Rayleigh whistled a song softly while he stirred the pan, smiling at the quiet appearance of Ace. He was glad that he had picked up a fair amount of cooking skills in his life as he had learned that the smell of food was the only surefire way of getting the boy to stay in his vicinity.
This was his best friend's son, no- his brother, his soulmate's son - the boy he would have helped raise had life been kinder and yet he was unable to even have a discussion with him. He wanted to curse Roger, curse him for choosing Garp to care for the boy, curse him for not giving him the option to protect the last piece of Roger that existed. Maybe having something to live for would have kept him from falling into the pit of despair. But maybe Roger was right. After all he had dropped the ball with their older kids, abandoned them and disappeared into the bottle for years. It was only their tenacity and training that had kept them alive and sheer luck that they had forgiven him when he had finally sobered up. Not to mention the sheer number of marines who had chased after him until he had faded from notoriety. Drunk as he was, he had had many close calls. So yes, he probably would have failed Ace even more than Garp had. Still the decision hurts.
Well he couldn't change the past but he wouldn't let any more time go to waste. He wanted nothing more than to hug the stuffing out of the kid and tell him all about his parents but knew nothing would drive the kid away faster. Thankfully he had some experience on what to do… this wasn't his first semi feral child after all. He thought fondly of when the crew first adopted little Blue. The 6 year old street rat had taken months to trust that they really didn't mean him any harm.
Rayleigh turned off the stove and split the food in two bowls. Ace went to grab one as usual but this time he pulled it away slightly, flicking his eyes at the table. Ace hesitated, baring his teeth but when his stomach growled loudly, he reluctantly pulled out a chair. The closest to the door and furthest from Rayleigh, but still it was a start. Other days the boy had just bolted. He slid the bowl across the table and enjoyed the 5 minutes it took the kid to scarf down the food and disappear from the room. "Hmm 6 hours til dinner." Ray mused out loud as he continued eating.
Luffy was bouncing in excitement, seriously bouncing. Shanks watched exasperated as the kid rebounded off the wall, dropping to the ground and back up to the ceiling. He carefully snagged the kid's shirt as he went to fly past and placed him back on his feet. "Just because Hongo said you didn't have to stay in bed anymore, doesn't mean you are back to normal Anchor."
"But Shanks! We found Nami and Frankie! They're ok and they don't hate me." He beamed, vibrating in place.
Shanks laughed with his kid. "I told you they wouldn't blame you, stupid. I'm glad Frankie thought to get in touch with Iceburg since I don't have any connections on Vegapunk's home island."
"Yeah Frankie's real smart. Did you know he's a cyborg? He makes SUPER things for Sunny, like a shark sub, and cool cannons and the coup de burst! And Ice guy was pretty cool. He let us stay after we went to Ennies Lobby and we threw this cool party with everyone."
Shanks winced a bit at the reminder of Ennies Lobby and quickly moved the topic along before he thought too much about it. "And your navigator ended up on a sky island. That must have been a surprise for her."
"She probably is having lots of fun. When we were in Skypeia, Nami learned how to use the waver and after we beat up the god guy, we stole all the treasure from inside the giant snake!"
"Beat up go- INSIDE the giant snake! No, you know what, it's fine. Yep just another day in the life of Anchor. I'm impressed you guys got up there at all. It took Roger years to figure out the entry to the Sky Islands. Did you go through the High West Gate?"
"Nope! We went up on the Knock Up Stream and flew! Nami and Usopp were so scared that we'd fall to our deaths but it was awesome."
"Don't ask, don't ever ask. Damn it, do I ever learn?" Shanks muttered to himself.
"Shishishi." Luffy pulled Shanks out of the room, eager to start exploring now that he wasn't stuck in bed.
Shanks reluctantly followed, not quite ready to accept that Luffy was ok to run around despite Hongo releasing him. At least they'd made him agree to stay within the castles walls unless accompanied by someone else. Still he was desperately trying to think of a distraction that would allow him to talk Luffy into cuddles instead.
Thats when there was yelling and a burst of flame coming from the sitting room. He automatically grabbed Luffy's arm, trying to move him behind him so he could face the threat. Unfortunately Luffy just stretched his arm out as he bounded into the room. Shanks cursed and rushed in to find a flaming Ace, yelling some truly creative curse words into the shaking Den Den.
Luffy snorted. "Whats * mean?"
"Oy! Nope, bad word." Shanks scolded.
"Oh shi-oot. I didn't see you Lu. It doesn't mean anything. Don't repeat any of that. You're not allowed" Ace rushed, turning away from the Den Den.
Luffy pouted. "But you got to say it. Stupid Ace."
"Yeah stupid Ace." Shanks said glaring.
"Its a secret older brother word Lu. No little brothers allowed ok?" Ace implored.
"Ah mystery word." Luffy said nodding and already losing interest. "Ace, why is the Den Den crying?"
"Luffy?" Came a quiet, choked whisper.
Ace bit back another curse and turned back to the snail. "Hey! You don't get to talk to him. You don't even get to mention his name!" He snarled. "It's nothing bud. Just someone playing a really stupid prank. But we're never going to hear from them again!" He spat out and went to slam the line down.
"No wait! Fine, I'll go but don't hang up. Nico Robin is here and would like to talk to L- her captain." Came the frantic response and Ace hesitated for a second which was long enough for Luffy to grab the snail.
"Ace! I wanna talk to Robin. Stop hogging the Den Den." Whined Luffy.
Shanks looked at Ace concerned, wondering if he should grab the kid and get him out of there but Ace sighed. "Fine." He said harshly. "But I'm staying right here and you are going away. We will talk to Nico Robin only."
"RRROOBBIIINN!"
"Ah captain. I'm glad to hear your voice. With the news coo calling for a man hunt for you and your brother I was expecting to read about your capture."
Shanks wanted to growl at the implication he couldn't protect his kid but Luffy broke into giggles. "Classic Robin. Are you ok? I was so worried about you and then I couldn't get back to Sabaody to meet everyone. But I'm glad you are with my dad and safe now."
Shanks flinched at that but tried to keep his face blank. Despite his feelings on the matter, the man was Luffy's father and that wasn't going to change. Though what had that man ever done for HIS kid. Gave him to the crazy ass Garp and ignored him for 17 years, that's what. He doesn't get to come along now and take Shanks' role. Seas, even hearing his kid call someone else dad sent a bolt of pain through him.
Meanwhile Robin happily chatted with her captain, making sure to gloss over her ordeal while watching the young blond male who had slid down the wall by the door. He was staring avidly at the DenDen and she watched how he soaked in every word while silent tears streamed down his face. She didn't quite trust him and his claims of being Luffy's brother but unless he was a fantastic actor, he had some emotional connection to her captain.
"And then Shanks found Nami and Frankie! So now we just need to find out where Sanji, Chopper and Usopp ended up. But we're gonna spend the next two years training so that I can protect everybody next time. Ok? Shishishi oops, Zoro said that I should say so 'we' can protect each other but he's still stuck in bed and all bandaged up like a mummy! So he can't do the protecting right now." Luffy continued to chatter away and she smiled. Impel Down haunted her dreams and honestly the very thought of the prison made her mind freeze. Hearing that her captain had not only broken in and out, but released prisoners and destroyed everything in his way had been shocking but also sent a wave of safety over her. She knew that Luffy would fight for her as he'd already shown but now she knew there was no limits to what he'd do for those he called his. He'd not only do the stupid, he'd do the impossible.
Unfortunately their call had to end, the Revolutionaries not permitting longer calls and she reassured her captain that she understood they needed to become stronger. She hated the separation but she agreed that she was well suited for what the Revs could teach her. They hung up and she studied the boy. "You figured out his location during our talk didn't you?"
Sabo wiped his cheeks and looked at her. "I have an idea yes. He's with the swordsman, and there is a logical location that Roronoa would have been sent and that Red Hair would have brought Luffy to."
She sprouted extra arms and pinned him to the wall. "And what do you intend to do with that information?"
Sabo didn't blink, just stared at her calmly. "I intend no harm to him or Ace. They are my brothers and I would die for either of them. It was a mistake to try and tell them over the Den Den. I know how suspicious and protective Ace is but I just couldn't wait any longer to hear from them. Now I need to go see them face to face, to explain what happened and if Ace decides to kill me, I will let him."
Robin studied him carefully. She was a good judge of character after a lifetime of being on the run and she could feel his sincerity. Still, she wouldn't gamble with her captains life. "I will go with you and if you have mislead me, I will show you exactly why I am called the devil child"
Buggy peered from the alley at the busy street. He scanned visually and with his Haki to pick out the various marines in his vicinity. The last week, he had been contacting all of his people and preparing to get the news out. He had received the news from one of his sources that a prisoner had finally given his brother up. They had cracked under torture and revealed that Emperor Shanks had carried the prisoners away from the prison but so far, Luffy role had not been revealed. Thankfully the boy's unconscious state had kept him off the other prisoners' radar, and Buggy's flair for the dramatic had ensured the prisoners knew, the escape was because of Buggy.
Now it was time and he was shaking. He reminded himself of exactly why he was doing something so suicidal. He needed to protect his little nephew and make up for his fuck ups. He was doing this for his brother and for Luffy. Time to put on his flashiest show yet.
He flew himself up on the platform, and hesitated. This was the place where he had almost killed his nephew, almost destroyed any hope for his relationship with Shanks. This was the place his dad died. He hadn't really thought of it last time but now he couldn't stop thinking of his dad's last laugh before the marines executed him. He felt sick. Shanks was right to say there was no fixing what he almost did.
Deep breath and he dropped one of his hidden Buggy Balls, releasing a cloud of smoke that pooled around his feet. The second one he tossed up as it emitted colourful sparks. There was a gasp from the square as people finally noted his presence above them and he let out a loud laugh.
"Lucky people of Loguetown! Are you ready to meet the man who will be King of the Pirates? The man who not only escaped from Impel Down, but freed hundreds of his future pirate subjects. The man who summoned an Emperor of the Sea to his side and who grew up under the tutelage of the former Pirate King, Captain Gold Roger! The flashiest man on the seas, I, Buggy the Clown will find the One Piece and be King of the Pirates!"
"22 years ago Captain Gold Roger, King of the Pirates, surrendered to the Marines in order to spread his message through the world. His life was ended in this very spot and now I claim this as the spot where the new king is revealed."
By now there was a crowd of people surrounding the platform and Buggy forced himself to continue, to not think of how similar the view was on that fateful day years before. His people were spread throughout the crowd, starting up cheers for Buggy and now there were marines flooding the area. Buggy gave a little prayer of thanks that Smoker was no longer based in Loguetown and grinned tauntingly.
"The marines are helpless to stop me. I've already proved that by allowing them to lock me inside their most secure prison. It took me mere months to flashily escape and show them they cannot contain the amazing, flashy Buggy the Clown! Rise up and join the man who will reign over the world!"
Right, time to go, Buggy thought as the marines encircled the base. He slid down one of the poles and tossed a light up ball at the ground. It emit a bright flash, blinding the opponents long enough for him to duck through an opening. He tossed another ball at the marines that released a thick sticky substance, trapping them in their place. He laughed as a blade sliced through him, slapping a pin on the marine that emitted an electric shock strong enough to knock him over. He dodged into the crowd and a second later another Buggy ran across the other way. The marines froze unsure what was happening and the Buggy's cackled as they dodged the crowd, laughing when the people realized their feet had been encased in wax and they weren't able to move out of the way of the furious marines.
Now came the riskiest part of his plan. Buggy grit his teeth but let 5 of the remaining marines block him into a dead end. He watched as they approached, mocking him and hoped that his gamble would pay off. The marines ordered him to lay down and interlock his hands but he ignored them. He held their gaze as they raised their swords and they swung. Suddenly there was a loud clang and their swords clattered to the ground.
Buggy felt a wave of relief as a glowering Crocodile lowered his hook, and knocked out the rest of the marines with a wave of haki. On the other side of the square, another Buggy was dancing as a cloud of sand sent a group of marines in a violent twister. They moved to meet back up in the square before the unlikely group disappeared, heading to the harbour as all the paths were blocked by walls of wax.
Buggy collapsed on the ship and fought back the urge to burst into tears. Well his identity was out there and he guaranteed he had infuriated the marines enough that the name Straw Hat Luffy would fade in the background. He could no longer hide in obscurity. It was his time to shine and damn it, he would be the flashiest pirate around and keep all eyes on him.