as best as he could to warm him.

"Ace?" Marco was trying to get his attention, still kneeling down at the foot of the bed. When he didn't answer Marco said something to someone else, and it sounded like a lot of gibberish. From somewhere further away heavy footsteps reverberated through the halls.

For his part Luffy seemed uninterested in the outside world, continuously pushing closer against Ace's chest. He seemed really upset?

That was no good.

Not that Ace would ever admit it, certainly not to Luffy, but he always hated it when he was upset. Even if it was always over something kinda stupid. But Luffy was always so damn happy. It just didn't seem right to see him so sad.

He tucked Luffy underneath his chin, bringing his hand up to try and smooth the messy hair. "Shh, Lu, it's okay I got you. You're okay."

He wasn't sure if Luffy was listening or not, but at the very least his tone and the soft vibrations from Ace's chest as he spoke seemed to do the trick as the trembling stopped. He heard the others shallow breathing even out and the tension seemed to drain out of his body as he fell asleep.

Marco was still talking, but Ace didn't pay him any mind. He was always going on about something or another. Besides, it was cold and kinda uncomfortable, but Ace was too tired to carry them out right now and Luffy seemed happy enough. His face pressed against Ace's chest, right over his heart, finally relaxed.

Yeah, Ace thought as he laid his head back against the cold floor, this was fine.

XXX

Be proud of me guys! I finally updated this story on AO3 and will continue cross-posting new chapters on both sites so you can finally choose where to read.

Himbo Ace for the Win…bo. Ace is on a lot of morphine and not too concerned about anything right now, he just wants a Luffy sized teddy bear to nap with.

By the time Marco is done with them he is going to deserve a parade.

Thank you guys for the support on last chapter. I can't tell you how long I have been waiting to write it, and the following ones. Don't worry you guys. We are not done with the war yet. There is still a lot that happened between chapter 72-73, and we will be going back over it for the next few chapters to fill in the pieces.

Since we have all been so patient, if you guys want to send me your headcanons about all the shenanigans the ASL bro's can get up to with the Whitebeards I can't promise they will all make it in but I will try!

Happy New Year's guys!

XXX

eri1325: And wake up he did : )

Guest 1: Aw thanks. They really are, Marco is going to stop at nothing to try and make it up to them. Even if Luffy is going to view them as fiends from hell for a little while. I have a lot of WB ground to cover in the next few chapters, including everyone having to come to terms with Ace's choices (and the fact that he is the best older brother).

Nancy2239: Of course! Thanks for the nice review. Luffy would make a killer dragon yes. Although mythical god is good for him too.

Firefiststrawhat: Oh no! I updated all of it on AO3 so you should be able to read it there if FF ever glitches again!

Wishfull-star: Haha not quite. I'm not sure if Marco knows about that yet… probably. (stay safe as well).

Aimforthedogstar: Haha, you got it perfectly. I think you were the first to guess it (go you). I think everyone needs therapy by now, but Marco is in the mix for sure.

evelynromano0808: Not quite! But good guess. I'm still deciding how to have them break that lil piece of info to Marco. Although Luffy being unkillable is for sure proving Marco's theory to him.

94Insane : Law would be great. I might have him in the story, I'm still deciding. But having him show up to a battle in his little submarine just to say "get in bitches, we are going shopping,' may have raised some questions. Fun idea though!

BryanFinch99: Yeah, stupid FF notifications. They got turned off for everybody. You can resubscribe to notifications, or I also finally managed to catch this story up on AO3. I am so glad you like it though, more fluff on the way.

Axel: Aw thanks. I really enjoyed being able to write that. I wanted to build up Ace's relationships with the WB's so it made more sense why his betrayal hurt them so much.

Tortuga Wan: Yeah, that's very fair. The war section was rough… and much of the rest of it as well. Although the promised fluff is on the way. (You're English is great)

VqpaeBePWBRwiff: We will get there, although Shanks has Boshi right now, so unfortunately, he can only give it back when Luffy is ready to accept it, which may not be for a little bit.

Hiraya1998: Yes, they are! They have done it. Good guess. Go Whitebeard pirates indeed, they have a lot of stuff to start working on.

Eternal She-Wolf: Why thank you. I really adored writing it. Thanks for sharing your favorite chapters. (I think my favorite was Luffy running from Marco, and being a terrible patient during the check-up. For some reason I just love Luffy giving Marco a run for his money. It's so soul satisfying).

Poor Sabo. That will be Ace soon enough, once the morphine starts to wear off.

Also Marco!- indeed. I never meant for him to become the story's secret hero but here we are and here he is doing absolutely everything for his new little brothers with zero thanks and many biting attempts. I'm not sure what Oyaji is up to? But I am sure he will come in soon.

I'm still having a think over how exactly the rest of the crew are going to come in, and with what knowledge. But yes! I think a lot more accepting after Ace's lil fire stunt. (and yes! Even hurt Ace is a soft boi at heart haha). I think Luffy needs to graduate out of the 'prison ward' as far as he is concerned before he can make it to the idiot ward and beyond. But then yes!

Hopefully hiding under the bed did not disappoint. There will be a lot of that in his future until the Whitebeards can re-earn his trust. But absolutely older brother Ace is going to floor the Whitebeards as he goes from growling loner, to friendly crewmate, to protective (and bossy) older brother.

Thank you! I am always just happy to receive reviews anywhere anyplace : ) Thank you for the lovely review.

Kitsune Foxfire: Aw, thank you. (All up to date now on AO3 and very proud of that feat). I was just re-reading your story (Burning Rubber) on the plane today, it has been one of my favorites for years. And I realized there were several sentences/ concepts that hopped out of your story and somehow worked their way into this one without me noticing until I did a reread. So thank you for the inspiration (and the awesome story)!

Viebee: Hello! Thank you for reading it! It is all caught up on AO3 now!

That is so sweet. (And more like a little sad how long I have been writing this, but everyone needs a nice stress relieving hobby). I am so happy to hear you liked it though! Sorry it made you sad. Hopefully not too much. I promise more fluff and laughs on the horizon. I'm glad you still ate! Fanfic is much better with snacks and sleep.

I am so glad you like my little notes. That is the first compliment I have received on them and I feel so vindicated. I will make sure to include lots of fluffy moments from now on. And thank you for the lovely review.

Ppleater: I think Marco is like: He's dead this time right… no? Why not? Haha. Poor guy.

And yes, Luffy is going to hate his new arrangements, and in turn, will make Marco question his life choices. Many people will be bitten and called 'lame' in the name of healing lil Luffy.

Aquarica: Close! A little more mystical Nika shenanigans. Although Luffy would hate to leave his poor stupid older brothers alone without him. I'm really glad you liked it, thank you.

Nouserwewk: No! I am so excited about this part I am on a roll. Eventually I will slow down, but not yet. I am too excited for fluff. Luffy will get there, Ace too, they just have a ways to go. I'm still thinking about that… we shall see but for right now they think everyone is dead.

Osion: Don't cry, it get's better.

Miqila: Hello there. Yes, I can see how it could be a little chaotic. I was going for a keep them guessing vibe on Ace and Luffy's fates. I have been dying to write this chapter for forever and I am quite proud of how it came out but I can see how it might not be for everyone. Of course when in doubt I have to defer to my boss (17 year old me who dreamed up the fanfic idea) and she outlined this chap forever ago (she's quite to tyrant lol). I think at this point Ace just owes Marco his firstborn son or something.

Mel72000: Good guess!