There was the wind whipping through her hair. The rain was beating down on her face. They were moving fast, very fast. She leaned back into Sabo's chest. His arms quickly snaked around her.

Ace was intently focused on not crashing the small ship. Typical of the new world, it was a terrible storm. Even then, this was one of the fiercest storms she had been in. Ace adjusted his firepower and the direction of his shots. That caused a sharp left turn.

By kami, she was cold and wet. Even with her marine coat pulled close. Something was then plopped on her head, and she looked up to see Ace without his marine jacket that he wore like a cape. Ace looks at her with a raised eyebrow. One hand was still shooting fire behind them, propelling them forward.

"You're shivering was getting annoying, Lu" Harsh words but spread warmth all the same. "Yeah, yeah, Ace," she replied. Ace just smirked and rolled his eyes. Tense silence follows. Luffy just closed her eyes again. Falling into Sabo's warmth.

"I see land," Sabo says, bringing her out of her uneasy rest. "Yeah, that's land, alright." Ace manages to get out. He was nervous. Of course, he would be. It was the dead of night. They were marines with no backup in the middle of Whitebeard territory. This island was obviously under Whitebeard's protection if the huge flag had anything to say about it.

Sabo spoke up and said, "Bring the ship around to the forested area. We will dock there and find a cave to rest in. This mission is almost over. We just need to get back to base. Let's not attract any attention. If we do this, we will be fine."

Sabo's breath tickled the top of her head as he spoke. Ace gave a slight nod in confirmation. As they were starting to sail to the forest, her eyes began to droop. She knew Sabo and Ace were having a conversation. She just couldn't focus. She was also finally starting to feel warm for the first time on this mission.

"Sleep." Is all that Ace says. It is all the permission needed as Luffy feels consciousness fade from her grasp faster than one could say "Pirates."

. . .

Ace grit his teeth—Focus, focus, focus. Sharp left turn. Focus, focus, focus. Calculate the wind pressure. How will it affect the boat? How does he need to adjust his firepower? He cannot capsize this boat. Sabo, Luffy and his own life depended on it.

His eyes slowly look over the ocean and sky. The storm appeared to be dying down now. It would be a lot easier to steer the boat now. His eyes roamed over to where Sabo and Luffy were sitting.

Sabo had his arms firmly around Luffy's mid-section. She was on his lap and shivering. Shit. He forgot Luffy doesn't do well in cold climates. Right now, she is sopping wet, and it is 2℃. Of course, she would be cold.

He cut off his fire for a moment and shrugged off his own Marine Jacket. It wasn't like it was doing anything for him. Ever since he ate his devil fruit, he has lost the ability to even feel cold.

He plopped it on her head and started the fire back up. She looked startled for a moment. He simply raised an eyebrow in response and said, "You're shivering was getting annoying, Lu."

"Yeah, yeah, Ace," Luffy replied. He just smirked and rolled his eyes. Of course, his little sister would get it. They couldn't really show a lot of affection back at headquarters. It would just be a weakness there. Something they can use against them. Something they would try to train out of them.

They always hated how much they cared for each other. That would be a liability, and demon children shouldn't experience love like that. It was their rebellion at the start until they started using it against them.

If one of them messed up, the other two would be punished. That's how it worked. However, the only reason they haven't been separated would be because of shitty Gramps.

Sabo was given more lenience with the whole affection thing. But only if it was towards Luffy. Even their superiors had a soft spot for her. That, of course, meant if they saw that affection being directed towards him in any way, all three of them would be punished.

At the same time, Ji-Ji was the one to come up with that sort of punishment. Ace knew it was the only way they would be allowed to stay together. Still, it hurt a lot that the man who called himself their grandfather there, Ji-Ji, would be the one to come up with such a cruel punishment.

Still, he shouldn't be surprised his Ji-Ji would be the reason why they were in this mess in the first place. If he just kept his mouth shut. If only fleet admiral Sengoku's loyalty was to his friends first and not the fucking world nobles.

They were six and twelve years old. Six and Twelve. They didn't deserve it; they did nothing wrong. They were kids, even if he was a demon child.

"I see land," Sabo says, bringing him out of his thoughts. "Yeah, that's land, alright." He manages to get out. His heartbeat was racing. This was only natural. He was in the dead of night. In the middle of Whitebeard territory, they had no backup.

Sabo spoke up and said, "Bring the ship around to the forested area. We will dock there and find a cave to rest in. This mission is almost over. We just need to get back to base. Let's not attract any attention. If we do this, we will be fine."

He gave a slight nod in confirmation. Sabo was always better at this type of thing. He trusts his brother with his life. He looked back at Sabo and Luffy. Luffy seemed pretty out of it. It was apparent she was struggling to stay awake.

A soft ding comes from Sabo's pocket. "Midnight," Sabo says. "Yeah," he replied. "What day is it now?" Sabo hummed before saying, "May 5th…."

A knot formed in his stomach. His fire sputtered out for a moment. Six years since this all started and Luffy's birthday too. It seemed this realization dawned on Sabo, too, if his rapidly paling face has to say anything about it.

"I… has it really been six years, Ace?" Sabo stuttered out. He breathes in through his nose and out through his mouth. Letting out a puff of air. "Yeah, it has been, Bo."

Sabo seemed to hug Luffy a little closer at that. She let out a slight whine. He realized she hadn't reacted to the conversation at all and her eyes were barely open. She should be asleep. It seems, though, that she won't without permission.

By god, he hates Akainu, the red dog of the marines. Funny how the dog promotes absolute obedience. How much Akainu has changed their sweet, bubbly Luffy. At least, at least Luffy's straw hat is still with the bandits.

They would know not to break it. They would take care of it. He couldn't, wouldn't see that part of Luffy destroyed. It was knocked off her head in the scuffle that was the marines taking them.

"Sleep." Is all that he says. He hates how she slips into sleep so soon after that. He hates how she needs permission to do anything now.

He wishes they could just run away. He wished they could sail the sea and be free. It was mocking being out on the ocean like this but still being chained. They couldn't, though; Dawn Island would be destroyed if they did.

Makino, Dadan and everyone dead. Lost in the wind. Their lights snuffed out. He was selfish, and he didn't think he could live with that. He would protect the ones that ever could love him. The son of a demon. With his life.

His invisible collar tightened. If they should call anyone a dog, it would be him.

The forest came into view. A slight problem was the forest seemed to be about 100ft into the air on a cliff. Well fuck. He licked his lips, running his tongue across chapped and cracked lips. His eyes darted around, and he sent a small wave of fire around to light up the place.

Ahah, a cave. Located on the side of the cliff. Perfect. They still have rations, so they won't need to hunt for food. It is hidden just enough. They can leave at sunrise too. They should get about five hours of sleep at this rate.

Before he brought the boat closer, he looked at Sabo and confirmed. "This is alright, Bo." Sabo paused and studied the cave intensely. "Yes, that should be ok to sunrise."

"Ok," he replied, slowly easing the boat into the cave. As they got into the cave, they saw a rocky shore and a sharp stalactite where they could tie the boat.

Sabo hummed and said, "I'll get the boat set. You take Luffy and go to sleep. You have been using your devil fruit for seven hours straight. So no excuses." He huffed but nodded in defeat.

Quickly scooping Luffy out of his arms and caring her bridal style. He walked further into the cave and found a large flat rock. It was ideal. He gently set Luffy down and readjusted the Marine coats.

He slowly laid down next to her, and sleep came to him quicker than he could say, "Roger Pirates."